ObamaCare: We Get It – And We Don’t Want It
by Dr. Mark G. NeerhofHealthcare reform will once again be coming to the forefront on February 25 when the President calls leaders from both parties for a healthcare summit. The summit is a half-day meeting to solve the problems in healthcare that have persisted for decades. The President will once again explain his plans for healthcare reform, after having apologized and accepted responsibility for not “explaining it more clearly to the American people.”
The President has already given 29 speeches explaining his party’s plans for healthcare reform. The problem is not that the public does not understand the Senate or House proposals. The public understands the proposals all too well: a government takeover of healthcare with a price tag of $2.5 trillion over 10 years, giant slashes to the already under-funded Medicare, expansion of Medicaid, huge tax increases that would cost an estimated five million American jobs and stifle medical innovation, and individual mandates to purchase government-approved insurance plans just to name a few. The American people understand these proposals and have soundly rejected them, as evidenced by the recent election in Massachusetts.
America is desperately in need of healthcare reform. I have yet to meet a person who opposes the idea of healthcare reform. The status quo is not a sustainable path. But the reform we enact must be responsible and must maintain the quality and availability of care and the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship. Such responsible reform would include the following:
- Tort reform.
- Eliminate the restrictions on the interstate sale of health insurance to increase competition among insurance companies and decrease the cost of insurance.
- Make insurance portable. You should not lose your insurance if you lose or change jobs.
- Give the same tax breaks to individuals in the form of tax credits or deductions as are given to employers. This will make insurance more affordable.
- Encourage health savings accounts. If you really want to control health care costs, this must be done.
- Establish state-wide high-risk pools so that those with preexisting conditions can get insurance at reasonable rates.
Enacting these six points would not cost a dime, but it would maintain the quality and availability of care, and maximize the availability of affordable health insurance.
The partisan divide in Washington on healthcare reform is discouraging to everyone, particularly physicians. Physicians do not treat democrats or republicans, we treat patients. Our desire and, in fact, our responsibility is to protect the welfare of our patients, which means maintaining the quality and availability of care. The American people should demand no less of their elected representatives.
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110 Comments
Also, how about employers compensating employees with salary instead of benefits? I'd like the same breaks employers get and be able to shop for health insurance, instead of my employer forcing their choice of health insurance on me. I can't afford to get health insurance outside of what my employer makes available to me.
Maybe he just needs to say it LOUDER…Cause obviously, we aren't hearing him, nor do we care…!
Quite frankly, there is nothing that Obama could ever say that would interest me, and there is nothing he would ever offer that I would ever want.
… and either my employer pays a portion of the health insurance premium they make available to me or I get nothing if I opt out.
Add to the list the ability to buy the type of coverage that you need. If you are a priest you don't have to pay for maternity coverage, etc. etc. If you don't want mental health coverage, you don't have to pay for it. I liken this to having the pay for all the sports channels on the satellite dish when i don't watch sports – it just comes with the package.
Instead of tort reform why not just make doctors immune from liability for any mistakes they make? If you get hurt or killed by a doctor or hospital, tough sh!t.
People might take you more seriously if you actually made an intelligent comment. Nobody wants a doctor to be able to get away with blatant negligence; but the climate now is that if you don't get the result you want it HAS to be someone's fault.
Maybe if Barry had some of his music industry friends get together to mix a track, then we'd get to hear it on the radio all the time. Jay-Z, Beyonce, Black Eye Peas…where-ya-at?
it always amazes me that reforms that might make a different are so often ignored. Ever wonder how much it adds to your bill when the doctor, for fear of litigation, runs every single test he can imagine might apply to your condition? Lab work is expensive. Defensive medicine is more expensive.
Tort reform. We can only gather data on malpractice suits settled in court. There is no way to know how much is paid out in out-of-court settlements. Any unexpected expense is unavoidably passed on to the consumer (or in this case, the patients), you can't expect the doctor's staff to work without pay…
Those TWO reforms would have significant impact on our costs.
My family is fairly conservative, and we've noticed that, when in a debate, the liberal method of choice is to repeat the same thing, only louder.
I imagine that this is why we are seeing such a migration of independents to the conservative bloc. If I disagree, shouting at me the same argument is only going to turn me off.
