|
|
|
Carter Wrenn posted on August 13, 2009 11:26
We’ve got a whale of a health care war going on – and it’s a pleasure to watch the Congressmen and Senators getting bearded in their own Town Hall Meetings.
In Round One President Obama charged out of his corner and whipped everyone in sight; then, in Round Two, he unexpectedly got rocked back on his heels when the Insurance Industry started throwing haymakers; now he’s back in his corner getting toweled off for Round Three. This is classic no holds barred, eye gouging, elbow throwing American politics – which if nothing else is entertaining.
The President’s calling the Insurance Companies blackguards.
And the Insurance Companies are saying the President’s going to force socialized medicine down our throats which means government rationed medical care – then they add, And you all know what that means – it means you’ll be dead and buried before you see a doctor.
Now there’re some fundamental facts about health care that are pretty odd.
Starting with Insurance Companies puffing out their chests and boasting they’re champions of quality medical care. Fact is the bottom line about Insurance Companies and health care is pretty brutal. Insurance Companies have to make a profit, and they make the most money by insuring the people who need the least care. The facts are unforgiving: The less care an Insurance Company provides clients the more money it makes.
I had a doctor friend, an anesthesiologist, who believed a patient should always have an EKG before an operation – but the insurance companies always told him no for patients under 50. Now, statistically, it wasn’t likely a man under 50 had a secret heart condition – so in a way saying the EKG wasn’t necessary was logical. But, on the other hand, if the patient was an exception to the actuarial tables and had an unexpected heart attack on the operating table he could die on the spot.
That’s not a nice fact. But there it is.
Here’s another.
According to the newspaper one of the people at Congressman G.K. Butterfield’s Town Hall Meeting in Rocky Mount was Rev. Thomas Walker. Rev. Walker has had prostate cancer and his wife has a neurological disease. His health insurance cost $3,700 a month. $44,400 a year.
But if he worked for state government instead of a church he’d get health insurance (for him and his wife) for around $500 a month.
What kind of sense does that make?
If a man’s sick as a dog and works for the federal government he can get the best health insurance on earth for a reasonable price; but, if he’s 50 years old, healthy as a bull and works for a piney woods church he’s going to pay two or three time as much.
I’ve got another friend who’s an example. Max has a heart condition. For years he ran his own family business, then one day I saw him and he announced, Well, I’m working for the government now.
Why on earth would you want to do that?
For the health insurance.
Here’s a last example from a local hospital.
A middle-aged man – who didn’t have health insurance – went to the Emergency Room with chest pains. He got the full Monty: MRI. CAT-SCAN. EKG. The hospital gave him every care and treatment and it cost over $5,000. The diagnosis: He had gas – which is not unusual.
The ER doctors referred him to a gastroenterologist but, naturally, the gastroenterologist wasn’t anxious to see an uninsured patient who wasn’t likely to pay – so the doctor never did see the patient.
Over the next 6 months the same patient turned up in the ER room 8 more times. Same symptoms each time. Same treatment each time. Same cost. Same result: Gas. A total of nine trips to the ER for a cost of around $45,000.
Wouldn’t it make sense to figure a way to pay the gastroenterologist – say $5,000 to cure him – and save the other $35,000?
It’s hard not to conclude we’ve got a pretty odd health care system.
The Insurance Companies’ case against reform is pretty simple, and it’s a refrain on a pretty old song: No matter how bad it is now, if you change it, it will be worse. They may be right. President Obama’s plan may turn out to be worse. But, then again, how much sense does it make to go on butting our head against this wall?
So here’s our choice: We can go on like we are now – or we can take a shot at fixing it – risk and all.
Thursday, August 13, 2009 5:28 PM
I vote we go on like we are and screw the socialist.
Thursday, August 13, 2009 10:56 PM
Maybe he should try gas X!
Friday, August 14, 2009 7:16 AM
Carter - you finally got it! The system is broken and it needs to be fixed. It's costing us collectively way too much money for what we get and have to show for it in terms of overall health of our people. It's time to do for health care what we have largely done for police, fire and for the military - provide for the common defense and promote the general welfare. Every other industrialized nation on the planet has some form of universal health coverage, be it insurance-based or single-payer - and they spend less money per capita then we do. We could take all the money we would save by having a public option or single payer and fix our roads and infrastructure.
Friday, August 14, 2009 8:39 AM
You are absolutely right and absolutely brave to tell it like it is, especially when you will likely face the wrath of your ideological family. The health care system is out of wack, for sure, and I hope we can bring all sides to the argument so that a better way can be settled upon. We can't keep fighting for the whole loaf so that nobody gets anything. Charles Malone Raleigh
Friday, August 14, 2009 10:16 AM
Comments quoted from a North Carolina Physician on the 2009 Health Care Debate Carter’s comments here are “Good as far as it goes-[Carter] is doing the same as Obama-pulling out rare and probably not realistic examples and blaming the whole system, one way or the other, because of [those instances of problems with existing medical care]. [Essentially, his argument is like] trying to move the mountain because a rock or two out of place. The issue remains the [question of] management of the insurance companies, such as preexistent condition exclusions, and they haven't even begun to talk about experience rating vs. community rating. As a comparison; Kaiser [Permanente Health Care] had community rating (all paid the same), no pre existent condition exclusion and logical, organized and controlled patient flow, medication (not the latest designer drug) management and control of subspecialty referral and hospitalization. All the [garbage] they are throwing about [now] is old news to any who know our [health care] system (flaws and all). The biggest problem is that Obama is showing his ignorance [on this issue] and it is being seen...the pied piper of Hamlin is going over the cliff with the kids behind him..the naiveté and stupidity of the administration is blatant and they haven't even touched the real issues. Physician pay will be an issue and they will target it because the Physician group is small and has poor odds fighting back. Medicare as a government run [medical care] plan is quite good - but the re-imbursement is less than 40% of cost, so [the patient] can't [or] won't be seen...it goes on and on…. If the [uninformed on health care] President salvages some nominal changes in insurance regulation that will be great, [the] problem is [that] insurance is usually regulated by the states and [there’s where a huge problem exists], state's rights, [vs. federal stomping grounds] … sound familiar? I really do favor a single payer, and I think it could be done..but [it would be] tricky, complicated and would require tons of time. Seeing the president … promising “the world” in 200 days to these poor fools who believe him … is painful. He will [most likely] blow it, as the American people have an uncanny way of spotting the phony.”
