Government Health Care
By Thomas Sears MD FACC on June 30, 2009 at 7:01 PM in Current Affairs, Health Care
I am a physician. I am a full-time faculty member at a University hospital, but as an unpaid care-deliverer, I also frequently work in a the real government health care establishment, the VA Hospital, ….not the NIH where the docs can do anything they want. If we, in real life, would do some of the things done at the NIH under the auspices of research (and, by the way, virtually all care at the NIH is research), we would be guilty of Federal crimes such as Medicare Fraud. It is a Federal crime to offer free or discounted care to anyone without offering the same to all Medicare recipients, basically. Your government calls it ‘fraud’.
The real government system exists in the many VA’s of this country. Some are good. Many are horrendous. And none of them are equipped to deal with their mission as stated. Those of us who have seen the returning casualties from Iraq and who also take care of the now-aging Vietnam War patients are acutely aware of the deficiencies. Whomever wrote that recent glorious endorsement giving the VA system the highest grades among the country’s health systems did a marvelous job of cherry picking with blinders so narrow that to those of us who actually work out here, the entire document sounds like fiction based on absolutely no reality.
The one government system for health delivery which actually is working is the TriCare system. This system is available only to those who actually retired from a career of military service. This system gives them choices like most of the rest of us have, with little interference regarding pre-approval. As regards the issue of pre-approval, be informed that the vast majority of pre-approval by insurance carriers is performed by non-experts who actually don’t even qualify as care-givers. I suspect this will be the case with a government directed universal program as well.
In the VA system, for instance, the vast majority (and I’m not exaggerating) of primary care practitioners are not even board certified…not even in general medical specialties! To those of us used to dealing as sub-specialists in systems where we are referred to by board-certified generalists (Internal Medicine or Family Practice) most requests from VA primary care doctors for testing and consultation are pedantic, lack foresight, are unintelligent, inappropriate, and at times a virtual comedy. Large numbers of these instances can be classified as ‘defensive medicine’ requested by poorly trained care-givers all concerned about their employment backed by Directors concerned about career and their budget. By contrast, in the TriCare system virtually all the doctors are board-certified, most are not ‘career militarists’, and therefore do not look at triage decisions as having a negative impact on their personal goals…they think of the patient first. Not so in the VA system.
In the real VA system, which is actually the largest government health system, Department heads, Section Chiefs, etc. are not chosen on the basis of merit. They are chosen from those doctors who have made it a point to join a VA faculty in order to boost their potential retirement income. When a spot comes open, it is filled generally by someone who is ’shutting it down’ at the affiliated University. They are chosen by tenure in the system. In the non-physician category of health care providers at VA’s, incompetence is rampant. Nurses with long service are often promoted to positions where they cannot even provide the care they supervise. In many cases, they have no special expertise in the subspecialty they are supervising.
A veteran with a spouse who has health insurance must utilize the private health insurance before the VA kicks in a dime? In fact, the VA won’t even take care of the deductable when they have been relieved of the responsibility of six-figure treatments. I am a veteran. I could use the VA for my health care, if I so choose. However, I would be forced to drop all my other health insurance or I would be charged for the service. As is the usual case…those who have made a conscious choice to have you and I pay for their health care are completely covered by the VA….until they qualify for medicare. Great system? I would pound that drum quite a bit softer if I were you.
In my opinion, the only government health service that works at all is the TriCare system; and that is because it puts much of the decision-making into the hands of the patient rather than some unqualified generalist or beaurocrat. NIH / NCI / NHLBI don’t count because they aren’t ‘real’. They deliver excellent health care, but only to the chosen few, all within research protocols, and operate under a totally different set of financial rules which, if used by the rest of us, would land us in Leavenworth because outside that system they amount to Medicare Fraud.
Perhaps the government should rethink this health care strategy. Perhaps it should finally place regulation upon the insurance companies. Perhaps it should enact meaningful tort reform instead of protecting the income of the legal profession. Perhaps it should cease it’s incessant outlay and support of studies of ‘alternative therapies’ which has yet, after 10 years and over a billion dollar expense, failed to find a meaningful alternative therapy for anything at all.
