Is It a Real or Made Up Controversy?

[mirjo]

www.njbiz.com/article-multiple/80862-report-middle-class-suffers-brunt-of-health-insurance-crisis

I admit that I am confused over the controversy regarding HCR, so I have to ask is it a real controversy with the public or a made up one? Is it really THAT difficult to get accurate information in this country?  It's pretty scary to read an alleged new article and question whether  the information is accurate or slanted to reflect the bias of a particular political agenda!!

The above referenced article states 40+% of the middle class have lost their insurance since the turn of the century and have turned to other means like medicaid out of necessity or have stayed w/o. Is this true, not true, sort of true? I know what I have seen personally happen to certain insurance policies, but I can only speak to what I know, not globally.
 
The country is really in a sad state at the moment and it has far less to do with the recession or administration than it does with the pervasive media coverage of all things stupid, inflammatory, and just plain TMI! Do we REALLY need to know about Tiger's sexual exploits; the next power play in the Jon & Kate saga or what Rush and other political commentators think? Since the news became nothing more than a continuous stream of sensationalism, it's impossible to get to the bottom line on anything.

On one hand you hear 80 % of people are happy with their insurance and don't want reform on the other you get 80% are in favor of HCR. I'm not a math wiz, but I can do simple addition and I own a calculator. If 80% are for and 80% are against then someone is crunching numbers in their favor, but who?

We shouldn't have to guess!!

So, does anyone know what the answer might actually be? Are the masses actually suffering under the strong hold of the Insurance industry or are people in general content with what they have?

[cu_soon_pam]

I am content with what I have, only because the alternative is to have less.

[cedarman]

I'm happy with what I have.  I also see my parents (who need it WAY more than I do) struggle with medical coverage issues all the time.

I think politicians should focus LESS on health INSURANCE reform, and look at way to improve the health care services, network and infrastructure in this country to increase accessibility and the cost of providing those services/treatments/prescriptions etc.

I don't always agree with the things Bernie supports, but I think one great thing is his efforts to get more small community based urgent care centers (like the one recently set up in Georgia).  I've read several reports by NON-PROFIT organizations exploring the overall financial benefits of such walk-in/urgent care offices.  The conclusion is always the same - small, local, readily accessible healthcare DECREASES the overall cost of healthcare.

[Chris Santee]

Here's a quote from today's New York Times:

"One careful study after another has shown that uninsured people are significantly more likely to die than insured people."

I might be going out on a limb here,
but I'm betting the odds of each dying are 100%.

[special ED]

I would like to have the same healthcare as bernie, peter and pat AKA the three stooges

[al brodeur]

yes, health care needs to be revamped but why not on a state level like car insurance ,where high risk drivers  (or those with a catastrophic illines ) be assiigned to the (assigned risk pool ) with a cap on health care cost set by the gov't, and each company that sells health insurance in that state has to take a turn with the catastrophic pool. this is a program which is run on the state level.
the federal gov't has a track record of not being able to run anything IE social security is going broke along with medicare, the only thing they have is the IRS and that is --well -has a lot to be desired as for it honest across the board taxation like I recieved a letter stating that I had overpaid and here was a refund of the excess funds, three months later I recieve another letter stating that I had underpaid ( same amount as the overpayment) and here added was the late penalty I wrote to them saying that if it was my mistake I did not mind paying but having to pay for their mistake was wrong-- they never replied

[slpott]

Anytime you offer things for "Free" you are going to run out.  It amazes me that we call certain people "Illegal Aliens" but give them everything we have for free. If they are so illegal why are we giving them everything we have. Shouldn't that make them "Legal Alliens"?

[Suzy]

I just found out a dear friend died of cancer.  He had diabetes, and a heart condition, and could not afford health care because of his pre-existing conditions.  He was 51 years old.  His wife and three children are left with huge medical bills. 

[mirjo]

Back to you Al, I have to agree, I think states should handle their own situations.

be assiigned to the (assigned risk pool ) with a cap on health care cost set by the gov't, and each company that sells health insurance in that state has to take a turn with the catastrophic pool. this is a program which is run on the state level.

I take exception with this, however, because it is one of the problems that people are having with insurance companies--not being able to get it or afford it if they have or have had a "catastrophic illness." and face caps that make matters worse overall.

