China unveils massive health care plan.

[Bigb23]

I'd post more, but they seem to be going after people posting any articles on forums and blogs.
China seems to be making an effort to establish themselves as a stronger manufacturing juggernaut then they are now.
We better do something soon in this country about health care, or we'll never catch up.

SHANGHAI – China pledged to expand medical insurance and build thousands of hospitals and clinics over the next three years, the first steps in a decade-long plan to repair an ailing health-care system that has fueled popular discontent.

Under the new plan, government subsidies for insurance premiums aim to extend at least basic coverage to 90% or more of China's 1.3 billion people within three years. By 2020, the government says, all citizens should have access to basic health services. The proportion of medical expenses covered by insurance will increase over time, and prices of so-called essential drugs will be pushed down.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1239...googlenews_wsj

[ccbatson]

Good luck with that China. Got a history book handy?

[ccbatson]

Check India out for a roadmap of where you are headed China.

Coverage for all!! No real service for anyone unless they pay for it on the black market.

[Flanders]

Check India out for a roadmap of where you are headed China.

Coverage for all!! No real service for anyone unless they pay for it on the black market.

Yeah, China, like the US, should embrace the objectivist ideal of a completely privatized, for-profit free-market conservative approach to healthcare, and abandon any evil and corrupt socialistic methods that would severely dilute quality coverage and treatment for those who obviously are far more deserving of it. Why should, .for example, a lowly ditch-digger, be entitled to the same degree of quality healthcare and insurance coverage, as a business owner??

Furthermore, each individual seeking heathcare coverage and/or treatment should also be triaged based on a thorough review of their present AND future finances/creditworthiness/health/age, due to the nature of their infirmity or infirmities that they have now or may become susceptible to in the future. Denial of coverage and medical treatment will have the effect of "culling the herd" and prevent abuse and most importantly, greatly increase future profits for the insurers and their stockholders

[Bigb23]

^^^^ Isn't that petty much what we have now ? ^^^^

Another sarcasm alert !

[Flanders]

^^^^ Isn't that petty much what we have now? ^^^^

Another sarcasm alert !

The US still needs to eliminate Medicare, Medicaid, and "non-profit" HMOs and PPOs, in order to further "purify" the heathcare coverage system in the US., I believe that the Heritage Foundation's ideas, and ex-POTUS candidate John McCain's proposal would [[or in McCain's plan, would have) led the US far more quickly in that direction.

[Bigb23]

Well, from what I've read, the Medicare overhaul that was done six years ago, at a cost of Billions, has turned into a big, expensive cluster F**k for the people that have to be enrolled in it, because it's required by private insurer's who lobbied for the plan in the first place.

Can't we look at the options provided by the other G-20 nations, and take the best, and ignore the worst, of what they provide for they're citizens ? They have been running these programs for years, so data is available for review. And they do work under a for profit system.

[jams]

Just ask Cc, he complains about being underpaid by them.

[Bigb23]

But everything is "for profit", how can he bitch under his system, that he proclaims twenty times a day on here ?

[ccbatson]

Folks, you must first realize that the end point is the same.

Socialize it and quality/access decline while costs go up until a nonfunctional system results [[see Canada), and a free market second tier surfaces. Here the road to this end point is very painful.

The other path is to privatize gradually and have an affordable sanctioned free market system sooner and with less hardship on the way.

There is no alternate viable option.

[eriedearie]

Please tell us how Canada's health care system is nonfunctional.

[Bobl]

SM:
"Please do not include references to Third World countries as comparing them to the richest country in the world will make you look silly."


A nation that supports half a million servicemen around the world, at incredible cost, then bails out criminal financial institutions with a trillion dollars, yet leaves 47 million citizens without medical coverage, certainly looks silly...no matter who it is compared to.

[ccbatson]

Antiquated and a failure? Oh yeah, that is why those with money are coming here for care.

[ccbatson]

Some are going to get a cheaper price [[as in India on their black market).

The prices are high here because of partial socialization [[Medicare/Medicaid).

The WHO survey was/is, first a survey, and second weak as well as biased.

Try this litmus test: You have an elevated Alkaline Phosphatase on screening by your PCP because you have been fatigued, do you:

a. Go to Canada and wait several months for follow up test?
b. Go to Europe and, as in Canada, wait, but then find that you are ineligible for the workup?
c. Go to Cuba with Michael Moore and have a "Doctor" that you are unsure of being a Doctor take over with some voodoo?
d. Go to Russia and wait at the end of the fast food drive through for your Doctor to finish his/her shift to take care of it?
e. Stay here in the US and receive good [[but not free) care in a timely fashion?

[rb336]

bats, you can make up example after example out of your imagination, and no matter how hard you imagine, it doesn't make it true

[rb336]

The prices are high here because of partial socialization [[Medicare/Medicaid).

by your reasoning, prices should then be way higher in countries with fully socialized medicine, a notion completely contradicted by facts.

[Bobl]

Let's hear your experiences and opinions, Canadian posters!
Are you happy with your medical system? Why? Why not?

Ours is fine if you have a good job and a hefty bank account, provided there are no preexisting conditions. Not so good if you are laid off, broke, or chronically ill with a preexisting condition.
Emergency care is available to those with good insurance and those who are impoverished or wealthy. Working folks will likely go bankrupt if they suffer an emergency or serious illness.
The whole system is drained by those who use emergency rooms for treatment of chronic illness or routine care.
Medical care is rationed to those with insurance and those who are wealthy; with emergency care available to most people, at high cost to working people with no insurance.

[d.mcc]

Count me as one of those additional 6 million DSF

[GOAT]

I actually agree with CCBatson. No way will this be sustainable. As a matter of fact nor is China's growth. I can't wait to see them sink because they are after all, the enemy. If you don't think so look into it.

[GOAT]

Bobl, I am very happy with my medical coverage in Canada. I believe we have to stop throwing money at the system as it that will fix it because it won't. Using private companies paid by the gov't could streamline work but other than that I am extremely happy with my healthcare.

[ccbatson]

Healthy people, not in need of care will be very happy with Canada's system. Just don't get sick.

[Bobl]

S M: Your scenario:
"f. You are one one the millions of Americans who has no insurance, so you never get the screening by your PCP, you have no idea why you are fatigued. You lose your job because you are too sick to do it well. Because of the loss of income, your home is foreclosed on and your wife leaves you because she thinks you are "just being lazy". You end up on the street until you are finally sick enough to be admitted to emergency. Your undiagnosed Hepatitis C infection has now caused permanent irreversable liver damage. Your costly [[and totally preventable) hospital stay comes too late and you die."
I have an acquaintance who is unable to work and on medicaid, was diagnosed with hepatitis C four years ago, and has received no treatment from her PCP. Your scenario was a bit too optimistic!

[ccbatson]

Nobody is going bankrupt from copays...what kind of insurance do you, and the people you know have DSF?

[Bigb23]

He doesn't need facts, just Ideology. Post yourself 400 times a month, and you don't need to explain yourself. Just hammer the other side. Oh well.

[ccbatson]

All of the liberals here have selective vision and comprehension impairments? Reread, slow it down, wipe the drool off of your chin and you will see the crucial word "COPAYS" in my assertion. Copays are not bankrupting people.