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How much do the Uninsured Cost?

Well, this is an interesting yet depressing article.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/06/0...reut/index.html

Today the uninsured cost the insured an extra $341 a person ($922 per family) to pay for their unpaid medical bills.

By 2010 this will rise to $532 extra for every insured person or $1502 per family.

The future looks bleak...

sooo, what about madatory insurence?

or god forbid, a public health care system.

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Originally posted by ProDiGaL or god forbid, a public health care system.

Dude we all know that that's against every americans most basic rights

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Originally posted by ProDiGaL or god forbid, a public health care system.

I'll take the lesser of two evils and pay for the uninsured. I just won't be happy about it. I will be happier than if the government was running healthcare however.

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How much do the Uninsured Cost?

$19.99

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Originally posted by NeoPhono I'll take the lesser of two evils and pay for the uninsured. I just won't be happy about it. I will be happier than if the government was running healthcare however.

Why can't they just do both? Public and private health insurance could easily coexist, couldn't it? If no, why not?

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Originally posted by Trancer-X Why can't they just do both? Public and private health insurance could easily coexist, couldn't it? If no, why not?

Both systems coexist in Australia with minimal fuss

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Originally posted by Trancer-X Why can't they just do both? Public and private health insurance could easily coexist, couldn't it? If no, why not?

There will be two systems in America and most hospitals and doctor's groups are already preparing for it. There is also a national group of healthcare representatives also getting ready for it.

I've talked about it in more detail in other posts, but here's the jist.

You'll have a "public" healthcare system that will be less exepensive than current healthcare but will have long waits due to the amount of people using it while also attracting lower quality workers since it will pay less than the alternative healthcare system. It will basically be cheaper but have longer lines and lower quality than what Americans currently enounter.

You'll also have a "private" healthcare system for those that wish to pay above what the government asks for in public health costs. These "subscription" services will offer shorter lines and quality of care that is what we have now or higher. It will also attract top quality workers due to this systems ability to pay more than the "public" sector. Basically it will be equally or more expensive than current healthcare prices, but it will offer shorter lines and higher quality.

Instead of the system we have now, in which everyone at least has the ability to recieve the same quality of care, we will have a definite stratification where the rich recieve quick, high quality care and the rest recieve lower quality care with drastically increased waiting times. This in my opinion is a horrible "solution," but it appears to be the solution America is heading towards.

I'm uninsured, and I cost you people $0.00. Maybe you should spend more time worrying on that $682.00 person who balances me off, and less time working on some "universal" system which helps people who don't take care of themselves at the expense of people who do.

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Originally posted by Arbiter I'm uninsured, and I cost you people $0.00. Maybe you should spend more time worrying on that $682.00 person who balances me off, and less time working on some "universal" system which helps people who don't take care of themselves at the expense of people who do.

WOW! u should be so proud of yourself you are uninsured and happy that you take care of yourself. Well u bastard you are young now but what happens when you are older and your body begins to fall apart? Who will take care of that???

I'm thinking of getting a medical plan even though I have the NHS. Just to get stuff done quicker and for dentistry and stuff.

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Originally posted by metalgearsolid WOW! u should be so proud of yourself you are uninsured and happy that you take care of yourself. Well u bastard you are young now but what happens when you are older and your body begins to fall apart? Who will take care of that???

Arbiter is quite the stoic. He doesn't give a shit about you, so you shouldn't worry about his well-being either.

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Originally posted by Shakka Arbiter is quite the stoic. He doesn't give a shit about you, so you shouldn't worry about his well-being either.

yeah i know i just wanted to see how he would react. Kinda reminds me of a teacher i liked becasue he would tell the students that their fucking idiots. I wonder who he is prolly the teacher that got fired

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Originally posted by metalgearsolid WOW! u should be so proud of yourself you are uninsured and happy that you take care of yourself. Well u bastard you are young now but what happens when you are older and your body begins to fall apart? Who will take care of that???

I will take care of that, by paying for my own medical expenses with my own money that I saved because I'm responsible and not an idiot.

