Healthcare Mass. Style...I don't think so!...

[Acebass]

I had first applauded Mass. for taking an initiative in the search for healthcare for all, but I've since done some research and I don't think they are on the right track...
You can visit the forum and find out or do your own research but please do some before you embrace it...


http://politicalswitchboard.invisionzone.com/index.php?showtopic=9162&st=15&p=51028&#entry51028

[BlackVelvet04]

1. I did research this morning

and I don't know about anyone else, but do we really want the government (any government, state or fed.) deciding what we can and cannot afford?

How will they go about deciding who can afford health insurance and therefore MUST purchase it? Income alone doesn't tell a person's financial story.

I think this plan sucks.

[mondo joe]

3. Poverty level isn't just income.

But if you want to have any programs for which low income people are eligible, you have to have some method to determine who can afford what.

[BlackVelvet04]

5. I'm talking about the people who will be required to

purchase insurance or be penalized. How do they determine who can afford to purchase insurance and who can't?

[mondo joe]

7. By federal poverty level - the same measurement that determines a lot of

other qualiifications for programs.

Under poverty level, IIRC, gets the insurance with no premiums. From 100% - 300% of poverty level gets it on a sliding fee scale. Over 300% is full price.

[Cobalt Violet]

4. It's to be a certain percentage above the federal poverty level.

Being priced out of healthcare sucks too.

[AllieB]

8. And Mass. has one of the highest costs of living

Boston is either second or third, depending on which stats you look at. It would be exceedingly difficult to live at the federal poverty level in Mass. I think they should make healthcare free for individuals and families that makes under 50K.

[Cobalt Violet]

17. I think it would be nearly impossible.

$9800.00 for a single person. $817.00 a month. After rent there wouldn't much left even if one lived in a rooming house.

[bullimiami]

9. I think it is wrong for the government to force us into any

private enterprise.

if they want to mandate anything ie insurance they should have a non-profit public version of that as an option.
let private companys compete for the business if they can do it better and cheaper or offer more attractive additional services.

[Acebass]

13. We are devoid of ideas, in pursuit of the almighty dollar!...

I work in the healthcare industry, I know...

[Cobalt Violet]

2. Do you have insurance?

Your link is an error message.

[napi21]

6. I'm with you on this one. When I first heard about it, it sounded

great, but then I did some more reading. Seems Dukaukis started a plan almost the same back in the 70's and it didn't last even 2 years. The study I read was done by some university, and they said the Gov't always underestimates the # of uninsured, then if you make more than 3 times poverty you have to buy your own or be fined. 3 times poverty is $30,000, but there's no control over ins. policy prices.

My son and I were talking about this last night. He said, if you have a single parent with 2 kids, paying a mtg, and child support, there's no way you could afford to buy your own ins, unless you were really making some good $$!

[peanutbrittle]

10. The lower middle class are the ones who will fall through the cracks

as usual these are the ones who live one paycheck away from falling into poverty, losing everything they have accumlated and always make too much money to be afforded health care, legal services. etc.

[Cobalt Violet]

14. At what income levels is one lower middle class? n/t

[Acebass]

12. If it works for other countries...

Why can't we fix whats wrong with theirs and make history!...this is America isn't it :sarcasm:...

[napi21]

22. In other Countries, people pay higher taxes to cover health care,

but probably the biggest difference is the Drs. don't make NEARLY as much $$ as they do in the US. My son lives in Sicily, and the avg. Dr. pay is = to about 35,000/yr. Also, because their HC system is totally run by the gov't, there's no BIG CUT going to insurance companies.

YES, American COULD make a system like that work, but the current medical professionals and insurance companies will NEVER let that happen!

[Acebass]

30. Who let those company's run things...

It is we the people that are suppost to run things around here! We're the ones that should be tell the insurance companies that we think their jobs need to be outsourced...
I'm sure those countries don't have insurance companies, they don't need them...
I said take the flaws of the other systems and work on it, Roosevelt said it best...

“Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country.”
Franklin D. Roosevelt

“One thing is sure. We have to do something. We have to do the best we know how at the moment. If it doesn't turn out right, we can modify it as we go along.”
Franklin D. Roosevelt


I worked, one summer, for 'Citizens Action' we were talking about healthcare then to, We had a scale that showed what percentage of taxes that would pay for what healthcare needs. I would gladly pay the taxes to make sure everyone was covered...

