Government run health care

[Marigold2]

I think the government is doing a great job with Medicare. Seniors have great benefits and only a small deductable every year, I think it's $125.00.
Medicaid, Wellcare and CareSource are overrun by people abusing the system. Having multiple children that the government has to pay for is not what the system was designed for. If you are on welfare you should not be having children. Being on welfare means you have declared that you cannot take care of yourself either physically or mentally and now you are asking the governement to pay your bills.
These programs should be for the sick, old, the poor and the vets. Poor because of something that happened to make your life difficult, not having seven kids with five different men.
I think that Obama's health care reform is moving in the right direction. I like the fact that the elderly will be able to have someone to talk to about end of life issues.
Weather hospice, a living will, DNR, nursing home, private nurses, wills all these things will be discussed while the patient still has their senses about them. No one is trying to pull the plug on grandma.
How does everyone feel about living wills?
Do you want to be kept alive by machines? If so how long?

[blue]

How does Obama's health care reform address the moms with seven kids from 5 different fathers?

[Medusa]

Being on welfare means you have declared that you cannot take care of yourself either physically or mentally and now you are asking the governement to pay your bills.

That just is not the case. We pay into the system so that if, God forbid, something should happen that we come into dire straits, welfare is there to get us over the hump until we can get back on our feet again. To be sure, there are those who abuse the system and there are people who are born into welfare and never get off. I daresay, though, that many people who are receiving welfare don't really want it but are in a position where they feel they must take it until they can support themselves. Your statement above is unfair, untrue and lacking compassion.

[pomtzu]

You're badly mistaken if you think seniors have it so great on Medicare. A one time deductible of $125??? - oh please - I wish!!!! You need to do your homework.
Haven't you ever seen the ads on t.v. for supplemental insurance to Medicare that is offered by places like AARP. If I was only paying a one time deductible, then I wouldn't need a supplement, would I??? With Medicare there are still deductibles and co-pays that can run into thousands and thousands out of pocket, and that's where the supplemental insurance comes in - to cover what Medicare doesn't. And a good supplemental insurance isn't exactly cheap either!! And prescription coverage under Medicare Part D - very expensive and not just thrown in at no charge. I don't even carry it since it would cost me more than I pay thru Sam's or Canadian pharmacies!
So out of my Social Security check, I have to pay my Medicare and my supplemental insurance. Thanks Uncle Sam for the wonderful benefits!

And I felt your statement about people on Welfare declaring that they are physically and mentally unable to care for themselves, was one of the most insulting statements I have seen here in a very long time. Granted, there are people that abuse the Welfare System, but I don't believe the majority do. Hopefully, you will never be in a position where you may have to ask for some temporary help!


And I don't need anyone to talk to about end of life decisions. I have a living will with a DNR order, and orders for no heroic efforts to sustain my life artificially. It's a person's responsibility to take care of these issues and make decisions while they are still healty, and not wait till they are at death's door.

[Marigold2]

If you are on welfare be it a week or a year or 10 years it is because for whatever reason you cannot take care of yourself finanically. Welfare helps that is what it is there for. People on welfare declare themselves unable to support themselves. Is that not correct? What other reason is there to be on welfare? You can't support yourself and you go and apply for help in food stamps and housing etc..
As for Medicare the deductable every year is $125.00 and Medicare pays for 80% of most medical bills. I am not talking about the meds just the procedures.
Private insurance can have a deductable of $5000.00 per year. Most people have $1500 or $2000.00.
I think Medicare does a great job. They pay very well, I have never met any Dr who does not take it, I am not even sure they can refuse Medicare. Drs however can refuse to take Medicaid, Wellcare, Caresource and many do. Why, because they pay so little.
Caresource might only pay $20.00 for an office visit. Medicare will pay over $100.00 for the same visit. A Dr. cannot survive, a practice cannot stay open if most of your patients are Caresource or Wellcare. He cannot afford the rent, electric, malpractice, staff and a hundred other expenses.
People who are on these insurances drain the system and are responsible for hospitals closing in many cases. Urban hospitals with mostly Medicaid patients cannot generate the income from this insurance to pay staff, equipment and all the rest.
We need to make people more responsible for themselves, educate them so they can work and make a decent living. If we can cut the number of people on government assitance this country and all of us might have a chance. After all we are all paying for this with our tax dollars.
As for a living will yes I think everyone should have one made, but many elderly don't. They are afraid to talk about it. Then when they do die their children are left to sort out the mess. I think everyone should be encouraged to speak to a lawyer who specializes in end of life issues, it would make those that are left behind rest easier.

[Lady's Human]

If you are on welfare be it a week or a year or 10 years it is because for whatever reason you cannot take care of yourself finanically. Welfare helps that is what it is there for. People on welfare declare themselves unable to support themselves. Is that not correct? What other reason is there to be on welfare? You can't support yourself and you go and apply for help in food stamps and housing etc..

