Thoughts on Universal healthcare

[Shared Acres]

Medical school enrollment in 2008 increased 1.6% over last year, resulting in a record-high 18,036 first-year medical students, according to a study by the Association of American Medical Colleges, Bloomberg reports.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/126524.php

 

[klf73]

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I personally believe doctors deserve to make a lot of money. The intelligence and knowledge required should be compensated.....

Doctors do make quite a bit of money depending on their specialty. They go through 12 years of school with a ton of hours. They also have a lot of exposure to liability issues. They pay a ton for malpractice insurance. I don't believe that medical school enrollments are down. If they are I'm sure it's a reflection of the economy vs being afraid they won't make enough money. They'll still get paid the same as they are now. Most insurance companies base their payment schedule on the Medicaire payment schedule. In additon I'm sure if they go with nationalized healthcare the gov will pay for medical education just as they do now for military doctors. Therefore no student loans. Of course they would have to work for the gov just like the military docs do. Then when they're done they can become brain surgeons and make millions.

don't get me started on military doctors, my dh just got his shoulder fixed for the 3rd time (1st and 2nd surgeries were military doctors, terrible

). My infant son pulse ox got down to to the 80's because they kept sending me home telling me he was fine, ended up admitted the 3rd time in. They hurt my daughters arm, the list goes on

. I am sorry to say that my experience was substandard care

 

[conradpdx]

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That is the twisted definition of socialism, mostly

As a pure definition Socialism is when a (or the) population of citizens owns it's natural resources and businesses. Alaska and it's oil fields are socialistic, likewise is our military, police, most of our highway and transportation system, our parks systems, and education system (just to name a few). In many municipalities water and power are socialist.

Pure Socialism is only a theory. It never has and never will exist at that level, it is just as impossible to exist as a free market system.

However, unemployment benefits and social security are not socialistic, these are things that you pay for. The amount of money in my Social Security and unemployment accounts are not the same as yours. Though they do put caps on how much you can take out of unemployment.

And things that border on socialism on smaller scale would be employee owned businesses, co-ops, credit unions.

We currently live in a very socialist society. We just haven't make the logical step of including health care to be as much of a right to the individual as the ability to drive 85mph down the highway.

 

[Mahonri]

The only way someone can drive down the highway at 85 is dependent upon a number of factors.

Too many to get into, but if it's done correctly, there will be a license, then it will take some WORK to get some $ for a vehicle, fuel and INSURANCE.

We all have the right to healthcare now, the same as driving down the highway at 85.

Get a job, save some money, THEN go to the doctor.

 

[Jolly Acres]

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At this time, this may be difficult for many.

 

[TexasVet]

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I am not sure if I understand.....
how would the government control you?

My government does not decide when I go to the doctor
or what doctor I see
or what treatment I receive

If you have government run healthcare they will decide what treatment you receive, how long you have to wait to receive it and what doctor can treat you.

So how does that differ from what the insurance companies do now??? And they mark up the doctor bills because they're a FOR PROFIT organization.

 

[conradpdx]

I have a job and medical and dental insurance.

I also have compassion for my neighbors.

I know that even with this job and insurance that either could go at anytime, I could have benefits denied even with the good coverage I have (and in fact I have been denied benefits).

I know that myself or a member of my family could come down with a very expensive disease or injury which my plan wont cover.

I also understand that pharmasutical companies push drugs designed for Parkinson's Disease to people with jumpy legs (RLS) in order to broaden their drugs market. And have little to no interest in curing diseases that aren't inflicting enough people. They'd rather find a cure for the common cold than AIDS or cancer.

I know that I am already paying for the coverage of those without insurance with inflated medical bills so the hospitals can cover the care they give for those without it.

I know that "we" as a collective group could negotiate for better prices on drugs (something that is not allowed by medic aid right now---they must pay full retail for prescriptions even though they are the worlds largest purchaser for them).

I know that we are the last of the industrialized nations of the world to hold onto this arcane system of health care.

I know that a national health care system would lessen the financial burden for my employer (that pays for half my plan) and for all other employers in the country that offer medical plans to their employees.

I know most insurance companies will do anything they can to keep from paying the benefits.

I know doctors will have more time for patients with time freed up from no longer having to wrestle with insurance companies gone to get paid.

I know that millions of hard working Americans would now have basic medical coverage that currently don't have any.

I know that under the current system "choice of doctors" is a myth. You gotta go with a doctor "approved" by your insurance company (which usually ends up being the with one whose office is closest to my house in the book). And god forbid, you need a specialist.

I know medical costs as whole will go down when the poor people can go to a doctors office or clinic instead of an ER for minor ailments, since the hospital will treat them even if they can't pay.

I know the current system is one big corporate rip off, and honestly it can't be any worse than it is now.

 

[TexasVet]

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You should do some research before spouting off stuff like this. Michael Moore interviewed doctors in Canada and found them living in expensive homes and driving expensive cars. How do they earn that kind of money under a universal healthcare system? Simple... they get bonuses for making people healthier. Get your patients to lose weight... bonus. Bring down someone's blood pressure through dietary changes and exercise... bonus. In other words, rewarding doctors for doing a good job and for heading off more serious (and expensive) illnesses. Oh, and the government pays for medical school. You really need to watch Sicko so you'll understand how other healthcare systems work.

 

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

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You're joking, right? Good one.

People in France are laughing at us for being so brainwashed that we have allowed our health care to be tied to our employment. What better way for the proletariat to make sure that the working class stays working?

So, what's this about "no private businesses"?

 

[redhen]

well, people in France may laugh at us..but at least we shave under our arm pitts..

*okay..okay..NOT funny...oops...*