I guess I want to keep this fairly simple. We can and have argued about different health care systems on this forum before bringing up statistics and what not, but I want this to just be about any anecdotal experiences you have had in regards to the health care system we have in America.


To give a vague list of different things I'm looking for

1. The quality of the service - waiting times and medical standards etc

2. The cost - Did your health insurance cover everything and how much money did it cost all up

3. Business perspective - I know there are a few business owners here, how do you find dealing with the health care system for your business

4. If anyone has any experience with medicare or other such programs.

5. Drug prescriptions and everything associated with that.

6. What ever else you feel like saying basically.


Also, this isn't just about health care since Obama got in, but health care in America for the last 20 - 30 years.

I can't complain, this system has saved my life a minimum of 6 times.
Our HC is the best in the world, it's our politicians that are screwing it up by letting a million+ illegals use it at no cost.
And that cost is being paid by the rest of us.

I have an extensive reply for you but I can't type it out on my phone, and I am hurting too much to get out to my puter.  It may be a few days, but I will put together something for you.

I'm happy with it. My premiums are too high, but that changes this week, with my wife's new job and the employer insurance.

I don't need to write a long story. The reason costs are so high, leads back to the government.

1) Rules and regulations, have doctors and hospitals spending more time filling out paperwork, than seeng patients.

2) Our government has created a system in which millions of people use the emergency room for their primary care. They pay nothing for service, and have no intention of paying.............................the rest of us pay for them. I believe a simple $10 fee, would cut these visits at least in half.

3) I also believe in instituting tort reform. Malpractice insurance is well over $100,000 per year for many specialist doctors.

Quote from: kramarat on September 25, 2012, 07:39:15 AM
I'm happy with it. My premiums are too high, but that changes this week, with my wife's new job and the employer insurance.

I don't need to write a long story. The reason costs are so high, leads back to the government.

1) Rules and regulations, have doctors and hospitals spending more time filling out paperwork, than seeng patients.

2) Our government has created a system in which millions of people use the emergency room for their primary care. They pay nothing for service, and have no intention of paying.............................the rest of us pay for them. I believe a simple $10 fee, would cut these visits at least in half.

3) I also believe in instituting tort reform. Malpractice insurance is well over $100,000 per year for many specialist doctors.

Our government has done a lot more than that. Our government has quietly and secretly been taxing the living shit out insurance companies -- and us -- for quite some time. An example... Some months back I needed a laser-based surgical procedure done on my left eye to relieve elevated intraocular pressure, a symptom of my glaucoma. Though the surgery only lasts a few minutes, it requires special equipment and personnel that my small-town eye doctor can't justify keeping around all the time. She does this procedure just four times a year, and the office that day was incredibly crowded. After my surgery, as I was leaving the office, I overheard one of the billing clerks explaining to a newbie that the procedure I'd just had done was billed at $1,200 -- if the patient had private insurance. If the patient was using Medicare, the rate was $270. The Medicaid rate was even lower, though I don't remember the number.

Now I realize that some dickering generally takes place between private insurance companies and doctors' offices, and the insurers probably seldom or maybe never pay the full $1,200. But holy cow!

Now I've seen lib/progs use examples like this to argue that the government should pay more. My argument is that the government should get the hell out of the way. The government has absolutely no business whatsoever in the health care market. Beyond the valid statement that such involvement is patently unconstitutional, the government is about the last entity I'd consider qualified to manage anyone's health care.

Quote from: tbone0106 on September 25, 2012, 09:48:10 AM
Our government has done a lot more than that. Our government has quietly and secretly been taxing the living shit out insurance companies -- and us -- for quite some time. An example... Some months back I needed a laser-based surgical procedure done on my left eye to relieve elevated intraocular pressure, a symptom of my glaucoma. Though the surgery only lasts a few minutes, it requires special equipment and personnel that my small-town eye doctor can't justify keeping around all the time. She does this procedure just four times a year, and the office that day was incredibly crowded. After my surgery, as I was leaving the office, I overheard one of the billing clerks explaining to a newbie that the procedure I'd just had done was billed at $1,200 -- if the patient had private insurance. If the patient was using Medicare, the rate was $270. The Medicaid rate was even lower, though I don't remember the number.

