In America????

[columbine]

Unfortunately in most countries there is a two (or more) tiered healthcare system. One for the well insured (or wealthy) and one for the rest of us. Neither the "socialized" systems in Europe and Canada or the free market system in the US can continue to exist in their current structures. The entry of the baby boomers in to retirement will force all the countries to re-evaluate their systems and what health care is.

People who think that the free market system means we don't pay for folks who can't afford healthcare are mistaken. The only alternative to people with money paying for healthcare for people without money is "screw it, let 'em die." I don't think we're quite there yet.

But we're heading there fast, since we don't want to pay for preventative care for the indigent, so we wait until it hits the life-or-death line, when it's far more expensive to treat them under emergency circumstances, they're often so debilitated by it that they can't even work their low-wage job afterward, and some don't make it anyway.

And these aren't just the "easily written off," whether one defines that as substance abusers, mentally ill people, the unemployed, or one's ex-spouse. These are people pulling hourly paychecks for employers who'll only employ them 25 hours a week and no more, so as not to be required to pay for health coverage. So they're working 2 jobs just to cover rent, gas, and utilities - it's not like they can save up against a medical emergency. That's fine when you're 20, but if you can't afford education to get a better job, it's all you've got when you're 50. That and the Emergency Room.

Love, Columbine

[lizbud]

People who think that the free market system means we don't pay for folks who can't afford healthcare are mistaken. The only alternative to people with money paying for healthcare for people without money is "screw it, let 'em die." I don't think we're quite there yet.

But we're heading there fast, since we don't want to pay for preventative care for the indigent, so we wait until it hits the life-or-death line, when it's far more expensive to treat them under emergency circumstances, they're often so debilitated by it that they can't even work their low-wage job afterward, and some don't make it anyway.

And these aren't just the "easily written off," whether one defines that as substance abusers, mentally ill people, the unemployed, or one's ex-spouse. These are people pulling hourly paychecks for employers who'll only employ them 25 hours a week and no more, so as not to be required to pay for health coverage. So they're working 2 jobs just to cover rent, gas, and utilities - it's not like they can save up against a medical emergency. That's fine when you're 20, but if you can't afford education to get a better job, it's all you've got when you're 50. That and the Emergency Room.

Love, Columbine

There is a lot of truth in this statement but, you can't find many lawmakers who not only understand, but are willing to do the hard work to extend coverage to all familes with young children.