quote:

Originally posted by George Smiley I have a very strong belief that pharmacuetical companies should be nationalised. I just dont think that a company that makes profits off people's need for medicine can be responsible without coming under civilian control And listening to you and Occ over what it costs for health care - $35,000 and $12,000 a year if you didn't have insurance is a completely alien concept. Just the fact that you are talking about how much things cost is an alien concept to me cos over here there is only one price for everything...(except dentists in the uk )

It's equally alien to me to give so much of your income to the government expecting them to use it to pay for your services. I'd rather keep it, and decide myself how I want to use it to pay for those things.

I have by no means a high paying job (although I work at a hospital, so I do get some breaks when it comes to healthcare) but I am able to afford every insurance I could possibly need at this time. The real "cultural" problem (sorry to be cliche) is that Americans greatly undervalue health insurance and insurance in general. They would rather buy a new SUV, plasma TV or some other extravagant accessory, than pay what they see as "wasted" money on inurance if they never make a claim. I mean look at me even. I complain about $35,000 being expensive, but that care litearlly saved my life. However, I know many people have no problem dropping that kind of money into a new car. Our priorities are just ass-backwards. Buy cool stuff first, pay for your own life second. It's kind of hard to enjoy those finer things of life if you're a corpse.

quote:

Originally posted by NeoPhono It's equally alien to me to give so much of your income to the government expecting them to use it to pay for your services. I'd rather keep it, and decide myself how I want to use it to pay for those things. I have by no means a high paying job (although I work at a hospital, so I do get some breaks when it comes to healthcare) but I am able to afford every insurance I could possibly need at this time. The real "cultural" problem (sorry to be cliche) is that Americans greatly undervalue health insurance and insurance in general. They would rather buy a new SUV, plasma TV or some other extravagant accessory, than pay what they see as "wasted" money on inurance if they never make a claim. I mean look at me even. I complain about $35,000 being expensive, but that care litearlly saved my life. However, I know many people have no problem dropping that kind of money into a new car. Our priorities are just ass-backwards. Buy cool stuff first, pay for your own life second. It's kind of hard to enjoy those finer things of life if you're a corpse.

How much do you have to pay for medical insurance every year?

quote:

Originally posted by occrider I'm forever on a medication that costs $12k a year. The thought of being without health insurance is not sad, but scary to me.

What's the matter with you? (Of course I know it's none of my business - I'm just curious of nature.)

quote:

Originally posted by trancaholic What's the matter with you? (Of course I know it's none of my business - I'm just curious of nature.)

Crack/Heroin addiction. He calls it his "medicine."

I'll have to get back to you on the cost of my health insurance. We are completely paperless when it comes to pay, and as of right now the only way to access my info is at work.

quote:

Originally posted by George Smiley I have a very strong belief that pharmacuetical companies should be nationalised. I just dont think that a company that makes profits off people's need for medicine can be responsible without coming under civilian control

R&D. Without those beefy profits, they'd never be able to come up with the next great miracle drug. Take away the incentive to innovate and you don't have much left.

quote:

Originally posted by trancaholic What's the matter with you? (Of course I know it's none of my business - I'm just curious of nature.)

My liver has started an insurgency. I require aout 12k in booze a year to properly suppress it. Sucks to file an insurance claim every single time I come home from the bars, but I've become quite adept at filling them out in a stupor. Sigh ... I wish.

Nah, my immune system is all uppity and likes to fight with my dermis/epidermis resulting in what looks like a persistent mosquito bite. So I give myself a protein injectable once a week which go and attack my immune system in what must be a climactic battle to the death. I'm really good with a needle now though. Which is good in the event that I ever decide to become a herion junky.

___________________
Retro ...

quote:

Originally posted by occrider My liver has started an insurgency. I require aout 12k in booze a year to properly suppress it. Sucks to file an insurance claim every single time I come home from the bars, but I've become quite adept at filling them out in a stupor. Sigh ... I wish. Nah, my immune system is all uppity and likes to fight with my dermis/epidermis resulting in what looks like a persistent mosquito bite. So I give myself a protein injectable once a week which go and attack my immune system in what must be a climactic battle to the death. I'm really good with a needle now though. Which is good in the event that I ever decide to become a herion junky.

Psoriasis? Did I even spell that right?

quote:

Originally posted by Shakka R&D. Without those beefy profits, they'd never be able to come up with the next great miracle drug. Take away the incentive to innovate and you don't have much left.

Eh? The incentive is saving lives and I think thats a pretty big incentive dont you? And profits are irrelevent to incentive as profits give the owners of the company incentive, and has there wont be any owners then that particular incentive makes no difference (of course the government could make a profit on the drugs and therefore your argument about profits would also become irrelevent)

quote:

Originally posted by Shakka Psoriasis? Did I even spell that right?

Yup and yup. Used to be a fucking pain in the ass when I had to use steroidal creams. But the shots are money, literally and figuratively.

___________________
Retro ...

quote:

Originally posted by occrider Yup and yup. Used to be a fucking pain in the ass when I had to use steroidal creams. But the shots are money, literally and figuratively.

Whatever happened to Blue Star Ointment? You know, the shit they used to peddle on daytime TV commercials when we were kids? I thought that shit could cure anything!

Don't get me started on the GB powder!

quote:

Originally posted by occrider Yup and yup. Used to be a fucking pain in the ass when I had to use steroidal creams. But the shots are money, literally and figuratively.

Oh, that. Hmm, I didn't even know there was antyhing to cure that..my cousin has that too, and he never used any medicines for it..who knows, maybe he likes the look...

___________________
1+1=10

quote:

Originally posted by DrUg_Tit0 Oh, that. Hmm, I didn't even know there was antyhing to cure that..my cousin has that too, and he never used any medicines for it..who knows, maybe he likes the look...

Well there is no permenant cure. But so long as I stay on the medication you would never know.

___________________
Retro ...