Comments on: Lack of Health Insurance Hits Home http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/ Here are my thoughts; share yours Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:50:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 By: Anoldguy1944 http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/#comment-1075 Anoldguy1944 Mon, 26 Nov 2007 04:44:08 +0000 http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/#comment-1075 Welcome to the club, Jim. I know that a visit to my doctor's office costs $58 if it's "minimal," meaning no lengthy consultation, no prescriptions written, no tests done. A chest x-ray costs $38, though there's another price (I don't know what it is) for those who have insurance. Blood tests can run from $35 to more than $250, depending upon what's being searched for. I pay full price, whatever it might be, for any prescriptions. I know this because my health insurance disappeared when I retired and moved to Colorado from another state. Equivalent health coverage purchased as an individual in Colorado would cost me the equivalent of another house payment, something only hedge fund managers can afford. So, in some ways, I do without. I haven't seen a genuine physician who specializes in eye care in many years. Every couple years, I visit an optometrist, get checked for glaucoma and other conditions. I pay for glasses out of pocket (somehow, those "2 pair for $99 specials never seem to apply to me), just as I pay for that doctor's visit, chest x-ray, blood tests, etc. I still have dental coverage, but it only pays about half for most treatments, so I postpone dental dental procedures that are more involved than the usual routine until I can save enough money to pay for them (e.g., even with dental insurance, a crown costs me $1,100, a root canal more than $600 — and this is WITH dental coverage). During my lifetime (probably yours, too, but I'm older than you are), medicine has been transformed from a locally-controlled public service into a big, corporate-controlled, business. Stockholders and administrators benefit, the rest of us get shafted. It's just one more way by which the chasm between the wealthy and the rest of us is revealed in real life. Welcome to the club, Jim.

I know that a visit to my doctor’s office costs $58 if it’s “minimal,” meaning no lengthy consultation, no prescriptions written, no tests done. A chest x-ray costs $38, though there’s another price (I don’t know what it is) for those who have insurance. Blood tests can run from $35 to more than $250, depending upon what’s being searched for. I pay full price, whatever it might be, for any prescriptions.

I know this because my health insurance disappeared when I retired and moved to Colorado from another state. Equivalent health coverage purchased as an individual in Colorado would cost me the equivalent of another house payment, something only hedge fund managers can afford.

So, in some ways, I do without. I haven’t seen a genuine physician who specializes in eye care in many years. Every couple years, I visit an optometrist, get checked for glaucoma and other conditions. I pay for glasses out of pocket (somehow, those “2 pair for $99 specials never seem to apply to me), just as I pay for that doctor’s visit, chest x-ray, blood tests, etc. I still have dental coverage, but it only pays about half for most treatments, so I postpone dental dental procedures that are more involved than the usual routine until I can save enough money to pay for them (e.g., even with dental insurance, a crown costs me $1,100, a root canal more than $600 — and this is WITH dental coverage).

During my lifetime (probably yours, too, but I’m older than you are), medicine has been transformed from a locally-controlled public service into a big, corporate-controlled, business. Stockholders and administrators benefit, the rest of us get shafted. It’s just one more way by which the chasm between the wealthy and the rest of us is revealed in real life.

