Comments on: Healthcare and Food: 7 Quick Takes

By: Milehimama

Milehimama — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:08:45 +0000

Yes, it IS crazy expensive! I just don’t want to be told I HAVE to carry health insurance, esp. if the government gets involved and certain procedures that I morally object to will be covered and other procedures (i.e., food and water for coma patients) won’t be. Health insurance isn’t health care; why should the government require us to carry an insurance product just because we are alive in the country?

I can understand car insurance (driving is a privilege, not a right), liability insurance or posting a bond, etc. You can choose not to drive, or to open a particular business. But to be forced to purchase insurance just to exist in the country? No matter what age/circumstance? No thanks.

By: harper

harper — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:51:02 +0000

The health insurance thing is ridiculous! I’m thankful for my coverage, but my dad had to fight for years to get coverage because of health problems. Now he’s thinking about getting rid of it because the just raised his premium to $700/month! And that’s just for him. I don’t know about the rest of the country, but most people I know couldn’t afford that.

By: Milehimama

Milehimama — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:02:09 +0000

Also, they are wanting employers to be forced to offer plans – and at the same time, talking about taking away the tax deduction making it more expensive for businesses to offer those plans.

That’s not going to help the unemployment numbers!

By: Milehimama

Milehimama — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:00:32 +0000

I do wish there was some sort of deregulation where people could form groups to offer insurance, like employers can. I.E., churches could have a group plan, or the Fraternal Order of the Eagles or even an HOA or group based out of assisted housing. (Or even a group of extended family members – the Smith Family plan with grandma, uncles, cousins all buying in.)

I think health insurance is great – I just don’t want to be forced to purchase it if it is not the right choice for us. And I don’t think others should be forced to purchase it if they have objections or don’t want to. People should be able to choose catastrophic coverage only, if they should so choose and not be required to own preventive health services if they don’t want to.

And the thought of the government forcing providers to lower costs…so many docs already don’t take Medicaid because they LOSE money on patients. I’m not sure that every hospital will manage the same quality as the Mayo Clinic!

By: Renee

Renee — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:48:48 +0000

Here in Massachusetts health insurance in mandatory. It really does sound like a good idea, because a lot of able bodied young people didn’t purchase it through work then walk through the ER with no insurance. Healthy able bodied people can buy it, but want about sick people in their 50s?

I had a family member who had by-pass several years ago, thank goodness his wife had insurance. But in the mean time he retired early and his wife then part-time with no benefits, finding insurance was IMPOSSIBLE. The did have some, but then he had a stroke.

Retired teachers and police officers can get great insurance through the local towns, but local residents can not purchase the plan with them. What private insurance company will take on a man who had by-pass and a stoke?

By: Milehimama

Milehimama — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:07:01 +0000

Miss you too, Rosy – go get yourself a free donut and eat it in my honor!

A lot of people mistake health INSURANCE for health CARE, but anyone who’s been denied a test, procedure, or medication by their insurance company knows better!

By: ginkgo100

ginkgo100 — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:48:29 +0000

Re: #2, I don't know the details of Obama's proposal, but I enthusiastically supported the idea of mandatory health insurance, with subsidies if necessary to make it affordable. Spreading the risk around, keeping (uninsured) people out of expensive ERs for routine problems, and making preventive care easy to access are all great ideas. Notice, however, I said "supported," past tense. Evidence trumps theory, and when it failed so miserably in Massachusetts, it both broke my heart and changed my mind. Re #5: You should read the blog Secondhand Smoke, which talks extensively about society's ugly trend towards denial of care to the elderly, disabled, and chronically ill in the name of "cost savings."

By: Rosy

Rosy — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:54:47 +0000

I should have said, “awful things being said by SOME pro-life activists,” as I personally have not heard even a large number of people in that community express that particular, heinous viewpoint.

By: Rosy

Rosy — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:53:00 +0000

I agree wholeheartedly with you about Dr. George Tiller. I have heard all sorts of awful things being said by pro-life activists, basically that homicide was justified in this particular case. Thank you for so publicly saying what has been on my mind concerning the late Dr. Tiller.

And the anecdote about the cereal in the colander makes my heart ache with missing all of you.