- Got tips? Send them to tips (at) r8ny (dot) com
- Blog on Room Eight
- sign-up to receive a daily digest by email
- Advertise on Room Eight
- Login / Sign-up
Universal Health Care Fixed
For those of you wondering why I believe a universal health care financing system would be a major stimulus to the economy, I have fixed the hypertext error on this post so you can read the whole thing. Included as an attachment is a complete overview of the problems, proposals and solution I wrote in January 2008.
A recent MSNBC story, however, illustrates some of the issues nicely. You have a late baby boomer my age (about 48) who had owned his own company, which went bust, and then could only find work as an independent contractor. He is now unemployed without unemployment insurance, is seeking a wage and salary job so he can get health insurance, but can't get one in part because any small company that hires an older worker sees its insurance rates go up. Older workers how have health problems (or who have family members with health problems) are even less employable, even by companies that needed their services. So they don't work, and their potential work is wasted. And he is being discouraged from starting a new company. We need people to start new businesses to turn the economy around. As his home is auctioned off he tells a critic "hey, I’m an independent contractor who lost my job in the fall when the bank cut off credit to my client. As a freelancer I have no right to unemployment, no health insurance, and if there’s anything I can do to save my house..." It is presented as a mortgage story, but this situation is unrelated to the housing bubble and bust. He'd have lost his home in any housing market situation. His older daugher, now on her own, has also no health insurance. "Nancy called in again, this time from a health clinic. She was with her mother trying to sort it all out. She’s a college student in New York, no longer a resident of Massachusetts. She needs to be treated, but the clinic was asking who was going to pay for it and how. Nancy has no insurance — another story." Looks like New York will get stuck with the Medicaid bill for a family that, when things were going good, paid a lot of taxes in Massachusetts. That happens a lot. People trapped in jobs because new jobs will not cover their pre-existing conditions, or because companies fear the health insurance cost impact of older workers. Laid off workers who can't get new jobs for the same reason. Older companies and communities drowning due the cost of health care for their retirees. Young and old discouraged from starting new businesses by the fear of ending up like these two. And for what? Adding up total government spending -- direct and indirect through the tax subsidy -- on health care, we already spend more tax dollars (or future tax dollars as we keep borrowing) than countries with universal health insurance financing at the national level. The tie between health insurance and place of work must be broken."The problem is that HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL DELIVERY IN AMERICA IS SEVERELY CORRUPTED AND COMPROMISED BY GREED! AND THE PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MOTIVE."
We ended up with greedy non-profits and unions, the non-profiteers of the Greater New York Hospital Association and Local 1199. Until recently, when they have gotten better, we had a public hospital situation in NY lazing in civil service sloth. Perhaps the problem of greed is popping up everywhere.
Frankly, I'd like a choice of public or private systems. If its all public, all the money will go to people who stop working once they get tenure and retire in their early 50s, and not health care. And it if's all private the money will all go to executive bonuses. No choice, no power. Chanel bags is very luxury and high-grade. Chanel handbags sale and confidence; make their range stand out above any other. Maybe this is why they are so high profile and craved by many a celebrity. It is a brand that never disappoints with a selection of exploding diamante designs, luxurious quilted arms and interlacing. Buying Chanel from our Chanel on sale. Back to Chanel Bags online to know more products information.
Some really prize content on this site, bookmarked.
NeFwY4 Major thanks for the post.Really thank you! Really Cool.
Post new comment |
Hot Topics
Gov Wire
Political Update
Google AdsSearchRoom Eight Extras |
delicious
digg
Additionally, thousands more of you are driven into financial ruin, and bankruptcy just because you, or one of your loved ones got sick or injured. And all of this is happening at a time when America spends twice as much of it's GDP (Gross Domestic Productivity) on health care than any other country in the developed world. Individual Americans spend about ten times as much on health care as any other people in the developed world. This is a CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY. AND IT MUST END!
But before we can truly fix this healthcare crisis and disgrace, everyone needs to clearly understand what the problem is. And everyone needs to clearly understand the real enormity of the problem. The problem is that HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL DELIVERY IN AMERICA IS SEVERELY CORRUPTED AND COMPROMISED BY GREED! AND THE PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MOTIVE. And it is corrupted, and compromised IN EVERY ASPECT, AND EVERY PLACE OF HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL DELIVERY. Unfortunately for all Americans, compromised healthcare ALWAYS results in needless suffering, injury, disability, and or death. Which is exactly what is happening now in America in shocking numbers.
