ossobuco wrote:However, I consider myself lucky I can do that, though it is a big stretch for me, how big you don't want to know, as a selfemployed person with fairly low income - I have liked having the md's I wanted to choose, and my general fortunes over time with that system.
Hard to change insurance even if I hated it at this point.. once one is older and has previous health issues racked up.
(I hate it, but it is the debilitating life of payments I've hated, not my options.)
I do pay more for the PPO but the choice is worth it.
I should shut up now. I am lucky to live in a country that has a pretty good health system although this current federal govt is doing its best to ruin it.
Baldimo, we are on opposite points of view most of the time, though I am mostly quiet, since I have low expectation of mindchange, and, if it comes, and I do think it happens, it is from quiet points.
Anyway, I am pleased with what has worked to be very helpful to me...
and only wish same for all.
BBB
Many A2Kers are not old enough to know how the employer-paid health insurance system started. It was a short-term plan solution. During World War II, stringent controls were established to control prices of goods and services and severe restrictions on union strikes existed. When labor unions were negotiating with employers, there were few ways to increase pay because of the restrictions. The unions figured out a way to increase employee compensation without violation the government's restrictions. The employer would pay for health care insurance plans. The employers agreed to this plan---and so the practice was established for long into the future.
It worked pretty well as long as there was full employment. But the world economy changed with the global economy and outsourcing of jobs facilitated by NAFTA.
We can no longer sustain a system of health care insurance paid by employers in the growing global economy. We cannot be competitive with other countries whose employers do not pay for their employee's health insurance either because they are third world countries or rich countries that provide national health insurance under a single payor.
The single payer plan is the best and least expensive answer without harming the quality of and access to health care. It will get the for profit insurance companies out of the process and can reign in the greed of the drug industry. It can control the for profit health care delivery industry (HMO's, hospitals, etc.) A side benefit will be getting rid of thousands of industry lobbyists who corrupt our political system. Getting rid of them might be worth the single payer system by itself.
Most physicians have changed their minds about their fear of a single payer plan and now are in favor of it. They are distressed about non-medical people intruding into the decision making process between the patient and the doctor.
The sytem devised to get around government restrictions during WWII is not excuse to continue it when it has outlived its usefulness. It is now doing more harm than good. The last figure I know of is that at least 43 million people do not have health care insurance in the US. Not only does this effect the quality of their lives, it means that everyone else pays for their care in higher premiums and E.R. costs in taxes.
The change to a single payer system is long over due.
BBB
