Huey Driver Loc: Texas

True National Health Care Story

For all of you folks that want government run National Health Care here is an example of a friend in Northern Ireland (the British Healthcare System).

A true story about a friend of ours, a young man about 40 years old who started passing blood and large clots in his urine. It took him about a week before getting in to see a doctor. The doctor naturally says they need to do some tests. A Catscan and a Cystoscopy to determine the problem. It took about a week and a half before he got an appointment to have the Catscan done. He was under the impression that Cystoscopy would be done the same day but not so. They told him the results of the Catscan wouldn’t be back for 10 to 14 days. I’m no doctor but a Catscan can be read immediately as soon as a radiologist sees it. They have him scheduled for a Cystoscopy at a different facility but he is not able to get an appointment until June 23rd.

This could be nothing more than a bad bladder infection but on the other hand it could be something very serious. If you think waiting that long is acceptable you won’t mind National Health Care. If on the other hand when your passing blood and large clots you think that long a wait is not acceptable get ready. Obamacare is just the first step to National Health Care in this country.

Think about that when you get ready to v**e in November.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

there is what we think we know and what we can and do know. there are beliefs and there are facts and there are things people think they can predict.
see table 4 in article cited below
http://www.healthpolicyjrnl.com/article/S0168-8510(13)00175-9/fulltext

US vs UK wait times

In 2013, the healthcare foundation The Commonwealth Fund examined waiting times across 11 countries, including the US. It reported that in the US a quarter of adults surveyed (26%) said they waited six or more days for primary care appointments “when sick or needing care”. The figure for the UK was just 16%. The US also underperformed on same-day or next-day appointments compared with the NHS – 48% access versus 52%. According to Robin Osborn, a researcher at the foundation, longer-term comparative trend data over a decade (2003-2013) shows “dramatic” improvements in the NHS on waiting times, including for specialists.

It is sensible to apply some caution when comparing markedly different health systems. For example in the US if you have an expensive, top-tier insurance policy (and many people do) you are likely to have a lot shorter wait than people with cheaper policies, or indeed those in other countries. However I have what would be regarded as a pretty good policy in terms of US private health insurance, and my own experiences on waiting times are markedly worse than under the NHS. So, assumptions that private systems automatically t***slate to greater efficiency and shorter waiting times for the majority are simply unconvincing and need to be assiduously challenged.
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/aug/25/gp-appointment-waiting-times-in-us-worse-than-nhs

GRAPHIC
Waiting … and Waiting …
A look at the average time to get five kinds of appointments for new patients in 2013, from a survey of 15 metropolitan areas.

Waiting … and Waiting …
Average time to get five kinds of appointments for new patients in 2013, from a survey of 15 metropolitan areas. JULY 5, 2014 RELATED ARTICLE

One of the best articles on waiting for healthcare in the US
www.google.com%2F&priority=true&action=click&contentCollection=meter-links-click" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/07/06/sunday-review/waiting-and-waiting.html?version=meter+at+null&module=meter-Links&pgtype=article&contentId=&mediaId=&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&priority=true&action=click&contentCollection=meter-links-click

So we maybe better off with universal health care and not fear or it!

Huey Driver Loc: Texas

Say what you will, think what you may but National Healthcare will come and most of us won't like it. Most thought Obamacare was going to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. Most people today that had private insurance in particular are not thrilled with it today. I know numerous first hand examples of things that happen all to frequently in the British system. After Obamacare why does anybody think us having National Health Care will be any better?

ole sarg Loc: south florida

It is interesting that the polling on OBama care is now saying it is not as bad as they thought. The polling has included people on medicare! They don't even partake in OBama care!



