So, you thought you were lucky to have health-care insurance?

[AnnInLa]

Those of us who DO have health-care insurance are under threat of having many of our rights and benefits severely cut or eliminated altogether. H.R.525/S.406, entitled "Small Business Health "Fairness" Act of 2005, has many, many repuke sponsors, and I counted 10 Dem sponsors (damn.)

Go to www.protectyourhealthcare.org and click on your state to see specifics of which health care benefits/rights you will lose. Supposedly, this bill will benefit small businesses, but pardon me, bullshit. It benefits large health-care insurance companies.

A few years ago, many health-care ins companies instituted free mammograms as a preventative measure...well, guess what? Why do repukes hate women? Will the attack on the working class never end?

[TheFarseer]

1. I think employer provided health insurance is complete nonsense

If we're not the only country that does that, we're one of the few. Employers should either pay people more and they can get their own health insurance (may be unrealistic) or we should have state sponsored. The current system is a total rape for the self employed (and not so great for everyone else).

[Mistress Quickly]

4. The problem is

the insurance companies as a whole.

Why do we have to use a middle man? Used to be people had health insurance for catastrophic events. Now you have to have it for a tetanus shot.

The high health care costs stem from (in part) the fact you have a whole nuther industry having to pay people's salaries, FICA, benefits etc etc etc. And doctors have to hire people solely to file insurance.

And doctors charge more because insurance will pay it.

We have health insurance, but have also found a doctor who will take cash/check and charge less if they can get paid up front and not have to file insurance etc. More doctors need to do the same thing.

Health insurance companies need to have a choke hold put on them. They are a big part of the health care crisis problem. Get them out of the way, and watch costs come down.

Now, pharmaceutical companies....

[TheFarseer]

9. You couldn't be more right

About 30 years ago a doctor visit was 2 dollars and follow ups were free. What the hell happened? I think people run to the doctor too easily. As long as an insurance company is paying, I'm not going to be judicious about doctor visits. A doctor visit is like 60 bucks now for 5 minutes of his time?! IF people had to actually pay for that, they would be more sparing with their doctor visits and docs would have to lower the fee to keep the place busy. People get a free pair of glasses every year on some plans, and reimbursed on contact solution. It's ridiculous. Health insurance was meant as protection against catastrophic illness, not so people can get free orthopedic lifts for their shoes.

[bloom]

15. I don't think the fault lies with the people - but with insurance

The same think happened with the price of dental visits when insurance came into the picture - and it's not because people are all running to the dentist all the time.

[Cleita]

7. A universal single payer health plan, administered by

Medicare would cover everyone, with half the cost. The lobbyists and advertising from the for profit health care industry though are so relentless on their attacks and the fear tactics they employ to discredit this sensible plan, it seems we are going to have to get them out of business first.

Any suggestions?

[K-W]

13. It is a telling fact about our economy and history.

Elites in the US have neutered the government to such an extent that when the workers demanded health care they had to demand it from employers.

[BootinUp]

2. Sent a letter to my Representatives

Thanks for the link.

[annabanana]

3. Boy, ya have ta watch these f*ckers every damn second!.. eom

[classof56]

5. Thanks for posting.

I have a daughter and two grandchildren who will definitely be harmed if this evil bill goes into effect. Why do the repukes hate women? Probably has to do with the loss of control over us that happened when we stood up and demanded our rightful place in the world. Sick, yes, but fits in with their mentality. Will the attack on the working class never end? Not until we've returned to the feudal serfdom society that is this evil administration's goal. Words fail me of late to express my hatred for who they are and what they're doing. Just have to keep focused and try to stop them wherever we can.

Tired Old Cynic

[Double T]

6. Republican Legislation Is Like A Trojan Horse.............

......You Must Always Beware Of What Is Actually Contained Within. It The Content NEVER Matches The Face They put Out Front. The Health Care System In This Country Is Totally Broken And We Are The Ones That Need To Fix It. We need to take the control of our destiny and decision making out of the hands of the incompetent and corrupt and put it back where it belongs; the system used to work very well before we let Wall Street, the pharmaceutical companies, the health insurance companies and doctors run up the costs to the astronomical levels they have attained. If something isn't done soon, The health care train wreak will land in the hands of the government and the last thing we all want is this government making decisions about our health care.

