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Whining Americans Choose Caviar Health Care
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2008 Election, Allan Hubbard, Health Care, Health Reform, John McCain, Phil Gramm,
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Al Hubbard, architect of the Bush-cum-McCain health plan, compares Americans' use of the health care system to shoppers who indiscriminately buy caviar while someone else foots the bill, just as Senator Phil Gramm exits as co-chair of John McCain's presidential campaign after calling America a "nation of whiners" in a "mental recession."
Hubbard, former assistant to the president for economic policy, spoke at a Thursday event at the Center for American Progress Action Fund. He blamed patients for driving up health care costs because insurance insulated them from the real costs of treatment.
He suggested that American consumers would run similarly amok in a world where employers provided "food insurance" instead of health insurance. "Pretty soon you would start buying caviar, the most expensive steak, and you would start buying more than you needed," he said.
Hubbard crafted the health care plan unsuccessfully promoted by President Bush and subsequently embraced by GOP presumptive nominee Senator John McCain. It would eliminate incentives for employers to offer insurance, shifting the burden of health care costs onto individuals, who would be granted a tax break to buy insurance. Critics say the tax credits would be at an amount far below what would be required to purchase health insurance.
About eighty percent of health care costs are incurred by the sickest twenty percent of Americans, those whose doctors order expensive treatments for difficult diseases such as cancer. Hubbard is suggesting that Americans going through serious health challenges should be shoppers first and patients second.
This remarks comes at a poor time for Senator McCain, who was forced to jettison co-chairman Phil Gramm because his remarks made the GOP presumptive nominee seem insensitive to the Americans' economic difficulties. Do Hubbard's comments mean McCain is hoping to lower health care costs by forcing Americans to treat health care as a luxury as precious as caviar?
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Are there no prisons?
And the Union workhouses? Are they still in operation?
The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigor, then?
Imagine the temerity of the little people with their caviar tastes for medical care!
How on earth are we going to pay for "comfort capsules" for Air Force brass? How can we fund needed no bid contracts for Halliburton and KBR?
How can people have such wrong priorities?
I know it's going to be frustrating for everyone to hear because Insurance companies are universally hated in America. But as someone who works directly with insurance rates, I've seen patients who have legally forced their insurance company to pay for their $25,000.00
Folks we need a national healthcare system and we need to start taking care of one another. But we also need to be reasonable about cost. I don't agree with Mr. Hubbards remarks, but there is abuse happening at all levels. There are individuals out there who absolutely demand the most cutting edge obscenely expensive procedures and often insurance companies are forced to pay for them.
Of course then Insurance Company attorneys go to work with exclusionary language in contracts that unsuspecting members purchase only later to find out when they are sick that the language limits their coverage. It's a cat and mouse game. The Health Care Industry is unique in that it cannot operate with the same rules that are applied to the auto industry for example. We need a national healthcare system that eliminates obscene profit and expense!! This is one sector of the economy that cannot be a capitalist playground!!
hmmmmmm. . . why do those drugs cost so much? Are they in gold capsules?
Charging that much for drugs is not ok. . . I guess its to pay for all of those commercials that are in high rotation. Like the one: Are you a sad white blob? Do all of the other blobs look happy and ignore you? Well now there are pills to fix you!
The whole pharma/ health insurance industry makes me want to barf. But I won't not sure if this kind of illness is covered under my insurance
Okay, I've worked in insurance for years and my experience is just not the same. I see many people avoid wellness stuff and do only what's necessary in treatment. I find most insurance companies painfully difficult and will deal with few.
http://www
Yes I agree Insurance companies are painfully difficult to deal with. And that is because they are a business selling a service and they need to keep a healthy balance sheet like any other business. What I'm saying is that Health Care is a unique product/service that cannot be treated like other commodities. The concept of a Health Care Insurance Company was good at its inception some 80 years ago and provided highly sought after rich coverage. No copays, no deductibles, no out of pocket expense and average Americans got covered completely.
Today, that is impossible because of patient over-utilization, unregulated pricing, poor preventive care, staggering malpractice insurance and not enough doctors. The stew we have concocted is so over seasoned that it's no longer edible. Health Care is a mess and supply-side is not working with this sector of the economy.
How can one such as I *avoid* "wellness stuff" when the only healthcare I am offered due to my "pre-existing conditions" simply does not cover "wellness stuff?"
CATCH-22, citizen.
