[Matt3046]

I mean my mother has no health conditions and pays almost 1000$ a month.
I have none, yet my ex who has hardly ever held a job her whole life and has paid nothing into the system gets on average 20 to 30 thousand ayear paid for at no cost to her (well 1$ co pays) (she is diabetic and doesn't take care of it.)

[Allheart]

Matt - why does your Mom pay so much a month??

[Matt3046]

Because she is 60 yr old. Trust me it is cheap too. Health insurance is unbelievable. She has friends with prob that pay 2 thousand a month.
It's sad because she is a widow and bt the time she retires she will be long broke.

[Allheart]

I think when she is 65 - She will get medicare part A and then can pay for part B - and then roll that into an HMO, if that's what she wanted to do and if it still works that way.

My goodness $1000 per month. That's just awful.

[robertsqueen]

I agree with protecting your children... youwill do anything for them.. actually if you go under Google and type in your hometown and state and sex offenders.. it will give you the name and an account of what they did... I found it really helpful.

I think that universal health care is very important for everyone. Sickness can wipe out your checking account and savings. And you pay an arm and leg for just going to see the doctor. Not to mention the medications. I think that the government needs to focus on this issue.

[Synnen]

To pay devil's advocate with you...

I don't WANT socialized medicine. Absolutely not!

I like being able to choose my doctor, and being able to pay to get better care. Yes, it's expensive, but... so are lawsuits.

You want to drop the cost of medicine? Make it so that people can't sue their doctor because of simple human error. EVERYONE makes mistakes at their job. To be able to sue a doctor for malpractice because his judgement call was wrong means that they have to have higher malpractice insurance and therefore must charge more.

Once again, it goes back to personal accountability, and taking responsibility for your own life. If your doctor tells you that the mole is normal, you have the right to get a second or third or fourth opinion! You *shouldn't* have the right to sue him if he's wrong.

On the OTHER side of that coin--if doctors were not getting sued for every time they didn't save someone, then we could make the lawsuits that were left, the ones for gross negligence (like drinking before operating) MUCH more stringent, and break up the "good old boys" club of doctors that protect each other when stuff like that happens.

Let's throw this in there, too, then: If people in America took better care of themselves through diet, exercise and regular checkups, stopped smoking (because by now, who doesn't know it's bad for you?) and just generally took better care of their own bodies... wouldn't health care costs come down?

[NowWhat]

I think that a law passed by President Bush that makes suing a doctor for malpractice pretty tough. Our neighbor had his apendix out 6 years ago. Then 2 years ago, he started to get really sick. His wife took him to the dr. and they could not figure out what was wrong. The symptoms matched those of an apendix rupturing, but he had already had that removed. Well, they had to do exploritory surgery and discovered that not all of his apendix had been removed and it was rupturing. I guess he had a large apendix and the original doctor just clamped it off and never told anyone. He was out from work for months on end, their health care wasn't great and they are swamped in bills. They were just getting by to start with. When they contacted an attorney, they were told they had no case because he didn't die and eventually he will be able to go back to work. And the attorney said it was due to the new law that had just been passed.

As far as medicine - that is the drug companies. I don't think we realize just how much we do pay. Most medicines are marked up 3000%. THREE THOUSAND! That is outrageous.

We take good care of ourselves - but my daughter has asthma. And those medicines she is on cost us over $200 a month. We also just found out that she has a possible blood disorder. The blood studies they do cost a couple thousand dollars and she has to do 3 just to rule out one issue. Once that is ruled out, we have to start over.
It is crazy. And we aren't in the poor house, but we aren't rolling in it either - we have mounting dr. bills, because we haven't met the deductable for this year yet. It is a never ending cycle.

Also, I think picking your own doctor is an illusion. We have insurance with a pretty big company - it is decent.
We can go in our network and not pay as much. Or we do have the option to go outside the network, but pay more.
Yes, we have options - but we, like most people, are motivated to choose a dr. that the insurance has approved.