So I take it your plan when you're older and your "body begins to fall apart" is to let other people take care of your medical bills with their money since you didn't save enough because you're irresponsible and and/or an idiot. That sound about right? Is that the attitude you're proud of?

Arbiter, I do agree with what your views in theory, but in reality you can't just say fuck off to all the idiots in a country and let them die off from their own stupidity. If the poor in the U.S. keep getting poorer (relatively speaking), than in the end it is going to hurt you and me, even though we were smart about our money and the choices we make. In the end, I would never want to see the U.S. go to an entirely public healthcare system, show me a government that effectively and efficently runs anything, let alone the U.S. government. I believe that the option of public and private healthcare would be great for our country, as you provide the poor with adequate healthcare, but allow for freedom and choice with the availability of private services.

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Originally posted by kush paintings Arbiter, I do agree with what your views in theory, but in reality you can't just say fuck off to all the idiots in a country and let them die off from their own stupidity.

For the sake of watching this unfold, might I ask why not?

I don't have health insurance. I just went to the doctor a couple of weeks ago and paid 140$ for nothing. I didn't even see a doctor, I saw a "Nurse Practioner". I had blood tests taken and they didn't even call me back with the results of how my levels are doing (I have a blood disease) so it's irritating. The lady couldn't even write me a prescription because she wasn't a doctor. Had I known that I wasn't going to even see a real doctor, I wouldn't have paid all that money (they made me pay up front). She couldn't even give me a prescription for the medication I needed. The American system for health insurance is pathetic.

You sure? Nurse practitioners, at least from what my girfriend tells me (she's a nurse studying to be a practitioner) says that they can write most prescriptions...hell they can even practice on their own without a doctor in some circumstances. I had blood tests done a month ago from just a normal nurse and received prompt confirmation of my results. Perhaps time to switch doctors if they arent meeting your standards?

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Originally posted by BadBadNeil You sure? Nurse practitioners, at least from what my girfriend tells me (she's a nurse studying to be a practitioner) says that they can write most prescriptions...hell they can even practice on their own without a doctor in some circumstances. I had blood tests done a month ago from just a normal nurse and received prompt confirmation of my results. Perhaps time to switch doctors if they arent meeting your standards?

Yes, she flat out told me she couldn't write me the prescriptions I needed, and that I'd have to pay a SECOND time, so I could see the other doctor so he could write me a prescription. I so got screwed over, never going back there again.

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Originally posted by Arbiter So I take it your plan when you're older and your "body begins to fall apart" is to let other people take care of your medical bills with their money since you didn't save enough because you're irresponsible and and/or an idiot. That sound about right? Is that the attitude you're proud of?

No thats not the attitude i am proud of. who would be? but it is NOT ALWAYS the fault of the patients. They come down with diseases that is in thier genes. That is not their fault or is it Arbiter? people are poor they might have work but that still isn't enough to pay all the bills especially when u r blue collar. But for u u believe u r right hey if ppl cant pay for health insurance they shouldn't be treated. You see arbiter it is a human right to have health insurance and if someone needs to be taken care off they should no matter what the cause is because it is whats right.

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Originally posted by kush paintings Arbiter, I do agree with what your views in theory, but in reality you can't just say fuck off to all the idiots in a country and let them die off from their own stupidity. If the poor in the U.S. keep getting poorer (relatively speaking), than in the end it is going to hurt you and me, even though we were smart about our money and the choices we make. In the end, I would never want to see the U.S. go to an entirely public healthcare system, show me a government that effectively and efficently runs anything, let alone the U.S. government. I believe that the option of public and private healthcare would be great for our country, as you provide the poor with adequate healthcare, but allow for freedom and choice with the availability of private services.

I'm not telling them to "fuck off," I'm telling them to take some personal responsibility and to deal with their own problems. In any case, they're going to die sooner or later, and I don't see what's particularly admirable about trying to extend their lives as long as possible. If they're afflicted with some condition that's going to kill them and they don't have the personal resources or ability to overcome it, then it's just their time as far as I'm concerned. It's better to die honorably than live as a parasite anyway, in my not-so-humble opinion.

