Joan and Liz: The Health of Individual Americans Is Completely Subject to the Pharmaceutical and Insurance Companies

Dr. Klein, excuse me- I agree with you, too many people throw away too much income on toys, and fun seeking, but I pay $1200 per mos. for health insurance I could almost get “catastrophic” medical coverage for less and save the money for well care medical expenses. They keep raising my cost and increasing my deductible. Many of my doctors opted out of their plan because they weren’t making enough, so, as a cancer survivor if something happened and I wanted to use the doctors I trusted, I’d have to pay 30% after my deductible. Then they decide some procedures are not necessary and won’t pay those. So, If something came up that would cost $10,000 I would have to pay my deductible first and then 30%. I would end up paying $5500 - on top of the $14,000 per year for insurance, for $10,000 worth of medical costs. They increase my rates every 6 mos by $50-$75 buckaroos. I have a precondition, so it is difficult to change.

Whoopi - I think the health card you talking about was something akin to medicaid. My birth mother was single raising 8 children in the 50’s and we had the same thing, except it was called Medical. Then we were fortunate when my uncle moved here from New Jersey - his wife was my mom’s sister - but he was a doctor. That helped quite a bit.

Okay, there have been various programs on lately, explaining other countries universal health care, Japan, Taiwan, and a few more. Many of the systems had controlled costs for procedures. Doctors owned smaller hospitals, and they were paid a certain amount each month, but the actual cost of the hospitals were far greater than what those governments paid. The owners of some of the hospitals were hurting and didn’t know how long they could continue. The medical costs were more than the govt’s had allotted. So if that happens here, they will just raise our taxes again.

The populations in those countries ranged from 30-60 million. Ours is 300 million people and counting, how do we translate a system to that size?

There has to be a balance between taking ownership of one’s own health, and putting a system in place that isn’t overpowered by any one self-interest group. I’ve been on many sides of this equation, and the influence of the insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies is insidious. The insurance companies have an incentive to get people to take care of themselves but the pharmas make lots of money from medications to manage chronic health conditions caused by over eating, nor exercise, etc etc. They aren’t shy about throwing their money around in ways that influence those responsible for policy making.

It’s very complicated and we’re either going to have find a solution or wait until it breaks us financially. In the meantime, if you’re self-employed as I am, although healthy I live in fear that something will happen that causes my insurance company to cancel me or raise my premiums to unbearable levels.

Ladies of the media please remember this is prom and year end school dance season and most boys expect more than a simple kiss goodnight. In this hook up culture having only oral sex means you are still a virgin. Also please remember that when Bill Clinton had his affair oral sex was in the news all day and night and constantly in the media. Heck the media was having one big party. Now is when it should be discussed and not ignored. Lesley sorry I spelled your name incorrectly.

What’s Terry Schiavo got to do with healthcare. She was in coma, her parents had a decision
to make, kept her alive longer or take out the feeding tube and let her die naturally. The family chose to take the case to the Supreme Court, really silly. The parents didn’t have to get
the government involved that was their decision not the government.

Maggi D, no no no no no no!!!! One of the ways that people are oppressed is that they are convinced that they are responsible for their own oppression. If you had a sinus infection for two months and didn’t die, that just shows that you are made of stern stuff. If we have $3 trillion to kill people in Iraq, we have the money to buy you a few antibiotics. Have you thought about how much you’ve paid in taxes over the years? Please don’t waste even 2 seconds dis-ing yourself. If you get hit by a tidal wave, there’s no need to blame yourself because you aren’t a fish. Please please, devote yourself to getting well.