Allow states to experiment with health care reform : La Crosse Tribune

kamikazefaase wrote on May 3, 2007 12:54 AM:

" The health care mess proves the following: 1) COBRA doesn't work; 2)everyone needs health care at sometime in their life; 3)health care is too costly; and 4)insurance is unafforable to the average or below Joe or Jane. What can government fix? With universal health insurance, it eliminates the need to transport it from job to job, or school or retirement; it can be made affordable for everyone and should include our government employees and officals; it can be divided into preventive and catastrophic catagories to determine if costs can be privatized at a later date. The government can fix school food programs, Food Stamp programs, and other aid programs to promote a healthier lifestyle. This is where we should start immediately. "

Health care of 30-35 hr full time employees wrote on May 2, 2007 1:31 PM:

" You can even reach further downward. Try part time employees for the City. Try post retirement helath care benefits. Try Domestic Partner Cobra coverage for 3 years after 'breaking up?'. Some is here, some of it will be argued soon, all of it will be on our dime. There is no helath care crisis. It is a 'private sector worker health coverage crisis'. Just nobody wants to say it aloud. Plus they just plain do not need your vote. "

employer insurance wrote on May 2, 2007 8:20 AM:

" have you ever heard of a company that provides health coverage to their FULL time employees and then only schedules them for 32-36 hour a week? can't get that health coverage now can you? universal health coverage can be good and cost no more than most already pay. the problem arises because government does not know how to run efficiently. health care providers could close the gap by lowering their costs. 75 dollars for tylenal3 ? "

Govenor Doyle wrote on Apr 30, 2007 9:30 AM:

" Will most certainly place the majority of burden of any additional health coverage on employers. We place people n office that have no idea how to run a equitable, profitable, or efficient entity. There is no talent in giving away money or assigning it to a segment of our population, No talent! "

HEALTH CARE REFORM wrote on Apr 29, 2007 8:22 PM:

" Call it what it is? A 'private sector workers health insurance crisis'. Government jobs have health care coverage. City and School employees have better coverage than the Doctors at Gund/Luth? For goodness sakes, quit jumping around and face the 'facts'. "

kamikazefaase wrote on Apr 29, 2007 4:17 PM:

" To Health Crisis....SOLVED: While I agree that Administrative costs are a problem, it won't solve the whole thing. Today, the demand for health care is way too high. Patients want to be treated for every little thing. Add now the annual physicals insurance companies pay for and one can see the increase in demands for services. Add technology costs plus the manpower to operate it and I can see why people cannot afford to get sick. But then again, our lifestyles and choices are not as good as they use to be either. So we are paying the price for higher demands on an overexpensive system. Groups, not individuals, have more power to solve this matter. Universal health insurance will do more than your idea of the individual, but there is where the first responsibility starts. "

Health wrote on Apr 28, 2007 10:50 AM:

" Why are there so many cars with Ontario tags in the parking lot of the Mayo Clinic? Do you ever hear of some rich Sheik going to Canada to cure his ailment? "

Nationalized Healthcare wrote on Apr 28, 2007 10:22 AM:

" If you like the Dept. of Motor Vehicles, you will LOVE nationalized healthcare. Just look at the Walter Reed hospital situation if you want a shining example of what Hillarycare would look like. Private healthcare is the only way to go, just say NO to socialized medicine. "

kamikazefaase wrote on Apr 28, 2007 12:14 AM:

" Of course some of you don't want change. You are comfortable in your glass houses. But most Americans don't live in glass houses with employers supplying health insurance. That benefit is quite costly that even our automakers are considering DROPPING it from future contracts. Wal-Mart like many employers, may offer health insurance but pays their employees so little on the dollar in wages they cannot afford to have coverage. It is time to find a way for AFFORDABLE coverage. I lost mine with my job. COBRA doesn't work because unemployment compensation pays roughly two-thirds ones wages at best and you must pay income taxes on that too with virtually nothing left for paying for health insurance. Universal coverage is the answer for both affordability AND transportability. "

Edward Johnson wrote on Apr 27, 2007 8:19 PM:

" Our status quo healthcare system is physician, pharmaceutical, and h -ospital-centric and in crisis. When stressed, the non-creative response is to reduce coverage. Run experiments to "think smart". One example: There are three million licensed/qualified healthcare providers in the United States. Four of five are not physicians and they are not empowered with IT and code set tools that physicians have. Any physician can easily bill using federally mandated code sets; cannot bill easily or independently. Experiment by giving all providers IT and code set tools and the ability to use them within the scope of their licenses! This makes the healthcare system transparent; with codes comes data that can be analyzed for effective treatment and costs. Thus, the public can choose, political leaders legislate, and healthcare managers provide smartly. Edward Johnson "