]]> By: emamond http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/#comment-1076 emamond Mon, 26 Nov 2007 06:17:32 +0000 http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/#comment-1076 Jim's story is repeated every hour of every day in this country by many, many people. People do indeed lose their vision and some even die because they absolutely have to choose between food and mortgage OR medicine and a doctor visit. There is indeed great health care in this country IF you are insured AND IF you can afford the co-pays and deductibles. My husband is in good health and is insured and pays almost $300 a month for a policy that pays for one doctor visit a year, because of a very high deductible. When the physician at the physical recommended a colonoscopy, we discovered the the insurance won't pay. This is a potentially life-saving test, but at a $1,000 to $1500 we are going to have to save for a while. Health care should NOT be for profit! The child of a janitor and the child of a stock broker should have access to the same quality health care. A cleaning woman should have access the same care as a nurse or doctor's wife. And yes, a journalist should have access to the same health care as the owner or editor of The Denver Post! Single Payer health care IS THE ONLY WAY TO GO. Everyone in and nobody out! Our current system is immoral and dangerous but it will not end until we're all SICK of it. Jim’s story is repeated every hour of every day in this country by many, many people. People do indeed lose their vision and some even die because they absolutely have to choose between food and mortgage OR medicine and a doctor visit. There is indeed great health care in this country IF you are insured AND IF you can afford the co-pays and deductibles. My husband is in good health and is insured and pays almost $300 a month for a policy that pays for one doctor visit a year, because of a very high deductible. When the physician at the physical recommended a colonoscopy, we discovered the the insurance won’t pay. This is a potentially life-saving test, but at a $1,000 to $1500 we are going to have to save for a while. Health care should NOT be for profit! The child of a janitor and the child of a stock broker should have access to the same quality health care. A cleaning woman should have access the same care as a nurse or doctor’s wife. And yes, a journalist should have access
to the same health care as the owner or editor of The Denver Post! Single Payer health care IS THE ONLY WAY TO GO. Everyone in and nobody out! Our current system is immoral and dangerous but it will not end until we’re all SICK of it.

]]> By: Jim http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/#comment-1084 Jim Mon, 26 Nov 2007 14:26:34 +0000 http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/#comment-1084 I agree with you, unfortunately, and the 208 Commission is not even putting costs on its recommendations. What a waste! But you should see your eye doctor and pay the bill. Your vision is worth it. If more of us paid fees for medical services, we'd demand better services. Most of us can afford routine eye and dental exams. And there are a variety of low cost medical exams/tests/vaccinations available to most of us. Single-payer, universal health care plans should cover the major expenses which are typically more than most of us can afford without real sacrifice somewhere else, or even financial disater. It is no "socialized medicine" any more than Medicare is, and I have never known an opponent of universal health caare to reject Medicare benefits. BTW, Medicare has the lowest administrative costs of any plan, and it would seem to be relatively straightforward to expand it to cover all ages. I agree with you, unfortunately, and the 208 Commission is not even putting costs on its recommendations. What a waste! But you should see your eye doctor and pay the bill. Your vision is worth it. If more of us paid fees for medical services, we’d demand better services. Most of us can afford routine eye and dental exams. And there are a variety of low cost medical exams/tests/vaccinations available to most of us. Single-payer, universal health care plans should cover the major expenses which are typically more than most of us can afford without real sacrifice somewhere else, or even financial disater. It is no “socialized medicine” any more than Medicare is, and I have never known an opponent of universal health caare to reject Medicare benefits. BTW, Medicare has the lowest administrative costs of any plan, and it would seem to be relatively straightforward to expand it to cover all ages.

]]> By: Keith http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/#comment-1089 Keith Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:29:17 +0000 http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/#comment-1089 Well said! Sometimes I don't get it - how can this issue be so low in priority in our society - and the candidates (except for Edwards) also ignore it, because we don't make a stink about it? What happened to Hillary? As First Wife it was supposed to be a Clinton priority; and it failed. Now Hillary's taking donations from the HMO's and medical ins. industry as pointed out in Sicko, and her low-priority plan for national health care pales in comparsion to other candidates. What does this say about Hillary for President? I looked up "single payer health plan" at Wikipedia to get more info and it say one of the cons is that 83% of Canadians approve of their health care, while 86% of Americans approve of theirs. But it's comparing apples and oranges. If you can afford health car or your employer can, you're going to be happy that you don't have to go without. This must be the 86%? I'm with Kaiser, and I pay $20/visit, $100/weekend/hospital visit. If a typical non-event Dr. appt is about $60, how come I'm still paying $20 ("admin fees") with my HMO? Someone's getting rich. If people would vote for the candidate that is going to take care of them and others like them, like the people who vote their moral and religious agenda, there wouldn't be a problem. But health care for everyone, particularly the poor, sadly isn't a religious issue with the religious right. It's not just the choice of food or health care, it's the choice of dieing from a health situation, you can't afford to treat, let alone diagnose. How do "we", our congressman, go to bed every night knowing people are in this situation, and doing nothing about it? Sicko and countless articles have pointed out the rest of the modern industrialized world has universal health care for their people, only the U.S. has this capitalist system. This is where we are, thanks to libertarians and Republicans, who serve the free market and their capitalist buddies, who are the ones that can "afford" health care, while passing tax cuts for their rich friends, and the rest of us eat cake or go without health care. Why isn't anyone listening? Well said! Sometimes I don’t get it - how can this issue be so low in priority in our society - and the candidates (except for Edwards) also ignore it, because we don’t make a stink about it? What happened to Hillary? As First Wife it was supposed to be a Clinton priority; and it failed. Now Hillary’s taking donations from the HMO’s and medical ins. industry as pointed out in Sicko, and her low-priority plan for national health care pales in comparsion to other candidates. What does this say about Hillary for President?

