Comments on: Senator Schumer’s Magical Plan for Health Care Compromise http://blog.heritage.org/2009/05/05/senator-schumers-magical-plan-for-health-care-compromise/ Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:27:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: domino http://blog.heritage.org/2009/05/05/senator-schumers-magical-plan-for-health-care-compromise/#comment-51015 domino Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:57:25 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=6238#comment-51015 My ancestors that settled NY would have shuddered at a man like Schumer, Don't let him lead you down the garden path because at the end of the path is healthcare turned ugly. Listen to your fellow Americans. My ancestors that settled NY would have shuddered at a man like Schumer, Don't let him lead you down the garden path because at the end of the path is healthcare turned ugly. Listen to your fellow Americans.

]]> By: Patterico’s Pontifications » Obama’s campaign to takeover healthcare is on http://blog.heritage.org/2009/05/05/senator-schumers-magical-plan-for-health-care-compromise/#comment-43816 Patterico’s Pontifications » Obama’s campaign to takeover healthcare is on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 07:23:55 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=6238#comment-43816 [...] require that the public plan abide by the same rules and regulations as private plans.  The are huge holes in the proposal, not least of which is that the people ultimately running the public plan can [...] [...] require that the public plan abide by the same rules and regulations as private plans.  The are huge holes in the proposal, not least of which is that the people ultimately running the public plan can [...]

]]> By: Mike Severn MD http://blog.heritage.org/2009/05/05/senator-schumers-magical-plan-for-health-care-compromise/#comment-38573 Mike Severn MD Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:04:48 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=6238#comment-38573 Health Care how much will we pay for Goverment Health Care, we will be paying more taxes on climate change about $2,978.00 a year, on cap & trade, bailouts $$$$ and SS# medcair. How much more and when will it stop? Health Care how much will we pay for Goverment Health Care, we will be paying more taxes on climate change about $2,978.00 a year, on cap & trade, bailouts $$$$ and SS# medcair. How much more and when will it stop?

]]> By: Sandy, IL http://blog.heritage.org/2009/05/05/senator-schumers-magical-plan-for-health-care-compromise/#comment-31320 Sandy, IL Thu, 07 May 2009 10:38:01 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=6238#comment-31320 Rick, you are absolutely correct! That's the reality of the proposed situation. I know one individual in Canada that has waited a year just to get tubes in their child's ear. That's reality. Geert Wilder said "That's the biggest mistake you can make" I have heard people from Canada state the same thing. It's going to be rationed health care and anyone that thinks different is living in a dream world. Plus if this goes through, just how many people do you think that presently has private insurance will choose to continue when they are already paying for public insurance through their taxes. Once the insurance companies are out of business, we have a huge problem on our hands. There needs to be a debate that includes people living in countries with nationalized health care, before anything is decided. This is a HUGE MISTAKE! Rick, you are absolutely correct! That's the reality of the proposed situation. I know one individual in Canada that has waited a year just to get tubes in their child's ear. That's reality. Geert Wilder said "That's the biggest mistake you can make" I have heard people from Canada state the same thing. It's going to be rationed health care and anyone that thinks different is living in a dream world. Plus if this goes through, just how many people do you think that presently has private insurance will choose to continue when they are already paying for public insurance through their taxes. Once the insurance companies are out of business, we have a huge problem on our hands. There needs to be a debate that includes people living in countries with nationalized health care, before anything is decided. This is a HUGE MISTAKE!

]]> By: The Greenroom » Forum Archive » Obama’s campaign to takeover healthcare is on http://blog.heritage.org/2009/05/05/senator-schumers-magical-plan-for-health-care-compromise/#comment-31150 The Greenroom » Forum Archive » Obama’s campaign to takeover healthcare is on Wed, 06 May 2009 17:22:50 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=6238#comment-31150 [...] require that the public plan abide by the same rules and regulations as private plans. The are huge holes in the proposal, not least of which is that the people ultimately running the public plan can [...] [...] require that the public plan abide by the same rules and regulations as private plans. The are huge holes in the proposal, not least of which is that the people ultimately running the public plan can [...]

