Comments on: Response to Peter Orszag http://healthblog.ncpa.org/response-to-peter-orszag/ Health Care Policy and Reform Insights | NCPA Fri, 25 May 2012 06:31:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Jean http://healthblog.ncpa.org/response-to-peter-orszag/comment-page-1/#comment-109309 Jean Sat, 03 Mar 2012 05:40:08 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=3497#comment-109309 It is refreshing to hear a losaenabre response to the american health care hysteria. I am a Canadian health care worker, currently living and working in Canada with previous expereince working and living in the US. Even with employment in a healthcare system there were many times when I worked in the US that I had NO health care coverage. It would have been cheaper to get medivaced back to Canada if I was ill. I am astounded at the fear of some people in the US to the idea of health care for all. I really don't think they understand exactly what their insurance companies are providing them (or not providing them) and the restrictions placed on thier health care. In fact, most US health insurance companies are much more dictitorial, controlling and restrictive than even the most conservative insurance provider in Canada. Sure our system is not perfect, but it is still a far sight better than what is available in the US for the average middle-classed family. It is refreshing to hear a losaenabre response to the american health care hysteria. I am a Canadian health care worker, currently living and working in Canada with previous expereince working and living in the US. Even with employment in a healthcare system there were many times when I worked in the US that I had NO health care coverage. It would have been cheaper to get medivaced back to Canada if I was ill. I am astounded at the fear of some people in the US to the idea of health care for all. I really don’t think they understand exactly what their insurance companies are providing them (or not providing them) and the restrictions placed on thier health care. In fact, most US health insurance companies are much more dictitorial, controlling and restrictive than even the most conservative insurance provider in Canada. Sure our system is not perfect, but it is still a far sight better than what is available in the US for the average middle-classed family.

]]> By: Narcisa http://healthblog.ncpa.org/response-to-peter-orszag/comment-page-1/#comment-109010 Narcisa Wed, 29 Feb 2012 23:35:47 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=3497#comment-109010 The main rsaoen we are focused on cost-cutting is that a huge portion of our health care costs are administrative. We have to pay profits to private insurers. In New Mexico we have a public private partnership (i.e., the state subsidizes low income New Mexicans to purchase a private plan). When my county explored the possibility of a mill levy to purchase this low cost insurance for our residents, we realized we could buy as much access if we chose to forgo the 3 to 1 Medicaid match and the insurance, and instead put unmatched money directly into primary care. We couldn't justify taxing poor people to pay the high overhead caused by for-profit insurance. To add insult to injury, our largest employer is Wal-Mart. So we would be imposing a property tax on poor people to buy insurance for Wal Mart employees simultaneously contributing to the enormous salaries of insurance and Wal Mart execs.As I said before cutting costs and cutting spending are not the same. Why would I pay $1 million for something I could buy for $250,000 I once heard about a bagel and cream cheese that cost about $500. The cream cheese was laced with gold flakes. I would personally prefer a $5 bagel with chives and lox. Not everything that glitters is good for you.BTW, Stephanie Miller stated today that we are paying between $400 and $1,000 for a gallon of gas in Afghanistan. Think of how much health care we could buy for that. The main rsaoen we are focused on cost-cutting is that a huge portion of our health care costs are administrative. We have to pay profits to private insurers. In New Mexico we have a public private partnership (i.e., the state subsidizes low income New Mexicans to purchase a private plan). When my county explored the possibility of a mill levy to purchase this low cost insurance for our residents, we realized we could buy as much access if we chose to forgo the 3 to 1 Medicaid match and the insurance, and instead put unmatched money directly into primary care. We couldn’t justify taxing poor people to pay the high overhead caused by for-profit insurance. To add insult to injury, our largest employer is Wal-Mart. So we would be imposing a property tax on poor people to buy insurance for Wal Mart employees simultaneously contributing to the enormous salaries of insurance and Wal Mart execs.As I said before cutting costs and cutting spending are not the same. Why would I pay $1 million for something I could buy for $250,000 I once heard about a bagel and cream cheese that cost about $500. The cream cheese was laced with gold flakes. I would personally prefer a $5 bagel with chives and lox. Not everything that glitters is good for you.BTW, Stephanie Miller stated today that we are paying between $400 and $1,000 for a gallon of gas in Afghanistan. Think of how much health care we could buy for that.

]]> By: Rick http://healthblog.ncpa.org/response-to-peter-orszag/comment-page-1/#comment-42742 Rick Thu, 21 May 2009 12:57:36 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=3497#comment-42742 This is very interesting. It's a perspective I've never seen before. This is very interesting. It’s a perspective I’ve never seen before.

]]> By: Devon Herrick http://healthblog.ncpa.org/response-to-peter-orszag/comment-page-1/#comment-42725 Devon Herrick Wed, 20 May 2009 19:47:36 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=3497#comment-42725 It was interesting that the article referenced over-used of knee replacements in the Upper Midwestern United States. Dartmouth found Medicare expenditures in areas of Florida were twice the spending per senior as Minnesota. It will be difficult to reduce regional variation in treatments that are ingrained from cultural norms. That is why it is so important for seniors to control more of their own health care dollars. When seniors control more of their own funds, they can decide which services hold value and which ones they consider a waste of money. With little skin in the game, seniors have fewer reasons to question whether invasive treatments might be better treated through drug therapy. It was interesting that the article referenced over-used of knee replacements in the Upper Midwestern United States. Dartmouth found Medicare expenditures in areas of Florida were twice the spending per senior as Minnesota.

It will be difficult to reduce regional variation in treatments that are ingrained from cultural norms. That is why it is so important for seniors to control more of their own health care dollars. When seniors control more of their own funds, they can decide which services hold value and which ones they consider a waste of money. With little skin in the game, seniors have fewer reasons to question whether invasive treatments might be better treated through drug therapy.

]]> By: Charlie http://healthblog.ncpa.org/response-to-peter-orszag/comment-page-1/#comment-42724 Charlie Wed, 20 May 2009 19:10:54 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=3497#comment-42724 This is a great article, and points out one of the primary problems regarding comparative effectiveness. This is a great article, and points out one of the primary problems regarding comparative effectiveness.

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