RCP Average 1/7 - 5/9 -- 39.2 48.8 Against/Oppose +9.6
PPP (D) 5/5 - 5/9 1222 RV 42 42 Tie
Pew Research 4/12 - 4/19 2000 A 44 54 Against/Oppose +10
Rasmussen Reports 2/29 - 3/1 1000 LV 43 54 Against/Oppose +11
Associated Press-GfK 2/11 - 2/15 1033 A 26 42 Against/Oppose +16
CBS/NY Times 1/7 - 1/10 1276 A 41 52 Against/Oppose +11

Historically, Medicare faced the same fight as OBamacare

Further analysis by respondents' political identification reveals some interesting, yet unsurprising results considering today's political division on this issue. In 1962, a clear majority of Democrats, 65%, preferred the Social Security approach, while a majority of Republicans (52%) said they preferred the private insurance approach. Political independents' preferences were closer to those of Democrats, with 56% preferring the Social Security approach.

When Gallup asked this question two more times that year, including once after Medicare's defeat in the Senate, support for the Social Security approach had waned. By late May, more Americans still preferred the Social Security approach, but by a slimmer margin: 48% preferred it, and 41% preferred private insurance. By August, after Medicare's defeat, the margin had narrowed even further: 44% preferred the Social Security approach, and 40% preferred private insurance. These declines occurred along party lines as well, but majority support for Social Security held among Democrats, and support among Republicans and independents for the private option grew.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/8491/gallup-brain-medicares-early-days.aspx

Regarding Obamacare for all as a nation we seem to favor it

Fifty-eight percent of Americans favor the idea of Medicare-for-all, a form of providing universal health insurance, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll released Thursday.

The concept is supported by 81 percent of Democrats, while 63 percent of Republicans oppose it. Still, just 5 percent of Democrats say Medicare-for-all would be their most important factor when v****g, according to the monthly survey.

https://morningconsult.com/2015/12/17/poll-majority-of-americans-favor-idea-of-single-payer-healthcare-system/

Lastly, there are failures in the US health care system too! Here in the states doctors bury their mistakes. When you think about there is no outside oversight of the medical profession in this country so we know less about the mistakes and anecdotal stories are not as prevalent here.

Here to get quick care a doc will advise you to go to the ER and to request him. That will get you into the hospital quick and he will be able to see you during rounds.

Of course if you have the bucks there is Concierge medicine (also known as retainer medicine) is a relationship between a patient and a primary care physician in which the patient pays an annual fee or retainer. This may or may not be in addition to other charges. In exchange for the retainer, doctors provide enhanced care, including principally a commitment to limit patient loads to ensure adequate time and availability for each patient.[1]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concierge_medicine

Huey Driver Loc: Texas

If you believe those polls check with some of the middle class and ask about their premiums and their high deductibles. Rarely has the government ever managed something as complex as health care and had a satisfactory result. Just look how well they have managed social security. I was in the healthcare business for almost 40 years and still have clients and contacts therein. The only ones who are truly satisfied with Obamacare are the rich who don't worry about their premiums and the poor who are subsidized or paying nothing.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

Actually the government has managed very well. Medicare is example one and the VA is example 2. The VA you shout. If it were so bad why does every veterans group endorse it and why do most who use it like it.

Social security is being managed very well. If the GOP was willing to address the problem it could be solved just as it was when Reagan was President. Notice that since employment has picked up that SS solvency has been extended some 10 years.

You seem to confuse politics with administration of programs.

I seem to remember the its your money campaign that bankrupted the nation and that was espoused by a Republican and who pushed through a tax cut for the wealthy. Everyone with a big income made out great but everyone else did not. Now I wonder why?

Regarding premiums. What would they be without OBamacare.

The study found that in 2008, premiums grew by an average of 9.9 percent, and by 10.8 percent the following year.

In 2010, premiums grew an average of 11.7 percent. That was the last year that individual insurance market prices were not affected by mandates of the Affordable Care Act, which Obama signed in June 2010.

Read MoreData discrepancies in health signups
The study also found "enormous variation in rate increases across the states."

For example, in 2008, the average premium increase ranged from just 2.8 percent in Iowa to 14.7 percent in Wisconsin. And in 2010, Idaho's individual insurance market had an average premium hike of just 3 percent, but Nebraska's market saw an average premium increase of a whopping 21.8 percent.

