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Last fall, at a public hearing of the 208 Healthcare Commission, I heard a local citizen proclaim that “We learned our lessons in 1994 with HillaryCare, and we will eventually get universal healthcare by smaller incremental steps.” Now state Sen. Bob Hagedorn (D-Aurora), chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee, is trying to make one of those incremental steps.
In February, Hagedorn was quoted in the Rocky Mountain News as saying there would not be any state mandates coming out of this legislative session. Now, a mere two months later, Hagedorn is co-sponsoring a bill (SB-217) that seeks to lay the groundwork for an individual insurance mandate.
I encourage you to read this bill for yourself and form your own opinion, but it basically calls for insurance companies to come up with basic benefits packages that will be utilized when the state does get around to passing an individual mandate, presumably in late 2009 or 2010. To quote the wording of the bill directly, it calls for insurance companies to “Assume that all Colorado residents would be required to purchase health insurance.”
Recently, in an excellent opinion piece in the Colorado Daily March 23, Linda Gorman of the Independence Institute describes why that same approach failed in Tennessee and is failing in Massachusetts in just two short years. That article can be found at: http://www.coloradodaily.com/articles/2008/03/23/opinion/our_take/ourtake1.html
Requiring individuals to purchase insurance and then making the taxpayer subsidize that insurance for a large portion of the population is not a public/private partnership. It is coercive, plain and simple. Please let your state legislators know that you are against socialized medicine in any form by opposing SB-217.
JAMES K. SCHROEDER, MD
Grand Junction
14 Responses to “Requiring health care”
Posted April 8th, 2008 at 1:49 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
So what is the alternative if everybody is not covered by insurance? In his past many letters Dr. Schroeder seems to prefer an old-fashioned doctor/patient relationship unsullied by the interference of any third party who pays the bill. He feels that those who are unable to afford proper care might get it from him as a personal “charity” gesture based on his inclination to treat the patient or not. It would be up to him, and him only, to evaluate the persons ability to pay, amount of need and, presumably, moral character.
He can do all of that now but those pesky insurance companies that most people have get in the way and impinge on the sacred relationship that allows him to charge what the traffic will bear.
The issue is not socialized medicine. The issue is health insurance that covers everybody, cradle to grave, and makes use of the largest risk pool possible and the fact that people need treatment in different frequency and amounts at different times in their life. If people can enter the risk pool only when they feel that they’ll probably soon need medical careor drop out when they feel healthy(lucky) the benefits of a continuous risk pool is lost. If we, as a nation, say no one should go without health care–a health safety net– then there should be no refusal possible to be part of the universal lifetime risk pool. With Dr. Schroeder’s libertarian ideas–sometimes called Social Darwinism–those unfortunates unable, temporarily or permanently, to afford his services should go elsewhere and hope than some private charity or more charitable doctor will step in. The basic idea is that if you are one of those unfortunates it’s your own damn fault and you should shape up or suffer the consequences.
Posted April 8th, 2008 at 3:02 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Socialized medicine–the thing most feared by regressive Americans. More horrible than terrorism or islamo-fascists or illegal immigrants…and equally misunderstood.
Why can’t we change our flawed health care system? Regressives will tell you it’s because Americans aren’t smart enough. Think about it–this argument always ends up with the regressive pulling out the “well, look at Canada, you know you have to stand in line for 5 days just to get an aspirin! Canadians flock to America just to get their teeth scraped! It’s terrible, it doesn’t work! And those commies in Europe, look how awful their health care is!” Which is just saying that Americans aren’t smart enough to come up with something that works. You know, all those countries that have tried a all-inclusive health care system are much smarter than us, and look how bad they’ve failed. It’s pretty sad, really, when we can’t do better than Canada! But when we’re collectively hand-wringing and pants-wetting every time someone says ’socialized medicine,’ it’s no wonder we have to degrade ourselves so.
Posted April 8th, 2008 at 3:22 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
I have a plan.
How about everybody in favor of socialized medicine sign up to pay the higher taxes to support your socialized medicine?
Those who choose to show responsibility for themselves and their families will be exempt from any increase in taxes to pay for their own medical insurance.
That way everybody will be happy.