Explaining and re-explaining, and re-explaining a policy that flies in the face of what I know to be sound market mechanics, isn't going to convert me.
Obama's "just keep re-emphasizing" method really demonstrates that the folks in power have incredibly little regard for the people they represent.
HEY, OBUTTHEAD, LISTEN UP!
Try an honest plan for ALL AMERICAN CITIZENS, a plan with patient's rights, no rationing, no cutting and no death panels (or whatever you call them now). Include ALL Americans, THAT INCLUDES OBAMA (if he is a citizen), OBAMA'S FAMILY, ALL OF CONGRESS and NO ILLEGALS. Since Obama and his puppet Congress have lost public trust it will need to be absolutely clear, transparent (recognize that word?) and open to public discussion until ALL problems are resolved!
If you can't do that then, GET OUT OF OUR FACE!!!
Unfortunately, an honest plan does not give Obama the control he so desperately needs so he can march America to his Marxist goals.
The Obama Deception – Full length video
http://usataxpayer.org/?0071119896
Obama vs. The Constution of the United States
http://usataxpayer.org/?0046741148
I agree with your sports analogy. Recently our city was selected to host early rounds of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Many months before the event they announced they'd be selling ticket packages, as a consumer you were forced to purchase the Women's NCAA tickets along with the Men's tickets, they would not separate them. This type of PC subisdy was ridiculous, and I refused to be extorted.
Without out real consumer base reform in healthcare, we'll continue to be forced to pay for services we do not need or want, it's extortion.
Also, the number of medical schools and doctors needs to increase.
Doctors should be as plentiful as attorneys.
Two unfavored groups. There was an incentive to find work because unemployment and medical coverage ran out.
There was an incentive to leave a job and go to a company that paid for health insurance. Now it pays as well to not work if Obamascare is in place. Obama may strain his back by moving the goalposts.
He can't explain how every day people are getting healthcare as they have for a long time. He brings nothing new to medicine except rationing.
If only the MSM would do their job and echo the sentiments of the American people….this issue might have been resolved by now. So if I may get your attention there Katie, Dianne, Chris, et al……
We want to rein in the cost of health care in this country…
If this endeavor is to be labeled "HEALTH CARE REFORM" than so be it.
If the Democrat Party's solution to this endeavor is to have the government take over this industry and thus somehow bring down the cost and also make it universal in the bargain, than why oh why….
All the secrecy……..
We already saw how things work when a bill (the stimulus) had to be passed in order to save America without having it see the light of day.
This whole health care incident kinda reminds me of the first scene in the movie "The Sting"
Sorry folks,but like the song says…..
"……won't get fooled again….."
DAMN……..
THE OBAMA IS STILL NOT LISTENING.
AMERICA TO THE OBAMA……..
WE DON’T WANT OBAMACARE………
WE WANT JOBS…….
IT’S THE ECONOMY……STUPID.
[O-Logic]
Those who oppose Obama-care are stupid and incompetent.
Stupid and incompetent people are incapable of making decisions for themselves.
Therefore, opposition to Obama-care is proof that the opponent needs Obama-care.
Q.E.D.
[/O-Logic]
I personally will be glad when the harpies and sirens are voted out of Congress. They are wasting our time as a nation and putting us deeper in debt every second of every day. It amazes me how the harpies and sirens are all screaming that the Republicans have no plan! The funny thing is, the above proposed plan has been on their desk all along….there is just to much wailing and moaning and nashing of teeth for some folks to see. The above list of would not cost the American people anything to implement and it would truly work….but "We the people" know that the harpies and sirens are just trying to seduce us into their plan for us to control us…like harpies and sirens do!
Ditto…
Could not have said it better myself. Even the issues that I might agree on come with too many strings attached when it comes from Obama.
Here's another pic of what the Messiah might look like in 25 years:
http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/11_02/raspu...
How about….
ABSOLUTELY NO MANDATES!!!
ObowMao can hammer on his message that the Dems weren't clear enough on their health care reform message but
Harry Reidovich's exemption for Congress members and their staffers, and enforcement by the IRS complete with prison sentences spoke volumes.