Somehow, with the TriCare model, the government hit on a workable idea. Does anyone in government recognize that fact? With Obama’s recent statements and apparent plans, seemingly not.
Thomas D. Sears MD, FACC
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By Sarah Palin (Release date: November 17. 2009)
Wow–interesting. A lot to chew on here.
The most telling evidence that the proposed Obama health plan is a disaster–the fact that Obama would not choose it for his family. The fact that the elected politicians and Union members get a separate health care system from the rest of us–despicable.
From my extremely narrow point of view (I’m retired Army Reserve and start qualifying for TRICARE when I turn 60 on the 31st of August this year) I’m gratified that the system that will be providing care for me and my wife is the one you say is good. From a wider viewpoint I’m horrified as a retired soldier that those who served our country and are owed (yes, OWED) care because of their service are getting screwed. Somehow I don’t think the system that Congress and the President want to implement for our nation will be more like TRICARE and less like VA. It might just wind up making VA look good, which is a very frightening thought.
yep- i think there is one va hospital out here in west texas and all i hear is horror stories about the health care and deaths that go on in that hospital. so sad.
Dr. Sears:
Thank you for your insight. I have a question: It would seem to me to be prudent, in terms of expenditures and in terms of the work to be performed, to also have other personnel with education and experience to be part of the equation. For example, 13 years ago I nearly cut the tip of my finger off while pruning a hedge. My finger was X-rayed and then sutured by a PA, who was quite good at her profession. I wasn’t so much concerned as to who had the title performing the work as much as the competence of the person performing it (there was a physician who did perform a final check). I felt as though I had been treated well and the self-inflicted wound healed nicely. I suppose my question boils down to this: Are Doctors retaining too much responsibility and not delegating enough? I know some of this is a matter of the avoidance of litigation but that question still lingers for me.
I had general anesthesia and had a nurse practitioner. I almost died when the anesthesia was administered but she couldn’t intubate me. I will never have another surgery without asking who is responsible for my anesthesia. I guess you have to consider the type of procedure involved. At least I didn’t get the receptionist administering the anesthesia–that might be next, so we could cut costs.
I just wonder why the trial attorneys aren’t being affected? No Tort reform? Maybe that’s because they supported this empty suit for president knowing that he would keep their bread buttered. Personally, I would rather pay more for a well-trained doctor who is not bound by red tape and cutbacks than give 1/3 to an attorney to sue the doctor for screwing up.
Government insurance works in all of the developed countries of the world better than the private system does in the U.S. It is not even close. Private insurance is simply a big rip-off in the U.S. There is nothing good in the current U.S. system. There are no cost, quality of care, technology, waiting time, etc. arguments that hold-up compared to other countries. Period. The U.S. system is a disaster.
I have to agree with you, Up.
The good doctor’s comments simply make me believe that a whole bunch of piecemeal Government programs makes an inefficient patchwork quilt leaving large holes.
Universal Healthcare for all. Doesn’t it rankle anyone that France comes in first?
I, too, agree with you, Up. This system is rife with waste, employing untold numbers of people who do nothing but use a red rubber stamp which affixes the word “Denied” on most claims. That it costs so much for someone to do that simple repetitive act tells me that either these insurance companies are truly stupid (perhaps) or they pay these people a pittance and pocket the rest (more likely). I want NO middle-man between me and my physician–period.
The current system is a disgrace.Paying huge premiums ,high deductibles and co insurance.Being afraid to get medical help because you worry that it would increase premiums even further or cause a reject in coverage all together.
Premiums increase even with good medical history or no doctor visit ( as in my case) in a rate of 10 to 20 % each year.
Medical care is a human right.No body should suffer and private insurance companies have shown incompetence in money distribution or are just plain consumed in greed.
There must be a another option Period !
There is nothing good in the current US system? Really? Nothing at all?
I am very happy with my current healthcare plan. In fact I buy coverage for all of my employees and its just a nonissue - it works for everyone here and its one of the most painless business transactions I make. Especially as compared to state payroll filings, which are a nightmare. Folks occasionally complain about their $25 copays. Boo hoo. People drop $25 at the movies.
