Universal health care question

6548 Views 307 Replies 42 Participants Last post by RichMac, Apr 3, 2008

Lintu

Discussion Starter · Mar 31, 2008

I agree that something needs to be done (desperately) to the health care system. The problem I have with universal health care is that if I understand it right, everyone's tax money devoted to the program would often go to treat preventable problems (things caused by smoking, sedentary lifestyle, etc). Is this true or false? How do you feel about it?

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refinnej10

· #4 · Mar 31, 2008

If they're self insured and report their smoking history honestly, yes they pay higher premiums. 
However, most people are insured through work and therefore all pay the same group rate.

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refinnej10

· #7 · Mar 31, 2008

I flip flop both ways on this issue. 
I think that in this day and age, health insurance / health care almost feels like a basic human right. 
I also don't have a problem with each individual being responsible for paying some portion of the costs. Wherein "some portion" is a highly loaded phrase. 
Yeah, health expenses that come as a result of "life choices" should possibly be funded more by the chooser (person) than by the group or gov't. But, what constitutes a "life choice"? Yeah smoking is bad. Smoking causes cancer. But, there's no way to know 100% that a person got cancer because they smoked. There is a possibility that they would have gotten cancer anyway - lung cancer does happen in people who have never smoked. And there's no way to tell. 
What about seemingly healthy activities like running? What happens when I need an MRI on my knee from a running injury? I choose to run knowing full well that there are risks associated with it. Should the group (whomever that may be) be responsible for paying for bills associated with my choice to run, which they may or may not agree with? 
On the very high level, it seems simple. But when you burrow down into the details, it gets quite unclear as to what the appropriate course of action should be. IMHO.

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refinnej10

· #12 · Mar 31, 2008

While I appreciate that obesity is an issue, I also take pause in saying that it's a driving factor in health care costs. Don't get me wrong, it is a factor, but it is just one of many. Malpractice insurance and lawsuits are also right there in the mix. 
And when push comes to shove, everyone is going to die and most people (the ones who don't drop dead right there) will incur big time medical bills in the process. If you're not going to die of heart disease (because you live a healthy life) then you're most likely going to die from cancer - not something cheap or easy to treat, or a car accident - not cheap to treat either. 
edited to add: I also share your frustration at being able to identify a problem but am completely unable to point at a solution.

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refinnej10

· #80 · Mar 31, 2008

$300 is what they would (be allowed to) charge an insurance company. 
You, not being an insurance company, pay $1400.

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refinnej10

· #86 · Mar 31, 2008

They absolutely do. Except they call it a "negotiated rate" for the insurance company (economics of scale, maybe?). 
Most of my medical forms will have the cost listed and then the "negotiated rate" (aka what insurance will pay). The negotiated rate is always a HUGE chunk lower than the actual listed price. 
This is one of those "things" that get people irritated. So the insurance-less actually get charged more for the same services.

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refinnej10

· #99 · Mar 31, 2008

Perhaps you just weren't thinking it through. 
If you paid for your insurance and starved as a result, would the insurance pay for the treatment (food) for your affliction (starvation)? 
Think outside of the box meri. Sheesh. <img alt="rolleyes.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/rolleyes.gif"> <img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif">

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refinnej10

· #123 · Mar 31, 2008

<img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif"> 
I <3 Jhi.

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