Comments on: An Alternative to Michael Moore http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/07/18/an-alternative-to-michael-moore/ Cleaning the Augean Stables of the Health Care Debate Thu, 10 May 2012 21:39:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Catron http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/07/18/an-alternative-to-michael-moore/#comment-4383 Catron Fri, 20 Jul 2007 02:01:30 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/07/18/an-alternative-to-michael-moore/#comment-4383 Thanks for catching that. I was so focused on Jellova's free market claim that I forgot to address the bankruptcy canard. More on that issue <a href="http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/07/19/medical-bankruptcy-myth-debunked-yet-again/" rel="nofollow">here</a>. Thanks for catching that. I was so focused on Jellova’s free market claim that I forgot to address the bankruptcy canard. More on that issue here.

]]> By: RIch http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/07/18/an-alternative-to-michael-moore/#comment-4378 RIch Thu, 19 Jul 2007 23:00:25 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/07/18/an-alternative-to-michael-moore/#comment-4378 Not to mention this myth: <i>... as evidenced by the fact that 50% of personal bankruptcies are due to health care costs...</i> Not to mention this myth:

… as evidenced by the fact that 50% of personal bankruptcies are due to health care costs…

]]> By: Catron http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/07/18/an-alternative-to-michael-moore/#comment-4344 Catron Wed, 18 Jul 2007 19:46:31 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/07/18/an-alternative-to-michael-moore/#comment-4344 <em>The free market health care system in the US has had a free hand to do whatever it wants to do for the past 35 years.</em> American health care is most emphatically NOT a free market system. During that 35-year period, the federal government has continuously meddled with the system and the resultant red tape is behind much of its high cost. So, the solution to all of the things you mention is to get government OUT of health care. The free market health care system in the US has had a free hand to do whatever it wants to do for the past 35 years.

American health care is most emphatically NOT a free market system. During that 35-year period, the federal government has continuously meddled with the system and the resultant red tape is behind much of its high cost.

So, the solution to all of the things you mention is to get government OUT of health care.

]]> By: Jellova http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/07/18/an-alternative-to-michael-moore/#comment-4342 Jellova Wed, 18 Jul 2007 19:10:24 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/07/18/an-alternative-to-michael-moore/#comment-4342 The free market health care system in the US has had a free hand to do whatever it wants to do for the past 35 years. If it were going to cover everyone at an affordable price, it would have done so by now. If it were not going to cover people with pre-existing conditions, it would have done so. If it were going to provide health care in a timely manner without telling people to "wait and see if it gets worse" it would have done so. The current system is basically a wealth transfer system from people who get really injured or ill to the health care industry, as evidenced by the fact that 50% of personal bankruptcies are due to health care costs. The health care providers have to make a profit. The government does not. It's time to cut out the middleman and become self insured and lower the overall cost of health care by 50 to 70%. If my taxes increased by say, $200/mo but my monthly premium of health insurance (not counting prescriptions) goes to $0 from $400, I've just saved $200 month and greatly reduced prescription drug price to one on a par with costs in other countries. So do I care that my taxes went up? Not at all! Plus the added bonus of knowing if I get really sick or injured I'm not going to lose my home. Plus the other bonus that I cannot be denied health care under any circumstances and all my fellow citizens are also covered. No more 50% of personal bankruptcies due to health care costs. No more people dying because they were told to "wait and see if it gets worse" as happened to 2 people I know. We're already self insured for fire, police, military, public roads and library systems which are available to all citizens and we don't get a bill when we use them. We have a universal postal system that private shippers are allowed to compete with. Under a universal health care plan, we become self-insured pay less than we're currently paying plus everyone would be insured. Health care companies won't disappear. Under a universal system, they could compete just like private shippers compete with the post office. As a patient, you could take your health care card and go to the doctor of your choice. No more being told you can't go to this or that doctor because they're outside your plan. The doctors/companies that do the best job for their patients would get the most business. But in a truly free market, we should not feel obliged to keep any particular industry in business. If private insurers are capable of competing effectively in the free market by providing better more timely service to patients, there's nothing to stop them from doing so. For 35 years, they've called the shots. Under universal health care, they'll find they now have to compete against a health care plan set up by we-the-people. They'll have to provide better care to everyone at a more affordable price which will greatly enhance competition. If they can - great! If not, good riddance. The free market health care system in the US has had a free hand to do whatever it wants to do for the past 35 years. If it were going to cover everyone at an affordable price, it would have done so by now. If it were not going to cover people with pre-existing conditions, it would have done so. If it were going to provide health care in a timely manner without telling people to “wait and see if it gets worse” it would have done so. The current system is basically a wealth transfer system from people who get really injured or ill to the health care industry, as evidenced by the fact that 50% of personal bankruptcies are due to health care costs. The health care providers have to make a profit. The government does not. It’s time to cut out the middleman and become self insured and lower the overall cost of health care by 50 to 70%. If my taxes increased by say, $200/mo but my monthly premium of health insurance (not counting prescriptions) goes to $0 from $400, I’ve just saved $200 month and greatly reduced prescription drug price to one on a par with costs in other countries. So do I care that my taxes went up? Not at all! Plus the added bonus of knowing if I get really sick or injured I’m not going to lose my home. Plus the other bonus that I cannot be denied health care under any circumstances and all my fellow citizens are also covered. No more 50% of personal bankruptcies due to health care costs. No more people dying because they were told to “wait and see if it gets worse” as happened to 2 people I know. We’re already self insured for fire, police, military, public roads and library systems which are available to all citizens and we don’t get a bill when we use them. We have a universal postal system that private shippers are allowed to compete with. Under a universal health care plan, we become self-insured pay less than we’re currently paying plus everyone would be insured. Health care companies won’t disappear. Under a universal system, they could compete just like private shippers compete with the post office. As a patient, you could take your health care card and go to the doctor of your choice. No more being told you can’t go to this or that doctor because they’re outside your plan. The doctors/companies that do the best job for their patients would get the most business. But in a truly free market, we should not feel obliged to keep any particular industry in business. If private insurers are capable of competing effectively in the free market by providing better more timely service to patients, there’s nothing to stop them from doing so. For 35 years, they’ve called the shots. Under universal health care, they’ll find they now have to compete against a health care plan set up by we-the-people. They’ll have to provide better care to everyone at a more affordable price which will greatly enhance competition. If they can – great! If not, good riddance.

]]>