Business Book Lovers - What exactly is the problem with healthcare in america?

What exactly is the problem with healthcare in america?

I am to help contribute to a group project, my responsibility is to discuss the "status-quo" solution to the economic healthcare problem. Any suggestions as far as resources i could use, or any personal knowledge?

Public Comments

Sure. One word:Broken. Health Insurance Industries putting profit over people, and not wanting the competition or accountability a public option would have. People seem much happier with Medicare than with private plans. That's what the healthcare insurance industry is afraid of. And you have the right saying. OH, solution is LESS regulation. Don't worry about people dying from a lack of coverage. Who cares about poor people dying because they can't afford the treatment. Tough Luck. It is always your fault if you lose your job. Don't look at things like corporate welfare for insurance industries and big pharma. That's not an issue. The issue is the lazy welfare mom working sixty+ hours a week , and her kids. They are the problem.
Costs are going up and the government promised everybody SS and Medicare, eventually because people stopped having enough kids to pay in it will bankrupt the government.
It provides a service that requires you to pay for what you get. it's awful. I mean you wouldn't expect to pay for what you want regarding other services, right?!
There isn't any problem with health care. The health care crisis mas made up by liberals who needed something to rally around. They are doing the same thing with global warming, global cooling, climate change, or what ever they are calling it this decade.
Too much red tape The insurance companies have to much le way
I spend $2000 per year to get crappy insurance that costs me an arm and leg when I go to the doctor instead of both arms and both legs. I only go to the doctor if I fear for my life or am in immense pain, as it still costs me to do anything, just not as much as it would otherwise. For example, I got in a car accident four years ago. It wasn't bad but I hit my head pretty hard on my windshield and thought I might have a concussion. The hospital charged $5000 to check me for a concussion (which I didn't have). Luckily I had insurance so I only had to pay $500 of that $5000. Still, considering I pay so much for the insurance, this doesn't seem like much of a bargain. Not to mention it's absurd that it costs that much for a such a minor, routine sort of thing. It's not like they cut me open or prescribed me anything.
The problem is that you are forbidden from buying insurance outside of state lines. The problem is that there is too much government regulation on it now. That its not being subject to a true free market.
liberals want to have control over it!!!
The problem as Democrats see it is: 1. It doesn't cost enough 2. It doesn't generate enough tax revenue for them to spend 3. It doesn't involve sending people to jail for failing to obey the Democrats. 4. Too many people can afford the existing insurance policies. These are the issues addressed by the current proposal for health care reform, which will drive up the cost of health insurance, which reduces the number of people who can afford it by simple law of supply and demand. Then the ones who can't afford it have to pay a fine, so the government gets their money.
No Problem. Except we need Tort Reform. And allow us to purchase Insurance across State Lines which would increase competition. Democrats are going to Destroy the Greatest Health Care in the World. That is the Democrats' Goal --- GOVERNMENT RAN HEALTH CARE.