The only thing Obama would have to say, that I would remotely be interested in hearing, would be his concession speech in 2012.
If you really want to improve health care then get the government out of it! The more the government is involved, the more things get screwed-up.
Amen! Ever notice just how simple the above list is? In contrast we have the 2000 page monstrosity of the Dims! This should make any man/woman with reason fearful!
LOL!
Dare I ask about the poisoning, the stabbing, the drowning, the shooting, and the freezing? Did I miss any?
Remember, Obamacare is about growing government (job creation/expnding government union members) so thus permanently shifting our great country LEFT – in a paradigm shift to Euro-style Nanny statehood.
This guy is a not so stealth neo-Marxist, he wants a very different country than the one we all grew up in, one that is much more foreign and dependent.
Euro-style trains – less cars and personal transportation, huge welfare populations/Democrat voters, high taxes on a shrinking producer sector, a shrinking military, the whole neo-Marxist ball of crap.
We must vote out the ultra -leftist Pelosi – Reid – Obama before they reshape our country in their warped elitist vision
Ever notice just how short the above list is? How simple it is? How it does not have the government controlling our physicians? Contrast the 2000 page monstrosity that the Dims have proposed, which makes you feel safer? WTH is in that 2000 pages that they do not want us to see? Through the bums out!
That may be too little, too late for me…!?
And why do you suppose these ideas can't gain any traction with the "progressive" left? I submit it is simply because:
"Enacting these six points would not cost a dime"
The "progressives" have one main goal at this time, and that is to bleed the wealth of the United States in order to establish a command and control society. Nothing that benefits the citizenry or increases their prosperity will be tolerated or entertained.
(As an aside, the U.S. no longer has any "monetary" wealth, but if you consider our population, our natural resources, and our infrastructure, America is still the wealthiest nation on the planet. That is where our wealth exists, and THAT is what the "progressives" are after.)
The only thing I want to hear from Obama after a year of his lame leadership and deliberate crushing of the economy – "Let me be clear, I resign." He has proven himself and there is no "moving to the middle, no second chances."
Say it loud and clear, Mr. President.
We all know it is jobs that are needed, but Obama doesn't care about that. If he did there would be tax cuts and incentives for small business owners to hire and move forward. Most small businesses are scared to death about what taxes and restrictions Pelosi and Reid will put on Employers. No, Obama wants to takeover the whole country!! And believe me it isn't for our health and posterity.
The fact he is still pushing this dead horse health care into the intersection, (proves) this is about takeover and that's it.
Or, I hereby resign as President of the United States, effective immediately… to spend more time with the First Gardener and my obese daughters.
Only one thing to do…..vote. Make sure you vote in November!
What if he offered to step down? Wouldn't you want that?
Perhaps the reply the US General gave the Germans at the battle of Bastogne in WWII would get thru to Obama "NUTS".
Instead of speaking down to me on the health care that I don't want, I really wish he'd just write it all out on a roll of toilet paper so I could give it the proper treatment it is due.
29 speeches? Small wonder I can't stand the guy.
Replace item 1 with: "Eliminate antitrust exemptions for insurance comapnies including, but not limited to, health insurers." If we don't do that then the benefits of the other points will be illusory. The insurance companies will scream — which will prove only that it is the right thing to do.
Tort reform is a legitimate goal but, if it stays on the list, it should be last on the list and last in priority. Tort reform too often takes the form of capping awards for actual damages (not just punitive or exemplary damages) for the innocently injured. I fail to see how that is fair. But loser pay reforms would make sense in all litigation, not just health care. And there may be other good ideas that are consistent with individual liberty. But tort liability isn't our biggest problem. And, since tort reform doesn't have much of anything to do with the government micromanagement of health care and health insurance that is really inflating the cost bubble and stealing our freedom, it has the wrong atmospheric for a Tea Party revolt. That is why I'd drop it or put it last.
Earth to NObama… You know how to make Health Care affordable? Give them JOBS! You know how to make it better? Open it to competition!
Lets see… How about the Olympics? Lets remove competition and say that only the host country can compete in event X and only another country can compete in event Y. Doesn't motivate anyone to try very hard does it? Doesn't lend itself to 'record-breaking' times/scores does it? Kinda sounds socialist to me. COMPETITION IS A GOOD THING!!!!!
