I would like to know what solutions others can contribute to this complex problem. Personally I believe we need to get rid of the tertius between Doctors and Patients. We need to get rid of the Insurance Companies--but how?

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First you must start with the lawyers. We need to put strong limits on liability and frivolous lawsuits. This is the case with so many problem areas in our society. But we have doctors paying boatloads for malpractice insurance which must be passed on to consumers, i.e. more insurance companies and ultimately us.

I disagree , in part, with that notion--first, it is very difficult and expensive for an average person to fight a lawsuit--second, if a person has been injured, they should have substantial recompense.

I do think the courts need to look at what lawsuits should make it to court, but this requires an active thinking court. That notion makes us uncomfortable. We want them to limit thier bias and only interpret the law. Soooo--perhaps legistlatures need to define what can be actionable? But this requires an active, thinking legislature--a legislature who is likely lobbied by insurance "experts."

The problem still appears to come back to insurance companies.

They act as money lenders--in a financial capacity...they are the intermediary. Should limits be put on their profits in the name of patriotism and for the benefit of the many?



There is some weight to your argument, but my gut tells me it is a problem with the tertius. ???

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Those who define have the power. http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/...heney.ssl.html

You are leaving out an important part of the equation. Insurance companies are part of a free market. Those who provide insurance for the lowest cost and greatest benefit will get more customers, thus more $. So what you have to ask is why do all the insurance carriers keep raising their rates? My first response is one reason, unless you think there is some giant insurance company conspiracy to monopolize and raise rates...

I forgot to add that those who have been wronged will have no trouble finding an attorney who will help them through a civil lawsuit as long as they can recoup their attorney fees in the settlement. This is currently the case in the US.

but accidently started a new thread:

In the state of Nevada they are using mid-wives to give birth. Malpractice insurance is so high there doctors have stopped delivering babies. The knock against insurance companies (when it comes to medical costs) is so misguided. More words that people just gather from others without any of the knowledge or research. You talk about insurance company profits. And while I am not for limiting the profits of any company (that's socialist) let's step back from that.

Do you have any idea about insurance company profits? Have you ever looked at the financials of an HMO or an insurance provider like Harvard Pilgrim (a New England insurance company)? Many of these companies teetered on the brink of bankruptcy the past 2-3 years and in the case of Harvard they were in receivership (insurance industry lingo for bankruptcy). Generally speaking, insurance companies pay out 103% of every policy they write. So yes, they pay out more than they receive in premiums. I've looked at the financials of almost two dozen insurance companies and none of them make money on premiums, they make it on the float. They invest in equities (and some bonds) and make their returns on holding those premiums until eventually paid out. Insurance companies make money, but it's not the health providers.

Limiting profits is not socialist--check out Adam Smith from our founding generation.

Perhaps we have been sold a bill of goods when we think the free market should be free on both ends--unlimited.

Free speech is not unlimited--isn't this a parallel?

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Those who define have the power. http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/...heney.ssl.html

I like to think its more transverse. lol

Is there anything illicit going on in your pad? That was quite a tangent you just negotiated.

The first step to universal health care, in my opinion, is to mandate that everyone get regular checkups. Most of the big expensive health stuff is preventable if found soon enough. If people were required to go to their doctor once a year (for free) for suggested checkups, then that would help a ton, both in overall health of the nation and the cost. They could then standardize all the tests needed to cover the biggest problems and lower the costs for those tests since they are done in mass.

Provide automatic checkups for all the big disease killers like heart disease, breast cancer, prostate cancer, other cancers, etc. before they are in the expensive state of operation, surgery, radiation, expensive drugs, and hospital stay time.

People who choose not to go regularly would not qualify for other free care, like prescription drugs or surgery. In other words, those people who cared about their health would receive health care, and those that wait until they have a heart attack to do anything, or eat unhealthily or just don't care about their body and want someone else to pay for all their problems, would have to pay themselves.

I don't see any other way. The minute someone offers free stuff people start abusing it. "Why go on a diet? If I get sick I'll just go to the hospital and they can fix me up and I can go back to eating junk and not exercising."

I find it scary that people are beginning to use phrases like “universal healthcare” and claiming that health care is a right, rather than a reward. Please realize the huge costs involved in creating a universal system. Also, can you imagine the fraud, waste, and abuse that would occur in a federal health care facility? I can I have experienced VA hospitals (a shining example of federal healthcare failure).

Forgive me if I am wrong but, don’t we already have guaranteed health care, no publicly subsidized hospital will turn away someone in need of care. In WA we also have community health care clinics that provide medical services on a sliding cost scale determined by income level.

Do I speak only for myself when I say that I can spend my money and choose a health care provider more efficiently than the government?

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