I looked up “single payer health plan” at Wikipedia to get more info and it say one of the cons is that 83% of Canadians approve of their health care, while 86% of Americans approve of theirs. But it’s comparing apples and oranges. If you can afford health car or your employer can, you’re going to be happy that you don’t have to go without. This must be the 86%? I’m with Kaiser, and I pay $20/visit, $100/weekend/hospital visit. If a typical non-event Dr. appt is about $60, how come I’m still paying $20 (”admin fees”) with my HMO? Someone’s getting rich.

If people would vote for the candidate that is going to take care of them and others like them, like the people who vote their moral and religious agenda, there wouldn’t be a problem. But health care for everyone, particularly the poor, sadly isn’t a religious issue with the religious right.

It’s not just the choice of food or health care, it’s the choice of dieing from a health situation, you can’t afford to treat, let alone diagnose. How do “we”, our congressman, go to bed every night knowing people are in this situation, and doing nothing about it? Sicko and countless articles have pointed out the rest of the modern industrialized world has universal health care for their people, only the U.S. has this capitalist system. This is where we are, thanks to libertarians and Republicans, who serve the free market and their capitalist buddies, who are the ones that can “afford” health care, while passing tax cuts for their rich friends, and the rest of us eat cake or go without health care.

Why isn’t anyone listening?

]]> By: Grady Coker http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/#comment-1092 Grady Coker Mon, 26 Nov 2007 18:33:45 +0000 http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/#comment-1092 No one is talking about Medicare. Our congress is talking price cut in the system. If that happens then more doctors will refuse to see Medicare patients. If a doctor takes a Medicare patient he agrees to accept what Medicare will pay. Medicare will pay a percentage of the costs and you have to have gap insurance to pay the difference, or pay the difference yourself. No senior could afford medical care without Medicare--the price would just be too high. Medical fees have the highest markup of any system. No one can afford medical care without some type of insurance. No one is talking about Medicare. Our congress is talking price cut in the system. If that happens then more doctors will refuse to see Medicare patients. If a doctor takes a Medicare patient he agrees to accept what Medicare will pay. Medicare will pay a percentage of the costs and you have to have gap insurance to pay the difference, or pay the difference yourself. No senior could afford medical care without Medicare–the price would just be too high. Medical fees have the highest markup of any system. No one can afford medical care without some type of insurance.

]]> By: usersuz http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/#comment-1094 usersuz Mon, 26 Nov 2007 20:11:30 +0000 http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/#comment-1094 Hilary got stung bad and she won't be coming back for more, believe me. John Edwards is my man for 2008. He earned his $ by taking bad corporations to court and skinning them for their sins. He knows how to treat them and they are scared to death of him. That is why Karl Rove started the media push for Hilary - the Repubs think they can beat her in 2008, and even if she wins, they can get her to compromise herself into irrelevancy. I think they're right on the compromise part. Jim, some advice from someone who needs to see a cardiologist but can't afford it: 1. Don't be shy to tell your doc's ofc. you don't have ins., and ask them to be gentle. Most will try. 2. If you need Rx's, sign up at www.ColoradoDrugCard.com, it's free and all Colo. residents qualify, and it took my $103.09 Rx bill to $78.39. 3. Vote John Edwards. Hilary got stung bad and she won’t be coming back for more, believe me. John Edwards is my man for 2008. He earned his $ by taking bad corporations to court and skinning them for their sins. He knows how to treat them and they are scared to death of him. That is why Karl Rove started the media push for Hilary - the Repubs think they can beat her in 2008, and even if she wins, they can get her to compromise herself into irrelevancy. I think they’re right on the compromise part.