The problem with a "choice" between public and private health care systems is twofold. First of all, it doesn't really offer any individual responsibility or individual freedom, since everybody is going to be paying for the public health care system with their tax dollars anyway. Secondly, it offers a false dichotomy: that the only two desirable options are public and private health care. I don't agree with this dichotomy at all, because I view health care (and all forms of insurance) as scams.

As far as I can see, "health care" is just another excuse for people not to take personal responsibility for their circumstances. If we want to build a stronger, more responsible society, then the last thing we should be doing is reducing people's incentive to be responsible by sheltering them from the natural penalties for irresponsibility.

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Originally posted by metalgearsolid No thats not the attitude i am proud of. who would be? but it is NOT ALWAYS the fault of the patients. They come down with diseases that is in thier genes. That is not their fault or is it Arbiter? people are poor they might have work but that still isn't enough to pay all the bills especially when u r blue collar. But for u u believe u r right hey if ppl cant pay for health insurance they shouldn't be treated. You see arbiter it is a human right to have health insurance and if someone needs to be taken care off they should no matter what the cause is because it is whats right.

Not paying other people's medical bills isn't some sort of "punishment." And so it's not a matter of whether their situation is their "fault" or not. It's a simple fact of life that sometimes good things are going to happen to you and sometimes bad things are going to happen to you. Enjoy the good things, overcome the bad things: that's what I call "living." When you can't overcome the bad anymore, you may die. That's the natural way of things. Tell me: what's so horrible about that?

You seem to be very confused about what "human rights" are and how they work. A right is not an entitlement. The right to life, for example, is not an entitlement to be provided with the means to live by society. If you need an organ donor, you can't force someone to give you a kidney because of your "right to life." Likewise, if you need health care, you can't force someone else to pay for it because of your "right to health care." This is because a "right to health care" is not an entitlement to be provided with the means to obtain health care by society. That is, quite simply, not how rights work. However, just out of curiosity, where exactly did you get the idea that "health care" is a "human right?" In particular, what is the philisophical basis for this "right?" I'm dying to know because as far as I can see there is no sound basis for such a right.

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Originally posted by Arbiter I'm not telling them to "fuck off," I'm telling them to take some personal responsibility and to deal with their own problems. In any case, they're going to die sooner or later, and I don't see what's particularly admirable about trying to extend their lives as long as possible. If they're afflicted with some condition that's going to kill them and they don't have the personal resources or ability to overcome it, then it's just their time as far as I'm concerned. It's better to die honorably than live as a parasite anyway, in my not-so-humble opinion.

Ok so what you are saying is this: If someone doesn't have the resources, then that�s just tough?

How does that apply to a child? Presumably they can't pay for it, and if their parents can't? Are they at fault(the child)? Yes the parent is responsible for them but if they can't provide then I don't think the child should be penalised for that.

Even in the animal kingdom a group will look after less able members in some cases, hopefully we�ve managed to progress from that.

In your model of if you can�t pay just die what happens to orphans? Because their parents were weak they will be or something, so it�s natural selection?

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As far as I can see, "health care" is just another excuse for people not to take personal responsibility for their circumstances. If we want to build a stronger, more responsible society, then the last thing we should be doing is reducing people's incentive to be responsible by sheltering them from the natural penalties for irresponsibility.

I agree that these days people are far to vocal about their rights and tend to decouple that from their responsibilities (in other words shirk them).

However it looks like you are possibly hinting at a bit of physical natural selection (the physically strong survive and so on) which for an extreme case against that we could look to Steven Hawking.

As I say extreme but he is physically weak, but mentally strong. Surely our society has progressed beyond the harder you can hit someone the better you are (which physical natural selection infers).

Maybe I�ve just misread you and you weren�t inferring physical natural selection?

Great post Dervish, you get at a great point. What happens to the kid born into poverty?

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