No thinking person has a problem with physicians being held accoutable for careless mistakes. The issue with with FRIVILOUS lawsuits that jam up the cours system. The vast majority of awards in all these cases, frivilous or not, (usually well over 50%) go, not to the patient who was harmed but to their attorney. These are the issues to be addressed by meaningful tort reform….stoppping the greed and profit movive.
Didn't Chairman Obama just tell us in his State of the Soviets speech that he was going to focus on creating jobs? How long did that last…..2 weeks? Maybe if he did put the 7 million or so who have lost their jobs over the last 18 months back to work at least these people would be able to afford health insurance.
Yes.
But we all know that isn't going to happen.
Do we ever get a day off from this arrogance?
and American Pravda is pitching in to help…all the usual suspects are oushing the Obamagenda hard.
The anger is palpable from the leftist media – it was so close – socilaist utopia –
with the media elite/Follywood elite/Maoist political class/Wall Street elites in for the kill.
Proletariate rank & file Americans paying – the Obamaists taking.
That's what I was thinking. That'll bring out their guns.
[...] [...]
Cruel and hillarious…
This is also easily verified if you watch any tv at all. just how many commercials come on advertising that if you took this drug you could be entitled to a settlement, or if you had this procedure and have these symptoms you could be entitled to a claim. These advertisements should clue any reasonably intelligent person into who is making the money off of these situations.
At this point it's blatantly obvious that this was never about healthcare. Otherwise why would the left be struggling so hard to keep the right out of the mix, moonlighting on so many occations, back door meetings, etc. When instead they could take a few simple steps to correct the system that would be far better. Why? Because they can't fit all of the political payoffs, and all the pork barrels in a smaller bill. Stack on top of that the power grabbing and what not that the "intellectuals" need in order to exert their "I know better than you" policies and you can't get away with anything less than 2,000 pages!
The rapid and sustained rise in the cost of healthcare roughly coincides with the advent of government funded healthcare programs for the poor and elderly. Additionally, due to government regulations and taxes, corporations offered healthcare insurance coverage in lieu of salary increases to employees. When the burden of payment for healthcare shifted from the individual to a third party, a large measure of competition among healthcare providers was eliminated from the market. Also, consumer restraint became a thing of the past; studies have shown that almost a tenfold increase in doctor visits per year result from removing the payment obligation from the healthcare consumer to a third party, which invariably increases the cost to the payer and results in high premiums. Healthcare-related litigation has also played a role in the rapid rise in costs. Any effective measure to reform the U.S. healthcare system must include tort reform, as well as market driven solutions. In other words, we recommend less government involvement not more.
http://www.theplanetbuzz.com/economy/business-ind...
It's been my experience with self proclaimed "experts" that they are not content to do what merely works. They have to promote their theory of what will work so that if the experiment works they can go down in the history books as saying, "Look at what I did!" So tried and true solutions are of little use to them, they are what other people have done, but oh no the "experts" way has so much more style and charm and will do a better job because the "expert" developed the idea. Funny thing is… most of the time the experiment is a flop, a ponzi scheme at best. This crop of radicals at the helm now fall into this catagory to me. How else can you explain the policies they enact that goes against the very fabric of the rational.
Obama wants socialized medicine. He wants to be the founder of America's version of the NHS (and yes the NHS is a disaster but he thinks it's just ducky).
Anything else said, proposed or adopted would simply be the thin end of the wedge towards socialized medicine.
This started because of a government "solution" to a problem. They created wage & price controls. Business compensated workers with health insurance to get around that. Unintended consequences. So government passes another law to fix their solution. Which creates another problem and on and on….
"Government doesn't solve problems, they rearrange them". Ronald Reagan
Oh but didn't you hear? They are adding competition! It' s the U.S. Gov! Makes for an awfully fair competition when your competing against the people that write the rules doesn't it. Imagine playing a football game against a team where the refs are dressed in the opposing teams jerseys.
I think it should be mandated that no bill can be passed if it is has more written words than the Constitution…I think that would cut the crap out! I agree with your statement above….man's ego gets in the way and the need for self glorification is a temptation few can resist!
