I know alot of people do not realize the cost of health care in the United States, and just how it effects them. The goal of our health professionals is to make and keep us healthy, but I have to ask this question, at what cost. We as american citizens have to join together and get health cost down to where the average working American can afford it. There are some pharmactical companies that have joined the fight to help low income families receive their much needed medications, but again what about the so called middle class americans that can not pay for their medications or their health care. If it is a choice between paying for health insurance and medicines or paying the rent or mortgage which do you think the person is going to pay. Realizing that there are every day working people who pay taxes and try to keep their families in good health, but who also need a break from the insanely high cost of health care is a goal that not only the Federal government needs to address but also the Doctors, Insurance Companies, and Pharmacutical Companies. We have come into the age of living older but not always better. Why should the middle class americans get stuck with paying higher health cost then anyone else. The federal government needs to put some cost limits on alot of industries and business'. To grow old is not a bad thing, but to grow old and not be able to afford the little things is a horrible thing. Most of you are still young and don't think about growing old and surviving on little or no extra's, please think about it. You are going to rule the country in the not to distant future and you need to know how hard middle class americans work and how much we as a country need Health reform. If you do this and you make a brighter tomorrow for your parents, aunts, uncles, and possibly your grandparents then when you are older you can look at your children and grand children and say "Yes we did make a difference!" and know that you did. Today we should honor our health professionals because they have made great leaps in making us healthier and living longer, But agian I say, "AT WHAT COST!"
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I am a trauma surgeon. I work in a very busy, large hospital, and a level 1 trama center in the largest city in New England. I see hard working people come through my doors every day at their most vulnerable times of their lives, when they are most injured. When they do survive alot of them are often left with large hospital bills, and when they don't survive, their family is left with the bill. It's a sad situation and it makes me sick.
Some of you might be saying, who are you to talk, you're a doctor, a surgeon, you're loaded, well I'm not. That's a myth about doctors. If you go into a cushy area of medicine like podiatry or gastroenterology maybe, but the doctors that staff the ERs and trauma centers it's different. I do get paid ok though and I give back.
I give back in two ways, one in spending some of my time off in a walk in clinic, and two, I am working with a group of physicians who are lobbying for heathcare reform that will give equal access to everyone.
I want to pose a question, what are you thoughts on socialized healthcare. Many countries use it. Basically everyone has healthcare through the government and to fund it the money comes out through tax money. The positive part is that everyone has equal healthcare and equal access to medication and services. The downfall is that sometimes it is months before you can get an appointment.
-L
"You're beautiful baby from the outside in. Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again. Go on, take on this whole world. But to me you know you'll always be, my little girl." BY: Tim McGraw
I respect alot of the people that work in health care field
Thank You!
-L
"You're beautiful baby from the outside in. Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again. Go on, take on this whole world. But to me you know you'll always be, my little girl." BY: Tim McGraw
Every country that has tried it has failed. People often say "look at Canada" they have socialized medicine and it works. They often forget to mention that it's on the verge of bankruptcy. Recently there was a story in the news about a Canadian government official who came to the United States to have surgery done because he might have died before it could be done in Canada. I doubt his constituents have that same ability.
The reason health care cost have skyrocketed is because of a lack of personal responsibility. Everyone wants the old days of employer paid health insurance and $5 co-pays. Well it's gone and it's not coming back. That is the reason we have high cost in health care. If it's only 5 bucks, you run to the doctor when you have a runny nose. The doctor then prescribes you whatever medicine the pharm rep was pushing this month and you run off to the pharmacy and give them your insurance card and 10 dollars and everyone is happy, right. NO, your employer is pissed because he is the one actually paying for this. When insurance companies raised rates the employers just passed on the increase to their employees and now we have a health care crisis.
Look I sympathize with people who don't have health insurance because I am one of them. But I work hard for my money and I've found that when I go to the doctor they have two prices for everything, one for people with insurance and one for people without. The non-insurance price is often 50% less and sometimes as much as 75%. If we all knew what health care actually cost we would take better care of ourselves. You can often afford health care if you set aside money for it and don't say you can't afford it. That extra movie channel on cable ($10 month), the Starbucks coffee every morning ($5 day * 20 days=$100 month), internet on your phone ($15 month), $2 day in the vending machine ($40 month). Each of these alone would save you from $120-1200/year and in combination it's $1,980. If your company offers you a health savings account you could even put it away pre-tax which could save you $198-$693 in income tax.
Also we are country of obese people and smokers.
Obesity is one of the leading causes of heart disease in America. I think the only thing that kills more people than heart disease is auto accidents(That's a whole other range of articles!). Trial lawyers are now going after fast food restaurants for making people fat. I don't think this is the answer because it goes back to personal responsibility.
Smoking is facing a nationwide backlash as more and more cities ban smoking in restaurants and other public places. I believe in 10 years smoking will be illegal.
Companies are going to start charging obese employees and smokers more for health insurance and that is as it should be. If you don't think so ask yourself this question "If health care is so expensive already, why should a healthy person subsidize the insurance cost of an unhealthy person?"
Chris
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
-Thomas Edison