]]> By: Rick, Buffalo, NY http://blog.heritage.org/2009/05/05/senator-schumers-magical-plan-for-health-care-compromise/#comment-31148 Rick, Buffalo, NY Wed, 06 May 2009 13:18:51 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=6238#comment-31148 Those of you wishing for a socialized plan should think through what you're asking for. A single, government run plan will have to control costs. If you think you're going to have the same level of access to meds, procedures, etc., think again. If you think you're going to get the same quality of care, guess again. Canada has a severe shortage of primary care physicians- a government run plan, complete with cost controls and mandated reimbursement prices, will shutter hospitals and have individuals re-think a career in medicine. Private companies aren't "mortified" by a public competitor. They know it wouldn't be a level playing field- think Fan and Fred. The government won't allow a public plan to financially fail. Taxpayers will be responsible for keeping such an entity afloat. It's not an accident that Canada is looking for ways to privatize their system in an effort to cut costs and increase access. Waiting lines are not a health care option. 25% of Canadians do not have access to their system, as a PCP is required to enter the system (and pediatricians do not count as PCP's. They are considered specialists, so if Mom or Dad don't have a doc, neither does Junior). Over 40% of British cancer patients die before they see an oncologist. Palliative care plays a much larger role in socialized medicine countries than it does here, and those nations have little, if any, medical innovation. A socialized system here would be a disaster- not just for US citizens, but the citizens of Canada and other nations who come here to have procedures done in a timely manner (or have you missed the busloads of Canadians coming here for surgeries and specialists?). Be careful what you wish for- you might get it. Those of you wishing for a socialized plan should think through what you're asking for. A single, government run plan will have to control costs. If you think you're going to have the same level of access to meds, procedures, etc., think again. If you think you're going to get the same quality of care, guess again. Canada has a severe shortage of primary care physicians- a government run plan, complete with cost controls and mandated reimbursement prices, will shutter hospitals and have individuals re-think a career in medicine. Private companies aren't "mortified" by a public competitor. They know it wouldn't be a level playing field- think Fan and Fred. The government won't allow a public plan to financially fail. Taxpayers will be responsible for keeping such an entity afloat. It's not an accident that Canada is looking for ways to privatize their system in an effort to cut costs and increase access. Waiting lines are not a health care option. 25% of Canadians do not have access to their system, as a PCP is required to enter the system (and pediatricians do not count as PCP's. They are considered specialists, so if Mom or Dad don't have a doc, neither does Junior). Over 40% of British cancer patients die before they see an oncologist. Palliative care plays a much larger role in socialized medicine countries than it does here, and those nations have little, if any, medical innovation. A socialized system here would be a disaster- not just for US citizens, but the citizens of Canada and other nations who come here to have procedures done in a timely manner (or have you missed the busloads of Canadians coming here for surgeries and specialists?). Be careful what you wish for- you might get it.

]]> By: Dave Ofiara, Saratog http://blog.heritage.org/2009/05/05/senator-schumers-magical-plan-for-health-care-compromise/#comment-31109 Dave Ofiara, Saratog Wed, 06 May 2009 10:54:46 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=6238#comment-31109 Hello: One very obvious fact missing from the debate. No country that has switched from capitalist insurance company wealth (health?)care systems to public universal health care has ever gone back to privatized expensive exclusionary non-systems like the USA has. A few questions: 1. Why don't public universal health care systems all over the world have the cost/benefit problems that tyrannize the USA? 2. What benefit do insurance companies add to the health care process? 3. If privatized health insurance is so damn efficient, innovative, and good why are the private insurance companies mortified about a little competition from a public plan. It seems that they want a monopoly, all the money they can grab and no competition. No regulations, and no effective competition. Let's see and have their beloved marketplace decide it. 4. Why are Democrats pre-negotiating their proposals with Republicans before a proposal is formulated to make it to the floor of the Senate. The Republican party has been rejected by the people. Nobody listens to them. They are politically bankrupt nobodys. The Democrats have an open shot at the goalposts. Go for the goal, Democrats you've got the votes. Don't worry Democrats you won't get one Republican vote on this no matter how much you wimp out ahead of time for no particular reason. Present the bill you really would like to have and go for it. A little courage and intelligence will go a long way. We've worked hard to get this far. Don't drop the ball, now! Hello:

One very obvious fact missing from the debate. No country that has switched from capitalist insurance company wealth (health?)care systems to public universal health care has ever gone back to privatized expensive exclusionary non-systems like the USA has.

A few questions:

1. Why don't public universal health care systems all over the world have the cost/benefit problems that tyrannize the USA?

2. What benefit do insurance companies add to the health care process?

3. If privatized health insurance is so damn efficient, innovative, and good why are the private insurance companies mortified about a little competition from a public plan. It seems that they want a monopoly, all the money they can grab and no competition. No regulations, and no effective competition. Let's see and have their beloved marketplace decide it.

4. Why are Democrats pre-negotiating their proposals with Republicans before a proposal is formulated to make it to the floor of the Senate. The Republican party has been rejected by the people. Nobody listens to them. They are politically bankrupt nobodys. The Democrats have an open shot at the goalposts. Go for the goal, Democrats you've got the votes. Don't worry Democrats you won't get one Republican vote on this no matter how much you wimp out ahead of time for no particular reason.

