Healthcare--a right or not?

Enslaving insurance companies?

They're free to find honest work. There's no slavery there

 

How many people realize that fully 30 per cent of non Medicare healthcare spending goes to administrative costs and profit for the insurance companies.

Medicare works on a 3% administrative cost.

Time for Medicare buy in.

It would save hundreds of billions (but make insurance companies sad...boohoo)

Think about a 27% reduction in your healthcare premiums...

 

You being canadian, didn't give us your thoughts.
Since your country basically treats it as a basic human right.
Do you like it?

 

It's called a right established by law.

 

I am not sure if I do. I am very undecided on this issue, which is why I started this thread so that I could get exposure to both sides.

 

Someone else said it best. Society is where the inmates run the asylum. Sorry, I secretly spit out the lithium tablets that you readily gulp down.

 

Well, you live it. What is bad about it?
Would you be willing to pay $1000US per month, just to have insurance? If one is self employed or unemployed that is what a typical policy costs us.

 

Cite? And be sure to cite one that isn't going to be repealed soon.

 

I don't think there is anything "bad" about our healthcare system. In fact, both me and my family members have had quite a few occasions to visit medical professionals and we never had to pay a dime. I think our system is quite well-run in this aspect. But I am not saying that Americans should adapt our system. I am sure Americans have their own idea of what's best for their country.

 

Not really. It's why it's such a hot topic.
Those considered left say we should have a national type like canada's but the RW says they don't want to help the poor and tough on luck people.

Meanwhile, IMO, we get raped by the big pharma and insurance companies.
Our drugs in some cases are 100X more than what you would pay. Our system is broke. The question is how we correct it.

 

I'm fine with a Healthcare tax and everyone has access to health care. I'm not ok with the Obama care. The system in Canada and other countries is run by the government so the insurance companies are held in check. Here in the US, the minute Obama care was signed into law insurance company's raised their rates. Health care in America is a big business with jacked up prices on medicine. For example the TB skin test cost between $0.16- $1.11 per dose. In America it's $100.00- $200.00 per dose. Now they are price gauging the epi-pen, and narcan.
We are getting ripped off every step we take.

 

You could start with asking why drugs cost more here by asking the FDA and the National Bar Association. Why are so many people ignorant of these two reasons?

 

Please enlighten us.
IMO, the pharmas use us as the subsidy to the rest of the world. We pay all the R&D costs while the rest of the world pays the cost to mfg plus markup.

 

You answered part of your question, why ask me for the obvious? The FDA makes the process of bringing a drug to market so expensive that it takes damn near the full patent period to recover the cost of R&D. What alternative universe do you live on? Other countries bring new products to market a good decade before we get approval. We are also a litigious society, I can't watch a night of TV without some ambulance chasers asking if you've been harmed by XYZ drug. Seriously? Think sometimes.

 

Oh, I thought you had some insight not already known. But I guess I live on the same alternate universe as you. Since we agree.

 

So what's your beef with the Pharmas when you know the problem? Every company is in business to make a profit, but you call them out for things that are really out of their control most of the time. The FDA shoots down a healthy percentage of new drugs before they ever leave the gate. Those are dry wells in the oil business, successful drugs have to make up for it. Personally it pizzes me off that we have to wait 17 years to get a generic drug.
We can agree on that. And other countries do not honor the patents. If you don't believe me go online and buy out of the country and get the same medicine online that is under patent here and cost an arm and leg.
Yes, we do agree on this. But to blame the American pharmas for the entire problem isn't really the root of the problem.

 

Oh, I'm sure it's a bit of a cash cow to the gov't. With all the fees they get to collect.

 

People are fallible entities. How judgmental should the self-righteous be? If you had a loved one whose was refused life-saving care following a heart attack because it was suspected that she was not a vegan who exercised a half hour every day, would you cheer such a standard being imposed? Who gets to sit in judgement of everyone else?

 

If you don't like the moral commitment of our society, again, you are free to withdraw from it and relocate to one where imperfect fellow human beings are allowed to die.

That freedom applies in regard to all social obligations. Anyone who is sufficiently upset by any of America's ethical principles is not being forced to stay and endure them.

Go in peace. Be careful out there!

 

That seems basically correct. The rest of the world has negotiated rates usually through a single purchaser like the NHS which the pharmaceutical companies can afford since they are charging "retail" in the states.

 

spread out that cost all over the world and our prices come way down

 

what does that have to do with health care?

 

Try to follow the thread. Other posters have said healthcare can not be a right because it involves a service. So does eduation

 

“With respect to the words general welfare, I have always regarded them as qualified by the detail of powers connected with them. To take them in a literal and unlimited sense would be a metamorphosis of the Constitution into a character which there is a host of proofs was not contemplated by its creators.”
- James Madison

 

I agree with you up to a point. If you live in the city and don't own property you are not directly taxed for schools, while property owners are. That is a form of inequality. Then again, I can remember before there was Medicare, Medicaid and Union Healthcare Plans. It was not a right then and it certainly is not a right now.