"What's so american about competition?"

Insurance Companies PSA on Funny or Die

Remember folks..it's just a joke!

I'm not so sure how much of a joke it is. I'm self employed, 64yo, no insurance, and have a few "issues" that need professional attention. I can go to the local hospital and be a welfare case, but that concept bothers me a lot. Hopefully I'll make it to 65 and get some form of Medicare.

I hear ya cwh.

The fact that everyone gets so wound up about this definitely points to a bone of contention. Something we'll have to deal with sooner or later. Status quo ain't cutting it.

It's as American as flounder and chips

I just changed jobs to a company that doesn't offer health insurance. As soon as my COBRA runs out in another month I will be uninsured again and a victim of whatever pre-existing test the next insurance company wants to put me through.

When I was younger I was 'pre-existing conditioned' to the tune of about $10,000 when I had coverage through work and I had to pay that out by the month just because my insurance company found a loophole.

I have no love or trust for our current system.

Snowdoggie wrote: I have no love or trust for our current system.

But I have even less trust for the mess they are trying to put together now.

Strizzo wrote: It's as American as flounder and chips

I lawl'd.

PS: Do we really need a whole new 10 pg. thread for "The system is broken" vs. "Keep gov't away from my healthcare?" Seriously. The video was cute...in a Limousine Liberal "I should make billions of dollars for reading words in an entertaining manner, but people who provide healthcare should have salary caps" kind of way.

berkeleyin hippies.

carguy123 wrote:

Snowdoggie wrote: I have no love or trust for our current system.

But I have even less trust for the mess they are trying to put together now.

I don't think they have a final bill yet, and the current proposal in the house was written by a Democrat who gets more money from health care lobbyists than anybody else in the Senate. His fellow Democrats are going to tear him apart.

Of course the Republican playbook is to kill this before next years elections and get enough of thier own people in congress to where no health care proposals will ever come up again while the current president is in offfice. In other words, no changes and buisiness as usual and the rest of us get thrown under the bus by the big money lobbyists.

We've discussed this before, guys. The current system was deliberately destroyed to force us to this point. Things like Snowdawg's "pre-existing" BS loophole, the illegal aliens dumped on the ERs for their cold, lawyers with "You can WIN the Lottery" late night ads, big pharm trippling+ the price of generics, insurance companies boosting rates and dropping payments, etc. Everyone gets a piece but the doctor who obviously should be working for free. Then the government comes along, after allowing all the above, and suddenly wants to fix it all by taking direct control of it all. Yeah, that's gonna work out real well.

Remember: Without water, you're dead in about 3 days. Without food, about 3 months. Without healthcare, about 60 years. Which is a "right?"

Dr. Hess wrote: We've discussed this before, guys. The current system was deliberately destroyed to force us to this point. Things like Snowdawg's "pre-existing" BS loophole, the illegal aliens dumped on the ERs for their cold, lawyers with "You can WIN the Lottery" late night ads, big pharm trippling+ the price of generics, insurance companies boosting rates and dropping payments, etc. Everyone gets a piece but the doctor who obviously should be working for free. Then the government comes along, after allowing all the above, and suddenly wants to fix it all by taking direct control of it all. Yeah, that's gonna work out real well. Remember: Without water, you're dead in about 3 days. Without food, about 3 months. Without healthcare, about 60 years. Which is a "right?"

I know of very few doctors who work for for free and the ones who do are doing so by choice as charity work. On the other hand, I know a lot of MDs in the Porsche club who are driving cars that cost as much as my house and who also own airplanes, boats and second homes in the mountains, on the beach, etc. They aren't hurting for cash.

I make less money than I made two years ago. I know quite a few people who are in the same boat I am. Lots of people are getting pay cuts, benefit cuts and days off without pay. When I make less money, the vet who takes care of my dogs get less money, the parts places where I buy stuff gets less of my money and the lady who used to groom my dog gets less because I groom him myself. So when my spending goes down, all these businesses get their income cut too. Except my health care payments actually went up. And when my Cobra Payments run out I will have to buy more expensive individual insurance so SOMEBODY in the healthcare industry is taking a big raise at my expense when my pay keeps going down.

