McCain's Health Plan

[LIPH]

I don't see why rates would be any different given a geographical area.

Then you have some studying to do.

As a national health plan, I don't see why rates would be different given a geographical area.

From this comment I take it you think a family in a major metropolitan area and a family in rural Kentucky will pay the same rate. If that's true either the metropolitan family will be getting a bargain or the rural family will be getting screwed big time.

[buffettbride]

I'm sitting here trying to figure out how after our $100 emergency room copay and $250+ per month health insurance premiums that I still have to pay $400 more for 5 stitches my husband received in his finger from a physician's assistant a few months ago. Gotta meet xyz deductable and then only x% is covered after that.

The only thing I know for certain is that what's going on right now isn't working.

I am extremely hesitant to put the health care of my family in the hands of the government, but I don't see McCain's plan addressing the core issue (to me)---that private health insurance is simply becoming unaffordable for companies and the middle (not to mention lower...) class (and I'm pretty much the middle class poster child).

[ph4ever]

I'm sitting here trying to figure out how after our $100 emergency room copay and $250+ per month health insurance premiums that I still have to pay $400 more for 5 stitches my husband received in his finger from a physician's assistant a few months ago. Gotta meet xyz deductable and then only x% is covered after that.

The only thing I know for certain is that what's going on right now isn't working.

I am extremely hesitant to put the health care of my family in the hands of the government, but I don't see McCain's plan addressing the core issue (to me)---that private health insurance is simply becoming unaffordable for companies and the middle (not to mention lower...) class (and I'm pretty much the middle class poster child).

well they probably only pay a percentage of the U&C for your area - U&C is the Usual and Customary charges for your area - a simple explanation is it's an average of what physicians etc in your area charge for each individual CPT but it's determined by the insurance company; different companies could have different U&C's. However there's no way to find out what the U&C is for your area unless you know someone in the industry and they are willing to risk their job giving you their U&C rates. The whole thing is determined by a "secret" math formula and as we know - MATH SUX. This sorta explains it http://money.cnn.com/2005/05/26/pf/insu ... /index.htm

Basically the insurance industry is like martians - they have their own lingo and rules and try to make it as confusing as possible.

[Skibo]

To the Universal Health Care proponents...Do you really believe the federal government can run this type of program any better than Social Security? My other question is Why do you want to depend on the government for care? The federal government really doesn't have a good track record of taking care of its people...as the social programs that exist really haven't stopped poverty or crime or just plain stupid. This isn't just something that happened since GWB. These problems have existed for decades.

[SharkOnLand]

To the Universal Health Care proponents...Do you really believe the federal government can run this type of program any better than Social Security? My other question is Why do you want to depend on the government for care? The federal government really doesn't have a good track record of taking care of its people...as the social programs that exist really haven't stopped poverty or crime or just plain stupid. This isn't just something that happened since GWB. These problems have existed for decades.

I'm not really a UHC proponent, but the insurance companies have it so screwed up now, could the government make it any worse?

I have a damn good health plan, and I totally feel for folks who have to get referrals or jump through hoops just to get health care.

[ph4ever]

To the Universal Health Care proponents...Do you really believe the federal government can run this type of program any better than Social Security? My other question is Why do you want to depend on the government for care? The federal government really doesn't have a good track record of taking care of its people...as the social programs that exist really haven't stopped poverty or crime or just plain stupid. This isn't just something that happened since GWB. These problems have existed for decades.

Right now I don't think that government can adequately run a health care program unless they utilize practices and procedures similiar to countries that maintain successful nationalized healthcare programs.

As far as your second question - there are too many people here in the US that have no healthcare at all. People that do work and their employer either does not offer health care or the cost of adding their spouse and children is prohibitive. There are too many people going without your basic well health check ups or medicines or even necessary doctors visits because the cost is prohibitive. Obviously with the rate of un-insured Amercans growing the system is broken and needs to be fixed. The healthcare industry is greedy and won't fix itself therefore it will be up to legislature to fix it.

[rednekkPH]

My private insurance pays for a bi-weekly massage. Somehow I doubt my government would be quite so generous.

[SharkOnLand]

My private insurance pays for a bi-weekly massage. Somehow I doubt my government would be quite so generous.

Is that the "Asian" massage?

[rednekkPH]

My private insurance pays for a bi-weekly massage. Somehow I doubt my government would be quite so generous.

Is that the "Asian" massage?

Ah-so, me rikey happy ending.

[Skibo]

To the Universal Health Care proponents...Do you really believe the federal government can run this type of program any better than Social Security? My other question is Why do you want to depend on the government for care? The federal government really doesn't have a good track record of taking care of its people...as the social programs that exist really haven't stopped poverty or crime or just plain stupid. This isn't just something that happened since GWB. These problems have existed for decades.

