Not everybody eats pizza. Everybody gets sick and enters the healthcare system one way or the other. Before Obamacare, people were being denied coverage for absurd reasons (see NewRoxFan's post for an anecdotal example), but still needed care. Because this is a first-world country, we do not allow people to die because they can't afford to pay a medical bill. Those without coverage were being treated and costs were rising for everyone else. To paraphrase NewRoxFan's excellent post, we are not going back to that system. Those are the table stakes. Until the GOP puts forward an idea that addresses problems most Americans were happy to see fixed with Obamacare (mainly, preexisting conditions and allowing children to stay on family plans until the age of 24), they are not a serious negotiating partner. Until they put forward an intellectually-sound reason why they oppose a conservative plan, supported by current Republican members of Congress in the 1990s, instead of moaning that the President was able to pass something they once supported without their help, they are not to be taken seriously. Before you say "free market," please tell me how that system, which would be wholly unique among developed nations, would address these concerns and guarantee that people in dire medical situations would be able to receive care and not have every other aspect of their lives ruined just for falling ill (or how we'd provide preventative care before they even have a serious health crisis). If you are voting for or supporting the man with the "terrific" plan, you don't deserve to be at the table because you actually don't care about healthcare. You deserve to keep voting for your own marginalization.
This is headed towards the inevitable. Obama knew that it would likely fail we he had to settle for AHCA, and has wanted a single payer system since day 1. Some of the older people against single payer have died off, and the fight will be closer than a lot of people expect. Obama opened the door and went no farther because that is all he could do politically. There are pro and con features of a single payer system, but it is likely we get one soon.
Since private insurance company cannot handle it, introduce a federal public option, then we will be on our way to single payer system.
Yes the Romney logic, if I do it, it is good, if you do it, it is the worst act on earth. No disqualification for preexisting conditions and max out of pocket caps alone makes the Obama care worth saving.
While the right wing talks about pizza, the rest of us are concerned about improved access to health care insurance including the millions with pre-existing conditions. Perhaps this disconnect is a perfect illustration of the republican roadblock...
The "Romney logic" was that it's okay for a state to do, it's not okay for the federal government to do. Honestly, that's true, the ONLY reason it wasn't struck down as being unconstitutional is that after the fact they started selling Obamacare as nothing more than a giant tax. A giant tax that did nothing to improve health care, slow increasing costs, or improve access to health care. Basically a total failure, just as opponents of the bill said it would be. Sure taking away preexisting conditions seems awesome, but all you are really doing is making it more expensive for everyone by doing so, same goes for max out of pocket caps. Basically you are "helping" a small target group by hurting everyone, including that small target group...sadly, that always seems to be the outcome of short sighted liberal policy. Since costs are skyrocketing and people can't afford to use the insurance they are forced to pay for, you haven't really helped them other than on paper. It would be like if I gave a bum a car they couldn't afford to drive, and aren't allowed to sell, did I really help them?
So what should it be? And do you truly believe capitalism is rotting our country? I mean seriously....America is not anywhere close to an extreme version of capitalism ESPECIALLY in healthcare. Maybe Americans being fat and lazy and our belief that pills and surgery can fix everything is more of a problem? Maybe our avoidance of simple exercise and decent eating habits is a bigger problem? NAH! Those aren't issues we should concentrate on.
Of course the concept in theory is worthwhile, but it has become extremely mutated and distorted in American healthcare. Things just don't make sense to me at all with almost every aspect of healthcare in America.
Are you dense? Obamacare promised to stop insurance companies from absurd rate increase and all rates would need to be approved. Is an AVERAGE 25% increase absurd? It absolutely is. Insurance Companies: I am going to increase my rates 25% this year or im leaving. Obama: HaHaHa yeah right. You get 10%. Insurance Companies: OK! Cya! Obama: Wait Wait Wait!!! Don't leave me! You can have 25% Again, who has control? Certainly not the promise of "keep your doctor" and "rate increase limits.".
Not a fan of single payer, which will mute retail price signals further. However, I am also unwilling to go back to the wild west. If only we had politicians who were willing to get their hands dirty to try to build something that works instead of clubbing their political opponents with it. Maybe if the Senate flips we can get some traction on reforms.
They need to socialize catastrophic injury / illness. Call it a tax, or a public option or a fee or whatever, but everyone should pay X dollars to cover the entire pool, then the insurance companies can compete for non catastrophic coverages for preventative / routine / minor / average / pharma, etc. They also need to cut pharma patent lengths to 5-10 years.
If you are fat and die off early then you cost less to deal with since once you are dead no need to spend money on you.
This. I would go further and tie what you put in to Medicare so that there's an incentive to take care of oneself.
Uhh catastrophic injury is where insurance companies make their money. Since when do home and car insurance cover routine maintenance? Seriously. You guys completely baffle me. Insurance is about risk. How are routine, preventative, and pre-existing conditions risk associated? You can't insure guaranteed losses. Additionally routine visits are not expensive at all.
Then why don't abolish the FDA. If someone wants to take a cheaper drug they should be able. Also we should have unlicensed doctors. Medicine is a highly regulated industry. Lets look at pretty much every other 1st world country. They all spend less than us, but have similar healthcare results.
