Thread: Higher wages, single-payer plan would save health care

Reader Opinion

Higher wages, single-payer plan would save health care

Jeff McCuddin - Fairmont, Minn.

Health care is the most important issue facing this nation ("Dishonest debate mars bid to overhaul health care," Our view, Medical reform debate, Friday).

If we continue down the road we're on, we pass more debt to the next generation. Insurance companies are the problem. The solution: a law requiring a company that offers health insurance to employees to take the amount it pays, plus the amount the employees pay for coverage, and add it to the employee's wages. Then we should switch to a single-payer system. The added wages would be taxable income and would give the middle class more money to spend, stimulating the economy.

I'd rather have the government make my health care decisions than an insurance company or hospital that's worried about profits.

ER efficient place for care

Nick Jouriles, president American College of Emergency Physicians - Washington, D.C

Despite the fact that many wait to get medical care in emergency rooms, a form of care deemed "inefficient" in a recent USA TODAY editorial, the emergency department is actually the most efficient part of our health care system. It draws on every hospital resource — labs, radiology, pharmacy and other specialists. Were a patient to attempt to seek those services individually, it would cost far more and take much more time.

Furthermore, emergency care consumes only 3% of the nation's health care dollars while treating 120 million people a year, the vast majority of whom are insured and very sick or injured. The problems in our health care system are legion, and nobody has a more up close and personal view of that than the nation's emergency physicians. Instead of bashing our safety net, we need to recognize emergency departments as a critical, life-and-death part of the health care system that needs help now.

Doctors not easily swayed

Nancy A. Mondero - Rehoboth Beach, Del.

The article "Industry donates to foes of drug plan" states that lawmakers who depend on pharmaceutical company contributions are leading the opposition to allow generic drugs to compete with pricey biotech drugs (News, July 29). Recipients of the contributions claim donations don't impact their policy decisions, and that they don't take contributions into account when making decisions.

As a physician, I find this very ironic. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America announced voluntary guidelines that forbid drug companies from giving us tablets and pens with their brand-name drug on it. According to Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., Congress was a factor behind this announcement, and had been pushing PhRMA to make such reforms "for some time now."

Members of Congress decided we'd be swayed to prescribe expensive drugs because we use a pen. Don't they realize insurance companies have the final say in which drugs patients are allowed to have?

Comparing physicians and Congress, I think there's a better chance of Congress voting for a policy that advances drug companies: Contributions to politicians far exceed the cost of a pen.

Posted at 12:10 AM/ET, August 06, 2009 in Health care/Insurance - Letters, Letter to the editor

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/08/ ... .html#more

ABSOLUTELY!!

Higher wages=More $$$ flowing through the economy, businesses making more money and hiring more people, more money paid in tax to cities and states, more personal savings, lower debt, better schools, better roads and infrastructure...

Single-payer plan means that patients have coverage even if they lose their job. They have coverage if they become sick. If they pay based on income, or through an income tax, then the premium would go up and down with their income. Higher wages would mean more money for healthcare overall.

But higher wages can only happen if we block worker visas and illegals. Otherwise forget it.

The reform that is needed is for illegals/anchors not to get free health care via the American tax payers. If they want health care, let them pay for it and/ or leave our country. No dropping off anchors for us to pay for forever and a day. Not our responcibility.

I trust the health insurance companies more than I trust the government however, I like the single payer system.

I do not want the Gov't involved in my health care at all.

I think more attention on prevention and/or complimentary modalities is also an important part of reform Americans can live with,etc.

Scrap the trash legislation and stop tying to scew with us and do the right thing by the American people, government.

Originally Posted by ELE

The reform that is needed is for illegals/anchors not to get free health care via the American tax payers. If they want health care, let them pay for it and/ or leave our country. No dropping off anchors for us to pay for forever and a day. Not our responcibility.

I trust the health insurance companies more than I trust the government however, I like the single payer system.

I do not want the Gov't involved in my health care at all.

I think more attention on prevention and/or complimentary modalities is also an important part of reform Americans can live with,etc.

Scrap the trash legislation and stop tying to scew with us and do the right thing by the American people, government.

You trust the health insurance companies? Really? I hope you never get sick, because let me tell you....and I know from multiple personal experiences....that YOU WILL GO BROKE IF YOU GET SICK. I dont care if you have the most expensive plan that company has to offer you....THEY WILL TRY NOT TO PAY YOUR CLAIM. Any way they can wiggle out of it...they will.

I have a friend that paid FULL COVERAGE health insurance for over 15 years through his company. When he GOT CANCER he had to fight tooth and nail with his insurance company to pay for his original surgery. Then because he could not work for awhile, he could not afford the premiums....he was lucky to eat and pay mortgage. SO THE INSURANCE COMPANY DID NOT WANT TO PAY FOR HIS NEXT CANCER TREATMENT. In the prcess the LOST HIS HOUSE, LOST HIS CREDIT AND ALL THIS WHEN HE WAS WORRYING ABOUT DYING.

So you better think about it before you trust any corporate insurance company to BE THERE FOR YOU IF YOU ARE SICK. They will throw you under the bus.

So you better think about it before you trust any corporate insurance company to BE THERE FOR YOU IF YOU ARE SICK. They will throw you under the bus.

Not just insurance companies but watch out for hospitals and doctors too.

The more different test they can get you to do the more money the make.

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

So you better think about it before you trust any corporate insurance company to BE THERE FOR YOU IF YOU ARE SICK. They will throw you under the bus.

Not just insurance companies but watch out for hospitals and doctors too.

The more different test they can get you to do the more money the make.

Thats right. And they are not necessarily the tests you need....just the most expensive tests.....if you have money or insurance only. Did I mention that if you have no money and no insurance that the hospitals and doctors will also throw you under the bus? They will. It is only when you get SO SICK that you end up in the emergency room that they have to take you.