Comments on: The Health Care Gamble http://backpackingdad.com/2009/08/the-health-care-gamble/ Backpacking Dad Fri, 30 Jul 2010 06:01:12 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: tela http://backpackingdad.com/2009/08/the-health-care-gamble/comment-page-1/#comment-19293 tela Sat, 29 Aug 2009 13:07:34 +0000 http://backpackingdad.com/2009/08/the-health-care-gamble/#comment-19293 Wordy McWorderson. I don't know the solution either, but the way it's set up now doesn't work. As I drove home the other day, I was pondering insurance in this same way. Except it was car insurance. I pay $70 some-odd dollars a month for car insurance that I HAVE to have in my state. I've never had an accident in 17 years of driving. I've only had one ticket, which I received in the last year (and I actually went to contest it b/c it was so lame, but surprise! I lost). As an American who is struggling to make ends meet, insurance is sticking in my craw lately. I've got a 6-year degree, I have a decent job, I live in a dinky house, and I drive a used car, yet I'm STILL struggling to make ends meet for me and my child. If I had those monthly insurance premiums back? Might not be so hard. Although reforming or getting rid of the insurance industry would probably prove to be pretty crippling to the American economy, which is already in a pretty fragile state. And I'm not for big government controlling health care. Am just not. I'm not for big government controlling anything. A commenter said something about the government being more concerned about diseases and such if they were paying for it. I would argue that exactly the opposite might happen. Someone more smarter than me has to figure this one out, and I hope they do, somewhat soon. Wordy McWorderson. I don’t know the solution either, but the way it’s set up now doesn’t work.

As I drove home the other day, I was pondering insurance in this same way. Except it was car insurance. I pay $70 some-odd dollars a month for car insurance that I HAVE to have in my state. I’ve never had an accident in 17 years of driving. I’ve only had one ticket, which I received in the last year (and I actually went to contest it b/c it was so lame, but surprise! I lost).

As an American who is struggling to make ends meet, insurance is sticking in my craw lately. I’ve got a 6-year degree, I have a decent job, I live in a dinky house, and I drive a used car, yet I’m STILL struggling to make ends meet for me and my child. If I had those monthly insurance premiums back? Might not be so hard. Although reforming or getting rid of the insurance industry would probably prove to be pretty crippling to the American economy, which is already in a pretty fragile state.

And I’m not for big government controlling health care. Am just not. I’m not for big government controlling anything. A commenter said something about the government being more concerned about diseases and such if they were paying for it. I would argue that exactly the opposite might happen.

Someone more smarter than me has to figure this one out, and I hope they do, somewhat soon.

]]> By: Stimey http://backpackingdad.com/2009/08/the-health-care-gamble/comment-page-1/#comment-19251 Stimey Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:28:30 +0000 http://backpackingdad.com/2009/08/the-health-care-gamble/#comment-19251 Succinct and right on. I'd never thought of it in casino terms before, but it's very apt. Succinct and right on.

I’d never thought of it in casino terms before, but it’s very apt.

]]> By: Zeekster http://backpackingdad.com/2009/08/the-health-care-gamble/comment-page-1/#comment-19219 Zeekster Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:47:24 +0000 http://backpackingdad.com/2009/08/the-health-care-gamble/#comment-19219 The betting against yourself analogy is spot on. So what is the alternative? Should healthcare just be reasonably priced? Should all health care just be paid for by the government without the need of insurance? Paid for by taxes? If the government had to pay for all the sick peopel in America I bet they'd put a little more money and effort into prevention of disease and education about health. Ah. Wouldn't more education be nice? Seems to solve almost any problem. Also, there are non-profit health insurers, but their numbers have been greatly reduced in recent years. The betting against yourself analogy is spot on. So what is the alternative? Should healthcare just be reasonably priced? Should all health care just be paid for by the government without the need of insurance? Paid for by taxes? If the government had to pay for all the sick peopel in America I bet they’d put a little more money and effort into prevention of disease and education about health. Ah. Wouldn’t more education be nice? Seems to solve almost any problem.

Also, there are non-profit health insurers, but their numbers have been greatly reduced in recent years.

]]> By: Digital Media and US Health Care Reform http://backpackingdad.com/2009/08/the-health-care-gamble/comment-page-1/#comment-19197 Digital Media and US Health Care Reform Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:37:20 +0000 http://backpackingdad.com/2009/08/the-health-care-gamble/#comment-19197 [...] are often about the latest adventures of his toddler – but he broke that up recently with piece on health care reform. Mr. Dooce, Jon Anderson, has been writing about it [...] [...] are often about the latest adventures of his toddler – but he broke that up recently with piece on health care reform. Mr. Dooce, Jon Anderson, has been writing about it [...]

