Subsidized healthcare

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-26-2003
Subsidized healthcare
124
Sat, 09-20-2008 - 1:12pm

i'm starting a new thread because this is buried somewhere else.

another poster referred to "subsidized healthcare." this article is old but raises important questions about who pays for what and who has access.

http://www.annals.org/cgi/content/full/129/6/514

<

State funding, Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and HIPAA make up a subsidized system that targets specific needy groups and may be a gradual approach to U.S. health care coverage for all citizens. For now, however, it seems that anyone who knows the ins and outs of the health care system can obtain health care regardless of whether he or she has insurance.

We pay for community outreach programs, state and federal programs, Medicaid, Medicare, and tax breaks for large corporations. However, although the movement toward a national health insurance system is inching forward, it would immediately halt if people saw a paycheck deduction labeled "tax money to fund health insurance for those who do not have it.>>

the points that resonate for me:

-Those who oppose higher taxes also seem uninterested in finding out how much the lack of health care costs; illness and disease are costlier in the long run.

why don't we place more emphasis on prevention? why do we think paying for prevention is wasteful?

- Any investment in guaranteed health care, even if just for children, would have an invaluable return.

especially, why do we think prevention of disease in children is wasteful?

- The hidden subsidized medical system is already costing taxpayers, but Americans are more willing to pay for it because the taxes are hidden in the federal income tax that is deducted from each worker's paycheck... it would immediately halt if people saw a paycheck deduction labeled "tax money to fund health insurance for those who do not have it."

(assuming they are talking about specifying how much of your tax dollar goes to Medicare/Medicaid) ARE we so opposed to spending money to help those who are not covered - when they do not have other means and did not choose to reject those means?

-it seems that anyone who knows the ins and outs of the health care system can obtain health care regardless of whether he or she has insurance.

how many know the ins and outs? i don't because i don't need it. but why does it require a special knowledge? when you are sick, why can't the system be more transparent - especially for those who "fall through the cracks"?

Bea

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-09-2006
Sat, 09-20-2008 - 11:30pm
I think I might be your evil twin...
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-26-2003
Sat, 09-20-2008 - 11:33pm

heart strings? no, you were just cavalier with the health of other people - people not like you, people you never met, just numbers.

"I pray it isn't me or one of my children that gets sick at such a young age." i hope that works for you although it obviously doesn't work for everyone in their 20's.

"But I also take responsibility for myself to say "well, I didn't go to the doctor, I didn't sign up for insurance at work, I didn't cut back on other expenses so I could afford private insurance, it's my own dumb fault for not getting better care for myself." and so we are back to blaming the unfortunate person who lost a job and was denied insurance due to a pre-existing condition that had nothing to do with taking better care of herself and could not afford a doctor's visit instead of rent, heat, food and gas.

Bea

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-26-2003
Sat, 09-20-2008 - 11:37pm

no she does not have to rely on one experience. go back to your own citation:

http://www.youngsurvival.org/young-women-and-bc/

Bea

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-03-2008
Sat, 09-20-2008 - 11:38pm
No, but
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-16-2008
Sat, 09-20-2008 - 11:43pm

"heart strings? no, you were just cavalier with the health of other people - people not like you, people you never met, just numbers."


Similar to how cavalier you are with the incomes and well being of others who will be hurt by the cost to implement these plans.

Photobucket

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-16-2008
Sat, 09-20-2008 - 11:45pm

I know the statistics.

Photobucket

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-16-2008
Sat, 09-20-2008 - 11:48pm
No, but
Photobucket

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-09-2006
Sun, 09-21-2008 - 12:05am

<>

Of course you are right. As I mentioned in my post, preventive strategies can be chosen based on health and history.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-26-2003
Sun, 09-21-2008 - 12:19am

i never said everyone should have a mammogram starting at puberty. quoting myself again -

http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-psmomspol&msg=4181.11&x=y

"but if they have a family history, it is far better to provide preventive care than to wait for a catastrophe."

you say you know the statistics, so then you know that SOME young women have a family history and SOME young women have other risk factors.

Bea

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2008
Sun, 09-21-2008 - 12:26am

<is a charge for their continued coverage.

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