From 1:30 pm wrote on Apr 27, 2007 8:01 PM:

" By virtually every measure, we pay more for the same or in some cases less quality medical care than in other industrialized countries. It isn't just because of malpractice costs or managed care either. Travel overseas and you won't see any billboards extolling the virtues of clinic X over clinic Y. They also don't spend billions on collection agencies like we do. Our system is more about satisfying greed than the Hippocratic oath! "

TO: Thanks 11:52 wrote on Apr 27, 2007 5:08 PM:

" My, my, what an outlook on life. Maybe we could allow another 11 million dirt poor, scared, intimidated Mexicans in to do the job that people like you feel are, "choices". You are an elitist and a snob. Someone will always have to sweep the floors and clear the tables. "

To 1:30 pm wrote on Apr 27, 2007 3:14 PM:

" What do you mean by "too expensive?" Last year, I had surgeries that would have cost upwards of $100,000 in all. We paid $2750 total out-of-pocket. Compared to $100,000, that's pretty good. Yes, hospitals are in business. They have the RIGHT to turn people away. What's the matter with that? If it won't be profitable, there's no point, right? The way of the world, like it or leave it. "

To Health wrote on Apr 27, 2007 1:30 PM:

" The folks at the DMV may not be the friendliest, but then they have to serve all of us no matter how well we behave. The hospitals and clinics can turn folks away, even when they have a serious condition and insurance. The system we have now is too cumbersome, too expensive and is more about the money than anything else! "

Thanks 11:52 wrote on Apr 27, 2007 1:29 PM:

" I like it the way it is now as well. My wife and I both sought jobs that provided coverage. Sure, we have to pay premiums. Under ANY government program, we'd be paying our premiums plus the premiums of those who won't pay their own. It all starts with parents ensuring good educations for their kids. Then, the kids can get good jobs--jobs that come with benefits. Then they won't have to rely on the people who made the good choices along the way. "

Health wrote on Apr 27, 2007 11:52 AM:

" I like my health care just the way it is. The last thing I need, is to have to deal with some rude, ignorant government worker when I�m sick. Bad enough I have to deal with them at the DMV when I feel good. If the Government does anything it should require ALL employers, large and small, to provide health insurance, no matter how many hour a week their employees work. If they say they can�t afford it, then they will just have to work the hours themselves. "

Solve This wrote on Apr 27, 2007 11:22 AM:

" I have been a licensed health insurance agent for twenty years.Being self contracted and self employed, uninsurable I cant even sell it to my self. No COBRA for the self employed. Little business makes big business it always has! "

Mikey wrote on Apr 27, 2007 9:50 AM:

" "American style" health care is cumbersome house of cards. The insurance companies call the shots, with decisions about health care made by managers with no background in medicine or even basic science. What % of employees at any hospital or clinic are involved in billing or insurance claims? HUGE. Compare that to Canada, where they have a handful at most, and health care institutions employ mainly people who actually impact health care. We have an entire industry in this nation that relies on inefficiencies to do business. Toss it all out and start over. "

Allow states to experiment with health care reform wrote on Apr 27, 2007 8:58 AM:

" In this State? I have posted on this forum before, Doyle will place the majority of coverage burden on the employers. Yes, Voodoo, that would be the majority of small business employers that make up the mix. Mnadated, porr explianed, and without a choice in the matter, as usual. Not big, Tycoon, greedy, Corporate people that you scream about incorrectly at the moon non-stop. "

waste wrote on Apr 27, 2007 8:06 AM:

" seems like a waste.i am positive these plans could have been worked out on paper for less money with quicker results. but i guess when you have the limited intellect of a government official you need to go this way.i guess the upside would be that some day in the distant future children without health care will have a chance to get it.let's hope it's not too late.alot of bad health habits can be formed in 5+ years. "

Health Crisis....SOLVED wrote on Apr 27, 2007 7:59 AM:

" The US Health INSURANCE Industry spends $350 BILLION a year in Administrative costs alone.....this includes huge executive salaries, skyscraper rental fees, etc......I say lose INSURANCE and have patients deal directly with Hospitals. Cut out the middle man....they're exploiting the system and driving Health costs thru the roof. Next problem please...... - VooDoPatriot "

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