BTW, my late mother was an insurance specialist for an OB-GYN office for nearly two decades; I learned about the devolution of medical insurance starting under Nixon, to its current train wreck status, as it developed. Now hear this: It is, and has only ever been, about the greed of a few corporate executives and their overwhelmingly *Republican* political allies.
Leland R. Erickson
Citizen
Wow! $25,000 a month just for medications. I'd like to know what medications cost that much, what they treat and why. I spent many years working with HIV/AIDS patients and their medications average $1200 to $2500 a month and I thought that was a lot of money. At $25 grand a month, if we made the average insurance company CEO pay for the medications out of his annual salary (without benefits) that would only cover 1000 months of medication, or enough for 83 years. I know a gentleman who works for a company that audits insurance claims for hospital in order to get insurance companies to pay. The companies notoriously try to delay or deny claims. He reports it's a widespread problem and creates lots of work for him and other companies like his. So, how many patients are getting $25,000 a month in drug benefits compared to the numbers of claims delayed/denied by insurers? We need a Universal Health Care System like Canada, Britain, Germany and if we really want to go first class and include house calls, France. I know they're terrible systems according to the GOP. All "Socialized (Communist) Medicine." But, ask the majority of those who use those systems if they'd trade for our system and tell me their answer.
I know unbelievable isn't it? I'm not at liberty to discuss the details of this case due to HIPAA regulations, and granted this is an extreme case, but I hope it offers a little more information to my fellow posters so that each of you can make a more informed decision about the future of Health Care in America. The system is broken and clearly demonstrates that the unregulated free market approach to Health Care is not working.
I can say something about the delay in payments and that is because sometimes the health insurance subscriber delays in paying the monthly premiums..
I still would love to see us get back the ability to import drugs from Canada. After all this is FREE Market, right? I guess that means it is FREE Market for WALMART to import drugs from CHINA and skim the profit...
"Insurance Company attorneys go to work with exclusionary language in contracts that unsuspecting members purchase only later to find out when they are sick that the language limits their coverage."
They are ALLOWED to play God with people's LIVES ... because their "obscene profits" are WELL PROTECTED by our GOVERNMENT.
I do not want to hear one republican babble on about "right-to-life" UNTIL I hear them ALL advocating for UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE and EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH!!!
I remember when the antibiotic Keflex was released, and the capsule was $ 1.00 a pince. We in healthcare were outraged, but after the doctors got enough free lunches in their offices, they were writing scripts left and right for the stuff, even when there were less expensive antibiotics available! Now there are prescription drugs available that are THOUSANDS of dollars per dose.
Get Big Pharma, Big Medical Mfrs, and Doctors under control and things will turn around pretty damned fast! With Congress protecting Doctors' Medicare reimbursements and diallowing Federal negotiations for drug reimbursement, ... what do you expect?
My forty years in healthcare have taught me that payors, and providers all feed at the trough, ... and when they face restrictions of their reimbursements they come back to nurses, therapists and technicians to write to Congress to save THEIR incomes. Ironically, physicians never give a damn when those groups get stiffed for annual raises.
That approach hasn't worked! Time for a Change! Single Payor Universal Care!!!
It is very distressing that McBush has surrounded himself with the worst corruptors
Who in his right mind would pick out the cheapest doctor and the cheapest hospital in town to go to ?
Most people have no idea who is a good doctor anyway. They don't have a sign on their forehead.
Not even a busy doctor is necessarily a good doctor. He maybe just a good talker. Many lousy physicians have a lot of patients and they have all kinds of gimmicks to lure them in, including giveing them a break on their fees. To apply the free market system to healthcare is impossible. People don't know enuogh to pick out good and yet inexpensive physicians or hospitals. Besides, when you are having an acute appendix, how much time do you have to pick and choose ?
Depends on what's wrong with you. If you need a specialist you may seek out a doctor with the % of results for what ailes you.Applyi
What Canadians come across the border for health care? I know a good many Canadians and have asked them about this repeatedly, they simply laugh and shake their heads stating that neither they nor anyone that they know would ever consider doing such. People wait in line for medical services in this country even when they have good health insurance. Have you made an appontment with a cardiologist recently? Made an appointment with your internist to have a yearly physical performed? You will be waiting months. Single payer, universal healthcare for ALL Americans NOW.
"Give everyone the average cost of a health care policy via a tax credit and let them shop for the best deal."
"Socializing medicine will have people waiting in line for services, due to people with any minor issue going to the doc whether it is neccesary or not."