I'm with you. And, the truth is that the gov really isn't competition… it's standardizing, nominalizing and controlling the industry.
sad.
Let me think. Who is immune from liability if they screw up your life? They change a zoning law or give your competitor a zillion dollar grant or takes your home to build something to enhance revenue? Maybe they should be in charge of healthcare.
[...] [...]
If the economic devastation is by design, and I do believe it is, why are these not grounds for impeachment?
Whatever it is, it's the looting of our Treasury.
The scam of calling changes to "health Insurance change" "health care reform" is the first underhanded move of this entire deal. Health care involves Drs, Nurses and many related folks, all that is being bandied about is money. If the truth was told the issue might be easier to discuss, health care IS available to everyone, arguably perhaps not equal quality to everyone but available. In point of fact disregarding every other facet, not all Drs are equally qualified as all hospitals are not equally good.
So lets discuss insurance and money which is where the issue lies and it's called insurance not care.
Exactly. Doesn't anyone see a conflict of interest in the same insurance companies providing both health insurance and malpractice insurance? "Settle" for $15-20,000, and increase malpractice rates, because of your payouts. It creates a vicious circle that is highly inflationary, just like, back in the '50s, BC/BS paid exactly twice the amount for a normal delivery as an uninsured person was billed, thereby increasing demand for its services. Short term expenses for long term profits has always been their game, and it is the genesis of the "crisis."
Speaking of equality of care I offer the following:
a. I have very good insurances as well as Medicare.
b. I have seen 4 Drs in the past 12 months, 2 GP type and two specialists(I am old so I have several issues).
c. Of the 2 Gps one I would not take a dog to the other is excellent.
Point is my "healthcare" was NOT related to insurance.
Right Pablito
it's TORT reform not…
TURD reform.
Oh come on A.Mens
Isn't there anything you want from this president?
[...] [...]
I heard recently that some medical people put together a free clinic in Hartford, Conneticut for just one day. The news said they treated 1000 people that have no health insurance and could not afford a doctor. Has anyone thought we need to get the private sector busy organizing clinics. With the right tax incentives for the voluntary staff and suppliers there may be help for many folks.
Your six point list is pretty good. The seventh point I would add is to allow small businesses to join together to combine their workforces for the purpose of insurance.
http://libertyatstake.blogspot.com/
Good points, mac!! This is exactly what everyone seems to really mean when they say "health care." They mean they want to reform health insurance or access to health care. And you're right: all health CARE is not created equal. Bravo.
What, the Obama administration?
Obama is going to use this meeting as a tool to try and make the rep. look like the party of no. a new photo op.. for the MSM. he has given 29 speeches , and has not told the truth in any of them. Like , you can keep your insurance ,you have, or you can keep your Dr.. He had to back off this a couple weeks ago when he said, someone, he didn't know slipped in , (kittens and puppies) that would keep you from keeping your insurance or your Dr. He's going to fix this problem. How many more (kittens and puppies) is in this 2700 page bill, that he doesn't know about. Truth is, he has no idea whats in it, because he hasn't read it, he's been too busy making speeches trying to sell this piece of garbage. Not one rep. should show up for this meeting.
Let him and REID and PE–LO–SKi drown in their own vomit.
"one-term" obama doesn't get it!
Like paying for abortions!!!!!
Obama, I'm REPEATING this Again, to make it PERFECTLY CLEAR. We, U.S. American of the 57 states with one or two to go, do NOT WANT YOUR STINKING AGENDA on healthcare, national security or the economy!!!!!!!!!
If people weren't losing their jobs, we wouldn't have that loss of coverage now would we, Odumbo!!!!!
Maybe the rates would go down, what ya think about that, Odumbo!!!!
I could go on but it's dinner time!!!
By the way, I can't stand that picture!!!!!!!
He STILL doesn't get it! WE DO NOT want government run health care!!! Everything the government touches, turns to crap, and in no time goes bankrupt!!!
And if ballots don't work, there's always . . . .
its called "Practicing" medicine for a reason. If a Doctor is negligent he should face the consequences. If he makes a mistake, or if something abnormal happens to a patient, he shouldn't face the same consequences. There needs to be more common sense involved in the system.
