Medical....

[skye]

I don't know much about the whole health care debate as I don't have cable in my apartment (what a blessing!) but I can say I have been reading a bit on it.

All I can say though, is that I would gladly pay a bit more in taxes so that all American's can have health insurance. (Myself included =/)

 

[baggss]

I don't know much about the whole health care debate as I don't have cable in my apartment (what a blessing!) but I can say I have been reading a bit on it.

All I can say though, is that I would gladly pay a bit more in taxes so that all American's can have health insurance. (Myself included =/)

A bit more? How much do you make a year and how do you pay in taxes? I'm paying right around 26% (between State and Federal) right now and that's WAYYYYY too much. And that tax is BEFORE my deductions for medical and dental come out. That doesn't even figure in sales tax on goods and services.

Why in the world would I want to give the gov't more than I already am when I am doing just fine?

 

[skye]

My financials aside.

The principle of paying more $ for others to have what I would consider a vital care is a burden that I am willing to take on. In an ideal world, people would willingly give money to those who are needy, but that doesn't happen (which saddens me deeply). I long for a community as explained in the Bible (Acts 2:42-47)

" 42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

Religion aside, they were happy together, met together, and shared their goods with each other including providing for those that were needy.

I campaigned for Ron Paul in the primaries and voted for Obama in the election, it is an odd shift, and I would say personally I haven't changed in terms of beliefs, maybe I am just jaded by humanity though? I want people to provide help for those who need it of their own free will, but because our nature is to not provide that and I think helping needy people is very important, that increasing the taxes that people pay is a suitable alternative.

I think that we might save money as well if the new health care stuff includes preventative medicine. Then your costs might actually go down. This is speculation though...

 

[saccento]

what do you mean when you say "change in medical system"? do you mean the way health care providers see patients? or are you talking more about insurance companies?


if you come to the ER with chest pain, more than likley they will do an EKG and run other tests to rule out things like heart attacks.

it's better safe than sorry..

 

[louishen]

Here's my bit

Here in the UK we have what you would call a fully socialised health care system. Yes we pay for it in taxes but it is free at the point of use, so I never have to worry about medical insurance running out. On the few occasions I have used it I have always had good care and been dealt with promptly.

I would say that we Brits do moan about aspects of the NHS, but that's because we care and want it to be better (and moaning is a national pastime).

What has caused a bit of outrage here in the UK is the anti-social healthcare campaign in the US using our NHS as an example of a failed healthcare system. That has moved us from our habitual winging to full support for the NHS, since someone is attacking an aspect of our country that we hold dear.

It's like the BBC, plenty of us may sometimes complain about aspects of it, and the fact that we have to pay for it. But if anybody else criticises it, we close ranks.

Even the leader of our Conservative party (equivalent of the Republicans) has been forced to criticise a Conservative MEP, who was on Fox news putting the NHS in a bad light, it was bad PR for the party. So even our right wing parties would never consider dismantling the NHS, it would be political suicide here in the UK.

That said, this medical debate has been very good so far, I was expecting much worse

 

[baggss]

Here's my bit

Here in the UK we have what you would call a fully socialised health care system. Yes we pay for it in taxes but it is free at the point of use, so I never have to worry about medical insurance running out. On the few occasions I have used it I have always had good care and been dealt with promptly.

I would say that we Brits do moan about aspects of the NHS, but that's because we care and want it to be better (and moaning is a national pastime).

What has caused a bit of outrage here in the UK is the anti-social healthcare campaign in the US using our NHS as an example of a failed healthcare system. That has moved us from our habitual winging to full support for the NHS, since someone is attacking an aspect of our country that we hold dear.

It's like the BBC, plenty of us may sometimes complain about aspects of it, and the fact that we have to pay for it. But if anybody else criticises it, we close ranks.

