BS”D
charliehall:
Good point on the chronic illness, that is why in many states there is specific HIV drug coverage (which is well paid for).
As for lawsuits, the Feds can withhold funding for these programs to states that don’t pass reform, just like they did with highway money & the speed limit.
Third, the USA is made up of multiple cultures, and (I know you may not like this if you are a “liberal”, but its how I feel and think is true) certain cultures view certain “bad” things, such as dependency, fraud, and single parenthood / WIC babies as acceptable. The country as a whole is moving closer to the average citizen (let alone inhabitant) becoming more willing to accepting these as the norm. And if you attempt to change the culture, the “race” or “ethnicity” card is played.
The “public option” is feared (see the Joe Lieberman interview in the WSJ) to be the first step to single payer/canadian type system, in which doctors must follow the guidelines and are not allowed to work outside the system. In addition, the “proposed minimum coverage” will (correct me if I am wrong) disallow HSA plans with high deductibles, which is the only real “insurance” product out there (the rest are coverage).
Also, we talk about “the wealthiest society”. America is split by culture, and many of our citizens/cultures are not in that “wealthy society”, but are stll counted in the average (which throws it off). When a ceratin group is known to have a large percentage of its male youths in prison, they are not part (for worse, and it is not a good thing) of “the wealthiest society”.
Last, who says what type of care will be offered (or should be)? as the President said, take the pill and not the surgery, but how about pain? Why should we, as the taxpayers, pay for a drug for someone else with fewer side effects? AND WHO SHOULD DECIDE?
If part of the bill would be that only generic drugs (not more expensive versions) are covered (with the excption of illnesses where there is no generic that does ANYTHING), then that would also help. Why cover Lipitor if Zocor works 95% of the time just as well?
I have my own ideas on how Universal HC should be done (a VA/Kaiser Permanente type system), but that is well off.
I look forward to your response.