Until the socialists realize that the people with better healthcare plans live longer and have more disposable money to play with.
Then the whining and teeth gnashing will start anew because all their money is going to the government to pay for their 3rd world medical care and “it’s just not fair!”.
Naw, it’s better to steal from the producers of this nation than for people to pay their own way.
Posted April 8th, 2008 at 3:53 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
A large percentage of the tax I pay now goes to programs like medicare, which I can’t even use. So beyond that tax, I have to pay 300-600 a month for insurance. Surely there’s a better way. Americans used to have a can-do attitude, but now it seems that fear mongering and the resultant pants-wetting and hand-wringing rule the day.
Posted April 8th, 2008 at 4:09 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
” A large percentage of the tax I pay now goes to programs like medicare, which I can’t even use. ”
Socialized medicine at work already.
” Surely there’s a better way. ”
There is.
” fear mongering and the resultant pants-wetting and hand-wringing rule the day. ”
And that would be the democrat party.
We have medicare, medicaid, medigap, social (in)security, welfare, food stamps, etc ad nauseum, because that is what the democrat party shoved on us when they had enough power during the 40’s through the 80’s.
During 1968, under the johnson administration they broke the social security trust fund and rolled every dime of surplus into the general fund specifically to buy votes from everybody they could think of to give a new government program to.
The democrats even found a neat way to make social security payments to the elderly taxable. Taxed when they first earned it, and taxed when they got it back without interest.
It was the democrats that decided to punish the elderly by limiting how much they could earn after retirement before they started deducting money from their retirement checks. Thereby guaranteeing an impoverished elderly class totally dependent on the government and the socialist programs.
Posted April 8th, 2008 at 4:23 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Wow, thanks for the history lesson–very impressive! I figured out why you are so incredibly knowledgeable about the past, willis: because you LIVE THERE!
Posted April 8th, 2008 at 4:32 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
What shear nonsense! We all have medical expenses today, some directly and some paid directly from the insurance that employers offer, which is compensation that you never see, but it is, nevertheless, a medical expense. If you devise a different kind of insurance, paying for it needn’t be a “tax” but just a medical expense you pay in a different way. If that program doesn’t result in savings then you come out even–not with higher taxes. If the issue is people who have trouble paying for their insurance we are right back to the question–” do we provide a health safety net for our citizens or not?” If the answer is yes then the insurance program covers those people who can’t pay and it is built into the premiums people pay or government pays their premiums and it is indeed done with your taxation. You are already doing it with health costs for those people being built into the prices we, or our insurance company, pays.
So, how are our taxes going to go up with a comprehensive plan when the health costs paid the current way through the “system” now are eliminated? The health costs will be paid by individuals, one way or the other. If individuals pay for insurance premiums, that becomes their health costs.If it is a national insurance program financed through the taxes we pay, what is the difference?
Now, if the idea is that everybody is on his own without any kind of safety net and they can fend for themselves trying to get insurance from a multiplicity of providers whose objective is profit first, customer health second, we already have that system. The only difference is that people will fall through the cracks and create a much less healthy nation. Healthy people would love this system. But how many people know, for certain, that they will continue to be healthy and if they become sick, know when that will happen and how serious it will be? How much do you have to save to be prepared? More to the point, is insurance even available when you need it the worst? You are no longer a risk but a certainty as to what a company pays out.
Rather than non-sensical pot shots, tell us about your ideal system, Willis. You have one, right? Or will we see more name calling, stupid comments off the subject and assertions that cannot be checked or proved? Your usual stuff, I mean.
Posted April 9th, 2008 at 7:17 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
Ahhh, toaaronuu, you are such a treasure.
I present facts and you immediately go on the offensive and attack me personally.
Why is that? Do you subscribe to the theory that it’s better to kill the messenger than listen to the message?
I’m “knowledgeable” about the past because I lived through it. By living through it, memories were created.
I live in the present.
I keep trying to explain why things are the way they are, but the realities of the situation do not support your political positions.
But do you listen? No.
Have you learned anything? Obviously not.
I do find your tirades somewhat interesting, but civil discourse is always preferable.
If you can find an intelligent position to discuss from, please let me know.
