Comments on: America’s Health Care Caste System

By: The Left Coaster

The Left Coaster — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 19:12:58 +0000

Sauce For The Gander

In the United States, law enforcement takes threats of physical harm against public officials very seriously: Tallahassee Man Charged With Threatening Gov. Bush A Tallahassee man was being held Wednesday in Leon County Jail after being accused of threa...

By: M1EK

M1EK — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 20:18:54 +0000

I HAVE health insurance, and am in the middle of a four-month wait to see a rheumatologist, while enduring crippling pain in the meantime which prevents me from exercising at all. Oh, and I'm 33, and employed in high-tech. And I'd pay all out-of-pocket to get in quicker, except you can't. And I have one of those high-deductible health plans which is supposed to save us, except it sucks even worse, since you end up getting screwed on the payment and on the reimbursement out of 'your account' - it doesn't work the way they claim. They SAY you'll just pay the negotiated lower rate and get quickly reimbursed; but in reality you pay the FULL rate, you get reimbursed at the lower rate with your own money months later, and you often never get the doctor to pay back the difference. For a libertarian's view after living in France (hard to find ANYTHING good about our system even for a libertarian after seeing theirs), see: Matt Welch.

By: Dean

Dean — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 20:00:08 +0000

I am sorry, many people have tried to make the case for socialized medicine in some form or another.

Malcolm connecting healthcare to bad teeth because of a lack fruits and veggies which then transends to alcohol usage, and ultimately not being able to get a job, is a bit far fetched.

In the end, I am not convinced that any plan, not even the current administration plan, is feasible or realistic as a solution. Primarily because it does not address the root cause.

Take Welfare for instance. A huge issue and problem. Truely providing and requiring welfare to be a bridge, would go a long way. Get people jobs that offer insurance and the whole cycle works in reverse. Thus preventing another generation of people without insurance.

Just my thoughts.

By: anjin-san

anjin-san — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 19:59:57 +0000

Considering how health care costs have soared under Bush, I think we should all be concerned about the uninsured and the possibility that we could be joining them.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 19:17:56 +0000

Oops--forget the link to Tyler. There now.

Presumably, this works the same way that being married is preferable to being single. More people to notice things wrong with you and nag you into going to see the doctor, eating better, etc. They'll exercise with you, perhaps. And, if you keel over with a heart attack and you're alone there's nobody to call 911.

By: Anderson

Anderson — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 19:08:30 +0000

How do "tighter social networks of friends" contribute to better health? (I'd click through to find out, but I'm puzzled---is there one post that the blockquote's from?)