donc

Is there anybody on this thread that thinks that we have the perfect healthcare? Is there anybody that thinks out present system can’t be improved? So why compare our system with Canada, or any other country? I think that this country of ours is capable of coming up with something better than any other country on the planet, if, and it is a bit if, we can keep the politicians out of the loop.

rivrrat

Of course our current system isn't as good as it could be. Of course it could be improved. Especially by reforming the socialized side of it.

There wasn't a better thing I could have seen and experienced to show me the ills of medicaid/medicare than working in emergency medicine. The majority of our calls were BS calls. Every single BS call I went on involved a medicaid/medicare recipient. People who actually had to pay for an ambulance ride themselves wouldn't call an ambulance for a slight fever. Or a broken toe. Or a simple rash. Or just because they didn't 'feel well'. They wouldn't call just so they would get attention from neighbors. They wouldn't call and fake symptoms just to get a ride into town and then sign AMA out of the ER and go to the nearest bar to drink.

Here I was working two jobs - one of them on the river four days a week, and then a straight 72-hour shift on the ambulance. I couldn't afford my own health insurance. But I was helping to pay for THEIRS. These people who drug me out at 2am because their pinky nail hurt. These people who refused to work for a living since they could so easily live off the government - off of ME. I had to forgo my own health insurance so I could pay for THEIRS. Because if I didn't have to pay so much in taxes... I just might have been able to afford health insurance myself. You want to talk about furious, I was furious. It infuriated me every single night I worked.

In addition to that, I was shown just how they were treated in ERs too. Not well. Limited medical attention, only the amount necessary to get them out of the door. Quality care? Heh.. yeah right. Not when the docs know they're not going to get paid for it. They do what's necessary and do nothing "above and beyond". Get someone with private insurance though and there was a world of difference. Having seen the difference... give me private insurance every single time. Socialized medicine only fosters mediocre care and long wait times.

Then the government tried to "crack down" on the medicaid/medicare abuse. So now they wouldn't pay for ambulance rides unless it was deemed "medically necessary" for the patient to ride in the ambulance. The provider's answer to that? Lie on trip sheets. Now every single medicaid/medicare patient we carried was deemed "medically necessary" to ride in the ambulance. It was at that point I left the field. I refused to lie on trip sheets to defraud an already defrauded and bankrupt system. Especially when it benefited NO ONE.

So no, our system isn't perfect. If the government would get the hell out of it, it would make it a helluva lot better. Government involvement has been the cause of our problems, less government involvement will inevitably cure many of our ills.

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The point to remember is that what the government gives it must first take away. ~John S. Coleman

winston53660

Bush's False Claims About Children's Health Insurance

September 21, 2007
The president mischaracterizes congressional efforts to expand the SCHIP program...

The president repeated a false charge that has been bandied about by the administration and other Republicans:

Bush: Their proposal would result in taking a program meant to help poor children and turning it into one that covers children in households with incomes of up to $83,000 a year.

In fact, nothing in either the House or Senate bill would force coverage for families earning $83,000 a year. That's already possible under current law, but no state sets its cut-off that high for a family of four and the bill contains no requirement for any such increase. The Bush administration, in fact, just denied a request by New York to set its income cut-off at $82,600 for a family of four, a move New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer and members of Congress from the state have vigorously protested. And Bush would retain the authority to deny similar applications under the proposed legislation.



FactCheck.org: Bush's False Claims About Children's Health Insurance

Navy Pride

No country has a perfect health care plan.......There are flaws in all of them, but if you are seriously sick in this country you will be seen immediately unlike France and Canada where you might have a 6 month wait......

__________________
FOR THE LIKES OF LIBERALS LIKE KERRY AND DURBIN:

"IF YOU CAN'T STAND BEHIND OUR TROOPS FEEL FREE TO STAND IN FRONT OF THEM."

winston53660

Well if you like spending more for less sure it is a great plan.

Navy Pride

Just like the lady from Canada I will gladly pay a little more if it saves my life..........Getting free medical does not help if you can't be seen by a doctor.......

__________________
FOR THE LIKES OF LIBERALS LIKE KERRY AND DURBIN:

"IF YOU CAN'T STAND BEHIND OUR TROOPS FEEL FREE TO STAND IN FRONT OF THEM."

winston53660

And the vice versa happens because people can not get treatment here. People are now going to Mexico as well.

BTW Do need a bridge? I have one for sale.

Iriemon

Sure thing, and you know this because you've gone to France to receive medical care for a serious illness how many times? Or did you read it "somewhere"?

Navy Pride

You don't have to go there just find that special from ABC 20/20 with John Stossel and you will find out about Frances free health care........

__________________
FOR THE LIKES OF LIBERALS LIKE KERRY AND DURBIN:

"IF YOU CAN'T STAND BEHIND OUR TROOPS FEEL FREE TO STAND IN FRONT OF THEM."

Navy Pride

It is against the law in this country to refuse treatment to anyone...Even Illegal aliens.........

__________________
FOR THE LIKES OF LIBERALS LIKE KERRY AND DURBIN:

"IF YOU CAN'T STAND BEHIND OUR TROOPS FEEL FREE TO STAND IN FRONT OF THEM."