Friday, August 14, 2009 7:28 PM
Carter, I said the same thing on Bill Lumaye's show yesterday. We are either going to do something or do nothing. I do not know if doing something will work, but I do know doing nothing is not sustainable. I hope it doesn't get your friends to upset with you, but I shared on my facebook page. Kudos for a well reasoned post.
Saturday, August 15, 2009 11:16 PM
Carter: You never say if you are endorsing the Democratic plan in Congress or just the idea of change itself. I think for those conservatives much younger than you who see you as some type of Reagan-era hero, a clear answer is warranted. Are you supporting the HR3200?
Saturday, August 15, 2009 11:19 PM
Carter: You never say if you are endorsing the Democratic plan in Congress or just the idea of change itself. I think for those conservatives much younger than you who see you as some type of Reagan-era hero, a clear answer is warranted. Are you supporting the HR3200?
Sunday, August 16, 2009 7:51 PM
Is there actually an actual bill to present? I mean, when I watch the "town hall meetings", I keep hearing the people leading them saying they aren't exactly sure what the actual bill will say to this or that issue. Why on earth would we discuss this without there being an actual bill presented to the congress? I'm confused. I'm NOT for a single payer system...especially with it being a government system. I mean, let's face it, the government hasn't directed many government systems in an equitable, frugile or sustainable way. Social Security is in trouble, Medicare is in trouble, VA medical has just all sorts of problems, Medicaid is rife with problems and is being totally abused...shall I go on? What in the world makes even the MOST liberal person in our country think that a government-led health care system will not make our taxes go up and will be managed well? This is just idiocy. The whole idea of this health care debacle is to get those that don't have medical care now...mostly (not all folks..don't get me wrong here) those that don't take responsibility for themselves and those that believe government should take care of them...those that are currently being taken care of by government...to have what hard working, responsible people have in this respect. I see myself in the future going to my dr. and having to put up with a waiting room full of FAMILIES that are waiting for one of their kids to be seen because they've got the sniffles. I know, I know, that sounds cruel and uncaring...but, I'm not alone in this. Go to an emergency room, y'all. Have a serious problem and see how soon you get to see someone behind the curtain even with triage. It's ridiculous and to give these people access to regular doctor's offices will bind up the system beyond anything we've ever seen before. The congresspeople and senators won't have to deal with it so they couldn't care less. It's an abomination.
Friday, July 09, 2010 3:21 AM
For centuries now Replica Coach,manhood and Replica D&G, Replica Dior,women are Replica Miu Miu, Hermes Purses,heuristic carrying Gucci Purses, Marc Jacobs Purses,around their native Replica Alexander Wang, Replica Balenciaga,belongings ascendancy bags Replica Bally, Replica Burberry, Replica Cartier,and purses undecided Replica Celine, Replica Chloe, Replica Fendi,on their shoulders occasion they Mont Blanc Purses, Mulberry Purses, Burberry Purses,whack to flurry Replica Givenchy, Replica Jimmy,or reconnoitre Replica Lancel, Replica Marc Jacobs,around. Replica Mulberry, Replica Replica Prada,However, Replica Thomas Wylde, Replica Valentino,undeniable is the women who consult bags over Replica Versace,a author trappings and irrespective of whether they nurture their idiosyncratic determinant or no Replica Yves Saint Laurent,prevalent women are seen sporting bags and purses both massive and insignificant for unimpaired occasions.
Friday, July 09, 2010 3:21 AM
For centuries now Replica Coach,manhood and Replica D&G, Replica Dior,women are Replica Miu Miu, Hermes Purses,heuristic carrying Gucci Purses, Marc Jacobs Purses,around their native Replica Alexander Wang, Replica Balenciaga,belongings ascendancy bags Replica Bally, Replica Burberry, Replica Cartier,and purses undecided Replica Celine, Replica Chloe, Replica Fendi,on their shoulders occasion they Mont Blanc Purses, Mulberry Purses, Burberry Purses,whack to flurry Replica Givenchy, Replica Jimmy,or reconnoitre Replica Lancel, Replica Marc Jacobs,around. Replica Mulberry, Replica Replica Prada,However, Replica Thomas Wylde, Replica Valentino,undeniable is the women who consult bags over Replica Versace,a author trappings and irrespective of whether they nurture their idiosyncratic determinant or no Replica Yves Saint Laurent,prevalent women are seen sporting bags and purses both massive and insignificant for unimpaired occasions.
|
|
|