November 2008 Weddings
Rachel2315
member
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Health Care
So...I'm bored. Where do you stand on the health care bill?
I am...unsure. In the middle. I am all for everyone having equal access to some form of health care. But I don't like the stress this will put on small businesses, etc. But I do like not having to pay $50 for two aspirin at the hospital because I have to pay for those that go to the ER without insurance.
Also, I haven't really researched this particular one that much. Like I said, just not quite sure. What do you think?
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Re: Health Care
I am in total agreement that we need health care reform. The system we have now is not great- b/c I have insurance I pay more for my health care than I would if I didn't have insurance. We pay monthly premiums, we pay co-pays, etc. But if we didn't have insurance...
However, I think this is similar to the economic stimulus package- they are in a big hurry and trying to push this through without considering what long term, lasting effects that this is going to have on the health care system. The last shift in the insurance paradigm (Medicare PPO in th 90's) caused the health care system to swing towards overworked, underpaid workers- we're all working harder, for less money, with more paperwork, restrictions, etc. And yes, I know that this has happened to a lot of professions, not just mine. We need to find a way to swing back towards the middle and I am not convinced that this bill/package is the way to do it.
All that to say that I am unsure, like you, Rachel.
Something needs to be done but this isn't it. I started to read the bill but the legal jargon in it makes it impossible to. They don't even have a clue as to what they are passing.I will say this though, as being the recipient of government healthcare (VA system) and seeing how bad they have screwed that up it terrifies me. Having to see a gp instead of and ob/gyn because they are considered "specialists" is awful.
What they need to do is go after all the medicare fraud. I'm still waiting on my senator to answer my questions regarding that. I'm tired of paying for people who think their gold teeth, jewelry and tattoos are more important then paying for healthcare for themselves or their children. Or demanding that they be taken to a hospital 30 mintues away instead of going to the one thats 2 miles away.
this topic makes me stabby. sorry
Since one of the people I work for is the Director of Compensation and Benefits, I have a primer on the bill, but I haven't read it yet. Just thinking about it gives me a headache.
I have mixed feelings. I think it's disgusting that we are the only advanced nation without this. If we gave minor care to more, we'd have to give major care to fewer - because things would be caught before someone gets to an expensive stage.
On the other hand, I have family in Canada. Their healthcare is paid for, but they don't have freedom of choice for their doctors and they have to wait several months to see specialists. When they do, though, and a proper diagnosis is made, the care is wonderful.
My mom works for San Diego County. She has a different job now, but she spent much of the last few years as a Quality Control person for MediCal - which is California MediCare. They reviewed eligibility. There were many stories of people hiding money so that they could qualify. The system is easily abused. For the most part, though, users did qualify - and where would they be without it? Clogging up emergency rooms and clinics with issues that could have been prevented. Now my mom works on cases involving children with intensive medical care needs.
My MIL is involved in medical billing. She has some crazy stories about how much things cost. Her sister is an OR Assistant. She has commented that it is hard to believe how much a 15 minute outpatient procedure costs.
I am also concerned that it costs so much to have a baby. $25,000 just to stay in the hospital for three days??? And I left a day early! And I got separate bills for the anaesthesia and the obstetric care and the pediatric care. Insanity. And there are uninsured who show up at the ER to give birth having had no prenatal care because they couldn't afford it.
Something must be done. Even if it's a bad option. We can fix it later.
I'm unsure... and agree we need something, but... why should I have to pay for others to have health care? Why are they making me do this?... what's next? My paying for their car insurance cause everyone should have it?
I know not everyone can work. I know not everyone should work. I'm worried we'll have what Canada has--the crowds, etc... and It won't be fair.
It all feels rushed to me...
(and yes, we've turned off Glenn Beck when he comes on Fox News)
TTC #1 13 cycles, CP 6/09, TTC #2 1 cycle
CDing, EP'd for 13 months for #1, BFing for #2
Pregnancy Hypertension - inductions at 39w, I grow big babies: DD was 9 pounds 1 ounce 22 inches, DS was 11 pounds even 22 inches - both vaginal deliveries
I agree with the no-go on modeling our healthcare after Canada. Lots of DH's drivers are Canadian and go to Michigan and Chicago to see specialists since the waiting lists are way long.
But. Medicare right now can only be called a clusterfvck. Like Breanne said, there is SO MUCH Medicare abuse and fraud. It needs to stop. Then add the people that Aria mentioned that cheat the Medicaid system and...thats part of the reason that a night in the hospital costs so much.
I like the system we have now; but mostly because I can afford my healthcare and I can afford GOOD healthcare (for the most part - I'm still PO'd about not having my epidural covered at all. Dude, you try being in labor at home for 24 hours before coming the hospital. You'd want your epi paid for). But I really feel for those who can't afford any healthcare. I live in a great state for Medicaid - its accessible to those that need it and the income maintenance workers are investigative before they put someone on it. But there's still fraud.
I wish there was an easier solution. Like others said, something's gotta give, but Obama man, I don't think this is it.
ETA: I also am not for the bill if it does support abortions provided for by the state. I am totally pro-choice but unless its medically necessary, I don't think its insurance's job to pay for it.
I agree with this, and also with some of what Lorelai said.
I also think that more money needs to go into solving all of our current problems instead of creating new ones (ie: medicare fraud, etc). It annoys me to no end that my disabled father who can no longer work, who has (and continues to) pay his dues and taxes does not qualify to receive Medi-Cal because he worked his butt off, never received welfare, and lived the American dream and owns a home, yet millions of people mooching off welfare and medi-cal continue to do so on his (and my) dime. If the fraud in our existing system was fixed or improved, I think we would be okay with what we have in place now. Why should we pay into a system that we can't use when we need it??
I think we should be able to keep more of our own money (instead of paying crazy high taxes for programs that most of us can't use/qualify for) and let us decide what to spend it on. As long as there's free, government funded care available, people will continue to spend their money (and welfare) on other stuff and abuse the system. If you take it away, or make it available for a FEE, it will be surprising to see how many people actually save up for their own healthcare or think twice about their actions that lead them to seek it (pregnancies, drugs, etc...).
That's enough rambling for now. I definately think something has to be done, but I agree that Obama's bill is NOT IT.
I'm with softskate, if I wanted it, I'd go there. Let the Canadians keep it. I like having a choice, I don't like being told what to do by people who get paid more than God.
I'm against it, and I'll just leave it at that.
I don't get into this topic because it just gets me heated.