@rod
What makes you think many of them do ? GP s in general should do better. I have yet to meet one who wasn’t agreeable to working with Medicare patients. Single payer would be the same and would be a boom to the average primary care facility with single payer, with better personal treatment for out patient care. All those people who charge the waiting room at the ER for broken hangnails, are now part of the preventative care facilities, where they should be. There is and will be a big need for more GPs.
Though I readily admit that hospitals over charge, so much of it is due in part to underfunded Medicaid payments used to reimbursed the hospitals for their care of the under and uninsured. When I talk about the economic advantages of single payer, cronically underinsured friends opposed to Obamacare have this typical response, "why do we have to, we get “free” coverage from the hospitals if we have a problem"
Reminding them that I am the one paying for their free care through my high insurance premiums and taxes just promotes the typical glaze over their eyes followed by a well placed…huh ? Then they just change the subject…"How bout those Rex Sox ? "
@bing
No need IMO to defend doctors…that is not where the problem lies.
The dicodomy of a discussion on whether people think single payer is better, revolves around this undeniable fact. We are engaged in single payer healthcare now in the most inefficient way by mandating that hospitals not refuse treatment for ER procedures and then under funding them in return as well as while not practicing preventative medicine.
We are engaged in single payer healthcare now in the most inefficient way by mandating that hospitals not refuse treatment for ER procedures and then under funding them in return as well as while not practicing preventative medicine
And the conservatives I’ve had this conversation with…say this is the problem.
If the person doesn’t have insurance…then the Hospital should NOT TREAT THEM…PERIOD.
We’re all going to find out together what impact Obamacare will have on health costs, availability of care, income taxes, small businesses, large businesses, and their ability to expand and hire more employees, and free choice.
At this point my primary care physician and my opthomologist have both said that because of the requirements being placed on independant practices they’re both getting ready to retire their practices. My opthomologist and my doctor at the sine clinic have both said the medical community believes that the “bill” is designed to drive indepoendant practicioners out of business and get all health care provided through clinics. So much for the “you can keep you current physician” promise.
What I’m hearing from small businesses regarding their ability to meet the new requirements is that in some cases they’ve cancelled expansion plans, in some cases they’ve planned layoffs, and in some cases they’ve decided to close the business and retire. So mmuch for that promise.
We already know our taxes are going up due to Obamacare. Another untruth comes to light.
We were told in the campaign 4+ years ago that this adminsitration would do things in an open manner. No more “backroom” deals. No mor ecoorruption. This healthcare act was so “under the table” that Nancy Pelosi stated in response to the complaints by the senate about the secrecy with which it was created “appove it and then you can find out what’s in it”. Harry Reid almost lost his seat as a result of the corruption involved in its passage. Yet another promise turned out to be a lie.
How in heaven’s name did that man get back in?
I would suggest to you that the evidence thus far has been that the new system will be far more expensive, especially when considering it’s effect on the economy (businesses), and provide less choice and less access than the old system.
@mikeinnh
I guess that gets down to who we are. If you dial 911, the operator on the other end does not ask for your card number before sending help. When you are taken out of the ambulance at hospital with a leg bone sticking out of your leg or worse have a baby severely ill and in distress with an uninsured parent…they don’t delay by asking for your card. And if you can’t find it or don’t have one…
“Sorry, take your broken leg or baby to someone who cares” That’s not who we are…
. Hospitals are the only facilities who can respond to emergencies with the most advanced treatment within minutes…those life saving minutes that now put even the insured in jeopardy, why…" can I see your insurance card ?" takes precious minutes and if unconcious , “let me call someone who can identify you as insured” IS UNACCEPtABLE to even the insured.
I’ m sure these hypocrites would feel the same way if they lost a child or grandchild who couldn’t afford insurance and were turned away at the hospital door. Excuse me if I find no cogent reason to agree with that kind of reasoning…cause that’s not who we are.
The “let them die crowd” …ARE the biggest hypocrites.
Besides, regardless of what we write for law tomorrow, if a hospital turned anyone away, they COULD be sued…and thank gooddness or that.
There are no private practice GPs in my area, @dagosa. A regional non-profit healthcare corporation owns several hospitals and primary care clinics that employ all the GPs. The heavy hitter$ in healthcare here seem to be anesthesiologists and the elective/vanity specialists. When a medical clinic is owned by a doctor who employs several “physician’s assistants” and “nurse practitioners” the physician can build quite a gold mine here and I suppose anywhere else. Those doctors are quite vicious in their opposition to single payer and they have their employees convinced that the Obamacare bill has 666 in a water mark on the paper. Also, chiropractors are intent on holding their ground. They must feel that they would be down graded to masseur status.
But look at all the private practice specialist physicians who have gone into politics as hard core Republicans. Can I assume that they remain partners in the practice? And all the struggling family doctors would likely find single payer a great help to them.
Besides, regardless of what we write for law tomorrow, if a hospital turned anyone away, they COULD be sued...and thank gooddness or that.
I agree…Rush Limbaugh and even Ann Coulter on more then one occasion have stated that some people shouldn’t be treated. Great for people who are MILLIONAIRES. I’m lucky I have good insurance.
As for private doctors…I have a doctor at an HMO (Hitchcock Clinic). Been with them for years. Excellent service…Excellent doctors…and they’re expanding. State of the art facility. They have a good trauma care center for non-life threatening injuries. When my daughter broke her arm 10 years ago playing soccer…we went there. No waiting in a waiting room. Called them up…said to bring her right in…When we walked in the door…in less then 5 minutes we were seeing a doctor. Most of those 5 minutes was spent filling out the paperwork.
