Bill Moyers / Healthcare
 

This was posted on MS World and stopped by the moderator. Apparently it is not ok to talk about the political health care system. I think we should all be concerned about what is going on with our health care system. Especially those of us who depend on it.









*edited in by Chemar*

sorry but we do not permit copy/paste of posts from other forums if you are not original poster, which I gather you are not. This pertains to both other forums' copyright and our own guidelines

We do not object to pertinent health care discussion here with LIMITED political discussion. I am leaving Dejibo's reply post and the discussion can continue *provided* as she correctly states

Quote:

I hope we can keep this topic open by not pointing specific fingers at specific politicians, and simply talk about the facts. ONce you start naming names, or pointing fingers it becomes political, and I bet will be closed quickly

if someone would like to summarize what this first post contained that is fine, but please remember it may NOT be a copy/paste or quote from the MSworld one
thanks

I said it from the begining, when so many CEOs, drug companies, and insurance providers jumped onto the band wagon with such zest, and excitement, you KNEW something was up.

I hope we can keep this topic open by not pointing specific fingers at specific politicians, and simply talk about the facts. ONce you start naming names, or pointing fingers it becomes political, and I bet will be closed quickly.

Long ago, even though I have one of the best policies shy of being a member of congress, I noticed a pattern of being denied on certain claims, and had I been of another generation, I would have said "oh well, and paid out of pocket for it" since I am a pushy girl, I would call my insurer and say "why!?" and one clerk admitted that on certain proceedures, it was company policy to push out a rejection the first time out, and it would only be paid when the clients call personally to question their policy. As I was being wheeled in for a mastectomy, my surgery was held up for a half hour because my insurance company was denying my surgery. My surgeon had to leave the operating room, and get on the phone to re explain why this was needed. It was pre approved for days before hand, and now they said no?! it was fixed, and I received great care, but only after having some smart MDs interveine. Remember, I have a top shelf plan, and it covers everything from massages, to brain surgery, but you have to be smart enough to keep a copy of the plan, and fight for your proceedures if they are denied. They havent denied anything in a very long time. I think they have my file marked as a fighter.

The media in our country disgusts me. It slants stories to be of a particular view, and keep you slanted in one direction or the other. You rarely hear both sides, or a balanced view of what is really going on. ABC is owned by General Electric, and you can bet what puts money in GEs pocket, is what is reported on the news. If there is a negative story that could effect their bottom line, they do report it, but bury it in the other stories, or give only tidbits about it.

With all these plans that are lined up to go into effect, I just want to know, "what is the hurry!?!" They are rushing so many things through the house and the senate. Why?! Probably in 2010 the balance of the house/senate might change, but that doesnt excuse pushing through programs without reading them. Without reveiwing them, and without fair time to be able to research some of the claims in them. My employer has already locked out the big teir programs, and wont allow you to pick them anymore. I am already on them, and they cant kick me off, but they have made public statements that with the new plans that are coming, the plan is to move as many as possible to those plans, as it saves tons of money to move folks off the plans that are now full coverage, and full pay, over to the public plans and simply pay the copay to keep the employee on those programs.

As a patient with several chronic conditions, I am afraid of being bumped off my policy and locked into a much lower level policy that excludes bio genetic treatments (copaxone) or MRI (i have a glioma!) or locks me out of seeing the MS center more than once every 5 years.

I too am worried. :(

There is a transcript for this show, on the PBS website.

It contains the information about the insurance industry being discussed here.

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07...anscript4.html

That was an awesome PBS interview. Thanks mrsD.

I am in the 72% in favor of public healthcare reform. I believe it will drive down health care costs and provide health care for all Americans.

Health care has been studied since the presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Looking at it has gone on long enough. Canada's program began in the 1960's. USA tried to get it passed in the 1990's but it failed. Lobbying in the Congress by Phamaceuticals and Insurance kept it from success. Capitalism at its worst.

This is the time when healthcare can by passed by and up-and-down process. That is the urgency of why now.

It is part of the three pronged approach to help with the strategy of this administration: Healthcare/Economy stimulus/Environment. All go together at an enormous price.

Healthcare cost has increased and so many are either uninsured or as seen in NT, fighting insurance for medical procedures. I live in fear of being canceled, my DH's company switched from Blue Cross/Blue Shield to Cigna. (see the referenced article to understand my fear!).

I was on a plane a week ago. I sat in First class (long story). I sat next to a very friendly transplant surgeon from Mayo Clinic here in Phoenix. I asked him about his take on the future of healthcare. (I was careful to be non political, I wanted his view without my own bias.)

He is for reform.

He said the doctors have to change, the hospitals have to change and the people have to change. He wants to see it be easier for people to come in for everything, to keep the population from getting sick and have people taken care of when they are sick.

The money is nice. He did not become a doctor for the money. Most doctors I have met have said the same thing.

With the rising cost of my portion of healthcare and the cost of prescriptions and the potential for needing more medical needs, I think it is time for action, not waiting.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Toto..:hug:

Just for the record, Dej, NBC is owned by GE, not ABC...

My inlaws' neuro said that the pres' plan will not put a cap on malpractice judgements...but it expects drs. to quit orderring too many tests and procedures.
The neuro stated that the number of tests and procedures won't go down, because drs. have to protect themselves from litigation...
which, of course, adds to the costs all around.

Something has to be done on so many fronts concerning the health care system in the U.S. It is the most expensive system in all developed countries, and is NOT the best by any means...our longevity is below those of other major developed countries, and we are sicker as a nation than most developed nations.
Costs are continuing to increase well above the rate of inflation. Insurance premiums and deductibles are increasing yearly. And those who are laid off, or whose companies can no longer afford insuring their employees put many at risk for being wiped out by illness.

All I ask is the opportunity to get health insurance, to make it portable, and to cover preexisting conditions. there are many problems with this issue. It's breaking the back of our nation.

I definitely agree Dejibo, I do. :) ....but can we be fair and say "corporate media" is suspect? ;) I think public radio, public television, and several independent printed news resources still have integrity. Not all media is bad. When it does its job, it's a crucial part of our democracy (hence its protection by the Constitution)

And I admit, I'm biased because my peers are all GOOD media people. :) :) They talk about their frustrations - similar to yours in this instance - often.

Okay, back to healthcare.....

I don't think Obama is going to let this go down the drain, as in the past. I believe we will have a Health Care Bill, probably by the end of August. I just pray it's a good one and a fair one.

I think the house and senate are gonna find they dont have as many automatic votes as they had hoped for. the AMA and other crusaders are hoping for severe limits to be placed on lawsuits against the medical professionals are their consession to not stand in the way of this bill, but if all of their adgendas are not included, just like the Clinton era stuff, they will trash this.

I like to watch the BBC world news. I find it just tells me the news, without telling me how to feel about it. I love to watch out local newscast. They say "no one covers New HAmpshire like we do!" well, duh! there is only ONE station for news in the entire state. Of course no one covers it like you do.

This will be interesting to keep an eye on. I have a feeling its gonna be a circus before all is said and done. Lets keep our fingers crossed that we get something good out of this.

It will be another circus if the lazy legislators pass/reject the bill without reading it like they did with the stimulus bill.

gmi