NOTHING that can't be fixed cheaper than 10 trillion dollars! That is what it will cost by the end of 10 years...it is set in stone. To cover 9 million more people... And those that think health care is important ..why isn't it important for EVERYONE THEN..not just 9 million more ? WHy not EVERYONE? People cannot afford health care now cannot afford it then...and to spend 10 trillion dollars on 9 milion people is RIDICULOUS! There is much you can do to change health care expenses...but the dems won't have any part of it. They have shut off phone and emails so you can't complain...they wont' listen...THEY HAVE AGENDAS and to HELL with everyone else! THIS IS NOT GOVERNMENTAL RESPONSIBLITY..it is a personal one...and we are not like other nations...and it is not good enough for other nations. This is why europe's health care is not so great.. For all types of cancers, European men have only a 47.3 percent five-year survival rate, compared to 66.3 percent survival rate for American men. The greatest disparity was in prostate cancer, which American men are 28 percent more likely to survive than European men. European women are only 55.8 percent likely to live five years after contracting any kind of cancer, compared to 62.9 percent for American women. In five cancers -- breast, prostate, thyroid, testicular and skin melanoma -- American survival rates are higher than 90 percent. Europeans hit a 90 percent survival rate for only one of those -- testicular cancer. Most disturbingly, many cancers in Europe are discovered only upon the victim's death -- twice as many as in the U.S. Consequently, the European study simply excluded cancers that were first noted on the death certificate, so as not to give the U.S. too great an advantage. There are still a lot of people on here that think this is FREE HEALTH CARE and don't realize they have to pay for this. WHAT A WAKE UP CALL when they have to pay...plus pay the high taxes. Canada alone pays over half their pay check to health care...you think health care is expensive now..wait and see what it is. Then you get AMNESTY...in MAY of next year...yep...MILLIONS MORE TO COVER..and YOU PAY FOR IT because it is on a sliding scale fee. You can pay 10,000 dollars for the same thing someone is paying 50 bucks a month for.! FAIR? NOPE...but the dems think so because they are too busy spending their money on things they cannot do without such as psp's cell phones etc..instead of taking care of their lives and living within a budget! CANADA is changing their health care to allow privatized health care because their system is broke and they told BOZO NOT TO DO THIS! http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/09/socialized_medicine_is_broken.html http://www.city-journal.org/html/17_3_canadian_healthcare.html http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache:dpfF8AkeN1YJ:www.propeller.com/story/2009/08/17/canadian-health-care-system-ready-to-implode/+canada+ready+to+implode&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us This is why europe's health care is not so great.. For all types of cancers, European men have only a 47.3 percent five-year survival rate, compared to 66.3 percent survival rate for American men. The greatest disparity was in prostate cancer, which American men are 28 percent more likely to survive than European men. European women are only 55.8 percent likely to live five years after contracting any kind of cancer, compared to 62.9 percent for American women. In five cancers -- breast, prostate, thyroid, testicular and skin melanoma -- American survival rates are higher than 90 percent. Europeans hit a 90 percent survival rate for only one of those -- testicular cancer. Most disturbingly, many cancers in Europe are discovered only upon the victim's death -- twice as many as in the U.S. Consequently, the European study simply excluded cancers that were first noted on the death certificate, so as not to give the U.S. too great an advantage. DO WE LISTEN? NOPE...DEMS DO NOT HAVE EARS OR A BRAIN BETWEEN WHAT SHOULD BE EARS!
One problem with the way it is, is that the cures are more profitable, so there is less research in to preventative medicine than in other country's that have nationalized health services.
You have private insurance companies able to act as a cartel. They were exempted from antitrust laws years ago and are effectively combines working together to pump up costs. USA currently pays extremely high health care cost (subsidized by taxes too) for relatively poor coverage. The tax portion of US health cost is higher for Americans than what Canadians pay even though Canada has a universal coverage system. Even the drug plan is more expensive to Americans than Canadians. Most of that is because Canada uses their drug plan to bargain drug costs down.
personal kanowledge, it cost's to much, dr.'s push unnecessary drugs, it cost's to much
Look up the old Hill-Burton System we had in the USA and see what you can come up with.
Obama's plan is a take over not reform! 1. Exclusion for people with preexisting conditions (force all ins. companies to enroll them) 2. Extremely poor that can't afford it (government to subside their cost for private insurance) 3. Lawyers! (tort reform, restricting lawyer's fees and awards) 4. Lack of personal responsibility in working on your own health issues (smoking, lack of exercise etc, you know the things your doctor tells you all the time) Along with trying to better your lot in life so you can afford health insurance.
A very incomplete list: -Insurance companies are exempt from anti-trust laws. -Most medical services are incapable of providing costs for service until weeks after they perform the service - Millions of people can't afford health care or health insurance. Over 30 million are in the USA legally as either legal residents or citizens. - Millions of people aren't allowed to have private insurance. Private insurance bans people with health conditions from having insurance. - Insurance companies wait weeks or months to pay bills, or authorize treatments in hopes that the cost will just go away. - People who check out of a hospital are likely to have a hospital visit within 45 days, for extremely minor things that could have been dealt with in other ways.
