If you think dealing with your doctor and private health insurance is bad now, wait  until Obama is elected. He has announced his plan is to build a socialised medical system for all but the wealthy. Basically, Obama wants the USA to go the way of the UK and Canada with regards to health care. The government will become the  single payer to doctors and hospitals. Doctors and hospitals will basically be working for the US  federal government.

Just think of how bad it will become when the government is paying the bills!  

"Im sorry, but you  will have to wait six more months to get a new CPAP mask, as per  government regulations." Or "government regulations  state you can only have a sleep study once every two years" even though you might NEED another study NOW.

Yep, I can see it now...I suspect many of us will be dead under a socialised medical system.

Unless you  can afford to pay for it yourself, many will just be SOL.

Fred


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"We don't need socialized medicine, what we need is insurance reform."


Resmed S8 Autoset Vantage, HumidAire 3i, Resmed Quattro ffmask

Gubmint wants its grubby little paws on the money from the health sector.
They are trying to implement it on 'it's for the kyyydddzz' !@#! for the most part.

Basically, Obama wants the USA to go the way of the UK and Canada with regards to health care.
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1. He never said this.

2. Even if he had said it, it will never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never happen.

We hope and pray it never happens anyway.


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

Well, I lived in the US for 43 years, and have been in Canada for the last 3. And I have been thrilled beyond measure with the health care system here in Ontario.

Naturally, it is not perfect -- it is run by humans. But it is not run for profit.

But if you live here -- boom -- you got health care. If you lose your job -- you still got your care. And there is a ton of emphasis on preventative care -- so as not to task the system later.

Two months ago, I had a very painful kidney stone and was seen immediately in an emergency room, give tons of morphine (and they kept asking if I needed more!), very good care from a series of doctors, a scan of some sort (CT? not sure) and a follow up visit with a specialist a few days later, who took x-rays. Cost to me: $0.

Re CPAP: I went to my primary doctor and told her my problems. She gave me a letter saying I could have a sleep study. I went for that in July. Went back to her to see the results. Turns out I do have OSA so I scheduled a second sleep study using a CPAP machine (in September). Got a loaner machine to try for the month of October. Decided on the machine and mask I wanted to buy and bought it. Ontario paid $780 of the $1040 price of the machine. I was billed for the remaining $260, but my supplemental insurance from my job will cover that 100%. They May also cover the cost of the mask. I'm not sure, I just sent away the forms last week. Possible cost to me of all of this: $0.

Honestly, it seems like a friggin' miracle. And I am finally getting over feeling like I am walking out on a bill when I leave the doctor's office.     (I like having my tax $ go to this rather than the military.)

The United States health care system is flawed, so I welcome the change.

Everyone wants to claim that Obama is this and that, but let's give it some time before we all build bomb shelters and watch for the sky to fall. You have to wonder if some of these issues could get any worse?

Obama is not a liberal. He is a mainstream Democrat. Which is better than McCain in my opinion, but people need to stop seeing him as the Second Coming.

Hell, even Karl Rove admitted today -- after foaming at the mouth for weeks calling Obama a socialist -- that Obama actually ran a "center-right" campaign.
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/11/06/obama-rove-dig-socialist/

Brent Bozell, head of the right-wing Media Research Center, says "Barack Obama won as a conservative."
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/11/07/bozell-flips-obama/

That is an exaggeration. However, Obama is right in line with Bush Co on many things: the bailout/corporate Xmas gifts, $$$ for Iraq, renewal of the Patriot Act, supports the dealth penalty. He also wants to ramp up Afghanistan, says he might have to attack Iran, etc. ... No true liberal would support any of these things.

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Does anyone have any evidence that Obama said what the OP says he said?
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Universal Health Care has always been part of the platform of the Democratic party since Clinton ran for President. With the control the Democrats have of the congress and Obama has president this will come to pass. Americans should be ready for a tax rate of between 50% to 80% on everyone that works. I can prove my point by pointing out that we already have Universal Health Care for three groups of people in the US. You can look and see for yourselves just how good health care under the government is going to be. You should also be able to figure what it is going to cost you as well.

Group 1: Our senior citzens with medicare. How many times have you turned on the TV to seee some report about cost over runs, corruption, billing errors, and just out an out greed in the medicare system. The fact of the matter is that a government ran health care system would be ripe with BILLING ERRORS from the get go. The government can not look at each case and see if it is being over charged. Get ready it will be fun

Group 2: Our veterans get free medical care. In 1992 when Clinton was running for President and Universal Health Care was one of his promises. Us veterans in the military had a standing joke which is "If you want to see a what government ran health care system will look like. Visit all the VA hospitals in the US. Then be afraid." Again how many times have you turned on the TV to see some news report of a returning wounded veteran that has received really poor health care. Alot more often than what should be allowed to happen. As a retired veteran, I hope I'm smart enough to figure this out.

Group 3:  Our Native American people have in many of their treaties with our government the promise of health care. Why don't you visit all these reservations and see the great health care that our government has provided them. What you will find out is that our government is great on promises and short on delivery.

A point I would like to make is also look at the state of Oregon where they have a health care system in place. Look at what happen to it because of cost. I already know since I live in Oregon so you should get a good look at the problems it has had.

