Most of you will ignore this warning but when it occurs it may very well be too late.
ObamaCare will literally cost trillions of dollars. To even come anywhere near break even the vast majority of savings projected by the Dems is to pay hospitals and physicians less money. This is done every year and is called the “Doc Fix”. For Obamacare money will also come from increased taxes on the middle class.
We, the government, will pay physicians less. Physicians to government- if you pay us so little that we lose money we will drop out of Medicare. Government, every year, says we will temporarily restore those lost payments. Thus we will lose those billions of dollars but please don’t drop out. BTW, in July 2010 once again doc fix was passed, restoring the proposed 21% cut, and is in effect until November. (Note the month and note when the election will be held).
One year when the country is totally broke the “doc fix”will not be passed and suddenly millions of people will be without a physician.
According to this cartoon, in health care reform, everything works to help you, and you are the focus of the entire program. Where is the problem?
Libertarian, the health-care “system” was broken. It was in awful shape. Millions of Americans had little to no health-care, and Americans spent more on health-care while getting less than did the citizens of any other industrialized nation.
President Obama’s health-insurance reform takes steps to guarantee that all Americans have decent health-care while slowing down the ballooning health-care costs. True, it is not as good as the health-care systems of England, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, or even Italy, but it moves American health-care in the right direction.
Libertarian, all you have to do is ask the physicians in state-run systems how well they get reimbursed for the numerous procedures they perform….some procedures are reimbursed, some are not reimbursed at the full amount, and some are just put off until …..whenever. No honest physician in Maine or Massachusetts, for example, will tout the state-run systems as anything more than well-meaning but extremely problematic.
The answer is always individual wealth and responsibility. We do not teach our citizenry that those are good things anymore. And I speak as one who is not wealthy at all but who is interested in the prosperity of my country.
Medicare has ALREADY CUT DOCTOR PAYMENTS.
There is no other alternative to Medicare RATIONING CARE. Some of us suspect the approval of treatment will be at the top of the list…like socialized programs in Canada and the UK and Belgium, et al, treatment for many ailments is denied when the patient passes certain birthdays….too old to pay for with “government funds”!
Rationing of treatments and cuts in already LOW payments to providers, who face ongoing inflation costs.
I think Obama is using every spending program, old ones increased and new expensive programs, in the total upside-down pyramid, to totally BANKRUPT THE USA and bring us down to the level of those nations he favors…and his foreign policy has been pro and friendly to our enemies in the Mideast, and hostile to our allies like Israel. I think Obama treats dictators like Chavez in the American hemisphere better than the PM of the only true “democratic and liberal freedom” government in the Mideast…Netanyahu.
I think the O administration has turned out to be the “enemy within” the Founders said we might one day need to fight against.
“everything works to help you”?
NOT.
Congress has been chipping away beginning with the Medicare program 1965, taking away RIGHTS of private citizens to choose yes or no on health insurance with PRIVATE INSURANCE.
The system is RIGGED.
when I neared my 65th birthday, my private insurance warned me that they would TERMINATE ME AS A POLICY OWNER.
I have paid medical insurance since my 1st job at age 16.
The “system” is forcing all citizens to be in a government controlled situation….and already in some gov. systems the governments and doctors and healthcare institutions have collaborated to “off” elderly and “too-sick” patients into an early grave….MURDER. So what is the difference to the US plan and POPULATION CONTROL??????
Here’a news story I happened to read this morning:
WASHINGTON – The annual checkup of the government’s big benefit programs for the elderly show that the Obama administration’s sweeping health care overhaul will extend the life of the Medicare hospital insurance fund by 12 years.
But officials cautioned Thursday that the gain will depend on achieving significant savings in health care in coming years.
The report found that the Medicare Hospital trust fund will not be exhausted until 2029, 12 years longer than estimated last year. That improvement was credited to the cost savings that will occur with the passage earlier this year of health care reform.
