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RE: WhoCare (I like that ;-)



From: lewinski@icanon.com (Joe Lewinski)
Subject: Re: Whocare

>It should really be a birthright to be healthy.

While I did offer up my own perspective with the statement above, I'll
concentrate my reply on trying to provide some facts to contemplate, rather
than continuing a debate on what the best system is or should be.

>I simply do not want to have to pay for someone who smokes for 25 years
>and then requires expensive treatement for an acute condition.

Don't look now, but you already are.  *That's* one of the problems.
I have friends here in VT (love 'em, but can't respect this philosophy) who
have decided not to get insurance for their families.  They figure, "if I
need something, I'll go to the ER and then it's paid for". "If the hospital
sets up a payment plan, I'll just pay $1.00 a month for the rest of my
life".  Many wouldn't even do *that*.
Who do you think is picking up *that* tab (and the billions like it)?

With the "dismantling" of welfare (find job in 2 years or you're gone)
people *are* indeed working more then before, and are now off welfare.  BUT,
these same people are now working for companies that can't afford, or do not
offer healthcare.
As a result, the number of un-insured continues to rise (there was a small
decline recorded for the first time in decades a few weeks ago, but this is
expected to again rise).
We currently stand at 44+ million non-elderly uninsured.
I've already written where that puts us in relation to the rest of the
world.

>Kevin:  I respect you as a friend and a fellow Who fan, so I will not
>call you Peewee or Smack or anything like that.
>Joe in PA.

:-)  Thanks Joe.  Wouldn't expect anything less from ya.

>From: "L. Bird" <pkeets@hotmail.com>
>Subject: Re: Whocare
>I refrained from a response to Kevin's post with great difficulty,

Yeah, :-) I know I'm treadin' close to that "non-who topic taboo" at the
moment.
I'll stop after this.

>Health insurance has subsidized outrageous cost increases 
>in health care, and led to lack of responsibility in controlling expensive 
>usages.  The free health care system that we do have is heavily used as an 
>opportunity for fraud.  Until these two problems are resolved, no one is 
>going to vote for an across the board free system.
>keets

Very wise words Keets.  If someone doesn't believe there is mass fraud
committed by MD's and other Healthcare providers, you need only look at
statistics from the DOJ's Healthcare regulatory affairs branch. I went to a
seminar on this topic about 6 months ago, and the numbers were staggering.
The number of MD's sitting in jail was pretty significant.
We hold MD's to a rightfully high place in society, but they are also humans
and subject to the same temptations as that woman who really wanted to bite
that apple.
Let alone the *fact* that MD's always can use, and actively are looking for,
education on how to deliver medicine in a more efficient manner. 

>From: Jeff House <jjthandmeh@juno.com>
>Subject: Re: Whocare
>
>Evidence that we are not ready to provide healthcare to all our children
and poor
>can be found in the liberal enclave of Massachusetts.
>Evem we failed to pass a ballot initiative that was supported by the
>Prince of Socialized Medicine - Ted Kennedy.
>Cynical Jeff in Massachusetts

Too bad.  Vermont actually *does* provide the option of free Healthcare to
all children under the age of 18.  98% have taken the offer (highest % of
covered children in US), with the other 2% simply having not signed up (you
can take a horse to water, and even put his head in it, but...).  Program is
called Dr. Dinosaur. :-)
I guess that's what you get with an MD as a Governor.  BTW, he was just
re-elected primarily for his stand on Healthcare.

Kevin in VT.