Please disregard underlined links in this article. Malicious adware got into my system and caused this. It has since been removed but their links remained.
I tend to
be very conservative politically.
I wanted to give President Obama the benefit of the doubt and pray for his decisions.
I am sick that he is growing government so huge & pray something stops him.
BUT . . .
There is a truth that desperately needs to be discussed. For the last few years I have mentioned it on occasion. I also realized that it would be political suicide for any politician to bring up this problem. They would be voted out 
of office.
President Obama brought up the subject. And is really paying the price :) I don't agree with his idea's ... but we do need to discuss the subject and it will be very difficult. I'm not sure what truth is on this subject. We, the people, need to search for that truth.
My body turned 70 this year. Shocking. I'm still not used to it. Praise God He said in Eccl 3 that our inner man is eternal. We do not age; we only become wiser or more foolish :)
I think there needs to be a limit on how much money is put into the Sr. citizens. I had one kne
e replaced. I am thinking seriously about NOT having my other knee replaced or my hips replaced. (Which all 3 are within arms reach.) It is a matter of integrity. I know young adults who have families not well covered ... but paying for our amenities.
Look at the stats. Look at the nursing homes. Our old timers have bodies that are far outliving their minds. In the process, as the % of older people increases, we are draining the pockets of the younger people; the parents; the people running our world.
Medical & pharmaceutical discoveries come at a cost. 21st century abilities are beyond what we can afford. But we demand it anyway.
I'm NO
T wanting the government to make the decisions. But they will probably have to be involved due to law of involving 'age'. Insurance companies are not all evil. They can't work for nothing. They need to balance expenditures and payments received from patients. Dr's also need a say but see below paragraph.
Should we supply extended medical to the young or old? We cannot fully cover both.
As an older person I am willing for my insurance company to quit funding non essential services for people over 65. (Or some age) Also, I think we should have to make a co payment. I make no co payments due to Social Security and AARP. That allows Dr's to run a
ny test they want to without my feeling a need to weigh in and saying 'No, I can't afford it.' And Dr's have to because the malpractice attorneys are on TV begging to let them sue the doctor's and get us the money 'we deserve.' (Sorry to all you responsible attorney's out there. I'm only referring to the guilty:)
Lots more can be said but this is so long probably no one will read it already. I would love to hear what you think.
PS I realise my faith in Christ and His promises to me make this an easy decision for me. But death is coming no matter what. We have to quit draining the pocket of the younger humanity just to keep our body alive for a few more unproductive years. But what does that mean? How do we decide? I don't know.
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If you get to this point in the article, please be sure to read the response of Terry White, Aug 23rd. I did not present my thoughts well and it is debated out through many, many responses and my thoughts were altered along the way. Many helps in many responses. But her's comes from a woman with the experience to know more about the personal emotions & will be helpful to you.
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Comments: 241
Seniors already suffer many abuses, and I don't think we want to create a culture that further denigrates them by deciding whether an individual has the right to health care based on their age. There are many seniors (as well as younger people) who have very sharp minds, but health issues that require more care- as is to be expected with age.
I don't know why you said you make no copayments because of SS and AARP. What does SS have to do with it? Did you mean Medicare? Even then, Medicare does not cover everything and there are deductibles that patients must pay.
And it is not true that doctors are free to run any test they want and that it will be automatically covered. It is also not true that you as the patient cannot refuse any test, procedure, or treatment.
My mother is 75 years old and does pay co-payments for medical care, and has premiums to pay for her health insurance. She is a vibrant, able-bodied, productive member of society and I cannot imagine ever living in a society that would decide she is too old to deserve medical care.
Seniors are just as deserving of the BEST HEALTH CARE as everybody else. Choosing who gets HEALTH CARE and who doesn't is not an option. EVERYBODY gets the BEST HEALTH CARE.
I agree that all are as valuable and worth and deserving as any other.
My thought is (As I repeat ad naseum all the way down through these comments:) I'm sick of listening to myself. What happens if, around the corner, we do hot have enough quarters to give to everyone. If our financial system crashes; where do we pare back? It has nothing to do with value but practical survival.
Hopefully we'll never get there but . . .
It sort of plays out as you go through the posts. One of the best comments was "We don't know the answers." :):)
All citizens should receive care. Even the elderly, they've lived long lives and deserve respect.
That's what I say about it.
In othe countries our Elders are very much respected, so why not
here?
I also agree with Carol. NO One should be judged on anything
according to their age.
