Comments on: Danger pending in US Healthcare

By: William H

William H — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 17:54:36 +0000

People are thoroughly frustrated with our healthcare system and they are right.

Currently, an average family needs to spend about $30,000 per year on healthcare alone in the current system. And still people talk about ‘health insurance’. What happens in Massachusetts where health insurance is mandated? It simply is not working. Why? Look at the money involved, on averaage $30,000 per year on healthcare alone. How many families can afford? People will be ready leave Massachusetts rathen than spend $30,000 on healthcare.

Totally change the system; get rid of ‘private health insurance’ and cost will be drastically reduced.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:42:20 +0000

I agree with Pete completely.

Healthcare and education are life’s fundamental needs; no country can survive without these. We believe in public education (k-12); imagine a scenario without it, millions of people would have been illiterates today.

Public education system may not be perfect, but it works. Why not we make healthcare PUBLIC just like every other developed country. It won’t be perfect but it will be far better than what it is today.

Leaving basic needs of life entirely with private health insurance companies is surely a FOOLISH thing. In this era, corporations care only about their profits and not about individuals; we are seeing what happens right now in mortgage lending industry.

Let us make basic heathcare PUBLIC; optionally, if someone needs additional coverage, let them have private supplemental insurance.

By: Pete

Pete — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 04:33:45 +0000

People tend to look only at Canada when they try see healthcare elsewhere. Let us look beyond. France is ranked number ONE by world Health Organization for healthcare.

Why not we take their model; they spend under $4000 a year per person whereas we spend over $7000. Everyone is covered under Public Health Insurance and the individuals pay a very small co-pay. If you want to have these co-pays also covered, you can go for supplemental private insurance.

They spend far less in France; how? The concept is simple. When you have access to care without any worries about the bills you would receive, you tend to go to a doctor even for small problems. Gotcha!! Thats where major potential problems are discovered; they can be prevented easily at that early stage. Result: LOW COST and HEALTHY LIFE.

Let us follow FRANCE. We can do much better even with the same model.

By: Andy

Andy — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:30:08 +0000

Agree with Mike. When it comes to availability of medical facilities or quality of doctors, US is the best in the world.

The problem is only with the system with millions of people who are unnecessarily involved; health plans, third party administrators, health insurance agents, brokers, sales, marketing, etc. are basically complicating the system and making it just too expensive.

Let us make the system simple by involving only the patients and doctors. Then it will cost much less and be the best in the world.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:14:03 +0000

Canada spends only about $3500 per capita on healthcare compared to over $7000 in US. It is not apple to apple comparison when it comes to quality or waiting times.

By: Ann

Ann — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 22:03:19 +0000

Hi, I have just started a new blog at http://healthcaredenied.blogspot.com/ and linked to your story about Canadian healthcare because it is a particular interest of mine. I intend to continue to write about healthcare, with an emphasis on the consequences of universal care. I am so sorry about your family members. My mother used to ask me if I would ever move back to Canada to live, and I always told her that much as I love Canada, I’m afraid to because I might get sick and need medical care.

Thanks,
Ann

By: Bill

Bill — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 02:29:19 +0000

Surprised to know that still there are people who believe in the current healthcare system. This system simply can not survive. About 100 million people (out of 300 million population) are either uninsured or under-insured, yet we have spent $2.1 trillion in 2006.
People who want choice can always buy additional private insurance. Fundamental problem is that currently we do not have a choice but to go with a health insurance carrier. In this era of ‘corporate greed’, health insurance companies spend time in finding reasons to avoid payments. Health insurance carriers are the problem and not the solution. Let us get rid of them and have a simple plan involving only the people and providers (doctors, hospitals,etc).

By: June

June — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:32:06 +0000

What good is healthcare when 1/4 of the people receiving it, die because they aren’t allowed to get it in time? In the US, we have choice. Most other countries don’t. The people who tend to love national healthcare are, statistically, those who rarely use it except for routine check-ups and colds.

By: John

John — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 21:03:43 +0000

I totally agree with ‘Underinsured’. Completely get rid of the current system which can never be successful; it is extremely complex and expensive. Where is the money..about $4 – 5 TRILLION a year is required right now to provide reasonable service to everyone.

Let the Govt come out with a simple plan where every single service will have a small co-pay so that the individuals are involved in the process. This will be extremely efficient.

By: Underinsured

Underinsured — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:15:26 +0000

National healthcare is the only way to go. The current system is a total failure; the country (US) spends more than double that of other developed countries per capita, yet 50 million are uninsured and another 40-50 million are under-insured out of the total 300 million population. Even if you bring in an additional $2.1 trillion a year, it would not be enough to provide reasonable service in the current system.
The current system is a total failure here in US and it does not exist anywhere in the world. Why one should waste his/her time even thinking of keeping it. Completely scrap it and let us all have one simple system. If somebody wants to have expensive special services, let them have their own private insurance.
Today, people are dying due to lack/absence of basic healthcare services. The federal Govt must come out with some simple system to provide at least the basic healthcare. Imagine a scenario where K-12 education is not mandated and not provided by the Govt, probably half the population may be illiterates today.
We absolutely need a simple Govt provided healthcare at least for basic services.