On socialized medicine

[lilpixieofterror]

Why do you say that was not one of your best decisions? It was a decision based on monetary considerations.

People do dumb things, when their young. I know, I see it everyday.

[simplicio]

People do dumb things, when their young. I know, I see it everyday.

But why is it a dumb thing? There are arguments made by Christians which suggest that economically advantageous decisions are not dumb at all.

[lilpixieofterror]

But why is it a dumb thing? There are arguments made by Christians which suggest that economically advantageous decisions are not dumb at all.

You can’t predict accidents nor hidden illness. The young tend to have the attitude of, “It can never happen to me!” And it can and sometimes does.

[simplicio]

You can’t predict accidents nor hidden illness. The young tend to have the attitude of, “It can never happen to me!” And it can and sometimes does.

So his mistake was only an actuarial one, a game of odds?

[lilpixieofterror]

So his mistake was only an actuarial one, a game of odds?

In the end, it was a game of odds that he did win. Accidents do happen, but serious ones are kind of rare and disease/conditions can sneak up on you, but are also somewhat rare. I made a decision, when I was 22, to drive across country by myself, to visit my parents. Are there young women that disappear on such trips or accidents occur from driving such long hours? Yes, but the odds were on my side that nothing would happen. Would I attempt such a journey, by myself, again? No, but it’s because most of us are lucky enough to survive our dumber choices.

[Mountain Man]

Health insurance is often the gateway to the medical system, those without it are effectively given a lesser level of care.

I forget, are you from the US? Because that's not true at all. Our medical system doesn't have one set of standards for those with health insurance, and one set of standards for those without. Granted, some options might be unavailable if you don't have the means to pay*, but that's only tangentially related to insurance.


* This is true of many things in life, not just healthcare.

[simplicio]

I forget, are you from the US? Because that's not true at all. Our medical system doesn't have one set of standards for those with health insurance, and one set of standards for those without. Granted, some options might be unavailable if you don't have the means to pay*, but that's only tangentially related to insurance.


* This is true of many things in life, not just healthcare.

Yes, I am from the US, New York State.

We have 50 states, all with slightly different rules, regulations, and laws. In some states those without insurance have distinctly different outcomes and care upon heading to the emergency room for an acute condition. NYS has some of the strongest restrictions on hospitals, and one of the least differences on outcomes. But even here there are differences.

In long term care, the "best" homes also have a cherry picked insurance/reimbursement (private pay, certain insurances, and fewer medicare-only patients).

There are single set of standards, but how those standards are applied are another matter.

[Tassman]

Pulling the usual stupid liberal trick of equating "health insurance" with "healthcare".

Young and healthy people often elect not to get insurance because they don't think they need it.

But they may well need it which is why they will be covered by a universal health care system, as per most of the Western world, whether or not they pay health insurance. For example, in Australia all permanent residents have access to Medicare, the state health care provider, and this is paid for through taxes.

[Mountain Man]

But they may well need it which is why they will be covered by a universal health care system, as per most of the Western world, whether or not they pay health insurance. For example, in Australia all permanent residents have access to Medicare, the state health care provider, and this is paid for through taxes.

You missed the point. Uninsured statistics are misleading because they include large numbers of people who could get insurance if they wanted but choose not to.

[simplicio]

You missed the point. Uninsured statistics are misleading because they include large numbers of people who could get insurance if they wanted but choose not to.

One point used by the universal insurance advocates is the effects on affordability if all were insured.

Property insurance would not be affordable at all if only those at risk of property damage were insured, entering the system of insurance only when the threat was close by.

There is one model of insurance, found in churches, where individuals come together for a form of self insurance. That model would collapse if members would come and go only when faced with expensive care.

[Bill the Cat]

But they may well need it which is why they will be covered by a universal health care system, as per most of the Western world, whether or not they pay health insurance. For example, in Australia all permanent residents have access to Medicare, the state health care provider, and this is paid for through taxes.

And what are we to do with the hundreds of thousands currently employed by the private healthcare industry?