Health Care Increasingly Out Of Reach For Millions Of Americans

Kaiser Health News:

Having trouble finding a doctor?

You’re not alone.

Tens of millions of adults under age 65 – both those with insurance and those without – saw their access to health care worsen dramatically over the past decade, according to a study abstract released Monday.

Read the whole story at Kaiser Health News

Comments

[alientotech]

02:05 PM on 05/09/2012

the ACA isn't going to help anyone much over one's lifespan

[Moose Luck 99]

12:33 PM on 05/09/2012

http://www.naturalnews.com/035812_Pfizer_Obamacare_collusion.html

NaturalNews) Most Americans have no idea what truly went on behind closed doors during the crafting and illegitimate passing of Obamacare, also known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. But a congressional investigation currently underway is seeking to unearth the dirty details, including how drug giants like Pfizer Inc. and Merck & Co. greased the financial wheels to make sure their pharmaceuticals received preferential treatment as part of the health care overhaul.

As reported by Bloomberg, Republicans from the House Energy and Commerce Committee have been toiling for roughly a year now to obtain key documents, emails and other pertinent information exposing the truth about Big Pharma's role in the creation of Obamacare. But to date, neither the Obama White House nor Big Pharma has cooperated in any significant way in releasing any of this information, according to the committee.

"This has been like pulling teeth, trying to get information," said Congressman Michael Burgess (R-Tex.), to Bloomberg. Besides Pfizer and Merck, drug companies Amgen Inc., Abbott Laboratories and AstraZeneca are also being pressed by Rep. Burgess and his allies for information, as are industry lobbyists, lawyers, and several doctor and hospital groups.

[booyahcah29]

01:34 PM on 05/09/2012

Uh, the beginning of the article says health care deterioration over the last 10 YEARS.

[alientotech]

02:08 PM on 05/09/2012

why citizens should be more active in the legislative process

never assume lobbyist's you think are for you..are

[wdancer]

12:06 PM on 05/09/2012

This is not new, doctors are always picking and choosing who they want to treat.This is why there should be PUBLIC OPTION.Take it or leave the profession.Public money put them through school.Anyway there are good doctors who practise for the love of their profession and the love of helping people.There are those whose sole aim is the Green Backs.I cannot wait for the public option and it is coming.

[demisfine]

12:03 PM on 05/09/2012

If you were born wealthy and white, the world is your oyster.
Everyone else is on their own.
The GOP likes the pay-to-play game plan, because they know they alone have money to burn.
Not only do they start with all the advantages in life, the advantages compound themselves.
Those without stay behind and fall further and further behind.
It's shameful.

[Moose Luck 99]

12:13 PM on 05/09/2012

Sorry but Obama spent the healthcare money on the "EVIL PENTANGLE!"....

[Soonergrl]

11:55 AM on 05/09/2012

We will never have healthcare equality in this country because we have a free enterprise/for profit economy. Insurance companies won't go away. The truly fair system would be medicare for all (including congress) and to do away with private insurance. Obviously that will never happen. When I said that to my insurer at our health and wellness fair his reply was "But then we will be like Canada or France!" I have no problem with that. Get used to paying more and getting less because insurance companies aren't going away. By the way, does an Tylenol really cost $150 when a nurse hands it to me in the hospital? Really? What a mess.

[Max Load]

11:55 AM on 05/09/2012

Second to last paragraph in the article sums it up “We’re paying more and more and getting less and less”.

The reason? "Health" insurers, who are beholden to nothing more than a profit margin and quarterly earnings statement, and parasites intent on defrauding both the private and public systems for personal gain.

Now, if the partisan tribes would quit bickering and agree on those two points, we'd stand a chance of fixing things. Sadly, I don't believe they will.

[bluedog24]

11:53 AM on 05/09/2012

As long as there are millions to be made by a few health care CEOs, nothing will change

[I-US]

11:47 AM on 05/09/2012

It's increasingly obvious that the system is about offering expensive treatment rather than caring for health.

