Comments on: Why should I pay? http://healthcareorphan.com/2009/10/08/why-should-i-pay/ Exploring the maddening world of orphan diseases and health care in America Sun, 01 Nov 2009 08:33:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: orphanus http://healthcareorphan.com/2009/10/08/why-should-i-pay/#comment-17 orphanus Fri, 09 Oct 2009 23:58:48 +0000 http://healthcareorphan.wordpress.com/?p=49#comment-17 I absolutely agree. In fact, I wrote <a href="http://healthcareorphan.wordpress.com/2009/10/01/all-you-can-eat/" rel="nofollow">this post</a> a few weeks ago exploring just this issue. Of the many reasons I support universal coverage, the fact that we spend more is one of the main reasons. Yet the cautionary tale we can take from the financial struggles the Canadian and British systems are experiencing is we can not make it cheap to be a heavy health care consumer. It has to cost people enough so they think about whether they really want to spend that co-pay, but not so much that they just go because it's free. You're right, that is exactly what happens with our current safety net, and it will bankrupt us if there isn't adequate cost sharing built in. I absolutely agree. In fact, I wrote this post a few weeks ago exploring just this issue.

Of the many reasons I support universal coverage, the fact that we spend more is one of the main reasons. Yet the cautionary tale we can take from the financial struggles the Canadian and British systems are experiencing is we can not make it cheap to be a heavy health care consumer. It has to cost people enough so they think about whether they really want to spend that co-pay, but not so much that they just go because it’s free. You’re right, that is exactly what happens with our current safety net, and it will bankrupt us if there isn’t adequate cost sharing built in.

]]> By: Mama Fuss http://healthcareorphan.com/2009/10/08/why-should-i-pay/#comment-16 Mama Fuss Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:55:52 +0000 http://healthcareorphan.wordpress.com/?p=49#comment-16 Here via Julia @ Hippogriffs. I'm all for national healthcare, but want it to be reasonable. I'm the type who is educated enough to know when I have a cold, I can get some Tylenol cold to help w/ my symptoms and nothing the Dr gives me is going to get me through it faster than 7-10 days. I don't go to the doc for every bump or bruise or sniffle. But I know tons of people on government healthcare who do - because they can, because it doesn't cost them anything. Or they go to the ER since they can't be turned away, which costs loads more, but they're not going to pay for it, so why not? My nephews have cystic fibrosis. There is NO ONE in the family history who had CF, so it was a pretty surprising diagnosis, since it's a genetic disease. Their early lives were spent in Sweden where they have national health care (socialist country) so my sister & BIL were not forced to pay for their treatments and medicines beyond a family "deductible" of $500 per year (one months supply of CF meds covered that). I'm not about socialism, but it would be awfully nice if we could get that level of care here, wouldn't it? I know it won't happen for a myriad of reasons, but it would sure be nice. Here via Julia @ Hippogriffs. I’m all for national healthcare, but want it to be reasonable. I’m the type who is educated enough to know when I have a cold, I can get some Tylenol cold to help w/ my symptoms and nothing the Dr gives me is going to get me through it faster than 7-10 days. I don’t go to the doc for every bump or bruise or sniffle. But I know tons of people on government healthcare who do – because they can, because it doesn’t cost them anything. Or they go to the ER since they can’t be turned away, which costs loads more, but they’re not going to pay for it, so why not?

My nephews have cystic fibrosis. There is NO ONE in the family history who had CF, so it was a pretty surprising diagnosis, since it’s a genetic disease. Their early lives were spent in Sweden where they have national health care (socialist country) so my sister & BIL were not forced to pay for their treatments and medicines beyond a family “deductible” of $500 per year (one months supply of CF meds covered that). I’m not about socialism, but it would be awfully nice if we could get that level of care here, wouldn’t it? I know it won’t happen for a myriad of reasons, but it would sure be nice.

]]> By: orphanus http://healthcareorphan.com/2009/10/08/why-should-i-pay/#comment-13 orphanus Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:54:27 +0000 http://healthcareorphan.wordpress.com/?p=49#comment-13 Bravo, carosgram! Another statistic I've seen floating around lately where we fail miserably is preventable deaths. That and infant mortality are... particularly sobering. Thanks for the comment/compliment. Much obliged. Bravo, carosgram!

Another statistic I’ve seen floating around lately where we fail miserably is preventable deaths. That and infant mortality are… particularly sobering.

Thanks for the comment/compliment. Much obliged.

]]> By: carosgram http://healthcareorphan.com/2009/10/08/why-should-i-pay/#comment-12 carosgram Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:07:49 +0000 http://healthcareorphan.wordpress.com/?p=49#comment-12 Hi! I am here from Here be Hippogriffs. I am very impressed with the quality of your arguments. So often people forget we are already paying a high price for other people's health care. So financially it is a better deal to have a plan rather than letting everyone else pad your bill. The other thing that few people seem to admit but infant mortality rates are lower and longevity rates higher in countries with national health care plans. But for me the moral argument is the strongest. While you quote the Bible there is also "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". We all need a helping hand sometime. Let's extend our hands now to those who need health care. Hi! I am here from Here be Hippogriffs. I am very impressed with the quality of your arguments. So often people forget we are already paying a high price for other people’s health care. So financially it is a better deal to have a plan rather than letting everyone else pad your bill. The other thing that few people seem to admit but infant mortality rates are lower and longevity rates higher in countries with national health care plans. But for me the moral argument is the strongest. While you quote the Bible there is also “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. We all need a helping hand sometime. Let’s extend our hands now to those who need health care.

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