We need universal health care!

[Critters2]

I just got off the phone with this high pressure long-term care insurance saleswoman. Says I need to buy this "product" RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!!!!11!!! The cost she quoted me is $92.00 a month. $92 a month more than I spend on things now. That's a shit load of money, and, clergy-wise, I'm doing pretty well. I have colleagues who could no more afford an extra $92 a month than they could fly.

I have no idea whether universal health care plans like those in Canada or England cover nursing home care, but even if they don't, not having to pay for acute care would help one tuck money away for it. The system we have in place just does not work.

What I also realized though, as this woman was pressuring me to commit to her plan, was how dependent the insurance industry is on our NOT having single payer universal health care. Our health is being sacrificed for the good of the insurance industry.

Something NEEDS to be done!!

Thanks for letting me rant.

[provis99]

1. Canadian health care covers nursing care

It is means tested though; you wind up paying for it if you're rich. There aren't any invalid old people living on the streets. Sounds alright to me.

[Critters2]

2. It does sound alright. We're going to have to do something differently

as the boomers age.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. Absolutely!!!! Right now I have no health insurance at all.

[Critters2]

4. In a place that likes to call itself "the richest nation in the world".

:grr:

[DailyGrind51]

5. I would not buy into any commercial health plan, until Obama comes out with his!

[Critters2]

12. Good point. I'll be interested to see what his does about skilled nursing care. nt

[Donnachaidh]

6. I had the same sort of pressure about medicare supplements

I finally got tired of being treated like a moron and told the woman that high pressure tactics was a sure fire way of losing my interest. She backed it down considerably. And then lost my interest when she couldn't tell me WHY I should pay for their program during the *doughnut hole* period I was going to get nailed with in six months.

I feel sorry for the elderly and sick who are getting baited and switched by these snake oil salespeople.

[Vinca]

7. What on earth kind of plan can you buy for $92 a month?

The average is $1200 a month, which of course is why 47 million of my friends and I don't have it.

[Critters2]

10. They're assuming I won't need any of it for 15-20 years at least.

So, it combines with others, drawing interest until it's needed. It's long term care, not acute care insurance. So, I won't draw on it for years. They hope. I have pretty good acute care health insurance, paid by my employer.

[Avalux]

8. I hear you. My own little adventure with Aetna today:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4920357&mesg_id=4920357

[Critters2]

11. That's what I'm talking about. Health insurance is a racket, a rip-off.

We need single payer NOW!!!

[Fireweed247]

9. Now is the the time

Hillary couldn't get anywhere with the Republican Congress, but now we have Obama and both houses. We must demand this NOW!

Bill Clinton has been speaking about this as a way to grow the economy...

"Frankly, we're spending like crazy so there's no concern about the deficit for the next two or three years," Clinton said, his glasses sitting at the end of his nose. "That's one of the good news is that we can do health care now because we have to grow the economy. We must do it. That's a good thing"

Bill Clinton: Obama can succeed where I couldn't
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4917319

[Critters2]

14. From his lips to Obama's ears! We really need this! nt

[L0oniX]

13. For that kind of money it's probably a discount plan ...and they suck.

[Critters2]

15. It's supposed to be discounted because it's through my employer.

I'm going to compare it to others.