Government run health care

[Puckstop31]

One has to subscribe to the WSJ to read the entire article - to continue reading, subscribe now.

Thats right... Poo. I will try to get a summary up later... Gotta hit the road now.

I wonder if Harry Reid is hurrying so much because he's afraid of leaving no legacy, good or bad, when he gets defeated next fall

[Edwina's Secretary]

I have a friend. I have known her..and her husband since before they were husband and wife - at least 25 years.

They have three children. Their son is grown and on his own. The girls are still in high school. They have been through many ups and downs in their marriage...the worst had been just over 11 years ago. She was diagnosed with lupus. Very, very sick. At times she was not expected to make it. She was on a kidney transplant list. Eventually, she went into remission. Her kidneys functioned at 25%. Enough.

When her daughters started high school she went back to work. Nothing fancy but with benefits. Her employer... loves her as she is a great person. But they had some concerns hiring her because of her medical history.

It was a good thing they hired her because her husband is a manufacturing engineer. And now - most manufacturing is done in India or China. Last year the company where he worked closed. He has been looking for work since. I got him a gig with a client for a few months. One company told him his English is "too accented."

And now...her lupus is back. She has been in the hospital. She is on dialysis and chemo. She is hoping she can work a few hours a day. The money of course. But also...by law she is entitled to 480 hours (12 weeks) of unpaid medical leave. After that, her employer can terminate her. And her benefits. (And mostly likely they will. Strictly business of course.) The family cannot afford COBRA. MAYBE...the stimulus funds that are helping people by paying 65% of COBRA will be extended beyond 12/31/09. Maybe not.

I have been helping their older daughter with her college applications. That will most likely have to take a back seat to the medical expenses.

I cannot imagine how frightened she is. Which of course, does not help her illness.

Please, please....do not say "pray for her." What she needs is a country that gets out of the dark ages. A country that recognizes it is not 1776 anymore. A country that recognizes, as the rest of the civilized world has, that adequate and affordable healthcare is a right...not a privilege.

Some of my PetTalk friends have met her. I know they will join me in hoping our country comes to its senses before it is too late.

[Puckstop31]

I have a friend. I have known her..and her husband since before they were husband and wife - at least 25 years.

They have three children. Their son is grown and on his own. The girls are still in high school. They have been through many ups and downs in their marriage...the worst had been just over 11 years ago. She was diagnosed with lupus. Very, very sick. At times she was not expected to make it. She was on a kidney transplant list. Eventually, she went into remission. Her kidneys functioned at 25%. Enough.

When her daughters started high school she went back to work. Nothing fancy but with benefits. Her employer... loves her as she is a great person. But they had some concerns hiring her because of her medical history.

It was a good thing they hired her because her husband is a manufacturing engineer. And now - most manufacturing is done in India or China. Last year the company where he worked closed. He has been looking for work since. I got him a gig with a client for a few months. One company told him his English is "too accented."

And now...her lupus is back. She has been in the hospital. She is on dialysis and chemo. She is hoping she can work a few hours a day. The money of course. But also...by law she is entitled to 480 hours (12 weeks) of unpaid medical leave. After that, her employer can terminate her. And her benefits. (And mostly likely they will. Strictly business of course.) The family cannot afford COBRA. MAYBE...the stimulus funds that are helping people by paying 65% of COBRA will be extended beyond 12/31/09. Maybe not.

I have been helping their older daughter with her college applications. That will most likely have to take a back seat to the medical expenses.

I cannot imagine how frightened she is. Which of course, does not help her illness.

Please, please....do not say "pray for her." What she needs is a country that gets out of the dark ages. A country that recognizes it is not 1776 anymore. A country that recognizes, as the rest of the civilized world has, that adequate and affordable healthcare is a right...not a privilege.

Some of my PetTalk friends have met her. I know they will join me in hoping our country comes to its senses before it is too late.

Very emotional...

And all very good, from the heart. But this issue requires a brain as well.

How do we do this, without ruining our economy, like all the other countries that have tried it? Health care a RIGHT? Perhaps. Why not make it so?

YES, our system is in need of repair. YES, people like the one described here need help. Is it worth screwing our economy to the point where we are dragged down to 3rd world status?

WHO PAYS FOR IT???? This is something the left often ignores.

Emotion is swell. Its time for REASON to be part of the debate. Remember, I am with you. But it needs to happen in a way that does not destroy our economy, more than this administration has already hurt it.

[blue]

Im going to implore for PTers to pray, send good vibes, or light a candle for ES's friend and her family. My understanding is the benefits from the bill under debate will not come into effect until 2013/14.

[sasvermont]

ES, I am sorry to hear about your friends and their health and job situations.

Puckstop, how rude of you to make the comment about needing a brain. Grow up, will you?

[Puckstop31]

Its rude to say that we should put a LOT of thought into the way we change our HCS?

ES provided a very good example of why the system needs to be better. All the good intentions in the world will not mean anything if the country can't afford the burden. The bills in both the House and Senate will hurt our economy even more than it already is. So again, how does it get paid for? How do we REDUCE costs? (Without reducing the quality of care.)

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The Dark Ages? REALLY? The country that far and away gives more to charity? The country that was first to the moon.... How insulting for ES to say that our country needs to get out of the Dark Ages. "A country that recognizes its not 1776 anymore." Please.

Thats the emotional bullcrap that I am talking about.

"....that adequate and affordable healthcare is a right...not a privilege."

Thats the catch, eh? And if it is a RIGHT, why is there not a Constitutional Amendment in process? Oh, right... That is SO 1776.


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Yes, I have ideas as to how to make it better and more affordable.

1.) Limit the awards for pain and suffering to reasonable amounts. Not the amount a good speaking lawyer can get out of a emotional jury.

2.) Allow insurance companies to sell policies in multiple states.

These two things by themselves will reduce the cost of care. There are more good, no GREAT ides out there. The problem is more people need to be willing to take on the responsibility themselves for THEIR healthcare. That alone is why it is dangerous to speak about healthcare as a right.

[sasvermont]

What you said about requiring a brain, was rude. Nice try to dismiss it so easily.

[cassiesmom]

Yes, I have ideas as to how to make it better and more affordable.

1.) Limit the awards for pain and suffering to reasonable amounts. Not the amount a good speaking lawyer can get out of a emotional jury.

2.) Allow insurance companies to sell policies in multiple states.

These two things by themselves will reduce the cost of care. There are more good, no GREAT ides out there. The problem is more people need to be willing to take on the responsibility themselves for THEIR healthcare. That alone is why it is dangerous to speak about healthcare as a right.

I'm not sure I want insurers selling across state lines. They can write a crappy policy, sell it dirt cheap (so people will buy it) in an insurance statute-friendly state (where they can win any cases that may go to court), and still be making money hand over foot.

My #2 would be
2.) Figure out a way for prescription drug manufacturers to sell their products cheaply. Why does my antihypertensive cost $3 a pill? Maybe the V.A. is onto something - they buy in enormous quantities, keep their formulary pretty tight, and pass the savings on to their patients.

Did you all see the story on 60 Minutes last night about older people in intensive care units? Heartbreaking.