By RICARDO ALSONSO-ZALDIVAR and MARTIN CRUTSINGER, Associated Press Writers
And here’s another one, on reforms proposed by the Canadian Medical Association:
Changes to the national health-care system are urgently needed in order to improve the health and well-being of Canadians, says a new report from the Canadian Medical Association.
“As physicians, we’re worried about the future of Medicare,” Anne Doig, the association’s president, said in a press release.
“And we’re worried because with its current shortcomings … the present system will not be able to meet future needs.
“We need a sustainable health-care system that actually meets the needs of patients. We need health-care transformation. We need it now.”
The report, Health-Care Transformation in Canada: Change that Works; Care that Lasts, says the country is “facing serious challenges on two key fronts: In meeting the legitimate health-care needs of Canadians and in being affordable for the public purse.”
It points out that many Canadians face long waits for procedures, and many don’t have coverage for prescription drugs or access to services because of geographical or socioeconomic barriers.
The report has put forth five key recommendations that, if adopted by the federal government, would lead to a healthier population, would improve patient experiences, and would improve the value for money spent on health care, the report says.
The association’s recommendations include:
Universal access to prescription drugs and access to continuing care outside of hospitals;
The creation of a charter that would protect the rights of patients;
Performance incentives to hospitals and physicians who enhance access and quality of care;
An adequate supply of health human resources and technology that can improve the way health-care facilities operate;
Building accountability and responsibility at all levels.
DisTax, where DO you get your information? Treatment is not denied or rationed in these other countries. Please read this article by T.R. Reid: “5 Myths About Health Care Around The World”.
Your remarks make no sense: You want more Medicare, yet you rail against “socialism”. WHAT DO YOU THINK MEDICARE IS? In addition, you rail against private insurance after complaining about England’s health-care system, which frees you from private insurance?
Further, where was your hysteria about the federal deficit, when Bush-Dick turned Bill Clinton’s budget surplus into the biggest federal debt the nation has ever seen, and then presided over the worst recession in thirty years, leaving President Obama to increase the deficit to get the economy back on the rails?
I am so sorry that you seem to know so little. Once again, by the way, you are disgusted about paying taxes, yet you don’t mind our spending money on Israel, the U.S.A.’s biggest recipient of foreign aid. THAT IS where your tax dollars are going. Get over your disgust & STOP WHINING.
“Single payer”, and controlling, yes REGULATING drug prices, through actual competition, would greatly improve efficiency, and reduce cost- which is exactly why big pharma and insurance companies don’t want it. Doctors don’t have that much problem with it, especially as it would REDUCE their office staff costs.
I also am reminded of the British doctor with his new BMW and $4 million (2million pound) condominium in London.
We are NOT ADVOCATING “SOCIALIZED MEDICINE”! We’re advocating “socially responsible” medicine, and it CAN be done and maintain a functioning but, yes, “regulated” CAPITALIST system with better efficiency.
Actually, the benefits of all that DO flow down to YOU! As to VA- it’s not “socialized”- but it’s all a lot of vets have available- and they paid for it- in blood.
Well, I guess that this conversation is over. We have established that the cartoon states that health-care reform that moved toward a universal single-payer system would improve our current brutish chaos.
Today is August 8th, the 36th anniversary of Richard Nixon’s resignation. It should be a national holiday. August does not have any national holidays, after all.
I like hearing the dissonant tones of the conservatives trying to convince themselves of their absolute innocense and the liberal do-gooders who want to cut this or that word out of the Constitution…or reinterpret it for our own good. Both Hitler and Stalin hated Western Democracy usually using the same advertising agency slogans we hear today…disguised as wisdom and sage advice. Comparing our world economy to a simple family budget…that’s rich and poor.
i worked for the va from 1986 - 2002 in charge of the residents in the neurology discipline (also assistant to the chief) and experienced what the veterans go through.
when mrs. clinton pushed through the medical system we have now the va was forced into competition w/ hmo’s, etc.
the va was set up in a certain way, just for them.
but, they didn’t forsee (like alot of other things) the financial
future.
the va is a teaching facility and has access to the most updated physicians and systems, but they just don’t have the money to update all their facilities and machines.
hopefully, this will change…
^From what the Vets on my route tell me they get health services from the V.A. Everyone else has health insurance. One guy told me his wife has to go through a bunch of hoops just to get the insurance company to pay for some blood work. Also I’ve been told that its socialized medicine (the government pays for the building, doctors, etc).