Jim, some advice from someone who needs to see a cardiologist but can’t afford it:
1. Don’t be shy to tell your doc’s ofc. you don’t have ins., and ask them to be gentle. Most will try.
2. If you need Rx’s, sign up at www.ColoradoDrugCard.com, it’s free and all Colo. residents qualify, and it took my $103.09 Rx bill to $78.39.
3. Vote John Edwards.

]]> By: Keith http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/#comment-1101 Keith Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:07:36 +0000 http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/#comment-1101 Here, here for usersuz! Well said about how the Repubs will deal with Hillary. Regardless of how "we" feel about the Repubs, we have to respect, almost "fear" them for the diabolical, yet effective way, they run elections. Who else could get a loser like Bush Jr. elected. This guy was a known moron and had been a complete failure at everything he touched BEFORE he ran for prez, and even after 4 years of complete failure and this hated war he won again. The Repubs did it, albeit illegally and deceitfully, it doesn't matter when the dust clears, just who's in power. The Repubs want Hillary to be the candidate, because they know she's a divider, not a uniter; even us Dems know that. If the Repubs had a respectable and decent candidate that could win, even after Bush, I might be more supportive of Hillary just to win the election, if it took women to push her over the top. But the Repubs know, most blue collar Dem males and all Repub males resent her, and they will come out to vote against her. She's proven to not only be a true flip flopper, but go which ever the way the wind blows. This is what Edwards and Obama are trying to point out, but the failed media allow her to take the high road and claim they are using Repub smear tactics. If this health care issue is a major issue for you, or you're one of the many uninsured and/or in need of serious health care, vote Edwards. He is the best candidate to actually succeed in bringing true universal, single payer health care to this country. He won't be a Hillary and immediately start working to guaranteeing her reelection. Vote for the people - vote Edwards! Here, here for usersuz! Well said about how the Repubs will deal with Hillary. Regardless of how “we” feel about the Repubs, we have to respect, almost “fear” them for the diabolical, yet effective way, they run elections. Who else could get a loser like Bush Jr. elected. This guy was a known moron and had been a complete failure at everything he touched BEFORE he ran for prez, and even after 4 years of complete failure and this hated war he won again. The Repubs did it, albeit illegally and deceitfully, it doesn’t matter when the dust clears, just who’s in power. The Repubs want Hillary to be the candidate, because they know she’s a divider, not a uniter; even us Dems know that. If the Repubs had a respectable and decent candidate that could win, even after Bush, I might be more supportive of Hillary just to win the election, if it took women to push her over the top. But the Repubs know, most blue collar Dem males and all Repub males resent her, and they will come out to vote against her. She’s proven to not only be a true flip flopper, but go which ever the way the wind blows. This is what Edwards and Obama are trying to point out, but the failed media allow her to take the high road and claim they are using Repub smear tactics.

If this health care issue is a major issue for you, or you’re one of the many uninsured and/or in need of serious health care, vote Edwards. He is the best candidate to actually succeed in bringing true universal, single payer health care to this country. He won’t be a Hillary and immediately start working to guaranteeing her reelection. Vote for the people - vote Edwards!

