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Consumer rebellion to lower prices.
Published on September 19, 2007 By jesseledesma In Politics
Ok, I really do not like HIllary Clinton and I think time is better spent focusing on the positives in the conservative movement.

However, this talk about a need for healthcare reform has gotten my attention. In this debate, the first point I would like to make is that less than 14 percent are uninsured in America. The news has been reporting that 44 million are unisured. Well, there is 300 known people in America.

I divided 300 in to 44 (300/44) and I got 13.6 percent. Now, how should we interpret this? To me this means that 86.4 percent are insured. Now can 86.4 percent insured people in America be a health care crisis?

In texas, even though you do not have insurance you can not be denied medical treatment at a hospital. Therefore, it cannot be that people are not getting treatment.

I think the reason healthcare is on the democrats and news media evil and sinister minds is that they cannot win with knocking Bush on Iraq and the economy.

Only a fool would say America has a bad economy. The economy is great. Tax revenue is up at the treasury. Salaries are up. Americans are saving and investing.

In addition, this last week's report by Patrues shows major improvements in Iraq. Conratualations and good job Mr. President.

Therefore, in my opinion, they are making up issues and the liberal-agenda driven news media is helping them democrats. The rhetoric is so high that some republicans are sounding the horn of neededd health care reform in America, also.

Now, what do I know about health care. Well I know we as people are not good at taking care of our selves and American medicine is "repair" medicine and not "illness prevention" medicine.

In addition, health insureance companies cheat and rob people. I was looking at insureance rates on the internet. The best I saw was a $88 a month premiun, a 2500 deductible, and a $35 dolor co-pay on doctor's visits. In El Paso a doctors visit is about $75.

Well, I used my financial calculator to figure out how much I would have if I put 88 a month into a five percent annual interest account and after taxes I would get 1,349. That is close to the deductable. Therefore, in my simple analysis it would be better to put $88 dollars in a five percent interst account and pay my medical bills from that, then pay for medical insureance.

Now for regular doctors visits and and maybe sound medicines this would be a good practice. However, what if I get a serious illness? Hum, good question. Well is there insureance where I can take care of the small stuff my self and have insureance cover the big stuff?

Oh that is right greedy and unscrupulous insureance comapnies do not like to pay for the big stuff. Don't they even deny people insureance for previous existing conditions?

Moreover, I have asked this question before and I will ask it again. "How can people with cell phones, cable/satelite TV, and internet justify asking the government to pay for their healthcare. I actually know people who pay $500 dollars a month on their cell phone bill, but do not have health or life insureance.

Of course I want to beat home the point that you cannot trust insureance companies. I do not want goverment forcing me to engage in a business relationship with business people I know are going to try and screw me at the first chance they get.

I don't mind being responsible. I'll even buy health insureance. However, some one better tell what they are going to do to keep CEO's of major insureance companies from leaving the coutnry with all my money. Remember Enron?

Okay, now I will trash hospitals. Yes they do charge more than they should, in my opinion. Look at the salaries of hospital administrators and you will see why you pay $100 dollars an aspirin that you can get a 100 for five bucks at the store.

Now, they will tell you it is for funding new medical technologies. I have never believed that lie. Hospital cost, in my opinion, are high because hospital administrators like to make a 500,000 a year salaries.

In my opinion, it is profitting at its worse.

This does not however allow Hillary and comapny to declare a health crisis in America. Again, 86 percent insured in America is not a crisis.

The poor not paying their fair share, greedy hospitals, greedy insureance companies, greedy pharmacies, and greedy politicians make for high health care in America.

Therefore, the issue for me is not that 13.6 percent in America are uninsured. The issue for me is the greed and waste in hospitals and doctors offices.

Insuring people will not lower prices. Forcing me to buy insureance will not lower prices. In this healthcare equation, not even competition lowers health prices.

May be a consumer rebellion where people picked hospitals and doctors offices to lower their prices might work."

Comments (Page 1)
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on Sep 20, 2007
Conratualations and good job Mr. President.





Yeah. Conratualations. 86% inusred is good news.
on Sep 20, 2007
To RoyLEvosh from Jesseledesma is your comment a criticism or a knock. I can't tell.
on Sep 20, 2007
Neither -it's a compliment. Congrats on being featured.
on Sep 20, 2007
"free" care not just in texas but all of us in the end foot the bills.
on Sep 20, 2007

There are a few reasons why healthcare costs are so high.  You're right, administrators make a bundle in pay and perks, so do doctors and other staff... aside from normal costs of doing business though, medical has a few expenses that are rare in other industries.

The ambulance company I worked for wrote off about half a million dollars every year in accounts receivable that will never be collected.  Yes, the company could sue the uninsured, non paying patient, but as they say, "you can't get blood from a stone".  Another problem is, while we are required to accept patients on medicare/medicaid, what it pays doesn't even come close to the cost of treating and transporting the patient.  That means, for an innercity ambulance service (or hospital, clinic... etc) we are taking a loss for most the patients we treat and transport.  So, since no business can survive long without turning a good profit, guess who gets to pay the expenses that keep the business of treating patients solvent?  That's right... insurance companies and private payers.