It is VERY hard for Senior Citizens to get the care that
they really need.
We all should be ashamed if we think that just
because someone is old, they are not worth
the $$ to help with Health Care.
I do know that my Grandmother's sister is 87, and her
brothers all lived to be in their late 90's.
Only our Lord knows when it is our time to pass.
Until then, I say we take care of our Elders.
Yet, I don't think actual pain should be ignored by the health system.
what we need is to find a happy medium. We also need to get the stupid lobbiests under control, and all the panic hype halted.
Only then will a sensible, middle of the road solution be found. Unfortunately, I don't see that happing at the moment.
Politics and panic are running rampant.
Some of whats being shuttled about is actually ludicrous.
We do have the choice of making choices on test etc. But we don't have the pressure of co pay expenses to press us in that direction. I'm wondering if we should have to carry some of the expense.
Yes, Dr's have limits on tests to being reasonable. But again, if a test is available they have to always keep in mind that they can be sue'd for not checking every avenue. Nice if we can afford it.
My problem is listening to what debt the younger people coming up have to carry. I think we need to think this out.
My primary desire is to hear opinions. I don't know where the line should be drawn.
I mentioned knee & hip replacements which are very expensive and people have lived without these for thousands of years.
I am looking at an impossible medical bill for USA. If we have to cut. We, the people, not the government, need to decide where. I'm not sure it is possible to continue as we are. The expense on young parents is too high. That's why I want opinions.
It isn't whether we, the older people, are worth it. It's whether or not we can continue this way even though we are worth it.
As far as I know, doctors cannot be sued if they suggest a procedure or treatment, and the patient refuses.
Consider this as well:
If we cripple senior citizens by not giving them the proper care that keeps them mobile and healthy, who is going to care for them when they are no longer capable of doing things for themselves because someone decided they were too old to be treated? And who will pay for that care?
Unless you're suggesting we just shoot them and get it over with, there will be potentially greater costs associated with caring for them because they were denied treatment that could have kept them more independent.
Do we really want to live in a country where someone gets to decide when we're too old to bother with? Is that a proper reward for people who work all their life and pay their taxes?
I think not.
Nancy ... I don't think any of us knows what's coming down the pike. I'm saying I don't thing we will have a choice on reducing expenditures. I said I thought we should have a co pay to force us to be diligent. I didn't say no one has a co pay. I have none. I think that might be an area where it might force us to cut back a little. I didn't ever indicate that no one has a co pay.
Also, I didn't say doctor's could be sued if they suggested a test and we said no. I think people aren't reading carefully.
You were right however, when you said I used the word SSA instead of medicare.
I don't know the answers. I was hoping people would think and offer suggestions as to how we could handle the problems that are coming. I never indicated that we wouldn't bother with them. I'm not saying don't give them medicine.
But something has to give. I do say don't give 20 th centruy meds when meds from the 90's will work. Instestead of acting like I want to ignor old people ... offer good suggestions. That's what I was hoping people would do.
I am making mistakes but you accuse me of things that stop conversation. Offer alternatives; or at least listen carefully to what I'm saying. It is a hurtful discussion, but in the next year we're going to see more & more hardship on the workforce which includes families. Let's think now what we can do.
further healthcare thoughts
I see nothing wrong with you purchasing all those things for yourself. I am saying the government will NOT be able to continue putting out the big bucks on medical that they are now. WE WILL cut back. I'm trying to get people to start a discussion on where but all they want to do is misquote and say this isn't the answer.
OK. I said at the beginning I don't know the answer but wanted to share thoughts and have the rest of you do the same. Let's talk it out.
Most are just angry and offer no suggestions of their own.
Do you have any idea what is happening? Do you know more companies will go overseas because they are raising their taxes? Surely you do. We won't have the money in government to take care of us at the level we are used to. Offer concrete suggestions on what we can do.
That's great Sharon. That's the problem. No matter where we cut ... the old ... the young ... the poor ... or the working persons will be hurt. Eemy, meeny miney mo; who will get the financial blow? :):)
And, as far as Obama's healthcare plan in concerned, all I can say is, if the added expense of taking care of everybody else's health (who is not on either Social Security or Medicare) is piled up on top of what taxpayers are already paying and what Uncle Sam is already taking care of.......
.....that camel's spinal column is gonna snap somewhere........