Even the leader of our Conservative party (equivalent of the Republicans) has been forced to criticise a Conservative MEP, who was on Fox news putting the NHS in a bad light, it was bad PR for the party. So even our right wing parties would never consider dismantling the NHS, it would be political suicide here in the UK.

That said, this medical debate has been very good so far, I was expecting much worse

Your right Wing party is to the left of the center of US politics, so naturally they would never consider dismantling the NHS. Your Conservatives are at best our conservative Democrats.

I don't think it's right for our media to trash your system but it also doesn't surprise me that it happens when your model is held up to us as something to emulate. Both sides are going to use what ammunition they have, and your system (and that of Canada, France and so on...) has gotten caught in the middle.

As for insurance coverage, well, I have a good job and I don't have to worry about my coverage. My payment at the point of service is low and my insurer is excellent from my point of view. I'd rather pay that extra few hundred $$$$ a month to them for a reliable service that into the black hole of government mismanagement.

All that being said, I have no real problem with strengthening the system for those who can't afford or lose their coverage. If the administration could nail down an actual policy instead of trying to ram-rod through a bunch of "Hope and Change" frilly promises with no clear idea of what they want to do, a lot of people would be a lot happier with this process. For a guy who promised "real change", I'm seeing a lot of the same old same old. Then again, I didn't vote for him anyhow.

EDIT: I'll throw this in there too: The Canadian Press: Overhauling health-care system tops agenda at annual meeting of Canada's doctors

White House appears ready to drop 'public option' - Yahoo! News

 

[macpwns]

I'm not going to comment on your long winded analysis of the Canadian health care system.

I will simply point out the the BIC (Brother-In-Chief) recently stated that the Canadian Model of Health care won't work here in the US. Even HE has rejected it. Must be darn good to garner that lack of support. I guess we should all be glad you live in Canada.

Moving along....

As for insurance coverage, well, I have a good job and I don't have to worry about my coverage. My payment at the point of service is low and my insurer is excellent from my point of view. I'd rather pay that extra few hundred $$$$ a month to them for a reliable service that into the black hole of government mismanagement.

I'm not going to comment on the typical errogant american response. "I make more money so why should I care about anyone else?" I apologize if thats not what you meant, but its certainly the impression it gave.

The fact that The American Government looks down on the Canadian health system or any other health care system - i find - is completely ridiculous. For a nation that has trillions in debt, has their politicians boasting HUGE tax cuts to weigh down the financial effect on the "blue collard American", is selling off and outsourcing companies left right and center to save money, and at the end of the day is a country of war, you would think that a government run or assisted health care system would not be out of the question and would atleast be a consideration. Hmmm...government run...Seems to me there was something else that recently became government run...Some kind of automotive giant that now has government assistance...GM I think it was?

I'm definitely not Anti-American either, but there is certainly the "market" for a higher tax rate, and some kind of public health care/government involved hybrid. When you have executives from AIG making millions of dollars a year in bonus, bonus that was actually withdrawn from the stimulus package - I'm sure you know what I'm talking about; that 700 Billion in change - one would only hope the U.S government would find some kind of way to get that money back, and use it constructively. Simple answer, you have to raise taxes for certain levels of income. Don't like it? Tough. I went from making $8/hour while going through school and now find myself making upwards of $27 dollars an hour. The result? I get taxed out the wazoo. Do I complain? Sure, taxes suck. At the end of the day, it is providing me with the assurance that not only I (I am severely diabetic), but everyone else, particularly my family will receive the exact same care - WITHOUT prejudice, without having to pay ridiculous private medical coverage costs, and without the chance of being denied the medical care that they could potentially desperately need - and will be in the best possible health they can be in without having to worry about the financial constraint.

I am Canadian, I am proud to be Canadian, I have NEVER had any issues with out health care system nor have I ever had to pay a medical bill in my life. I like to think that the Canadian/European model is ideal for western medicine, and I can only hope for the sake of Americans who at least 70% of the time have no means of paying their medical bills, will soon be lucky enough to receive the care they desperately need without cost.