But you gave the reason why he has no incentive to do so. The economic devastation is by design. The phony health care reform circus is just an extension of that central agenda. Cap-and-trade is another.
Full
speedbleed ahead!snowballs?
The solution will be to see how health care insurance problems can be solved without the Man being in control.
What are you talking about? What is your point?
Hey jerkstore, what is with the profile "Bigot, racist, birther, homophobe, teabagger, denier, flat-earther conservative. ":
Your observations are correct! As an artist I was always taught that the most successful designs are simple….I think it can be across the board in economic, politics, law, etc.
"Simplicity means the achievement of maximum effect with minimum means." Albert Einstein
Anybody that thinks allowing the government to run the healthcare system needs to realize that America had the best schools on the planet before the government took them over.
That poster of Obumble gives me the "creeps"….along with his
d*&n agenda…….
If we give out "Free" health care too, I don't think there would be a Mexican left in all of Mexico.
Last push was for jobs. What happened? The healthcare monstrosity reappears and jobs are fogotten again? What the hell? Hey Obozo. Healthcare NO. Jobs YES.
[...] [...]
Saudi Billionaire boasts of manipulating Fox News coverage!
Say it is not so Glenn Beck and O'Reilly!!!!
Did your Saudi Masters instruct you to smear "birthers" and tea party goers as far right loons?
http://www.aim.org/press-release/saudi-billionair...
I believe Pablo was being sarcastic which is permissible in adult conversation, unless it goes against one's personal opinion; then, I suppose one wouldn't consider it proper! Isn't that a point to consider, though? There are actually cases where patients have been made totally dependent on others due to doctor negligence. These people could live for many years. At the current cap in many states $250,000. won't go far. If you do some research I think you will find there are actually fewer medical malpractice cases that get through the courts than are touted. Believe me, I am NOT doctor negative, just BAD DOCTOR NEGATIVE. Have you ever gone to a doctor who should not be practicing? I have. I just don't go back. Doctors and nurses know they are out there, too.
I consider myself a little left-leaning and, in fact, I have noticed those exact attributes you ascribe to "liberals" to be the method of debate for most ultra-conservatives. Wingnuts are Wingnuts whatever their names However, my husband and I often have the conversation about why it is that Republicans seem bereft of logic and reason.
You should research whether tort reform works to bring down healthcare costs. Many states have tort reform that was passed twenty years ago. According to some it does nothing to bring down costs. Texas tried it and they had an influx of really bad doctors and it didn't bring down costs. After your research use your reason and logic to come to your conclusion. Independents would do well to consider the waste in the Advantage Care private insurance plans in Medicare and the fact that soon Medicare will be bankrupt without reform. Also, as we post here insurance companies are raising rates. My son had a "savings account" program and it didn't help him when he was ill. He had to "save" his "savings" for the other five members of his family should they become ill. That's insurance you need? (continued…)
In items #2 and #3 it looks like a huge bereaucracy would be needed to oversee quality of work and business.
Would every state be different, have different policies, etc.?
Look at the way Cleveland Clinic and Kaiser administer health care. They know how to cut costs.
The stimulus bill probably saved your job or the job os someone you know. It saved this country from the next great depression. Look up the Great Depression of the 30s. Look at the pictures of people in bread lines. Learn some history. I have heard tales of people walking the tracks looking for coal that fell from the gondola cars to heat their houses! We were there on that edge. Believe it. GWBush signed The Economic Stimulus Bill of 2008 (that's E-I-G-H-T). Apparently, it was so secret that that knowledge escaped you! He called it "A booster shot for the economy". He knew what he had done to the economy. Research it.
Again, I agree! However, I'm confident from good sources that our economy will show it's first positive economic cycle beginning early in 2012, meaning that a big change in governing is soon coming!
Pablo, That's America!
A.Men, you seem to understand the American dilemma don't you? And, I read that the verbally comprehensive superior IQ's were the deciding factor in the last election for President (i.e., the women vote)!
Hopefully, that will be by next January, 2011 when the new congress begins!
You think that Medicare is going to last forever??? YOU, GROW UP!!!
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