Comments on: Public Option More Important Than The Level Of Subsidies

By: mikesong

mikesong — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:09:56 +0000

Thanks, you make good points too. I don’t think this will lead to the total demise of the private insurance industry, but I think in about 10 years that 70-80% of people will be on the public plan. The rest will pay more to the private industry out of ideological spite – they’d rather cut off their nose to save face.

By: visionbrkr

visionbrkr — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:09:22 +0000

sona,

you know I’d agree with you but these FACTS just keep getting in the way. I applaud President Obama for taking on medicare fraud and correctly reporting the scary statistics but is this really the way to go to ensure healthcare for all that we all can afford? The only thing that ends up helping are those that steal from the system. Are you in favor of that?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/15/AR2009111502488.html?hpid=topnews

By: sona

sona — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:24:36 +0000

i’m trying to figure out your ‘beliefs’ – are these based on global experiential realities or faith based ignoranance? you see, the developed world manages to provide satisfactory health care as a human birth right to citizens that politicians owe their electorate and get paid by that electorate to do that. what makes you think you are so exceptional that you have to reinvent the wheel to accomodate for profit corporate interests over and above human beings? perhaps you do not care about humanity in general bc if you did you would not be hanging around a website like this where your inexplicable ‘beliefs’ just does not carry any water

By: visionbrkr

visionbrkr — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:02:37 +0000

I knew this months ago (almost a year in fact) and I’ve stated it around. How come President Obama didn’t care to tell us that THIS was the true price of Pharma’s $150 million towards the ads for reform??

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/16/business/16drugprices.html?_r=1&hp

actually I think their numbers are a bit off. I’ve seen about a 15-20% increase in rx costs. Isn’t it nice that reform can make drug makers even MORE profitable.

By: visionbrkr

visionbrkr — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:11:24 +0000

the only positive to that is that death eventually comes for us all, even the rich.

The concern I have with the future is that of biologics. When cancer drugs eventually cost $100,000 or more and keep people alive say another 5 years who can afford the $100,000 cost? There’s no financial way to give it to all (unless the government sets the price of biologics which they seem none too willing to do). That will be the next rationing on price. Who gets the life saving drugs??

By: visionbrkr

visionbrkr — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:08:36 +0000

absolutely, although insurers have been really cutting back from what i hear on their “credentialing dept’s”. That being said its better than medicare that doesn’t even have one (which is the main reason you have medicare fraud). Heck you or I could set up shop as a medicare provider and make millions. Its sad that drug dealers in Miami are giving up the drug trade for a much more lucrative trade in names of medicare recipients (giving them hundreds of dollars) all while they still millions or more.

If the government set prices that everyone could charge it would save a lot of time/headache on the providers and insurers side (although many would lose their jobs and do we want that now in this 10+% unemployment time??

By: visionbrkr

visionbrkr — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:05:13 +0000

you know that would be true IF those in congress were covered under the RNC’s plan but they’re covered under the FEHB plan. Oops, there goes that theory although I’m sure that’s happened under the FEHB plan and its been used by democrats and republicans alike.

By: TalkingStick

TalkingStick — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:03:54 +0000

The fundamental economic problem with the medical industry is that they have pricing power owing to the knowledge gap between buyer and seller. Additional economic power is garnered because the customer is vulnerable. I called this the mafia of the intelligentsia, intelligentsia owing to the knowledge gap, mafia, rather than cartel, owing to the vulnerablity of the customer. Other MOIs are lawyers and colleges.

Good one.

Another factor is that there can be no choices of “Cadillacs or Chevys” Health care is either good enough or it is not. All deserve good enough.

What seems to motivate a lot on the right is the notion that they want to be able to buy life when others can’t. You make it available to all and there’s no prestige in it.

.There is no magic bullet waiting for a rich person to come along and buy it;. and I for one pray it will never be that way,

By: selise

selise — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:59:29 +0000

thanks! now i really (probably *g*) am out….

By: selise

selise — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:58:58 +0000

you're right. but it's really aggravating none the less. maybe especially because of the deceit and greed from someone we are supposed to be able to trust with our well being. p.s. sorta related to our previous delayed conversation, some background by way of a comment i left recently on another thread (just in case you are interested).