This grass is greener view of government run healthcare is something Americans will have until they get to live with it. When they get to not have that MRI or wait 6-9 months to deal with a gall bladder issue. I am just sorry that I will have to live with it as well, because I have done and I dont like it.
Government run single payer systems are not more efficient, they dont provide a better quality of care and they dont decrease wait times. People who like them are younger, healthy folks, and guess what, our system works fine for them too. They dont use any healthcare so they like everything.
Speaking of, did you hear that private clinics are the new rage in Canada? Apparently Canadians are now willing to pay to see a doctor in a timely fashion. Go figure. At least I will have somewhere to go when we finally remove all competitive plans and adopt our verison of The National Health.
Fyi..Tricare, all 3 regions, Tricare North, South and TriWest are administered by commercial health insurance companies. The DOD contracts with commercial insurance companies to manage the health insurance benefits. Similar to what the FEP is for civil workers. Tricare for Life is for retired military secondary to Medicare and acts as a Medicare supplement or a full secondary depending upon whether Medicare covers the service or not and is also administered by a commercial insurance company. It is competitive bidding and patient satisfaction is a very, very high priority when contracts are awarded. You will not find the same thing in straight government run programs. CMS (Center for Medicare/Medicaid) is not particularly responsive to patient complaints. There are many Medicare Managed Care plans now that are administered by commercial plans and so far are more customer service friendly than straight Medicare, when the federal government quits subsidizing these type of plans, you will not find the variety of plans willing to participate.
Nor in programs run by insurance companies. I have had enough problems with faceless for-profit bureaucracies than I care to remember. The argument against government-run health-care falls on deaf ears when the insurance companies are as bad, if not worse. What I want is the middle-man, insurance companies (or the government), taken completely out of the equation. My physician and I can come up with a diagnosis and plan of action should I become ill. I do not need some moron with a degree in business or law making decisions on my health. Bureaucracy is bureaucracy.
Ferd, at least with a commercial insurance company, you have someone to complain to if the insurance company does not hold up their end of the contract and until this administration negates all contracts, you still have something to stand on. Whether it be through the appeals process, the court system, healthcare advocacy groups, or your state’s insurance commissioner, etc. I am not saying commercial insurance is always right, they are not, but they are a whole lot better than what is in store for us when the Government is making our healthcare decisions.
Not if they do it right, like the other countries.
What other countries are you referring to?
You’ve swallowed the myth hook, line, and sinker ellen.
Actually, you don’t. You don’t know my experience and you do not speak from a position of authority. My experience has been different and I stand behind my statement. There is no accountability with insurance companies. You can send them statements in triplicate and some bean-counter will lose it. You can demonstrate with factual information that their computer is in error and it will never get fixed–the morons on the other end of the phone will just say that they can’t do anything because all they can go by is what the computer says. Talk to a supervisor? Yeah, another mouthpiece for management. If you hire an attorney, they have a battery of them with which to fight you. And if they get their way and get laws enacted against malpractice or malfeasance, then only insurance companies will have lawyers and then you’ll really be up shit creek without a boat, never mind the paddle. Don’t piss on my leg and tell me it’s raining, MBC.
Moreover, these recalcitrant flimflam artists (Insurance companies) will drag out the inconsequentials to a point where you just throw your hands up and cry uncle. Believe me, Sparky, I’ve had years of experience with these boneheads and even when you have all your Ts crossed and Is dotted, they find some charge for an extra band-aid which cannot be accounted for and reject your entire claim. Or they will say that there is no evidence of such and such even though you’ve sent them an itemized bill, a doctor’s statement, and an 81/2 by 11 photograph of said such and such which includes a copy of that day’s newspaper just to prove the date it occurred.
Yeah, insurance companies are so altruistic. Wow, they have seen you coming or you work for one. Which is it?
Actually Ferd, my job for the last decade has been to get insurance companies to pay for life-sustaining very expensive medications for their members (more than $100,000 per year). I have experience with every commercial and government payor available in the US and some in foreign countries. I am damn good at my job and have an impressive success rate. Perhaps, I could assist you with preparing arguments for your insurance company to get them to pay what they are obligated to pay?
No thanks. I do my own legwork and make my own arguments. Actually, with a no-middle-man system, the need for your services would evaporate, which makes it a foregone conclusion that you would prefer things the way they are. This sort of mentality is known in government circles as a “fiefdom”.