I agree our health care system is broke. However having the government take over and run it, is the last thing we want to have happen. If the Republicans and Democrats would quit bickering and really work on a solution for everyone we might actually have something. Right now I doubt that is going to happen. Looks like politics will rule and no real fixes will happen.



Last edited by Ozone Rambler on Sun Nov 09, 2008 12:33 am; edited 3 times in total
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Our constitution protects aliens, drunks and U.S. Senators.
Will Rogers (1879 - 1935)

Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for.
Will Rogers (1879 - 1935)

You missed the 4th type of government health care in the USA: the health care benefits Congress has bestowed upon itself. They booted the military and the postal service out of Civil Service to better ensure their own congressional retirement and health benefits.


_________________
Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

CrohnieToo I did miss that. That is a great point that if you want good health care from the government. Then you need to be in the government as a Representative, Senator, or President. Otherwise just suffer. They gave the military Tri-Care and boy is that system screwed up. I forgot because I take my health care through my employer who has better benefits.


_________________
Our constitution protects aliens, drunks and U.S. Senators.
Will Rogers (1879 - 1935)

Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for.
Will Rogers (1879 - 1935)

I did want to ask this. Under a socialized medical system can we sue the doctors? The reason I ask if the doctors are government employees will they be open to malpractice law suits? It is very hard in the US to sue the government. Does any one know about this point?


_________________
Our constitution protects aliens, drunks and U.S. Senators.
Will Rogers (1879 - 1935)

Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for.
Will Rogers (1879 - 1935)

Under my current insurance, I can only get a new mask and tubing every six months. What I worry about is how children will be cared for, but in Pennsylvania, there is a current system called CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) that will provide free or low cost care to kids.

This whole possible socialized thing does have me a little nervous, though, but until it happens.....


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Scratching away the apnea!

The problem w/"socialized medicine" is that I don't see it holding down costs - except for delaying needed procedures, tests and specialist referrals. There must be SOME way to reduce the obscene profits and the obscene compensation paid to those at the top of the ladder.

It torques my jaws to see those who provide actual hands on patient care, including doctors, constantly having to scrabble for decent pay, benefits and compensation whilst these medical hospitals continue to build new facilities and pay their top administration people obscene salaries, perks and benefits. And that includes the money they spend on advertising! Who doesn't know where their local hospitals are located?? Gimme a break!


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

Your American medical system could use some re-organizing but I'm not going to suggest how you should go about it.  However, it would help if you-all really knew how the system works in Canada so you could make somewhat more informed decisions.

We do not have socialized medicine; that would mean that the government was the owner and employer of those who work in the system.  What we have is a single payer system.

First of all, hospitals are mostly non-profit institutions, sometimes owned by the community in which they are located, sometimes by universities (notably, in Toronto, the University Health Network), sometimes by other non-profit or charitable entities and are run by boards of directors which hire the CEOs.  Most hospitals in Ontario get global income from the health insurance plan (which is known as OHIP).

Some doctors work for the hospitals because their positions are full time.  Most doctors are in private practice and bill the government health insurance plan for each patient visit.  There are some medical groups where the doctors work for the group.

The labs that do blood work and other medical tests, as well as x-rays, CT scans and MRIs are mostly private enterprise although many hospitals do this work, sometimes as stand-alone companies, sometimes just as departments of the hospitals and they bill the government health plan for each patient.

The drugs prescribed to patients in the hospital are paid for through the hospital.  Outside the hospital, drugs are usually supplied by independent pharmacies although hospital pharmacies also dispense drugs, and the cost is the responsibility of the patient (although there are government plans for seniors and welfare recipients).

In Ontario where I live, there is an Assistive Devices program which helps with the cost of medical devices like wheelchairs, walkers and, yes, CPAP machines.

OHIP funds what they call Extended Care beds in nursing homes which are often private enterprises although there are some owned by religious groups or municipalities.  Patients pay a set amount for care and OHIP pays the rest.

Most drugs, dentistry, vision testing, physiotherapists, and much medical equipment and probably other expenses are an individual resposibility.  Private insurance is available to most employed people to cover at least some of the costs of these items.  

There is no doubt that we have waiting lists for some things or that there are other problems with the system but anyone who becomes really ill gets immediate care and it is of good to first rate quality and no one goes bankrupt because of medical bills or goes without because they don't have insurance.

All this comes out of our taxes which, of course, means that we all pay more than you do.  The medical part is pretty expensive but the administrative costs are effectively zilch - of course, they do cost but as a percentage of the medical costs they are much lower than in your system.

This is not the first time I've had to write about our system and I suppose it won't be the last.

Btw, a real socialized medical system is the National Health System in the U.K but there is a parallel private system as well.

I know I am new here but, if you want and think government sponsered h/c is something you want or we need or will be fantastic, just go into the post office, social security office, un-employemnt office, or anyother  office of a government run organazation and tell me then it is something you really want when it comes to health care. OK, maybe Canada's system is good, maybe thier govenrment an run a h/c/ system, but I really don't think with our goveenment run systems applied to h/c will work.
JMHO