Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - US life expactancy, health care, standard of living, etc

KMA-628 · 07-12-2004, 09:58 PM

Brianna,

As I mentioned before, my abilities do not really fall under the "fix" column, I fall more into the "analyst" category. I have the ability to interpret and analyze data. Ideas abound and may take this thread in a totally different direction.

-Most "non-citizens" do not pay much in taxes, if any. It may sound crude, but they are the ones making out in the deal. i.e. I pay a lot in taxes, but I use private insurance and I rarely use the "system" (police, fire, etc). In terms of a "share" I pay for more than I receive and the "non-citizens" receive much, much more than they pay for.

There is no way their taxes, if they pay any, will be increased, so if you want them to have "free" insurance, I (and all of the other taxpayers) will foot the bill. I am not willing to do that because of the reason I have gone over in detail (i.e. per capita spending on healthcare).

REMEMBER: What you are asking is for me to bring home even less of my pay. So, in effect, you are trying to take money from my family.

-I could lose my membership card over this, but.....

I would seriously consider a "universal healthplan" if the per capita cost were more in line with other countries that offer this type of service. If the per capita cost was less, my tax burden would be less and I would be happy.

However, I require:

1. The ability to have and pay for my own healthcare. I am a free-market/private sector individual. I will always believe that the private sector can do certain things (i.e. private goods vs. public goods) better, more efficiently and with better quality.

2. A "rebate" or a deduction to cover the amount I am spending on my own healthcare (very similar to a voucher program).

**Side note: Just so you know where I am coming from. In order to save my daughter's life, I authorized the use of "experimental" procedures on her. These experimental procedures saved her life and were not covered by insurance. There is no need to go into the amount, but it put me into serious, six-figure debt. Because I am not poor and did not qualify for gov't aid (i.e. medacaid) I have to foot the bill myself. I am still paying for this and will be for a long time. My daughter's life was worth it.

That being said....

This may not be the right answer, but I think healthcare needs to be competitive and 100% private. There is a natural effect in the marketplace when there is competition and no gov't interference.

1. Prices stay low and competitive

2. Quality usually goes up, not in every case, but usually.

Right now, healthcare is so heavily subsidized that there is no "natural" price control. Healthcare needs to be treated as a product.

Why? Because then the system has to answer to us (who are not lobbied nor are we in anybody's "pocket"). We don't like the plan, we go elsewhere. This forces the system into competition which brings price controls, etc into the picture.

Granted, this will never happen.

We also tend to forget that "healthcare" and "health insurance" is a relatively new phenomena (same goes with SS and medicare)

07-12-2004, 09:58 PM	#89 (permalink)
KMA-628 ....is off his meds...you were warned. Location: The Wild Wild West	Brianna, As I mentioned before, my abilities do not really fall under the "fix" column, I fall more into the "analyst" category. I have the ability to interpret and analyze data. Ideas abound and may take this thread in a totally different direction. -Most "non-citizens" do not pay much in taxes, if any. It may sound crude, but they are the ones making out in the deal. i.e. I pay a lot in taxes, but I use private insurance and I rarely use the "system" (police, fire, etc). In terms of a "share" I pay for more than I receive and the "non-citizens" receive much, much more than they pay for. There is no way their taxes, if they pay any, will be increased, so if you want them to have "free" insurance, I (and all of the other taxpayers) will foot the bill. I am not willing to do that because of the reason I have gone over in detail (i.e. per capita spending on healthcare). REMEMBER: What you are asking is for me to bring home even less of my pay. So, in effect, you are trying to take money from my family. -I could lose my membership card over this, but..... I would seriously consider a "universal healthplan" if the per capita cost were more in line with other countries that offer this type of service. If the per capita cost was less, my tax burden would be less and I would be happy. However, I require: 1. The ability to have and pay for my own healthcare. I am a free-market/private sector individual. I will always believe that the private sector can do certain things (i.e. private goods vs. public goods) better, more efficiently and with better quality. 2. A "rebate" or a deduction to cover the amount I am spending on my own healthcare (very similar to a voucher program). **Side note: Just so you know where I am coming from. In order to save my daughter's life, I authorized the use of "experimental" procedures on her. These experimental procedures saved her life and were not covered by insurance. There is no need to go into the amount, but it put me into serious, six-figure debt. Because I am not poor and did not qualify for gov't aid (i.e. medacaid) I have to foot the bill myself. I am still paying for this and will be for a long time. My daughter's life was worth it. That being said.... This may not be the right answer, but I think healthcare needs to be competitive and 100% private. There is a natural effect in the marketplace when there is competition and no gov't interference. 1. Prices stay low and competitive 2. Quality usually goes up, not in every case, but usually. Right now, healthcare is so heavily subsidized that there is no "natural" price control. Healthcare needs to be treated as a product. Why? Because then the system has to answer to us (who are not lobbied nor are we in anybody's "pocket"). We don't like the plan, we go elsewhere. This forces the system into competition which brings price controls, etc into the picture. Granted, this will never happen. We also tend to forget that "healthcare" and "health insurance" is a relatively new phenomena (same goes with SS and medicare) __________________ Before you criticize someone, you need to walk a mile in their shoes. That way, if they get angry at you.......you're a mile away.......and they're barefoot.