Comments for The Amazing Maze of US Health Care http://thehealthcaremaze.us A plea for a more rational system Sat, 14 Apr 2012 14:45:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 Comment on Why Should Employers Offer Health Insurance? by Gay Burke http://thehealthcaremaze.us/2010/06/21/why-should-employers-offer-health-insurance/#comment-3012 Gay Burke Sat, 14 Apr 2012 14:45:25 +0000 http://thehealthcaremaze.us/?p=2218#comment-3012 I wrote the article questioning why Americans just accept that employers are the portal to health insurance. I find it a ludicrous proposition and am surprised that no one else asks the question. There are numerous other options-with over 50 percent of covered Americans already accessing health insurance through gthe government, it can be a logical solution. My goal was to separate the discussion from single payer and simply start to raise awareness of the idea that employers should not be in the business of determining whether I can be in an HMO, PPO or other plan. Or if I want to start my own small business-I will lose my access to group insurance until i have enough employees and income to create a new group. Btw, I am not opposed to a government based solution-but would also not be opposed to ither kinds of solutions that take a step to separate employment and health insurance-in my mind, that is the first step toward getting it right. My full name is GayAnn (and I am a Ms!). Thanks for continuing the discussion. I wrote the article questioning why Americans just accept that employers are the portal to health insurance. I find it a ludicrous proposition and am surprised that no one else asks the question. There are numerous other options-with over 50 percent of covered Americans already accessing health insurance through gthe government, it can be a logical solution. My goal was to separate the discussion from single payer and simply start to raise awareness of the idea that employers should not be in the business of determining whether I can be in an HMO, PPO or other plan. Or if I want to start my own small business-I will lose my access to group insurance until i have enough employees and income to create a new group. Btw, I am not opposed to a government based solution-but would also not be opposed to ither kinds of solutions that take a step to separate employment and health insurance-in my mind, that is the first step toward getting it right. My full name is GayAnn (and I am a Ms!). Thanks for continuing the discussion.

]]> Comment on Health Care is a Human Right – or Not by guest http://thehealthcaremaze.us/2011/02/19/health-care-is-a-human-right-or-not/#comment-2929 guest Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:51:20 +0000 http://thehealthcaremaze.us/?p=2754#comment-2929 All those who think Healthcare is a PRIVILEGE needs to get over their self-centered selves! HARDSHIPS HAPPEN TO EVERYONE! You can lose your job! You can lose your Healthcare! You can become sick unexpectedly! You will fall on hard times at one time or another! You can become one of the 45+ Million with nothing! SO WHEN THESE EVENTS HAPPEN TO YOU AND YOU LOSE YOUR HEALTHCARE I WILL THINK YOU ARE SO PRIVILEGED! All those who think Healthcare is a PRIVILEGE needs to get over their self-centered selves! HARDSHIPS HAPPEN TO EVERYONE!

You can lose your job!
You can lose your Healthcare!
You can become sick unexpectedly!
You will fall on hard times at one time or another!
You can become one of the 45+ Million with nothing!
SO WHEN THESE EVENTS HAPPEN TO YOU AND YOU LOSE YOUR HEALTHCARE I WILL THINK YOU ARE SO PRIVILEGED!

]]> Comment on Survey Suggests Increase in HIE Popularity by Shirl http://thehealthcaremaze.us/2009/08/17/survey-suggests-increase-in-hie-popularity/#comment-2723 Shirl Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:40:01 +0000 http://thehealthcaremaze.us/?p=1068#comment-2723 A simple and intelinlget point, well made. Thanks! A simple and intelinlget point, well made. Thanks!

