Comments on: Insurance companies dumping sick people?

By: UK Guardian bringin’ the Fande « fandecande

UK Guardian bringin’ the Fande « fandecande — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:47:44 +0000

[...] continue to surge – while we in America are blighted with skyrocketing costs and the prospect of not receiving care when we need it. This is the core issue, and the Baucus bill hardly addresses it. A public option [...]

By: Photomaniacal » Blog Archive » A pyrrhic victory for healthcare reform | Sahil Kapur

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:01:08 +0000

By: Photomaniacal » Blog Archive » More healthcare for all | Sahil Kapur

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:57:53 +0000

[...] to pay. As a result, it's regularly refused to those who need it, often to those who have paid their premiums but can't afford additional out-of-pocket costs. This is standard operating procedure in the [...]

By: Sahil Kapur: Obama Must Unequivocally Champion the Public Option and Fight For It | Loans in

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 11:06:32 +0000

[...] companies can freely raise premiums without being forced to improve quality or efficiency. They can drop patients from coverage when it isn't profitable to cover them. They can from the outset exclude people who [...]

By: Sahil Kapur: Obama Must Unequivocally Champion the Public Option and Fight For It | DoisPontoZero

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 11:02:03 +0000

By: Sahil Kapur: Better Messaging Is The Key To Winning Health Care | DoisPontoZero

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:01:21 +0000

[...] insurance executives realized they can use their virtual monopoly power to make higher profits by refusing to provide care for sick customers even if they've fully paid their premiums. That's where much of the [...]

By: Photomaniacal » Blog Archive » John David Lewis is wrong on healthcare | Sahil Kapur

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:29:25 +0000

[...] freedom to charge patients exorbitant premiums and out-of-pocket costs while denying coverage to sick people and patients with pre-existing conditions. Peter Orszag, a lauded economist and White House budget [...]

By: Mike Braun

Mike Braun — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:13:17 +0000

Medicare and Medicaid are also have higher adminstration burden than private plans. It is almost twice as much than private insurers. If the Medicare and Medicaid system are run so well, why are they going bankrupt. Why is California is so much trouble?
Even if there is a Medicare for all system, who is to say that there would be no cst burden for people. Look at Mass, people with subsidies are paying more for the healthcare plan than they did before the public option. The evidence is there, you just have to look at not listen to the man who speaks with forked tongue.
Wake up people.

By: Mike Braun

Mike Braun — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:08:56 +0000

Why is it than in Canada, cancer patients have a shorters life span than in the US? The role of clinics in Canada is a good approach to see the doctor to get routine care. If you get sick, that is where the problems start. Just ask the celebrity that died on a ski slope in Canada. No payment for medical Ambulance and the limited use of MRI machines have plagued the canadian health system.

Medicare lower rates on a yearly basis for budget problems and puts a further burden on the private health market. We have seen and have documented facts that it is about 18% to 25% cost shifting. Private Insurance does not pay $32 per tylenol. Most healthcare facilities are billed from the carrier on a per diem in order to manage the cost. They do not billed per servicce.
What makes anyone think the goverment will cut costs. Remember the words from Obama, we will squeeze the efficiency out fo the system to save money. This means RATIONING.

By: Dave M

Dave M — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:51:05 +0000

As a proud Canadian, I am getting a bit sick of hearing your politicians continually refer to that "Canadian style" health care system, as if it is something to be distained. We pick our own doctors, we go to whichever hospital is convenient, we seniors only paid $2.00 for perscriptions and best of all we live longer than Americans with our lousey system. Why don't some political types come up here , actually talk to regular people and find out what we really think. Just because your system costs more doesn't mean it's better ,in fact that is why it is broken. Everything in the USA is all about the money and nothing else. Bigger isn't always better... Thank God you've finally elected a President who gets it , your last chance was with Clinton and you tried to destroy him; lets hope that some of your political elite have learned something and they won't repeat the same mistakes again.

By: M.Tucker

M.Tucker — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:57:31 +0000

Why does everyone in the U.S. think that we don't have government run health care. We do-- medicare and medicaid. I work in the health care field, medicare my seem like it doesn't work but it really does. The government has a set price for all goods and services, they will not pay a penny over what the set price is. Instead of paying $32.00 for 2 tylenol at the hospital er they pay maybe 50 cents. I'm not joking I was in the er for a hurt foot and didn't want lortab or any narcotic so I asked for tylenol, on my er bill was a section for medications and a charge for 32 dollars. We the people need to make a stand to stop price jumping of drugs. Bill clinton checked into this a few years back and found that the write up on medications was about 150% more than the price to make. How does our government let this happen!!!
When are they going to say enough is enough around here.

By: Hillary

Hillary — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:06:24 +0000

Wendell Potter is only speaking about PUBLICLY traded insurance companies. There are a number of health insurers that are not-for-profit and are not beholden to Wall Street. I suggest that someone look at how these companies are run. I happen to work for a fabulous not-for-profit health insurer that last year budgeted for a 1% underwriting gain. Can you imagine publicly traded insurance company settling for that? It would never happen.

By: Joseph, MD

Joseph, MD — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:40:34 +0000

At the end of the day, with a government run healthcare system there are a few facts that will remain. 1. hospitals will kick you out if you are sick and the bill cant be paid. 2. Americans will still think of being a doctor as a way to get a BMW or a Lexus. 3. The cost of practicing could skyrocket as doctors see more clients and open up the gates for malpractice suits.

By: Rose Gay

Rose Gay — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:37:07 +0000

COBRA sounds great. Yes you can buy the insurance for 18 months after you lose your job. However, if you have no job, your income is drastically reduced and you have to pay the entire cost (including the part the employer used to pay). COBRA costs like the devil at a time when you have no money. Don't expect COBRA to help most people in times like these. It is only good for people with a huge savings account to draw from.

By: Doug Gilbert

Doug Gilbert — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:33:36 +0000

Re: CNN's interview with Mr. Potter, the Health Insurance insider, who now thinks Obama Healthcare is a great deal. I suppose he will be an Obama Cabinet Member or an Ambassador soon?
How is it some folks think the Federal Healthcare offered by Obama, Kennedy,Pelosi, Reid and Franks would improve our healthcare? We have the FAA a Federal bureaucracy, a failure for decades, Social Secruity System which is in default, our Veteran's Administration (I'm a Vet) a failed system and the list goes on. If Congress really wanted to help their constituents they would provide legislation which would establish a "Cooperative (Co-op) Healthcare System" independent of Government. I've been to England and seen their Heathcare failure. I have many Canadian friends who come to the States for serious health problems. NO Obama healthcare!