You don't work ... you don't eat. Work hard and buy insurance. I do think we need welfare medical for people in perdicaments. I mainly think that private enterprise should work something out. Dr's offer 1/2 a day a month or something to a large clinic.
I worked at the welfare office for a little over 26 years. I was a case worker. I suggested to one of the visiting dignitaries that instead of the clients going to all the different doctors and always going to the emergency room we would save a lot of money if we had a large, well manned clinic. She was indignent and said why should they be treated any different than anyone else. They had their dignity. I said nothing :)
But I would like to have said "Because I'm paying for it."
That's another discussion we need to have. I don't want the government making the decisions but I don't think people know what's coming.
I'll let you start that discussion. You're good at things like that :)
Seems to be what you are most concerned about ... typically a conservative view-point. Do you watch FOX ?
Look out, Jerry's starting to get political on us.........
It is the act of NOT paying attention to cost that has America in this terrible predicament today.
Yes I listen to Fox News. I also listen to CNN. All people should listen to both sides of a debate in order to make semi intelligent decisions :):)
Berf, every time I decide to keep politics out of something ... I find out I can't :):) I guess 'politics' is just the natural results of thinking things out. Our personal philosophical view of life makes us political creatures. Curses!
1) the money were not put into the general funds from which Congress spends and were managed as the separate fund it is meant to be
2) if that is not feasible, give up on the ceiling and take the payroll taxes all the way up the pay scale.
However, I have asked my doctor to give me meds (like antibiotics) from the 90's. They work and are much cheaper. I'm not against the pharmeceutical companies. They put out billions on research. I just can't afford it. I do have to pay part of my medicine.
I think the important thing left out of this discussion are the statistics of our national debt right now. I'm saying we don't an option of not cutting back somewhere. But where and how. That's what I want to hear.
I'm not comfortable with what I've written. I just think emergency times are coming upon us and these are question WE, the people need to discuss and not let the government make the decisions. I don't like the decisions they are making.
To say that a younger person who requires this surgery can have it but an older person can not is ludicrous.
that's not what she's saying & that's not what's in the health care reform bill either.
the question posed is where do we draw the line & where do we make cuts in expeditures.
I don't know about you, but I don't want someone deciding for me what care I'm too old to receive when I become a senior citizen. That is not the answer to solving the health care crisis.
You are deliberately trying to make me sound callous Nancy.
I'm saying things are changing and we are not going to be living at this same level. We are going to have to give up a lot of things. As an older person I discussing what we can give up.
Why don't you offer answers to this difficult problem instead of just cutting me down constantly. I can take the cuts but you aren't helping.
You act like you have no idea what's coming. We ARE going to be cutting back. We will have to make choices. It will hurt somebody. So say something constructive. Give us opinions. I see all the electric wheel chairs that are being given out. Of course it's wonderful. I wish every old person had one but we can't afford it. Medicare is ... never mind. You never picked up on the point of this discussion in the first place and I'm not accomplishing anything. I don't do well it getting points across.
You want me to provide the answers to the health care crisis? I don't have the answers, Glome, nor does anyone here. We're all just offering our thoughts on the general situation.
You accuse me of acting like I don't know what's coming, but I don't honestly think anyone here knows how it's going to work out at this point. I do understand that costs have to be controlled, if that's what you think I don't understand.
You challenged me to offer opinions; I did.
Now you tell me I never picked up on the point of the discussion. What was the point, Glome?
You asked this question in your post:
"Should we supply extended medical to the young or old?"
and I offered my opinion. I'm not sure what more you want me to do, but I'm sorry you feel that I didn't do enough.
I just don't think we have a choice. The government will choose to save on the youngest age, I'd rather those of us that are older to accept a little more of our old age.
Opitimum age for expenditures is between the ages of 5-45.
So everyone else be prepared to "suck it up"!
I know Obama isn't saying that now but another year or two the money will be drastically reduced and gov't will have to downsize medical if they take on this huge job.
That's why I want to do it now. The people discuss it. I believe we are going to have to give up some of our medical luxuries. Not because we don't deserve them ... or because we aren't valuable. But because there will be no money.
Lord knows what will follow.
I believe that necessary medical aid should be covered. But frivolous things, folks should pay for those themselves.
I've had both knees replaced. I don't feel it should be done again. I can still walk, and my pain level is still around 4.
Don't you just love that numbering system (Ha.)
But you see the problem. No matter what we give up ... we're going to be sick about it.