"ZZSLEEP...." lol YOU do not allow email? Anyway, a non-profit insurance company is not giving FREE health care to anyone. In fact, it would put a stop to government welfare funding to many middle class Americans. Families who work full time, but cannot afford insurance, therefore being forced to either let their children go uninsured, or take advantage of social programs. THAT IS FREE! Democrats have been willing to negotiate with Republicans on this issue. The problem is that when Republicans gain power in congress/white house, reform is put on a back burner. This is a fact! Then, when Democrats come in and try to reform it, Republicans finally come up with some half-assed idea for reform or fight against every suggestion brought to the table. What they are doing this time, is too little, too late. BTW – one does not contract cancer! Cancer is not contagious. Also, my email is always open, and my phones are always turned on. This is a very serious problem, and it needs to be discussed, negotiated, and fixed. In America, one cannot receive health care with out insurance. Because so many Americans are uninsured or under-insured, and because not all of these individuals qualify for any help, they are then forced to use the ER as their family physician. First of all , this is not what our ER's should be used for. Second, many of these bills go unpaid, which are then absorbed by the rest of us. Therefore, health care costs go up which causes our premiums to go up. Note too, that although the ER cannot turn a person away, the individual will not receive any aftercare treatment. For example, if a persons discovers that they had cancer, he/she had better have insurance if he wants to receive life saving procedures and/or surgeries, or he had better have enough money or credit to pay in advance for these services. Insurance companies continue to raise premiums and cut back on coverage. Americans are finding themselves uninsured because of preexisting conditions. I know that some will argue that the health insurance companies only profited 2.5%, while lawyers, car dealers, etc. profited so much more. My argument to that however, is why should they profit at all? We are not talking selling a car, or filing papers for one's pending divorce. We are talking about people's health, and at times, their life.
First off, when it comes to this type of research, remember this adage, "Figures don't lie but Liars can figure...". Polls are unreliable because the results are controlled by the wording of the polling questions. Now there are some reliable polls out there because the do it right. They ask a General question and follow up with specific questions after the 1st answer. Gallup, Rasmussen and Zogby are pretty reliable. Numbers and expenditures given by ANY Politician ARE NOT to be trusted. Remember the quote above. History though can be trusted. Throughout our history, we had the BEST economic times when Government STAYED out of Business. They regulated at a minimum and kept taxes low. In other words, they let the Free Market Work. Today, and this is from AM Best, a company that rates the quality of insurance, there are 1,350 + Health Insurance Companies authorized to do business in the USA. California, technically the richest State only allows 6 to sell their product in the entire state. With that kind of monopoly going, no wonder rates are high and Insurance companies control the benefits. Open the market and allow ALL 1,350 Companies into California as long as they meet agreed upon standards, then watch what will happen. Rates will plummet and benefit coverage amounts will climb and the insurance companies make even MORE money. Second, TORT Reform, wonder how John Edwards got his millions? He was a Tort Lawyer specializing in Medical Malpractice (Ambulance Chaser). He literally won a case by stating in OPEN COURT that he was "Channeling" the unborn victim (deceased) and what it had suffered and that if it would have been possible, that unborn infant would have screamed out in pain at the incompetence of the doctor. See where this is going? Texas and California have Tort Reform Laws. They limit the amount Personal Injury Attorney's can charge clients and how much over all damages can be awarded. Since the Reform Laws were put in place, Doctor Malpractice Insurance Rates WENT down. In California, by 30%, in Texas, over 30%. Doctors then used the money they were saving and did what, REDUCED their FEES! They got more patients and did what? MADE MORE MONEY! The problem now days in Health care is TOO MUCH Government. Between the Congress, the FDA, the DEA, the CDC, the Surgeon General and of course the courts, no wonder there's a problem. Back Government out, get it out of Health care COMPLETELY including Medicare and Medicaid. Government Health care reform as it being offered by the Congress and Senate is NOT within their Constitutional Powers to enact. The Medicare and Medicaid System is in a shamble with cost over runs, rampant fraud and a HUGH Government NON funded Entitlement. Why, because a Bureaucratic system runs it. They answer to NO ONE. Let a CEO of say Blue Cross/Blue Shield started doing something like what the FEDERAL Government does on a routine basis and the Board of Director's would fire his butt so fast it isn't funny.