The Left Doesn't Understand Health Care

somarco

GA Medicare Expert
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Atlanta
In one case, an insurer prevented a woman from getting a CT scan her doctor ordered. In another, a mother couldn’t afford the full regimen of special bags needed to clear her cancer-stricken daughter’s lungs. In a third case, a woman lost her health insurance and could not afford end-of-life chemotherapy.

These examples come from National Nurses United, the country’s largest nurses’ union. To prevent further incidents like these, the union favors a universal, government-run health care system. A lead editorial in the New York Times last week appeared to endorse their thinking.

Here is what these folks are missing.

The events described and many more like them happen every day. In every country. All over the world. And more than 90 percent of the time, the insurer is the government.



Why The Left Doesn't Understand Health Care
 
In one case, an insurer prevented a woman from getting a CT scan her doctor ordered. In another, a mother couldn’t afford the full regimen of special bags needed to clear her cancer-stricken daughter’s lungs. In a third case, a woman lost her health insurance and could not afford end-of-life chemotherapy.

These examples come from National Nurses United, the country’s largest nurses’ union. To prevent further incidents like these, the union favors a universal, government-run health care system. A lead editorial in the New York Times last week appeared to endorse their thinking.

Here is what these folks are missing.

The events described and many more like them happen every day. In every country. All over the world. And more than 90 percent of the time, the insurer is the government.



Why The Left Doesn't Understand Health Care
So, what is new? The left doesn't understand anything..
 
In one case, an insurer prevented a woman from getting a CT scan her doctor ordered. In another, a mother couldn’t afford the full regimen of special bags needed to clear her cancer-stricken daughter’s lungs. In a third case, a woman lost her health insurance and could not afford end-of-life chemotherapy.

These examples come from National Nurses United, the country’s largest nurses’ union. To prevent further incidents like these, the union favors a universal, government-run health care system. A lead editorial in the New York Times last week appeared to endorse their thinking.

Here is what these folks are missing.

The events described and many more like them happen every day. In every country. All over the world. And more than 90 percent of the time, the insurer is the government.



Why The Left Doesn't Understand Health Care

Clearly you must be mistaken... this is the group of understanding well meaning folks. ;)...very well educated as well... many beyond their capacity learn.:twitchy:
 
The author of this article is one of the leading experts on healthcare economics in the world, but if I'm not appealing to authority I wonder how he'd respond to the current existence of universal coverage in the US, implemented in the least efficient manner possible. Think about it: a homeless person's illness becomes too severe, they land in the ER (who cannot legally turn them away). Who pays for this? The American taxpayer.

The government already takes care of the healthcare of about a third of our population. They are the poorest, and often times the sickest. Usually, the poorest among us are too poor to seek preventative care and end up in the hospital when the situation has gotten so bad, getting to the hospital is life or death. That treatment is going to be way more expensive than preventative care. If the taxpayers are footing the bill anyway, wouldn't it be cheaper if we paid for preventative measures in the first place?

The free market is great and all, but to really work, one has to have the ability to opt out. People can't opt out of healthcare if they are sick and/or dying. Because of this, healthcare costs are inflated beyond what the bottom third of Americans can be expected to pay for.
 
The government already takes care of the healthcare of about a third of our population.

You must be on the Left . . .

The govt does NOT take care of health CARE except within the confines of the VA system.

The govt (more precisely, the taxpayer) FUNDS the payment system that reimburses private providers for their services.

homeless person's illness becomes too severe, they land in the ER (who cannot legally turn them away). Who pays for this? The American taxpayer.

You are referring to EMTALA which dates back to 1986 as part of the COBRA bill passed in 1985

Not picking nits, but one does not have to be homeless.

And yes, the ER can INDEED refuse treatment in some situations. EMTALA merely requires that the patient be STABILIZED, not given all inclusive treatment.

Hospitals are increasingly facing demands for uncompensated care. It didn't help when Obamacare CUT funding to DSH hospitals.

It is not necessarily taxpayers that fund EMTALA care but rather it is those who pay their bills.

too poor to seek preventative care

There are a number of free clinics in most areas, urban and rural. Preventive care is not expensive. Many walk-in clinics provide in and out care for less than $50.

And for the truly poor there is still Medicaid.

FWIW rural and urban hospitals lose money on Medicaid patients. This has led to hospital closures in rural areas plus closed maternity and ER services even in urban areas.
 
The free market is great and all, but to really work, one has to have the ability to opt out. People can't opt out of healthcare if they are sick and/or dying. Because of this, healthcare costs are inflated beyond what the bottom third of Americans can be expected to pay for.

You must believe people in other countries have unfettered access to unlimited health care.

Heads up.

They don't.
 
I sure hope they make the dirty-filthy rich people pay for it. I hate those guys and it's about time they pay "their fair share."

And free college would be nice too. I never got to go because those people wanted money.
 
Just make a butt naked law. You come in this world butt naked and you leave butt naked. Build up all the cash and assets you like but at death it all goes back to the people except say the first 5 million. Anything after 5 goes to the coffers. Spend it or lose it.
 
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