[guidogodoy] Thursday, October 03, 2013 5:20:47 PM
Not to get too much into politics (never a discussion I openly embraced on this site), you have both arguments pretty-well laid out right below. Our healthcare system is absolutely absurd. Affordable? HA! Good example is what I just experienced. I have a local hospital two blocks away. I get health insurance as part of my job. However, the local hospital just flipped to another insurance company meaning that they no longer accept my insurance. "Out of Network" prices mean that I pay 40% vs. the insurance paying 60%. That is on TOP of basic co-pays. In any calendar year, whether a hospital or doctor accepts my insurance or not, I have an immediate base doctor copay of $450 + $1500 = $2000. That is out of pocket expense. Now, a procedure or any exam easily surpasses that in the USA. So, I am also forced to pay 40% ON TOP of the $2000. A procedure that costs $7000 - easy to rack that up with one day in a hospital - and you can do the math. If I travel to a hospital that now does take my insurance, I still have to pay the $2000 per calendar year + 10% for an "in network" procedure. Still, $2700. That does not include visits to a regular doc (about $30 per visit copay) or a specialist ($45 copay). Of course, a doc usually wants to see you both before and after any sickness or procedure so there is more $ as a doc usually refers you to a specialist for anything they can't handle. $30 for the regular doc to refer you to a specialist (who wants to see you both before and after) + meds and you get the picture.
Healthcare is a broken system in the USA and one if not THE #1 way people go into deep debt. Break an arm WITHOUT insurance? Good luck. Most lose an entire paycheck + WITH insurance.
Oh yes. All (perhaps save for Politicians) all have "healthcare insurance" taken out of their paycheck every month as well. I don't even see that $ and it is not considered a tax. It is a deduction from gross salary. Taxes are quite another thing. After all, the country runs the biggest debt in the world and government spending is out of control. Someone would have to pay for healthcare for those who are too poor, don't qualify or can't get health insurance through their jobs for one reason or another. Thus, greater insight on both Bud and Guitardude's comments.
Screw the 2 party system! Both sides have their heads up their asses.
Why don't they want it? I thought better access to affordable health care would be a good thing, like most other countries have.
guidogodoy wrote:
Democrats and Republicans (our only two main political parties) disagree about Obama's new health plan: Republicans don't want it and Obama won't negotiate.
Becks wrote:
Ok so someone explain in ONE SENTENCE why the US Government has shut down? I don't get it, to me it's just supremely stupid.
![(M) Sorry for the language, but it's appropriate right now.
Thanks to @[131247023568988:274:Liberal And Proud Of It] for sharing this.](https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/p280x280/1374958_10151701562441275_1777040234_n.png)