National Health Care

[Jeff Lebowski]

I watched Sicko last night. Mike mentioned that it was worth a watch, so I checked it out. Although some parts were over the top (loving adoration for all parts of the french social system for example), it certainly makes one think about health care. I recommend it.

I particularly was interested in the segments on the Canadian and British national health care systems. When asked about compensation, a British doctor explained that a large component of their compensation is based on outcomes. I.e., if they can get patients to quit smoking or reduce blood pressure, they get paid more. I think that makes great sense.

As for the Canadian system, for as long as I can remember I have heard Americans say "Socialized medicine is awful in Canada - people die waiting for operations due to equipment and doctor shortages." However, I have known lots of Canadians and I have yet to meet a single one that had anything bad to say about the health care system. Without exception, they have all been passionate advocates. Maybe I just haven't met the right people. Furthermore, it seems that there are far more Americans dying off due to lack of access to health care. Thousands of poor and uninsured die each year in the US due to the prohibitive cost of cancer treatments, heart surgery, etc. And Canadians and Brits are far healthier than we are in the US, on average. That could have multiple explanations, but it makes one think.

[Archaea]

We have a different culture and I truly doubt you can find many people dying from lack of access.

We have persons on drugs, alcoholics, and with poor eating habits that die. And people in the slums who probably don't get good health care, even if they qualify for Medicaid. Sometimes, we ignore the adage, that poor people have poor habits.

By no means do I have all the answers to access and affordability. And I never understood when health care changed from a service to a God given right, but society has some how magically made that transition.

But I don't see the linkage between health care, i.e., having operations or stuff diagnosed as affecting people as much as lifestyle. I don't visit physicians unless I'm in a sports accident. Every couple of years when I do, my good health habits, excerise habits and reasonably good constitution have produced a moderately healthy individual.

I work in health insurance, heath systems analysis, and the structural aspects of health care every day. There are significant communication problems, some difficulty in finding affordable assurance, but there also lots of stupid people who place themselves in dire situations. Yet many believe it's society's responsibility to care for the mistakes of stupid people. At some point, an adult shoulders the responsibility for his own health. We have many persons in our society shirking that responsibility.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by Archaea

We have a different culture and I truly doubt you can find many people dying from lack of access.

We have persons on drugs, alcoholics, and with poor eating habits that die. And people in the slums who probably don't get good health care, even if they qualify for Medicaid. Sometimes, we ignore the adage, that poor people have poor habits.

Which begs a different question: why does America have such a large underclass?

Originally Posted by Archaea

By no means do I have all the answers to access and affordability. And I never understood when health care changed from a service to a God given right, but society has some how magically made that transition.

Not "God-given", but perhaps granted by society.

I am a strong believer in public education, as are a majority of Americans. Admittedly, public education is basically "socialized education". The question is, why not health care?

Originally Posted by Archaea

But I don't see the linkage between health care, i.e., having operations or stuff diagnosed as affecting people as much as lifestyle. I don't visit physicians unless I'm in a sports accident. Every couple of years when I do, my good health habits, excerise habits and reasonably good constitution have produced a moderately healthy individual.

I work in health insurance, heath systems analysis, and the structural aspects of health care every day. There are significant communication problems, some difficulty in finding affordable assurance, but there also lots of stupid people who place themselves in dire situations. Yet many believe it's society's responsibility to care for the mistakes of stupid people. At some point, an adult shoulders the responsibility for his own health. We have many persons in our society shirking that responsibility.

Well, no system is perfect or 100% fair. But regardless of your lifestyle, you can still get a terminal illness. And for some people, even $50K or so for treatment is beyond their reach. And they end up dying.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

I am a strong believer in public education, as are a majority of Americans. Admittedly, public education is basically "socialized education". The question is, why not health care?

People often try to make this analogy, but I find it a poor one.

Society made the determination that an educated workforce was more productive and better for the economy. If we promoted wellness, by virture of good health habits, that is something society should promote and look to subsidize. But we cannot afford unlimited health care consumption which public funded health care would become.

[ChinoCoug]

Originally Posted by Archaea

People often try to make this analogy, but I find it a poor one.

Society made the determination that an educated workforce was more productive and better for the economy. If we promoted wellness, by virture of good health habits, that is something society should promote and look to subsidize. But we cannot afford unlimited health care consumption which public funded health care would become.

you can't work and be productive if you're sick half the time.

[BarbaraGordon]

Originally Posted by ChinoCoug

you can't work and be productive if you're sick half the time.

It looks like the Archaean understood that. He's saying he would prefer to subsidize lifestyle changes as a vehicle to improve health, rather than a system that would result in excessive use of the medical system.

[ChinoCoug]

Originally Posted by BarbaraGordon

It looks like the Archaean understood that. He's saying he would prefer to subsidize lifestyle changes as a vehicle to improve health, rather than a system that would result in excessive use of the medical system.

understood. so he's saying medical care is more analogous to prison spending for the uneducated.

[JohnnyLingo]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

As for the Canadian system, for as long as I can remember I have heard Americans say "Socialized medicine is awful in Canada - people die waiting for operations due to equipment and doctor shortages." However, I have known lots of Canadians and I have yet to meet a single one that had anything bad to say about the health care system. Without exception, they have all been passionate advocates.

Translation:

Their anecdotal evidence blows, but mine is rock solid.

[TripletDaddy]

I really enjoy MM movies. Most people bash them without ever having seen them.

I recently re-watched "Roger and Me" and "Bowling for Columbine," both of which I thought were very interesting.

I bet if you asked 10 folks what they thought of Bowling for Columbine was about, they would answer that it was left wing anti-gun propaganda. When in reality, it is not anti-gun at all. It is an attack on our media.

Sicko was equally such. Most people were bashing it before it even came out. MM went on the Today show or something to that effect last year before the movie even dropped. When was this....maybe June? A copy of Sicko had been leaked on the web and was being downloaded. MM said he didn't mind at all, so that weekend I downloaded it and watched it. I enjoyed it and the message I took from it was a bi-partisan critcism on our health care....it wasnt saying that socialism was the answer, only that we should look to other countries to see what we can take to improve our current system. Yet on CB (again, not a good litmus, I know), everyone was bashing it saying that it was the usual MM anti-republican rhetoric. Simply not true.

MM is a honk and a self-promoter, but his documentaries are interesting and worth the watch.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by JohnnyLingo

Translation:

Their anecdotal evidence blows, but mine is rock solid.

I never said that, Lingo. Try again.