- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
House Fails to Override Veto of Children's Health Bill
Tough for those kids but we are a capitalistic nation - not a compassionate nation.
Joe
Bush Wins to Keep Money from the Poor Kids
- Thread starter Joesitz (RIP)
- Start date
Tough for those kids but we are a capitalistic nation - not a compassionate nation.
Joe
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2003
Frankly, I think it's time the legislators stop using cigarette taxes as the one extra source of income they can always count on (for the record, I do not smoke, so it's not personal). The cigarette taxes are already unreasonable. Moreover, they hit the poor far more so than the more well-to-do. This is not only because smoking is more of a lower class vice nowadays. People who are a bit more internet-savvy order online from other countries or Indian reservations, avoiding the tax altogether. If those taxes are pushed my higher, cigarette trade will just move underground, and the government won't get anything out of it at all (except for the headache that always comes with an increase in black market activity).
On the issue of children's health coverage - yes, it is a shame that America still can't provide that. At least I am proud to be living in the only state that has actually tried to really rectify matters as opposed to putting temporary band-aids on it.
On the issue of children's health coverage - yes, it is a shame that America still can't provide that. At least I am proud to be living in the only state that has actually tried to really rectify matters as opposed to putting temporary band-aids on it.
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2003
my state has health insurrance for any and every child... all the parent has to do is apply for it.
more states should look into doing that... instead of crying to big brother for everything. If the big boys won't do it, maybe the states should do something...
more states should look into doing that... instead of crying to big brother for everything. If the big boys won't do it, maybe the states should do something...
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2005
Heh. I'll be happy when Massachusetts cuts my taxes to make up for the money I have to shell out to have coverage. I'm not the only person I know who's seriously considered just paying the fine and not buying it. While I appreciate that they didn't decide to take even MORE of my money to pay for state-provided coverage, as the state taxes are absurdly high already, I'm still annoyed I'm forced to pay for my own and still get taxed to pay for MassHealth coverage for other people.
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2006
I feel bad for the kids. I am lucky that I have a job that provides great health benefits. Thankfully the State of New Jersey does something for me other then taking most of my money!! But it's a shame that kids dont' have insurance. I have families that I work with right now that have serious problems because they don't have health insurance for their children. It's a shame.
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2003
Actually, Massachusetts tax burden is below the national average (http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/pf/0704/gallery.tax_friendliest/8.html), making me cringe every time I hear "Taxachusetts"; saying "Taxconsin" would be far more appropriate! The reason I support universal coverage is that NOT having it puts the whole system out of whack. When an uninsured person shows up at the ER with a real emergency, they cannot be turned away (and rightly so). So, a lot of money ends up being spent on very costly procedures many of which could have been prevented. I'm not saying the Mass solution is perfect, but it is finally a step in the right direction.
I certainly was NOT surprised that Congress couldn't override Bush's veto of the SCHIP program.
I do like what I heard yesterday, though: "It's not "socialized" health care. It's "civilized" health care!" Health care coverage in the US is insane. NO insurance company will insure me. Gee, why would they want to insure a person who actually needs medical coverage? Heavens, I might actually require a kidney transplant sometime in the next twenty years! And what would be left to pay for things like --- rent, utilities, food, etc. -- after I pay for the prescription drugs I need to take daily to stay in reasonable health?
Everything is soooo compartmentalized here! Sure, everyone (except me and people like me) can pay for health insurance/health care. Or get a government job with coverage. Or a job that provides coverage. But, wait....fewer and fewer companies provide coverage these days. Well, guess ya gotta pay for it yourself...if they would even cover you.
That is the problem many people face. I am certainly not alone. And many of those 47 million uninsured are children. Guess those little suckers ought to get their thumbs out of their mouths and put away the video game controllers and get off the couch and get a job! Are there any jobs out there for 3 yr olds where someone will change your diaper?????
And the real beauty of this fiasco? While Congress is twiddling their thumbs, money for the program has dried up. Sorry kid. No chemo for you! Bleeding to death from that accident? Hope your parents have lots of towels to sop up the mess and a stapler to close the wound!
End of rant.....but NOT the end of the problem.
I do like what I heard yesterday, though: "It's not "socialized" health care. It's "civilized" health care!" Health care coverage in the US is insane. NO insurance company will insure me. Gee, why would they want to insure a person who actually needs medical coverage? Heavens, I might actually require a kidney transplant sometime in the next twenty years! And what would be left to pay for things like --- rent, utilities, food, etc. -- after I pay for the prescription drugs I need to take daily to stay in reasonable health?
Everything is soooo compartmentalized here! Sure, everyone (except me and people like me) can pay for health insurance/health care. Or get a government job with coverage. Or a job that provides coverage. But, wait....fewer and fewer companies provide coverage these days. Well, guess ya gotta pay for it yourself...if they would even cover you.
That is the problem many people face. I am certainly not alone. And many of those 47 million uninsured are children. Guess those little suckers ought to get their thumbs out of their mouths and put away the video game controllers and get off the couch and get a job! Are there any jobs out there for 3 yr olds where someone will change your diaper?????