[Synnen]

I understand that medical bills are what will send most people to the poor house... but most people who live in countries with socialized medicine will tell you that it's not all that it's cracked up to be. You have just as many problems with malpractice and misdiagnosing, because doctors and pharmacies are paid a flat rate, not what it actually costs them, to practice.

Look... it takes 10 years of college to become a medical doctor or pharmacist. Nursing only takes 4 years, but they are understaffed, overworked, and underpaid, with little time off or real "benefits" other than health, generally. I would expect ANYONE putting that much time and money into their career to be paid that much.

The problem is that other careers, like law, aren't pretty much required by everyone to get by. Most people don't end up needing a lawyer at least once a year--but they do need to see a doctor and a dentist that often.

I agree that pharmaceudical companies are nuts with their prices... but I haven't looked into what that money goes into, either. Wouldn't you be willing to pay a huge markup on your medicine, if that meant a cure for AIDS or cancer? Like I said though... I don't know where that money goes. And if it DOES go into the pockets of those companies, well... they're the ones spending money on the research to make the drugs, too, aren't they?

I think that this, like many other issues, is TOO regulated by the government. I think that the government is waaaaaaay too involved with way too much.

Think about it this way: you have medical insurance/benefits, even if it IS high, and your deductible almost puts you in the poorhouse. You still have a daughter who is LIVING with asthma, a computer to write about it on these forums, the education to have a decent job, enough to eat, a roof over your head, and a telephone. You probably also have a TV, car, some movies, a DVD player or VCR, electricity... you get the idea. Most people in the world do NOT. Getting medical assistance, of ANY kind, no matter HOW expensive... that's a godsend to people all around the world.

If you don't like the costs... write to your congressperson about the markup on medicine. Talk to your doctor about less expensive options. Write to pharmaceudical companies and TELL them that you think their business practices are awful and unhumanitarian.

My parents were hit head-on by a vehicle 7 years ago. The other vehicle was doing more than 100 mph, my parents saw it coming and were stopped. They racked up $750,000.00 in medical bills. The other driver was uninsured, and their insurance stopped covering them at whatever their policy covered (I think it was $250k). They were so happy to be alive afterwards, and to be able to walk, and work, and see their grandchildren... they happily make that payment every month. They'll be making payments for the rest of their lives, but at least they HAVE those lives.

[NowWhat]

I pay for my kid's medicine every month - with no problem - because she needs it. And if there were medicines out there that cured cancer or aids, I would have no problem paying for that as well. Just as I have no problem going to the dr. to make sure she is healthy. We have had to take her a lot. (I have heard way to many times "We have never seen anything like this" :) )
And I am blessed in my life. I know there are so many people out there that don't have food or housing. I just think our system could be better. There was a child recently that died outside of a hospital because he and his mother were sent away due to no insurance. I think that is horrible. No one should have to suffer or die because of their ability or lack there of, to pay for insurance.


As far as nurses being underpaid - I don't know if I agree with that. I have friends that are nurses and believe me - they get paid quite well. But, they are over worked and most are burnt out.

[Synnen]

I have a friend who is an emergency room nurse, and she doesn't make much more than I do a year, and I don't have a degree!

I'm glad you know your blessings... and you're right, the system could be better! The problem is that there really is no punishment for those who take advantage of the system. I have no problem helping someone who is truly ill, and who is truly trying to make payments (that is, after all, part of the reason costs are high). However, there are a ton of people out there that just skip out on medical bills, leaving the rest of us to pick up the costs that THEY didn't pay for.

That goes for people taking advantage of the welfare system for medical things as well. I'm perfectly happy to pay for birth control for people who can not afford children, but why should I pay for those same people to raise kids that they could have prevented? My husband and I would dearly love to have a child, but simply can't afford it (mostly because we need a fertility specialist involved) --so naturally I'm resentful of paying the health care for people who were on welfare to begin with, eschewed birth control, and now they have 4 kids! How fair is that?