]]> By: Keith http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/#comment-1102 Keith Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:13:32 +0000 http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/#comment-1102 On another note, I saw in the news this morning about Cheney's heart "adjustment." http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/27/cheney/index.html Now how many of even us that our insured would have this treatment opportunity afforded to them at this extreme low risk care? If you're uninsured, there is absolutely no emergency room treatment for this - you simply hang in there until you die from this complication. This is some of the unmentioned health care issues, those expensive and rare treatments you don't get even if you have basic health care. It's always a fantasy when mentioned, but true, that if congress or the rich and powerful had to use the same health care the rest of society did, we'd have universal health care a long time ago. Why do so many other modern industrial countries have it and we don't if we claim to be the best in the world at everything? Because patriotism and nationalism got in the way of reality. Now even though the failed media have reported, indeed, we trail even third world countries in how we take care of our people, the Repubs and media don't care. And few realize it unless their one of the unlucky ones who have health issues and no/or/inadequate health care. Sicko was a powerful movie, but people watched it in shock and awe (sound familiar?) then went on with their lives. We haven't learned to take care of others. Shame. On another note, I saw in the news this morning about Cheney’s heart “adjustment.” http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/27/cheney/index.html Now how many of even us that our insured would have this treatment opportunity afforded to them at this extreme low risk care? If you’re uninsured, there is absolutely no emergency room treatment for this - you simply hang in there until you die from this complication. This is some of the unmentioned health care issues, those expensive and rare treatments you don’t get even if you have basic health care. It’s always a fantasy when mentioned, but true, that if congress or the rich and powerful had to use the same health care the rest of society did, we’d have universal health care a long time ago. Why do so many other modern industrial countries have it and we don’t if we claim to be the best in the world at everything? Because patriotism and nationalism got in the way of reality. Now even though the failed media have reported, indeed, we trail even third world countries in how we take care of our people, the Repubs and media don’t care. And few realize it unless their one of the unlucky ones who have health issues and no/or/inadequate health care. Sicko was a powerful movie, but people watched it in shock and awe (sound familiar?) then went on with their lives. We haven’t learned to take care of others. Shame.

]]> By: Wildflower http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/#comment-1104 Wildflower Tue, 27 Nov 2007 20:13:59 +0000 http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/#comment-1104 Thanks Usersuz and Keith, you've confirmed my thoughts..When Hillary first got her fat campaign finances and picked up momentum I thought that perhaps the Bushites were backing her, knowing the GOP would win again if she were the Dem candidate.It was just speculation but I put nothing past the Bush Administration. It isn't just the gop males who don't like her, neither do the gop women,I hear from people from Fla., the Heartland, etc. because of the volunteer work I did on a grandparents' website. I think it's because she put up with the philandering so long where a normal woman would have ousted him out the door. They think she did that to further her own career. People don't trust her, plain and simply.You know the gops don't care about people without health care though, so it may be Hillary or nobody. Thanks Usersuz and Keith, you’ve confirmed my thoughts..When Hillary first got her fat campaign finances and picked up momentum I thought that perhaps the Bushites were backing her, knowing the GOP would win again if she were the Dem candidate.It was just speculation but I put nothing past the Bush Administration.
It isn’t just the gop males who don’t like her, neither do the gop women,I hear from people from Fla., the Heartland, etc. because of the volunteer work I did on a grandparents’ website. I think it’s because she put up with the philandering so long where a normal woman would have ousted him out the door. They think she did that to further her own career. People don’t trust her, plain and simply.You know the gops don’t care about people without health care though, so it may be Hillary or nobody.

]]> By: Wildflower http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/#comment-1113 Wildflower Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:31:36 +0000 http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/#comment-1113 A single pay insurer (nationalized health insurance) is not going to fly in this country for a long time, the big insurers have too much clout (how do you think Frist's family got so rich?) It would be better to start smaller, i.e. concentrate on everyone who does not already have health insurance. Require the big insurers to take the high risk patients for a reasonable fee (and not exclude "pre-existing conditions")--- (in the manner auto insurers used to be assigned the high risk drivers).They had no choice if they wanted to play ball. And somehow, figure how to get every other uninsured person insured on a sliding fee scale. Here's the chance for a budget HMO to get started... ( Or require the big HMOs to take them too on a sliding scale fee --take X amount of people per size of HMO). I would prefer to see a new start up HMO program just for the uninsureds though. Forget about those who already have insurance for now. Either that, or vote out the Gov't. employees in Washington's health care, they might be willing to talk turkey then. A single pay insurer (nationalized health insurance) is not going to fly in this country for a long time, the big insurers have too much clout (how do you think Frist’s family got so rich?) It would be better to start smaller, i.e. concentrate on everyone who does not already have health insurance. Require the big insurers to take the high risk patients for a reasonable fee (and not exclude “pre-existing conditions”)— (in the manner auto insurers used to be assigned the high risk drivers).They had no choice if they wanted to play ball.
And somehow, figure how to get every other uninsured person insured on a sliding fee scale. Here’s the chance for a budget HMO to get started… ( Or require the big HMOs to take them too on a sliding scale fee –take X amount of people per size of HMO). I would prefer to see a new start up HMO program just for the uninsureds though. Forget about those who already have insurance for now.
Either that, or vote out the Gov’t. employees in Washington’s health care, they might be willing to talk turkey then.

