[Cashmere]

About health care in general.

If somebody offers this system:

Born.
Be fat.
Be unhealthy.
Smoke.
Drink heavy.
Watch TV 12 hours a day.
Be really fat.
Take 12 prescription meds for 20 years.

Cashmere puts in a 1 chit share of funding or more.

Then I'd like to opt out, please, and thank you very much.

[emersonbiggins]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('RdSnt', '
')GM chose to not add their share. That is criminal as far as I'm concerned.
This is not some luxurious perk, the workers paid their share, for the coverage that both parties agreed to pay for.

[SteinarN]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('kpeavey', '
')I have no retirement benefits at my job, although many of my coworkers do. I do not believe these benefits will be there when I am ready to retire. My retirement plan is a self sufficient homestead, close family and community, and local resources.

[misterno]

So how are all thousands of retirees going to take care of themselves?

Is Medicare enough? I f I were promised healthcare till I die and all of a sudden, they cancel what they promised, maann I would be soo pissed of.

I feel sorry for these old folks.

[vision-master]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('misterno', 'S')o how are all thousands of retirees going to take care of themselves?

Is Medicare enough? I f I were promised healthcare till I die and all of a sudden, they cancel what they promised, maann I would be soo pissed of.

I feel sorry for these old folks.

[mgibbons19]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('emersonbiggins', 'G')M should obviously cover occupational-related adverse health effects, but I see no reason that they should continue health insurance for those producing nothing for the company in return.

[Ferretlover]

HHHmmm... This move should give GM some additional money to carry on a bit longer... until the majority of workers leave.

[UncoveringTruths]

More changing the rules in the middle of the game. I see a pattern developing which is don't trust the rules or promises of the past.

[Twilight]

GM may have signed an agreement, they may have taken "payment holidays", now they have failed a stress test and cannot pay. That's peak oil for you. In one form or another, this will be typical.

[mmasters]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('smallpoxgirl', 'E')veryone thinks health care is a growth sector right now. I've got to say, I don't see it.

[frankthetank]

My personal opinion on health insurance is why the hell does an employer need to distribute it? I don't see them offering me auto insurance...?

You want to see some 'welfare' health insurance? Go look at the local government officials health plan. Talk about perks to a job.

I've thought a lot along the lines of SPG lately. As we continue down this slippery slope towards god knows where, what will happen to health care as it stands today? With a reduced workforce, that means less jobs (equals less insured people). Also as people's income is continued to be stretched, they'll start opting out of their coverage. All this means LESS MONEY FOR BIG HOSPITALS? No wonder why they want universal health care, they want big government to pick up the tab when the masses our unemployed.

Ive got a friend who is 21 and recently passed her RN licensing (or whatever its called...some type of "boards"). She currently makes $28/hr giving people medication they probably don't need.

[emeraldg40]

64 too much for wifes health? But you wont say a word when the plumber hands you a bill? Or your when your mechanic helps you from keeping your hands greasy? The nurse that you paid for was not the tech that asked her if she needed anything. The nurse was the one who made damn sure your wife was well and safe. Not to mention the other nurses that made damn sure your baby was safe......and when I say safe, I mean from the moment the tired(sometimes), young, (sometimes) physician wrote a stupid order that 10 people could not read much less interpret and made damn sure the right med was given at the right time in the right amount........I could go on but I will spare the others.......64 is squat for the education and sacrifice for being a nurse. Done.






$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('anthem', 'I') tend to agree with SmallPoxGirl.. it is time for extensive reform of our so-called health care system. Most of the damn doctors are not really healing or curing anyone, just treating this or that symptom. Doctors and big pharma are ramming as many drugs down our throats as they can, and people are still dying of the same things they have been for the past 60 years, heart disease and cancer. What did I read recently, our 5% of the world's population consumes 75% of the prescription drugs produced? Outrageous.

My wife and I just had our third child, and looking at the detailed bill from the hospital one can definitely see where the train derailed as far as health care. We were billed $64 each and every hour just for the nurse to come in and "check" on my wife, which really was just, "hey, do you need anything". Stupid as hell. Of course, my insurance covered it. That's why GM can't afford health coverage for its employees and why this could eventually (if something else didn't do it first) collapse our entire economy.

My wife said, "What would we do if we didn't have insurance and had no money?" I said, "Let the government pay. If we had a little money, then we would be in trouble." I have heard, though, that when push comes to shove, if one is paying cash and can only pay cash, hospitals will take pennies on the (billed) dollar.