I know there is a lot of chatter everywhere (not specifically here, but all over) about "liberals" "socialists" "bleeding heart liberals" etc so on yada, yada...I think labels are ridiculous, but I do believe that if those folks out there everywhere who are calling for restrictions on illnesses, (whatever that means exactly) their thinking would be different if they or a family member were affected by a catastrophic illness and needed long-term follow-up care or therapy. Not everyone is at fault for medical situations that might happen to them. (morbid obesity, smoking, alcohol are not factors in everything). Someone could be seriously injured in an accident and need long term physical therapy and other things, but only be allowed so many sessions or need a colostomy and because the supplies are costly the insurance company has issues. On & on it goes. Pick your own scenario, there are tons--especially when it comes to cancer, pretty much everyone on earth has been touched by that in some way or will be if you haven't yet. Everyone  pretty much either knows someone or has had cancer once or twice. If you've been lucky thus far not to fall into those categories, it's only a matter of time.

I think the Insurance companies (and health care costs in general)  are out of control personally and need to be reigned in so they stop gouging people, which is what they're doing!! However, it seems a fairly simple fix--set up some regulations to stopthat, not go nuts revamping things that don't need to be and making a bigger mess. I agree that hospitals need to make a profit and docs need to make a living, but is it reasonable to charge several hundred dollars to read an MRI?

It's similar to when I have asked my kids to clean up their room, (a simple matter of picking up the crap all over the floor and making it presentable) It some how was translated into "Oh, I-need-to-clean-out-my-closet-and-drawers-and-sort-through-all-of-my-toys!"

Inspection an hour later would reveal an unholy mess bigger than the original and my kids were shocked to find me upset, because they were in fact "just cleaning their rooms."

Washington appears to have the same problem grasping concepts that young children do--the fine line between what needs to be done and over-doing. However, emptying one's closet and toy box on the floor is an easy fix.

[Chris Santee]

The Insurance Companies. Those "EVIL" Insurance Companies.
I wish I had a dollar for each time I have heard about those "evil insurance companies".

Which Health Care Insurer is the "EVILEST"
Which Health Care Insurer denies the MOST COVERAGE

http://www.statehousecall.org/which-insurer-denies-the-most-claims

(Henry, could you hook up that link for me, please ?)

[cedarman]

I think placing some reasonable restrictions on abusive practices would be acceptable (i.e., insurance companies can't drop people AFTER a major health issue has occurred, and they can't raise individual rates more than XX% per year).  At the same time, there should be a limit on the mark-up hospitals (AND hospital suppliers) can charge for consumables.  $4 for ONE Tylenol, or $2 for ONE cotton swab!  That's just as outrageous as some insurance premium hikes.

Progressive change sounds like a smart idea, but that's not enough "change" for Obama.  There are some problems around stepped changes also, but changing over time on increadibly complex issues is easier to swallow than having one HUGE changed jammed down you throat!!!

[Mike Raburn]

MALPRACTICE lawsuits is what drives health insurance, in my opinion.

This industry needs TORT reform.

If make a mistake at work, oh well, the wall is to far too the left, wrong flooring....no biggie.

Health care providers are human.
They make mistakes.

Goodness help us all if the Govt gets into health care.

The Clinton era administration dictated that they wanted 70% of people applying for home loans to get them.
They forced it on lending institutions. One stipulation was not to charge more than 7 percent interest. (I may be off on that)

Well..... Banks did it. Sham lenders did it........... what the heck?

Where are we now??

STOOPID.

Free Market always prevails.

[formerfairfaxion]

After working in healthcare for over 25 years, I can tell you that the current healthcare crisis is very real.
Every day we see more & more patients without health insurance. Why? Because they have lost their jobs. Yes, they are offered Cobra which is a joke. Even when they were employed they couldn't afford the payments. Now that they are unemployed where would that money come from?
Healthcare coverage should not be tied to your employment status or your ability to pay.
Personally, I don't want to be part of a healthcare system where only people with money get healthcare but that is where we are headed.
It has been accepted practice for years that we all pay taxes so that children can get a free education. I've paid property taxes all of my adult life and never had a child in the school system.
We're all entitled to a free education but not healthcare? What is wrong with this picture?

[BobFisherJr]

    It's so nice to see a calm, civilized discussion about the Health Care situation in this country, free of all the rhetoric and accusations. It would be nice if the representatives in DC would even listen to you folks, much less pay attention.

   One question I feel compelled to ask, though: Where in the Constitiution does it say that the Federal Government must give the citizens free health care, or even health care guidance, or for that matter free education? It would make sense that the 10th Amendment should prevail and leave these issues to the discretion of State and local governments, if they even want to get involved.

   The Free Market seems to have been the best way to lower costs and provide the best services to those who want it. When Toyota made a better and less expensive car that you were looking for, you'd buy a Toyota! Just makes sense! Federal government should just get out of it, get out of the way and open the market for the people, on their own, to decide.

[7F24]

Chris,
I don't understand why insurance companies are involved in health care at all.  Just kidding, I know it's to make a lot of money.  Wouldn't it be great if all the money you spent on health care actually went to health care, and not to buying Gulfstreams, Sikorskys, and politicians.