I know coservatives (& liberals somewhat) hate what Obama is doing. I'm conservative. Something in me was amazed that he dared to mention changes for old people. I don't know one other politician that would be brave enough to say those words. It won't be only them ... but before this ends everyone will be mad :) Ha ha. I would rather the government not handle the programs. I've worked for government. You can't help it ... you just don't mind spending the money like you would if it was coming out of your own pocket. ALL their programs are money suckers. I want society and medical and insurance people to man and run this project.
Maybe I should have said; If it becomes absolutely necessary to cut back on the medical expenditures ... where should it be?
Because I think that's where we are. It isn't that I don't think we are not worth it; I just think we will have no choice. We're out of money. I want the families to have first shot at the funds.
My Mom is 93. I am very close to her. Was her caretake till my own health failed last year. I live next to the nursing center she is in now and spend 2 or 3 hours with her every day. We are very close. So I am not judging value.
What I'm saying is we only have enough money for a certain amount. We are sinking under debt. No one notices because we haven't imploded yet. They are going to have to add taxes to all the young families to cover the colosial plans they have. The money isn't there. It isn't their value; what do we HAVE to do to survive as a nation?
It is easy to say get health care down. Anyone can say that.
I'm trying to have a discussion on how we can do that. You've offered nothing except harshness & misquotes.
I did not challenge you or anyone else to come up with a solution. I only said that I am not in favor of limiting senior health care as an answer to reducing health care costs.
As for corporations... oh well. That's a whole nothier article :)
Then, and only then should we begin to help other countries. I want to be in good financial shape so we can help them ... but not to foolishly give away money when we can't pay our bills.
It is true that salaries may have to go down. But we have to deal with reality Nancy.
It's easy to just cut down what anyone else says ... you haven't come up with anything useful or constructive.
I did not cut anyone down. I made a comment about a specific portion of the jobs in this country: manufacturing jobs. Anyone who understands American manufacturing understands my comment. Manufacturing jobs will continue to decline in this country for the reason I already mentioned. The future in job creation is in the health care industry and technology.
To me, it appears that we've got them. How can we most efficiently live our lives under our current reality? I say, for that reason, bring them back home and at least benefit from the jobs they offer. ideology and practicality sometimes clash :)
it emptied the room
Did it ever occur to you that the room cleared because you insulted that woman?
You don't represent all senior citizens, certainly not fairly with your sweeping generalizations, and my mother is not one of "your" people.
And I assure you, I am quite awake.
Sorry Nancy but listening to you jump rudely on him to made me not care what you think anymore. Just enjoy his story. You were'nt sent here to conform us to your image. (& I think that is about the harshest I've ever been to anyone.) I'll probably have to come back and apologize but at the moment, you need a dose of reality like John gave that woman.
First John said that senior citizens were whiners, then he told how he insulted a senior citizen who asked him a question.
I responded by asking him if all senior citizens were whiners (which is what he implied) and if he had considered why the room had cleared when he insulted that woman. 2 legitimate questions based on what he said.
He responded by making more sweeping generalizations about seniors, referring to me as "lady" when he can clearly see my name, and saying we need to "wake up".
Now explain to me how he was not being rude to me and judgmental?
You don't have to care what I think, Glome, but you are not being fair in your assessment of my comments and questions to John.
I am not trying to conform anyone to my image (whatever that means), and I wasn't sent here by anyone, so I don't know why you said that. And I'm not sure what dose of reality you think I need, but I feel pretty well grounded in reality.
When you post a controversial topic like this, you should expect people will disagree.
It doesn't mean you and I don't think other countries aren't worth helping. It just means we don't have the money right now. Our first responsibility is to handle our own money responsibly.
Get some money in the till then maybe talk about money for "health care for all"!
That's part of the hard decisions we have to make.
I realize it will cost many jobs. Vacate expensive buildings. Bring much scientific progress to a grinding hault. But that's what happens to families or countries that have spent foolishly and gone into excessive debt.
We have to pair down now... then we get the luxuries.
I just wish that private industry was doing it. They get the benifits, and should be footing the bill.
I don't know. It seems like we should have a thousand men that have proved themselves experts meeting in 50 different groups weighing these things out. Then reps from each group go to congress etc :)
Every one of the reps wold probably fight for different changes ... then where would we be? :)
I don't think I feel we older people aren't as worthy. I'm thinking when we put our hand in our pocket within a year or two there will only be so many quarters and we will have to choose between many worthy people.