Doctors aren't getting pay cuts. Nurses aren't getting pay cuts and even the guys who run the MRIs and clean the bed pans at the hospital aren't getting their pay cut like people in other professions are.

Meanwhile, most of the people I know who are against a government plan all seem to be guys who are well off, already have good health care at work and don't really give a flip about those of us who don't.

Maybe if the rest of us are being forced to make do with lower salaries, it could be time for the doctors, the nurses and the health care insurance executives to take a few pay cuts too.

I feel your pain, Snowdoggie.

Question: How are we going to accomplish offering pay cuts to doctors, nurses, and health care insurance execs inside a health care system that DOES NOT try to cut health costs? (According to the Congressional Budget Office, NONE of the existing bills would do anything to lower costs).

For the record, I am NOT well off, DO NOT have good health care at work, and haven't had it for me or my family for a very long time. I think the system STINKS, but am concerned that all the current ideas being suggested are going to only going to INCREASE my expenses.

I'm in an awkward position. I very much think the US should have universal health care. I think done properly it would:

• provide equal service to what the currently insured have.
• provide health care to those who don't already have it
• cost considerably less (since we currently have the highest-cost system in the world)
• Reduce a substantial burden business is currently saddled with.

Unfortunately, none of the existing plans appear to be even remotely close to anything I would consider "right" and I just can't see myself supporting what they're discussing.

Tim Baxter wrote: I'm in an awkward position. I very much think the US should have universal health care. I think done properly it would: * provide equal service to what the currently insured have. * provide health care to those who don't already have it * cost considerably less (since we currently have the highest-cost system in the world) * Reduce a substantial burden business is currently saddled with. Unfortunately, none of the existing plans appear to be even remotely close to anything I would consider "right" and I just can't see myself supporting what they're discussing.

“True man of genius”

the only negative I see in the idea of universal health care ( I have somewhat crappy coverage at work and the VA is my primary health care provider) is how can it be paid for... (we (the tax payer)) can't support Medicare and Medicaid now, how will we pay for several more million people...????

plus have any of you spent any time in an ER lately..?? if it's not life threatening the wait can seem forever.. hrs anyway... it's not because they don't care it's because there aren't enough people or rooms...

if we increase the volume without increasing the health care workers there will truly be chaos ....

the hospital here has been expanding for the last 20+ yrs and is still building and the wait hasn't lessened ...

and just because the uninsured suddenly have coverage doesn't mean they will go anywhere else for their treatment...

My job offers insurance, but it's so expensive I can't buy it. (would be 25% of my pay) Some of the plans that the Gov is kicking around would charge people a penalty for NOT having insurance! So I'm going to pay a penalty because I'm not below the poverty line, yet can't afford insurance?

SVreX wrote: I feel your pain, Snowdoggie. Question: How are we going to accomplish offering pay cuts to doctors, nurses, and health care insurance execs inside a health care system that DOES NOT try to cut health costs? (According to the Congressional Budget Office, NONE of the existing bills would do anything to lower costs). For the record, I am NOT well off, DO NOT have good health care at work, and haven't had it for me or my family for a very long time. I think the system STINKS, but am concerned that all the current ideas being suggested are going to only going to INCREASE my expenses.

I am not really advocating pay cuts for doctors, nurses etc. All I am saying is that when everybody elses salaries go down, how could doctors and health care workers expect theirs to stay up or even increase. They don't live in a vacuum. In towns where there are mass layoffs, they guy who owns the local car dealer will lose his business too because unemployed people don't buy cars. Restaurants and stores will be going broke too because people won't have the money to spend there.

To use another example, doctors who practice in places like Mexico and South Africa make less money than doctors who practice in Beverly Hills and West Palm Beach because people in the former places flat out have less money to pay their doctors.

So if we are going to start cutting people's wages in this country by outsourcing jobs to lower cost countries and bringing in people from other contries, both legally and illegally who are willing to work longer hours for lower wages, doesn't that give us less money overall to pay just about everybody we buy services from, including our doctors? Eventually, prices at the doctor's office and the hospital will have to go down too.

