Comments on: A Surefire Way to Keep Healthcare Costs Down– But John Edwards Won’t Like It

By: Tammera

Tammera — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:49:03 +0000

Excellent, thanks!

By: libertariangirl

libertariangirl — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 22:20:48 +0000

Yes, McCain is a terrible representative for conservatives because he doesn’t seem to understand the underlying economic issues himself, let alone be able to explain them to others.

I’ve heard many people competently explain the problems with our nation’s health care, and it’s not beyond the scope of the American people to learn it if someone was willing to teach them.

By: Rachy

Rachy — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:47:31 +0000

I’d like to see the math on how the McCain plan might be better. While it doesn’t make sense to me now (I blaim McCain and his people for not communicating this better), it the numbers do show it is better, I’d change my mind.

However, if there were a switchover, there should be opportunities to carry over your existing coverage. For example, like many, I have a “pre-existing condition” (a little bit of skin cancer) and was turned down for an additional life insurance policy, so it might be difficult to join a new plan.

I think whether the McCain plan is good or bad is in the details, and I find McCain, like GW Bush, to be a poor communicator when it comes to telling people at least a summary of the details so we can tell if this is or isn’t a good idea!

By: libertariangirl

libertariangirl — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 04:28:17 +0000

My mother has worked in the healthcare industry for many years and has noticed a distinct difference between even 30 years ago and today in regards to people’s attitudes toward doctors. These days, people expect their relatives to live forever and if they don’t, they blame the doctor. Most of the time, the doctor was doing what any doctor could do under the circumstances.
(Although I also know of a few cases of actual horrendous malpractice where the victims didn’t sue the doctor; but in the end, I would say there are many more cases of frivolous malpractice than true malpractice since insurance companies are so willing to settle for a few hundred thousand.)

I’ll probably be writing a post in the future about McCain’s health care plan. There are many reasons employer-provided health insurance isn’t the best way to go, including those people who are between jobs or want to leave their jobs or start a small business. It probably does keep our economy down on some level.

I’ve read an analysis where most people would be better off under McCain’s plan, because salaries would rise once health insurance isn’t provided as a benefit. I don’t think either Obama or McCain’s plan really gets to the bottom of what our problems with healthcare are, so I don’t think either will lower prices in any meaningful way.

By: Rachy

Rachy — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:33:54 +0000

I think that’s a common sense approach. Sometimes people confuse disapointing results with real malpractice. It’s not only Europe, but in South America people don’t understand why one would sue if they don’t like how something turned out.

On a related matter, what do you think about McCain’s proposal to tax employer-provided healtcare while only providing a personal tax credit? For many of us, getting health insurance from our employers is something that works. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it? I can see the personal tax credit for those who can’t get healthcare coverage at work, but why change the system for the rest of us?