Impeding changes to our Health Care system

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

or wait, will all the rest of [us] be paying that?

What glatt said.

Are you aware that you are also already paying for that other guy's house fire with your homeowner's insurance, and that other guy's car wreck with your auto insurance? It's insurance. That's how it works.

[Lamplighter]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

What glatt said.

Are you aware that you are also already paying for that other guy's house fire
with your homeowner's insurance, and that other guy's car wreck
with your auto insurance? It's insurance. That's how it works.

Does anyone find it paradoxical that the salaries of patient-care staff
and the continued existence most hospitals' now depend upon
the US government's funding of Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, VA, etc.

Conservatives blame Obama for rising health care costs,
but then try to scare seniors by saying Obama is cutting
Medicare reimbursements to hospitals by 27%.
Maybe just a bit of self-interest here ?

Little mention is made of GWB's clause in Medicare Part D prohibiting
Medicare from "negotiating" drug costs with pharmaceutical companies.

e.g., CDC contracts with Merck for Shingles vaccine (Zostavax) at $105/dose
for use by county health departments, but it is $161 for Medicare.
Patients of private physicians can expect fees of ~ $400.

[BigV]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

What glatt said.

Are you aware that you are also already paying for that other guy's house fire with your homeowner's insurance, and that other guy's car wreck with your auto insurance? It's insurance. That's how it works.

what clodfobble said

not to mention that other uninsured indigent guy's emergency room visit to take care of a problem later and for vastly higher costs than an earlier and vastly cheaper, but not emergency room justifiable condition... You, and I, are already paying for that now too.

It's charity care. That's how it works.

[classicman]

Originally Posted by BigV

what clodfobble said

yes

It's charity care. That's how it works.

no

[BigV]

My point is that the care isn't free. Those costs are incurred, and they get paid for by everyone else, not just the hospital eating the whole cost. If you pay money into the health care system, some of the money you pay goes to cover the cost of the UNCOMPENSATED care provided by the hospital but not paid for by the recipient of that care.

[classicman]

I understand that, I was simply pointing out that the phrase you use actually exists and has meaning.

[Stormieweather]

Little mention is made of GWB's clause in Medicare Part D prohibiting Medicare from "negotiating" drug costs with pharmaceutical companies.

Some people with a hell of a lot of power, wayyyy up there in the world of big pharm, got this passed to make them a fuckton of money.

Talk about corruption!!

[BigV]

free inpatient care and free emergency room care are both charity care.

[classicman]

@ Stormie - Absolutely. Why can't that part alone get changed?
It would sure as heck save a boatload.

[Lamplighter]

Originally Posted by classicman

@ Stormie - Absolutely. Why can't that part alone get changed?
It would sure as heck save a boatload.

that part alone ?

What about the "pre-existing conditions"... kept or trash ?

[classicman]

I don't see where she said anything about that. Do you?

[Lamplighter]

Classic, I read the "Absolutely. Why can't that part alone get changed? " as your comment.
So, I'm asking if you feel the "pre-existing condition" aspect should be kept or deleted from Obamacare ?

[classicman]

I guess my post was poorly written, but I was curious as to whether that particular piece,
or any for that matter could be changed. The point was regarding medicare, not Obamacare.
However with respect to you pre-existing question, no I don't think it should be changed.
May I ask why you brought that up. It seemed to come out of nowhere.

[classicman]

Does anyone find it paradoxical that the salaries of patient-care staff
and the continued existence most hospitals' now depend upon
the US government's funding of Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, VA, etc.

Not really - I find it right in line with what this administration feels is the correct way to go.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

What glatt said.

Are you aware that you are also already paying for that other guy's house fire with your homeowner's insurance, and that other guy's car wreck with your auto insurance? It's insurance. That's how it works.

The systems may seem similar but that is not how it works in health care. The auto body shops don't charge me $900 for a $2 thermostat because lots of people wreck their cars. That's not how it works.