You do understand that a non-profit system did work for many years until some wretch or group, thereof, decided it would be a great idea to capitalize on the suffering of others as a means to profit enormously since patients were, in essence, a captive audience.
Spin your wheels Ferd.
Rob the dying, MBC.
I won’t respond to your last comment, it isn’t worth it, but I am curious, have you been listening to the plan proposals? Someone else will be making your healthcare decisions and it won’t be you and your doctor. It will be a standardized set of treatment protocols that your MD will be obligated by the government to follow. You will be asked numerous questions regarding your lifestyle and habits upon presentation at the healthcare facility. You will not receive treatment based on your age and life expectency. If anything in your history can be attributed to contributing to your disease or condition your will not receive treatment. Do you understand what that means? For example, If you admit to sneaking Twinkies or drinking more than two beers a week, your diabetes meds will NOT be covered. Do you see where this is going?
Ferd, a large share of the people against the idea of government health care have a niche they don’t want to see evaporate. The whole idea that somebody could have a business making insurers do what they should be legally obligated to do to begin with just reinforces that the current system is corrupt. When we need to hire collection agents to get health benefits we already paid for, then the system is broken. I don’t care what anybody says, it is broken and it no longer serves the patients needs first. The patients have become the excuse for the business of health care.
Business isn’t inherently evil, and government isn’t inherently good.
Have you never contacted an attorney for breach of contract or to review a contract you are about to sign?
I am largely happy with my healthcare and haven’t taken this step, but I am glad it exists.
In Govcare you are going to get what they give you, when they feel like giving it to you. And you wont be able to appeal or negotiate about it at all. Try writing a letter to congress to complain. See how far ya get. Because that will be your court of appeal.
I worked for an insurance company in the early ’90’s. They celebrated their 10 million quarterly profit two days after I started. How had they made that in the branch I worked in? Largely by denying claims, paying people cents on the dollar of coverage, not meeting their policy stipulations by nullifying coverage with exceptions and clauses, and taking their own customers to court over claims.
My dad was in insurance for 30 plus years. He always says that if Congress wanted to investigate something they should spend most of their time investigating insurance companies.
I had enough sense to quit after six months. I hated cheating people.
My thoughts: If insurance coverage was a box, the job of the managers of the ins companies is to shrink the box. They make money by denying your health claim. (It reminds me of the Montey Python sketch,” you’ve bought the ‘NO PAY’ Policy,..”) The overhead(advertising and profit) of ins companies is over 33%. Our auto industry - before it all went kafluie - was saddled w/ a $1,500 to $2000 med ins premium per car that foreign auto manufacturers were not liable for. The private health ins industry is sucking the life from our citizens and our economy. I want the public option.
the many VA’s of this country. Some are good. Many are horrendous.
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I basically agree with you over-view of the VA system. That being said, a lot of non-government private and public hospital care is horrendous. I would also say that some of these hospitals make the worst VA look like the Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Sears,
How about trying a combination of tort reform, medical savings accounts, and only use insurance for catastrophic events. MSA’s allow the patient to fully understand the costs involved with healthcare so they can be more informed consumers, they have a stake in making thrifty choices, and there is more incentive for adopting healthy behavior. That would be the dose of market forces that would help to drive down costs. Providers need to be freed from mandatory minimum billing for procedures which is also a policy that discourages competition. Of course, all of the best possible solutions for universal, reasonably priced healthcare, can only be realized when people shed themselves of the notion that healthcare is their God (government) given right, and consider it a necessary commodity like food, water, and shelter which they need to, or should, acquire for themselves. However, it may be impossible at this point to stop the hordes of people who think that it is possible to get something for nothing, or who believe that healthcare providers should be compelled to provide services, just because.
I’m all for tort reform as soon as the insurance companies give up their attorneys, too. If tort reform is so great, let’s share that good with all involved.
… Didn’t think so.
I firmly believe that insurance companies are for the most part a scourge, an opportunistic middle man. Reform should focus heavily on reducing their role.
