Comments for NOW! Blog http://blog.healthcareforamericanow.org Just another WordPress weblog Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:48:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 Comment on Insurance Industry Releases Their Plan - Will The Media Question It? by chiluvuri http://blog.healthcareforamericanow.org/2008/12/02/insurance-industry-releases-their-plan-will-the-media-question-it/#comment-1924 chiluvuri Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:42:04 +0000 http://blog.healthcareforamericanow.org/?p=1167#comment-1924 I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often. I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

]]> Comment on Daily Health Care News - 12/22/08 by Ron Norton http://blog.healthcareforamericanow.org/2008/12/22/daily-health-care-news-122208/#comment-1827 Ron Norton Fri, 26 Dec 2008 19:47:10 +0000 http://blog.healthcareforamericanow.org/?p=1273#comment-1827 The Massachusetts plan is total horror show! All that it does is enrich insurance companies by making their worthless products mandatory. Say goodbye to quality healthcare and personal freedom if they take this scam national. Tens of thousands of Massachusetts citizens will be fined nearly a thousand dollars at tax time for refusing to buy lousy products that they can't afford. This is government acting as extortionist. All the Bay State has proven is that people will take "free" insurance if it is offered to them and that the middle class is doomed! The Massachusetts plan is total horror show! All that it does is enrich insurance companies by making their worthless products mandatory. Say goodbye to quality healthcare and personal freedom if they take this scam national. Tens of thousands of Massachusetts citizens will be fined nearly a thousand dollars at tax time for refusing to buy lousy products that they can't afford. This is government acting as extortionist. All the Bay State has proven is that people will take "free" insurance if it is offered to them and that the middle class is doomed!

]]> Comment on Expose the Right and we win health care by Ashley March http://blog.healthcareforamericanow.org/2008/11/25/expose-the-right-and-we-win-health-care/#comment-1786 Ashley March Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:39:47 +0000 http://blog.healthcareforamericanow.org/?p=1143#comment-1786 I would like to correct the assumption arising from the title of the article written by Michael Cannon, who is with the libertarian Cato Institute, which is NOT conservative. Cannon's point is that conservatives and the GOP have frequently portrayed themselves as the party of "limited govenment". If they ever were, it has been many, many years since that has been manifest and their stand on questions of health care policy is just one more example. There are many market-based solutions to achieving more cost effective and equitable health care in this country. I would hope that people would actually look at some of those for themselves and judge on that basis, leaving aside puerile partisan jousting. The Cato Institute's website is a wealth of resources. I would like to correct the assumption arising from the title of the article written by Michael Cannon, who is with the libertarian Cato Institute, which is NOT conservative.

Cannon's point is that conservatives and the GOP have frequently portrayed themselves as the party of "limited govenment". If they ever were, it has been many, many years since that has been manifest and their stand on questions of health care policy is just one more example.

There are many market-based solutions to achieving more cost effective and equitable health care in this country. I would hope that people would actually look at some of those for themselves and judge on that basis, leaving aside puerile partisan jousting. The Cato Institute's website is a wealth of resources.