Paperwork roadblocks were installed during “that guy’s” administration for active duty and veterans. Things are getting better, even though there are still “procedural problems”. The field people I’ve worked with on medical care are very good to excellent- but case loads are very high now, and that in itself is a “problem” for underfunded agencies.
Libertarian1 almost 14 years ago
Most of you will ignore this warning but when it occurs it may very well be too late.
ObamaCare will literally cost trillions of dollars. To even come anywhere near break even the vast majority of savings projected by the Dems is to pay hospitals and physicians less money. This is done every year and is called the “Doc Fix”. For Obamacare money will also come from increased taxes on the middle class.
We, the government, will pay physicians less. Physicians to government- if you pay us so little that we lose money we will drop out of Medicare. Government, every year, says we will temporarily restore those lost payments. Thus we will lose those billions of dollars but please don’t drop out. BTW, in July 2010 once again doc fix was passed, restoring the proposed 21% cut, and is in effect until November. (Note the month and note when the election will be held).
One year when the country is totally broke the “doc fix”will not be passed and suddenly millions of people will be without a physician.
Remember I warned you.
BrianCrook almost 14 years ago
According to this cartoon, in health care reform, everything works to help you, and you are the focus of the entire program. Where is the problem?
Libertarian, the health-care “system” was broken. It was in awful shape. Millions of Americans had little to no health-care, and Americans spent more on health-care while getting less than did the citizens of any other industrialized nation.
President Obama’s health-insurance reform takes steps to guarantee that all Americans have decent health-care while slowing down the ballooning health-care costs. True, it is not as good as the health-care systems of England, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, or even Italy, but it moves American health-care in the right direction.
ronebofh almost 14 years ago
BrianCrook: libertarians don’t let facts get in the way of their adolescent fantasies.
wolfhoundblues1 almost 14 years ago
Welcome to being a tax slave so the elites can impress their friends with your money.
Whatroughbeast almost 14 years ago
According to this cartoon, in health care reform, everything works to help you, and you are the focus of the entire program. Where is the problem?
Convoluted thinking at it’s finest with a modicum of truth thrown in. Your “wallet” is the focus and the entire burden rest on you.
HabaneroBuck almost 14 years ago
Libertarian, all you have to do is ask the physicians in state-run systems how well they get reimbursed for the numerous procedures they perform….some procedures are reimbursed, some are not reimbursed at the full amount, and some are just put off until …..whenever. No honest physician in Maine or Massachusetts, for example, will tout the state-run systems as anything more than well-meaning but extremely problematic.
The answer is always individual wealth and responsibility. We do not teach our citizenry that those are good things anymore. And I speak as one who is not wealthy at all but who is interested in the prosperity of my country.
BrianCrook almost 14 years ago
Well said, Canuck.
disgustedtaxpayer almost 14 years ago
Medicare has ALREADY CUT DOCTOR PAYMENTS. There is no other alternative to Medicare RATIONING CARE. Some of us suspect the approval of treatment will be at the top of the list…like socialized programs in Canada and the UK and Belgium, et al, treatment for many ailments is denied when the patient passes certain birthdays….too old to pay for with “government funds”!
Rationing of treatments and cuts in already LOW payments to providers, who face ongoing inflation costs.