When my oldest sister was born in 1950, my parents didn’t have health insurance, it was rare then. For a normal delivery and 3 day stay in the hospital, my parents paid $500 cash. Less than two years later when my older brother was born, my dad’s company had started providing health insurance. For a normal delivery, and a 3 day stay in the hospital, the insurance company ponied up 75% of the bill, and my parents paid the remaining 25% with cash, $500 cash. See how this works?
Yes I do. And tort reform is not the answer. Hospital/healthcare reform is the answer. That they are making obscene sums that rival the entire gross domestic product of most countries makes them a prime target for litigation. They don’t want it–they should make themselves a much smaller target.
I never claimed that tort reform is the only answer, it’s just one of the problems that dramatically increases the cost of healthcare.
MSA’s are an ignored option because there is not a huge lobby clammering for them, it’s an option that places the power of medical expenditures and decisions into individual control. Insurance lobbies are HUGE because of the immense funding they have at their disposal, funds that have come from you and me. MSA’s are a big threat to the insurance companies, but they are a much bigger threat to the creation of a gigantic, clumsy, abusive, and wasteful government bureaucracy needed to deal with a single payer plan. What’s next? Food insurance? Happiness insurance? Where will demands for fictional rights end?
“That they are making huge sums that rival the entire gross domestic product of most countries makes them a prime target for litigation.”
Hey ferd, that could be a very inciteful statement if it referred to trial lawyers like John Edwards who have made billions from an out of control legal system that encourages without penalties countless frivolous lawsuits, and outrageous settlements. Such a system requires that the cost of malpractice insurance is often the greatest expenditure for many doctors. You’ve enhanced my argument for tort reform. Thanks!
I am with you. I have been trying to find a health insurance plan the will only cover catastrophic events. I willingly would pay for any medical care that I need in the course of normal events. I don’t run to the doctor or ER if I have a cold or hangnail. But, try to find a doctor who will take a self-paying patient. I wanted to get a general physical and called 6 different doctors and in my area to make an appointment (all were supposedly taking ‘new patients’). The first question they asked was who was my insurance provider. I said I was self paying and if they told me how much (approximately) an appointment was I would pay cash. I must have thrown them a curve ball because the receptionist didn’t know what to do. I have yet to find a doctor who will take a self-payer. Health insurance should be like house insurance, you don’t use it to fix a broken window, you do use it if the house burns down. Rather than buying a pair of $100 sneakers, put the $100 into a personal medical fund to cover the pesky occurances that arise. It seems to me that many people today will willing pay whatever for the latest toy but expect the government to take care of everything else. When you rely on government to take care of your problems or issues, you ultimately will lose control of your choices.
KarenAnn, I agree with much of what you say.
A friend was offered a catastrophic health plan through work with a medical savings plan associated (several thousand $$ placed in the account by the employer). It sounded wonderful to me, but as you mentioned she had a heck of a time finding health care providers who would quote her prices - or they would charge twice as much for cash as they do for the insurance companies.
I firmly believe that if we all knew the actual cost of health care and were able to shop around, prices would fall. Just look at examples where insurance doesn’t typically pay - Lasik eye surgery, cosmetic surgeries, tooth whitening, etc. Prices have dropped dramatically (you can now order home tooth whitening kits online) and at least in the case of Lasik surgery, the technology advancements have been considerable.
I’ve heard so many horror stories lately about wait times in Canada and the UK, and of care denied. And yes, I do know that there are plenty of horror stories in the US as well. I think we should work to fix the actual problems, rather than exchange one set of horror stories for another.
I read an article not too long ago (sorry, can’t find the link) that fairly convincingly made the case that government programs such as Medicare actually *increased* costs for non-Medicare patients and patients with other insurances because costs were shifted from one group to another. If the government takes over all care, that won’t be possible any more - savings will have to come from somewhere. I strongly suspect that rationing of some kind (be it long waits or denied service) will be one way.
And if the profit motive is gone, where will the incentive be for the development of new technologies and medical advancements? Who will pay? And if new treatments are considered experimental and thereby not covered by a single payer system, how will potentially life-saving advancements even become ’standard’?
It used to be academia. At a fraction of the cost.
and only use insurance for catastrophic events. MSA’s allow the patient to fully understand the costs involved with healthcare so they can be more informed consumers
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What is you definition of catastrophic? And how much do you think a family of four could save in an MSA?