It's just simple economics.

Tim Baxter wrote: I'm in an awkward position. I very much think the US should have universal health care. I think done properly it would: * provide equal service to what the currently insured have. * provide health care to those who don't already have it * cost considerably less (since we currently have the highest-cost system in the world) * Reduce a substantial burden business is currently saddled with. Unfortunately, none of the existing plans appear to be even remotely close to anything I would consider "right" and I just can't see myself supporting what they're discussing.

That's probably because the current bill drafted by Max Baucus was written by the lobbyists who are funding his next campaign. Of course this isn't going to be the final bill. You are about to see sausage being made.

But when all is said and done, I think they will pass a bill and Obama will sign it. It will force everybody who isn't poor enough to be subsidized to buy PRIVATE health insurance just like the lobbyists wanted.

When a bunch of ordinary guys holding up tea bags go up against a bunch of lobbyists in expensive suits handing out campaign money like candy, guess who wins in Washington?

wbjones wrote: plus have any of you spent any time in an ER lately..?? if it's not life threatening the wait can seem forever.. hrs anyway... it's not because they don't care it's because there aren't enough people or rooms...

b/c the ER is the only place a lot of people can go to get any medical treatment. if they can't pay, we do.

we're already paying for all of it anyway, only we're paying for it in the most expensive, least effective way possible.

reasonable people can certainly disagree on the best solution, but i can't see how a reasonable person could think that the current system is sustainable.

Before starting let me say people have been calling me an A-hole for a long time. Listening to people whine about their life and what society owes them brings it out in me.

I'm self employed, and pay my own insurance out of my pocket. I have for the last five years. It takes about 15% of my income to do that. It doesn't cover doctors visits or prescriptions. There is no copay.

I do work for all the local hospitals including the VA. I'll pass on any health care run by the government.

How many people without insurance could afford it if they passed on the nice house in the nice neighborhood, or the latte on the way to work in the morning or the fancy car.

I live in a crappy little house (6 people in 1100sf) and drive crappy old cars(the "nice" one has 170K on it) because I decided health insurance was more important than having the latest and greatest stuff. My insurance is a high deductible, high out of pocket policy which covers catastrophic only. I keep a large emergency fund to cover the deductible and any unexpected doctors visits. I started doing this over fifteen years ago while making less than 30K a year while feeding and clothing four kids. I dropped out of high school got a GED. I never got a degree. My first job was making $6.50/hour. If I can take care of my family and pay my own way then anyone can if they are willing to work. It's called personal responsibility.

Being a responsible person I don't think I should have to pay for health care for someone because they decided to spend their money on crap rather than insurance. Having to pay most health care out of my pocket I shop for it just like I shop for car parts. The last time I went to the doctor for a sick visit it cost about $50 because I was paying cash and I asked how much before I went in.

A long time ago I decided I was a big boy and able to take care of myself so I moved out of my parents house. I have no intention having someone take care of me now. Let me keep my money and I will take care of me.

That being said, the system we have isn't perfect. Having the federal government take it over will make it so much worse I can't even imagine it. They have never had a program that worked efficiently or under budget. I would much rather pay too much for great medical care than have someone else pay even more for crappy care.

If you don't have health insurance, I'm sorry. Life sucks some times. I didn't have it for close to six years. If you don't have a plan to better yourself and your circumstances the chances are you will still be doing the same job in five years and still be without insurance, that is unless daddy Obama gives it to you.

Poverty is supposed to be uncomfortable, it's what encourages you to do better.

Yes, I know, I'm an A-hole. Flame all you want I got thick skin.

Thank goodness we already have the public school system, the fire department, the public library system and the police departments because getting those pinko commie socialist ideas past this super divided two party system would never happen.

The current health care system is so broken and profit driven that it can never be fixed.

yes, because roads, school, and the fire department are all things i can get insurance for.

i'd buy some damn road insurance, you should see the sad shape of the ones down here. maybe for a little more i could get coverage for extra curves in my road coverage

My mother in law worked hard and survived cancer, and now she's uninsurable. I don't have a whole lot of nice things to say to people who think that everyone looking for reform is lazy or chooses luxury over care.