The only stipulation is, We the People have to keep an eye on it and make sure it's kept working smooth...thats what happened the last time...

[gizmo1979]

11. If I had to pay 600 bucks a month for insurance

I wouldn't eat.It's 200 per person x 3=600.I didn't think it sounded very good to me.Arizona figured for what it pays out in medical payments it could insure almost everyone in the state.Why not offer the insurance industry a lump sum for everyone and they negotiate the prices of healthcare.If everyone knew there was only x amount of dollars available for healthcare the costs would have to be structured so the money covered the costs, plus profit.

[islandspirit]

24. Health insurance is for 'profit'

I think we need to reevaluate whether a person's personal illness is grounds for making huge profits. We in America need to have the discussion of 'is health coverage a right or a priviledge'? If it is a right, then insurance companies need to fall by the wayside..........

[area51]

26. Welcome to DU, islandspirit. (n/t)

[newyawker99]

27. Hi islandspirit!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[mondo joe]

15. The main thing to remember about anything regarding health insurance

is that no answer works for everyone.

Every time my work coverage has changed - in response to employee feedback or changing rates - there have always been people who benefited and people who didn't.

[Acebass]

18. This may sound Utopian but...

Why not sit down and work up a plan that provides for everyone...They'll do it if we demand it!...

But it can't be just you and me, we have to convince others that it's the right thing to do...

[mondo joe]

23. Because everyone has different needs and desires.

And on top of that, a solution has to be economically feasible.

[Acebass]

29. Thats a start...n/t

[valerief]

16. The wealthy get their tax cuts and the burden of universal health

coverage is shifted to the working class. Couldn't have the coverage coming out of that tax revenue that, oh, so, deservedly should go to the wealthy. So, if you're making 25K a year and your Walmart or whatever doesn't provide adequate health insurance, you have to pay several hundred dollars a month for it? Guess I don't understand how it all works.

[Acebass]

20. If you figure it out...Let me know too...n/t

[valerief]

19. This is kind of a PRO-MARRIAGE mandate.

Spouses can get insurance coverage. That makes it an ANTI-GAY mandate, too. Or is it still legal to be gay and get married in Massachusetts?

[AllieB]

21. Gay marriage is legal for state residents

[valerief]

25. That's good. I thought it might have been taken away. n/t

[cynatnite]

28. Government getting involved in health care decisions

That's the problem I see with it. There would have to be a guarantee the govt. would not involve itself in decisions made by patient and physician.

They're trying it in S.D. by banning abortion and don't forget Terry Schiavo. If the repukes put forth a national health care plan you can bet they'd be in the middle of private medical decisions with their bible.

[frankenforpres]

31. govt does what they want already

the government already controls medicine anyway, they could make abortion illegal now if the SC went along with it. i dont know enough about the particulars of the MASS plan, but i am highly interested in what becomes of it. does anyone know if catastrophic coverage counts as being insured. because that type of insurance is not $600-$800 a month.

i support national health care, but i like giving this a shot also.

[Acebass]

32. They would get in volved with the paying...

not the medical decisions, those would be left to professionals...
as it is you have office people with code books telling you what is and isn't covered...
I'd pay higher taxes to not have to pay these high insurance premiums...

[frankenforpres]

33. i agree with you

i must not have been clear. the abortion reference it what made me point out that the government could be involved if they wanted too in the CURRENT system, so making healthcare govt run should not matter in this respect.

[Acebass]

34. and it would put american business on a level playing field...

with our overseas competitors...working in the healthcare industry, I'm passionate about this issue...

[cynatnite]

35. If that were the case, I'd be okay with it

I'm all for some kind of system that guarantees health coverage for everyone just not one that the repukes create with their so-called values.

This just makes me a tad nervous with the repukes in charge.

[Acebass]

36. We need professionals doing what they do best...

Payers should do just that, doctors should do their job, nurses etc, etc, and insurance agents should look for other gainful employment!!!

My opinion and I'm stick'n to it!... :)