Health Care ... It's the Republicans' fault!

[crusader rabbit]

Actual solutions to the healthcare issue seem in rather short supply.  But, much of what we don't like about it can be fixed with a few relatively minor changes.  First, reform tort laws and place maximum caps on damages awarded (with severe limits on how much the lawyers get).  Second, allow insurance companies to sell anywhere in the US.  There is no reason why Blue Cross should be half of Florida's price when the policy is sold in Kentucky and free-market forces will lower prices.  Third, educate the American people that insurance is for the major health crises that may occur.  There is no need to go the the ER for a headcold.  On the other hand, having a legitimate and longterm illness shouldn't force you to sell your house.  Fourth, require proof of legal residency before you get to see a doc.  Yes, healthcare is a border issue, too.  Estimates vary, but without exception the experts agree that treating illegals dramatically drives up the costs for everyone.

And TAB, there is a convenient word for forced volunteerism:  slavery.  We fought a war over it awhile back.  Slavery wasn't a good idea then.  That hasn't changed.

Submitted for your consideration,

Crusader Rabbit

[fightingquaker13]

Actual solutions to the healthcare issue seem in rather short supply.  But, much of what we don't like about it can be fixed with a few relatively minor changes.  First, reform tort laws and place maximum caps on damages awarded (with severe limits on how much the lawyers get).  Second, allow insurance companies to sell anywhere in the US.  There is no reason why Blue Cross should be half of Florida's price when the policy is sold in Kentucky and free-market forces will lower prices.  Third, educate the American people that insurance is for the major health crises that may occur.  There is no need to go the the ER for a headcold.  On the other hand, having a legitimate and longterm illness shouldn't force you to sell your house.  Fourth, require proof of legal residency before you get to see a doc.  Yes, healthcare is a border issue, too.  Estimates vary, but without exception the experts agree that treating illegals dramatically drives up the costs for everyone.

And TAB, there is a convenient word for forced volunteerism:  slavery.  We fought a war over it awhile back.  Slavery wasn't a good idea then.  That hasn't changed.

Submitted for your consideration,

Crusader Rabbit

Only thing I disagree with is the illegals thing. I'm petty militant on immigration law, but this won't fly. Doctors are oath bound to treat the sick, and they for the most part take this as seriously as any Marine takes their oath. Telling them they can't treat someone will have you as #2 in the waiting room.
FQ13

[ericire12]

Only thing I disagree with is the illegals thing. I'm petty militant on immigration law, but this won't fly. Doctors are oath bound to treat the sick, and they for the most part take this as seriously as any Marine takes their oath. Telling them they can't treat someone will have you as #2 in the waiting room.
FQ13

No, they are NOT oath bound to give away their services and medical supplies for free.

[jnevis]

.  Third, educate the American people that insurance is for the major health crises that may occur.  There is no need to go the the ER for a headcold.  On the other hand, having a legitimate and longterm illness shouldn't force you to sell your house. 

Only thing I disagree with is the illegals thing. I'm petty militant on immigration law, but this won't fly. Doctors are oath bound to treat the sick, and they for the most part take this as seriously as any Marine takes their oath. Telling them they can't treat someone will have you as #2 in the waiting room.
FQ13

I see this and have been living this for a while.  When I was full time, and now volunteer, EMS our call volume was/is based on economics.  The higher the income the less we saw of them.  The people that had health care insurance and had more available money would rather take themselves to the hospital than call an ambulance, unless there was a real emergency.  At the saem time the lower income families call for, seems like, EVERYTHING; lLow grade fevers, bloody noses, to diabetic or cardiac issues.  Most of the major calls are issues that simply aren't taken care of to begin with, not taking meds for example.  Then we get there and they insist on going to the hospital for a stomach ache, been going on for a month, at 2am, with a dozen cars in the driveway and 10 driving age people sitting in the living room.  You call, we haul, it's that simple.

On the other side of that I just sent over $1k out for a couple of tests done at the local hospital.  The biggest part of it was the fact each procedure was paid out to upwards of four different organizations.  The Dr gets one check, the techs another, then the lab for the bood work, and finally the hospital itself for the building and equipment.  There has to be a better way but it was explained to me that each group has different insurance requirements and is covered in a group policy but the hospital supplies te building for them to work.  The DRs and techs don't get paid by the hospital, they get it from the group.  Everybody's a contractor!

[fightingquaker13]

No, they are NOT oath bound to give away their services and medical supplies for free.

I was reffering to the ER. I didn't make that clear. There, they are. In the office, no.
FQ13

[Sponsor]

[ericire12]

I was reffering to the ER. I didn't make that clear. There, they are. In the office, no.
FQ13(D)

Still has nothing to do with their hypocratic oath

[jnevis]

No, they are NOT oath bound to give away their services and medical supplies for free.

Have to go with FQ on that one, at least ERs.  There are laws in place that states that someone on hospital property asking for care WILL be seen and treated or the hospital gets fined.  There are plenty of people that walk into an ER and are told to wait, then call for an ambulance to take them to another hospital.  The ambulance actually responds but can be canceled by the ER staff but if the patient leaves in the ambulance that hospital gets a pretty big fine.  How LONG a person stays in the ER and how they are discharged is another matter.  Lots of "frequent fliers" that get in the door and are back out before the ambulance is even done with the paperwork.