My goal is to talk now. I would love to hear idea's from others. I'm stabbing in the dark but know sooner or later, if we don't come up with answers, the government will. I would like to hash it out ourselves. I'm thinking there will not be enough quarters for some of the things we get now for our comfort. I hope I'm wrong. I'm not. Medicare is already a mess.
I tell them to ask for the test results already done.
I have to sign a release form, but thats no problem.
Do you know that Electric wheel chairs are given on Medicare (with a co pay) but my Mom got one without a penny going out of her pocket because she pays for AARP.
Now I was happy for her. Don't misunderstand me. I'm just ssaying we don't have enough money. Where should we cut back on medical?
Does anyone have the stats? We bought my sister an electric wheel chair out of our famuly pockets. Medicare/AARP bought one for Mom. Mom's cost a lot more than my sisters. They know they had to bring their price down for us ... but got the big bucks from Medicare/AARP. I'm not sure Medicare should be buying these for SO MANY people WHEN WE CAN'T AFFORD THEM. If we get our budget on track then that's a frill we can jump on.
I do know that something has to give, because our country
cannot continue on like it is now.
I'm just saying when a family doesn't have enough money they have to give up a lot. We need to decide what we can give up. Maybe private rooms and electric wheel chairs :):)
I'm still able to use a walker, but who knows what the future will bring.
I am moving to an apartment on the bus line in hopes of solving that one.
But not everyone can do that.
Mark, the whole thing is above Obama's pay grade.
Nice to have light banter you two. Thanks.
If you selfish, self righteous liberals would leave conservatives alone we would take care of our family members without your 'death panel' health care rationing czars.
There's always a group that just about couldn't exist if it were'nt for gov't and charities. Especially because older women of today didn't work back in their early days.
I'm just trying to figure out what will have to go first :):) Medicare is feeding off the gov't anyway now. & with the additional huge medical program they are beginning, every frill has to go. So what are the frills? :)
Thanks for being conversational.
I haven't been in Gather except for about 4 times in a long long time. It is my favorite place to be.
There are so many changed avatar's that I'm not sure if I know some of these people or not :) But your name I know I didn't know.
Most of the time I am painting. I work on the fence at Jackson Square in the French Quarter of New Orleans.
I didn't really work till I was about 40. I was a stay at home Mom. I had 6 children. In early teens we took two kids in that were kind of street kids. We met them through the Bible study I had for teens.
Then my husband left me; I went back to school and did baby sitting, sold Aavon, Mary Kay, did anything to make money :) We cut out all the frills, that's for sure :) Then I worked as a case worker for 26 yrs. I receive SSA on my own earnings only & retirement from a retirement plan. I feel very lucky. It's fine for what I want. A small apt & a small car & a computer :):)
If he hadn't left me I probably wouldn't have worked. It seemed all right back then :)
well written
:)
And that's hard at 70 :)
That's a little scary.
Here are some other possabilities to add.
1. Stop all immigration 90-100% for a 5 year period.
2. Start to truely deal with illegal immigration.
3. No welfare etc... or public school for non-citizens, or children thereof.
4. No space programs for 5 years.
5. Put a freeze on all aid to other countries for 5 years.
6. Close all our overseas military bases and sell it all off.
7. Reduce all government job pay down to the level of the average yearly salary of private citizens jobs.
That's all I can think of right now. I put the 5 year time limit on it, so things can be looked over to see how that's working out.
"Reduce all government job pay down to the level of the average yearly salary of private citizens jobs"
Maybe they could start putting out a reward to those who report. If it's true, they get $1000.
Thank you. I hope some will respond to those thoughts without being too too political :) But of course, we all hold a philosophy of life and government that causes us to want to spend money in certain ways. So ... :)
Wow; the last one is new to me. #6 scares me but ... other than standing watch over the bombs ... I think I'm even ready for that. The neutron bombs in Pakistan make me want to stay there.
I had a lot of hispanics on my load in welfare. I loved their stong family orientation. Their ideals were good. They will make wonderful American citizens but ... they need to go back and come in legally. Or why even bother with law. Shame on USA for allowing it. But shame on them for coming. We've got to make things right even though painful.
Anyway, thank you so much for the ideas.
Here in Kansas hospitals and dr's weren't even allowed to send client copy of the bill. That's nonsense. The client should have to sign it and send it to us. Hospitals and Dr's could charge us for anything they wanted without the client knowing. That's asking for fraud.
Of course, they will pass any costs on to consumers as usual. I don't have the answer to that.