Oh I see ... those with "tax credit" healthcare won't be waiting in line for services ... but those with "socialized" heathcare will?
There will ALWAYS be "hypochondriacs" around to slow things down in emergency rooms, hospitals, and doctor's offices. But in their defense ... it's their LIVES they are "obsessing" about!
I'm a privileged american who's covered under my husband's EMPLOYER-paid health insurance. BUT I advocate for EVERY AMERICAN to get what I'm getting! I'm a "right-to-life" advocate ... a REAL "right-to-LIFE" advocate ... not one of those PHONY "right-to-lifers" who place MORE "inherent dignity and matchless value" on the "unique human lives" of 400,000 (to be THROWN AWAY) frozen embryos ... rather than 400,000 lives of DEAD Iraqi men, women & children ... or un- & under-insured LIVING, BREATHING (but probably not for long!) UNIQUE HUMAN LIVES OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS!!!
The USUAL suspects NOT advocating for EQUAL healthcare for EVERY AMERICAN are those who have the best of the best handed to THEM on a silver platter...
Sorry I have some friends that are Canadians, they said they have never heard of anyone doing this. They said that though not perfect, it is much better than the healthcare system we have. That is just pure B.S. and you know it.
I know a few people who do have health insurance, and they say they have to decide if they want to get groceries or their meds. Most choose the groceries.
The health care system in this country is broken, for the consumers, but a gold mind for the health insurance companies.
Ask any american who has had to suffer without healthcare and they will tell you its no picnic. Many of us who could pay were refused due to pre exsisting condition. Many innocent people have died, forced to suffer, go without needed meds they can't access or afford. This is hardly caviar. I take great offense at republicans who tell me how great I have it with no healthcare. Do they know this can happen to them as well? Nobody is immune under the current system. Universal coverage is what we have now. People cant afford it. Its not doable. If we had single payer, the money that went to pay high premiums would pay that tank of gas, food, a rent or house payment. Think about it. The bit about high taxes is a scare tactic. If you ended up paying less in premiums, that tax would be a drop in the bucket, which you would get back as a tax deduction. Little known fact here. That is doable and what families need. Insurance companies wont let this happen as they stand to lose profit if single payer goes through. Tell them to go to hell and fight for your right for single payer.
You have a right for single payer? Where in the Constitution is that written?
Recently in the Post Dispatch, a worker for the insurance companies wrote a letter to the editor against single payer health care. Big surprise, she was corporate. She didn't have to wonder if her healthcare would be there for her if she or her family got sick. She tried to shoot holes in why single payer wasn't a good idea. Ya know what, she coudln't do it. If you look at countries using single payer, thier life expectancy was higher than ours. Mortality was lower an care for all was a non issue. Those who stand to lose thier jobs if we get single payer are against it, ditto for investors who stand to lose. But the biggest losers are Americans with nothing. No back up, nothing to fall back on. Tell me, if we can't afford to keep our homes, jobs, how are we to afford universal coverage? We can't folks, we have to have single payer. Your taxes won't be higher, that is a lie. In the end, you pay less. You get peace of mind. What is that worth to you?
I totally agree, we've come to the point where the greater good of all must prevail over the
selfish wants of the few.
Even at our worst, the workers in this nation generate tremendous capitol through taxes and through
what we purchase.
My friends in Europe find it hard to comprehend how a country with so much can allow
people to go without the finest education, healthcare, housing, food and essential
social services.
The corporate protectionism in this country needs drastic reform as well
as the way our government spends the money we generate.
With all we have going for us, it's amazing how many people are one illness or two
paychecks away from complete financial disaster.
The laws also need to be changed to help those struggling to get back on their feet.
Once you get behind, suddenly interest rates increase making any hope of a recovery far more
difficult.
The lending institutions justify this cruel and unusual punishment with risk, when
there would be far less risk if they gave people struggling a freeking break.
Well now we know: Sick people have to be shoppers,first. patients second. If you are dying, don't seek medical attention right away. First, think what is best, and more cost effective for your insurance. If nothing cheap is available, we'll see you in heaven.
It reminds me of the "president" during sept. 11. "Go shopping" The Repugs solution for everything
This crap will continue until we establish a single-payer healthcare system,
like other civilized countries have.
nikto - I agree and yet you say "like other civilized countries have"
I think that the problem is that the U.S. isn't very civilized these days.
Here are some of the definitions for civilized I found. The current administration doesn't fit any of these defintions.