Good questions that probably have no real answer. The medical insurance industry is geared towards a captive audience with untold billions at stake, a cash cow, which these companies will not give up without resorting to subterfuge, diversion, empty promises, outright lies, threats, or a real fight. This is only the beginning.
My definition of catastrophic would be anything that costs more than what you have in your MSA. The greater amount you’ve accumulated in your account, the less you’ll have to pay for catastrophic insurance. Doesn’t that make sense?
If contributions to MSA’s are tax deductible, like insurance, there would be added incentive to contribute to them, and you could probably stop contributing once you had a comfortable amount on reserve for your family of four. In a way, it’s like being your own insurance company, and when you draw from the account for medical services, you would simply start contributing again to get it back to your comfort level. It’s similar to an IRA, only you could draw from it without penalty as long as it is for a medical reason. I don’t know about you, but I hate insurance companies, and I would definitely prefer it if my employer matched my contributions into my MSA, an account that I could monitor and adjust as my individual needs require. I also like the idea of earning interest on my account instead of an insurance company getting the interest from my money.
Thank you Dr. Sears for your insights. Healthcare in the US is a critical issue that needs, but isn’t getting, informed discussion.
I’ve been reading all the comments above and I just can’t get past this: as long as private insurance companies are involved in any way - we’re screwed. The profit motive will always trump patient care.
Single payer has absolutely proved (in many other countries) to be the only viable, cost-effective way to get healthcare to the citizens.
Will there be problems? Of course. But as long as we let business run healthcare, some people will die so that others can make money.
Do you currently have health insurance?
Nope, can’t afford it and I’m 59 so I probably can’t even get it.
When I did have it I was acutely aware that it was very likely useless if anything major ever happened. I had read the fine print and knew what the support limits were. I had also heard many, many anecdotal stories about denial of claims.
Look: we can have a discussion about what needs to be fixed in our healthcare system: sky high costs, support of new medical procedures, support for new drug development, support for alternative medicines but we can’t escape the several bottom lines: medical costs have to come down, preventive medicine must replace palliative, etc, etc. It all comes down to this: healthcare must become a service rather than a privilege. So long as we allow healthcare to be profit-driven that will never, ever happen.
Good questions that probably have no real answer.
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The reason that I asked is that even relatively routine encounter with the “health care establishment can cost thousands of $$ and there is no way that a family can cover that cost with savings. I would call bills more than $100,000.
Health care is not financially sustainable in this country with the Insurance companies taking 25-40% off the top. Even with many families in financial trouble because of the mortgage melt-down, 60% of bankruptcies are caused by medical bills and 80% of those people had insurance.
Do you currently have health insurance?
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I have full medical coverage through a university. Last year I had major, uncomplicated surgery. After the co-pays, disallows, and other deductions by the insurance company, I owed $31,000 out of my pocket.
Many policies have the fine print where they will pay for one major illness then they drop you. Another “trick” is to find an error on you application and not tell you until you need the insurance. Then the insurance company says “fraud” and refuses to pay the bills.
What university? What surgery? What insurance company? Are you faculty or staff? Did you contact an attorney?
I’m sorry, but you bought a bad policy or if the University provided the benefit, they provide a bad benefit. Someone didn’t read the fine print. There are plenty of jobs that provide good benefits and you have the clout of an employer group to fight for your benefits. There are millions of us out there, that work very hard to maintain our jobs and health benefits (because they are good) and do not want to be forced to enroll in a government sponsored healthcare insurance program. We will get substandard care, wait lists and not have the opportunity to try different treatment options. Did you hear BO say that many treatment options aren’t necessary or haven’t been proven effective. Just which ones is he talking about? Who decides? A government board? I can’t think of an insurance company that approves unnecessary treatments already. Did you hear him say the senior citizen may have to opt for the pain meds instead of the hip replacement. Do you see where this is going? Be careful what you wish for, you may get it.
Interesting article. And I appreciate the input of MBC and Onofre’s arm.
You’re the type of Patience that doctors love to treat. Thanks for the compliment.