]]> By: Keith http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/#comment-1126 Keith Thu, 29 Nov 2007 16:02:19 +0000 http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/#comment-1126 Can't help but comment on Hillary and Bill's "philandering." I think this is one of few issues that divide women and men when it comes to the Clintons. It's a gender thing; women put more "value" on this then men. I think I speak for most men when I say, I don't care what my president does in the bedroom, someone else's bedroom, in church or in the kitchen - we care what he does as president. And Bill was far more success then most presidents that preceded him, and clearly the dork that succeeded him. Moral values do not define a successful presidency. If it were, why did those other people elect Bush? While he might not have sexually strayed, he admitted to using hard drugs, being an alcoholic, shirking military duty, lieing, breaking the law, violating the constitution, etc. Aren't those "moral values?" That aside, Hillarys "stand by her man" I think most "men" will agree was more political and self-serving than it was the convenience or uniqueness of their marriage. Not going to get in the morality or reality of a spouse straying, but when you're in the politics business you change your priorities. Everytime I listen to James Carville and Mary Matalin speak on a news program, I'm just amazed how they can get along at home. This isn't casual political and social differencs, these are passionte. It's either good sex or one is a great cook. Can’t help but comment on Hillary and Bill’s “philandering.” I think this is one of few issues that divide women and men when it comes to the Clintons. It’s a gender thing; women put more “value” on this then men. I think I speak for most men when I say, I don’t care what my president does in the bedroom, someone else’s bedroom, in church or in the kitchen - we care what he does as president. And Bill was far more success then most presidents that preceded him, and clearly the dork that succeeded him. Moral values do not define a successful presidency. If it were, why did those other people elect Bush? While he might not have sexually strayed, he admitted to using hard drugs, being an alcoholic, shirking military duty, lieing, breaking the law, violating the constitution, etc. Aren’t those “moral values?”

That aside, Hillarys “stand by her man” I think most “men” will agree was more political and self-serving than it was the convenience or uniqueness of their marriage. Not going to get in the morality or reality of a spouse straying, but when you’re in the politics business you change your priorities. Everytime I listen to James Carville and Mary Matalin speak on a news program, I’m just amazed how they can get along at home. This isn’t casual political and social differencs, these are passionte. It’s either good sex or one is a great cook.

]]> By: Keith http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/#comment-1127 Keith Thu, 29 Nov 2007 16:13:02 +0000 http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/#comment-1127 Re health care, Wildflower, I agree. It's not going to happen overnight, because our practices and the capitalist power of the health care industry and Republican business ideals are too well entrenched. We do have to start with small steps, but not "baby" steps. Otherwise it results just in appeasment, like the oil companies who claim to be looking for alternative energy sources other than oil. It's a bone thrown to the people. I like the idea of using the free market competition to create a "better" HMO alternative. Like education and teachers, I think the medical profession and doctors, do care about people and affordable health care. Everyone's greedy and taking a hipocratic oatch won't exclude you. But it's hard to get into a profession that cares for and helps people, and not have some compassion or at least a better insight into the problem. I just had a physical at my HMO (Kaiser Permanente), and while I thought it was a little too glossy, I did get a colonoscopy and blood tests I asked for. I asked how often a colonoscopy in a patient with a family history of colon cancer is afforded, and he said HMO policy was "every 10 years" because it's been proven polyps take 10 years to turn to cancer. Nice! At least he's honest. I see the indicator of health care creeping more towards the health care industry inspite of the revelations by candidates and Sicko. One of the new concerns is our medical records and DNA that is going to create medical history for rejection. That's where we need laws in place. But creating a better mouse trap is the first step. It provide "alternatives." Then keep pounding the single payer universal health care. Media needs to get on board, as do our representatives, and us a the voice of our society. If we don't demand it, they won't give it to us. This is why in places like France and other european countries, the gov't fears the people, where here, the people fear the gov't. Re health care, Wildflower, I agree. It’s not going to happen overnight, because our practices and the capitalist power of the health care industry and Republican business ideals are too well entrenched. We do have to start with small steps, but not “baby” steps. Otherwise it results just in appeasment, like the oil companies who claim to be looking for alternative energy sources other than oil. It’s a bone thrown to the people.