There were also big differences in rate hikes within states, according to the study.

In 2008, for example, 10 percent of the people enrolled in plans had no rate increase, while 10 percent faced increases of 17.8 percent or more.

Such wide variances were due, in part, to the fact that before the Affordable Care Act, insurers in the individual market could deny coverage to people with pre-existing health conditions, and could also charge them a higher rate than healthier customers.

http://www.cnbc.com/2014/06/04/health-plans-had-big-premium-hikes-before-obamacare.html

BTW the polls basically poll the poor through the middle class! Rich people don't answer phone polls!

Lastly, be smart and v**e you pocket book and not the Koch brothers pocket book they don't care about you.

Why not go back to the Clinton tax rate? Solve a lot of the problem we face. Not all of it but a big bunch of it!

Huey Driver Loc: Texas

Maybe one of us needs to go back to school. Almost daily you can read or hear on the news about the terrible shape Social Security is in. And why, because the government pulled a bunch of money out and put it in the general fund and never has put it back. I can't think of anything that our government (Republicans or Democrats) has managed very well. And with regards to Obamacare if you pull out of the equation all of the people getting free or subsidized coverage the numbers would change drastically. When you pay nothing a 50% increase in premiums is still $0.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

The money in SS fund was always part of the general fund. What the government did was change an accounting term.

The shape of social security is a political matter not a management matter. Congress can increase the amount paid in or require business to chip in more or do any number of other things.

see: http://www.fool.com/retirement/general/2015/07/06/what-does-the-future-hold-for-social-security.aspx

http://www.fool.com/retirement/general/2016/04/04/3-social-security-myths-debunked.aspx

It seems the world is constantly coming to an end in the right wing world. The assumption is that nothing can be done. The fact is something can be done!

Our government has managed most things rather well.

here is an interesting article:

https://hbr.org/2006/05/change-management-in-government

BTW companies don't do very well either and in many cases worse than government witness
Trumps 4 or 5 bankruptcies, Sears going under as we talk and the myriad other businesses that close their doors.

You drove a Huey and I humped a pack but the military worked very well when at war. We never lost a battle now that is hitting better than Ted Williams. The same can be said for Iraq and Afgan. Remember not to confuse the politics with the agency.

To politicians everything is bad because they want more money for their districts or states and that can only be done by pointing out failures both real and imagined.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

There is a much easier way to look at single payer. The VA is a single payer system. It's run by the Federal Government. People die waiting for an appointment. On ly a few hundred thousand patients. Expand it to 350 million. Think about it.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

People die waiting for surgery in all hospitals. The one case of this happening I believe is in Arizona.

I suggest you read:

http://prospect.org/article/why-veterans-health-system-better-you-think

Perhaps when the VA is not being attacked by a bunch of politicians who want to k**l the system you will see the light. Also, you will learn just what the VA health care system does and it is more than just hospital and doctor visits. Lastly, the bunch of right winger congressmen underfunded the system and then said it was failing due to a lack of funding!

Remember doctors bury their mistakes while the VA because it is a public system has to air theirs!

Lastly read:

Hospital Errors are the Third Leading Cause of Death in U.S., and New Hospital Safety Scores Show Improvements Are Too Slow

http://www.hospitalsafetyscore.org/newsroom/display/hospitalerrors-thirdleading-causeofdeathinus-improvementstooslow

You sure you want to go to the local hospital?

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

How many VA hospitals have you worked in. I have worked in every VA hospital in the MY City area. There are 4. Here is the difference between VA Hosps and others. IN every hospital (other than VA faciities) OR time is at a premium. Surgeons fight over OR time. Most OR rooms, in VA Hosps go unused. I have seen this in every VA Hospital I have been in. PS> MY City should have been NY city. In every other hospital, Large or small. every OR was busy all day long, Some were used on a 24 hour basis.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

I have worked in none. But, OR in civilian hospitals are fought over often for surgeries that are selective. In short, it is a matter of money and not necessarily care!