Yeah, never mind that just about any member of the European Union can deliver better care for less money.
Better care??? Give us some proof of such an insane assertion. Without evidence, I could claim that Haiti has the best healthcare system in the WORLD! I went there once and I never got sick, but I did suffer a hangnail that healed miraculously in ten days after a Voodoo doctor killed a chicken on my behalf. I also dined nicely on arroz con pollo as a result.
There is no proof of such an assertion, and studies of “healthcare quality” are peppered with bogus statistics such as “equality of access”. By that standard Haiti would certainly beat the USA - they have equal access to voodoo practitioners.
Go live in France if you like their healthcare so much. Its where my life intersected a national health and I was less than impressed. Wealthy French fly to private London hospitals full of US trained doctors when they need to see a specialist. Thats how great it is.
Oh, really? Check out the survival rates of patients in the U.S. versus Canada, U.K., Germany and then decide where you want to be treated should you be diagnosed with cancer.
http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba649
Thanks TM, comments and links like this may be the only way to dispell the rampant mythology that is driving the mindless rush toward a destructive and irreversible government controlled healthcare nightmare. The whole unfortunate misconception of the healthcare industry is leading to an Orwellian march toward the dismal and depressing world described in “1984″.
My Dad is an elderly vet (WWII & Korea) & for several years he had medicare & Kaiser, which was okay, but his meds cost 3 thousand per year. People had been telling me for a long time to take him to a VA, but I kept putting it off. Truthfully, I dreaded the idea of hanging out in a dirty hospital, waiting all day, and getting govt red tape. I finally got tired of the “donut hole” & took my Dad to a VA clinic in LA cty. I was stunned. The place was fairly new, clean & nice. I was helped immediately to fill out some forms, then we waited about half an hour & saw a Dr, who ordered his meds to be delivered from the VA. His meds are now $8 per month per Rx. We’re saving over 2 grand per year. They also helped me sign up for an “Aid and Attendance” pension for him, which we started receiving 6 months later. I still keep the Kaiser ins for my Dad and usually use their Drs if he needs anything. I know that we were very lucky to have had it so easy from the VA, and that most vets have to fight for every treatment and that most VA hospitals & clinics are not as nice as the one we go to. I have no idea why we sailed through the system & I got what I wanted from them without red tape or haggling. I wish all vets could have all their needs taken care of by the VA, and indeed that all Americans receive medical care when they need it. Even though we have decent insurance (husband works for govt!), I think the US is way overdue for a major overhaul of our medical system. I don’t know the answers, don’t know if the system in France would work here, but there must be a better way. The hospitals, insurance & drug companies certainly need to be reined in somehow.
Some of the Veterans’ worst enemies can be found in the ranks of those entrusted with the Veterans’ health care.
http://www.aegis.com/news/mh/2009/MH090310.html
That is a good example of what an Obama government controlled health care plan will provide for America.
This is nonsense. The V.A. IS ‘SOCIALIZED MEDICINE’.Whatever your visceral reaction is to that label, know that what’s being proposed is NOTHING like that.The V.A. owns and operates all the facilities. They employ and pay all their doctors. They negotiate, and pay their vendors.
The public option is INSURANCE; think Social Security( only the most sucessful govnt program of all time, anywhere). As one of the 46 million uninsured ,I WANT the public option! If you like your private ins, then keep it. The cost to the taxpayers will be more than offset by the savings NOT lost to the insurance giants. Note: the USA spends more per capita on healthcare than any other western industrialized country. Yet we consistently rank at the bottom when it comes to measuring ACTUAL health.
And THAT is an example of what the current GOP/health Insurance industry controlled system HAS provided the USA.
True; Active duty military go to military hospitals, not the VA, for the most part, for their care. People who serve one-two-three tours of duty in any military service, but don’t serve long enough to retire, still are able to seek care from the gov’t, under the VA system. And, unfortunately, it is very true that the VA system is not reliable, nor is it even available in many rural areas, so people often must travel hundreds of miles to a VA facility. But, at least they have the OPTION, which many Americans don’t even have, so there is that!
People often don’t realize that the VA Veteran’s Administration is not the same as the military health care system. The VA is a separate entity entirely from military health care. Military health care is provided to active duty at military hospitals, not the VA; retirees get their health care from military hospitals, or private providers under Tricare,not the VA.