I think Obama is using every spending program, old ones increased and new expensive programs, in the total upside-down pyramid, to totally BANKRUPT THE USA and bring us down to the level of those nations he favors…and his foreign policy has been pro and friendly to our enemies in the Mideast, and hostile to our allies like Israel. I think Obama treats dictators like Chavez in the American hemisphere better than the PM of the only true “democratic and liberal freedom” government in the Mideast…Netanyahu.
I think the O administration has turned out to be the “enemy within” the Founders said we might one day need to fight against.
disgustedtaxpayer almost 14 years ago
“everything works to help you”? NOT. Congress has been chipping away beginning with the Medicare program 1965, taking away RIGHTS of private citizens to choose yes or no on health insurance with PRIVATE INSURANCE.
The system is RIGGED.
when I neared my 65th birthday, my private insurance warned me that they would TERMINATE ME AS A POLICY OWNER.
I have paid medical insurance since my 1st job at age 16.
The “system” is forcing all citizens to be in a government controlled situation….and already in some gov. systems the governments and doctors and healthcare institutions have collaborated to “off” elderly and “too-sick” patients into an early grave….MURDER. So what is the difference to the US plan and POPULATION CONTROL??????
Jaedabee Premium Member almost 14 years ago
Where’s Bush’s Medicare Part D on the chart?
pirate227 almost 14 years ago
Yeah, I’m sure that chart prepared by Brownback’s people is accurate…
lonecat almost 14 years ago
Here’a news story I happened to read this morning:
WASHINGTON – The annual checkup of the government’s big benefit programs for the elderly show that the Obama administration’s sweeping health care overhaul will extend the life of the Medicare hospital insurance fund by 12 years. But officials cautioned Thursday that the gain will depend on achieving significant savings in health care in coming years. The report found that the Medicare Hospital trust fund will not be exhausted until 2029, 12 years longer than estimated last year. That improvement was credited to the cost savings that will occur with the passage earlier this year of health care reform. By RICARDO ALSONSO-ZALDIVAR and MARTIN CRUTSINGER, Associated Press Writers
lonecat almost 14 years ago
And here’s another one, on reforms proposed by the Canadian Medical Association:
Changes to the national health-care system are urgently needed in order to improve the health and well-being of Canadians, says a new report from the Canadian Medical Association. “As physicians, we’re worried about the future of Medicare,” Anne Doig, the association’s president, said in a press release. “And we’re worried because with its current shortcomings … the present system will not be able to meet future needs. “We need a sustainable health-care system that actually meets the needs of patients. We need health-care transformation. We need it now.” The report, Health-Care Transformation in Canada: Change that Works; Care that Lasts, says the country is “facing serious challenges on two key fronts: In meeting the legitimate health-care needs of Canadians and in being affordable for the public purse.” It points out that many Canadians face long waits for procedures, and many don’t have coverage for prescription drugs or access to services because of geographical or socioeconomic barriers. The report has put forth five key recommendations that, if adopted by the federal government, would lead to a healthier population, would improve patient experiences, and would improve the value for money spent on health care, the report says. The association’s recommendations include:
Universal access to prescription drugs and access to continuing care outside of hospitals; The creation of a charter that would protect the rights of patients; Performance incentives to hospitals and physicians who enhance access and quality of care; An adequate supply of health human resources and technology that can improve the way health-care facilities operate; Building accountability and responsibility at all levels.BrianCrook almost 14 years ago
DisTax, where DO you get your information? Treatment is not denied or rationed in these other countries. Please read this article by T.R. Reid: “5 Myths About Health Care Around The World”.
Your remarks make no sense: You want more Medicare, yet you rail against “socialism”. WHAT DO YOU THINK MEDICARE IS? In addition, you rail against private insurance after complaining about England’s health-care system, which frees you from private insurance?
Further, where was your hysteria about the federal deficit, when Bush-Dick turned Bill Clinton’s budget surplus into the biggest federal debt the nation has ever seen, and then presided over the worst recession in thirty years, leaving President Obama to increase the deficit to get the economy back on the rails?
