Ranting

[worldoflucky]

Dear god, how can a conservative trust the government to know how to run a military, conduct political dealings and handle VA benefits, but think they cant handle medical plans.

Additionally how can those people assume that a profit driven insurance megacorporations can handle medical care and have a person's health as their priority better then the government? There is a reason they are profit driven, its not to help us with our medical costs.

Comments

[lillyflowers.livejournal.com]

Profit driven companies never have your best interests at heart, and if you do wind up taken care of, it's by stroke of luck. I don't hate my insurance company, they've been pretty good over the years. But, for years now it goes up $400-500/year. This year, which starts w/the Sept. premium, saw no change in the cost. Think some company is a bit scared of single payer system? Me too.

[bakersgames.livejournal.com]

:)

[bardon.livejournal.com]

Because people can be incredibly stupid?

This is an observation not the granting of permission, btw. ;)

[bakersgames.livejournal.com]

I think you are correct dear sir :)

[olaflutherson.livejournal.com]

Tisk, tisk, tisk... you KNOW I'm ultra consrvative and don't trust them to do health care.

After serving for 20 years, the LAST place I want to be is in a VA or Military hospital. Just recently, an Army doc told me I had glocoma! (for the record, it was an improperly executed test) I've supposedly had RA too. Most vets will tell you that the government run medical service for the military is horriffic. You wait for hours to see docs (even with appointments), expensive treatments may be denied just for lack of money, someone higher ranking used up the funds on their cosmetic surgery, you may be denied service just because you or a family doesn't fit a present profile, etc

This is an example of how badly things will go. It is how our government does business and will keep doing it... VERY POORLY!

Government does things that aren't profitable. Their job is to spend money, not make it. They should be relegated to functions where profit is not possible. Like infrastructure, defense, regulation of business.

Personally, I'd rather see an insurance reform attempt rather than govt take-over of the medical system. I know from my relatives that mal-practice insurance can cost 60-70% of a doctor's income. So in my opinion, we are looking at the wrong element in this equation... don't put the government in control of the health care system, let them do something about the corrupt insurance industry that fuels the problem...

[bakersgames.livejournal.com]

See thats where we differ. Healthcare should never be profit driven. It should be treated the same as police, fire, etc.

The fact that the military has healthcare means that the soldier is 1000 times better off then the 50 million people who don't. Considering my wife almost died because we had no health coverage when I was in school is just one reason. All people should have access to a doctor, now I don't believe it should be treated like you describe above and it shouldn't be run that way, but I do have many friends in other countries who have way better health care and its socialized. The US is not the best place for medical treatment, its not even in the top 5.

Now, contrary to what the Republicans are saying, "Obama Care" is not government run health care. Rather its the government adding a public policy to compete. If the policy sucks no one will get it, if the policy is great, it will force insurance companies. In addition socialized medicine would benefit the rest of our businesses, they would be able to compete in the world stage way easier, much like the other socialized countries.

Now, I do agree with what you think the problem is. The corrupt insurance industry is obscene and it is where the problems lie (well that plus doctor's greed). I am not sure where your relatives work (or what speciality) but I can say that medical malpractice insurance is a bit expensive, but at least here in WA state its not even close t0 60-70% (it was closer to 10%). The reason I know that is I was the one that actually paid it for the medical clinic I managed. Then again it could be a speciality thing.

But I ramble (its late), I am willing to believe if the insurance industry could be fixed that our medical may work out. The problem is lobbyist will never let the industry be regulated like it needs. If I could be shown a way they could be regulated, everyone gets covered and they can do it cheaper I would be ok with that option.

Wow, I am sorry its late and this sort of rambles on, hehe I will try tomorrow to maybe make my case more clearly.

[lillyflowers.livejournal.com]

Perhaps quality of care within the VA system is partially dependent on which location it is. For the people I know, they access care in NH and MA and have generally positive experiences.

[bakersgames.livejournal.com]

I think this may be the case as I have heard good stories about some of the local hospitals.

[olaflutherson.livejournal.com]

After all my service, I continue to be very, very frightened of military doctors of any variety (except perhaps reserve component dentists). I have never had good experiences and will choose to take the hit to my pocket book over using a military run medical facility. In my experience, that is pretty much a universal concept... only the truly desperate or uninitiated use the Army docs. Everyone else wants real doctors.

[bakersgames.livejournal.com]

Oh, I have worked for real doctors and you wouldn't want to pay for them. I know an Army Surgeon online (he is in Iraq right now), he seems to be more knowledgeable then the crappy docs I worked for.

But then again, for the uninsured, a crappy doctor is better then no doctor.

[olaflutherson.livejournal.com]

I think one big difference here is that you can go to the local state teaching hospitals and cost is based on your ability to pay. You get some really good care, but most folks stay away if they have the option.

Wait times can exceed 24hours (and all that goes along with being in a waiting room that long), you may get someone with no actual experience since it's a teaching hospital, mistakes do happen a bit more frequently for the same reason, etc

It is a system I know that I would personally dislike having to use. I also know good and well that my employeer would ditch our carrier and send us to any federal program it could if there were ANY way it could figure out how to do it.

While I believe there are things that the government basically has to do, I really am happier with less governement overall. In that respect, I am pushing being a Libertarian. I just don't have faith that they can do it well and that is scarry. I've seen what they have done with engineering, the military, federal highways, and the thought that they might want to make the same mistakes with health care seems to be a very real possibility.

[mickeemao.livejournal.com]

Great post!
As for the VA, my father's used it all of his life and he's never had a complaint - meanwhile, I went to a private hospital for emergency treatment after a bike wreck and they misdiagnosed my arm injury. There are good and bad doctors everywhere you go.
Not that this makes any difference - the plan being proposed will not be a government run plan, as ibakeit4u mentioned before.