And the real beauty of this fiasco? While Congress is twiddling their thumbs, money for the program has dried up. Sorry kid. No chemo for you! Bleeding to death from that accident? Hope your parents have lots of towels to sop up the mess and a stapler to close the wound!
End of rant.....but NOT the end of the problem.
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2003
Actually, last time I checked, any ER must admit anyone who comes in, insured or not...
Edited to add: chemotherapy is covered under the Emergency Care law as well (unless you are an illegal immigrant).
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
I went into ER a few years ago for a possible stroke and waited 3 hours for my turn at the MRI machine. I believe the sign of a stroke must be treated immediately. So much for American style of health care. Once my health insurance was checked out, I got to see a doctor.
Joe
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2003
All this means is that there should be more stringent checks on hospitals regarding compliance with existing laws. Actually, the state of ER's is a separate topic altogether; as I have said before, I believe ERs will only get better once universal coverage is in place.
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2003
Has anyone seen Michael Moore's movie Sicko?
It has gotten bi-partisan support for being a fair picture of the health care crisis in America.
Even people with health insurance are not covered for everything. I am fortunate to have health care, but I am now about to have a cracked tooth removed and will likely need to have it replaced with an implant since it's a back molar. The implant is not covered and will likely cost $3000. If it were an upper tooth, I could see possibly not covering it. However, it's a lower one - without an implant, the upper one will drop after a while and cause more dental issues that will cost money. My coverage will only pay for part of a crown, but due to the position and the condition of the cracked tooth, both expert opinions are that the crown will not succeed and that I would eventually need an implant.
People have to realize that socialized health care is not the cure-all. In many countries with universal coverage, there are long waits for non-urgent care. Those who can afford it, pay for supplemental coverage.
Part of the reason for the high medical costs is paying for emergency room care for people who do not have insurance. Also, the high administrative costs. HMO's were initially keeping costs down, but over time, more money has gone towards administrative functions. They actually have found that people with less restrictive rules have lower overall costs. They also have to change the legal system to prevent nuisance suits.
Insurance companies often pay off instead of going to court, but that drives up the cost of malpractice insurance, which is passed on to patients. Many OB's have changed specialties or have changed careers because they can't afford the insurance increases.
If they could limit malpractice suits and lower the administrative costs, more people and companies could purchase some and/or better coverage. I think that would go a long way towards not having to raise taxes as much to provide universal health care.
It has gotten bi-partisan support for being a fair picture of the health care crisis in America.
Even people with health insurance are not covered for everything. I am fortunate to have health care, but I am now about to have a cracked tooth removed and will likely need to have it replaced with an implant since it's a back molar. The implant is not covered and will likely cost $3000. If it were an upper tooth, I could see possibly not covering it. However, it's a lower one - without an implant, the upper one will drop after a while and cause more dental issues that will cost money. My coverage will only pay for part of a crown, but due to the position and the condition of the cracked tooth, both expert opinions are that the crown will not succeed and that I would eventually need an implant.
People have to realize that socialized health care is not the cure-all. In many countries with universal coverage, there are long waits for non-urgent care. Those who can afford it, pay for supplemental coverage.
Part of the reason for the high medical costs is paying for emergency room care for people who do not have insurance. Also, the high administrative costs. HMO's were initially keeping costs down, but over time, more money has gone towards administrative functions. They actually have found that people with less restrictive rules have lower overall costs. They also have to change the legal system to prevent nuisance suits.
Insurance companies often pay off instead of going to court, but that drives up the cost of malpractice insurance, which is passed on to patients. Many OB's have changed specialties or have changed careers because they can't afford the insurance increases.
If they could limit malpractice suits and lower the administrative costs, more people and companies could purchase some and/or better coverage. I think that would go a long way towards not having to raise taxes as much to provide universal health care.
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
I don't even think St. Haliburton and St. Blackwater were actually in a legal competitive bidding for contracts. they were just assigned to them for money purposes, of course. Why give it to their competitors who may not follow the White House Line of thought.
As to the first statement, if you want to buy a Yacht, you do not have to pay taxes on it. Bush decided that no 'have mores' would buy a yacht and pay taxes for it and the yacht manufacturers would go out of business. Can you imagine the United States without yachts? Much better, we make the poor kids pay for their health care.
Joe
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2003
Unfortunately, the states that did this have not seen much reduction in health care costs.
Add insurance companies' and pharmaceuticals' profits to the list. Unfortunately, the only candidate who is actively talking about this is McCain, who probably has the least chances to get to the White House.
The movie did make good points, but I couldn't get over the BS, such as showing Cuban hospitals (I grew up in Soviet Union, I have a very good idea about how such things work).
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2003
Most universal coverage plans tend to ignore the dental altogether, whereas in my experience this is where some of the most egregious things occur. Due to costs, it has recently been all but written out of Medicaid.
Similar threads