[middledge]

11:45 AM on 05/09/2012

Bachmann's move to Swiss citizenship is brilliant. When your health insurance expense is nearly the same as your mortgage cost; you're a typical 60 y/o and you're f.c.t'd

[mikey09]

11:40 AM on 05/09/2012

Unless we go with more the Swiss system and everyone in the country belongs in the exchanges, this ahc mess is not going to make healthcare affordable in this country

[pinetar]

11:40 AM on 05/09/2012

Is this the reason so many politicians have switched their investments into healthcare and related industries..

[KeepLeft]

11:35 AM on 05/09/2012

See that big machine over there? The shiny one with the specially trained technician? The one that cost us seven million dollars? The one we pay that doctor over there five hundred thousand dollars a year to refer patients and read the results of the tests it runs? That machine can help fix that thing that's wrong.

You're out of network so don't touch it.

[RonP58]

11:32 AM on 05/09/2012

........and there's NO NEED for Healthcare reform?.....

When the "profit motive" is the driving force behind healthcare...NO ONE GETS IT........

[shredder171]

11:46 AM on 05/09/2012

Correct, RonP58. This is capitalism at its finest.. and to think our nation was founded because of tyrrany and persecution because of religious affilaition and later taxation and capitalism of one country dictating to people in lands abroad under their control......

[mdbmama]

11:29 AM on 05/09/2012

Just letting everyone know, again, that state employees in Alabama are under attack via their health care benefit. We haven't had a pay raise in - I can't even remember when. Our retirement is being threatened - again. Another pay cut is coming via a rise in retirement percentage. Another pay cut is coming via a rise in health care co-pays and premiums AND the insurance board is threatening to throw me off (and others) the insurance if we do not produce a marriage certificate within 30 days. I've been married for 37 years. 30 of those years my husband has been with the state in the same department. Where is my marriage certificate? Who knows!! I haven't seen it in 37 years.

Without insurance, I will die in 30 to 60 days. Can't afford medical care on a state employees salary. Especially since we also support our disabled vet and his 4 kids. As a kidney failure (due to meds to treat other conditions), heart disease (due to genetics - should have chosen better parents and grandparents), osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, arthritis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol patient with full custody of 2 grandkids that I buy a private policy for because the state won't cover them (at a cost of $400 a month with a high deductible and high co-pays and no lab or x-ray coverage) I am royally pissed. Especially since our legislators gave themselves a $17,000 pay raise (50%) for their part time job.

[Owba]

11:43 AM on 05/09/2012

Consider moving to Canada. They are obviously more concerned with the health of their citizens than the Republicans are here in the "exceptional" USofA.

[mdbmama]

11:45 AM on 05/09/2012

I am. So is my sister.

[cwaged1002]

11:46 AM on 05/09/2012

It is just outrageous how the red states can think up ways to deny people health care and
participation in social safety net benefits. Too many people must be passing the drug test.

There should be a limit to "state rights,"

[hubertandsusan]

11:23 AM on 05/09/2012

Here is a sick reality- even if you are so fortunate to have health insurance, it will cost you a minimum of $500 per month ( that is actually rather low ball ). Then, with insurance companies increasing their deductibles, most from $3000-$6000 per year, a person will pay a MINIMUM Of $9000-$12000 per year OUT OF POCKET -- BEFORE insurance ever kicks in for ANYTHING.
Sick and tired of paying through the nose for health insurance, being told :" Its covered ". Then getting a bill for thousands of dollars anyway because it got bounced back by the insurance company for some strange reason. They take your money, but don't pay up in the end. Humana, Cigna, all crooks. Surely so are the rest. Why isn't there a health insurer By the People FOR the People, like Credit Unions?

[shredder171]

11:29 AM on 05/09/2012

Well said hubertandsusan; that's because if there's no money to be made it lapses.

[grammasher]

11:52 AM on 05/09/2012

You are correct. I think we may soon reach a tipping point where people opt out of any insurance and take their chances.

[hubertandsusan]

12:21 PM on 05/09/2012

That is not where I was going with this. Instead of scrapping something , why wouldn't we fix it? It's not a VCR after all. It's people's lives and well being.