Health care is NOT! a private for profit business. Healthcare is an essential public service. Like police, and fire. And healthcare is also a human right! PRIVATE FOR PROFIT HEALTHCARE IS AN OXYMORON, AND AN IMMORAL AND UNETHICAL PERVERSION OF HEALTHCARE AND HUMAN RIGHTS.
So how do we fix this healthcare disgrace? I believe the fix for Americas healthcare disaster is essentially the same thing that every other developed country in the World has essentially done. "NOT FOR PROFIT, TAX PAYER SUPPORTED, SINGLE PAYER, AUTOMATIC, FREE UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE FOR ALL. Essentially HR676 (enhanced, and expanded medicare for all). Just like every other CIVILIZED! country in the developed World has. There is no other way to truly fix and reform our current disastrous healthcare delivery system.
All Universal health care systems work best when everyone participates. But I know that the healthcare lobby, and some politicians will try and undermine "Not For Profit, Tax payer supported, Single payer, Automatic, Free Universal Healthcare for all" by falsely claiming that it will limit your choice, and require you to participate.
So, I propose that everyone be included in the national plan unless they choose to opt out. If you opt out and need medical care the national plan will insure your provider that they will be reimbursed under the rules for members in the national plan. But those who opted out, and their insurer will be responsible for the FULL! cost to the national plan for providing your care if you or your private insurer fails to reimburse the provider or the national plan in a timely manor to at least the standards of the national plan.
Including reporting you to credit agencies, withholding of taxes, leans, and garnishment of wages for unpaid medical bills. Just like you have now under private for profit healthcare, and private for profit health insurance.
Further, people who opted out will be required to provide proof of financial responsibility for future illness or be required to participate in the national plan. And everyone with children will be required to participate in the national plan. Or provide proof of insurance coverage on each child to the standards of the national plan. It will be against the law to report anyone in the national plan to a credit agency for unpaid medical bills.
Frankly, only a dope would want to opt out of the national plan and opt to keep our current disastrous private for profit medical, and insurance plans. But they will be free to choose. The most important thing is that the vast majority of Americans that want the protection, benefits, and higher quality of a universal national plan have that choice.
You see, one of the most important aspects of a universal healthcare system is easy access, and patient protection. This is accomplished by having a single payer without a conflict of interest in patient care. And by having a payer who has the power to enforce minimum standards of excellence in healthcare delivery for everyone in the plan. This is much of what Medicare does now for senors. "Aeger Primo" (The patient first). Unfortunately in our healthcare system the patient comes last. We are just a peace of meat to them. Cash cows to be slaughtered for profit.
So this is IT! my fellow Americans, My fellow human beings, My fellow World Citizens. And my fellow Cyber Warriors. :-) The time has come. D day. H hour. HEALTHCARE REFORM THIS YEAR! Let no one stand in our way. Contact your representative and tell them you want "Not For Profit, Tax Payer Supported, Single Payer, Automatic, Free Universal healthcare for all. And tell them you want that choice now. Tell them you want President Obama's budget passed as is, without delay. President Obama's budget is brilliant. And exactly what is needed now.
President Obama, and his allies will need all the support you can give them. The healthcare lobby will try to take out his people if they can, like they did with Tom Daschle and Nancy Killefer. And they will try to neutralize President Obama's popularity, and political power. Or they will try to take him down someway. Don't stand for it. If they attack him. Go after them ten times harder and remove them from office. We had an election. And you the people chose President Obama's leadership, and change agenda. Let no one in government disrespect the will of the American people and remain in office.
To President Obama, his Cabinet, the Congress of the United States, and the Supreme Court. I have noticed for some time a disturbing tendency for key members of your bodies to come down with illness, or medical problems at critical legislative times. This may just be coincidence. But I can tell you that there are a million subtle ways to medically injure someone just by doing nothing when something needs to be done. Or by doing things to someone when nothing needs to be done except to give them reassurance. I know for a fact that there are those that would have no qualms about hurting any of you to preserve our current disgraceful medical status quo.
So, I recommend as a matter of national security that you enlist the help of a friendly power to regularly review, and oversee the medical care you receive from your local regular healthcare providers. Briton, France and many other countries have excellent medical providers. As well as Canada. Briton, and Canada may be less of a language barrier for Americans.
Let's get this healthcare reform done now my fellow Americans. This year. Take no prisoners.
God Bless All Of You
Jack Smith — Working Class :-)
http://jacksmithworkingclass.blogspot.com/
(http://jacksmithworkingclass.blogspot.com/)