[the ikara cult]

Ive not seen much on here about the Healthcare debate which has been the big political issue in the US for quite a whle now, and it seems like its going to pass tonight

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/0..._n_507490.html

I know what alot of you think about gun rights, Iraq etc. Where are you on this? Or do you not give a flying ashtray either way?

[Toilet & Bowels]

put a poll for americans to vote in

[the ikara cult]

Its not an issue that reflects a yes/no poll from what ive been following. Besides the Americans on here havent expressed what they think of it at all so id rather hear what they have to say individually rather than a poll... If they can be arsed to reply.

[floatingslowly]

don't let the word "reform" fool you.

it's the same old shit repackaged economy sized for lesser value.

Big Insurance predicts a 40% "cost increase" (ie: premium increase).

there is no public option. where do you think the money will go?

[artsygrrl]

Yeah, absolutely. What a shitstorm.

[static-harmony]

Eh they are voting for it now.

[ilduclo]

Anything Mitch the Bitch and John Boner are against is a good thing

[pbradley]

Passed 219 to 212.

[the ikara cult]

watching the media coverage of the healthcare debate, im led to believe that this ruling is certain to lead to a Trotskyist state of some kind. How can I support my far left comrades now that they are in power?

[pbradley]

Of course nobody believed the puerile sack of shit when he said it but the idea of Rush Limbaugh leaving the country is heartening.

[the ikara cult]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8579322.stm

Welcome to Stalinism, America!

[the ikara cult]

Originally Posted by pbradley

Of course nobody believed the puerile sack of shit when he said it but the idea of Rush Limbaugh leaving the country is heartening.

he said he was going to Costa Rica didnt he?

[pbradley]

Yeah, poor Costa Ricans.

[knox]

I don't understand exactly how this is going now. Mostly because I've been too sick in the past listening to certain americans go on about how health care not being a fundamental human right, and not wanting their taxes used to save "illegal aliens" lives. Of course it's not all of them, and I feel sorry for any person that has to live listening to bullshit like that being said with real conviction everyday.

[phoenix]

I have no idea but I've heard yr healthcare sucks. One of my friends who is allergic to this country constantly moves from one place to another. She lived in the US for a year or two and said she visited the doctor once and never again because it was just too 'spensive. god bless my medicare.

[phoenix]

My *private* health insurance premiums have gone up 100% in four years.. though that is only for hospital cover. I can still go and see a GP for free or close to it if I need to.

[SONIC GAIL]

I do not have insurance right now because it is cheaper for me to pay the doctor outright for services and just buy generic prescriptions. WE have insurance at work, but if I purchased it for my entire family it wouls cost me nearly 2 weeks pay, plus the deductables you have to meet. So why would I pay for nothing? When you see a doctor here they charge "self pay" patients half of what they charge a person ho does have insurance. It works out in my benefit, but seems to be a little scammish. I can take my kids to the clinic 15 minutes from my house for $25.00. They can get free anti biotics at publix and at walmart they have a huge list of generic medications that are $4.00. I am lucky to have a small amount health issues to deal with otherwise I would have to fork out cash to insurance companies.

I hope the bill works out well. I am glad they finally decided on SOMETHING. It may not live up to all it's hype, but I believe it is a step in the right direction. If the government is resposible for our education, than I don't see why it should not take any resposibility for the health of it's citizens. We do have medicaid, but you have to be pregnant or literally sit on your ass with no type of income to be elligible.

In fact, when I became pregnant with my son, I had literally dropped my insurance 2 months before because i could no longer afford it. We had no plans to get pregnant and were taking the proper precautions and lo and behold I was pregnant. So I made an appointment with the OB, but they would not see me until I had $4000 to give them, which I did not have at that time of my life. With my husband's income we made to much to recieve medicaid. I had no other choice but to only state my income and not mt husband's so I could be elligible. I did not get to see a doctor until I was nearlt 4 months pregnant ( I spent the first 3 trying to come up with $4000 plus the other $12,000 minimum I would owe the doctor alone). The first question I get asked by the doctor when I finally get in is "Why did you wait so long to get prenatal care?" I have to say Medicaid has wonderfull care. My hospital room was like a hotel, and they automatically covered my child for the first year and myself for 3 months afterward.

If pursued and run correctly I think a government based health system would work well. Being a doctor is supposed to be about helping people not profits.

[!@#$%!]

Originally Posted by floatingslowly

don't let the word "reform" fool you.

it's the same old shit repackaged economy sized for lesser value.

Big Insurance predicts a 40% "cost increase" (ie: premium increase).

there is no public option. where do you think the money will go?

may not make a difference to you who works for a hospital and probably have coverage out the yinyang. but for me (i'm self-employed) the difference is fucking HUGE.

the options i had available to me before were worthless--now they aren't.

i just gave money to the DNC. this bill may not be all that it could be but it's a lot better than what we had, which was utter and complete shit unless you worked for corporate america and never got sick.

public option would be great if you didn't have a bunch of yahoos screaming "socialism"-- a public option would have de facto killed the bill-- so we get what we can which is better than nothing. that's life in a republic-- the little red-state yahoos in the senate have way too much power.

--
gail: the reason self-pay is cheaper is cuz they don't have to deal with an army of bureucrats to get paid, which requires extra staff just do deal w/ insurance claims. dr. gets the money the day you pay, in full, minus maybe a % for CC company, rather than 6 months from now after lots of back & forth.

my old shrink was able to give me very affordable rates when he dropped dealing with insurance, and paperwork, and all that crap. plus, the insurance no longer had the rights to the records that proved i was mad.

[floatingslowly]

I do not work for a hospital. thanks.

[!@#$%!]

Originally Posted by floatingslowly

I do not work for a hospital. thanks.

really? i thought you worked around scary nurses (you said) as the billing king (or so girlgun said). I BLAME GIRLGUN.

no, i don't blame her, actually-- i may have jumped to conclusions-- but you have some sort of health-care related corporate gig, yes? ARE YOU THE ACCOUNTING MAINFRAME?