tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14010211.post6224653328515725495..comments2024-01-08T06:12:13.666-08:00Comments on Pot Committed: Otis vs. St. Francis Hospitalchange100http://www.blogger.com/profile/18345734448270997870noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14010211.post-6019685883835200032010-01-24T15:23:48.206-08:002010-01-24T15:23:48.206-08:00I wrote about this in a post in October. I deal w...I wrote about this in a post in October. I deal with insurance companies on a regular basis, and my patients have horror stories out the wazoo. From 20 years of work in health care, here's my perspective:<br /><br />http://pokerworks.com/blogs/doctordadpoker/2009/10/16/capitalism-and-health/clearspinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01441757666168456160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14010211.post-52502287914754330342010-01-20T17:53:17.638-08:002010-01-20T17:53:17.638-08:00Absolutely right on. There is no corner of the dev...Absolutely right on. There is no corner of the devastation of our current healthcare system I don't see. I am an Independent Contractor with the courts. Thankfully my husband is a federal employee and carries my health care (for which we pay >$330.00 per mos w/a $1200 per person deductible) It's good coverage but it's not free. I have two college aged children who no longer qualify to be covered on our plan. The mountain lion prevention plan for those two adds another $300+ per month to my bill, but doesn't add much coverage, but it may keep them out of debtors prison in case of a catastrophe. My father-in-law is on medicare and hits the donut hole where he has to shell out $300+ per month for meds. <br /><br />For my job, in family court, I get to decide which parent has the better plan to cover the children and then divide between them any uncovered costs, and in the end, try to make them pay each other. Just to make my day as a taxpayer in cases where the kids are on public coverage the State shows up to tell me how much they are spending per child. Broken doesn't even begin to cover it.<br /><br />Frankly, no matter what gets done it's gonna be a mess but if nothing gets done it will remain a tragedy. <br /><br />There is no constitutional mandate for public schools. They came about through activism and a belief that all Americans are entitled to an education. Shouldn't we be saying the same thing about healthcare?AgSweephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01802088558358326973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14010211.post-68068550769313003272010-01-20T17:23:40.832-08:002010-01-20T17:23:40.832-08:00I'm sorry to read about your mom's situati...I'm sorry to read about your mom's situation. I don't really agree with the bills that are in the senate or house, but something has to change. Our elected officials really need to start thinking out of the box. (although I have zero faith they will.) A few months ago I read a really interesting article in The Atlantic, which I think offers some different ideas. It's a shame our politicians are so reluctant to stray from the current system.<br />http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200909/health-carekarichuckroryskylarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06171836689056361064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14010211.post-90147984470805847662010-01-20T15:18:43.702-08:002010-01-20T15:18:43.702-08:00I agree. Something MUST be done. But the Obamaca...I agree. Something MUST be done. But the Obamacare plan Dems are trying to ram through in secret is a disaster.<br /><br />It's a HUGE giveaway to health care companies by forcing Americans to buy private care whether they want to or not.<br /><br />It's going to cause the deficit to go up because it only promises to cut "fraud and abuse" from Medicare without actually enacting any reforms to do so (meaning they'll just forget about that part later).<br /><br />And it includes ZERO provisions to actually control the cost of services provided by hospitals.<br /><br />Why not common sense reform?<br /><br />1) Portability.<br />2) No denial for pre-existing conditions.<br />3) Some limited cost caps for health care coverage (especially for those with pre-existing conditions).<br />4) Expansion of Medicare to cover more of the poor.<br />5) Medical malpractice reform.<br />6) Allow health care companies to sell across state lines.<br /><br />I'm no expert. So I'm not sure what else can help control costs. But I know there are some smart people out there who we should listen to.CJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00332618572275553171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14010211.post-69001778644948794502010-01-20T14:56:44.266-08:002010-01-20T14:56:44.266-08:00I totally agree with you. It seems crazy to me tha...I totally agree with you. It seems crazy to me that health care can break us financially just so we can live 20 years later. My insurance is good for disasters; so if I fall off a mountain or if a mountain lion tears my head off while I'm running on a trail, I'm good; otherwise it's a drain on my finances. I truly wonder if the taxes I would pay for a socialist system would be a lot more than what I pay for health insurance now. I really doubt it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08837529956827141862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14010211.post-12644026552833125882010-01-20T14:50:18.258-08:002010-01-20T14:50:18.258-08:00I'm from the UK and of all the things to compl...I'm from the UK and of all the things to complain about over here one thing I would never say a bad word about is our NHS service. I spent 2 days in hospital last June and although it wasn't an experience I'd want to repeat, I am so thankful for the fact that I had a serious kidney infection treated and walked out of the hospital with no debts. I am happy that my tax money goes towards giving care to everyone regardless of wealth or opportunity, it is a small price to pay IMO. Good luck now that Mass. has voted Republican.Noopshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13680300057132119151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14010211.post-74068833061983550132010-01-20T14:45:57.363-08:002010-01-20T14:45:57.363-08:00http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_otfwl2zc6Qc/SoMLoWBKM4I/...http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_otfwl2zc6Qc/SoMLoWBKM4I/AAAAAAAAK4g/wKdZyg5LxQ0/s1600-h/profits.bmp<br /><br />It's not the insurance companies, it's the health care providers that rape you.Gamecockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17884811655531592254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14010211.post-37185309797935798402010-01-20T14:12:01.537-08:002010-01-20T14:12:01.537-08:00Wow, I had no idea you were going through this las...Wow, I had no idea you were going through this last year, but I'm happy that your mom made it through.<br /><br />I'm struggling with breathing problems right now but don't want to get tests run because my shitty insurance won't cover them. But your story is making me rethink putting it off and hoping it goes away. The debt may be a small price to pay...<br /><br />Thanks for sharing your story.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10317720703692599917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14010211.post-16464274104189354062010-01-20T13:18:12.512-08:002010-01-20T13:18:12.512-08:00I agree. I am somewhat torn by Scott Brown getting...I agree. I am somewhat torn by Scott Brown getting elected as the stopper.. in an ideal situation the reps and dems would now have to talk about Healthcare and maybe get something together that is fiscally responsible and will actually help people. Of course our government is more like bickering babies so I do not hold too much hope out.SirFWALGManhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01310209706844541719noreply@blogger.com