A Canadian Prime Minister Comes to US for Surgery...

[Stuck in Seattle]

The Canadian system would probably collapse if they didn't have the US system to prop it up. (http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2010/02/01/nl-williams-heart-201.html)

[mr_pack]

Hmm. Nothing like a good health care debate.

I personally feel that we should all have health care but there is just no perfect way of doing it. Something has to be down whether it can be found in a 2000page bill or some solution that has yet to be thought of. The way health care is paid for is just a disaster. I have health insurance and went to have something cut off by a dermatologist ….500bucks or so on top of the co pay. I just dont think it is the govt duty to provide everything for everyone but like I said if they find a perfect solution that moves the system forward and doesnt leave anyone behind then I support it. I just dont see it happening

[wolf_chatter]

worse than Religion or Poilitics... there is no easy solution, free market isn't working because insurance companies force doctors to take little or nothing for their insureds. The Govt. keeps lowering payment on Medicare / Medicaid forcing doctors to limit or elminate these people on social programs. Insurance premiums skyrocket 3x or 4x normal inflation because the under-insured or the uninsured can't pay and they need to make up the difference somewhere and then you get the doctors who work their asses off in medical school only to come out and get told how to practice their medicine by the Govt. and Insurance companies.

I say if you got rid of all private insurance (insurance companies make HUGE Profits) that would be a step in the right direction. Other than that I think some sort of mandatory High Deductible Health Plan for everyone.

[Stuck in Seattle]

worse than Religion or Poilitics... there is no easy solution, free market isn't working because insurance companies force doctors to take little or nothing for their insureds. The Govt. keeps lowering payment on Medicare / Medicaid forcing doctors to limit or elminate these people on social programs. Insurance premiums skyrocket 3x or 4x normal inflation because the under-insured or the uninsured can't pay and they need to make up the difference somewhere and then you get the doctors who work their asses off in medical school only to come out and get told how to practice their medicine by the Govt. and Insurance companies.

I say if you got rid of all private insurance (insurance companies make HUGE Profits) that would be a step in the right direction. Other than that I think some sort of mandatory High Deductible Health Plan for everyone.
Insurance company profits are big in dollars but small as a percentage return. Insurance costs are driven up by mandated coverage for many things that greatly increase costs. You are dead on about Medicare as they've cut what they pay to doctors by so much that doctors can't afford to treat people under the program. Of course that gets back to tort reform expenses and such, as doctors send people for every possible test even if they don't feel it's needed just to avoid the off chance of getting sued for a misdiagnoses. If they do treat Medicare patients they have to charge more for everyone else to make up the difference.

Everyone should have catastrophic care insurance from birth. HSA's should be made mandatory. We should be allowed to buy insurance across state lines. States shouldn't add a bunch more crap to mandated coverage every year...if we don't want birth control pills, naturopaths, chiropractic, drug/alcohol treatment and acupuncture in our plan we shouldn't be forced by the state to have it.

[BustNChops]

Our companies insurance rate just went up 30%. Absolutely ridiculous.

I don't know the right fix, but there are a couple of key things:
- Screw those who are too lazy to work hard enough to earn it.
- Screw those that are illegal and milking the system.
- Screw the policy/law that an emergency room can not turn you away.
- Screw the government and their medicaid/medicare mess.
- Screw the insurance industry for being an evil necessity.

Health care if not a right. It is a reward in America. If you want to be a productive member of the American society, then I have no issue with subsidizing those low earners to a certain extent. Too all the rest, lets just remove the politically correct umbrella and tell them to sink or swim.