Greg Summers 10 Mar 2010

I am an insrance broker. The ONLY solution is a single payor system - everyome plays and everyone plays. All doctors must participate and everyone must enroll.

Those who speak badly about the Canadian system do not compare what ancedotal evidence they have with the tons of horror stories here. I see the way the companies turn down people.

However, the insurance companies are not the villans we'd all ike them to be. All the government has to do is require that everyone has to have coverage and that no one cvan be turned down and that all conditions are covered.

Without mandatory coverage, you can't have guarrnateed coverage. A person could simply wait untill they got sick to buy coverage. it's not single payor but it would be a beginning.

For those who are terrified of government take over, and call it socialism. Socialism is just a word. Canada's quality of life is rated highly and none of my 125+ relatives in cnada (I was born in Toronto and grew up there) even talk about healthcare. It just isn't an issue.

My step-mother had cancer, had a choice of several docotros and hospitals - interviewed until she felt comfortable, was operated on in two weeks and paid very little out of pocket.

Yes, taxes are higher but tension and worry is so much lower. I am facing a loss in coverage in 61 days.

Given a level playing field, the insurance companies would all have to accept the risk equally. Cnada and the US are very different. Could a government run plan like medicare work?

It already does. yes, there is fraud but much of that from the practitioners. Perhaps a partnership between regulation and the sytem already delivering the payments.

We must do something but even the simplest suggestions run in to horrific arguments. I don't believe anythiong could be as unfair as what we have now.

I've been lucky to have a plan through and employer but in 61 days, I will be paying over $700 a mont and that is a bargain compared with what i could be paying.

markosphoto 11 Mar 2010

What was wrong with the system before? Why change everything, just fix what is wrong. Do we need to use peoples SS. We focus on helping everyone including those who are not citizens.

If the cost of for healthcare was better, not just paying for the health care each month but the cost of things in hospitals was better, cause quite honestly, to get blood drawn should not cost over $200 without insurance. Right now I have to think from the perspective of one without insurance. I also don't want the federal government running health care, they are put into place to make laws for the states to follow.

I have nothing negative about the way Canada runs, for years I have wanted to move to Canada :). Thanks for replying, I honestly didn't think this topic would get a response.

RQ Trietsch 11 Mar 2010

We don't need a control freak running everything!

Go after the pharmacutical (sp) that are raping everyone with their over 500 to 1500 % market-up.

The government can't even run the government without creating a major deficit, why do we want them running the health care?

I don't like having things rammed down my throat rather I want it or not, under the guise of protecting me from me.

Gary Glass 11 Mar 2010

In some cases, unfortunately the insurance companies are villians.. I have seen how they deny people certain procedures and mislead them when they are podded to certain hospitals.. I don't like the current form they are pushing now as they are hodge pogding it now with bandades to try and placid every congressmans whim about it..

One thing they could start with is allowing more cross state purchasing of insurance, that alone would start to bring down some of the cost as it affords more competition than we have now..

and what is up with Blue Cross Anthem tacking on 37% or so rate increases right now???? Even congress committee had to ask the Ceo when they had a meeting, about that one in this enconomic climate we have at the moment..

They were suppose to start from scratch and build up a good program for insurance but now it is a joke what they have tacked together after everyone on capital hill has had there say..

and the Republicans are arses right now.. they complained that they had a better plan and when it was incorporated into this package they still won't vote for it.. WHY??? they are afraid it will give the Democrats KUDOS and then they won't get elected in the next election.. it is always about them and not the people.. Everytime a party gets elected , the next four years is the other party trying to tear the other down so they can get elected..

Well maybe if the idiots actually represented us, they would not have to worry, they would be voted in..

I am sick of the whole mess, where else do you get to vote in your own pay wages?? and actually if congress had to pay for their own health care maybe we would get a better package.. or at the very least, why is is we do not get the same coverage congress gets to pick from??? we are paying for theirs??

It is all a joke.

markosphoto 11 Mar 2010

Whats funny Gary, is I have a tendency to vote democrat when it comes to any office, over the last 6 years, I have paid attention to what the candidates are saying, I vote based on what the candidate wants to do. As of right now, I only like one thing Obama has done, I won't say what it is, cause people get pissed at me for it. I didn't vote for him, just based on what I thought he might do which is not that far off.

RQ, I get what your saying.

On the one side we need health care, but then again, if we took care of ourselves better we wouldn't need it, or need it as much, cause things happen.

APHOTO4YOU 11 Mar 2010

I dont like not even ONE THING Obama did...

Sorry ...does he own NIKON CAMERA?

Oops I think politic and religion doesnt go to well on AW...Careful!!!

Gary Glass 12 Mar 2010

YES B,, he has lot's of NIKONS and says anyonewho uses them is his best friend hehehehe

APHOTO4YOU 12 Mar 2010

Hahhahhahha Gary

Right on!!!! if that is case..I will open door from my van and shout...HELP YOURSELF

Then i will go and buy Kodak disposable..with hope that he doesnt own one..LOL

RQ Trietsch 13 Mar 2010

Like Markos, I listen to most of the canidates on both spectrum of the radio and very seldom vote for any of them....I usually go 3rd party.