Thank You so much.
Posted April 9th, 2008 at 7:45 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
And then there is John B/John Borgen.
May or may not be the same person, but they share the same failed ideology of “let the government be my mommy”.
He thinks he doesn’t cost anybody anything for the government to “provide” everything, but the truth is that the “government money” is stolen at gun point and the threat of imprisonment from the producers of this country.
The “safety net” he is so concerned about was, traditionally the “private, religious charitable organizations”, until the federal government threw the Tenth Amendment out the window and regulated those organizations into near oblivion.
The federal government is now the mommy, and doesn’t require anybody, legal Citizen or not to perform any task to get thousands of dollars in freebies.
A single mother on the various welfare programs decides she wants an increase in benefits, she just gets pregnant again. POOF!!! instant rewards.
Want disability payments for your kids? Teach them to be stupid and claim ADD. POOF!!! instant payoff.
Stub your toe at the doctors office? Sue for a few million dollars.
Would you like to see lower medical bills, and insurance premiums?
Push for tort reform, and place limits on attorney payoffs from lawsuits.
John Edwards, the presidential wanna be got a lot richer than any of the “victims” he represented in court.
Want more money in your pocket?
Push for the Fair Tax pushed by Boortz and company.
Want less government intrusion in your life?
Push for a Tenth Amendment requirement on every bill in Congress.
Don’t know what the Tenth Amendment does?
Read the Constitution. It’s not taught in public schools for a reason.
To keep you ignorant.
And finally, John B.
I did not have a “safety net” when life handed me a bushel basket full of lemons.
I made lemonade.
I may have some severely limiting medical problems, but I’m one of the producers you want to pay for all your living expenses.
I’m not “rich”, but you still want into my pocket for the money that I EARNED.
You asked for my idea?
Get off your tired old butt and make better decisions for the rest of your life and leave my life alone.
Posted April 9th, 2008 at 8:41 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
I am retired, I worked for 40+ years, I PAID for my Medicare Insurance while I worked. DON’T tell me that I don’t take care of myself!!! because I use Medicare! I earned it! I paid into Medicare and Social Security so it would be available for my parents. Thats how it works. Now you younger people just whine and cry because you have to pay for something “you can’t even use”, typical self centered short sighted generation. Toaaronuu you don’t get it! Some day hopefully you will. But for right now you are just irritating and immature.
Posted April 9th, 2008 at 8:47 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
I agree, WE PAID into the system based on promises. (and under the fear of imprisonment/point of a gun)
Then the “promises” were broken.
All the money WE PAID was stolen and placed into the general fund.
And it’s still being stolen every day by both parties. And yes, they are having a party on social security funds.
They give it to anybody that can qualify, and the qualifications are so low that even illegal aliens that have never paid a dime can get full benefits.
Posted April 9th, 2008 at 9:19 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
Ahh yes, back in the days when we thought we could trust ‘politicians’ it was a system that could work. Now we know we can’t trust ANY (R,D,or L) of them because they did steal our money. I am not a proponent of Socialism and yet I find myself partially depending on it. You, Willis, are absolutely right! We need to back those choices you mentioned and it could bring us out of this downword spiral we are in. But to continue with the Government Giveaway programs is disastrous.
Posted April 9th, 2008 at 9:28 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
Waves to willis! Good morning all….. I have one even better…. *teehee* I am a small busniess owner. You would be surprised how many companies we help here in the community, keeping the networks working and pretty. I have no insurance.I can’t get insurance because there was a situation many years back that I was abused and I had severe head trauma, because I do get migranes from time to time its all still considred a pre exisiting condition.
I am paying for all of families healthcare out of pocket. Including my ten year old. I am paying SO much in medical, I would say its more then our food bill every month. I am drowning in medical debt with absolutly no light at the end of the tunnel. I make too much money for anyone to help me. It just doesnt seem right. And then I help some of our single moms with childcare and get to hear how the rent is 80 dollars and medical is free.Am I being punished for getting my ducks in a row? I was better off when I made nothing and everything was handed to me.
What is wrong with this picture?
Posted June 2nd, 2008 at 1:00 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Jack…
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush…
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