Do you have private health insurance...??

[Daisy and Delilah]

This is a huge thorn in the sides of many Americans, Carole. Some of us have insurance and some don't. Some of us have better coverage than others. Medical costs all over are through the roof. I long for the day that something is done about this mammoth problem.

I could go on and on about this. It really irks me to think about certain situations. Much of the care we get in my area is inadequate. I spend 2 hours in the waiting area and see the doctor for 5 minutes. Alot of the doctors act too busy to be bothered with patients. Alot of us leave doctor's offices shaking our heads, etc.

Not all doctors are this bad but in this area, good medical care can be hard to find with or without insurance. Sorry to get off the question but it makes my blood boil to see these doctors getting away with murder.

In response to what you heard, I think it would really surprise me to see how many people in this country have no insurance at all.

As soon as possible, something has to be done about this situation. People are going to be ill, no matter what happens. These people all need proper care. When will we ever see this tragic ordeal come to an end?

[Edwina's Secretary]

i like the choice of being able to do either, if you are not in a position to afford private care at least you have a back up system, I would be scared if we changed to be like the US myself, i would be very worried about my health then.

Choice...it is a wonderful thing and something sadly lacking in our system.

One out of every four people in the state of Texas do not have medical insurance. No medical insurance equals poor if any medical care. Which equates to a very high cost to society of treatment (vs. prevention.)

In the US we pay the greatest percent of gross domestic product in health care (17%) yet are a long way from best in healthcare (as measured in such things as life span, maternal and infant mortality.)

There was a thread in the DogHouse recently that spoke of the "horrors" of the Canadian system of healthcare, yet there were a number of Canadian PetTalkers who spoke quite highly of their system.

I think there are many different possible avenues to pursue. But the one we are on does not work. Can you imagine...one out of every four people in a state as populous as Texas not having access to adequate healthcare???

As you are to the least of my people so shall you be onto me....

[carole]

Yes people moan and groan about our system too, although it is not fail proof and does have its problems, i think we are lucky to have what we have for such a small country,yes the waiting lists will get longer and i am sure there are people who are not getting adequate care in my country too.

I think the figure of people who died because of lack of proper care in the US was horrendous, i won't quote it as i cannot remember the exact figure, but it sure astounded me.

[Edwina's Secretary]

There have been a few ghastly examples here in the last year or so of people dying in the waiting room of the emergency...waiting for care. Waiting for hours and hours and hours...while employees ignored them.

Paying the most does not promise the best care!

[Puckstop31]

Choice...it is a wonderful thing and something sadly lacking in our system.

One out of every four people in the state of Texas do not have medical insurance. No medical insurance equals poor if any medical care. Which equates to a very high cost to society of treatment (vs. prevention.)

In the US we pay the greatest percent of gross domestic product in health care (17%) yet are a long way from best in healthcare (as measured in such things as life span, maternal and infant mortality.)

There was a thread in the DogHouse recently that spoke of the "horrors" of the Canadian system of healthcare, yet there were a number of Canadian PetTalkers who spoke quite highly of their system.

I think there are many different possible avenues to pursue. But the one we are on does not work. Can you imagine...one out of every four people in a state as populous as Texas not having access to adequate healthcare???

As you are to the least of my people so shall you be onto me....

Please do not think that I am not compassionate to these peoples plight. But are there not already options for the uninsured? I thought that was what Medicade was for? Better yet, who are those one of every 4? How did they come to be in the situation they are in? As usual, there is more too it than just a passionate speech, tugging at heartstrings.

Further, in a world of sunshine and roses, government controlled healthcare would be swell. But government never stops intruding. Enough is never enough.

Like I said before.... I'd rather succeed or fail on my own.

[moosmom]

Because I like to eat, no.

[caseysmom]

I have had Kaiser for years. Never had any problem. My employer pays 1086.00 a month and I pay 200 something. We have a 15 dollar co pay when we go in for a visit. This covers the whole family of course.

I have never had any problem with kaiser, they were pretty good with my pregnancies. You just have to find the good doctors.

[Daisy and Delilah]

My health insurance has covered most of my medical charges. I look at those charges and my mouth drops open at the amounts. Why do the insurance companies keep paying such high amounts for everything? It worries me alot because I can't help but think that they will all eventually run out of money to cover these charges and we will all be without any coverage.

A few years ago, I was forced to try for one of those that are advertised on tv. Humana One and Blue Choice One. I was turned down because I have hig blood pressure and other medical conditions. I was told those policies are underwritten and underwriters are reluctant to approve many people. Unlike the group policies that we have through work, these people are much more particular. If I run out of my current insurance, where will I go? It's really scary.

[pomtzu]

My health insurance has covered most of my medical charges. I look at those charges and my mouth drops open at the amounts. Why do the insurance companies keep paying such high amounts for everything? It worries me alot because I can't help but think that they will all eventually run out of money to cover these charges and we will all be without any coverage.

Terry - I know exactly what you're saying here. When I fractured my wrist 18 months ago, it was too badly damaged for just a cast, so I had to have an external outrigger surgically screwed into my hand and arm. For that piece of hardware by itself, my insurance (private at the time) was charged $14,000!! Yup - you read that right! Of course all the other charges were right in line with being over the top - emergency room, surgery to install it, surgery to take it off, physical therapy for over a month, all the follow up visits to the orthopaedic surgeon! One of these days I should total it all up to see the grand total. I'd probably get sick! Lord knows what the fractured hip came to, since I'm still going for follow-ups and x-rays for at least another year for that!!

Here's a pic of the pricey hardware I had to wear for 7 weeks!

[Daisy and Delilah]

WOW!!! That must have been uncomfortable to say the least. The cost is insane!

With the three knee replacements I had, the prosthesis' alone were $27k, 36k, and the last one(I have it in now), 54k. It was almost like the doctors/companies kept jacking up the prices to see what they could get. Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful it was paid but I feel this can't continue forever. At the same time, it's keeping other people that are dying from possibly having funds available for their needs. I know I'm not explaining this too well but I think everyone knows what I mean.

People might think I'm crazy but I actually think twice before making an appointment, etc. Why? So my insurance company won't cancel me.

[Edwina's Secretary]

The cost of medical insurance is breaking many employers as well. That is why they hire "part-time" who are not eligible for group coverage. Or stop offering group coverage all together. Or go out of business.

Who are the uninsured? Well...we see on this thread who some of them are. People who have lost their jobs (and therefore their insurance) people who work for employers that do not offer insurance, the self-employed, kids who graduate and cannot find jobs, many agriculture worker and retail employees.

It is not just the unemployed or the unemployable. They often qualify for what public programs there are. It is usually those who can least afford it - working folk - not rich folk.

Uninsured medical expenses are a major contributor to bankruptcy filings in this country. So in the end...we all pay for those expenses one way or another.

[Spiritwind]

I currently do not have health insurance. I did up until a little over a year ago, but I left my job I had at that time and was unable to pay for it all myself.

My current job I am only technically part time, even though I get the max. amount of hours a person can get and still be considered part time (they claim they have to many full time people, but they just hired several new part time people???? go figure?? ).... so I can't get health insurance thru them, and even if I did I couldn't afford for them to take anything else out of my check at this point in time.

I haven't looked into private insurance, but I know I couldn't afford it right now....