@Rod
I guess you make a great case for single pay health care nationwide. Our state had years ago initiated. “Mainecare” and many of these public supported by Medicaid facilities were set up. They have put pressure on private hospitals to be competive as they treat the insured as well. States that don’t do this , open the door for abuse. Our republican govt who won the election with37% vote, want’s to cut back payments facilities and not participate either.
So Texas is refusing billions in Medicaid aid through Obamacare though one third of their people are uninsured…why ? I suspect that like your situation, they want nothing to interfere with the $$$$$$they get now.
But ROD, all this is fear mogering as we do have a single payer in practice now with Medicare…it pays effectively…except to the vanity specialists, which you are right, would suffer.
@Same
We’ll see. Let us know one year from now if all these facilities have indeed closed. Private businesses do have the option of opting out on employer based healthcare with Obamacare and help their employees get insurance through a consortium or exchange. So , that part of it is bogus. It would do well for those with doubts to actually go on line and read it.
Yes, employers in some cases are simply opting out…no longer providing their employees with employer coverage…and leaving their employees to take care of their own coverage through a consortium, A choice many would prefer not to make, as they then need to consider somehow compensating their employees for having taken their health benefits away. If the employees have to start paying more themselves, their paychecks or other benefits wil have to accomodate that.
But what happened to all that blather about our being able to stay with our existing providers and our existing coverage of we chose???
The average income in this country is <$28,000. Everyone at that income and below can realistically be considered uninsured and unable to afford to pay for health care. Anyone who opposes single payer/socialized medicine can consider themselves on the “death committee.” And falling back on the premise that ERs will give free care to the indigent is a Rush Limbaugh and Bill O’Reilly lie. Intelligent, observant people see that the poor are left to die in the corporate healthcare status quo.
Perhaps most of the people at that income are now covered by employer health plans. And perhaps many will no longer be. And will be unable to afford healthcare through a consortium.
I don’t know if it’s a federal requirement or state, but I do know that in NH it is illegal for a hospital to deny emergency care due to inability to pay.
Intelligent, observant people can also come to different conclusion from yours. And millions of us have.
"But what happened to all that blather about our being able to stay with our existing providers and our existing coverage of we chose??? "
That blather still there. I don’t get your point…If your company works through BCBS for example, then you are now responsible and not your company if they decide to opt out. The insurance should still cost YOU the same or less as there is a cap on your insurance premium. If they decide not to help insure their employees, it’s usually a decision made by those who NEVER have offered insurance before. So generally NOTHING changes.
The companies that complain are usually the ones who never offered an insurance plan. You were on your own then regardless…no new blather there. It’s on line for everyone to read, and ask questions.
Personally. I think NO EMPLOYER should be responsible for healthcare. It was a good idea one time but it’s time has past. IMHO, every plan, like Medicare and any supplement you have, is the responsibility of the individual. Imagine how many new jobs tomorrow if no company had to provide a health insurance plan. IMHO, this is a first step toward that.
CBO report referred to workers leaving their jobs from no longer having to rely on their employer for benefits.
This is a HUGE benefit as often workers keep jobs they don’t like ONLY because they are offered benefits. Now that HC isn’t job dependent, workers can work where they WANT
"Intelligent, observant people can also come to different conclusion from yours. And millions of us have. "
I agree…as long as you get your information from reliable sources…like the actual website, govt agencies and talk to employers after the fact then there can be reasonable disagreements…
Dag, low wage workers will have no choice but to leave their jobs. God willing they’ll be able to find one at a higher wage. So far, that prospect isn’t looking very good either.
So, you believe workers having to leave their jobs to try to figure out a way to have health insurance is a GOOD thing? And you believe that the average worker will be able to work where they WANT. I can only respond that I disagree.
It would seem from this thread that the conservatives are NOT the ones who show total disregard for the working class.
Same
"Dag, low wage workers will have no choice but to leave their jobs."
How ? Why can’t they keep their job ? That’s at least minimum wage…I don’t get that supposition.
Because many will not be able to afford to get health insurance at their current wages after they lose their employer provided benefit. Have you ever tried to live on minimum wage? Or even low wage? In today’s world it’s impossible.
Worse case scenario. Minimum wage and family of 4…$290 per week. Health insurance costs for all 4 dependents on that salary will be $22 per week or $88 per month. Considering that 2100 people a week die for lack of healthcare, that’s a great deal. Consider too that doesn’t include any deductions what so ever which this family qualifies for which reduces it substantially too. which would lower the premium even more "you pay no more than 8% of your annual income on insurance."
It’s in the reference…http://obamacarefacts.com/obamacare-smallbusiness.php
“In today’s world it’s impossible”…only if believe in trickle down.
Also, I believe your supposition is false as under Obamacare, if an employer had always help pay insurance for his employees, his contribution would stay the same or DROP.
For thirteen million of the working poor in states who decide to participate, Medicaid picks up their preminums. If the state desires not to participate, these people are on heir own and when they do enroll, may have to pay closer to that 8%. And, in those states, a total of 2 or 3 million will remain uninsured as republican governors may decide not to provide funds to their poor through Medicaid which will be 100 % federally funded first year, and 90% there after.
Go to ANY mall in this country…and you’ll find that about 90% of ALL workers at these malls don’t have insurance. There are very few full time employees in retail. Been that way for years. And many of these workers work MORE then 40 hours a week (just not at the same company). One kid I know is the assistant manager at Spencers (20 hours a week)…and also works 10 hours/week at CVS and then another 20 hours at Sears. Never leaves the mall…Goes from one job to the next…just changes his shirt and name-tag.
The BIG companies like IBM, Microsoft self fund their health insurance. It may be managed by an insurance company. So I don’t see how retail companies are going to change their hiring practices that much.