My health insurance is paid for: Why should I care if yours isn't?

[JanMichael]

$15 co-pays too, what a back breaker. What a healthcare "crisis":eyes:

So why should I care if some of you don't have any insurance at all? Or that you're paying outta your nose for a private or company "plan"?

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. All of the above.

And because all of our medical insurance costs go up because so many are uninsured and providers have to make up the profit one way or the other. Also, JanMichael, because you are a caring guy and a lefty.

[Bozita]

2. Great poll, JanMichael.

Love the choices.

heh heh

[JanMichael]

3. Is it called "Push Polling"?

:evilgrin:

[Bozita]

19. "Push Poll" unnecessary. ... We know the correct answers.

every one of them.

[Terwilliger]

4. don't mind me...

I'll just go off in my room and drink a strichnine soda

That should keep costs down!

[JanMichael]

7. True. When people die young they cost less for us lucky folk.

Cheers!:toast:

[jab105]

21. Not necessarily true...

because of lost productivity...

[JanMichael]

27. But they also consume less when they're dead!

Scary, eh?

[indigo32]

5. I LOVE your choices

but there are pragmatic ones too.... we can't afford to continue treating people in emergency rooms for things that could have been treated far more efficiently in the doctors office.

[JanMichael]

9. Very true. My uncle died two weeks ago in a similar situation.

Too young for MediCare and too scared to go see the doctor outta fear of being hospitalized. Stroke followed by a heart attack in the emergency room. Wife with Alzheimers too...

I'm still furious with our sick twisted scummy system.

[indigo32]

12. That sucks

I'm sorry to hear that.

[JanMichael]

15. Thanks.

Nothing like a personal situation to put a little focus onto what really matters.

[Clete]

17. How terribly personal this is for you and

there is no reason it should be this way. My sympathy friend.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

6. Actually you sound much like some of the so-called Democrats that

post here.

Thanks for giving THEM an opportunity to see what it looks like when THEY do it. ;-)

[JanMichael]

8. Oh! I wouldn't DREAM of mocking faux Liberals!

OK, maybe I would...

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

13. Well if you aren't going to mock them then is it too much to ask you to

give them a SWIFT KICK IN THE ASS???? ;-)

[Resistance Is Futile]

10. Because it costs you money and can it kill you

Preventive care is much cheaper than emergency care. Since you have to pay for emergency care for the uninsured already--either through taxes or increased premiums--it is in your interests to ensure that the overall load on the healthcare system is kept to a minimum.

Secondly, a large population without access to healthcare is a breeding ground for contagious diseases. It is in your interests to see that the poor and middle class have access to heathcare because outbreaks like SARS don't care about the state of your health insurance.

[Cocoa]

11. because we're all connected

that's an idea from Gephardt's stump speech that I think is a good message for the democratic party. It says a lot, and it applies to foreigh policy too.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

14. Because it should be the RIGHT of every citizen

Young, old, employed, unemployed, rich, poor. Everyone should be covered. And not with tax breaks, because the SOB's would just drive the premiums up further so that the out of pocket was still the same or more.

I agree with DK and CMB that the choice needs to be taken away from insurance companies. Single-payer, government-controlled healthcare for everyone. That's a brand-new, radical idea (except in all the other industrialized countries in the world that already do it).

[Snow]

16. Where is John Donne when we need him? Maybe he'd

lead a WH prayer breakfast? Imagine that one in your mind's eye.....

[TrogL]

18. If everybody was in a plan

the rates would be lower. There are people out there who aren't a drain on the system.

[jonnyblitz]

20. gasp

:crazy:

[JanMichael]

25. I am the master of the obvious!

Sadly insane people like myself are needed to remind others...

[Bozita]

22. This poll deserves front page presence.

[KT2000]

23. Seriously - you've got it!

The reason we can't make much headway with the healthcare issue is because most people only consider their own situation. A ewoman wrote a letter to the editor where I live that said - "We don't need national healthcare because we already have Medicare."

Don't people realize that doctors will not make appointments for people who do not have health insurance??

[JanMichael]

24. "we already have Medicare"?! Amazing.

I guess that "lady" forgot that it's age tested:eyes:

Oh, and many doctors will take an uninsured patient for a $35-$75 (Geografic differences) fee. The problem is that the patient may need a prescription or additional care that's finantially impossible.

[tokenlib]

26. Because over half of employers offer no health insurance..

The "employer" based system of health care coverage is falling apart. Unless the irresponsible corporations like Wal-Mart are dealt with.. there will be no choice but to separate health coverage from employment.

You may be safe now--but just wait.

[LWolf]

28. Universal, single-payer healthcare.

Available to 100% of the population, without exception.

Since when is health a privilege for those who can afford to pay?

These days, being "covered" doesn't mean being "treated." One example:

My son. He works. He has coverage; an HMO. He went 3 years ago to complain of constant pain. The GP told him he had a hernia. And sent him to the HMO's specialist to schedule surgery. The specialist said he did not have a hernia. He was the only specialist allowed by the HMO to make the decision. The GP and specialist battled it out for 2 years. While my son existed in constant pain. Doing all of the paperwork to get a second opinion. The trouble is, the 2nd opinion was offered by a GP, who said he had a hernia and referred him to...that's right, the one specialist. Who finally, after 2 years and 2 GPs, agreed that he did have a hernia, and scheduled surgery. Meanwhile, the GPs noticed that the pain seemed to be on both sides; there were 2 hernias. The specialist only agreed to operate on one, and told my son he would have to start the process all over again for the 2nd. After 6 months on a waiting list, he had the surgery. One hernia was repaired. One was not. He is still in pain.

How about taking the profit out, and just treating what needs to be treated instead of putting up roadblocks to save $$?

[JanMichael]

30. What?! Are you some sort of commie?

"How about taking the profit out, and just treating what needs to be treated instead of putting up roadblocks to save $$?"

Because our country is engulfed in greed:shrug:

[loudsue]

29. "There, but for the grace of God, go I"......

My mom's old "favorite" saying.....


:kick: