General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Truth Is People Who Have Insurance Die.
Let me start by saying I believe we need the ACA. If you don't have insurance you have NO CHANCE! However, I want to say that what you can face WITH insurance can be frightening as well.
A few years ago I needed major surgery on my back. The day we saw the neurosurgeon he told me to see the surgery nurse to schedule. I went to talk with her and she presented me with a bill for $2100 that had to be paid BEFORE they would schedule the surgery. Thankfully we had a credit card we never used that had enough on it, but we both wondered what people without the means would do.
Having insurance eases the pain a bit, but it is not a cure all. I know at least 5 families that have gone into financial ruin over large medical bills AFTER insurance. ACA is a start folks, not an end all.
JustAnotherGen
(33,682 posts)I'm a fervent supporter of the ACA because it is the FIRST step after how many decades of waiting - to getting the kind of access and affordability of health care that every American deserves.
My parents spent just under $500K in 1998 to help my dad recover from a stroke because of caps and limits. What if they were not high earners? Very few Americans have that kind of money to defy the insurance companies and not pull the plug. How many people died needlessly because they couldn't afford the machines?
It's a good start. It's not perfect. But we are going to have push and be vigilant in our efforts to make sure it gets better.
uppityperson
(115,879 posts)Enrique
(27,461 posts)opponents of Obamacare don't care if people die, etc.
And regarding "just a start", an frequent line from Obama's campaign went something like "I will not be the first president to try to reform the health system, but I intend to be the last". i.e. suggesting that he would fix it once and for all.
hollysmom
(5,946 posts)when I had to prepay part of the bill before hand. I think doctors should tell you before hand about that. But I did have a credit card and used it. They would not take a check.
Tien1985
(920 posts)Sick with and without insurance and I can tell you beyond doubt that it is a lot easier to stay not dead with it.
AgingAmerican
(12,958 posts)Two months of battling insurance company bureaucrats. My friend from Australia said she got hers the next day after seeing her doctor.
TroglodyteScholar
(5,477 posts)Seems...a bit condescending.
redstatebluegirl
(12,482 posts)I think some of the arguments I have seen here people seem to think Insurance is the end all and be all. I would like there to be a single payer system like the one in Britain or Canada that is all I'm saying.
msongs
(70,203 posts)HappyMe
(20,277 posts)But the ACA is better than nothing at all, and I think is a stepping stone to single payer.
adirondacker
(2,921 posts)Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)It puts the money and the power in the hands of the parasites that feed off the system and contribute nothing.
It's as insane as allowing a handful of financial corporations to collapse the global economy and then fix it by handing them the nation's black card and putting them in charge of rebuilding it as they like.
But then, I guess that the term for pretending it didn't happen is "looking forward" these days.
redstatebluegirl
(12,482 posts)Seeing those teaparty quacks on the stairs of the house this morning looked like a group of uneducated clowns. But they can hold an entire country hostage because nobody will grow a spine and do anything about them.
Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)redstatebluegirl
(12,482 posts)I feel lucky, really lucky...
bvar22
(39,909 posts)..and they sentence Americans to unnecessary DEATH every single day,
about 44,000 per year that last time I looked.
IronLionZion
(47,001 posts)It's the only politically and economically viable way to fund more healthcare providers. If anyone knows any other viable way to get more doctors, clinics, support staff, etc. share it. Because without more providers, good luck getting support for adding more patients while keeping the same amount of providers.
As the Republicans will never fail to remind us, the single payer will also have to approve or deny claims if you want treatment. That's great if its staffed by friendly liberals who care about people and have enough funding. What if its staffed by Republicans who jump on every chance to cut funding "to be more efficient"?