Henry Payne for December 05, 2014

Well, Republicans will now have the power to craft a replacement.

The so-called “conservatives”/Fox “news” viewers were completely satisfied with how they did Medicare Part D.

And the best part was that it didn’t cost anything and didn’t increase the deficit at all — at least not until Obama took office, just like the wars.

Taking the bowl of cash away from the insurance companies is easy – Universal Healthcare. There will still be paperwork but we won’t be financing tons of advertising and multimillion dollar salaries.

Premiums might be less if the drug prices were negotiable — which they’re not, thanks to a dead of night change to the legislation right before the vote.

But It’s OKAY If A Republican Does It.

I don’t often agree with Mr. Payne. But today’s toon is right on. Well done, Mr. Payne.

And you are also right, ODon; universal health care. This is the only way to remove the insurance industry’s stranglehold on what used to be considered health care.

Single payer would end the insurance industry overnight, but somehow that would be communist since everyone will be insured.

denis – You need to seek assistance in navigating the options your mother has open to her. On-line or with a local service. You also must understand what she has been paying and receiving to make comparisons.From what you have posted recently I believe you find this a beneficial step.

“Single payer would end the insurance industry overnight,”

Incorrect. There will still be car insurance, homeowner’s, title, fire, renter’s, malpractice, business and personal liability….

Also, there will have to be limits to any universal health care system. And you may want to be able to have guava treatments for your colon cancer, even though they’re not covered, and you have to travel to Guatemala to get them. I’m sure the insurance industry will provide supplemental insurance to cover non-covered meds and treatments. Don’t shed any tears for the loss that the insurance industry might have; they’ll survive.

And the system we had before Obamacare was any less profitable to the Insurance companies? Ha!

Single Payer Now

Prescription medicine? The stuff that is covered by Medicare Part D? That, by law, the Feds are not allowed to negotiate on price, but must pay the amount set by the pharmaceutical company(s)? -Yeah, boy, Obama dropped the ball on that one. Fer sure.

I was wondering how the comments would go, so held back a bit, but the real fact is that the Insurance companies do not WANT the act rescinded, because the Republicans DID insert their profit guarantees into the ACA, and the Dems bought off on it to get something passed, as the fight started with Teddy Roosevelt. Republicans likewise got the bill passed to prohibit Medicare from negotiating drug prices, their gift to the pharma faction of medical care.

A regulated “single payer” WOULD reduce overall costs to the taxpayer, and yes, those getting care might have to pay more in “taxes” to keep up, though subsidies based on income would keep the poor insured.

While no system is “perfect”, my daughter the RN is finding the system in New Zealand works pretty well, is actually affordable and stable. Part of that is that necessary medical care is covered, but if you want “vanity” plastic surgery as an elective, and some other procedures, you have to have additional insurance, or pay yourself. Prenatal and OBGYN care for example is excellent, but they could use more attention to preventative care, checkups, etc..

Colchicine?

Sounds a lot like lisinopril — which my health plan lists it as 11.65 retail for a three month supply. Maybe your doc could switch you? (Feds can’t negotiate, but health plans can.)

Could be you’re getting ripped off.