legal scam

[brewer12345]

We already have healthcare rationing. Those without green "tickets" with lots of zeros on them lose out under our present system.

[mykidslovedogs]

Originally Posted by brewer12345

We already have healthcare rationing. Those without green "tickets" with lots of zeros on them lose out under our present system.

As I stated before, I think equality for all will lead to rationing for all. I can't support a system that hurts more people than it helps. I like the idea of basic care for all being available but not forced on everyone, with the ability to buy up or buy down based on need, but those who are farther to the left will argue that's not fair because it leads to a two-tiered system.

[region2]

Just watch US companies dump retiree healthcare benefits next year.

Hanesbrands recently notified all of their retirees that the company would not pay for any portion of their health insurance premiums after 12/1/2007; retirees will still be able to purchase group health insurance at the group rate - however that will be significantly greater than their current cost to the retiree which is zero.

IMHO, US corporate healthcare benefits for retirees is a quickly expiring breed.

[brewer12345]

Originally Posted by mykidslovedogs

As I stated before, I think equality for all will lead to rationing for all. I can't support a system that hurts more people than it helps. I like the idea of basic care for all being available but not forced on everyone, with the ability to buy up or buy down based on need, but those who are farther to the left will argue that's not fair because it leads to a two-tiered system.

Yeah, yeah, you aren't thinking about your livelihood at all, right?

You misconstrue the intent of my statements. Lack of universal basic care isn't a problem because it "isn't fair;" its a problem because it iis a stupid and wasteful way to run our healthcare system. Mammoth spending on "executive diagnostic services," hugely expensive treatments that benefit few people, and absurdly high drug prices while at the same time we have an uninsured (read: receives spotty care at best) population approaching 50MM is nothing short of foolish. Its high time we admit that the free market has (gasp! Milton Friedman rolling in his grave) resulted in a poor outcome.

[mykidslovedogs]

Originally Posted by region2

Just watch US companies dump retiree healthcare benefits next year.

Hanesbrands recently notified all of their retirees that the company would not pay for any portion of their health insurance premiums after 12/1/2007; retirees will still be able to purchase group health insurance at the group rate - however that will be significantly greater than their current cost to the retiree which is zero.

IMHO, US corporate healthcare benefits for retirees is a quickly expiring breed.

I know, I see that coming down the pipeline too. It's just becoming too expensive for corporations to offer retiree benefits. We've got to find a way to bring down costs. I think HSAs are a good start, but we need more. Too much regulation in the prescription drug industry keeps drug costs high. Not enough doctors for reasons stated above. We also need to increase the number of insureds, hopefully, by using some of the ideas I mentioned earlier.

[haha]

Originally Posted by OldMcDonald

Only someone with a limited world view, and and even further limited imagination would be willing to accept the shody system we have now and declare it the best we can do.

This is a good start, but not quite a complete list. Let's not forget those who due to their business circumstances profit from the current scheme.

Ha

[brewer12345]

Originally Posted by mykidslovedogs

Too much regulation in the prescription drug industry keeps drug costs high.

Haaaaaaaahahahahahaahahahaahahaa!!! Now I KNOW for sure that you are a shill.

Do you also tell orphans that it is their fault for not having parents?

[Rich_in_Tampa]

Originally Posted by mykidslovedogs

Medical schools keep a tight rope on the quanities of Doctors they let out in the system each year in order to keep salaries up.

What are your sources for the information you are stating as fact?! It is not a foregone conclusion that there is a physician shortage. By some accounts, the number has been rising disproportionately.

(There is some evidence that a shortage may be coming, however, as the hassles of practice and shrinking incomes make it a less appealing profession for the relatively marketable kids who now choose medicine. )

We have about 300 physicians per 100K population (look here). You'll see that very few countries have more than that. Maldistribution, maybe. Shortage? What shortage?

Public medical school class size is determined by state legislatures and relates to budget considerations rather than a preconceived plan to keep numbers down. Private medical school size is a proprietary decision and I have never seen, heard or heard of any collustion to adjust this based on supply and demand in 35 years of practice over 3 separate universities. What is your evidence for the plot to keep supply down?