]]> Comment on Exchange Politics – It’s Personal by Bert http://thehealthcaremaze.us/2011/08/24/exchange-politics-its-personal/#comment-2353 Bert Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:37:54 +0000 http://thehealthcaremaze.us/?p=3088#comment-2353 Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery The Wall Street journal follows your lead. http://tiny.cc/2cd01 Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

The Wall Street journal follows your lead.

http://tiny.cc/2cd01

]]> Comment on Exchange Politics – It’s Personal by Just When it Seemed There Was Hope, Michigan Voters Get Stupid Again « Cynical Synapse http://thehealthcaremaze.us/2011/08/24/exchange-politics-its-personal/#comment-2349 Just When it Seemed There Was Hope, Michigan Voters Get Stupid Again « Cynical Synapse Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:56:05 +0000 http://thehealthcaremaze.us/?p=3088#comment-2349 [...] there’s that health care thing. Romney signed insurance mandates into law for Massachussetts but opposes Obama’s health care r.... How does that even make sense? The similarities are so coincidental, Republican presidential [...] [...] there’s that health care thing. Romney signed insurance mandates into law for Massachussetts but opposes Obama’s health care r…. How does that even make sense? The similarities are so coincidental, Republican presidential [...]

]]> Comment on Health Care is a Human Right – or Not by jimmy1920 http://thehealthcaremaze.us/2011/02/19/health-care-is-a-human-right-or-not/#comment-2321 jimmy1920 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 16:46:45 +0000 http://thehealthcaremaze.us/?p=2754#comment-2321 The point that I was trying to get at, is that a right is something that I, as an individual, can feel justified in demanding for myself. Therefore, the right-privilege dichotomy focuses on me. Instead, I am trying to posit health care as an obligation we have to provide to others. Not a right to take, but an obligation to give. But in the United States of America that we live in today, duties and obligations are not part of our framework, no duty to pay taxes, no obligation to support education. Giving is not part of our dialogue. But people seem to understand taking. Which, in my humble opinion, is why health care as a right resonates. In essence it is saying if you are not going to give, then I want to take it. That in no way diminishes your main point. The bible says to take care of the sick. There are clearly services that fall under the term "health care" that don't quite qualify as "taking care of the sick" face lifts, for example. The point that I was trying to get at, is that a right is something that I, as an individual, can feel justified in demanding for myself. Therefore, the right-privilege dichotomy focuses on me.
Instead, I am trying to posit health care as an obligation we have to provide to others. Not a right to take, but an obligation to give.
But in the United States of America that we live in today, duties and obligations are not part of our framework, no duty to pay taxes, no obligation to support education. Giving is not part of our dialogue.
But people seem to understand taking. Which, in my humble opinion, is why health care as a right resonates.
In essence it is saying if you are not going to give, then I want to take it.
That in no way diminishes your main point. The bible says to take care of the sick. There are clearly services that fall under the term “health care” that don’t quite qualify as “taking care of the sick” face lifts, for example.