]]> Comment on Public Plan Choice is the Only Way to Control Costs by Dan http://blog.healthcareforamericanow.org/2008/12/17/public-plan-choice-is-the-only-way-to-control-costs/#comment-1755 Dan Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:18:58 +0000 http://blog.healthcareforamericanow.org/?p=1249#comment-1755 Facts that are believed to exist regarding the present U.S. Health Care System- This may be why about 80 percent of U.S. citizens understandably want our health care system overhauled: The U.S. is ranked number 42 related to life expectancy and infant mortality, which is rather low. However, the U.S. is ranked number one in the world for spending the most for health care- as well as being number one for those with chronic diseases. About 125 million people have such diseases. This is about 70 percent of the Medicare budget that is spent treating these terrible illnesses. Health Care cost presently is over 2 trillion dollars of our gross domestic product. One third of that amount is nothing more than administrative toxic waste that does not involve the restoration of the health of others. This illustrates how absurd the U.S. Health Care System is presently. Nearly 7000 dollars is spent on every citizen for health care every year, and that, too, is more than anyone else in the world. We have around 50 million citizens without any health insurance, which may cause about 20 thousand deaths per year. This includes millions of children without health care, which is added to the planned or implemented cuts in the government SCHIP program for children, which alone covers about 7 million kids. Our children Nearly half of the states in the U.S. are planning on or have made cuts to Medicaid, which covers about 60 million people, and those on Medicaid are in need of this coverage is largely due to unemployment. With these Medicaid cuts, over a million people will lose their health care coverage and benefits to a damaging degree. About 70 percent of citizens have some form of health insurance, and the premiums for their insurance have increased nearly 90 percent in the past 8 years. About 45 percent of health care is provided by our government- which is predicted to experience a severe financial crisis in the near future with some government health care programs, it has been reported. Most doctors want a single payer health care system, which would save about 400 billion dollars a year- about 20 percent less than what we are paying now. The American College of Physicians, second in size only to the American Medical Association, supports a single payer health care system. The AMA, historically opposed to a single payer health care system, has close to half of its members in favor of this system. Less than a third of all physicians are members of the AMA, according to others. Our health care we offer citizens is the present system is sort of a hybrid of a national and private health care system that has obviously mutated to a degree that is incapable of being fully functional due to perhaps copious amounts and levels of individual and legal entities. Half of all patients do not receive proper treatment to restore their health, it has been stated. Medical errors desperately need to be reduced as well, it has been reported, which should be addressed as well. It is estimated that the U.S. needs about 60 thousand more primary care physicians to satisfy the medical necessities of the public health in the United States. And it is apparent that we have some greedy corporations that take advantage of our health care system. Over a billion dollars was recovered for Medicare and Medicaid fraud last year through settlements paid to the department of Justice because some organizations who deliberately ripped off taxpayers. These are the taxpayers in the U.S. who have a fragmented health care system with substantial components and different levels of government- composed of several legal entities and individuals, which has resulted in medical anarchy, so it seems. Health 2.0, a new healthcare social networking innovation, is informing patients about their symptoms and potential if not possessing various disease states- largely based on the testimonies of other people on various websites. This may be an example of how so many others rely now on health concerns from those who likely are not medical specialists, instead of becoming a participant, if not victim, of the U.S. Health Care System. Thanks to various corporations infecting our Health Care System in the United States, the following variables sum up this system as it exists today, which is why the United States National Health Insurance Act (H.R. 676) is the best solution to meet our health care needs as citizens, it appears. We would finally have, as with most other countries, a Universal Health Care system that will allow free choice of doctors and hospitals, potentially. It should be and likely will be funded by a combination of payroll taxes and general tax revenue: Access- citizens do not have the right or ability to make use of this system as we should. Efficiency- this system strives on creating much waste and expense as it possibly can. Quality- the standard of excellence we deserve as citizens with our health care is missing in action. Sustainability- We as citizens cannot continue to keep our health care system in as it is designed presently , or tolerate it as it exists today any longer. http://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/publications/US_healthcare/index.asp Dan Abshear Facts that are believed to exist regarding the present U.S. Health Care System- This may be why about 80 percent of U.S. citizens understandably want our health care system overhauled:
The U.S. is ranked number 42 related to life expectancy and infant mortality, which is rather low.
However, the U.S. is ranked number one in the world for spending the most for health care- as well as being number one for those with chronic diseases. About 125 million people have such diseases. This is about 70 percent of the Medicare budget that is spent treating these terrible illnesses. Health Care cost presently is over 2 trillion dollars of our gross domestic product. One third of that amount is nothing more than administrative toxic waste that does not involve the restoration of the health of others. This illustrates how absurd the U.S. Health Care System is presently. Nearly 7000 dollars is spent on every citizen for health care every year, and that, too, is more than anyone else in the world.
We have around 50 million citizens without any health insurance, which may cause about 20 thousand deaths per year. This includes millions of children without health care, which is added to the planned or implemented cuts in the government SCHIP program for children, which alone covers about 7 million kids.
Our children
Nearly half of the states in the U.S. are planning on or have made cuts to Medicaid, which covers about 60 million people, and those on Medicaid are in need of this coverage is largely due to unemployment. With these Medicaid cuts, over a million people will lose their health care coverage and benefits to a damaging degree.
About 70 percent of citizens have some form of health insurance, and the premiums for their insurance have increased nearly 90 percent in the past 8 years. About 45 percent of health care is provided by our government- which is predicted to experience a severe financial crisis in the near future with some government health care programs, it has been reported. Most doctors want a single payer health care system, which would save about 400 billion dollars a year- about 20 percent less than what we are paying now. The American College of Physicians, second in size only to the American Medical Association, supports a single payer health care system. The AMA, historically opposed to a single payer health care system, has close to half of its members in favor of this system. Less than a third of all physicians are members of the AMA, according to others.
Our health care we offer citizens is the present system is sort of a hybrid of a national and private health care system that has obviously mutated to a degree that is incapable of being fully functional due to perhaps copious amounts and levels of individual and legal entities.
Half of all patients do not receive proper treatment to restore their health, it has been stated. Medical errors desperately need to be reduced as well, it has been reported, which should be addressed as well.
It is estimated that the U.S. needs about 60 thousand more primary care physicians to satisfy the medical necessities of the public health in the United States. And it is apparent that we have some greedy corporations that take advantage of our health care system. Over a billion dollars was recovered for Medicare and Medicaid fraud last year through settlements paid to the department of Justice because some organizations who deliberately ripped off taxpayers. These are the taxpayers in the U.S. who have a fragmented health care system with substantial components and different levels of government- composed of several legal entities and individuals, which has resulted in medical anarchy, so it seems.
Health 2.0, a new healthcare social networking innovation, is informing patients about their symptoms and potential if not possessing various disease states- largely based on the testimonies of other people on various websites. This may be an example of how so many others rely now on health concerns from those who likely are not medical specialists, instead of becoming a participant, if not victim, of the U.S. Health Care System.
Thanks to various corporations infecting our Health Care System in the United States, the following variables sum up this system as it exists today, which is why the United States National Health Insurance Act (H.R. 676) is the best solution to meet our health care needs as citizens, it appears. We would finally have, as with most other countries, a Universal Health Care system that will allow free choice of doctors and hospitals, potentially. It should be and likely will be funded by a combination of payroll taxes and general tax revenue:
Access- citizens do not have the right or ability to make use of this system as we should.
Efficiency- this system strives on creating much waste and expense as it possibly can.
Quality- the standard of excellence we deserve as citizens with our health care is missing in action.
Sustainability- We as citizens cannot continue to keep our health care system in as it is designed presently , or tolerate it as it exists today any longer.
http://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/publications/US_healthcare/index.asp
Dan Abshear