Thanks for your observations on Tricare and the VA system. I have Tricare as a secondary right now, and it works great.
After reading these comments I am very discouraged.
I have had the same health insurance for 28 years. I’ve had back surgery, a major car accident, nearly died when I had a ruptured tubal pregnancy–I have never paid premiums for that entire 28 years that would have covered the expenses. I’ve gotten great care and all at the direction of my physicians, not my congressman. I personally do not want the government to say when I should just die already because I drained their system. Aren’t you all listening to BO?
Some people need health insurance–I agree. Revamp Medicare/Medicaid and don’t try to screw up the system that is working for so many.
By the way, I had to sue because to sue because of a plate I wear in my leg. For about 4 hours work, my attorney got 1/3 of the settlement. That was much more than the surgeon was paid and the attorney never had to wear the plate or break a sweat doing surgery. Fair?
If you have a crappy insurance company–switch! They don’t all stink.
Canada does not have a “socialist” Health Care system. It has a humane, efficient healthcare-for-every-citizen system that is one of the best around.
Canada spends 3,400/per capita and U.S. spends $6,990.00/per capita on healthcare!
Canada spends only 8% of its GDP on healthcare and the U.S. spends 17.5% of its GPD on Healthcare.
Canada’s infant mortality statistics are way better than the U.S. and the average age for women is 82.5 vs. 77.5 in the U.S.
No one in Canada’s National Healtch System is DENIED COVERAGE! Every child and woman and man are entitled to healthcare and this is not a Privilege–but a RIGHT TO EXPECT HEALTHCARE! Sure, for elective surgeries you may be referred sometimes to an out of town (out of country even) hospital. But who pays the bill ultimately? THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA–through the taxes of ordinary citizens who TREASURE THEIR RIGHT TO HUMANE HEALTHCARE AND DON’T ALLOW INSURANCE PROFITS TO GET IN THE WAY!
Since l965, Canada has had a wonderful HealthCare Act and this legislation is gold in the pockets of its politicians. They know that the moment they want to hint at “Privatization”, they get voted and kicked out of Parliament!
And a healthy workforce in Canada has enabled the country to attract Japanase, Chinese and European investment in terms of factories and companies operating with a no-cost healthy workforce! That’s a bonus, isn’t it to capitalism? No Wall Street boneheaded moves can ever interfere with the rights of Canadians to demand the best in healthcare.
And Canadian women’s Preventive Medicine is tops, too!
Why insist on enriching those vampire Insurance Commpanies who are profiting while millions go bankrupt!
And, guess what, Doctor, in Canada NO ONE’S BANKRUPTCY IS CAUSED BY…..MEDICAL BILLS!!!!
If Obummer wasn’t a Spineless piece of Misogynist fluff he’d do what’s best for Americans. But he hasn’t got the guts nor intelligence!!!
In l993 HILLARY, THE PIONEER IN HEALTHCARE, had sent a team of researchers to study the Healthcare system in……you guessed it!….Canada. It’s time Obummer sent a team up there, NOW!
Or he can steal her ideas (ssee WASHINGTON TIMES Nicholas Kralev’s Clinton Urged Obama to Talk Tough on Iran before he did it)….
Hell, he’s used to stealing anyway…
Nobody goes bankrupt in Canada from medical bills?
Quite often Canadians are delayed or denied expensive treatments due to age or other reasons, or, treatments are denied because it is not cost effective. Quite often, patients turned away from the Canadian system, or believe that the usual delays could be fatal, are forced to head south to the superior healthcare facilities in the US.
So, no, Canadians may not go bankrupt from medical bills, they die before accumulating those bills.
You are implying that doesn’t happen in the US - for the 46 million without health insurance and rising, they don’t get access to the preventive medicine, the superior facilities and they usually don’t get treatment because of expense.
If Western Europeans and Canandians spend ’soo much time’ in line, wouldn’t their numbers for health care quality and life expectancy drop dramatically?
Also, you are ignoring the fact that we have to wait a long time in the US too; even on my health care plan, it took me a month to see the cardiologist.