Text 26902, 75 rader
Skriven 2009-01-27 11:05:00 av Lee Lofaso (3:800/432.0)
  Kommentar till text 26879 av Bob Ackley (1:300/3)
Ärende: The first of many to
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Hello Bob,

>WD>Cuba has free healthcare for all ... excellent free healthcare BTW.

>LL>America has the best healthcare in the world.  The problem is,
>LL>that healthcare is not accessible for all.

>WD>The problem is that healthcare is not accessible for the
>WD>majority. Nothing to be proud of.

>LL>Healthcare is accessible for all in America.  The real problem
>LL>is quality healthcare is not accessible for all.

BA>In the US, *anybody* can walk into *any* public hospital in the country
BA>and be at least seen.  If the problem is not serious they probably will
BA>not be treated, but if it is serious they will be.  Regardless of whether
BA>or not they can pay the bill.

In the US indigent patients will only be treated for emergency care.
If the indigent patient is not deemed to need emergency care, he/she
can (and usually is) turned away.  Except in Louisiana, which is the
only state in the US which has a charity hospital system.  The way
that works is ALL patients are treated, regardless of income, and
not just for emergency care.  That was Huey P. Long's idea, carried
out by Uncle Earl (Long's brother), still in place today.

BA>You should look into how much hospitals and other health care providers are
BA>spending on 'uncompensated care' or 'charity care.'  That expense is factore
BA>into general overhead right along with the water, light and sewer payments a
BA>added to the bills that get paid.  Retailers do the same
BA>thing, but it's called 'shoplifting' or 'inventory shrinkage.'

In Louisiana we do things different.  One enterprising fellow brought
his wife to the hospital (not a charity hospital) so she could have her
baby.  Healthy baby delivered, right on time, mother doing fine.  When
it came time to leave the hospital, the man was presented with the bill.
Having no insurance, the man said he could not pay.  He was then told
his wife could not leave.  So he told them, "You can keep her," turned
around and started walking out the door.  The hospital wrote off the
expense and let mother and baby leave with daddy.

BA>Not everyone in the US has health *insurance*.  The stuff can be
BA>horrendously expen$ive, even in some group policies.

"All insurance is scam." - Burt Reynolds, in the movie "Deliverance"

If you are familiar with the movie, Reynolds was shot in the leg,
his friend shot (in the back) with an arrow.  Neither had insurance,
but were treated at the hospital.  Both told the cops the wounds
were self-inflicted.  The cops, scratching their heads, didn't
quite believe their story.  How could a guy shoot himself in the
leg with a rifle?  How could a guy shoot himself with a bow and
arrow in the back?  It didn't make sense, but neither could be
charged since there were no witnesses to contradict their story.

BA>When I was working one of my co-workers told me that the premium for
BA>health insurance for him, his wife and infant daughter was on the
BA>order of $750/month; and his gross salary was something less than
BA>$2000/month before deductions for income taxes and social security.
BA>My sist pays nearly $400/month for her health insurance, which in her
BA>case is for catastrophic problems and not for routine care.

Reynolds was right, that all insurance is scam.  The first of all
human rights is access to quality health care.  If such health care
is not affordable, it is not accessible.  And we claim ourselves as
being champions of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
Hogwash!

--Lee


 * SLMR 2.1a * Bonne chance.

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