taxes and health care

It should be noted that the word "universal" does not mean universal coverage. It means it covers all citizens.

It absolutely does not mean all medical expenses would be covered. To make universal coverage remotely feasible from a financial perspective the coverage would have to be akin to what Medicaid HMOs currently provide (ie, terrible). You'd be hard pressed to get coverage for elective (non-emergency) surgeries.

You'd be hard pressed to get coverage for elective (non-emergency) surgeries.

What kinds of surgeries are these?

Man card, please. You're quoting Oprah.

If everyone is getting taxed equally for the healthcare portion of their taxes, aren't you simply eliminating all choice? I would no longer pay for my private insurance, neither would my employer, instead I'd get taxed for a universal plan which may or may not fit my needs. I don't see how that's better.

Secondly, there's a reason so many people go without health coverage right now, they can't afford it. Just because you're coming up with a universal plan doesn't mean it will be any less expensive than HMOs available now. If you're adding a level tax to everyone to cover it, the poor will not be able to afford it.
I agree the quoting of Oprah. Well for any plan to get passed a heavy burden of the taxes will be on the employer then on the individual. This will cause the employer to cut back to make up the money in other ways. The poor will still get a free ride under any plan.

What kinds of surgeries are these?

Angioplasties to clear a blocked artery. Pacemaker implants to regulate an irregular heartbeat. Gastric Bypass and Lapband surgeries for obesity. And many many more.

Some HMOs out there deny coverage for some of these types of procedures. Which is semi-retarded because many of them prevent more costly treatment down the road.

Man card, please. You're quoting Oprah.

If everyone is getting taxed equally for the healthcare portion of their taxes, aren't you simply eliminating all choice? I would no longer pay for my private insurance, neither would my employer, instead I'd get taxed for a universal plan which may or may not fit my needs. I don't see how that's better.

Secondly, there's a reason so many people go without health coverage right now, they can't afford it. Just because you're coming up with a universal plan doesn't mean it will be any less expensive than HMOs available now. If you're adding a level tax to everyone to cover it, the poor will not be able to afford it.

LOL, it's a play on "you get a car," plus I am comfortable with my masculinity.


I think going in the plan was to get everyone base insurance (prevention) and if people want more than can pay for it. The Japanese model, the one That Guy loves so much, might be worth looking into.

Angioplasties to clear a blocked artery. Pacemaker implants to regulate an irregular heartbeat. Gastric Bypass and Lapband surgeries for obesity. And many many more.

Some HMOs out there deny coverage for some of these types of procedures. Which is semi-retarded because many of them prevent more costly treatment down the road.

Is the theory that most employees won't be working for a company and won't have that same insurance when the repurcussions come to pass? So insurers don't want to pay for preventative measures that some other insurance company will enjoy someday? Or are they simply obtuse?

Which is semi-retarded because many of them prevent more costly treatment down the road.

Kinda when my dental insurance wouldn't pay for some sort of sealant for my teeth that prevents damage down the road. My parents paid out of pocket, I'm 25 and still never had a cavity.

Schneed, how do other countries make the healthcare work. I know many people look up the the way France has set up their health care, they have private practices setup, but the state reimburses 85% of the bill.

I just think it's sad that people have to choose between feeding their kids and getting healthy in many situations.

A word of advice to any uninsured that need to have a procedure done. Send the hospital a letter saying you have intentions to pay but currently can't and setup a payment schedule. It won't destroy your credit, and you might get a kind person like I did. A local hospital wiped out my medical bills from a procedure I had done -- mainly because I was proactive and willing to work with them. This is the type of act that won't go unnoticed. The second I have any money I want to donate, that hospital is the first place I'm going.

It's obviously not a real big secret, if you add something that is not currently funded.......it must be paid for. If we are not going to save somewhere else to accomodate the new expense........> taxes.

Kinda when my dental insurance wouldn't pay for some sort of sealant for my teeth that prevents damage down the road. My parents paid out of pocket, I'm 25 and still never had a cavity.

Schneed, how do other countries make the healthcare work. I know many people look up the the way France has set up their health care, they have private practices setup, but the state reimburses 85% of the bill.

I just think it's sad that people have to choose between feeding their kids and getting healthy in many situations.

A word of advice to any uninsured that need to have a procedure done. Send the hospital a letter saying you have intentions to pay but currently can't and setup a payment schedule. It won't destroy your credit, and you might get a kind person like I did. A local hospital wiped out my medical bills from a procedure I had done -- mainly because I was proactive and willing to work with them. This is the type of act that won't go unnoticed. The second I have any money I want to donate, that hospital is the first place I'm going.
Well the number of uninsured is actually not a true number in people who cannot afford coverage. You have young people who feel they do not need coverage. You have peeple who can afford coverage but choose not to carry health insurance. Also in that number are people who are between jobs and choose not to pay for their health insurance but they are uninsured for a short period of time. I've read that the true noumber of people who need insurance but cannot afford the coverage is about half. So now we want to totaly alow goverment to control our health ins. for a small % of people. While 20 million seems high in the actual number of people here in theUS it very small. Why not find a way to get them covered then to allow congress to ruin what we have. I also find it strange that congress has an approval rating of less then 20% and people are so willing to alow them to control something as important as health ins. and about 7 to 8% of our enconomy.

I saw someone mentioned Japans health insurance but this article does not paint much of a pretty picture.
Health care in Japan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_Japan)