Mandatory health care???

[Peter1469]

The health insurance system in the US is flawed.  A universal health care plan or a mandatory health insurance plan would not improve on what we have.  They go in the wrong direction.  What we need is something new.  Something that brings free market forces to health care.  Insurance, mandatory insurance, and government run health care all place severe limits on the free market.

We should have medical savings account created from our money (taken tax free and placed into the medical savings account.)  We should be able to go to any doctor that we want and pay cash for the services.  Once doctors realized that the person paying them was shopping around for the best service, prices would fall.  Health insurance should only be for unforeseen costs. 

There could be a limited government plan for those who don’t work for whatever reason.  The bottom line is that we need to think outside of the box and move toward the market, not away from it. 

Oh, since America will probably chose socialism over the market, if there is mandatory insurance I will thank you all ahead of time for paying for mine- as a veteran I will have VA coverage and won’t have to buy more insurance.    I hope that it is very expensive

[pittypat65]

Canada is not mandatory, you can buy personal health insurance if you so choose. But you have a good idea there. Why is this so hard for the politicians to figure out? 

[Peter1469]

http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/living-well-usn/2008/04/23/personalized-medicine.html?s_cid=et-0428

 

the future of personalized medicine.  This could be good if protections are in place to prevent insurance companies from denying coverage to people based upon the results of the genetic tests.

[jkoffan]

The best and least expensive healthcare is learning to care of yourself. I do my own healthcare and have saved thousands of dollars.
Diet and lifestyle play a major role in how healthy or unhealthy
a person is.
I believe healthcare is a personal responsibility, not a resposibilty of the Government. Those who want someone else to be responsible for their healthcare will not fare as well as
those who take responsibility for their healthcare.

[wow]

http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/living-well-usn/2008/04/23/personalized-medicine.html?s_cid=et-0428

 

the future of personalized medicine.  This could be good if protections are in place to prevent insurance companies from denying coverage to people based upon the results of the genetic tests.

Insurance Companies deny coverage because they are all about profit.
An Insurance Company will sell anything that has potential for a profit.
One must ask "What regulations are in place that prevent an Insurance Company from taking these higher risks?"

[wow]

The health insurance system in the US is flawed.  A universal health care plan or a mandatory health insurance plan would not improve on what we have.  They go in the wrong direction.  What we need is something new.  Something that brings free market forces to health care.  Insurance, mandatory insurance, and government run health care all place severe limits on the free market.

We should have medical savings account created from our money (taken tax free and placed into the medical savings account.)  We should be able to go to any doctor that we want and pay cash for the services.  Once doctors realized that the person paying them was shopping around for the best service, prices would fall.  Health insurance should only be for unforeseen costs. 

There could be a limited government plan for those who don’t work for whatever reason.  The bottom line is that we need to think outside of the box and move toward the market, not away from it. 

Oh, since America will probably chose socialism over the market, if there is mandatory insurance I will thank you all ahead of time for paying for mine- as a veteran I will have VA coverage and won’t have to buy more insurance.    I hope that it is very expensive

December 20, 2006
HP-209

President Bush Signs Bill
to Make Health Care more Affordable, Accessible

Washington, DC- President George W. Bush signed the Health Opportunity Patient Empowerment Act of 2006 today, enhancing Americans' access to tax-advantaged health care savings. The law, part of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006, provides new opportunities for health savings account (HSA) participants' to build their funds.

"Health savings accounts are improving the way Americans obtain the care they need.  This bill makes HSAs more flexible and makes it easier for participants to put money aside for their personal health care," said Treasury Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy Eric Solomon. 

http://www.treas.gov/offices/public-affairs/hsa/

[pittypat65]

Maybe we could get together with countries that have health plans that work. Wierd that we are the only ones who still live with this broken system. If it means more tax then so be it.

[wow]

Canada is not mandatory, you can buy personal health insurance if you so choose. But you have a good idea there. Why is this so hard for the politicians to figure out? 

The taxes Canadians pay for Govt healthcare are mandatory.

[pittypat65]

That is true, but they pay far less in taxes than we do in healthcare premiums. They took a poll and most Canadians were very happy with their healthcare system.  I went there myself back in the early 90s and received many tests within a few weeks as I would have had to wait months in Houston which is supposed to be the best. I had an HMO death plan which cost me over $300.00 dollars per month. Canadians use tobacco tax, cost about $10.00 a pack, strictly for healthcare and preventive care. Its GREAT!!! Now like I said, you are free to buy a plan if you so choose. Many US companies have moved to Canada as they do not have to pay healthcare plans for their employees.