So, someone who loses their job through a plant closing or another reason that is beyond their control, you're saying they are incompetent?

You've made some fairly insensitive posts before, but this one pretty much tops them all.

[Medusa]

If you are on welfare be it a week or a year or 10 years it is because for whatever reason you cannot take care of yourself finanically. Welfare helps that is what it is there for. People on welfare declare themselves unable to support themselves. Is that not correct? What other reason is there to be on welfare? You can't support yourself and you go and apply for help in food stamps and housing etc..

I believe that many people who are on welfare don't want to be. I've watched women in the grocery store in line ahead of me break down and cry when they handed the checkout person their food stamps because they're embarrassed. I would be embarrassed, too, but I would NOT be ashamed. We've paid into the system and it's our money to be used until we can get on our feet again. So what is a person supposed to do if s/he loses a job and can't find another one, starve? Let the kids go hungry? Become homeless? I think I might understand what you're saying, though, Monica: that people aren't incapable of supporting themselves, just that they're unable to at the present time. If that's what you meant, then I don't disagree w/you in theory but surely you can understand why your words come across as insensitive! To say that they're also mentally unable to support themselves is judgmental and cruel.

I've heard people comment on how they've seen welfare recipients wearing nice jewelry, etc. but that tells me that they may have had that jewelry before they went on welfare. That check only goes so far; it isn't much money from what I understand. I marvel at the people who point a finger at those on welfare as if they're living the good life and wonder, if it's so good, if they would trade places w/them.

[pomtzu]

Again - I will say that Medicare for seniors isn't as wonderful as you think it is. Perhaps you should send for the government guide that is published - it's available to anyone and not just seniors. Then you might see how limited the coverage is and why you need supplemental insurance to survive. What's covered - what's not - how often you can have certain diagnostic tests - how long you can be hospitalized - and on and on and on. It's not just a matter of paying a deductible and then full free reign after that. Far from it!!!
Here's an example for you. My primary care doc charges me $122 just to walk in the door - that's no tests - no nothing!!! And what does Medicare pay of that???? - $71. A cash paying patient gets the same care from the same doctor for $50. Why such a difference??? - because that's what's allowable by law - believe me - I have questioned it. So as long as the government lets doctors inflate their charges under Medicare, then we seniors aren't on easy street as some of you think!!!

Doctors can and do refuse Medicare patients, and my brother will be one to testify to that. When he moved to a different state last year he was told by several that he would have to pay the charges up front and file with Medicare on his own. They weren't refusing to take him as a patient, only refusing to file with Medicare. It still boils down to refusing a Medicare patient, since I doubt that many people would care to go thru the hassle of filing their own claims.

I also see no need for anyone to have to speak to a lawyer regarding end of life issues. I made my decisions on my own - my family has a copy - and I carry a copy in my wallet. The forms were filled out and witnessed and notarized several weeks prior to a surgical procedure - simple as that. It's my life and my choice to leave it the way I see fit, and I sure don't need a lawyer "advising" me on what I should do and how I should leave, or if I should stay around and possibly be a vegetable and drain my family physically, emotionally, and financially! When I can no longer do for myself, then why should I be here???

[adequedia]

Geez guys, everyone knows its wrong for the government to become involved in peoples health care decisions. Unless it involves an act of Congress pandering to the religious right by preventing the feeding tube from being removed from a patient in a persistant vegetative state.

[RICHARD]

Geez guys, everyone knows its wrong for the government to become involved in peoples health care decisions. Unless it involves an act of Congress pandering to the religious right by preventing the feeding tube from being removed from a patient in a persistant vegetative state.

Amen.

[RICHARD]

YAY!!!!!!!

I just heard that you do not need a mammogram if you are under 40!

Does this mean that they have cured cancer in young women?


I don't believe in stats that companies/news orgs put out so.......
Take half the population of the U.S.(women)-Say half of the that is under 40?

Now, that's about 80 million? How many are going to take the advice of the government and pass up the chance to keep them alive if they do have a yearly mammogram?


So what's next on the menu?

NO paps?, no prostate checks? No preventative checkups?

Remember this topic in a few years.

[Edwina's Secretary]

YAY!!!!!!!

I just heard that you do not need a mammogram if you are under 40!

You are incorrect. That is not the announcement that came out this week.

[RICHARD]

TFYS.


WASHINGTON - Women should continue getting regular mammograms starting at age 40, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Wednesday, moving to douse confusion caused by a task-force recommendation two days earlier.

Sebelius issued her statement following a government panel's recommendation on Monday, that said most women don't need mammograms in their 40s and should get one every two years starting at 50.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34019898/ns/health-cancer/