Such irresposible statements don't enhance the credibility or your "arguments."

I think I'll let this be for a while. The discussion has run its course with me.

[brewer12345]

Originally Posted by Rich_in_Tampa

What are your sources for the information you are stating as fact?!

He is obviously talking out of his ass. Time for him to get an adjustment done to his tinfoil hat.

[farmerEd]

I suspect this has more to do with expensive drugs than too much regulation:

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/...a/16297905.htm

$180 million in compensation for a CEO of pfizer who oversaw a 50% drop in stock price during his tenure....

Yea...its probably too much regulation driving up the cost of drugs....

PFIZER'S MCKINNELL TO GET $180 MILLION PACKAGE: Pfizer Inc.'s former chief executive, Henry McKinnell, who was forced into an early retirement in part because of investor anger about his rich retirement benefits, will get every penny of it and more, a new regulatory filing shows.

McKinnell's package, which the company disclosed in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission Thursday, totals more than $180 million. It includes an estimated $82.3 million in pension benefits, $77.9 million in deferred compensation, and cash and stock totaling more than $20.7 million.

The total value could grow to almost $200 million if McKinnell gets an $18.3 million stock award, but that is contingent on the future performance of the stock of the world's largest drugmaker.

[Robert the Red]

Originally Posted by brewer12345

Yeah, yeah, you aren't thinking about your livelihood at all, right?

"It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it." -- Upton Sinclair

[mykidslovedogs]

Originally Posted by Rich_in_Tampa

What are your sources for the information you are stating as fact?! It is not a foregone conclusion that there is a physician shortage. By some accounts, the number has been rising disproportionately.

(There is some evidence that a shortage may be coming, however, as the hassles of practice and shrinking incomes make it a less appealing profession for the relatively marketable kids who now choose medicine. )

I agree with the latter point.

Here is one article regarding Dr. shortages:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/...shortage_x.htm

[brewer12345]

Originally Posted by mykidslovedogs

I agree with the latter point.

Here is one article regarding Dr. shortages:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/...shortage_x.htm

Ah, yes, USAToday. Better source than any medical journal...

[donheff]

Originally Posted by brewer12345

Yeah, yeah, you aren't thinking about your livelihood at all, right?

You misconstrue the intent of my statements. Lack of universal basic care isn't a problem because it "isn't fair;" its a problem because it iis a stupid and wasteful way to run our healthcare system. Mammoth spending on "executive diagnostic services," hugely expensive treatments that benefit few people, and absurdly high drug prices while at the same time we have an uninsured (read: receives spotty care at best) population approaching 50MM is nothing short of foolish. Its high time we admit that the free market has (gasp! Milton Friedman rolling in his grave) resulted in a poor outcome.

What Brewer said.

[haha]

Originally Posted by donheff

What Brewer said.

It won't be too long before we realize that the free market has more than a few problems with the real world.

Ha

[mykidslovedogs]

Here's an interesting article regarding the effects of medicaid spending on prescription drug costs:

http://www.econ.umd.edu/~duggan/mcd-...g-revision.pdf

[jeff2006]

MKLD -- If you're really interested in helping people wth their health insurance problems, stop trying to bait arguments about the theoretical aspects. Really, really, really -- unless you're going to run for President, nobody cares what your (or my) opinions are concerning how things should work. By now it should be quite clear to you that your theories are decidedly a minority view -- many informed Americans, including doctors and patients, hate the present system. However, it seems to me that people care about the factual basis of getting healthcare insurance, which you know a lot about. When you share this information, you're helping us all. BUt when you bait arguments, you're fouling the drinking water.

[lets-retire]

Originally Posted by jeff2006

By now it should be quite clear to you that your theories are decidedly a minority view

As with any conservative view on this site.

[jeff2006]

Originally Posted by lets-retire

As with and conservative view on this site.

Sniff, sniff, sniff . . . do I smell more bait?