The Observation Deck

This should offend every taxpaying citizen. There is such a thing as being too kind and being taken for it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLJxmJZXgNI



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Oh for christ sake.

Our health care system is so broken a 100 million dollars is a drop in the bucket of waist.

Perhaps instead of looking to demonize the easy target we should take a look at our own failures.

Click Here Please

Here Too Please

Please also listen to the podcast if you did not catch the original airings last week.

The rest of the world can do it but god forbid we hear the "s" word.

Until recently I worried about the healthcare crisis, but luckily had not been affected. Recently I lost my state coverage and because of existing conditions I can not get coverage. I was hospitalized in April when I had healthcare and now the thought of having to be hospitalized terrifies. The medication I take costs $1,200 a month, there are no generics available. Right now I am lucky that I get prescription assistance though but that is only available for one year. I see a doctor monthly and see a therapist weekly. I am lucky that they do payments on a sliding scale. I worry so much. I am grateful that my children have coverage through the socialized system of medicare and that my husband is able to pay for his own coverage as he is self-employed. I worry though about the people who are like me but for various reasons can't find the care they need. The state of healthcare is this country is pathetic. I know people worry about socializing it, but what answers do they have for people like me that can not get coverage or do we not matter.

I thought mothers of children who qualified for state care could also receive it? Did you check or is that what you lost?

why is it that I keep hearing about how well all these other countries do it, yet when I get a chance to talk to someone from that country, they tell me a completely different story.

Latest sample... Just hosted my wifes family from Wales. They didn't seem too happy with the system there.

not sayin' we're perfect. just questioning whether we can fix the boat or if it's time to jump ship.

Justine Cooper wrote:I thought mothers of children who qualified for state care could also receive it? Did you check or is that what you lost?

Yeah that is what I had Justine, but because my husband's income went up a bit, about $2,500, last year I lost my coverage. My social worker tried very hard to find a way to help me keep it but there is only so much they can do. We go back in October to see if I can re-qualify. It's kind of a catch 22 we hope I can qualify because it's scary to not have coverage, but then again that means our income is low. It frustrates me that I cannot go out and pay for coverage because no insurance company will cover me knowing what costs they have and if they don't cover my preexisting condition it's pointless. I know other people going through this same thing and it's just not right.

It is true that that "Poverty Line" that you need to be around in order to get government care is insane. Your case in point just a jump in income of $2,500 is not enough to buy your own coverage but enough to be considered to far above the line.

@Brad I do not think everybody is happy with they system in their country. All I can see is the numbers. Seems to me that the rest f the free world can insure 95% of their population for much less than we can insure 84% of ours.

Also think of how many people here go bankrupt due to medical bills. If you listen to one of the podcasts you will hear a German man stating that that is unthinkable and would just not happen in Germany.

One more story this morning.

Click Here Please

If only we had a system as good as England...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/feb/17/health.nhs

If you want to change the healthcare system, fine, but be careful you're not tossing out the baby with the bathwater.

Bret Callentine wrote:If only we had a system as good as England...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/feb/17/health.nhs

If you want to change the healthcare system, fine, but be careful you're not tossing out the baby with the bathwater.

No system is perfect - and the article you linked to describes a set of unusual circumstances, and yes the NHS is a system that could be improved.

But....as a basic premises, having everyone covered is better than not; and not having coverage related to employer benefits packages, are preferable.

But....as a basic premises, having everyone covered is better than not; and not having coverage related to employer benefits packages, are preferable.

I would agree in principle. However, I would argue that the best thing about our current system is the way the free market pushes for better services.

Is this another vouchers issue, like with the schools?

I do not think it is a another voucher problem. The vouchers for schools IMO are just a finger in the dyke of a larger systemic problem. Any kind of short term solution is not going to cut it in the Health System here. We need large sweeping change to keep cost under control, while providing superior care.

Bret Callentine wrote:

But....as a basic premises, having everyone covered is better than not; and not having coverage related to employer benefits packages, are preferable.

I would agree in principle. However, I would argue that the best thing about our current system is the way the free market pushes for better services.

Is this another vouchers issue, like with the schools?

First of all Bret, recently there have been a few situations of people dying in the waiting rooms of ER's. Certainly no system is perfect, but what we have is not working. I am of of the millions of uninsured because I have a mental illness I cannot get coverage. My husband is self employed so I cannot get coverage through an employer. There are many people like me who fall through the cracks and the free market has failed us. So what about people like me, it's it too bad so sad? Something needs to be done, it is wrong that people can't get coverage, there needs to be a change. I wouldn't even mind paying a fair amount for coverage, but right now I have no options. I at least have a wonderful family that can help me seek out programs to help with some of the cost, but there is only so much out there. I just think people who say let the free market do it's job are ignorant to this matter. They don't see the suffering that people go through. They don't understand the financial strains of not being able to get coverage. I don't know exactly how to fix our issues in this country, but I do know that our current system is failing millions of people and being that this is such a great nation that is totally unacceptable.

I just think people who say let the free market do it's job are ignorant to this matter.

I never said "let the free market do it's job". I am merely suggesting that a free market economy does a much better job of pushing for exceptionalism than socialized systems which more often than not, sacrifice quality for quantity.

I don't know your personal situation, however, insurance or no insurance, you still have access to the highest quality healthcare in the world. The problem is, paying for it. I completely agree with Jim that the biggest hurdle is in controlling costs.

I wouldn't even mind paying a fair amount for coverage, but right now I have no options.

and that's where the rubber hits the road. What constitutes "Fair"? And what is the best way to provide those "options"?

I might not have those answers, but please don't assume that because I don't want to completely scrap the system, that it's because I don't have an understanding of the suffering or sacrifice. I might not see the world through your eyes, but my vision is still acute, and my views are just as relevant.

Has there ever been a government backed healthcare insurance provider (similar to what Freddie Mac and Fanny Mae are to mortgages)?

Doesn't the government offer other general insurance protection (such as flood insurance) in areas where private industry doesn't cover?

It seems to me, a possible way to start would be to simply extend the services offered to veterans to anyone that can show a need for this type of coverage.

I realize that we don't exactly treat our veterans very well right now either, but if they can fix that, I would think enlarging an existing coverage base would be easier than creating a second whole new system.

I still also think there has to be something done to increase the number of family practice offices in inner city areas.

Anyone know if Kucinich has any existing policies or plans in the works on this matter?