I have found the "Death Panels"

[Thespian2]

[link:http://theguardian.com/society/2014/oct/29/how-sick-are-worlds-healthcare-systems-nhs-china-india-us-germany|

snarled about by the ignorant talking heads of the RepuliCons, i.e., Palin, et al. From today's Guardian (UK):

"In fact, while the US can boast some of the best doctors and most advanced medical technology in the world, it doesn’t really have a coherent healthcare system at all. Healthcare in the US is private insurance-based and decentralized, with most care providers owned locally by private companies, and local and state governments controlling access to federal programs.

The private and public systems that overlap in some areas, and leave gaps in others, make the US the country that spends the most per capita and as a percentage of GDP of any country in the world, but paradoxically consistently last among comparable nations in measures of quality of coverage such as infant mortality.

Because their cost is decided by private companies, individual procedures can be extraordinarily expensive. A single MRI scan in some parts of the country can cost as much as $2,871 (£1,780); an appendectomy as much as $29,426 (£18,000), and a caesarean-section delivery as much as $26,305 (£16,000), according to a report by the International Federation of Health Plans. Some procedures can be as much as eight times the price of the equivalent operation in the UK, and a 2013 study by NerdWallet Health showed that medical bills are the biggest cause of bankruptcy in the US."

Did you find the "Death Panels?" Hint: check out "insurance companies." Americans deserve better than their hodgepodge, mostly inadequate system, Affordable Care. Congress and Obama's administration should hang their collective heads in shame for not getting insurance companies out of the health care system. With America's resources, no citizen should be without adequate health care.

[djean111]

1. Absolutely right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Doctor_J]

2. I have been saying this for 20 years

Their #1 goal by law to is make profits, and then if possible provide insurance. My yearly max went from $500 to $8350 once the Heritage/Obamacare kicked in, and I have to beg my insurance company to pay what little they do cover. I got 6 bills for a recent 1/2-hr diagnostic procedure. Now every single American who isn't old or broke is stuck with these murderers, thanks to the 2009-2010 congress and WH. They are now guaranteed somewhere between 15-20% of the US healthcare pie, which is roughly 3 trillion every damn year. And supposed liberals like Krugman now declare that Heritage Care "is working just fine".

BTW now they want (and will get) permission to sell "copper plans", where they collect premiums and provide minimal coverage. The "lead plans" will soon follow.

[Warpy]

3. The timid reforms of the ACA have infuriated businessmen and politicians, alike

because they derailed the gravy train of double digit profits on the backs of the sick.

Can you imagine these men had we gotten single payer? They'd probably be spontaneously combusting by now.

You bring the weenies, I'll bring the marshmallows.

[postulater]

4. I had no idea that medications cost so much.

I am 63 years old and have never been on a prescription medication.

I just received an advertiser from a Canadian pharmacy. It lists prices in the United States compared with the Canadian generic price.

Some of the costs for these medications are incredible. 100 tablets of Abilify cost over $2000 in the US. The generic from Canada costs $200.

Does most people's insurance cover these medication costs? And if not how can anybody afford to take these drugs?

This makes any kind of investment in healthy lifestyle a good investment.