Roethlisberger injured in motorcycle accident

Sorry, I can't agree that it's all about personal freedom. When morons refuse to wear helmets or buckle up, and then get hurt in accidents, it affects us all in terms of higher insurance rates for everyone. The cost of surgery, medical care, rehab is covered by insurance and then passed along (in a fashion) to all policy holders by the insurance company. You don't honestly think that the premiums you pay would cover all of your medical expenses in a major car accident, do you? Because they won't and the insurance company recoups its costs by allocating their expenses to all of us.

You are totally correct, but I think you have confused what IS with how it OUGHT to be--just because that is the reality, doesn't mean that it is right or acceptable. I see that insurance is the problem here--not negligent people. The government doesn't have the right to tell people how to live, unless it endangers other people (people should have the right to endanger their own lives, IMO). Riding without a helmet only endangers the bike rider (and not others). So if the only justification for telling people how to live their lives is so insurance premiums will not rise, that is a weak argument.

The problem with insurance rates is the government's problem--they are supposed to provide for the healthcare of their citizens (IMO). Since they cannot (read: do not want to), they have created the health insurance industry (privatization at its worst). If the government's only solution for their failure to provide adequate healthcare is to impose unnecessary restrictions on how their citizens live, then we are in desperate need of a revolution.

BTW, if you cannot already tell, I HATE insurance. It's the biggest scam EVER. ...and yes, I am ready for everyone to tell me how BAD things would be without insurance (and how naive I am).

EDIT-I should not say that I "HATE insurance", that is not accurate and I would like to retract that statement. It would be more accurate to say that I am truly frustrated with the entire situation.

:soapbox:

BTW, if you cannot already tell, I HATE insurance. It's the biggest scam EVER. ...and yes, I am ready for everyone to tell me how BAD things would be without insurance (and how naive I am).

:soapbox:

You've pretty much answered your own question but I'll just elaborate.

If it wasn't for the people out there scamming the insurance companies, you probably wouldn't hate the insurance companies as much.

The problem with insurance rates is the government's problem--they are supposed to provide for the healthcare of their citizens (IMO). Since they cannot (read: do not want to), they have created the health insurance industry (privatization at its worst). If the government's only solution for their failure to provide adequate healthcare is to impose unnecessary restrictions on how their citizens live, then we are in desperate need of a revolution.


What do you base that opinion on?

According to Jim Rome, there are reports that Roethlisberger did not have his motorcycle license. This slight sympathy I've had for him is disappearing.

You are totally correct, but I think you have confused what IS with how it OUGHT to be--just because that is the reality, doesn't mean that it is right or acceptable. I see that insurance is the problem here--not negligent people. The government doesn't have the right to tell people how to live, unless it endangers other people (people should have the right to endanger their own lives, IMO). Riding without a helmet only endangers the bike rider (and not others). So if the only justification for telling people how to live their lives is so insurance premiums will not rise, that is a weak argument.

The problem with insurance rates is the government's problem--they are supposed to provide for the healthcare of their citizens (IMO). Since they cannot (read: do not want to), they have created the health insurance industry (privatization at its worst). If the government's only solution for their failure to provide adequate healthcare is to impose unnecessary restrictions on how their citizens live, then we are in desperate need of a revolution.

BTW, if you cannot already tell, I HATE insurance. It's the biggest scam EVER. ...and yes, I am ready for everyone to tell me how BAD things would be without insurance (and how naive I am).

:soapbox:

I work for a Health System in Philadelphia in the finance department. I'm not going to get into a big thing, but suffice it to say you know nothing about the business. Socialized healthcare results in horrible standards of care.

Healthcare in the US is some of the most expensive in the world, but it's also BY FAR the best.

You've pretty much answered your own question but I'll just elaborate.

If it wasn't for the people out there scamming the insurance companies, you probably wouldn't hate the insurance companies as much.

You're right. Unfortunately, they are a business who profits from NOT providing a service. The more of their service they provide (paying claims), the less money they make. So, they do everything in their power to invalidate any claims made from people who are (for the most part) honest, loyal, and paying customers. :(

Also, if they didn't behave this way they would be less profitable and the shareholders would fire the corporate officers. It really comes down to a fundamental flaw in the corporate model.

You've pretty much answered your own question but I'll just elaborate.

If it wasn't for the people out there scamming the insurance companies, you probably wouldn't hate the insurance companies as much.

Bingo.

Between criminals (including illegal aliens who cross the border to have a baby or get free medical treatment) and people who put themselves in danger like Roethlisberger and expect everyone else to pay for their mistakes as well as lazy people and greedy lawyers who sue for millions of dollars for stupid stuff like burning themselves on coffee...that's driving the rates through the roof.

Insurance is not evil and DOES have a purpose, however the cost of having insurance is being driven up by the people who want to live without resposibility and/or morals.

...suffice it to say you know nothing about the business...

And let the comments about naivety come pouring in! :)

I don't need to know insurance business, because all business is the same: profits rule, and nothing else matters. It's a flaw in the corporate model (you probably learned about that in ethics).

What do you base that opinion on?

That is my opinion and I base it on my own experiences and principles...basically the same thing anyone bases any opinion on.

Maybe we should start an insurance thread? Ha ha, just kidding.

Really, I thought that I put enough IMO's and conservative remarks to have people just accept my opinion without too much argument. I guess I was wrong.

Please, instead of telling my why my opinion is wrong (and how I don't know), just tell me what your opinion is. That would be nicer. :)

mheisig: you didn't tell me my opinion was wrong, only other posters.

I work for a Health System in Philadelphia in the finance department. I'm not going to get into a big thing, but suffice it to say you know nothing about the business. Socialized healthcare results in horrible standards of care.

Healthcare in the US is some of the most expensive in the world, but it's also BY FAR the best.

You're right. Government control is NEVER better than control by the private market. It takes away competition and therefore lowers standards and stops striving to appeal to customers.

Last week, I heard a story about a woman in Canada who was pregnant. She was having discomfort and went to the ER, only to be sent home and asked to come back the next day since she wasn't dying. She went home and went into labor, only to lose the baby in her own bathroom because the hospital turned her away and she had no access to doctors.

That's only a single example of the mess that the socialists have made in Canada. Sure, they say everyone has healthcare, but it's the worst in the world. There's a 6-month wait for any non-life threatening surgery, which causes a lot of people to suffer and too often die while waiting for the government-controlled hospital to come up with funds to treat them.

Beware of Hillary Clinton. She wants us to be like Canada.

It's also a myth that "every American needs healthcare". Every American DOES have healthcare. You won't be turned away by a hospital and if you call an ambulance, they'll come. Even if you don't live here, whether you're a visitor to the country or an invader of the country from Mexico, you'll be treated. What the socialists want is FREE healthcare for every American. First of all, it won't be free. Your taxes will go up a LOT. Secondly, you really shouldn't expect the government to pay for things like cosmetic surgery. If the government takes over the healthcare in our country, it will be devastating to the quality and availability of care. European nations and Canada who have taken the market out of healthcare and tried to fund it solely with taxmoney and politicians' rules have become dangerous places to live. There's a reason so many people come to the USA for surgeries and healthcare from foreign nations, we have the BEST in the world. As long as competition and the free market push it, it will remain so.