1. Having a highly developed society and culture.
2. Showing evidence of moral and intellectual advancement; humane, ethical, and reasonable
3. Marked by refinement in taste and manners; cultured; polished.
We fail miserably on all 3 criteria.
The Whining, BY KORPORATE interests, won't ever stop until we take healthcare completely off the
profit/free-market system and adopt single-payer.
Healthcare is too important to base on a profit-system.
These people have no business in government as they show a complete disdain for average Americans.
"disdain for average Americans"
I hope you don't mind if I make a small correction,
these monsters have disdain for mankind.
McCain has never been without health care coverage in his entire 71 years--first, as the son of an admiral, then as a Navy pilot, finally, as a senator.
He is also fantastically wealthy so even if he and Cindy had the MOST expensive medical emergency and they weren't covered---they could still easily afford it.
I don't think this man has any way at all to understand the lives of typical Americans.
No worries about affording health care. No concerns about inflation on a limited income. No fear of losing his job or his pension. No fear of losing his home (or, in his case, all 8 of his homes/estates).
He never worries if he would be ABLE to provide for himself and his family in the worst economy. Like GWB, he will always be rich, safe, and secure.
Politics aside, I don't think he's got the understanding of Americans to reflect our needs as president.
This quote reminds me of one uttered by the Marquis Everemond in "A Tale of Two Cities," whilst his servant is putting the Marquis to bed, the servant makes a comment about the hunger of the masses in Paris. The Marquis responds with the quip that, "Hunger is a luxury with those people" to which the servant responds, "If it is, sir, it is a luxury with which they would gladly do without."
The thing is that people already treat medical care like consumers. Even if you have fairly decent coverage, say 80% (not counting deductable or copays for medicine), medical costs are so high that you still are stuck with a large bill. I have epilepsy so every now and then I have a seizure somewhere. I always try to turn away the paramedics because I know that even after 80% it will still cost me $400-$600 to have an ambulance ride and an afternoon in the ER for observation. Since my seizures usually come in twos seperated by a few hours this is risky. Luckily my folks live in town and I can crash there for a day. Sometimes I'm taken before I regain full consciouness though. The cost isn't enough that it will bankrupt me but it's painful and makes it hard to make rent that month or to save for the future. I think there are probally a lot of people out there like me that even though they aren't even considered underinsured still struggle with medical costs to the point where they forego treatment that they should take.
This wouldn't happen in France, England, Japan, Taiwan or Canada. It's a shame that in the richest country in the world our people are not taken care of? Moreover, when the system imposes a $2000 fee for an afternoon observation of a patient, there is something seriously wrong with it.
I work for a not-for-profit insurance company (yes, they do exist) and like any business, it thrives on income. And like any business it would not survive without making enough to pay for its service. With hospital bills that reach to obscene levels, our company has increased co pays, deductibles and out of pocket expense to our members over the years. I've seen our plans gradually provide less and less over the years as premiums increased more and more. But I’ve also seen such insanity as $25,000.00 monthly Rx bills for a single subscriber (yes that’s a fact).
In order for health care to become a right of every citizen, we must stop fearing the idea of a national health care system. It's time that America tries to fix the mess we are in. We have to sit down and hammer this out and it won't be easy! But by at least trying we will be able to identify where the abuse is happening and where the profits and expenses in the system are extreme?
If somebody else paid for my house, I might want something cutting edge green and expensive, though being a responsible, justice oriented person, maybe not. If somebody else paid for my food, I might eat more exotically.
But as somebody who's been sick too often, I can guarantee I wouldn't take a single unnecessary test or drug or any extra appointments. Medical care is unpleasant, embarrassing and frequently painful. What kind of idiot would compare any kind of medical care to caviar?
EXACTLY!
I avoid hospitals/doctors offices like the plague! BUT ... should they become NECESSARY.
EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD HAVE WHAT I HAVE! ... PLAIN AND SIMPLE!!! MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!
Will they at least REQUIRE health insurance companies to cover people willing to pay the premiums and REQUIRE companies to provide services they have taken premiums for? Right now, one of the great crimes is the way insurance companies are allowed to drop people or never cover the people most in need of their services. I would be willing as a first step to forgo nationalized insurance in exchange for requiring private companies to come up with a flat fee, and saying they have to take anyone who agrees to asnd stays current with that fee.
Granted that's just a first step, but it would answer one huge problem in the current lack of system.
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