Philly gets it.

The worst mistake a Doctor can make is a deal with an Insurance Co. I never did. Unfortunately, there's only one way to do that: The Doctor bills the patient. The patient bills the Insurance Co. (the Doctor can help prepare the HCFA 1500's). Same for Hospital, etc.

Read the link in #50.

Karen, I therefore ask why does anyone want to oppose the ONLY way that we as a country and civilized society can drive the price of Health Insurance down is to offer a cheaper alternative.

The ER isn't a solution. An ER visit's cost is astronomical and offers no follow up care. Who ends up with the bill? Every person with insurance. Who loses? The patient.

I want only one thing: To help those who need help. That's why I work 40% of my time in Appalachia.

We all have to stop the yelling/screaming, etc. We have to have informed decisions. That means facts. What does one idea offer and not offer. No scare/prejudice tactics and no "We broke him". That won't solve the ballooning cost and the status quo is unsustainable. Those are the facts.

Emergency rooms do not treat mental issues nor sleep apnea. Not to mention seeing a dentist. And around here they do not apply you for Medicare. Only way to get Medicare is to get Social Security and that takes years in front of a Judge. I don't qualify anyhow.

So yes by fighting health care reform you are hurting people that need help. Remember that next time you see a single mother who is crying because her child is sick as an example.

And yes I support Obama.

I hear ya, Seth.  Health care was the major reason I voted for Obama.  I have seen too much first hand crazy stuff that happens to the "have nots" when it comes to health care...people cutting growths out of their own chest with their college biology scalpels, or enlisting in the military just for the health benefits, or how about the fact that my daughter waited until the cyst was the size of a large cantaloupe and was pressing against her liver causing excruciating pain before she let me drag her to the hospital?  Do you know how much aspirin, Tylenol and ibuprofen she ate dealing with the pain from that cyst as it grew to the size it did (which was not the best thing for her liver, but you do what you have to do when you don't have access to clinics because you aren't ensured or have a job).  If you don't have cash money or insurance, the clinics around here will flat out turn you away before you get to sign in and sit down.

When I hear the opposition saying things like "did you want to be on a waiting list like the people in Europe" I think to myself "well that beats NOT being on a waiting list, and not getting to see anyone, ever."  A waiting list at least holds out the hope a patient might get seen.

And THIS is what our present situation brings:  http://money.cnn.com/2009/08/18/news/economy/las_vegas_medical_mafia.fortune/index.htm

Fun little story.

Dr.Gonzo

Really requires no other comment.

Why don't you pay the hospital bill, then? That would help.

That sort of stuff isn't anywhere. No one wishes to impose anything on you.

Personally? I believe that Like auto insurance...if you have accidents, you pay more....if you smoke, eat poorly (only if you can afford healthy choice- another racket in America), don't exercise and generally abuse your health, then you should pay more in your premiums...that's only fair, after all.

As for paying Karen's daughter's bill...let me explain something: Every person who pays insurance is paying that bill. It's called cost shifting. You should research the four basic components of any hospital bill...which have nothing to do with the prices quoted, rather are built into them. One of the four has to do with the cost of paying the bills of the uninsured.

What I wrote, willi was that I would trat them for nothing, since I already participate in paying the bill...just like you (if you're insured).

The kicker is that Karen is going to have to pay the bill also....do you understand how broken and ridiculous the system is yet?

How about if I ask you how much the CEO's of Health Care Co.'s make? {Where does that come from?} LINK 

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/12/Health_care_equipment_services_Rank_1.html 

Bring on the clowns! Just what we all need: Diversion.

Let me see if I got this right .

Wizard starts a "OMG look at this" thread to spread some FUD. The FUD gets disproved within 9 replies , and now we have three pages of political FUD on this board most of which have nothing to do with the original topic?