Drew1369

YouTube - Uninsured In America

yustr

Yeah so? Even if I accept Mr. Browning's premise (which I don't) what is his plan to insure the 9 million who "fall through the cracks"? None given.

The young and healthy don't bother to buy insurance? These are exactly the people that any system - yes any, government or private - needs to have paying into it. Remember the whole point of insurance is for the many healthy ones to pay for the few sick ones.

I lost my job in 2007. My single biggest worry was not if I could pay the mortgage. It was not if I could put food on the table. It was not if I could buy gas to get to an interview. It was not if I could buy oil to heat the house. None of these was going to wipe me out. No. My single biggest worry was; am I going to lose my house and what little I've put away for retirement because my wife felt a lump in her breast? Am I going to get that exam that might identify the colon cancer early enough to save my life? What if my kid breaks her leg? Will she get the months of PT she needs to play soccer again? (BTW: she did this past March and the cost to date is over $15,000.)

Why didn't Mr. Browning mention how much care $125 million would have bought. Why $125M? That's how much the CEO of United Health Care made in 2005. LINK

Are there many sides to this issue? Sure. Does this contribute to the discussion? IMHO - not much.

40sondacurb

Glad you brought this discussion back to the floor. Like yustr said my fear is that time between jobs or school where I will be uninsured. If anything happens in that space of time the my insurance won't cover it when I try and join again.

The government has safety nets for these situation, such as a one time catastrophic health crisis write off, but these are no good either because they and the governments subsidizing of hospitals for their treating of those who don't pay is costing us millions on its own.

I haven't seen the plan for UHC yet though so I can't really give it the thumbs up or down.

Drew1369

There are already social programs that states and the fed provides... When I was on unemployment I was offered healthcare thru the state. I didn't use it because I have insurance thru the VA.

Do you think the government creating a socialized healthcare system wont cost us billions more?

Chode

Lately, I haven't spent much time on any political forums because the majority of them resemble a circle jerk with about 6 guys standing around squirting out commentary that's almost uniformly devoid of critical thought and reasoned argument.

This thread is a perfect example. Browning's video starts out with the dramatic presentation of Faye Chao who makes $2300 a month (tax free by the way she says) and she doesn't have health insurance. Her rent is $475 and her utilities bring her basic expenses to $530 a month. Faye doesn't think she needs health insurance and questions why she should have to pay for healthcare anyway. Browning says she can get insurance for $96 a month.

Right out of the gate, there are a few points that should raise an eyebrow or two.
1. Just how does Faye make $2300 a month tax free?
2. Where does Faye live that she can get by with only $475 a month rent?
3. Faye could get health coverage for $96 a month
4. How does Faye's situation relate to the needs of other Americans.

As to question 1., Browning's web site doesn't offer any documentation. We just have to believe that Faye Chao makes a tax-exempt $2300 every month because Browning says so. Without evidence.

As far as Faye's rent goes, I'm thinking its pretty hard to find any kind of digs for $475 a month anywhere. Presumably, the interview wasn't filmed in Faye's apartment, because it doesn't look like a porta-potty.

Browning maintains that Faye can get health coverage from an unrevealed company, with an unrevealed level of coverage in a unrevealed state for $96. Well, that's pretty hard to argue with, since we are essentially given ZERO information to dispute.

And that brings us around to point number 4. Even if we take all of Browning's interview with Faye Chao as "real" and not just a cheap, transparent attempt to manipulate the emotions of the viewer, how is Faye's refusal to purchase insurance relevant to the issue of American's who don't have health insurance and can't qualify for programs like Medicare and Medicaid? How about "not at all".

See, many American's don't have health insurance through work, and make too much money to qualify for Medicaid, and still find it hard to pay for private insurance. Browning makes several assertions about the demographics of the uninsured, for which he presents no evidence, and some of the most dubious points would have to be his assertions about upper income groups who are uninsured. Is it just me, or do you wonder how anyone making $75 grand a year or better has no health insurance whatsoever? Again, as in all of Browning's assertions, he has no references to back his statements.

Anyway, Browning assures us that anyone who really needs treatment can just go to the Emergency Room. As though Emergency Room visits for minor ailments don't cost taxpayers a fortune. And Emergency Room visits aren't going to cover long term problems like cancer and diabetes.

And finally, drew, you make one of the most offensive and self serving remarks I ever read on this forum when you say that "There are already social programs that states and the fed provides... When I was on unemployment I was offered healthcare thru the state. I didn't use it because I have insurance thru the VA."

Hey, when you were broke and out of a job, you qualified for Medicaid (a Federally funded program) but you didn't need it because you were covered by the VA (yet another Federally funded program). So, who needs Federal health coverage, right?

Drew1369

I have health coverage thru the VA because of injuries sustained while on active duty.

What I was getting at is that states have health programs for those that TRULY cannot afford health insurance.

Self Serving statement... absolutely.

yustr

Except if you have assets you have to deplete all of them first. When I was unemployed my only choice was to continue in my former employee's plan - through COBRA - at a vast sum. The state didn't have anything to offer me because I had a house and a bank account. When those were gone - sure they have a program. I didn't think that that was best for my family.

Chode

Actually, drew, your VA benefits aren't due to anything you have a basic right to receive. Legislation had to be passed to give you those benefits, and they are paid for in taxpayer dollars. In an absolute sense, there is nothing that entitles you to Federally-paid healthcare anymore than some crack Mom down on the corner selling her tail.

Lots of other societies, even fairly recently, have been content to send their veterans off with a a wave and a smile. You've really got to get over your notions of entitlement.

Drew1369

Its different from state to state, I have assets and Washington still offered me free healthcare for the time I was on unemployment.

Drew1369

Thats where you have it wrong Chode I have no notions of entitlement... guess what I would do if they didn't offer me VA health benefits?

Give up? Buy my own thru an insurance policy. And when I was on unemployment I probably would have accepted WA health plan.

Saying I have notions of entitlement... LOL thats to funny.