Comments on: Uninsurance Problem Solved by Executive Order

By: Jodee K.

Jodee K. — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:00:49 +0000

The problem isn’t what coverage is out there. The problem is what kind of coverage is it. Affordable plans mean rediculous high deductibles. So folks are paying monthly rates and then paying for all visits because all falls to the deductible. Then we have the issue of insurance carriers dictating care instead of doctors. It’s sick. US insurance coverage is nothing more than a money making sceme. Carriers could care less about the health of their policy holders, they just want their money. That’s why so many are falling under “uninsured”

By: Brandon H. Backlund, MD

Brandon H. Backlund, MD — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 21:04:38 +0000

You demonstrate such a lack of understanding of the problems underlying the health care system. I am an emergency physician, and see every day the ill effects of such limited thinking as you advocate in your blog. Emergency departments provide only EMERGENCY care. They are not set up to effectively provide care for the routine health care needs that people may have: managing blood pressure, cholesterol, screenings for cancer, etc. We are unable to provide those kinds of services, yet those are the kinds of services that are unavailable to those without insurance and who cannot afford to pay. The consequence is that they do not get these health care services, until their disease has progressed to the point where they do develop an emergency, such as a heart attack, stroke, or advanced stage cancer. THEN, they present to the emergency room, but far too late to for prevention, and their outcome is usually poor. This results in higher costs, and the potential productivity of these individuals is lost. Everyone loses.

It is ignoring the problem to say that there is no problem; you are simply burying your head in the sand.

By: Rita

Rita — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:35:09 +0000

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By: A Pox on Both Your Houses | Think Tank West

A Pox on Both Your Houses | Think Tank West — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 11:25:29 +0000

[...] me put this question to all those (Reggie?) who gave Goodman a laurel and hearty handshake in the comments section of that post: If free-market advocates pretend that lacking health insurance has zero effect on [...]

By: Jodie MacLean

Jodie MacLean — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:59:26 +0000

Mr. Goodman, if it is so easy to get someone else to pay your medical bill, will you please tell me who they are so my parents can start eating decent meals instead of spending all their money trying to keep at least the mininum amount of medicines they need to survive! Your comments are so uninformed as to how everyday people live with non-comprehensive medical coverage it is scary.

By: The Two Malcontents » A Pox on Both Your Houses

The Two Malcontents » A Pox on Both Your Houses — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:03:40 +0000

[...] I agree with him on many, many things. Nevertheless, he recently posted a comment on his blog that I think was pretty . . . hmm, what do you get when you combine ill-considered [...]

By: Mary Beth

Mary Beth — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 03:32:23 +0000

Mr. Goodman, Your “opinion” regarding the abolishment of the term “uninsured” is specious on its face. I lost my job a year and a half ago, and have been uninsured ever since. You should spend a week in my shoes–you would be crying for your Mommy! It never ceases to amaze me how truly clueless and elitist people like you and Phil Gramm are. It’s true that I could go to an emergency room–is that where you would like your mother, sister or wife to go for a pap smear or mammogram? I think not. The “uninsured” masses, however, have no need or access to preventive care, do they? I sincerely look forward to the day when people like you, this administration, and Phil Gramm, who are living proof that education is not an inoculation against stupidity, are relegated to the obscurity which you so RICHLY deserve!

By: Alan Eshleman, MD

Alan Eshleman, MD — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:59:39 +0000

Mr. Goodman, you have so little understanding of the realities of medical care in the USA that I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. When I first saw your comments on the uninsured I thought it was something from The Onion.

Walk an ER shift in my shoes and leave your right wing reactionary ideology at home. You might learn something.

By: Derek

Derek — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:12:20 +0000

John Goodman you sir are a joke. No, literally. I have been laughing for the past 30 minutes reading about you at the Dallas paper. I really appreciate you helping drive home the idea that McCain really is completely out of touch with the people living in this country. The story about you has been linked by quite a few sites today. It is great to see you helping win this election for Obama. I mean really – Bush has failed at the economy and healthcare and McCain’s plan is to continue his tax cuts for the rich and try to enact a health reform bill that Bush couldn’t get through? Can you not see the irony in that at all? National healthcare would cost a tiny percent of our Iraq occupation and “War on Terror”, and would actually benefit everyone in this country even elitist ***** like yourself that seem to honestly care nothing about your fellow Americans. A healthy nation is a productive nation, and America is anything but healthy currently.

By: David Zweig

David Zweig — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:29:13 +0000

I have Crohn’s Disease. Like many chronic illnesses, this is not a disease that can be treated only by emergency room visits. I only go to the emergency room when I have intestinal blockage, which – thanks to my daily prescription medication that costs $7500/month without insurance – only happens twice a year.

I once attempted to start my own business, but I was refused insurance coverage by every institution I approached due to this illness being deemed a “pre-existing condition”, and thus, six months of health care without insurance coverage quickly put me out of business.

I now have a family of my own and a child who is displaying symptoms of Crohn’s. She has yet to be diagnosed, but I am concerned. I have insurance through my employer at the moment, but my employer’s viability is in question.

Mr. Goodman, what should I do if I lose my job and cannot find employment for some time? I am a widower, and thus I am the sole bread-winner. COBRA costs over $1800/month for me and my family, and medical care without insurance is not an option. Should I sell my home and all assets and move into temporary housing for homeless families so I can get covered by state insurance? And in the meantime, should I tell my three year-old that she has to just eat a liquid diet from now on so she doesn’t get intestinal blockage, which, if not handled immediately can result in rupture and quickly to death? And if a liquid diet is in order, what should I do about the possible future health problems that will cause?

Your analysis is ridiculous and harmful. If you truly believe what you are saying, you should go without health care yourself and see how easy it is to live in need of health coverage. Or better yet, live with or observe a family that doesn’t have but requires health coverage for two months, and then report your unchanged position. Step out of the theory tower, and study real situations.

You should be ashamed of your intellectual dishonesty and horrible reasoning. Go back to school and learn some humility.