The next part of the problem (as you point out) is insurance companies. Actually, it's the whole idea that someone else should cover the bill for services rendered. Anytime you take the responsibility of paying the bills and give it to a third party, you create an artificial economy in that industry. In other words, you remove market forces from the equation. If the price of medical services were tied to what the market can bear, the bills would be much smaller, and there would be much less waste by the companies... there would also be a lot less written off every year.

I agree with you, the democrats are taking a situation that merely needs to be realigned and making it into a crisis.  Only a power hungry oaf would say, "look, some people can't afford health insurance... so let's come up with a plan that "helps" everyone... instead of just those who really need the help.

 

So far, from what I've seen, most of the times the government has intervened to "help"... it just ends up costing more and accomplishing less.

 

on Sep 21, 2007
The U.S. Census Bureau says 47 Million Americans have no health insurance.
47 Million out of 300 million means that yes about 15% do not have health Insurance and 85% do have insurance. That does not help the 47 million with no coveraege and as the Census Bureau reported that is up 2 million since last year.
on Sep 21, 2007
ColGene, and how many of them CHOOSE not to have health insurance? 44 or 47 million... People choosing not to pay for a service offered is NOT a crisis.
on Sep 21, 2007

The U.S. Census Bureau says 47 Million Americans have no health insurance.

47 Million out of 300 million means that yes about 15% do not have health Insurance and 85% do have insurance. That does not help the 47 million with no coveraege and as the Census Bureau reported that is up 2 million since last year.



But yet they can afford their own homes, multiple TV's, computers, iPods.  Would you be willing to take away those things since they don't "need" it, as you often refer to?
on Sep 21, 2007
Since they started outnumbering intelligent Americans.
on Sep 21, 2007
To all who commented, Just remeber to vote in 2008.
on Sep 21, 2007
Out of the 47 Million you quote with no Insurance...remember that approximately 20 million of those are illegals...

Why are we rushing to provide them free healthcare at our expense again?
on Sep 22, 2007
Hello All,

Gracious. Mention a citizenry taking care of its own (and others) and look what happens. Since everyone posting on this topic seem obsessed with the cost of the fear of paying for those who "decide" (hmm) not to have health insurance, please let me point out that you already do everytime an unisured person is sick, needs care, gets care or doesn't gewt care., it costs either taxpayers or poeople with insurance, hosptitals, or companies in terms of lost productivity. So afraid of someone getting something for nothing you cut off your nose to spite your face.

Be well...you better or the cost of being sick will make your life absolutely miserable.
on Sep 27, 2007

Reply By: ParaTed2k Posted: Friday, September 21, 2007
“Col Gene, and how many of them CHOOSE not to have health insurance? 44 or 47 million... People choosing not to pay for a service offered is NOT a crisis.” UNLESS YOU ARE ONE OF THE PEOPLE WITH NO COVERAGE AND GET SICK!

The reason why the vast majority if not almost all do not have insurance is the simply can not pay the cost. After they pay for housing, food, clothing etc there is nothing left to pay the cost of health insurance which can run $500-700 per month for a family. As to how many of the 47 million are not citizens, I can not say. But I do know that even if we were to eliminate all illegals we would have tens of millions with no insurance. The increase of 2.2 Million without coverage reported by the Census bureau is not because of illegals. We have an increase because of companies reducing or eliminating health insurance and the fact that the low income workers have not experienced any real wage increase over the past 6 years and have to deal with the increased costs on food and fuel.

What ever we do must be paid for either in more efficiency in health care and or by higher taxes. My first priority is to balance the budget with the current level of expenditures, begin to pay down the debt before adding any more expense. One way would be to end our involvement in the Civil war in Iraq. That could save more then $100 Billion per year.
on Sep 27, 2007
Mention a citizenry taking care of its own (and others) and look what happens


WRONG! Individuals choosing to donate their time, talents, skills, money or property to help others is "taking care of our own". Sitting around demanding the government do it ISN'T. It isn't even nice.

on Sep 27, 2007
“7.6 million TOPS. And many of those would qualify but haven't applied for assistance.

How the fark do you get 'tens of millions' out of that?” FROM THE CENSUS BUREAU- 47 million is tens of millions!

There are 60 Million Americans (20% of 300 million) that live in families where their incomes that do not exceed $30,000. VERY FEW families with an income of $30,000 or less is paying $7-8,000 per year for health insurance. The 47 Million as reported by Census is most likely very close to the actual number. Again if you are one of the number, what ever the exact number is, you have a problem without health insurance. It is like the joke - When your neighbor looses his job it is a recession or economic downturn. When you loose YOUR job it is a Depression.
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