]]> Comment on Health Care is a Human Right – or Not by Gil Lancaster http://thehealthcaremaze.us/2011/02/19/health-care-is-a-human-right-or-not/#comment-2316 Gil Lancaster Sat, 06 Aug 2011 02:47:18 +0000 http://thehealthcaremaze.us/?p=2754#comment-2316 Very nice blog post James; I do agree that BASIC healthcare is a public good, but as such isn't it also a right? Maybe not a right of the individual, but the right of a member of a society? The real reason that most people frame the question of right versus privilege is not about the social issue, but rather who should pay for the healthcare. If you believe it is a right, then it should be paid by the "public", and if you believe it is a privilege, it should be paid by the individual. Even if you believe that basic healthcare is a public good, wouldn’t you have to also agree that certain treatments such face lifts and Lasik surgery are not a public good? And if that is the case, who decides what conditions are for the public good and what are not? Our society has no mechanisms for that! The EMBRACE healthcare plan (http://hpfhr.org/the_embrace_plan) is a new healthcare system reform proposal that addresses exactly this issue and separates healthcare into three tiers: a basic tier of life saving, life extending or preventative care services, a second tier of quality of life services and a third tier for luxury services like the face lift above. The basic tier would fit your definition of medicine for the public good, and would be funded by Congress; the remaining tiers would be left to either private insurance or to the individual. Under EMBRACE, basic healthcare would be a public good (and funded publically) while allowing our society to have a mechanism to save money where there may not be a public good. Very nice blog post James; I do agree that BASIC healthcare is a public good, but as such isn’t it also a right? Maybe not a right of the individual, but the right of a member of a society?
The real reason that most people frame the question of right versus privilege is not about the social issue, but rather who should pay for the healthcare. If you believe it is a right, then it should be paid by the “public”, and if you believe it is a privilege, it should be paid by the individual.
Even if you believe that basic healthcare is a public good, wouldn’t you have to also agree that certain treatments such face lifts and Lasik surgery are not a public good? And if that is the case, who decides what conditions are for the public good and what are not? Our society has no mechanisms for that!
The EMBRACE healthcare plan (http://hpfhr.org/the_embrace_plan) is a new healthcare system reform proposal that addresses exactly this issue and separates healthcare into three tiers: a basic tier of life saving, life extending or preventative care services, a second tier of quality of life services and a third tier for luxury services like the face lift above. The basic tier would fit your definition of medicine for the public good, and would be funded by Congress; the remaining tiers would be left to either private insurance or to the individual.
Under EMBRACE, basic healthcare would be a public good (and funded publically) while allowing our society to have a mechanism to save money where there may not be a public good.

]]> Comment on Payment Reform that Matters to Patients by Health Insurance http://thehealthcaremaze.us/2010/08/21/payment-reform-that-matters-to-patients/#comment-2231 Health Insurance Thu, 16 Jun 2011 22:14:29 +0000 http://thehealthcaremaze.us/?p=2362#comment-2231 I really appreciate this post. I’ve been looking all over for this! Thank God I found it on Google. You have made my day! Thx again. I really appreciate this post. I’ve been looking all over for this! Thank God I found it on Google. You have made my day! Thx again.

]]> Comment on Romney Stands by Massachusetts Health Care Reform by Pillen VZ http://thehealthcaremaze.us/2011/05/12/romney-stands-by-massachusetts-health-care-reform/#comment-2216 Pillen VZ Thu, 02 Jun 2011 23:02:17 +0000 http://thehealthcaremaze.us/?p=2939#comment-2216 I think same like you and with the comment of Jason. Jason says absolutly that what i mean, so i do not write the same also. Thank to the writer of this blog and Jason. comfort plane I think same like you and with the comment of Jason. Jason says absolutly that what i mean, so i do not write the same also. Thank to the writer of this blog and Jason. comfort plane

]]> Comment on Save Medicare, Please! And its Beneficiaries. by jimmy1920 http://thehealthcaremaze.us/2011/04/27/save-medicare-please-and-its-beneficiaries/#comment-2210 jimmy1920 Tue, 31 May 2011 01:06:46 +0000 http://thehealthcaremaze.us/?p=2884#comment-2210 Ellen Thanks for your contribution. I think expanding Medicare is a good idea, however, I am not too keen on the "buying in" concept, unless it is on a strict ability to pay basis. In general, that is not the way Medicare works. Everyone pays the same, more or less. I know there are exceptions,but the exceptions just prove the rule. As for the Medicare taxes, you may the whole point of the Ryan proposal - it is intended to make the PROGRAM solvent - forget about the beneficiaries,. They can go broke paying for medical care that Ryan, Norquist and their ilk want to feel absolutely no responsibility for. Ellen
Thanks for your contribution.
I think expanding Medicare is a good idea, however, I am not too keen on the “buying in” concept, unless it is on a strict ability to pay basis. In general, that is not the way Medicare works. Everyone pays the same, more or less. I know there are exceptions,but the exceptions just prove the rule.
As for the Medicare taxes, you may the whole point of the Ryan proposal – it is intended to make the PROGRAM solvent – forget about the beneficiaries,. They can go broke paying for medical care that Ryan, Norquist and their ilk want to feel absolutely no responsibility for.

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