And fewer still................. Obama wants to cut Medicare payments Plan may help pay for health care Comments 2 Buzz up!By The Associated Press Published: June 14, 2009 WASHINGTON â President Barack Obama said Saturday in his weekly radio and Internet address that he wants to help pay for his health care overhaul by slowing Medicare and Medicaid spending. He suggests trimming federal payments to hospitals by about $200 billion over the next 10 years. Advertisement Congress ultimately will shape the new laws. Obama is urging lawmakers to resist lobbies trying to maintain their profits. Obama said high health care costs hurt the entire economy and contribute to the nearly 50 million people who lack coverage. His address focused on payments to Medicare and Medicaid, which cover millions of elderly and low-income people and involve thousands of doctors, hospitals, nursing homes and institutions. The presidentâs plans would provide $948 billion over a decade in savings and/or tax increases to slow the rate of soaring health care costs.
I suspect it'll be the same as with other items where 'the government' (nothing more than lawyer/liar/politicians & bureaucrats) try to maintain their comfy positions & control people by controlling the natural consumer voting process known as 'the market'. So called "black markets" will naturally occur - which are nothing more than free markets. Those needing dire emergency care - - - will find the providers and will pay whatever is necessary. Those with the money & ingenuity to do so will survive - - those who don't will suffer or die. The same process occured in the former USSR and in many places & times throughout history. Afterall, there Is a new sucker born every minute. As in so many realms, many of the problems associated with healthcare are caused by the politician/bureaucrats who now present themselves as saviors. Those who cite Medicare/Medicaide are ignorant of the facts. These programs are broke; they suck in funds from current taxpayers just like 'social security' and are not viable in the long term. The govt mandated paperwork is horrendous and the cost overuns and shortage of adequate compensation for some patients are born by the private insurance industry. http://www.american.com/archive/2009/may-2009/what-is-driving-rising-healthcare-costs Its amazing how ignorant Americans are about history or economics - - - and how willingly and anxiously they move to put on the shackles in the political, financial, and now perhaps medical realms. - - - - - Oh, but they do have their HD t.v. (manufactured in Asia) with 'American Idol' and spectator sports to keep them 'entertained' and diverted. Or if really deluded, they can look forward to the next Demo-Republican 'election' afterwhich things pretty much stay the same after the lawyer/liar/politicians trade off who will get to pick their pockets the most this time around. - - -
That's what's happening now. With the emphasis on "suffering and dying." But naturally they don't just die, they go to the emergency rooms first and rack up bills. Also I find it typical that when anecdotes about an underfunded Canadian system are provided an anecdote is provided from Alberta, which has a very right-wing government (and has for decades) which underfunds health care.
Of all the supposed people in the US with no health coverage I wonder how many are here legally? Who gives a flying f^&k if illegals don't have health care? They should not be treated at Emergency Rooms unless they have a real emergency either... I read an article about how just nine hypocondriacs in Texas cost the freebie system millions of dollars one year.. there has to be some practical limits placed on government services. As it is currently, the practical limit is when the entire nation is bankrupt...