http://www.nationalhustle.org/2009/04/universal-health-care/ A resource for the huddled masses Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:24:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.nationalhustle.org/2009/04/universal-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-121 Cameron Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:55:40 +0000 http://www.nationalhustle.org/?p=908#comment-121 I think the irony in the situation you mention, is that because you were insured your procedure was $100k. If someone who was not insured went in for the same procedure, somehow I doubt the price tag remains the same. In medicine, it seems to me as though if you can afford to pay, you will be charged for it. I do completely agree with your assertion that we pay more in societal costs for the medically uninsured, however, the argument with a lot of people isn't just paying more money to help the uninsured; but paying to help a person that (insert looked down upon bad habit here; overeats, smokes, drinks, doesn't exercise, drugs, etc) when the holier than thou benefactor does not. What a situation, and without a complete change in the way we view medicine in America, one that will be quite difficult to change. I think the irony in the situation you mention, is that because you were insured your procedure was $100k. If someone who was not insured went in for the same procedure, somehow I doubt the price tag remains the same. In medicine, it seems to me as though if you can afford to pay, you will be charged for it. I do completely agree with your assertion that we pay more in societal costs for the medically uninsured, however, the argument with a lot of people isn’t just paying more money to help the uninsured; but paying to help a person that (insert looked down upon bad habit here; overeats, smokes, drinks, doesn’t exercise, drugs, etc) when the holier than thou benefactor does not. What a situation, and without a complete change in the way we view medicine in America, one that will be quite difficult to change.

]]> http://www.nationalhustle.org/2009/04/universal-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-119 Andrew Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:15:19 +0000 http://www.nationalhustle.org/?p=908#comment-119 I agree that it is a shame that a country as powerful and proud as the United States has so many people that can't even go see a doctor. Morally it is the right thing to do. And for those that are sad enough to make arguments such as "well its not my fault they cant afford it. I'm not paying 0.5% more in taxes for them," I would argue you pay more. Allowing people to have health care keeps people healthier, which lowers costs as a whole. Who do you think ultimately pays the hospital bills for unisured people that cant afford and ultimately never pay their emergency room bills becasue they are outrageous? Everyone does. I had an emergency procedure that costs $100,000 but luckily i was insured and only had to pay $5,000. So someone in the same situation as me without insurance that probably makes less money would get slammed with $100K in more debt that they cant pay. It is not only the right thing to do as people, but it also makes sense financially for our country. Medical bills ruin a lot of lives in this country, and it would cost relatively little to help out a lot. I agree that it is a shame that a country as powerful and proud as the United States has so many people that can’t even go see a doctor. Morally it is the right thing to do. And for those that are sad enough to make arguments such as “well its not my fault they cant afford it. I’m not paying 0.5% more in taxes for them,” I would argue you pay more. Allowing people to have health care keeps people healthier, which lowers costs as a whole. Who do you think ultimately pays the hospital bills for unisured people that cant afford and ultimately never pay their emergency room bills becasue they are outrageous? Everyone does. I had an emergency procedure that costs $100,000 but luckily i was insured and only had to pay $5,000. So someone in the same situation as me without insurance that probably makes less money would get slammed with $100K in more debt that they cant pay. It is not only the right thing to do as people, but it also makes sense financially for our country. Medical bills ruin a lot of lives in this country, and it would cost relatively little to help out a lot.

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