I know it's kind of heartless, but I'm almost to the point where I want people to have their children taken away from them (and believe me, I KNOW what kind of hell that is) if they can't afford the ones they already HAVE! Maybe that would make people more aware of the consequences of unprotected sex!

Unfortunately, as someone else stated... it's somehow become a RIGHT to reproduce. Never mind that you no longer have to take the consequences of having too many--the government will step in and pay for your kids if you can't afford them.

(Can you tell I'm a little bitter about it?)

[NowWhat]

Trust me I know your frustration. (on some level) My 19 yr. old uneducated niece and criminal boyfriend - now husband had a baby in September. She has never worked and for some reason he can't hold a job down. They have absoultely NO BUSINESS raising a kid. (and are now planning for #2! )
My brother and his wife desperatley want a child, but she can't have them due to some female health issues. It kills them. And it kills our family to watch.

I think the welfare system is good for those who need it and want to make a better life for themselves. My husband had to be on it when he was a kid - but his parent's plan was not to live off the system. They need it to get back on their feet and once they did - they were able to get off it. They had 4 kids - it can be done. But, I agree that, for those who abuse it - they should be ashamed.
I worked at a check cashing place once, and every month people would come in to cash their welfare check - wearing nicer clothes and jewlery than I had. And then they would drive away in a luxury car. It is FRUSTRATING!
I think a time limit should be put on welfare. You can get assistance for x amount of time. Once you have reached that - you are on your own. And give plenty of time for these people to make a change. Not a month...
When you start thinking of all the things wrong with our world - you want to scream!

[RubyPitbull]

Well, Nowwhat, I just finally found your post!

I believe what everyone has stated here are all very valid and vital concerns. However, I think magprob has brought up the most important concern of all. I am only taking a portion of his post due to the length.

How about the population and its expotential growth rate. We have done a poor job of keeping Mother Earth healthy because we thought the resources were infinite. we are all to blame. We feel that reproduction is our most dear, basic right, so I don't see anyone curbing the population growth on their own.
I say we are driving ninety miles an hour into the brick wall of our destiny. I say we are on the dogs back the red indians speak of and that dog is ready for a big shake to expell the fleas. We, after all, are the biggest parasite on the planet.

I do believe that we have let our population grow exponentially, and it continues to grow unchecked. As a direct result of that alone, we will be wiped out completely before we can resolve any of the other problems brought up here. Mother Nature is completely out of whack. I believe that she will correct herself to ensure her survival. I believe that it is already occurring. If we use as an example something small, such as insects. Every year, where I live, we get inundated with one type or another. Sometimes that inundation of one species will last a few years. Then, suddenly they are gone. The population has been cut back to normal proportions. Why? I have never heard any scientific satisfactory explanation of this occurrence. I do believe Mother Nature corrects the imbalance. In the scheme of things, we are not any greater than insects on this planet. This correction will happen. As to when, well, it is anybody's guess but I believe it will happen a lot sooner than people realize. Look at these drug resistant strains of diseases that seem to be rapidly occurring. Maybe the Asian Flu will wipe the majority of us out in a few years.

[Skell]

To pay devil's advocate with you...

I don't WANT socialized medicine. Absolutely not!

I like being able to choose my doctor, and being able to pay to get better care. Yes, it's expensive, but....so are lawsuits.

You want to drop the cost of medicine? Make it so that people can't sue their doctor because of simple human error. EVERYONE makes mistakes at their job. To be able to sue a doctor for malpractice because his judgement call was wrong means that they have to have higher malpractice insurance and therefore must charge more.

Once again, it goes back to personal accountability, and taking responsibility for your own life. If your doctor tells you that the mole is normal, you have the right to get a second or third or fourth opinion! You *shouldn't* have the right to sue him if he's wrong.

On the OTHER side of that coin--if doctors were not getting sued for every time they didn't save someone, then we could make the lawsuits that were left, the ones for gross negligence (like drinking before operating) MUCH more stringent, and break up the "good old boys" club of doctors that protect each other when stuff like that happens.

