Comments: WSJ/NBC Poll: Support Soft For Health Care Reform Details
I do think the plan is DOA. I believe the blood sucking private insurance industry--which provides absolutely NO benefit or services, but merely skims off my health dollars to invest in the stock market and then shuffles paper in as low-priced and inept a fashion as possible--has its tentacles so deeply into our society that it will never die.
I should think common sense would tell people that if the private, for-profit insurance industry is against allowing people to subscribe to a public insurance that they're afraid we'll prefer it. I certainly would not trade my Medicare for any private insurance I've ever had. The money's coming out of our pockets one way or the other.
I'm not in favour of a national health service (it'll never happen here, for one thing) but for me it's single payer or nothing. I refused to sign up for Medicare Part D because it's so obviously nothing but a subsidy to private insurers.
Posted by Sherry at June 19, 2009 08:42 AM
Opinion:
The only way a Single Payer/Universal Health Care plan can work and gain enough support to pass muster with the majority of citizens; is with cost CAPS on care and treatments {as in procedures/medication/devices/etc)to make it financially viable.
This way you can create some kind of predictability and control limits on spending. This could possibly work if government could keep the bureaucracy in check, control waste/fraud, and set workable/realistic benefits that includes everyone; while still allowing those that wish to choose a private plan on their own, do so. (all of those are huge obstacles and question marks at this point).
There is little doubt once government offers a plan; many businesses will drop health insurance benefits to increase profits and save money. In those cases where employers drop existing plans there should be strong penalties/taxes put in place to be a disincentive for such actions.
I happen to believe if you do not cover 100% of the citizen population and have some rock solid controls/spending limits in place.
The plan is doomed to fail right out of the starting gate.
Posted by DOA at June 19, 2009 10:03 AM
I think the insurance companies will never give up their profits for private paid insurance, i bet they ask for a Government bailout if they feel threatened!
I have no optimism in any health care changes in this country happening, especially with Obama as President!
The man doesn't think for himself. He ran a slick campaign and used that word "hope" to get into the White House on the backs of a lot of people that got suckered in to voting for him.
Does it ever cross your mind (generalization in use of the word 'your', not speaking to anyone but myself here)that mental health care will never be brought into this picture?
There is no way I believe that we will have quality health care for all, that just will not happen.
Posted by Stephany at June 19, 2009 11:02 AM