I'm sure I wouldn't be the first to admit to be muy confused about this whole Obama healthcare initiative. I haven't said much about the controversy for two reasons:
1. As stated above, I don't completely understand what all the intricacies and implications of the plan are. I'm also not completely sure what the politicians mean when they talk about:
- public option
- private insurance
- single payer system
2. I figure it's a win-win situation for me, whatever healthcare policy they adopt, since presently, I DO NOT HAVE healthcare coverage. I'm bound to get SOME KIND of help from the deal. At least, that's what I'm hoping.
8 comments:
Don't feel so comfortable. I don't know if you ever had to pay for COBRA coverage after being "let go" or have attempted to purchase health insurance on your own as a business or individual. If what appears to be coming down the tracks does come down, you may find yourself paying a hefty chuck o' change for that health insurance.
Single payer is the right way to do this. I'd happily pay more taxes for a guaranteed minimal level of healthcare anytime anywhere, that is less than my paycheck deduction for healthcare over what we have now. And I'd gladly chip in to cover people whom may have lifestyles I don't particularly care for if that's the cost of getting Single Payer.
I've never signed up for that COBRA coverage because it was ALWAYS too expensive. If the Single Payer system is the way to go and will give me some kind of coverage for a nominal cost, I'm ALL for it.
But that's just it. I don't really know what "Single Payer" means? What's a good resource to get a good explanation about what all this means?
Thanks bruh!
Alicia
The folks at blackcommentator.com have been running a series on single payer since last year. It's multi-part so you'll want to go there and look.
Generally the single payer is the Fed, like medicare. You have an ID card. You show up, you get care and the bill is covered from the single payer. You of course pay taxes for this but since everyone pays in (all 300 million of us) the costs are spread out and therefore is cheaper than ANYTHING an insurance company can offer.
Is it perfect? No. I'd rather be covered by an imperfect system than see people die for no other reason than they couldn't afford a hospital visit or stay.
Hope this helps.
Sondjata,
Thanks for the all the info. I'm going to check out that series at Black Commentator TODAY!
Yes man, sounds like the single payer plan in the way to go! I'm ALL for it and agree with you whe you say, "I'd rather be covered by an imperfect system than see people die for no other reason than they couldn't afford a hospital visit or stay."
It's a SIN to let people suffer and die just because they don't have the money to see a doctor or pay for a stay in the hospital.
I want to thank you for puting the HEALTHCARE: WIN-WIN on your Blog and I pray that everyone reads the comments that you and Sondjata wrote. You know it makes me feel very strange to hear so called Intellegent Christian Human beings say that they are against HEALTH CARE REFORM. But they was not taught to put their selves in others posistion. MaDear
MaDear,
You are so welcome!
I feel the way you do about the Christians and others, who claim to care about other human beings, but oppose Healthcare reform which would make it more possible for everyone to be covered by healthcare, which means "cared for" medically, which means "given the same opportunity for a long life as others."
Love,
Alicia
Alicia,
A book by T.R. Reid, called The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care does a pretty good job of comparing our healthcare system to others around the world. He highlights what other systems in Taiwan, Switzerland, th UK, etc. do and what might be beneficial for us to adopt. He also did a PBS Frontline special on it called Sick Around the World. I highly recommend both.
PTR,
Thanks for those sources man! I will definitelylook into it. I am really concerned about the healthcare situation and don't understand why so many people don't get that our present system just isn't working for us all. We ALL NEED healthcare coverage. Some of us are dying on the streets or bleeding on the side of the road!
Peace,
alicia
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