I browse Digg.com to read the user comments on the articles. These were from an article about
Howard Dean calling for Democrats to reject the Health Care bill(I typed bull first, Freudian slip) in its current form. Here are a few that I thought were rather interesting:
If Americans take away anything from this whole fiasco it should be this:
Your elected officials sold you out. They do not run this country. They certainly do not represent your interests in DC. This country is run and ruled by money. Period.
If we can agree on that, we could start to figure out how to work to end it. But many still don't realize it or won't acknowledge it.
Americans won't get any real health care reform and won't enjoy the 'luxury' of being treated like human beings by the health insurance industry. Ever.
Because they have ***** of money and they would rather spend $400 million to defeat a bill that would help you than to spend $4000 on treatment for a cancer patient when they can just as easily drop the patient from coverage for not crossing a 't' 10 years ago on his application.
They have money. You don't. They win, you lose. That's America now.
It's time to accept it. Fight all you want, you will never beat an industry whose CEOs make $40 million a year and $16 million in bonuses. We're a country that's OK with profiting off of the sick and infirm and treating them as a demographic rather than a patient.
I'm so sick of people talking about how great this country is. America WAS the greatest country in the world but it's been a long, long time since that's been true. Compare our statistics on anything from infant mortality to obesity to education and you'll find REAL quick that we're not even close to being the 'best' country in the world. Not even close.
This most recent development pretty much seals the deal as we continue to be the laughing stock of the rest of the world. We just spent $9 Trillion dollars 'liberating' (ahem) Iraq and in the process, helping to create a constitution that guarantees all Iraqis free health care.
In America, we can't even get a fair shake when we pay massive amounts for it.
I know this isn't 100% off of the table but you can bet your ass as long as insurance money makes it to the pockets of certain senators, there will never be any kind of legislation that adequately and properly protects us from an industry that sees dollar signs in every sick and dying person in the country instead of human beings.
You know, there was a time when I was very much against any healthcare reform in this country. The people who are against it tend to be those that have never faced any real issues.
My wife was diagnosed with cervical cancer about a year and a half ago. We are on a very solid plan from my company policy. They denied her coverage based on a preexisting condition (genetic disposition that is complete *****), even though up until that point all of her check ups and other assorted medical issues had been covered. We've been in and out of court over it several times. I've had to mortgage my home just to keep her in treatment. This ***** happens, and people in this country that think it doesn't can kiss my ass.
Many would say we were the lucky ones, because we actually had coverage to begin with. I can't even begin to tell some of you how much treatment for cancer costs - and were very fortunate to have caught it in its early stages. We're also very fortunate to have an amazing support structure via my family and hers. Healthcare isn't a privilege - and if you had to sit and watch someone you love, deeply, struggle with something as horrible as cancer and try to maintain a 60 hour work week and spend as much time with her as possible, not being able to sleep out of the sheer stress and anxiety of wondering whether or not the money to treat her was going to run out, wondering if they'll be okay, all while the insurance companies in this country anally rape those of us that DO pay taxes and DO pay for coverage - then you would understand. It's an impossible situation, and all that's needed is for Washington to get it's ***** together and start taking care of the people that vote them into office, not those that line their
Medicare was not intended for what it is being used for now. Medicare has unusually low costs primarily to help the elderly (a higher risk demographic). A proper single payor system still charges regular premiums and you still pay for healthcare, albeit it's a bit more consistent and regulated.
In terms of the fraud...The same problem exists in the private system. You have "Medical Billing Specialists". Their sole purpose is to maximize the amount of money they can bill. Insurance companies have cut cushy deals with care providers. Here's how it works...you pay for a plan that has, say a $2million coverage ceiling. Your doctors will bill the insurance company $500 for a service. Your insurance company has an agreement that will only pay $200, but consider the bill to be paid. Though your insurance has only paid $200, you've had $500 put towards your coverage limit.
Additionally. If you've paid for $2million in coverage...you STILL may not be approved to receive necessary treatment up to that amount. Insurance companies routinely drop customers who have diligently paid for coverage due to technicalities.
Make no mistake...rationing already exists. I'd much rather be rationed by someone who doesn't make money by directly refusing me treatment.goddamn pockets.
As it stands; we need to have a public health care option for no other reason than to help people that are kicked to the curb by the insurance companies.