8. Send all those foreign workers home, and replace them with American citizens.
If they can deny based on age and are in eveyone's lives that much, they can do most anything. They like KENNEDY'S, PELOSI, etc. get the best the medical world can offer, no matter the age, or even the KENNEDY, murder- Just KNOW, when you "invite" BIG government in your asking for somethins, you DIDN'T EXPECT!
Big stuff may be coming upon us all, and we don't want the situation to come to the governmental entities making this decision, so we'd better make the tough decisions for ourselves, now.
I already have a living will.
I have openly promised them that I would die, as fast as I possably can.
BTW, so may want to do their own "living wills" and WILL'S, cheaper try http://www.legalzoom.com/
I have a wonderful, comprehensive power of attorney on my computer if anyone wants it.
Oh wait. It's on Word Perfect. My Word is down so I couldn't transfer it right now.
It happened to a friend of mine.
George was put on just about every stupid machine they could find until his son could get up here the next day from California.
Within 20 minutes of getting home, he died.
Now just what did that actually do FOR George?
What is Healing?
"As an older person I am willing for my insurance company to quit funding non essential services for people over 65."
For an individual to decide to forego a medical treatment or procedure is well within their rights, but I don't think we want government to decide who gets medical treatment based on age.
Government is already funding Medicare. They are already picking up the tab for nursing home residents. They are already buying the electric wheel chairs. That's going to falter. They can't carry this load. They are paying their bills with empty dollars.
So it's time we had a talk. I threw out my idea's. I am willing for my insurance company to do that if it is in accordance with general public consent. Not sure how we would find that out. If someone comes up with something better I will be grateful. I'm not an economist. I'm treading water but was hoping others would jump in. You haven't. You just stand on the edge and throw rocks.
You're right ... I really don't want the government to make the decision. But a decision will have to be made. I have a feeling the fall will happen so fast there will be no time for community meetings. I suppose even if we came up with idea's now, we wouldn't know how to implement them.
There IS going to be a change in medical. Let's talk about that. Give me a better idea than what I have.
I made it clear that I would not be in favor of the government dictating what health care senior citizens receive. That is my opinion, and I presented it as such.
You made the comment that you would be willing to let the insurance companies decide what health care procedures people over 65 could receive. That is your opinion, and you are entitled to it.
Clearly we disagree, but I did not throw any rocks at anyone, so I don't know why you said that.
If you read through my comments, I suggested that the answer lies in managing health care costs, instead of excluding people from receiving services.
Medicare and health insurance fraud are two big ticket items that need to be addressed which I mentioned. There are scores of others.
You weren't really expecting the people on Gather to resolve the health care crisis on this post, were you? I never said I had the answers, just opinions like everyone else.
You're right; managing health care costs is necessary. HOW to do that was the question.
I agree that taking care of health insurance fraud is a great step.
This should probably be in a new article because there would be lots of thoughts, and made some educational posts. But, every time the subject of Insurance co's come up I have something I need to say to hear responses.
You're right exactly on what you say. But I look at big business before Unions came in. Most became unsafe and treated their employees unfairly. Unions came in and changed all that. HOWEVER ... many unions also became corrupt and have added to our financial woes. However ... they still kept a better balance for the man on the street ... or on the job :) than there was without them. Two selfish entities, unions and business, battling it out brought more fairness to employees.
God said "Our hearts are deceitful above all things and desperately wicked."
Of course, He also offers to come into us and give us new hearts :) But ...
Every power group need an adversary to keep it in control because the thought of money tickles our deceitful little hearts :)
Thinking about insurance companites ... they have their responsible and good side. They have investors. It is their business to make money. The family of one of my children is in a Chrisitan not profitable medical co op. They pay almost as much as others and still have to fight for some coverage. It is the only way the co op can keep monthly payments down. That is a neccessary function.
Like the Unions ... they are a counter balance to the money makers. Their focus is different yes, but that's where competition comes in. The lower the premiums the more customers you have. & yes, they do have to require demands from Dr's be explained in many instances. But that counter balance plus competition in the marketplace did pretty well untill technology and ever new drugs took medical care to such highs.
With the government (I know almost all of you agree with this) it becomes a one organization choice. No marketplace competion & millions of money out of our pocket. And of course, no one can compete & gov't is spending our money and not their own which always causes financial escalation.
Competition is so necessary and important. I, myself, probably think that the insurance co's pressure works for good. I don't think many agree with me :)