Docs are not practicing defensive medicine to any great degree. They are providing services based upon a faulty reimbursement paradigm set up by the insurers for the insurers. The collectivized program as you describe will finally provide some competition. Don't worry the insurance companies are too big to fail. They will stick around. Also what's this veiled fear mongering with the quotation marks. We are already socialized under Medicare, Social Security, Homeland Security, Big Pharma, large farm subsidies etc. Under any system if you have the money you can pay privately. We are only talking about extending coverage to everyone including those who cant afford COBRA after a lay-off, those fired, those existing on one small income who make the choice to eat instead of paying for insurance. My last thought is that Survival of the fittest shouldn't be the paradigm in the richest country in the world.
Brian
of AZ
@
Nov 24, 2009 18:37:24 PM
Pete is all wrong:
It's not tort reform its reimbursement. Docs are reimbursed at levels that force them to add procedures and tests in order to make any money. Thank the insurance industry for this.
A public plan may add competition to the insurance industry - but it won't wipe them out. They're too big to fail. Pete, how about saving lives. That's the issue, not whether we are becoming socialized or collectivized. Hey, what do you think Medicare is, or Social Security or farm subsidies. Lets just take care of each other and not be ranked last in industrial nations for health care and life expectancy.
Brian
of AZ
@
Nov 24, 2009 18:25:31 PM
Pete is all wrong:
It's not tort reform its reimbursement. Docs are reimbursed at levels that force them to add procedures and tests in order to make any money. Thank the insurance industry for this.
A public plan may add competition to the insurance industry - but it won't wipe them out. They're too big to fail. Pete, how about saving lives. That's the issue, not whether we are becoming socialized or collectivized. Hey, what do you think Medicare is, or Social Security or farm subsidies. Lets just take care of each other and not be ranked last in industrial nations for health care and life expectancy.
Brian
of AZ
@
Nov 24, 2009 18:25:30 PM
I don't think the Pilgrams would recognize this country
Want to retire? Stop wasting money, live within your means, and stay out of debt. Doesn't take a Phd to understand that concept.
As for health care, the medical community and the insurance companies don't want "change". Just as with government, they have already figured out how to abuse the system at the tax payers expense and any change would upset the status quo. Nothing about that system has anything to do with capitalism as long as the government/tax payer is footing the bill. You want "choice"? Get out YOUR check book and you can have all the choice you want.
I can't find any fine print on my birth certificate that remotely implies any guarantee's.
We have gone from a nation based on liberty, freedom, and choice, to one of entitlement. Kiss your lucky behind that you live in this country. Stop complaining, take responsibility for your life and your health, love your family and friends, teach your children well, and get on with it.
Richard
of MI
@
Oct 15, 2009 20:49:31 PM
bs
This read gives no help for me to retire in 5 years.
None.
Nick
of FL
@
Jul 24, 2009 16:45:19 PM
health care
Indeed, Jane. Seniors do not understand the precipice they are standing on. Medicare could be replaced by a far more onerous "public" plan. Choice will be A or B. That is all. Further, a rationing will happen to show the "efficiency" of a bureaucracy. In fact, due to failure of state legislatures to tackle tort (liability insurance) reform. rationing is already occurring. Docs are not taking risks for fear of suits, providing more but perhaps unnecessary diagnostics, more defensive than aggressive medicine. Worse, it appears AARP is going along with the OBAMA plan. So far it seems to me to be as independent as one can from any company or wall street driven"plan" as one can get. Any group program could be "collectivized" under a shifting demographic paradigm that does not understand capitalism.
Pete
of HI
@
Jul 17, 2009 21:46:41 PM
health care
Indeed, Jane. Seniors do not understand the precipice they are standing on. Medicare could be replaced by a far more onerous "public" plan. Choice will be A or B. That is all. Further, a rationing will happen to show the "efficiency" of a bureaucracy. In fact, due to failure of state legislatures to tackle tort (liability insurance) reform. rationing is already occurring. Docs are not taking risks for fear of suits, providing more but perhaps unnecessary diagnostics, more defensive than aggressive medicine. Worse, it appears AARP is going along with the OBAMA plan. So far it seems to me to be as independent as one can from any company or wall street driven"plan" as one can get. Any group program could be "collectivized" under a shifting demographic paradigm that does not understand capitalism.
Pete
of HI
@
Jul 17, 2009 21:45:02 PM
I CAN DO THAT
I am planning to retire in five years! I will be 57 this year and so far I still have my job and I really don't know how long that will last. I still have health insurance, and my health is good. My house is almost paid for, my autos are paid for. I owe no credit cards. The key is to live within your means. Save what you can and do your best to keep healthy.
When I do retire, I plan to have a way to make a little extra cash, for I need to do something. I have already raised my family and am divorced. I am not rich and probably never will be, but I have what I need.
Linda Spagnola
of AL
@
Jul 14, 2009 21:00:13 PM
health care
Yes, seniors have wonderful health care. But if a new health care program is instituted, the care would be rationed according to how many dollars a person adds to the system. The retired seniors would not be adding to the system so would receive the LEAST health care of any group. Do seniors not see this?
jane
of ME
@
Jul 14, 2009 08:18:02 AM
Work 30 years, retire for 30 years?
Indeed for most of us, it's unrealistic to expect to be able to retire early enough to have as many years in retirement as we had working. If interest rates after inflation, expenses and taxes are zero (look at TIPS yields) that would require saving 50% of our pay. Diagram at www.utstat.utoronto.ca/sharp
Brian of AZ @ Nov 24, 2009 18:37:24 PM
Brian of AZ @ Nov 24, 2009 18:25:31 PM
Brian of AZ @ Nov 24, 2009 18:25:30 PM
Richard of MI @ Oct 15, 2009 20:49:31 PM
Nick of FL @ Jul 24, 2009 16:45:19 PM
Pete of HI @ Jul 17, 2009 21:46:41 PM
Pete of HI @ Jul 17, 2009 21:45:02 PM
Linda Spagnola of AL @ Jul 14, 2009 21:00:13 PM
jane of ME @ Jul 14, 2009 08:18:02 AM
Keith Sharp @ Jul 06, 2009 22:05:20 PM
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