…because an uninsured person who goes to the hospital is more likely to die than an insured person.

OK, so just why do uninsured people die in a hospital more often than insured people? Could it be because that generally the poorer you are the poorer your health is? Could it be because insured people are more likely to use their benefits to go to nursing homes or hire in-home hospice care?

Nah, it couldn’t be for those reasons. It must be because hospitals refuse to treat uninsured patients. That must be it. At least that’s what Hillary! is implying. And if that is so, then I would like some concrete examples of that happening. Perhaps Hillary! could impanel a blue-ribbon committee in the Senate to investigate those hospitals that are flouting the law by turning away people who need critical care simply because they don’t have insurance.

Of course, Hillary! doesn’t want to do that because she knows that it’s a lie.

Rob.. Even I, the “pro-earn your own keep” activist, will say that the “normal” citizen can not afford the outrageous cost of medical services.
I do agree about:

this would give citizens the impetus to shop around for doctors and hospitals

As a medic with a private ambulance in a large city, I have seen my share of 911 calls to transport patients for minor ailments. Many calls are repetitious and unneeded but as EMS we can not refuse to transport. Sadly, all these unneeded requests are from welfare recipients.

What is your solution to healthcare or do you believe that the system we have now is working?

Here’s a little exercise–go to your hospital/doctor and say you want a colonoscopy due to your own knowledge of family history. They most likely will comply with your request. Then ask how much it will cost–total–doctor, hospital, room, OR, analysis of the test, etc. My bet is that you will not get a price; maybe from one or two of the parties involved. Health care is one of the few places you will spend thousands of dollars and never have a clue in advance of what you are getting or paying for.
When the bills come in you will be comletely befuddled–unless–unless you are the sole person paying for the service. If you have a primary carrier and a secondary, you will see the paperwork bounce around like a rubber ball.
No one will really know what the procedure cost–only what someone pays– including yourself.

Anyone who actually thinks that’s sound political philosophy really needs to be kept far, far away from the reigns of power.

That should be the headline!

OK, so just why do uninsured people die in a hospital more often than insured people? Could it be because that generally the poorer you are the poorer your health is?

More poor inner city people without insurance are going to the hospital (ER) with more life threatening issues….. such as gunshot wounds and stabbings. Any big city cop or EMS worker can tell you that. The long term solution to the problem is obviously to issue more ammunition. Just kidding… kinda.

If you price it out vs. a low deductible plan, it’s far, far cheaper–by about a factor of 2 or 3 at least.

Robert,

This has been my experience as well. Couple that with a good family doctor and you’ve got yourself one very affordable health care plan, just not the one that democrats are saying none of us can live without.

Actually, I’d contest the idea that we couldn’t pay for our own medical care. The fact of the matter is that something like 85% of Americans do have medical insurance, and the first 40% or so of the cost of medical care is generally the cost of the insurance paperwork & profits & so on. So given $1.6 trillion (about $5k/person) overall cost, we’re down to a cost of about $3k/person after insurance costs are eliminated.

Now consider that the Cooper Institute (Ken Cooper, “Aerobics”) estimates that about half of medical expenses are the result of smoking, poor diet, and lack of exercise. So then we’re down to about $1500-$2000 per person.

I don’t know about y’all, but that sounds pretty manageable to me. A clear incentive to control health care costs–say ending “comprehensive” health insurance in favor of major medical with high deductibles and a requirement for annual checkups–could bring health care into reach for all but the poorest.

Rob, quite right, and that’s why there is such a thing as “major medical” insurance. If you price it out vs. a low deductible plan, it’s far, far cheaper–by about a factor of 2 or 3 at least. In my (probably not humble enough) opinion, it makes no more sense to have insurance for routine checkups than it does to have insurance for oil changes on your car, or gas for your car. Major medical, absolutely–and yes, those carrying a bit of extra weight (like me) or who smoke ought to pay more.

It looks like the socialist’s devious plot it working — create a calamity and then bring in the government as the only solution. Government is the problem here, not free market economics. Everywhere government meddles with the market, the market suffers and the consumer gets stuck paying for it. Market forces have contributed to America having the best health care on the planet; government has made it unaffordable for many. Why would anyone think that the problem is the solution? Why would anyone think that socializing medicine would allow America to continue to lead the world in health care given the record of socialized medicine in other countries? This socialized proposition is utterly ridiculous and lacks any intellectual credibility.

Bike Bubba: Well said about both issues!

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

When it depends on liberals, it’s a super highway, a billion lanes in one direction (down) and like the Autoban, no speed limit.

Oh, they do, Whistler, but keep in mind that Ken Cooper told them they need to get some exercise, too. Rich doctors don’t like to pay for Lipitor any more than the rest of us. :^)

Tgr00ve:
1. No conservative is happy with the exceptional health care plan the Congress has provided for itself and the other people mentioned. It is obsence and unacceptable!
2. Your comments about 85 Billion on war, death and destruction are just plain wrong and it would take too much time and work to point out your errors; but even that would be useless, as all your comments indicate you are a Leftist and incapable of honest debate about these issues.
3. The Health Care issue is likewise complex and cannot be adequately debated here; but the idea that liberals in government want to nationalize health care, a terrible system; and use this as a door way to that end is wholly unacceptable to me and a great many Americans that prefer our current system which offers the best health care in the world. As is the idea that you Liberals want to express your compassion for others by putting your hand in the pockets of your fellow citizens and force them to support your socialist programs is likewise wholly unacceptable in a free society.

Far more people would be harmed by “free” health care than would be helped.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Many calls are repetitious and unneeded but as EMS we can not refuse to transport. Sadly, all these unneeded requests are from welfare recipients.

But wait, according to Hillary!, the po folk aren’t even receiving these services… this is a paradox indeed.

My solution to health care is more individual responsibility.

The reason health care prices are spiraling out of control is because most health care consumers aren’t directly responsible for paying their medical bills. They go to the doctor when they want and as often as they want and they pass the bill on to someone else.

Turning that reality into a national program where everyone gets to pass their medical bills off to someone else is just going to perpetuate and exacerbate the problems we have now.

The solution is making people directly responsible for paying their own medical bills. This would give citizens the impetus to shop around for doctors and hospitals, thus creating more options and more competition while driving prices down.

Health savings accounts, for instance, are a good option here. And employers, rather than being forced to offer health care, should begin phasing that out and turning to contributions to a HSA instead.

Rob.. Even I, the “pro-earn your own keep” activist, will say that the “normal” citizen can not afford the outrageous cost of medical services.

Well, the way I see it, the medical industry isn’t going to price itself out of business. It may be a tough transition, but eventually prices would come down to where citizens could afford them.

And I’m not talking about abandoning insurance altogether, but rather going to a system where the individual pays for insurance and not the employer, and where the insurance is more for “catastrophic” things (broken legs, major diseases, etc.) than your monthly checkup.