Laura Bush endorses Obama ....

[BeachSiO2]

Why is this so hard? How about we start here (Bob will note that I have stated my preference ;-))

Should everyone have insurance? Not is it a "right" bit is it "right"?
Should everyone have accessibility to catastrophic insurance, at a minmum?
Should all businesses be required to provide their employees insurance?
Should insurance be transferable from one state to another?
Should those with existing conditions be able to get insurance?
Should insurance be available across state borders?

The ONLY reason I have chosen these simple questions is because I believe we may be able to adress these NOW, versus the long drawn out process in Congress, thoughts? I do not believe BIG REFORM will occur, but know that we have to do something...

 

[TooFarTampa]

Why is this so hard? How about we start here (Bob will note that I have stated my preference ;-))

Should everyone have insurance? Not is it a "right" bit is it "right"?
Should everyone have accessibility to catastrophic insurance, at a minmum?
Should all businesses be required to provide their employees insurance?
Should insurance be transferable from one state to another?
Should those with existing conditions be able to get insurance?
Should insurance be available across state borders?

The ONLY reason I have chosen these simple questions is because I believe we may be able to adress these NOW, versus the long drawn out process in Congress, thoughts? I do not believe BIG REFORM will occur, but know that we have to do something...

Yes
Yes
Depends (let's not dump on small biz)
Why not
YES!
Yes

If we turn our attention to the "free market" and offering more opportunity and competition, I really think it would be great if we could standardize what is covered by insurance, so people could more easily shop around. When people shop they often don't even know what they are shopping for and never know what they will eventually need.

Even simpler: Any successful combination of cutting the growth of health care costs and covering more people works for me.

 

[30ashopper]

Why is this so hard? How about we start here (Bob will note that I have stated my preference ;-))

Should everyone have insurance? Not is it a "right" bit is it "right"?
Should everyone have accessibility to catastrophic insurance, at a minmum?
Should all businesses be required to provide their employees insurance?
Should insurance be transferable from one state to another?
Should those with existing conditions be able to get insurance?
Should insurance be available across state borders?

The ONLY reason I have chosen these simple questions is because I believe we may be able to adress these NOW, versus the long drawn out process in Congress, thoughts? I do not believe BIG REFORM will occur, but know that we have to do something...

Should people who can't afford insurance at cost receive subsidy payments for insurance paid for by everyone else? What constitutes affordable insurance, based on income, family makeup?

What conditions should funders of subsidies have the right to place on those that receive them? For example, should funders have the right to restrict funding for procedures such as abortion and plastic surgery, and can funders force receivers of subsidies to adhere to healthy life styles? If these rules aren't followed should funders have the right to punish receivers via droped coverage and refusal of care, forced treatment or incarceration?

 

[TooFarTampa]

Should people who can't afford insurance at cost receive subsidy payments for insurance paid for by everyone else? What constitutes affordable insurance, based on income, family makeup?

What conditions should funders of subsidies have the right to place on those that receive them? For example, should funders have the right to restrict funding for procedures such as abortion and plastic surgery, and can funders force receivers of subsidies to adhere to healthy life styles? If these rules aren't followed should funders have the right to punish receivers via droped coverage and refusal of care, forced treatment or incarceration?

The people who are really in bad shape already receive Medicaid. I would think that a modified sliding scale (that doesn't go down to zero) would be logical. That is better treatment than people get from car insurance companies. Of course owning a car is sort of a luxury.

Abortion and elective (non essential) cosmetic surgery should not be covered for anyone, period, unless the surgery is for reconstruction purposes and abortion for the life of the mother. Incentivizing gym visits and well care visits for all is a good idea.

The punishment for not signing up would be a fine. It makes sense that it would be one of those that would not go away through bankruptcy (ie student loans).

 

[Miss Kitty]

The people who are really in bad shape already receive Medicaid. I would think that a modified sliding scale (that doesn't go down to zero) would be logical. That is better treatment than people get from car insurance companies. Of course owning a car is sort of a luxury.

Abortion and elective (non essential) cosmetic surgery should not be covered for anyone, period, unless the surgery is for reconstruction purposes and abortion for the life of the mother. Incentivizing gym visits and well care visits for all is a good idea.

The punishment for not signing up would be a fine. It makes sense that it would be one of those that would not go away through bankruptcy (ie student loans).

help me here...so if one does not carry health ins. and gets caught, they pay a fine and still don't have health insurance?

 

[TooFarTampa]

help me here...so if one does not carry health ins. and gets caught, they pay a fine and still don't have health insurance?

I honestly don't know. Would they handle it like the IRS does tax liens, docking paychecks automatically? We don't put people in jail for that.

Another big question for me is how much higher a rate would smokers pay? And how? Unfortunately, a lot of people who are heavy smokers are also people who don't have their act together financially.

Mr. TFT said something to me the other day that really hit home. I was describing some of the horror stories regarding people who have been totally s%#rewed by the current system. And he said "There are always going to be horror stories, in every aspect of life. But we can't fix things for everyone. The government can't fix things for everyone."

We agree on that and also agree that whatever does the the most good for the most people is what they should aim for, along with making it deficit neutral. There is no perfect outcome.

 

[Rita]

.
I think I might like to see something along the line of what they have in Switzerland with private insurance companies not making a profit on mandated insurance, but only on supplemental insurance, because I feel insurance is a right.
I do think we are so entrenched in the system we have, it could be too disruptive for an overhaul to universal health care.
The magnitude and scope of this is way more than I can understand, but I do not like how our system is more of an industry than something that is truly ran for the consumer.

I really like hearing your thoughts on here.


.

 

[rheffron]

I honestly don't know. Would they handle it like the IRS does tax liens, docking paychecks automatically? We don't put people in jail for that.

Another big question for me is how much higher a rate would smokers pay? And how? Unfortunately, a lot of people who are heavy smokers are also people who don't have their act together financially.

Mr. TFT said something to me the other day that really hit home. I was describing some of the horror stories regarding people who have been totally s%#rewed by the current system. And he said "There are always going to be horror stories, in every aspect of life. But we can't fix things for everyone. The government can't fix things for everyone."

We agree on that and also agree that whatever does the the most good for the most people is what they should aim for, along with making it deficit neutral. There is no perfect outcome.

If you are going to single out the smokers, then let's charge higher for people that are overweight by 20 lbs. Obesity costs us over 165 Billion each from what I am reading. Or, since that doesnt seem fair, how about paying for smoking cessation drugs which Insurance companies do not currently pay for. Just a though!

 

[TooFarTampa]

If you are going to single out the smokers, then let's charge higher for people that are overweight by 20 lbs. Obesity costs us over 165 Billion each from what I am reading. Or, since that doesnt seem fair, how about paying for smoking cessation drugs which Insurance companies do not currently pay for. Just a though!

You make great points and I did not know that insurance companies don't pay for smoking cessation drugs! That is incredible!

I guess it all boils down to fairness. Healthy lifestyles should be rewarded. Good driving records too maybe? Is this too big brother like? Or, in truth, actuarily sound? I know that car insurance companies give discounts for good grades, probably because the actuaries say it makes fiscal sense.

 

[Andy A]

If you are going to single out the smokers, then let's charge higher for people that are overweight by 20 lbs. Obesity costs us over 165 Billion each from what I am reading. Or, since that doesnt seem fair, how about paying for smoking cessation drugs which Insurance companies do not currently pay for. Just a though!

I quit smoking 28 years ago and now you want me to quit eating, too?