[emeraldg40]

IMHO she is underpaid. On another track, least anyone believe that we do not currently run like socialized medicine......your govt sets the pace..........Are you aware of what Medicare dosnt pay, they have new lists weekly I think, "We wont pay for this anymore....echo, echo.......so saying someone is "covered" because they have medicare is a true laugh. "They". They who? Hospitals dont want universal healthcare. And neither do Dr. and nurses and ANYONE in medicine. We all know why Canadian nurses work in the states!! If the Canadian dollar rises a bit more they will go home.....the lowly greenback no longer looking like gold to them. That and they dont ever worry about healthcare...its truly "free" back home. I can tell you Michael Moores Sicko was bang on......and dont let anyone tell you different. Give it a watch and then be afraid.....truly afraid. signed-Been in healthcare 29 years.


$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('frankthetank', 'M')y personal opinion on health insurance is why the hell does an employer need to distribute it? I don't see them offering me auto insurance...?

You want to see some 'welfare' health insurance? Go look at the local government officials health plan. Talk about perks to a job.

I've thought a lot along the lines of SPG lately. As we continue down this slippery slope towards god knows where, what will happen to health care as it stands today? With a reduced workforce, that means less jobs (equals less insured people). Also as people's income is continued to be stretched, they'll start opting out of their coverage. All this means LESS MONEY FOR BIG HOSPITALS? No wonder why they want universal health care, they want big government to pick up the tab when the masses our unemployed.

Ive got a friend who is 21 and recently passed her RN licensing (or whatever its called...some type of "boards"). She currently makes $28/hr giving people medication they probably don't need.

[CarlosFerreira]

People do get sick, ill, and die. Mom was diagnosed breast cancer last year. The country's social security took her in and did it all - 2 surgeries, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, the lot. Even psychological support. She's fine. No bills. I didn't have to sell my soul to have my mother treated.

Than, last month, the girlfriend has an appendicitis. The country's social security took her in and did it all - surgery, 5 days in the Hospital, medicines. She's fine. I didn't have to sell my soul to have my girlfriend treated.

A couple of years ago, my girlfriend's grandma had a heart attack. You probably guess what happened. No one sold any souls, old lady still tells naughty jokes at dinner on weekends. Same with my grandma's knee. Same with my other grandma's skin cancer.

The reason there were no bills, the treatments were always the better and that all these people are around is that our universal social security isn't based around a insurance company having a profit; it's something the people pay for, with their taxes. It's not pity that drives such system, you know? It's hard work - we're all taxed so that everyone has it when they need it.

OK, so our military stinks, we're still using Vietnam-vintage M60 Pattons. Who cares? It's not like we're invading anyone, anyway.

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('emeraldg40', '6')4 is squat for the education and sacrifice for being a nurse.

[frankthetank]

Emerald?

How does someone pay for an operation if they don't have health insurance cause they have no job? Please explain where this money comes from... We'd export hospital jobs too if we could (wait... i did just read how fat Americans are flying to India to have knee surgeries and insurance companies are starting to cover it....). Higher energy prices cause people to spend more on that and less on everything else. Most people would probably choose a tank of gasoline over paying their premium.

"Nightline" last week had a part on about Haitian children who are pretty much slaves. They asked this little girl what "goals" she had in life, what she would like to do/become...

She said she wanted to drive a car...

Registered Nurse is probably the best job going right now. I should get my ass back in class and get through the program. I've worked in a nursing home for a few years so i kind of know how it works. My sister works in insurance billing (for over 15 years) at the local hospital (part of Mayo) and i've got an idea how that works too. I know a lot of stuff gets written off and a lot of people fail to pay their bills.

Self medication, here we come.

[cube]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('CarlosFerreira', '.')..
The US Govt. dropped the whole idea of universal healthcare and social security.

[Ferretlover]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('frankthetank', 'A')ll this means LESS MONEY FOR BIG HOSPITALS? No wonder why they want universal health care, they want big government to pick up the tab when the masses our unemployed.

[vision-master]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ferretlover', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('frankthetank', 'A')ll this means LESS MONEY FOR BIG HOSPITALS? No wonder why they want universal health care, they want big government to pick up the tab when the masses our unemployed.

[emeraldg40]

Yes, RN ranges vary, however, OB nurses do quite well! They are far and few between,due to liability, and can demand a nice sum. You can factor in, retention bonuses, relocation expenses, good chance they are a traveling nurse, could be in Vail for ski season and Myrtle Beach for the summer etc. However my point is that nurses earn every penny. Much as auto-workers who have been crapped on this week. It is a sorry state of affairs but dont be dissing on nurses....they will be there for you when its your time of need.
If $this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('emeraldg40', '6')4 is squat for the education and sacrifice for being a nurse.