I like the idea of using the free market competition to create a “better” HMO alternative. Like education and teachers, I think the medical profession and doctors, do care about people and affordable health care. Everyone’s greedy and taking a hipocratic oatch won’t exclude you. But it’s hard to get into a profession that cares for and helps people, and not have some compassion or at least a better insight into the problem. I just had a physical at my HMO (Kaiser Permanente), and while I thought it was a little too glossy, I did get a colonoscopy and blood tests I asked for. I asked how often a colonoscopy in a patient with a family history of colon cancer is afforded, and he said HMO policy was “every 10 years” because it’s been proven polyps take 10 years to turn to cancer. Nice! At least he’s honest.

I see the indicator of health care creeping more towards the health care industry inspite of the revelations by candidates and Sicko. One of the new concerns is our medical records and DNA that is going to create medical history for rejection. That’s where we need laws in place. But creating a better mouse trap is the first step. It provide “alternatives.” Then keep pounding the single payer universal health care. Media needs to get on board, as do our representatives, and us a the voice of our society. If we don’t demand it, they won’t give it to us. This is why in places like France and other european countries, the gov’t fears the people, where here, the people fear the gov’t.

]]> By: Wildflower http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/#comment-1130 Wildflower Thu, 29 Nov 2007 19:42:44 +0000 http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/#comment-1130 I personally felt the philandering was Hillary's business and noone else's. After digging out from the gop debts, Clinton gave our country the most prosperous presidency ever, and everyone got to share in the gravy. We were at peace with the world, and respected. The "moral values" of the current administration are something that was fed to the gullible. In truth they are corrupt to the core. When people finally woke up in the last election and voted Dem it was to end the war. The Dems did not follow through,(they tried once, then took off on their campaign ego trips). I think the Dems may have lost a big bloc of disgruntled gop and independent voters because of this. The Dems should have listened to Kucinich, shut off the funds. The Dems are also making a huge mistake now by trying to give citizenship to 15 or 20 million people who are here illegally. They need to reach out to the center, to try to get the votes of those same people who voted for them in 04, the blue collars who have lost their jobs (and their insurance)to cheap labor. Why do they always want to surrender these votes to the GOPs? I personally felt the philandering was Hillary’s business and noone else’s. After digging out from the gop debts, Clinton gave our country the most prosperous presidency ever, and everyone got to share in the gravy. We were at peace with the world, and respected. The “moral values” of the current administration are something that was fed to the gullible. In truth they are corrupt to the core.
When people finally woke up in the last election and voted Dem it was to end the war. The Dems did not follow through,(they tried once, then took off on their campaign ego trips). I think the Dems may have lost a big bloc of disgruntled gop and independent voters because of this. The Dems should have listened to Kucinich, shut off the funds.
The Dems are also making a huge mistake now by trying to give citizenship to 15 or 20 million people who are here illegally. They need to reach out to the center, to try to get the votes of those same people who voted for them in 04, the blue collars who have lost their jobs (and their insurance)to cheap labor. Why do they always want to surrender these votes to the GOPs?

]]> By: Wildflower http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/#comment-1132 Wildflower Thu, 29 Nov 2007 22:13:36 +0000 http://spencerspeaks.com/2007/11/25/lack-of-health-insurance-hits-home/#comment-1132 Keith I am also amazed at Carville and Mary. In 04 a close single relative showed up after surgery, needing R & R and TLC from me. When my husband and I found we could not comment on newscasts, dis the current administration, etc. without offending her, we were at our wits end for a week biting our tongues. It would be impossible for me to live with someone of disparate politics.Who wants to sit around not being able to talk! Keith I am also amazed at Carville and Mary.
In 04 a close single relative showed up after surgery, needing R & R and TLC from me. When my husband and I found we could not comment on newscasts, dis the current administration, etc. without offending her, we were at our wits end for a week biting our tongues.
It would be impossible for me to live with someone of disparate politics.Who wants to sit around not being able to talk!

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