Present the bill you really would like to have and go for it. A little courage and intelligence will go a long way. We've worked hard to get this far. Don't drop the ball, now!

]]> By: RJ Shelton http://blog.heritage.org/2009/05/05/senator-schumers-magical-plan-for-health-care-compromise/#comment-31081 RJ Shelton Wed, 06 May 2009 09:26:22 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=6238#comment-31081 Insurance companies have overhead costs of up 31 percent. Medicare says overhead for them is just 4 percent. Insurance compnies that administer medicare plans have overhead costs of 14 percent, a lot of which is profit for the company at the expense of the beneficiary. Claiming that administration costs of a public plan will be overwhelming compared to private ones is dishonest fear-mongering. If the insurance companies were really offering a good service, support for a public plan would not be so strong. Insurance companies have overhead costs of up 31 percent. Medicare says overhead for them is just 4 percent. Insurance compnies that administer medicare plans have overhead costs of 14 percent, a lot of which is profit for the company at the expense of the beneficiary. Claiming that administration costs of a public plan will be overwhelming compared to private ones is dishonest fear-mongering. If the insurance companies were really offering a good service, support for a public plan would not be so strong.

]]> By: Steven, Houston http://blog.heritage.org/2009/05/05/senator-schumers-magical-plan-for-health-care-compromise/#comment-31076 Steven, Houston Wed, 06 May 2009 08:47:18 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=6238#comment-31076 Hell yes. I do hope that the public plan is a back-door way of establishing single-payer universal health care. Capitalism is an entirely appropriate system for the creation of cars, computers, and toasters. You don't die if you can't pay for them. Capitalism is a monstrous way to distribute health care. You DO die (or suffer unncessarily) if you can't pay. Health care should be socialized. Period. If it were up to me, I would immediately expropriate all private health care companies without compensation and turn all private health care employees into government workers. Issue health care cards to all American citizens and begin rationing care based on need instead of the current monstrosity of the ability to pay. Of course, you need to dramatically increase the pool of nurses and general practicioners, so I would create a massive system of training and scholarships to double (or triple) the number of doctors, nurses, and community health care centers across the country. I realize that this is not a realistic option in our current political culture, but the back-door method being described has wonderful prospects for success. If I were Obama, I would get the most left-wing plan possible...wait until Franken is seated in six months, and have a plan that the 50 most liberal Senate Democrats will support, plus Biden as a tie-breaker. Then let the inefficiencies of the "free" market health care companies dig their own graves. Then finally, finally, the people of the United States can enjoy a basic right enjoyed by the rest of the modern industrialized world for generations. Hell yes. I do hope that the public plan is a back-door way of establishing single-payer universal health care. Capitalism is an entirely appropriate system for the creation of cars, computers, and toasters. You don't die if you can't pay for them. Capitalism is a monstrous way to distribute health care. You DO die (or suffer unncessarily) if you can't pay. Health care should be socialized. Period.

If it were up to me, I would immediately expropriate all private health care companies without compensation and turn all private health care employees into government workers. Issue health care cards to all American citizens and begin rationing care based on need instead of the current monstrosity of the ability to pay. Of course, you need to dramatically increase the pool of nurses and general practicioners, so I would create a massive system of training and scholarships to double (or triple) the number of doctors, nurses, and community health care centers across the country.

I realize that this is not a realistic option in our current political culture, but the back-door method being described has wonderful prospects for success. If I were Obama, I would get the most left-wing plan possible…wait until Franken is seated in six months, and have a plan that the 50 most liberal Senate Democrats will support, plus Biden as a tie-breaker. Then let the inefficiencies of the "free" market health care companies dig their own graves. Then finally, finally, the people of the United States can enjoy a basic right enjoyed by the rest of the modern industrialized world for generations.

]]> By: DaveinHackensack http://blog.heritage.org/2009/05/05/senator-schumers-magical-plan-for-health-care-compromise/#comment-31046 DaveinHackensack Wed, 06 May 2009 03:01:35 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=6238#comment-31046 Good points, but what's your solution? A Democratic plan, however flawed, will likely get more political traction than a Republican non-plan. Conservatives may need to offer an alternative better than the status quo, or else be tagged as the party of "no". Good points, but what's your solution? A Democratic plan, however flawed, will likely get more political traction than a Republican non-plan. Conservatives may need to offer an alternative better than the status quo, or else be tagged as the party of "no".

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