Comments on: Private or Public Health Care?

By: Anon

Anon — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 12:24:37 +0000

One question that was brought up to me recently really got me thinking – do you know how much a doctor visit, hospital stay, or other medical item costs? I recently had ear surgery. I don’t remember seeing a detailed, itemized, list of what the costs were. Granted, these costs were billed to my health care provider. But – I can’t help but wonder what the opportunity for overbilling (unintentional perhaps) is in this matter. A friend of mine showed me an itemized bill they had received from an outpatient procedure. One item was for tylenol. $12 a pill for plain old tylenol. (Not one of the more fancy blends – just your run of the mill, OTC pill) It gets you thinking…

By the way, has anyone checked to see what the taxes are those living in socialist countries? You might be surprised.
Finally – Since when did living in America mean the government was responsible for everything?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:29:39 +0000

I don’t know the details of AFLAC, but that doesn’t sound like a bad idea at all.
I wish we could customize our plans. We would all save a lot of money that way.

By: Mike Gaynor

Mike Gaynor — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:47:42 +0000

That is why there is a need for Aflac now more than ever. Not only does it save the company 7.5% in FICO taxes, (b/c the deductions are done pre-tax) it also doesn’t cost the business a penny to offer. Another words free. The plans are 100% employee funded and they are customed tailored to that person’s lifestyle. The employee simply selects what planwork for them and/or family. No blacket-take-it-or-leave-it plans here.

Oh, Aflac will also include a wellness program free for the first year as well as covers (pays out a lot of money!!) for maternity leave on four different policies.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:14:32 +0000

I think insurance should be private. However, I would like to see more programs available to make insurance more affordable for those that do not have access through an employer.

My sister and brother-in-law are both self-employeed and they pay $24,000 a year in premiums for a family of four. They are lucky enough that they can manage to pay this but this is more than some people make in a year. They could also gamble on the fact that they probably won’t have $24,000 of medical expenses in one year but it’s a risk they choose not to take.

By: Shelley

Shelley — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:01:51 +0000

I prefer private insurance. I was born in Canada and my grandparents had OHIP. They waited forever to see a doctor, and the older they got, the sicker they got, the longer the wait to get an appointment. And then the treatment was minimal. No Thank-you!!!!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:01:00 +0000

If Obama gets it his way, we will be hurting at every aspect of life. He is also trying to put in effect to enter your social security number at the gas pump and be taxed on gas according to your income. Thats a bunch of crock, if your one that is fortunate enough to have a great paying job, congrats to you. But I don’t agree with taxing them more. I don’t even make enough money to say it is due to a full time job. but one should not be taxed more because they are fortunate in life.
Also, what about the police that is paid to protect. Did you see the crap he said about those officers that was called out to a 911 call about a possible B&E. The police did their job and Obama said they were idiots. This is our President? I think we all are in trouble if we don’t take a stand and prepare ourselves.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:38:26 +0000

Sorry Ryan, but I don’t trust Obama with anything he says. He so far has done nothing to benefit anyone but his friends and the $$$$rich.
I would also say private insurance.

By: Ryan Ashley

Ryan Ashley — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:27:00 +0000

I prefer private insurance as well. But remember, Obama’s public insurance is not replacing private insurance, it’s in addition to it. And, it creates competition between public and private insurance companies, encouraging them to lower costs. Ideally, the increased costs to pay for the public system could be offset by the decreased costs of the healthcare system.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:09:49 +0000

The government has no business in business. They are the worst example of how to run a successful business. Last time I checked most of them are lawyers not Doctors. Fact is tort reform would go a long way to funding most any program new or existing- Problem is the laywers are making the laws. Point is they need to fix their own entitlement systems. I want the golden whatever it is they get. (That we pay for by the way) Hey LG -dont most Canadians come to the US for quality health services??

Wonder how long it will be before Obama pushes a one world currency!!!

By: T T

T T — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:48:30 +0000

I agree…private is the way to go and once you are accountable for yourself, you realize what people are talking about when dealing with the costs of insurance.