]]> Comment on Daily Health Care News - 12/15/08 by Beau http://blog.healthcareforamericanow.org/2008/12/15/daily-health-care-news-121508/#comment-1727 Beau Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:00:52 +0000 http://blog.healthcareforamericanow.org/?p=1226#comment-1727 Congressman-Elect Jim Himes signed on to the HCAN! Principles December 15th. <a href="http://ccag.net/node/378" rel="nofollow">Video here</a>. Congressman-Elect Jim Himes signed on to the HCAN! Principles December 15th. Video here.

]]> Comment on President Obama: Health Care in 2009 by President Obama: Health Care in 2009 - The Seminal :: Independent Media and Politics http://blog.healthcareforamericanow.org/2008/12/11/president-obama-health-care-in-2009/#comment-1705 President Obama: Health Care in 2009 - The Seminal :: Independent Media and Politics Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:05:06 +0000 http://blog.healthcareforamericanow.org/?p=1220#comment-1705 [...] (also posted at the NOW! blog) [...] [...] (also posted at the NOW! blog) [...]

]]> Comment on John Goodman, Think Tank Head and John McCain's Health Care Advisor: "There are no uninsured." by The Public Plan Debate - The Seminal :: Independent Media and Politics http://blog.healthcareforamericanow.org/2008/08/28/john-goodman-think-tank-head-and-john-mccains-health-care-advisor-there-are-no-uninsured/#comment-1702 The Public Plan Debate - The Seminal :: Independent Media and Politics Tue, 09 Dec 2008 20:45:59 +0000 http://blog.healthcareforamericanow.org/?p=662#comment-1702 [...] responses from the other conservatives, including Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming) and John Goodman of McCain campaign fame, use similar strawmen for their arguments. As Senator Baucus made clear, a public health plan would [...] [...] responses from the other conservatives, including Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming) and John Goodman of McCain campaign fame, use similar strawmen for their arguments. As Senator Baucus made clear, a public health plan would [...]

]]> Comment on Help Obama Host A Health Care Discussion? by Help Obama Host A Health Care Discussion? - The Seminal :: Independent Media and Politics http://blog.healthcareforamericanow.org/2008/12/08/help-obama-host-a-health-care-discussion/#comment-1699 Help Obama Host A Health Care Discussion? - The Seminal :: Independent Media and Politics Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:47:35 +0000 http://blog.healthcareforamericanow.org/?p=1203#comment-1699 [...] (also posted at the NOW! blog) [...] [...] (also posted at the NOW! blog) [...]

]]> Comment on Health Care: Full Speed Ahead by Health Care: Full Speed Ahead - The Seminal :: Independent Media and Politics http://blog.healthcareforamericanow.org/2008/12/05/health-care-full-speed-ahead/#comment-1691 Health Care: Full Speed Ahead - The Seminal :: Independent Media and Politics Fri, 05 Dec 2008 22:00:15 +0000 http://blog.healthcareforamericanow.org/?p=1199#comment-1691 [...] (also posted at the NOW! blog) [...] [...] (also posted at the NOW! blog) [...]

]]> Comment on Health Savings Accounts Are A Scam by Mark Johnson http://blog.healthcareforamericanow.org/2008/08/02/health-savings-accounts-are-a-scam/#comment-1687 Mark Johnson Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:39:53 +0000 http://blog.healthcareforamericanow.org/2008/08/02/health-savings-accounts-are-a-scam/#comment-1687 I can see both sides of this situation. It is fine that HSAs exist with traditional health insurance plans, in other words, employers offer a choice. However, my company just decided to eliminate the usual choice of a traditional PPO and provide the option of an HSA only. This is not so good for my family and myself, since I have a chronic illness. I will probably not be taking my kids to the doctor in the future unless the circumstances are dire and I will be cutting back on my blood pressure medication/doctor visits too. And yes, I used to be one of those healthy employees in my youth who never got sick. Unfortunately getting older and genetics have a way of canceling out regular exercise and a healthy diet, both of which I have participated in for years. I can see both sides of this situation. It is fine that HSAs exist with traditional health insurance plans, in other words, employers offer a choice. However, my company just decided to eliminate the usual choice of a traditional PPO and provide the option of an HSA only. This is not so good for my family and myself, since I have a chronic illness. I will probably not be taking my kids to the doctor in the future unless the circumstances are dire and I will be cutting back on my blood pressure medication/doctor visits too. And yes, I used to be one of those healthy employees in my youth who never got sick. Unfortunately getting older and genetics have a way of canceling out regular exercise and a healthy diet, both of which I have participated in for years.

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