General Music Chat

Proper taxes, proper administration, people who care for folks who are ill, no advertising, no pushing of drugs re: "Ask your Doc about?" Etc, Etc.....

If there is one thing that really narks me about this land its just this. There is NO NEED for any of it. Britain/Canada prove that by a long way, other places too.

It's almost as though they WANT you to be ill here whilst rubbing hands while waiting to receive that gorgeous cash sum from insurance agencies. I was told that the USA has the best Doctors/Health care in the world when I came here. Now that Ladies and Gents is 100% Carbide Crap.

Wow...

All this discussion makes me kinda glad I live in Canada...

Good luck with this folks,

heyoka

Me too ....

I never think about going to the doctor or how I'm going to pay for it .... I just go .. it's free. There are no long waits ... maybe 2 days tops.

yeah, my doc's office in the original post told me over two weeks to see someone. I get that too with my daughters doctors

YEAH Obama, I think this all just means we won't have to work anymore. If we do it will just go to the gvt anyway. No more need to put in 12 hour days, or try to succede,we can all just sit around and jam.
sh*t I think I just hurt my finger typing,I hope they get this over fast ,cause this could be expensive,to the doctors and the insurance companies.I got a good lawyer and we may have to go after the keyboard company [DELL] also, they got money right?
Just kidding for every one who doesn't have a sense of humor.
Gotta get to work ,so my govt can confiscate more of my personal property ,derived from hard work.
By the way it is O.K . to be a racist in this country , as long as you are not a white ,God loving person,and you pay up and shut up.
Rats right,and Ive written this before,musicians tend to be very bright people,maybe thats why this stuff keeps coming up,and it has to do with music because quality of life allows us the freedom to jam. JEFF if you have any Ideas about a better place to start a major political debate, let me know, I am not afraid of my govt. The worst they can do is ruin our will to succede...Death is really easy compared to that.

Hey Chippy, what I am hearing about the medical care in Britain/Canada. This is more of a question than statement as I have never been to either country. Mostly the far right here wanting me to believe that in those countries it takes a long time for treatment if you are elderly and find you have say for example cancer and it is currently treatable you wait for so long and when they finally treat you only to find that the cancer has spread and is no longer treatable. Also there is a shortage of Doctors in these countries because they can no longer make millions like they can here. please explain in an honest, unbiased way thanks.

I don't think the waiting is a problem in most cases. At least I've never heard of anyone waiting and waiting for something really serious. Something that can be put off while more urgent things are taken care of yes without a doubt, but nothing life threatening is left for long.

As regards shortages over there. I don't think I can comment on that other than we have a multitude of pre-trained immigrants pouring into Britain in healthcare. I'm sure money is a lure as it is with all things but I will say that I trust that service more than one that asks for a credit card when you are in pain.

The NHS as it is called (National Health Service). Is comparatively young in terms of Britain as a nation. One can only guess if it will last for decades but I suspect now that it is there, anything other, something like the US system would probably cause rioting in the streets. I do remember calls for it being privatised some years ago. That was quashed and I think an election lost on it?

Hey Chippy, what I am hearing about the medical care in Britain/Canada. This is more of a question than statement as I have never been to either country. Mostly the far right here wanting me to believe that in those countries it takes a long time for treatment if you are elderly and find you have say for example cancer and it is currently treatable you wait for so long and when they finally treat you only to find that the cancer has spread and is no longer treatable. Also there is a shortage of Doctors in these countries because they can no longer make millions like they can here. please explain in an honest, unbiased way thanks.

It's FREE, really?
WOW, how does that work?

We pay $150 a month period, for our family ...
Free in the sence that we have no co-pay when we go to the Hospital or Doctor.

$150.00 a month. Man thats not bad.
I wonder does that include all the tax moneys and lost revenue for businesses in Canada.
I know it sounds like I am being a smart ass. But really I am just trying to get a grip on how it's being done.
I get a lot of input from Canadians who come here to work as nurses and who come here for healthcare they say they cant get at home.
They all tell me that the Canadian system is really F'd up.
Apparently you would disagree?

They all tell me that the Canadian system is really F'd up. Apparently you would disagree?

I know I do!

Universal health care is implemented in all but one of the wealthy, industrialized countries, with the exception being the United States.[1] It is also provided in many developing countries and is the trend worldwide.....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_health_care

You guys are so controlled by the drugs companies, it's unreal. There was a time when ppl didn't have much of a choice but to believe the politicians on TV and Radio. Now, with the internet, I hope Americans will take the time to get more educated on the matter and realize how much they are getting f'd. There are 47 millions uninsured Americans, because they can't afford it....we are 32 millions in Canada and we are ALL insured.

