Which of these US health-care reforms do you think are a good idea?

Tort reform is a good idea but not simply limiting the size of awards. In general, I'd like to see a loser-pays tort system and I think this would help in the field of health-care as well.

As for government involvement, it should be far less but not none at all. The government should remain involved only to the extent of prosecuting fraud and false claims.

Subsidize health insurance costs for the poor.
--- Which we're doing already.

Don't allow insurance companies to reject anyone for any reason (e.g. pre-existing conditions).
--- Well, at least make it much harder.

Tort reform: limits on malpractice lawsuits to lower health-care costs.

A focus on health-care costs, finding ways to save money (e.g. eliminating unnecessary tests and procedures).
--- which will happen on its own anyway if you do the above.

A focus on reducing drug costs (e.g. negotiating with drug companies to bring costs down).
--- Except I wouldn't call it "negotiating". I would call it "we're busting up your monopoly so lower your costs OR ELSE"

Single payer: have the government take over health-care (own hospitals, employ doctors, etc. [like the UK]).
--- just bad idea

Increase taxes on the richest Americans to pay for health-care for everyone.
--- We already have pretty high taxes to pay for health-care. Not necessarily a bad thing, but were do you draw the line?

Dismantle current government involvement in health-care with the goal of fostering a true free market.
--- Great idea in theory, but it depends on whose doing the cutting. You always need some government.

I would also add "Don't allow insurance companies to reject claims." to the no pile.

Reason being there will always be some ass clown who believes in alternative medicine and they will want the insurance cos to pay for their Chinese snake oil treatment. If you get enough "witch doctors" to lobby Congress to force insurance companies to cover that, it won't be fair to everyone else when they pay higher premiums. As much as I hate the insurance companies who reject legitimate claims or at least make it a pain, sometimes the insurance companies are right.

The public option is key.

Subsidize health insurance costs for the poor.
Don't allow insurance companies to reject anyone for any reason (e.g. pre-existing conditions).
Don't allow insurance companies to charge people more (e.g. if they have a pre-existing condition or higher risk, etc.)
A public option where people can opt to get health-care from the US government instead of a private insurer.
Single payer: have the government take over health-care (own hospitals, employ doctors, etc. [like the UK]).
A government mandate that everyone should get free health-care.
Increase taxes on the richest Americans to pay for health-care for the poor.
Increase taxes on the richest Americans to pay for health-care for everyone.
Tort reform: limits on malpractice lawsuits to lower health-care costs.
A focus on health-care costs, finding ways to save money (e.g. eliminating unnecessary tests and procedures).
A focus on reducing drug costs (e.g. negotiating with drug companies to bring costs down).

I think we need a Constitutional Amendment for Freedom of Medicine

No government programs....they're not good, not efficient

AMA medicine is a culture of death...with exception of emergency care, i.e. burns, broken bones etc.

Quit dependence on doctors, drugs, insurance companies

We've been set up for a fall in health

Maybe this is why the big push for Obama's Health Plan? Remember, in politics, nothing happens by accident.

I've often said, if someone wanted to destroy a country, food would be one way. They've taken over our farms, emptying the silos, doing something to our food. Read the book 'Ill Fares the Land'.

At least 30 years ago, I was in a store called Standard Brands in Hayward, picking up some paint. While I was there I met a clerk who was Chinese. We started talking and he told me 'they' were changing the wheat. How evil of the enemy, they genetically change the wheat, and other foods. Our bodies are designed for natural foods, but the scientists are changing things. I also remember reading many, many years ago a Dr. Donsbach saying that when the vegetable oils came onto the food scene, that is when heart disease set in. Also, remember when the margarines, oleo came onto the food scene.

About two years ago, I came across the book 'Eat Right For (4) Your Type' by Dr. D'Adamo with Catherine Whitney. It said that type O's can eat Spelt wheat (non-hybrid). I'm a Type O. They said however, wheat, corn, and a few other things make type O's gain weight also. This could explain the rise of obesity in this country. A big majority of people in the U.S. Are type O's. Overweight is prerequisite to many health issues. I assume D'Adamo didn't want to be super political, and mention genetically hybrid foods. He was saying, stay away from wheat, and any corn by products, such as corn starch, corn syrup, anything to do with corn, as they have something to do with the insulin function of our body. Under a microscope, he said these foods make the blood 'sticky'. Our bodies cannot digest. I ask you why, haven't the doctors and/or FDA said anything? I feel sick when I think about it. When I was in the hospital, I had three nurses tell me I had 'sticky blood'. The light bulb went on. I thank Dr. D'Adamo with Catherine Whitney for writing the book. I have since my stroke, become extremely aware of what I eat and my need for exercise, activity.

When my sons were two and three years old, I had them tested for allergies, because they were having breathing problems. I gave them some herbal formulas for their breathing problems, and they got past their breathing problems. The doctor told me they were allergic to wheat and corn, plus other foods. Lo and behold wheat, corn and the other foods were mentioned in the Dr. D'Adamo book for Type O's.


