The "Money Grows On Trees!" Approach To Health Care
Loved the reality checks made on the comment by "paralegalgs1's" on an LA Times piece on health care -- or rather, socialized medicine -- in other countries. First, paralegalgs1's remark:
paralegalgs1 at 6:42 PM October 3, 2013
I had a similar experience in 2002, when I was in Spain. I was in Sevilla and started feeling wheezy, so was directed to the local hospital where I was diagnosed with bronchitis. The hospital visit was free and I paid approximately $27 for antibiotics, an inhaler and prescription cough syrup. Having recently been unemployed for more than a year, I got cellulitis in my left hand right before Thanksgiving and had to go to an urgent care facility. While the cost of the visit was reasonable, I was out-of-pocket $250+ for two visits and medication, and had to use a credti card to pay for it, which isn't a good idea when you're unemployed and have a limited income. I'll take the free care in Spain over the high cost of medical care here any day. It's about time we had universal healthcare and a shonda that we don't.
And then the right-on retort:
John Oliver at 7:00 PM October 3, 2013
Lucky you, you never had to pay the 50% income tax and 20%+ sales tax that pays for all that wonderful "free" health care.
And this guy seconds it:
Beast_SPQR at 7:07 PM October 3, 2013
Your hospital visit wasn't "free", the Spanish citizens paid for it. Jesus Christ people, do you REALLY think just because you don't pay for it, that someone else doesn't ?
Here's another lady crowing about the wonder of free.
Linda08 at 6:13 PM October 3, 2013
We had a similar experience in Germany when my husband was hospitalized for kidney stones. The hospital also provided a room for me and our two sons as one had an ear infection. My husband's emergency admission at night could have meant my children and I would have a place to spend the night. We were given antibiotics and care for my son and my husband spent three days in the hospital with tests until the kidney stone resolved. His care was superb. It is about time the USA had health care to compare with that available in the rest of the world. It's time to step up and do it right.
Me? I have medical care that works overseas if something happens to me. Because Europeans shouldn't have to cover my health care any more than they should have to cover my lunch.
We buy our own insurance, but poor people get covered by the government. I don't mind. I'd be ashamed if my fellow villagers were dying for want of health care.
NicoleK at October 4, 2013 2:21 AM
We all pay for the poor people. The gov lets the insurance companies, health care providers and pharmaceutical companies screw over the paying customers. Say, why is it that American's cant easily buy cheaper drugs in Canada or Mexico and re-import them? Things that cost $1000 here but $100 there.
Why does an aspirin cost $30 per pill in a hospital? To pay for the gov mandated charity care. How did we ever help out those before gov stepped in with that law? Oh, right. Those providers offered it on their own but now they can push off a lot of those costs to paying customers. Now they don't have much competition and the gov is creating an open monopoly for them with state run healthcare. Costs will go up.
Back in 2008 I went to get my hearing/ears checked. I had no insurance, was paying cash. They had to look up how to bill me on their system and how to list what procedures were done for my receipt. I was told that the cash discount was $240 vs $400 insurance. Hmm, I wonder why that is.
Sio at October 4, 2013 2:56 AM
Well I can walk into my local glasses store and pay for my exam and glasses at about $200 and get them in about an hour. Or I can go on the company insurance plan, pay about $15 a month, try to find an optometrist that takes the plan and the $50 copay for the exam and less choice of frames. Each pair will be there in about at a cost of about $75.
For me the math doesn't add up.
Jim P. at October 4, 2013 4:34 AM
I'd be ashamed if my fellow villagers were dying for want of health care.
But people aren't. They've gotten cared for without health care.
I believe in taking care of those who can't take care of themselves, not those who won't because it's cheaper if other people pay for it.
I've paid for my own healthcare since I was an adult, out of pocket every month. I got in to an HMO in my early 20s and then I was in for good. Other people I know gambled and went without, didn't get into a plan, and then whined that it was costly when they were 45 and came down with a disease. At the time, I'd been paying into the system for 20 years. So, if I got a disease, I wouldn't be getting free care.
Amy Alkon at October 4, 2013 5:35 AM
The confusion (and this makes me nuts when I think about it too much) is that there is a DIFFERENCE between "health insurance" and "health care".
I am all for needy having health care - as Amy said, needy people could always get health care - maybe not easily, and with long waits, but it was there. It did need to be improved (e.g. using the ER as primary care wasn't ideal in anyone's eyes.)
But health insurance? When the government decides how much money it will pay to provide health insurance to the needy? Who thinks this won't turn into a huge boondoggle? Insurance companies will obviously turn up costs - it's "free money" to them.
flbeachmom at October 4, 2013 8:19 AM
And to pay for the malpractice insurance so John Edwards and his ilk can live in mansions.
Wanna bet Spanish and German attorneys aren't getting rich with spurious lawsuits against the government medical machine?
Conan the Grammarians at October 4, 2013 11:58 AM
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