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

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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: 07-16-2008
Sun, 09-21-2008 - 12:43am

Of course that's what insurance is for, but if someone is not going to use it, why should taxpayers be forced to pay for it?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2008
Sun, 09-21-2008 - 12:53am

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2008
Sun, 09-21-2008 - 1:00am

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-16-2008
Sun, 09-21-2008 - 1:01am

I said I'd find some statistics on uninsured by age, thought they were interesting but not as widespread as I expected.


http://www.patientassistance.com/news/the-dangers-in-misrepresenting-uninsured-statistics.html


Did you know that since the early 1990s, the percentage of uninsured Americans has not experienced much change? In 1996, the 16.2 percent of Americans where unemployed, compared to 15.8 percent in 2006.



What many overlook when they see the information presented in this fashion is that during that decade long gap, America faced an increase of 3.5 million in the number of uninsured individuals. This increase occurred at the same time that the number of insured Americans increased by 25 million and the percentage of uninsured Americans dropped by 0.4 percent. The effects of population and immigration growth have become a major factor in the number of uninsured individuals in America.



One of the main reasons that this has become such a key issue as of late is centered around the decrease in available government aid for those uninsured or underinsured. Budget cuts have caused a significant amount of programs to fold, leaving individuals without the ability to bounce back into a safe and insured state that previous statistical data claimed they would be without for no more than 12 months, the numbers continue to increase.



Even with all the cuts to healthcare support, nearly 30 percent of Americas uninsured population is currently eligible for government based assistance, but have not enrolled for it. By aiding those who are uninsured in determining their eligibility for government benefits programs and even the pharmaceutical company operated patient assistance programs, it is possible to reduce the number of uninsured Americans greatly and provide assistance for those in need but unfortunately do not meet the eligibility requirements.


http://covertheuninsured.org/news/index.php?NewsID=21128


The number of uninsured Americans between the ages of 20 and 30 has risen 39 percent since 1987, from 9.6 million to 13.4 million. Many have some college education, come from middle-class families and "are working to build similar lives," according to the article.


http://www.usa-healthinsurance.com/cdc-uninsured-amercians.html



Something I kept reading over and over again in article was that a large section of our uninsured (one said 10%, another 30%, so I quote none because no one can agree on an exact figure) are people who are not even in this country legally.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-16-2008
Sun, 09-21-2008 - 1:03am

Adults up to 25.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-16-2008
Sun, 09-21-2008 - 1:15am

"but how does anyone know if they are going to need health insurace in the event of a serious illness or injury?"


No one does know.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2008
Sun, 09-21-2008 - 1:15am

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-16-2008
Sun, 09-21-2008 - 1:22am

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/


  • Guaranteed eligibility. No American will be turned away from any insurance plan because of illness or pre-existing conditions.
  • Comprehensive benefits. The benefit package will be similar to that offered through Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), the plan members of Congress have. The plan will cover all essential medical services, including preventive, maternity and mental health care.
  • Affordable premiums, co-pays and deductibles.
  • Subsidies. Individuals and families who do not qualify for Medicaid or SCHIP but still need financial assistance will receive an income-related federal subsidy to buy into the new public plan or purchase a private health care plan.

  • Employer Contribution: Employers that do not offer or make a meaningful contribution to the cost of quality health coverage for their employees will be required to contribute a percentage of payroll toward the costs of the national plan. Small businesses will be exempt from this requirement, and will receive a new Small Business Health Tax Credit that helps reduce health care costs for small businesses.

  • Mandatory Coverage of Children: Obama and Biden will require that all children have health care coverage. Obama and Biden will expand the number of options for young adults to get coverage, including allowing young people up to age 25 to continue coverage through their parents' plans.
  • Expansion Of Medicaid and SCHIP: Obama and Biden will expand eligibility for the Medicaid and SCHIP programs and ensure that these programs continue to serve their critical safety net function.

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    iVillage Member
    Registered: 07-16-2008
    Sun, 09-21-2008 - 1:24am

    I didn't say that was mandated.

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    iVillage Member
    Registered: 09-15-2008
    Sun, 09-21-2008 - 1:36am

    <over use it.

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