A Patriot friend sent this to me, a very good article.

Chickens Not Fooled by GM Crops
By:
malterwitty
Tags:

Chickens refusing to eat the maize they had been fed has led to the discovery that their feed had been genetically modified to include a well-known weed and insect killer.

Strilli Oppenheimer’s indigenous African chickens were refusing to eat the mealies in the chicken feed bought from a large supplier. Concerned that the birds may be ingesting genetically modified maize, she had the maize tested.

The results confirmed Oppenheimer's initial suspicion -- the maize had been genetically engineered to produce proteins that are toxic to certain insects and weeds.

About her chickens' refusal to eat their maize, Oppenheimer said: "They're smart."

Chickens Not Fooled by GM Crops
Posted by: Dr. Mercola
September 05 2009
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive...

Free candy on Halloween.. oh wait, we already got that.. alright, we're fine.

Subsidize ... don't allow to reject .... don't allow to charge more for preexisting ... don't allow to reject claims ... people can get health care from gov ... gov mandate that everyone should get free health care ... expand Medicare to cover everyone.

I detest insurance companies. I used to work temp for a few and consider 'em ripoffs. They have all this small print and will reject you if they can get away with it.

Rather than making insurance mandatory or otherwise trying to fix it either by regulation or having government take it over, I think eliminating insurance altogether would be a better idea.

Tort reform/reduce drug costs (never happen)/Dismantle government healthcare entirely/Less regulation.

You forgot a big one: Get rid of regulations limiting insurance companies to certain states only. There are 1300 insurance companies yet someone wanting to buy their own healthcare in California can choose from only 6.

> Free candy on Halloween.. oh wait, we already
> got that.. alright, we're fine.

yeah, and sometimes with free drugs and needles inside

No fair! Our town doesn't have that.

Too bad. You gotta live in the right neighborhood. If you're really lucky you'll get a razor blade in your candy bar. Don't see that much here. Usually you just get a candy bar someone injected with vodka. Not much thrill to that.

If you come to my house you'd have the opportunity to scream like many of the teenage girls do. Funny, the little kids think it's cool to be next to me and have their picture taken...........

How generous! Maybe the old lady down the street will have a razor blade to spare, preferably a rusty one.

I have no comment as for the screaming part. I'm sure my costume will be scarier than yours.

Great Survey!

What about non-profit insurance companies (like credit unions to banks) to reduce commercial insurance company's greed.

ow

A basic minimum coverage plan for everyone on a sliding scale, and a public provider as one of the options. People can then get their own 'above and beyond' coverage plans on their own. Like medicare, any inexpensive doctor who signs up would be on the public plan.

The public plans could/would have both open market plans and public facility plans depending on the vicinity availability.

The minimum plans would all offer emergency disastor coverage even for aliens.

It would still be open market, in that you might find a minimum provider who adds chiropractors and herbalists to entice enrollees, so long as they still have all the minimum standards met.

My cats haven't been eating kibbles much their last two bags. Perhasp that's the reason. I may have to buy organic kibbles now, though they cost twice as much.

I've heard horror stories about pet food. Now, I buy big rib bones, give them raw to my dog. My husband buys the dog food so I don't know he's feeding our dog. We lost a beautiful German ShortHair last year. I suspect it was a flipped stomach, more than likely from the garbage dog food they offer today. I think I'll talk to my husband about buying organic dog food. I didn't know they had such a thing...thanks for telling me.

I think the government should keep their poor management and money grubbing hands out of our pockets. I think insurance companies and attorneys have screwed us royally. I don't know how to fix it but there has to be a better way than allowing people to think they can get rich by suing...oh, never mind. The whole thing just makes me sick! Oh, my goodness. now I need insurance so I can afford to go to the doctor! By the way, I am paying my COBRA since February. For family of 3, Kaiser medical, vision and dental I am paying $425.60 a month and since the economy is in the crapter the feds are paying the other 65% of my bill!!!

Subsidize health insurance costs for the poor.
Don't allow insurance companies to reject anyone for any reason (e.g. pre-existing conditions).
Don't allow insurance companies to charge people more (e.g. if they have a pre-existing condition or higher risk, etc.)
Don't allow insurance companies to reject claims.
Increase taxes on the richest Americans to pay for health-care for the poor.
Tort reform: limits on malpractice lawsuits to lower health-care costs.
Dismantle current government involvement in health-care with the goal of fostering a true free market.
Less regulation, in general

I don't understand why you wouldn't just want free healthcare with the option of taking up private care if you can afford it, like us.

Out of all the options listed, I strongly believe that it is the drug companies that have ruined the American health care system.
Costs should be lowered. Drugs should be more greatly proven and then only prescribed to those who really need them.

Socialising medical school and malpractice insurance would make a huge difference in medical costs. In theory there's not much reason medical care needs to cost more than auto mechanics. It boils down to time and materials, and anything more is someone trying to make money out of it.