My doctor has said that he has quit taking new patients and this will evolve to a system where there will be a huge influx of local type clinics that will be staffed by nurse practitioners and a lot fewer m.d.‘s. The number of general practitioners is decreasing out of medical schools and specialties increasing. G.P.’s don’t make anywhere near the same money and have more hassles with insurance and often bigger overhead costs. It’s not going to be an easy transition when the “full effect” of the program kicks in in 2014.
Clinics and nurse practitioners may be happening now, but it will be an exponential rise when Obamacare kicks in fully in 2014. Personally I think this is just a very awkward, convoluted process to eventually get us to a single payer system, but the insurance industry killed that possibility for the moment.
Look at some real statistics about this sometimes. The US has a higher preventable death rate (67 per 100k compared to 53 in Britain, 37 in France). More people die HERE waiting for a doctor than in most industrialized countries. The fault is our insurance companies, who employ people to try to find out how to deny as much coverage as possible. Here’s the real kicker – countries with universal healthcare SPEND LESS on healthcare than the US does. If you treat healthcare as a right, cut out the needless competition from for-profit insurance companies, more money can go back to the actual doctors and hospitals. The insurance companies are just a siphon that draws money away from where it should be used. Obviously you’ve never had a serious illness and seen how ridiculous insurance companies can actually be. We have access to some of the world’s best healthcare in this country, but we have had the world’s worst healthcare system. I don’t like the Obamacare mandate, but that was a compromise for the Republicans. Single payer is the best solution – but the lobbyists and insurance companies are doing their best to promote their lies to discredit it.
ConserveGov over 11 years ago
Wait until people have to wait 4 months to see a doctor. Then that turkey will be cooked.
aguirra3 over 11 years ago
Yea, that way everyone can go bankrupt together…what a great idea!
aguirra3 over 11 years ago
What makes everyone think that the new healthcare system will be better run than Medicare or the VA system? I wish us luck.
Mickey 13 over 11 years ago
My doctor has said that he has quit taking new patients and this will evolve to a system where there will be a huge influx of local type clinics that will be staffed by nurse practitioners and a lot fewer m.d.‘s. The number of general practitioners is decreasing out of medical schools and specialties increasing. G.P.’s don’t make anywhere near the same money and have more hassles with insurance and often bigger overhead costs. It’s not going to be an easy transition when the “full effect” of the program kicks in in 2014.
Mneedle over 11 years ago
Do some research. Universal healthcare ALWAYS leads to rationing of healthcare. Look at Canada, GB, France, or Cuba.
Mickey 13 over 11 years ago
Clinics and nurse practitioners may be happening now, but it will be an exponential rise when Obamacare kicks in fully in 2014. Personally I think this is just a very awkward, convoluted process to eventually get us to a single payer system, but the insurance industry killed that possibility for the moment.
Fourcrows over 11 years ago
Look at some real statistics about this sometimes. The US has a higher preventable death rate (67 per 100k compared to 53 in Britain, 37 in France). More people die HERE waiting for a doctor than in most industrialized countries. The fault is our insurance companies, who employ people to try to find out how to deny as much coverage as possible. Here’s the real kicker – countries with universal healthcare SPEND LESS on healthcare than the US does. If you treat healthcare as a right, cut out the needless competition from for-profit insurance companies, more money can go back to the actual doctors and hospitals. The insurance companies are just a siphon that draws money away from where it should be used. Obviously you’ve never had a serious illness and seen how ridiculous insurance companies can actually be. We have access to some of the world’s best healthcare in this country, but we have had the world’s worst healthcare system. I don’t like the Obamacare mandate, but that was a compromise for the Republicans. Single payer is the best solution – but the lobbyists and insurance companies are doing their best to promote their lies to discredit it.
ninety_nine_percent over 11 years ago
Affordable healthcare is a turkey? No Henry, you are the turkey, I need healthcare.
Uncle Joe Premium Member over 11 years ago
That claim is false. We have people here who die because their insurance is inadequate. Ever hear of ‘lifetime benefit caps’?
lonecat over 11 years ago
Just for a reality check, in the Canadian “socialized” system, if I call my doctor in the morning I can see her in the afternoon.