I tell people I vote for who I think qualifies, not the popular persuassions of TV politics. And I can truthfully, I've never voted for a winning President since 1968, when I was first legal to vote.

APHOTO4YOU 13 Mar 2010

RQ

so u are 58 years old..lol

Good 4u..way to go...

What gets me where is money gotta come to support a health care..This country owe China trillions...

Gary Glass 13 Mar 2010

I hear China has been cooking the books and they are close to going BK themselves..

WE may not have anything for anything if every one goes BK.. Keep your camping gear in good order..LOLL

markosphoto 13 Mar 2010

They are talking about taking it from SS which screws a lot of people.

Greg Summers 14 Mar 2010

I can't believe anyone could think McCain would have done a better job.

This is a quote from a Replublican commentator

"In a sensible country, people would see Obama as a president trying to define a modern brand of moderate progressivism. In a sensible country, Obama would be able to clearly define this project without fear of offending the people he needs to get legislation passed. But we don’t live in that country."

The problem with this process is conflict - the fact that anyone can think that we don't need to quickly make sure EVERY person her is covered byy health care is beyond absurd. The cost of not doing so kills almost 20,000 people a year and simple conditions end up in expensive hospital er rooms.

Who care who you voted for - who cares what party you are in - this has nothing to do with labels. it has to do with common sense.

We are so afraid something bad might happen to US no one will support anything.

Obama walked into a horrific situation. The fact that we haven'tcollapsed is an amazing accomplishment.

I sell health insurance and seewhathappens when peole are denied for rediculous reasons.

Nothing could bemore expensive than what we are doing now and if anyone thinks that who you voted for has any relavance than you are as much to blame as all the politicians who make choices based on the next election.

Our healthcare system costs much more than any other industrialized country. infant mortality is one of the highest. obesity and asthma and diabetes are epidemic. Put down your labels and sit down and talkk specifics. Enough with politics. We are collpasing from within because of these labels that polarize us.

if you want thepoliciticians to start from scratch i suggesting trying it. it is not easy. If we don't find an answer - volutarily, one will be forcedon us.

And BTW - if you think China is theonly counry with cooked books - you are sadly wrong. It is everywhere andi do mean everywhwre. Who here could analyse and audit it anyway.

Our news is owned by corporations - listen to Brooks and Shileds on PBS - it is possible for tow peole who have varying viewpoints to have an intelligent conversation.

None of us, including myself really has a clue how to fix this - and we shoud stop making judgements on those trying to or we are as bad as they are. i doubt any of us would do a better job.

Aboma has not been perfect buthehas done an admirable job. For God's sake, were on the verge of total collapse and now we have some hope. give him credit.

Gary Glass 14 Mar 2010

GREG GREG GREG

I did not see anybody saying McCain could do a better job here and it is you who are misinformed about CHINA.. they are cooking their books and they did it before in 1995.. as well as we are and other countries.. I never mentioned THAT THEY WERE THE ONLY ONES

But everyone cooking the books was not the issue in my statement, I merely stated in reference about what was said by bianca and her reference to China and my statement to her was that China is on the verge of possibly going BK and before you say I am misinformed on that I suggest you go read in the financial articles printed on MSN on THURSDAY which talked about that very FACT possibly happening..

it already happend with Greece and now they and are having major problems as well as some others that are tied to Greece's enconomy..

AND YES, our health system is a gigantic mess, and there is a lot of blame to go around and things to fix on it..and no one item will make a big dent, it all needs to be overhaul but I will tell you this, if insurance companies stopped gouging people with their extremely high premiums and make no mistake about it, they are doing so because they HAVE TO SHOW A PROFIT FOR WALL STREET.. and that is a FACT not my opinion.

One step if they would allow cross state purchasing of insurance that would be a bit of help in the right direction of reining in prices and allowing for more competition and in helping folks who need decent coverage without having to mortgage the house on it. And do we need to bring up Anthem BLUE CROSS and their heinous rate increase of 37% in the last couple of months in this economic climate??? And if you think this is another mis informed item,, Go look at the Congressional record on the hearing they had with Anthem on that..

and another fact regardless if one likes Obama or not, the fact is, we will never truly know how good he would have been because of all the crap he had to deal with when he took office thanks to George Jr and Cheney.. They practically ruined us and before any Republican lovers get offened, I was a registered Republican since high School and I am ashamed at the party the past 8 years and this whole mess they perpetrated on us and is now coming to light with the release of Rove's book and other books about what really went on , although I hate Rove as well..and for the record, I voted for Obama.

It really pisses me off that these politicians do not represent us.. all they do is whoever gets in office they spend the next four years trying to tear and malign the other party so that they can get elected instead of working together and represent us.. We should make them use the choices we have for health care, then you would get reform... but oh of course I forgot... we pay for their health insurance and they get to pick from a wide array of good choices..