MCarp22 wrote: My mother in law worked hard and survived cancer, and now she's uninsurable. I don't have a whole lot of nice things to say to people who think that everyone looking for reform is lazy or chooses luxury over care.

But think of the profits! Those poor, poor neglected profits.

Besides, We all know the government can't do anything right. Look at the Armed Forces! They're controlled by the government and they suck!

Toyman01 wrote: Before starting let me say people have been calling me an A-hole for a long time. Listening to people whine about their life and what society owes them brings it out in me. I'm self employed, and pay my own insurance out of my pocket. I have for the last five years. It takes about 15% of my income to do that. It doesn't cover doctors visits or prescriptions. There is no copay. I do work for all the local hospitals including the VA. I'll pass on any health care run by the government. How many people without insurance could afford it if they passed on the nice house in the nice neighborhood, or the latte on the way to work in the morning or the fancy car. I live in a crappy little house (6 people in 1100sf) and drive crappy old cars(the "nice" one has 170K on it) because I decided health insurance was more important than having the latest and greatest stuff. My insurance is a high deductible, high out of pocket policy which covers catastrophic only. I keep a large emergency fund to cover the deductible and any unexpected doctors visits. I started doing this over fifteen years ago while making less than 30K a year while feeding and clothing four kids. I dropped out of high school got a GED. I never got a degree. My first job was making $6.50/hour. If I can take care of my family and pay my own way then anyone can if they are willing to work. It's called personal responsibility. Being a responsible person I don't think I should have to pay for health care for someone because they decided to spend their money on crap rather than insurance. Having to pay most health care out of my pocket I shop for it just like I shop for car parts. The last time I went to the doctor for a sick visit it cost about $50 because I was paying cash and I asked how much before I went in. A long time ago I decided I was a big boy and able to take care of myself so I moved out of my parents house. I have no intention having someone take care of me now. Let me keep my money and I will take care of me. That being said, the system we have isn't perfect. Having the federal government take it over will make it so much worse I can't even imagine it. They have never had a program that worked efficiently or under budget. I would much rather pay too much for great medical care than have someone else pay even more for crappy care. If you don't have health insurance, I'm sorry. Life sucks some times. I didn't have it for close to six years. If you don't have a plan to better yourself and your circumstances the chances are you will still be doing the same job in five years and still be without insurance, that is unless daddy Obama gives it to you. Poverty is supposed to be uncomfortable, it's what encourages you to do better. Yes, I know, I'm an A-hole. Flame all you want I got thick skin.

Have you read the fine print on your health insurance policy lately?

I work for a medical device company and will be hit with a double whammy if the Marxist Baucus bill passes. You see, our industry quickly agreed to make across the board price reductions in an effort to help hospitals meet the cost reduction targets that are being called for. Now, the Marxist Baucus bill quietly slips in an additional burden on our industry that represents a 3.1% tax.

In case you guys haven’t heard, the Bunning Ammendment, which requires that bills are posted on the internet at least 72 hours in advance of voting was shot down yesterday with only one democrat supporting it. The rational being that the process would be slowed down and few people would understand the “legalese” anyway.

Bunning Ammendment

Really…that’s it…you don’t have more compelling reasons for shooting it down than that???

About 15% of our economy is based on healthcare and we’re not just talking about money, people really will live or die as a result of the changes we make yet we can’t even see the %&$%# bill before it’s too late to do anything about it.

We’ve talked about healthcare reform for decades and now we’re worried about waiting an additional 72 hours.

Kudos for adding insult to injury by telling us you think we’re too stupid to understand it anyway.

So, I happen to know about the hit the medical device industry will take because I’m in it but what about the myriad of other folks that are about to get shafted because they’re not part of the chosen ones…not hanging out with the cool kids.

I know, I know, our fault, we’ve foolishly been focusing our resources & efforts on saving lives when we should have been spending YOUR healthcare dollars on greasing lobbyist & spending our time cozying up to unions to make ourselves attractive to the new world order.