The U.S. Health Care Debate

[Hosakawa Tito]

I've been hearing about this local situation on talk radio for several days now from the health care debate side as well as the "everybody needs a passport, enhanced driver ID" border control side. It's finally been reported in the local paper so I could provide a link.
Thank goodness the Border Patrol does have flexibility in enforcement for these type of emergencies, and hopefully this particular case has a happy ending.

Ontario is Canada's most populous province, and I find it troubling that this type of situation arises as frequently as it does. It receives more press now than in the past because of the need for passports, passport cards or enhanced driver ID's, where in the past all one had to do is verbally declare their residence and move on.

Whatever the outcome of the drive to change the US healthcare system I hope we don't end up with too many situations like this on our side of the border.

[Adrian II]

Whatever the outcome of the drive to change the US healthcare system I hope we don't end up with too many situations like this on our side of the border.

I dont buy your talk radio stuff. Every time I speak to American friends lately, I thank heaven that we don't have your health care system over here. The mere thought that I might develop a cancer or a heart condition and my entire family would go broke because, hey, the insurance company just retracted some clause or cut my entitlement on some technicality... I'd rather die without treatment than see my family go bankrupt and end up in the gutter. The New York Times had some harrowing stories yesterday, and there must be many millions, judging by the figures. A friend of mine in New York just lost his job and insurance, then lost his leg in an accident. Since he had a small melanoma that was removed twenty years ago, no US insurance company will admit him for a decent premium.

What does your talk radio say about people like him?

EDIT

Another beauty here: six out of ten Americans skip or delay health care for financial reasons.

Apreil 2009 - The April Kaiser Health Tracking Poll finds that six in ten Americans continues to say that they or a member of their household have delayed or skipped health care in the past year. A solid majority of the public believes health care reform is more important than ever because of current economic problems.

The country’s overall economic problems have not dampened their interest in pursuing health care reform: a solid majority of the public (59%) believes health care reform is more important than ever compared with the thirty-seven percent who say we can’t afford health reform because of economic problems.

The most common actions taken due to costs were substituting home remedies or over-the-counter drugs for doctors visits (42%) and skipping dental care or check ups (36%). Additionally, three in ten (29%) did not fill a prescription for medicine and two in ten (18%) cut pills in half or skipped doses.

And what do you think will happen in the majority of these cases? The health issues will pop up in worse form and require much more expensive treatment. Way to go, guys.

I wonder how many people in the US are calculating right now: shall I get that essential treatment this year and sell my home to pay for it, or shall I die and let my family inherit the home?

[Lemur]

Wal-Mart comes down in favor of the Obama plan, whatever it turns out to be. Interesting.

[Xiahou]

Wal-Mart comes down in favor of the Obama plan, whatever it turns out to be. Interesting.

Sounds like they're betting on it not happening and trying to ride a good PR wave in the mean time....

"We are entering a critical time where those of us who will be asked to pay for health care reform will have to make a choice on whether to support this legislation. The choice will require employers to consider the trade off of a coverage mandate and higher taxes for the promise of a reduction in health care cost increases. We also believe that a mandate must be accompanied by provisions that will reduce health costs and dramatically improve the value we get for our health care dollar.

"And the promise of savings in the bill must be more than just words. The bill should contain 'trigger' provisions that guarantee that promised savings take place both for the federal government and for employers who provide insurance. Walmart believes that if we support a mandate and are being asked to pay higher taxes, we should be assured in return, that savings will be real."

[Major Robert Dump]

Sounds like they're betting on it not happening and trying to ride a good PR wave in the mean time....

No, they hope it will cause the other retailers to go broke, since they already offer more insurance than most retail companies and for all intents halfway there when it comes to the Obama plan and all the others will have to play catch-up. It's the Wal-Mart way.

[Crazed Rabbit]

Wal-Mart comes down in favor of the Obama plan, whatever it turns out to be. Interesting.

What a fabulous way to get rid of all your small-store competitors with the extra government costs and regulations.

CR

[rory_20_uk]

What a fabulous way to get rid of all your small-store competitors with the extra government costs and regulations.

CR

"But the mandate doesn't require small businesses to provide health insurance"

The article even states this. Talk about a knee jerk response...