Gary Glass 14 Mar 2010

Hopefully they won't Markos.. but they have been trying to do things with the SS including balance the budget with it.. SO I hope they keep their grubby little hands off of that but they are looking for DEEP POCKETS and are going to go after anything they can.. hopefully the general voting people will not allow that to happen, but it seems that if their boats don't get rocked very much, they are willing to tolerate a lot of things being taken from them..

But you rock it hard enough they will react.. I think that is why we saw Obama win.. People really were hoping that maybe just maybe someone really was going to offer reform and not just lipspeak..

I like McCain, but when he said in October with everything starting to collaspe that we were on sound footing, I thought OH GOD, this guy hasn't a clue what is going on, so I had to switch and vote for Obama..and I really Really did not want Palin anywhere near the office..

Greg Summers 14 Mar 2010

GARY

Anthem did not increase rates 37% universally - it was 39% by Wellpoint in California - in other states, Anthem is NOT owned by Wellpoint and I saw increase of 8% to 15% and up to 62% depending on situations and types of plans. Anthem and Blue Cross are not one large company but an association. Anthem of Virginia and Colorado are owned by different companies. I have one Virginia cvlient - a group of 14 that got an 8% incrrase. I have a United HealthCare client that got 1.5%. As close as i am to the system, there are only somethings I can explain.

As far as going across state lines - then who regulates the companies when there is a dispute? it is hard enough to get Colorado's Division of insurnce to track down illegal practies (many of which are carried on by small entities).

The Canadian model is good and so is the system in the Netherlands - both radically different but both cover universally and spend 1/2 or less than we do. Many call it Socialism. That's enough to have many people running for cover. It's hard to reach a resonable solution when there are so many labels.

I am not misinformed about China - (at least not any more than anyone else) they cook the books but so does every country - even Canada and even us. Some say China is on the verge of financial collapse. There's obvious collusion and misleading information coming from within. More than that, there are so many problems in the world and in the country. Some say there are over 3 million houses in some degree of foreclosure being stalled so they don't flood the market and cause prices to collapse. How long can they do that?

Whle the snows of Mt. Kilemangaro disappear, some say global warming doesn't exist. In a world where consumption of resources that are diminishing and cause pollution, the only solution to the economic recovery is more consumption.

For every piece of information you or I think we might have under our grasp - it is not complete. I am not suggesting we leave things as they are. I am suggesting we speak to each other with respect. Healthcare may be the focus of this discussion, but the problems are much wider and one soltion may well cause other problems.

Beginning a post with GREG GREG GREG and then explaining how misinformed I am is condescending and disrespectful. It is more or less, exactly how the politicians speak to each other and why we are in this mess.

The politicians represent us not only in their ideas. The are a manifestation of the anger and divisivness of the people who got them there. You didn't even address my main point - Davd Brooks' statement. His words were accurate - his words are important and describe the process that prevents us from reaching resolution.

With the money we are spending making the world safe, we could insure everyone. How much are we spening anyway andhow and where?

If you and I can't talk to each other with repsect - I mean really have a conversation, how do over 500 men and women come together and reach a reasonable solution?

RQ Trietsch 14 Mar 2010

Guess I was still aspleep on my last post....not 58 anymore...add another 4 years to that.

14 Mar 2010

14 Mar 2010

Greg Summers 14 Mar 2010

Minerva - I like what you said - and the laternative to universal care is what? Leave people without care? That's what we are doing now and the cost of that is staggering.

Look at the differences of opinion here with just a few of us. Imagine trying to sit together in a room - a big one and working out differences with 500 of us.

Markos - what is wrong with the system as it is - millions of people aren't covered. If that isn't enough than what is.

People who have no coverage use the ER - 10+X more expensive. What's wrong with the current system is that there are no uniform rules and there is so much fraud from all sides.

Here's something i read in our local paper when the Olympics were on. If you want to know where you are in Vancouver. if you look up and see mountains you are travelling north. if you look up and see the ocean you are looking east. if your car is being broken in to, you are in Surrey andif you see people talking about their right to have guns and waving them around and shouting about healthcare, you are in the U.S.

I work in this business. I can't get coverage because i was diagnosed with a microscopic prostate cancer that might well be gone now. What kind of system denies people who desparately need care. The answer is - the American system.

Yes, i make my income doing this. I have been for almost 30 years. I have ovwer 500 insureds. Several of them have cancer. For the most part, they are being taken care of well and with some of the glitches they come to me for help and i help. I would say 99% of the claims are paid without a hitch - maybe more like 99.8%.

80% of people are insured through jobs. We simply can'tleave people uninsured - call it what you will - socialism - whatever. it works in every other industrialized country. The time has come. Kick me out of my job but take care of my friends when they get sick or hurt.

It will take a lot of letting go on all sides - yours, mine everyones. it isn't just the insurance companies - it's all of us. I see very little concern over the uninsured. I see a lot of anger of demons that may alleviate our guilt but don't solve problems.