Right now I don't think that government can adequately run a health care program unless they utilize practices and procedures similiar to countries that maintain successful nationalized healthcare programs.

As far as your second question - there are too many people here in the US that have no healthcare at all. People that do work and their employer either does not offer health care or the cost of adding their spouse and children is prohibitive. There are too many people going without your basic well health check ups or medicines or even necessary doctors visits because the cost is prohibitive. Obviously with the rate of un-insured Amercans growing the system is broken and needs to be fixed. The healthcare industry is greedy and won't fix itself therefore it will be up to legislature to fix it.

Point 1...Which country would be a good example of a government that runs a successful nationalized healthcare program.

Point 2...I think I have exposed myself as one of those crazy right wing capitalists. Since the current health insurance situation has been 'ruined' by private enterprise, why has capitalism broken down here? Why haven't new businesses entered the market and offered cheaper policies to this huge untapped market of uninsured Americans? Why wouldn't a entrepreneur offer a better mousetrap? I don't necessarily think it is greed, it is the easy answer but I think this "problem" is much deeper than that simple answer.

[buffettbride]

I'm sitting here trying to figure out how after our $100 emergency room copay and $250+ per month health insurance premiums that I still have to pay $400 more for 5 stitches my husband received in his finger from a physician's assistant a few months ago. Gotta meet xyz deductable and then only x% is covered after that.

The only thing I know for certain is that what's going on right now isn't working.

I am extremely hesitant to put the health care of my family in the hands of the government, but I don't see McCain's plan addressing the core issue (to me)---that private health insurance is simply becoming unaffordable for companies and the middle (not to mention lower...) class (and I'm pretty much the middle class poster child).

well they probably only pay a percentage of the U&C for your area - U&C is the Usual and Customary charges for your area - a simple explanation is it's an average of what physicians etc in your area charge for each individual CPT but it's determined by the insurance company; different companies could have different U&C's. However there's no way to find out what the U&C is for your area unless you know someone in the industry and they are willing to risk their job giving you their U&C rates. The whole thing is determined by a "secret" math formula and as we know - MATH SUX. This sorta explains it http://money.cnn.com/2005/05/26/pf/insu ... /index.htm

Basically the insurance industry is like martians - they have their own lingo and rules and try to make it as confusing as possible.

Oh, I know how it works. I just think it is sick and wrong.

I know people *with* health insurance who don't go to the doctor because it is prohibitive. Kinda defeats the purpose.

[LIPH]

What part of the Constitution says it's up to the government to provide health insurance to every citizen?

[Mottola-Buffett]

[

[Skibo]

I know people *with* health insurance who don't go to the doctor because it is prohibitive. Kinda defeats the purpose.

I grew up at the time where HMO's didn't exist. My parents had Major Medical that was it. Dr. visits they paid 100% prescriptions 100% shots 100%. I grew up believing insurance was intended to be used for hospitalization and emergency room type stuff. Emergency room stuff then was broken bones or huge gaping wounds that required stitches - not runny noses. Maybe people are expecting insurance to cover too much for the $$$ paid. Sure these HMO's came along and promised the moon and stars but perhaps their business model was wrong.

[Mottola-Buffett]

[

[buffettbride]

What part of the Constitution says it's up to the government to provide health insurance to every citizen?

There's nothing in the Constitution that says the government has to provide clean drinking water to every citizen, either. Yet, my government continues to do so for a price I can afford.

[Skibo]

What part of the Constitution says it's up to the government to provide health insurance to every citizen?

I think there is something pertaining to this in the Communist Manifesto.

[alphabits]

What part of the Constitution says it's up to the government to provide health insurance to every citizen?

Why would any civilized nation with the resources of this one tolerate lack of basic health care for any of its citizens?

[Skibo]

What part of the Constitution says it's up to the government to provide health insurance to every citizen?

There's nothing in the Constitution that says the government has to provide clean drinking water to every citizen, either. Yet, my government continues to do so for a price I can afford.

This is something your local government does not the national government. You are also not taxed for this service, you pay for what you use.

[LIPH]

What part of the Constitution says it's up to the government to provide health insurance to every citizen?

But Larry, aren't WE the government. Too often we speak as if the government was some far off entity. Why can't WE all decide we'd like to take care of all the citizens of our country - after all, it's the UNITED States.

And lots of things weren't written into the Constitution that should have been .... and wasn't that like hundreds of years ago? Times they are a changin'.

How long have you been living in Utopia?