Let's throw this in there, too, then: If people in America took better care of themselves through diet, exercise and regular checkups, stopped smoking (because by now, who doesn't know it's bad for you?) and just generally took better care of their own bodies.....wouldn't health care costs come down?

I agree wholeheartedly with everything you say here. It is so true and I share the same opinion.

I just wonder if our opinion on this would be changed if it were us or one of our children who was on the receiving end of some bad advice given by a doctor that came back to hurt us. It is a common trait for us as humans to criticize others for doing something we don't agree with but when put in the same position we act in the same way as those we were critical of!

So we just don't know what we would do if our family doctor ensured us our son's mole was OK only to find out later that it was actually cancer do we??

[Synnen]

Well, I think that part of it is the natural human reaction to "get even". The doctor ruined OUR life (or our child's life), therefore, we're going to ruin HER/HIS life. Or we feel that one bad decision means that all of the decisions made by that doctor are bad.

Again, though... I must stress that if you REALLY feel that something is wrong with you or your child, and your doctor says there isn't... then shouldn't you be getting a second opinion anyway?

If you don't, then you are just as responsible as the doctor if something is indeed wrong.

Believe it or not, most doctors are in the business because they want to help people, not so much for the money. However, the money helps when they, like all of us, become cynical about the way people try to buck the system to get something for nothing.

[robertsqueen]

I am on welfare. I get medicaid for my son and foodstamps. But that is only because I am trying to better our life by getting an education. I agree that people who abuse welfare should be ashamed... but those who do not.. should not feel bad or less than others. I know that it is the most embarrassing thing having to use foodstamps.
I also agree that people should be held responsible for their own actions. I don't however think that medical should be a privliage and not a right. There are numerious times I haven't gone to the doctor and ended up in the hospital. You know what's really messed up? My caseworker told me that if I quit school I could get medical and everything... the government pushes education but dosen't help out those people that are really trying to do better? That is a concern of mine.

[Synnen]

Absolutely!

Welfare is there for those people who need it for a helping hand, not for those people that make it a lifetyle! The very fact that you are ashamed when using food stamps is a perfect example of why you are NOT one of those people abusing the system!

[NowWhat]

I think that if we could figure out how to coexist with one another - a large part of the battle is won. Sometimes we get caught up in our own world, that we forget that millions of other people are out - maybe not forget - but don't care.
We don't have respect for each other. Most of the time - we are down right rude. What happened to saying hello or giving a smile and wave to someone? Now it's "don't make eye contact and they won't talk to me"
When we moved in our home, my husband and I would sit on the front porch and watch the cars pass. I would wave at everybody. My husband said to me to stop. (I was getting weird looks) but I said NO. If I can put a simple pleasant gesture out there and make someone feel good for even half a second - then maybe they can pass it on.
I know it is simple minded - but what is wrong with that? Don't little things count?
Shouldn't we have more random acts of KINDNESS?

I, also, feel that we live in a throw away society. If something isn't working for us - just get rid of it. We throw our marriages away, our kids etc.
And we want everything now - but aren't willing to do the work to get it.

I asked what gets you going and I have got some great responses. Now, any idea of how to fix them?
I think we doubt the power of one. But, if each person did something small everyday - would it make a difference?
If we all didn't water our lawns everyday this summer - what impact would it have? Or if we all sacrificed our beautiful hair style and stopped using airsol hairspray and went to the pump - what effect would it have on the ozone? If we started car-pooling more with our neighbor or took the bus - what would happen?
If one became millions doing little things that wouldn't "put us out" - what effect would it have?

[NowWhat]

Wow, Nothing? I hope all of you just have your thinking caps on and are coming up with something good.

[NeedKarma]

Wow, Nothing? I hope all of you just have your thinking caps on and are coming up with something good.

It may be the case that many of us have families and things to do on the weekend.

[albear]

what's wrong with the world? Ans=people