I am so sorry that you seem to know so little. Once again, by the way, you are disgusted about paying taxes, yet you don’t mind our spending money on Israel, the U.S.A.’s biggest recipient of foreign aid. THAT IS where your tax dollars are going. Get over your disgust & STOP WHINING.
SuperGriz almost 14 years ago
ANandy , what is Neo-Socialism?
here’s a hint: http://tinyurl.com/burowm
Dtroutma almost 14 years ago
“Single payer”, and controlling, yes REGULATING drug prices, through actual competition, would greatly improve efficiency, and reduce cost- which is exactly why big pharma and insurance companies don’t want it. Doctors don’t have that much problem with it, especially as it would REDUCE their office staff costs.
I also am reminded of the British doctor with his new BMW and $4 million (2million pound) condominium in London.
We are NOT ADVOCATING “SOCIALIZED MEDICINE”! We’re advocating “socially responsible” medicine, and it CAN be done and maintain a functioning but, yes, “regulated” CAPITALIST system with better efficiency.
WarBush almost 14 years ago
“We are NOT ADVOCATING “SOCIALIZED MEDICINE”! ”
That’s for the V.A. (and from what I’m hearing its second behind medicare).
Dtroutma almost 14 years ago
Actually, the benefits of all that DO flow down to YOU! As to VA- it’s not “socialized”- but it’s all a lot of vets have available- and they paid for it- in blood.
Whatroughbeast almost 14 years ago
The “YOU” to which she is refering is 300 million Americans supporting their own country.
(which, apparently, is a very bad thing.)
Where have YOU been hiding?
50% of this country is supported by the rest and 20% of those are out of work.
(yes, I would say, that is a bad thing)
badmichiganjon over 13 years ago
^cuz it wouldnt be right (left) if ya actually learned how to fend for yourself, and make your own way.
BrianCrook over 13 years ago
Well, I guess that this conversation is over. We have established that the cartoon states that health-care reform that moved toward a universal single-payer system would improve our current brutish chaos.
Today is August 8th, the 36th anniversary of Richard Nixon’s resignation. It should be a national holiday. August does not have any national holidays, after all.
vatonaught over 13 years ago
I like hearing the dissonant tones of the conservatives trying to convince themselves of their absolute innocense and the liberal do-gooders who want to cut this or that word out of the Constitution…or reinterpret it for our own good. Both Hitler and Stalin hated Western Democracy usually using the same advertising agency slogans we hear today…disguised as wisdom and sage advice. Comparing our world economy to a simple family budget…that’s rich and poor.
comYics over 13 years ago
Obama’s ticking time bomb. His little “revenge” for being a slave to the “white guy”. His “HIV” ready to burst out into full blown “AIDS”.
myming over 13 years ago
i worked for the va from 1986 - 2002 in charge of the residents in the neurology discipline (also assistant to the chief) and experienced what the veterans go through. when mrs. clinton pushed through the medical system we have now the va was forced into competition w/ hmo’s, etc.
the va was set up in a certain way, just for them. but, they didn’t forsee (like alot of other things) the financial future. the va is a teaching facility and has access to the most updated physicians and systems, but they just don’t have the money to update all their facilities and machines. hopefully, this will change…
WarBush over 13 years ago
^From what the Vets on my route tell me they get health services from the V.A. Everyone else has health insurance. One guy told me his wife has to go through a bunch of hoops just to get the insurance company to pay for some blood work. Also I’ve been told that its socialized medicine (the government pays for the building, doctors, etc).
Dtroutma over 13 years ago
Paperwork roadblocks were installed during “that guy’s” administration for active duty and veterans. Things are getting better, even though there are still “procedural problems”. The field people I’ve worked with on medical care are very good to excellent- but case loads are very high now, and that in itself is a “problem” for underfunded agencies.
WarBush over 13 years ago
^Well, “he” did privatize some aspects of the V.A.