[mongo]

12. Ain't that the truth

Doublespeak in action.

[Lindacooks]

14. Boy, are you ever right.

Somebody should send that phrase to Dr. Dean, because it's a great visual too - Repuke policies are ALL Trojan horses.

[Jose Diablo]

18. It should also be pointed out

The health care industry is doing damage to the other corporations also. Look at GM, Fords costs and the effects of this on their ability to be profitable.

Don't misunderstand me, a lot of GM and Fords problems is the management responsibility in meeting the marketplace with the right product. And also, the health care industry has a ball and chain around it's neck called the insurance industry.

Then again, would a national health care program solve all the problems? It could if the insurance industry and the legal eagles were taken out of the picture. Don't forget the government subsidized Pharma's too. How to control price gouging from the pill companies need a good look. After all, the Pharma's receive big bucks from NIH to research new possibilities for drugs. Do they pay this money back to the NIH when the drug goes to market? Nope, they keep the profits. Remember 'intellectual property' rights for owners of patents? Why it's 'unAmerican' to deny someone the rights to claim private ownership. That is a subsidy to an industry that is gouging the market.

Just to pass a national health care program wouldn't solve the problem. All aspects of the entire delivery system need overhaul. Why pass, say a national sales tax to pay for health care and just give the green light to totally socialize the cost and privatize the profit?

I can see the doctors, nurses, technicians, the workers making a good profit, but I draw the line at bankers, investment brokers and any others that do not add one thing to the health of people.

Why should the health care industry as a whole be a profit making enterprise? It shouldn't IMO. Those that work in the industry, yes. Those that don't add one iota to actually providing health care, no.

Ever notice how when a hospital need to be built or expanded, who do they approach to get the money? The communities where the hospital is located, that where. Then the large companies that operate these facilities make money hand over fist, then complain they need more money for indigent care.

For example, take the hospital system in Gwinnett county in Georgia. Last year they grossed $435M of which $18M was their cost for indigent care. Now they want $1.2M more. The poor dears, going broke is that right Promina? Who built that f*****g hospital to begin with? Why it was with bonds issued by the county backed by the taxpayers. How in the hell did Promina get ownership of that hospital system is beyond me. Probably given to them by the republican county commissioners at some time in the past. Thats the kind of crap I am talking about.

Edit: I should also point out that of the $435M, not one penny went to pay doctors. Nope they are 'contractors' and if you go need care at the hospital system in Gwinnett county, you get one bill from the hospital, another from any of the doctors that happened to treat you. Get a CAT scan, well North Metro Radiology will be in contact, you can be sure in addition to the hospitals gouging on the actual use of the machine. I think $235 to 'interpret' a CAT scan is gouging on the part of a 'contractor' radiologist and I don't care how much damn schooling he/she has. Schooling I might add that was paid for with loans from the taxpayer. Ever notice how republican doctor are always complaining about creeping socialism, I never hear about students that are trying to become doctors complain about socialism. Why is that?

Edit2: Whew, I feel better now. <rant off>

[blondeatlast]

8. done--as I push for single-payer UHC, I can't allow any steps backward.

Thanks.

[AnnInLa]

10. single payer UHC here, too

good luck

[mongo]

11. This is the first I've heard of this

AHP's were supossed to allow small business' like mine to be able to afford health insur. As I have NONE now, I would like to see something done.

It sounds like the bill being proposed is very flawed, but the general concept would not be a bad thing.

[Stinky The Clown]

16. To the tune of 'Love and Marriage" ........

Smoke and Mirrors ...... Smoke and Mirrors ...... Them Republicans Love Smoke and Mirrors ...... Man ... Oh Man ..... It's Fu-un .... makin' little laws that ki-ill ....

[tammywammy]

17. Thanks for the link

I sent the email to my senators and rep.