]]> By: William http://backpackingdad.com/2009/08/the-health-care-gamble/comment-page-1/#comment-19196 William Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:43:34 +0000 http://backpackingdad.com/2009/08/the-health-care-gamble/#comment-19196 Insurance companies are there to make money. Just like Casinos. To make money. They are not bad or evil. Thye are a business. Healtcare REFORM needs to start with the Insurance companies to make sure they play fair and can still make money. Another problem is that employers tell their employess which casino they have to play in...most of the time people are stuck with their coverage. They do dnot have a choice. Insurance companies are there to make money. Just like Casinos. To make money. They are not bad or evil. Thye are a business. Healtcare REFORM needs to start with the Insurance companies to make sure they play fair and can still make money.

Another problem is that employers tell their employess which casino they have to play in…most of the time people are stuck with their coverage. They do dnot have a choice.

]]> By: Michelle http://backpackingdad.com/2009/08/the-health-care-gamble/comment-page-1/#comment-19165 Michelle Fri, 14 Aug 2009 23:46:26 +0000 http://backpackingdad.com/2009/08/the-health-care-gamble/#comment-19165 I don't understand how me wanting the choice to "gamble" affects you? Maybe we need to change how doctors are paid. At Mayo they are paid the same rate no matter what, while at other places they are paid for each text they run and how many patients they see. This fosters corruption and costs the patients more money. But the big problem in hospitals is Medicare. That's where all of the money is lost. So why do we want to put more healthcare in the governments hands? I don’t understand how me wanting the choice to “gamble” affects you?

Maybe we need to change how doctors are paid. At Mayo they are paid the same rate no matter what, while at other places they are paid for each text they run and how many patients they see. This fosters corruption and costs the patients more money.

But the big problem in hospitals is Medicare. That’s where all of the money is lost. So why do we want to put more healthcare in the governments hands?

]]> By: Kirsten http://backpackingdad.com/2009/08/the-health-care-gamble/comment-page-1/#comment-19157 Kirsten Fri, 14 Aug 2009 22:39:10 +0000 http://backpackingdad.com/2009/08/the-health-care-gamble/#comment-19157 I really like this analogy. I really like this analogy.

]]> By: Tibby http://backpackingdad.com/2009/08/the-health-care-gamble/comment-page-1/#comment-19150 Tibby Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:24:58 +0000 http://backpackingdad.com/2009/08/the-health-care-gamble/#comment-19150 I do want health care reform. However, this particular bill, as it stands, is much to ambiguous. Yes it does say you can keep your insurance. Yes it does set it up so your insurance provider has to quit covering you. See? Both sides are right, both sides are wrong. Americans lose either way. Yes we need reform. We don't need government take over. I do want health care reform. However, this particular bill, as it stands, is much to ambiguous. Yes it does say you can keep your insurance. Yes it does set it up so your insurance provider has to quit covering you. See? Both sides are right, both sides are wrong. Americans lose either way.
Yes we need reform. We don’t need government take over.

]]> By: Vegas710 http://backpackingdad.com/2009/08/the-health-care-gamble/comment-page-1/#comment-19145 Vegas710 Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:31:08 +0000 http://backpackingdad.com/2009/08/the-health-care-gamble/#comment-19145 Young and not having any children. We spent two years paying off each baby and that was WITH insurance. Young and not having any children. We spent two years paying off each baby and that was WITH insurance.

]]> By: Mum-me http://backpackingdad.com/2009/08/the-health-care-gamble/comment-page-1/#comment-19133 Mum-me Fri, 14 Aug 2009 08:58:39 +0000 http://backpackingdad.com/2009/08/the-health-care-gamble/#comment-19133 You're so right about the gamble. We choose to pay health insurance because we're scared into it by all the 'what if' scenarios. Here in Australia we have a national medicare system where you can be treated for $0.00, but if you have a private health fund you can get your treatment much quicker, although you will find yourself $$$$ out of pocket. You’re so right about the gamble. We choose to pay health insurance because we’re scared into it by all the ‘what if’ scenarios. Here in Australia we have a national medicare system where you can be treated for $0.00, but if you have a private health fund you can get your treatment much quicker, although you will find yourself $$$$ out of pocket.

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