[wow]

That is true, but they pay far less in taxes than we do in healthcare premiums. They took a poll and most Canadians were very happy with their healthcare system.  I went there myself back in the early 90s and received many tests within a few weeks as I would have had to wait months in Houston which is supposed to be the best. I had an HMO death plan which cost me over $300.00 dollars per month. Canadians use tobacco tax, cost about $10.00 a pack, strictly for healthcare and preventive care. Its GREAT!!! Now like I said, you are free to buy a plan if you so choose. Many US companies have moved to Canada as they do not have to pay healthcare plans for their employees.

Who pays far less, employers, politicians, Govt employees, the rich?

[Peter1469]

Do you have a link to the poll?  The polls that I have seen do indeed state that Canadians love their system for preventative care and for routine visits.  However, for acute care and surgery the poll numbers drop drastically.  This is because of single-payer (universal government health care) healthcare is rationed care. 


http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/08/20/cma-healthcare.html


Here is a research paper on the topic that concludes that both systems have their problems, but Canadians are happier.
http://pa.wichita.edu/research/2006/2006%20Papers/2006%20Grove.pdf   

There is certainly something wrong with health insurance being the primary access to healthcare.  It is not market based and it inflates cost. 

[bradtx1]

 
So exhausting.  Everyone has this view of U.S. healthcare as being the best in the world...yet we have the highest infant mortality rate in the industrialized world, we rank 37th in quality of healthcare, we have insurance companies dictating what kinds of treatments we get.  I truly believe that all of you who are so happy with our healthcare are those that can afford to pay for it out of your pocket. 

As someone who has worked in healthcare administration for 8 years, I've seen it all and all over the country.  There are some cities and towns where you can get decent healthcare and then there are many where doctors and hospitals can't make any money because of self-pay or indigent patients.  The system is completely broken.  Period.  I'm glad you can pay for your healthcare out of your own pocket, but many cannot and are left to for-profit insurance companies to tell them what kinds of treatments they will and won't pay for.  For instance, I have psoriasis, and am prescribed a drug that works very well by my dermatologist, but my insurance company thinks it's "experimental" so they will only pay for steriod creams which don't work and permanently discolor the skin.  I just pay for it myself out of my own pocket.  Imagine if you had something more serious...like kidney cancer. 

For all of you "free market" types, why are we stopping at healthcare?  Let's free market the police, fire department, county government offices, everything!  I'm going to choose ABC Police Station because the cost is lower and deliver OK service...  Ridiculous.  We're talking about life and death.  Get a clue.

[pittypat65]

Do you have a link to the poll?  The polls that I have seen do indeed state that Canadians love their system for preventative care and for routine visits.  However, for acute care and surgery the poll numbers drop drastically.  This is because of single-payer (universal government health care) healthcare is rationed care. 


http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/08/20/cma-healthcare.html


Here is a research paper on the topic that concludes that both systems have their problems, but Canadians are happier.
http://pa.wichita.edu/research/2006/2006%20Papers/2006%20Grove.pdf   

There is certainly something wrong with health insurance being the primary access to healthcare.  It is not market based and it inflates cost. 

WRONG! My father had a triple bypass and did not have to wait. The man across the street from was diagnosed with cancer and had to wait over three months for treatment. Thats one of our health plans for you. He had to go to Arizona just to get a decent doctor.

[pittypat65]

So exhausting.  Everyone has this view of U.S. healthcare as being the best in the world...yet we have the highest infant mortality rate in the industrialized world, we rank 37th in quality of healthcare, we have insurance companies dictating what kinds of treatments we get.  I truly believe that all of you who are so happy with our healthcare are those that can afford to pay for it out of your pocket. 

As someone who has worked in healthcare administration for 8 years, I've seen it all and all over the country.  There are some cities and towns where you can get decent healthcare and then there are many where doctors and hospitals can't make any money because of self-pay or indigent patients.  The system is completely broken.  Period.  I'm glad you can pay for your healthcare out of your own pocket, but many cannot and are left to for-profit insurance companies to tell them what kinds of treatments they will and won't pay for.  For instance, I have psoriasis, and am prescribed a drug that works very well by my dermatologist, but my insurance company thinks it's "experimental" so they will only pay for steriod creams which don't work and permanently discolor the skin.  I just pay for it myself out of my own pocket.  Imagine if you had something more serious...like kidney cancer. 

For all of you "free market" types, why are we stopping at healthcare?  Let's free market the police, fire department, county government offices, everything!  I'm going to choose ABC Police Station because the cost is lower and deliver OK service...  Ridiculous.  We're talking about life and death.  Get a clue.

Everything you say is right on. 

[Vermouth]

Welcome Brad!

What plan do you think offers the best solution to the healthcare problem?