Now I realize that some dickering generally takes place between private insurance companies and doctors' offices, and the insurers probably seldom or maybe never pay the full $1,200. But holy cow!

Now I've seen lib/progs use examples like this to argue that the government should pay more. My argument is that the government should get the hell out of the way. The government has absolutely no business whatsoever in the health care market. Beyond the valid statement that such involvement is patently unconstitutional, the government is about the last entity I'd consider qualified to manage anyone's health care.

Oh, don't I know it. A book could be written on how government meddling has screwed up the price structure of healthcare, insurance, and just about every other thing that's wrong in this country. I just didn't feel like writing a book.

If it weren't so f**ked up, it would be funny........................the affordable healthcare act, (Obamacare), just gums up the works even further. It does not address the cost of healthcare itself..................which is largely, government created.

Quote from: kramarat on September 25, 2012, 11:15:05 AM
Oh, don't I know it. A book could be written on how government meddling has screwed up the price structure of healthcare, insurance, and just about every other thing that's wrong in this country. I just didn't feel like writing a book.

If it weren't so f**ked up, it would be funny........................the affordable healthcare act, (Obamacare), just gums up the works even further. It does not address the cost of healthcare itself..................which is largely, government created.

Our healthcare has jumped  5.520 $ just this year.  Thank b o for the new affordabler inc.   

Quote from: walkstall on September 25, 2012, 11:21:44 AM
Our healthcare has jumped  5.520 $ just this year.  Thank b o for the new affordabler inc.   

Yep. I'm glad my wife got this new job. Blue Cross was about to break our backs. I wonder how the libs are going to react, when Obama's other little tax surprises kick in, in January. If he wins, America's health care system will become a trash heap.

anyone who thinks our HC system is the best in the world hasn't been outside of the country.

Quote from: Halford9 on September 25, 2012, 11:40:21 AM
anyone who thinks our HC system is the best in the world hasn't been outside of the country.

WHY!! Do all the big shoots come to the U.S. for HC then.   

Quote from: Halford9 on September 25, 2012, 11:40:21 AM
anyone who thinks our HC system is the best in the world hasn't been outside of the country.

Easy for you to say without giving one bit of first hand (and honest) experiences.   I am fortunate, I pay about $1500 per year in premiums and have the vast majority covered.  I have a low co pay.  I have also been fortunate thus far with good health.  When my kids were born, we paid nothing out of pocket.  The youngest is 26 though. 

Quote from: Halford9 on September 25, 2012, 11:40:21 AM
anyone who thinks our HC system is the best in the world hasn't been outside of the country.

So name one place better.

Solar, I'm going to pose the question about health care cost specifically.

How does the USA spend almost double what other industrialized countries spend ?

You can't just place it down government involvement in the health care field. Japan, Australia, Israel and a lot of European countries have way more government interference in their health care systems.

How do they have more government but less cost ? Is our government just so god dam useless and corrupt compared to the world ?

Quote from: redlom xof on September 25, 2012, 12:20:22 PM
Solar, I'm going to pose the question about health care cost specifically.

How does the USA spend almost double what other industrialized countries spend ?

You can't just place it down government involvement in the health care field. Japan, Australia, Israel and a lot of European countries have way more government interference in their health care systems.

How do they have more government but less cost ? Is our government just so god dam useless and corrupt compared to the world ?

I'm glad you're looking to have an intelligent discussion.  You are probably the first liberal to do this.

For the discussion, elaborate on what "costs" you are talking about.  The reason is because obfuscated details are thrown around and typically end up as a talking point with no real definition.

And to lay the framework for the discussion, are you familiar with the concepts of quality adjusted life years and IPAB?  If not, please become familiar with these.

Also understand, we don't associate more government spending as an expectation of a better system.  We know the more government is involved, the worse it gets.  However, our free market system keeps us the best in the world.