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+--- Thread: Republicans, what is your "end game" on health care? (/showthread.php?tid=91427)
Re: Republicans, what is your "end game" on health care? - Mike Sellers - 01-20-2010
The health care series on "This American Life" pointed out that increased competition doesn't necessarily mean lower costs since each insurance company negotiates it's own fee structure with health care providers. Lots of additional overhead with no real savings. Perhaps a better system would be for the state governments to negotiate one fee structure for all insurance companies and then the insurance companies can compete on customer service and streamlining their own internal operations. Plus, the insurance companies would have a real incentive to promote better lifestyle choices for their customers instead of just writing another prescription for a high-priced drug.
Re: Republicans, what is your "end game" on health care? - wurm - 01-20-2010
I think that as employees of government workers, we should stop paying for their health plan. Either that, or make it available to every citizen of the country at the same rates they pay. Seems pretty simple to me. If it's a good enough plan for them, it's probably good enough for us.
Re: Republicans, what is your "end game" on health care? - rgG - 01-20-2010
wurm wrote:
I think that as employees of government workers, we should stop paying for their health plan. Either that, or make it available to every citizen of the country at the same rates they pay. Seems pretty simple to me. If it's a good enough plan for them, it's probably good enough for us.
:agree:
Congress needs some skin in this game.
Re: Republicans, what is your "end game" on health care? - john dough - 01-20-2010
The hands off approach to controlling the health care companies has gotten us into this mess -- that is what happening now and it is broken (in other words, that is doing nothing so that does not count as a solution).
I think that the public option scares the hell out of the companies in that they cannot get away with what they are doing. If people had a real choice (not the BS choices that some say are present now) I think that rates would go down and quality will go up.
Dakota, I am all for making money (I am not doing my gig now for charity) and people form these companies to make a profit. Yet, there is something inherently wrong when people are are paying more and more into these organizations and getting less, while going broke when they actually do make a claim. Are you not seeing that happening? A simple yes or no will suffice.
I don't think nationalization is the answer, as there is plenty of room for privatization, yet there needs to be REAL pressure on them to keep them honest (which is not currently the case). Some in the debate have resisted change only for the fact that they are mouthpieces for those making absurd profits. I say that they, and those who fund them, can shove it.
Back to my point, what can be done? Status quo is not working...
Re: Republicans, what is your "end game" on health care? - $tevie - 01-20-2010
I don't think that insurance companies should be run for profit. I think they should be not-for-profits and thereby eliminate the need for constant bottom line "growth" to appease stockholders and executives seeking bonuses. Any net profit would have to be put back into the company or perhaps distributed to the customers as rebates. The current system isn't realistic because it is set up to work against the customers rather than for them.
Re: Republicans, what is your "end game" on health care? - mrbigstuff - 01-20-2010
$tevie is correct, but it would never happen. Well, except for the military. It's OK if they have healthcare, right? I agree with that. Maybe everyone should sign up. Get down to your local recruiter for healthcare.
Re: Republicans, what is your "end game" on health care? - J Marston - 01-20-2010
Well, here's the Republican plan http://www.gop.gov/solutions/healthcare:
Number one: let families and businesses buy health insurance across state lines.
Number two: allow individuals, small businesses, and trade associations to pool together and acquire health insurance at lower prices, the same way large corporations and labor unions do.
Number three: give states the tools to create their own innovative reforms that lower health care costs.
Number four: end junk lawsuits that contribute to higher health care costs by increasing the number of tests and procedures that physicians sometimes order not because they think it's good medicine, but because they are afraid of being sued.
Note that there's no requirement for accepting pre-existing conditions, and that tort "reform" is one of the main points. It also leaves the insurance companies free to decide what is and isn't medically necessary.
Re: Republicans, what is your "end game" on health care? - $tevie - 01-20-2010
Who decides which lawsuits are "junk", anyhow? Which families will be allowed to seek recourse and which will not and who will decide? I thought we disliked "panels" in this country. 8-)
Re: Republicans, what is your "end game" on health care? - john dough - 01-20-2010
J Marston wrote:
Note that there's no requirement for accepting pre-existing conditions, and that tort "reform" is one of the main points. It also leaves the insurance companies free to decide what is and isn't medically necessary.
This is playing into the hands of the insurers. Said companies are looking for a way out of paying for the high end of coverage and if you are going to take money in while they are well, you should be mandated to pay out when things are bad. I agree that lawsuits are a large part of the issue but a blanket "end junk lawsuits" is open to opinion as what is junk or not. The companies pretty much see all loss of profit as junk.
As far as the other points, buying insurance from state to state will only push the insurers to a state with the best terms (for them) and coverage would disappear for many poor folks who do not have the resources to get it.
If you are not in the line of work of getting people well FIRST, get the hell out now. Screw your shareholders, you are in the the wrong business. The GOP "plan" sounds like it was written by the insurance companies.
Re: Republicans, what is your "end game" on health care? - mrbigstuff - 01-20-2010
"Our endgame?"