Another thing to consider, Canada is all about Public Services, as the US is mainly about Private Services. Ppl don't want to pay more taxes, but they expect all the services to be available to them, at low cost. It just doesn't work that way, mainly if you let the private sectors taking care of the services.

I think the US needs to let go of the Private mentality and start thinking more about the Public and the well being of its citizens. Making lots money is cool, but it's not the only thing that matters!

Brilliant post Dave.
I've no idea about figures at all because I am not privy. What I do know is that I pay a Doc, hear crap on TV each day about an illness I might have, something I should be wary of, have to hear the multitudes of why I should not take, etc.............

I personaly dont expect or want anything from my government but to be left the hell alone.
You guys who purport the Universal Healthcare make some sound arguments.
But from what I have read, especially in the UK, cost control measures are limiting both procedure and drug availability.
Basicly some beaurocrat decides how much your life is worth.
I have personaly provided care for Canadians whom had Total Knee Arthoplast, so that they could walk, done here in Texas, because they were refused care because of their age.
Of course I can only take their and their familys word for this as I have no way to prove or disprove it as fact.

Well, I guess there's no perfect system. But, I definitively prefer a government who truly cares about the well being of its citizens, then one who doesn't!

47 millions ppl who can't afford the minimum heath coverage, is unacceptable to me; mainly coming from one of the Super Powers of the word!

What do you guys think about a hybrid system? If you have private insurance, great! Keep it and keep the coverage/benefits that you have. If you don't have health coverage, can't afford it, or your employer doesn't offer it, plug into a gov public insurance.

Pres Obama has offered a varied version of this with the offer of government-group based private insurance (the same insurance that government officials can opt to get through the US government employer group) to individuals and families who cannot afford health coverage. This would be a fantastic solution! The federal government employee group base is so big, their premiums are comparitively lower than other employers. More people in the group = bigger discounts on premiums.

Ron Williams, CEO of Aetna, has been saying lately that the first thing we need to do is get every American in the health insurance system. I absolutely agree with this statement. Because there are people without insurance, many are going to ER's and other facilities for treatment where medical services have to be given. When these uninsured patients are treated, and their bills never get paid, everyone else has to suffer cost-of-health increases because someone has to pay for those services. If everyone gets covered in the insurance system, this will not only improve the health quality of Americans in general, it will also help control the cost of coverage because the insurance companies offer reduced, contracted rates that participating providers have to accept in order to fulfill their contracts and be a part of the insurance company's network. The providers only accept the contracted rate, and write off the balance to recoup at tax time.

The only drawback that I see is that medical providers, in general, may see an opportunity to make more money by not participating with private insurance companies. When a provider is not contacted, they are legally allowed to balance bill the patient whatever the insurance company does not pay, whereas a participating provider cannot balance bill above the contracted rates. Therefore, the medical providers would have a responsibility to the people in this country to remain in the networks for this plan to work.

Dont let the big lie of the numbers fool you Dave.
I and many like me choose not to be insured.
Wow, choice. I like the sound of that.
My personal health cost is $10.00 a month.
Even at $150.00 a month, thats a butt fluckin I can live without.
Am I gambling on not having catstropic illness.
You bet!
My current employment provides no insurance options.
Also my choice.
We shall see a suppose. I am just glad I am not one of those whom are going to be paying %58 income tax to cover the expense.

That was my next question. What percentage of your income do you pay in income taxes in Great Britian, and Canada. I have never been to either country but I am curious and what other taxes do ya'll have to pay. I am just trying to wrap my head around what our President is proposing to do with our health care system. My wife and I are lucky we both work for the state and the state pays for our insurance all we have to do is pay for the kids of which we have 3 and we have to pay the deductibles. I was self employed for years and had no Ins. I would just go to the Dr. and pay cash when I was sick. Now that I am getting older there is no way I would be without Ins.

I am just glad I am not one of those whom are going to be paying %58 income tax to cover the expense.

Don't let the big lie of the numbers fool you, bud...lol The tax in Canada is 13%, not 58%....???? This cover most of the heathcare (not medication). You can get Blue Cross added to that for a fee...depends on the coverage you want.

As for me, I pay $20/month for health insurance and that covers 80% of my expenses on medication, eyes and dental. I have a couple heath issues that requires me to take expensive medication. So, I save BIG time. Leaving in the States, forget about it, I would need 2 jobs to cover all the expenses.

I can see a doctor whenever I want at NO COST...no matter the injury. I prefer going to clinics, it's much, much faster, though. If I'm really sick and needs to be hospitalized, I can stay at the hospital as long as i need too....again, at NO COST.