Health Care is not as bad as some may think

[DerickM 1]

I read a breakdown of the 40 million Americans without health insurance recently.

Eighteen million were people in the 18-34 year old age range in good health. So they felt that health insurance was a low priority.

Nine million were people with incomes of over 75,000 dollars a year. They either felt health insurance was a low priority or considered themselves to be able to pay for any likely health care emergency.

That leaves only 13 million people who might truly want health care insurance and are unable to afford it.

The Latest population estimate for the USA is:

301,139,947 (July 2007 est.)

(According to: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/us.html)

13 Million is insignificant at best.

[bitteroldhag 0]

Apparently you are reading Republican stats. I want good healthcare and I have insurance. I pay and pay and pay. Our insurance is lousy and I work for the state. I want the coverage that Congress has.

[isabelle290 0]

Have you ever looked over teacher insurance? It is horrible and I pay a fortune for premiums and they cover nothing (which means I am paying for my own lapband).

[Crazy Mama 0]

Health Insurance does not equal Health CARE.

'nuff said.

[Devana 0]

This is my health care story.

In our province in Canada the maximum health care insurance premium cost is $108 per month per family. If the family is low income, that premium is subsidised either partly or completely.

My husband and I work in a health care field and have been pretty cocky in that we've always looked after ourselves, and therefore we didn't bother paying the premiums for many years.

About 5 years ago our son became ill and when it became obvious that this was going to be beyond our ability to care for him, we took him to the hospital and the next day I went to the local government office and paid them $108.

What ensued was a nightmare of an illness that has left my son with some physical disability. He has had a large chunk of time in the ICU, literally months spent in two different hospitals, numerous surgical procedures and a huge amount of home care and physiotherapy. And we're not done yet.

He has had the very best and immediate care. An eight thousand dollar substance was flown in from Toronto and administered shortly after he was first admitted. I was present when this was discussed and the decision to bring this in, though aknowleged that is was an expensive treatment, was based on his possible need only. Even when we have to go to the mainland hospital, our ferry fare is paid for.

I know the cost to the medical services plan for all this over the years and it's well over a million dollars.

I stayed with him the whole time he was in hospital and met people from all walks of life and all socio-economic levels, and everyone received the same level of care.

I have absolutely no complaints.

[Jachut 487]

I tell you what, as an outsider from a country where we all complain about our health system but where it is really very good, your health care system is appalling. It must be so frustrating and enraging not to have what I see as your god given right. You want lapband surgery, you darn well have it! You need your gall bladder removed? You darn well GET it, WHEN you want. Applications to insurance companies and waiting with bated breath for approval for things you need is not fair or sensible in any way.

I have made a solemn vow never ever ever to get sick in America should I ever happen to visit.

[susansilver 0]

I read a breakdown of the 40 million Americans without health insurance recently.

Eighteen million were people in the 18-34 year old age range in good health. So they felt that health insurance was a low priority.

Nine million were people with incomes of over 75,000 dollars a year. They either felt health insurance was a low priority or considered themselves to be able to pay for any likely health care emergency.

That leaves only 13 million people who might truly want health care insurance and are unable to afford it.

The Latest population estimate for the USA is:

301,139,947 (July 2007 est.)

(According to: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/us.html)

13 Million is insignificant at best.

Sorry Can't agree - there is not ONE of those 13 million people who are INSIGNIFICANT!!! And I would sure hate to be ONE of those 13 million people who need any kind of healthcare and cannot get it. Have you seen Sicko??? What about those people???

I am Canadian, live in Toronto. I had to go to emerg with severe abdominal pains. Had blood tests, x-rays and a CT scan. Ened up all was good - especially the part about NO BILL to pay! Yes I spent 4 hours there, but did not have to declare bankruptcy afterwards.

I would much rather pay a little more on my taxes and have peace of mind.

[areellady 1]

I am sick of not feeling like I can go the ER or to the doctor because I won't be able to pay for the bill, but the medicaid patients can go and see the doctor any old time they want and DO!!! I am talking about the medicaid welfare horders who work there way around the system to get what they want and I pay up the ass in premiums and still have the shittest insurance out there. Make too much money to get medical cards, but don't make enough to pay huge doctor bills. THIS WHOLE THING SUCKS!!!!

[Sunta 5]

Eighteen million were people in the 18-34 year old age range in good health. So they felt that health insurance was a low priority.

Nine million were people with incomes of over 75,000 dollars a year. They either felt health insurance was a low priority or considered themselves to be able to pay for any likely health care emergency.

Huh? How does simply being 18-34 automatically mean "they felt that health insurance was a low priority"?

How does having an income over $75,000 per year automatically mean "they felt health insurance was a low priority or thought they could pay for health care."

This is ridiculous.

Bizarre logic that makes zero sense and is 100% unfounded by any scientific study on their real thoughts and opinions.

So 27 million people are totally fine with not having health care? Riiiight.

Since you believe that, are you interested in purchasing the Brooklyn Bridge?

[DerickM 1]

it means they chose that option on a study. I did not pull those numbers out of my ass. Nor did I or other just 'automatically assume'. No my dear, I am afraid it was you who just did the assuming. I will search for a link but i got it from an article in the paper a few days ago. The writer quoted a study.

13 million out a country of 300+ million is a insignificant number of people when you view the larger picture

[Sunta 5]

it means they chose that option on a study.

So 27 million people said it's just fine with them that they don't have healthcare?

Where is the study?

What percentage of people said it's fine?

This is the most absurd thing I have ever heard in my life.

[Sunta 5]

PS: Are you one of those people who thinks that slaves really didn't mind being slaves?

[ELENATION 0]

I am in complete agreement with you.

I was born and grew up in a country with "free" health care or socialized medicine and it did not work, lack of medications, lack supplies, lack of hospitals, therefore you must way long time for a surgery, you can actually die waiting...........I love our health care system...

:clap2:

[DerickM 1]

Not everybody is a socialist liberal like yourself for petes sakes.

A younger, HEALTHY person is more likely to NOT CARE about health insurance. A person who makes LOTS of MONEY is less likely to want to deal with health insurance because they can PAY for medical care THEMSELVES.

Is that clear enough for you my dear?

I am going to choose to ignore your insulting remark.

[butternuts 0]

<p>We retired with health ins. from my husband work well 1 year later they decided to cancel the wifes ins.(we were not union) any way we now pay 12,000 yearly because I have a few problems and no one will ins. me. That does not include medicine or copayments. People have it alot worse then others and our older people have it the worst. We live in AMERICA!!!!</p>As we get older our needs change. Not eligable for Medicare yet.