Say bye to for-profit health insurance

[RedEarth]

Edwin L. Stickney, M.D.
Letter to the Editor
Billings Gazette
June 21, 2009

The for-profit health insurance industry is the major culprit standing in the way of the American people obtaining for themselves their right to adequate universal health care. This industry employs thousands of people whose task it is to find reasons not to insure people (pre-existing conditions) in the first place, then to find ways not to pay claims of those already insured. Further, thousands of employees in hospitals and doctors’ offices spend hours on the telephone attempting to file legitimate claims.

Acting in this way makes parasites out of these employees who spend their time non-productively protecting the profits of these companies instead of facilitating the flow of goods and service from medical providers to their legitimate patients.

Single-payer will eliminate this non-productive industry with a streamlined, publicly financed system. By doing so it will save an estimated $400 billion annually in administrative costs, enough money to guarantee everyone quality, comprehensive care and to eliminate all co-pays and deductibles, with no net increase in our nation’s health spending.

It is time for the American people to be aware of this stark reality and rise up against the common enemy of health care reform.

Edwin L. Stickney, M.D.
Billings



http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/june/say_bye_to_forprofi.php

[sharesunited]

1. Without a doubt, a premium-collecting claim-denying racket.

But don't you think there is a place for gap, supplemental and boutique coverage upgrades offered by private insurers?

Medicare for All would expand the existing Medicare model to a universal system which still has that private component available.

Having that private component available takes away the argument that choice and selection are being destroyed.

[Laelth]

2. K&R. Nicely said. n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[Uncle Joe]

3. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, RedEarth.

[tomreedtoon]

4. Wishful thinking by the Doc.

It ain't gonna happen, because Democratic congresscreatures are spineless wimps. Notice that I haven't said anything about Obama yet...although he seems more involved with impressing people on the world stage, rather than getting directly involved with his country's own citizens.

[madamesilverspurs]

5. Montana doc's letter

needs to be handed personally to Max Baucus, senator from Montana. Not that Baucus wouldn't ignore it if it was lit up in neon right in front of him.

[mascarax]

6. Thank you, Dr. Stickney

for the truth!

[NorthCarolina]

7. Too bad Conservative Dems and Republicans think the Insurance Companies

with their big dollar campaign donations are indispensable. Hell, they won't even acknowledge publicly that 72% or more of the electorate WANT a form of single payer. They're in denial for self interest, trading votes for gold.

[MsLeopard]

8. K&R

Say it loud, say it long. Single payer now!

[R. P. McMurphy]

9. K & R n/t

[Kablooie]

10. Must convince them that more votes are lost by bad policy than gained with richly funded ads.

[WestSeattle2]

11. I just received a notice today from Aetna....

announcing their new, fabulous, "Disease Management" program. It is available at NO COST to me! They are offering "Care Considerations" to both my doctor and me! How thoughtful! Yes, from their burgeoning database they will compare treatments provided to others with identical diseases nationwide, and then offer "suggestions" to me and my doctor about my "care alternatives".

May I be the first to say, "Fuck you, Aetna". Does anyone have ANY doubt where their new, benevolent system is going? "Mr. Westseattle2, our records indicate that there are cheaper approaches to your care, therefore we will only allow "x" amount of coverage for this particular ailment". "Thank you for your continued participation in our Care Considerations program, your health is important to us."



I CAN NOT WAIT FOR THESE ASSHOLES TO GO OUT OF BUSINESS. THIS IS ONE GROUP WHO I WOULD NOT MIND SEEING IN AN UNEMPLOYMENT LINE. FOREVER.


SINGLE-PAYER NOW.

[quidam56]

12. We need to call our representatives and let em know we want health care reform with Public Option

I worked in health care most of my life, after seeing what is deemed, defended and supported as "the acceptable standards of health care" in TN & VA I support anything but the status quo. http://www.wisecountyissues.com/?p=62 How many more have to die now that Profit Care is more important than Patient Care.

[bertman]

13. He's only a doctor. What the hell does he know? We need to ask an insurance company CEO

what HE thinks about this plan before we take any precipitous action.

Just to be fair, of course.


:evilgrin:

[Wednesdays]

14. K&R

:kick:

[kath]

15. Kick! Mega-kudos to Dr. Stickney!