Healthcare costs keep rising . . . thanks George . . . you're doing a great job.

[BaliBabyDoc]

yahoooo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Health-care spending is outpacing the growth of the American economy and will consume 20 percent of U.S. gross domestic product (
GDP) by 2015, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said on Wednesday.

Unlike the rose-colored crowd crowing about GDP outgrowing the debt . . . there's no doubt that healthcare spending will outgrow GDP unless we take significant action.

U.S. spending on prescription drugs was forecast to soar to $446 billion in 2015, up from $188 billion in 2004, according to the study, which is issued annually. However, the average annual spending rise for prescription drugs over the coming decade was seen at 8.2 percent, lower than the projection made in last year's report due to the government's new Medicare Part D prescription drug program.

Now remember much of that expansion is GOVERNMENT paying for prescription drugs!

"The prescription drug plans were able to negotiate discounts and rebates that came in larger than we thought, and this has helped mitigate what drug spending would have been," said John Poisal, deputy director of the CMS' health statistics group. "It doesn't mean drug spending won't continue to grow, but it has helped to temper that growth."

BS . . . the way to temper growth is to improve the quality of all medications, remove low utility drugs from the market, incentivize the use of generics and high utility drugs, and collectively bargain (Medicare).

Instead Bushistas created a program that will drive drug spending higher.

Medicare spending will spike by 25 percent in 2006 due to the new prescription drug benefit, then average 7.5 percent growth between 2008 and 2015.

I think my wallet this flinched.

 

[Todd33]

BTW it's "heckava job" not "you're doing a great job".

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Originally posted by: Todd33
BTW it's "heckava job" not "you're doing a great job".

My bad . . . English is my first language.

 

[FDF12389]

quote:
U.S. spending on prescription drugs was forecast to soar to $446 billion in 2015, up from $188 billion in 2004, according to the study, which is issued annually. However, the average annual spending rise for prescription drugs over the coming decade was seen at 8.2 percent, lower than the projection made in last year's report due to the government's new Medicare Part D prescription drug program.

Now remember much of that expansion is GOVERNMENT paying for prescription drugs!

Is the government sick? Why should they pay for drugs? I see first hand how many people cannot afford their drugs, I work at a retail pharmacy, but I also see first hand alot of people dont need them, they just want them, some people just think drugs make everythign all better. And then there are all those people who need to get off their asses and stop expectijng my tax dollars to pay for their ******.

 

[FDF12389]

Oh, and about the poll, medicare needs to cut the amount of drugs it covers about 70%. I picked option C. But instead of favoring the generics, dont cover brand at all, it the same drug, make people take the cheaper one, if they dont like it then they can pout about it at the local George Webb or Dennys.

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: FDF12389

quote:
U.S. spending on prescription drugs was forecast to soar to $446 billion in 2015, up from $188 billion in 2004, according to the study, which is issued annually. However, the average annual spending rise for prescription drugs over the coming decade was seen at 8.2 percent, lower than the projection made in last year's report due to the government's new Medicare Part D prescription drug program.

Now remember much of that expansion is GOVERNMENT paying for prescription drugs!

Is the government sick? Why should they pay for drugs? I see first hand how many people cannot afford their drugs, I work at a retail pharmacy, but I also see first hand alot of people dont need them, they just want them, some people just think drugs make everythign all better. And then there are all those people who need to get off their asses and stop expectijng my tax dollars to pay for their ******.

Yep, what the heck do people need heart medication for anyway?
At least for the people who don't have hearts...

 

[FDF12389]

Originally posted by: techs

Originally posted by: FDF12389

quote:
U.S. spending on prescription drugs was forecast to soar to $446 billion in 2015, up from $188 billion in 2004, according to the study, which is issued annually. However, the average annual spending rise for prescription drugs over the coming decade was seen at 8.2 percent, lower than the projection made in last year's report due to the government's new Medicare Part D prescription drug program.

Now remember much of that expansion is GOVERNMENT paying for prescription drugs!

Is the government sick? Why should they pay for drugs? I see first hand how many people cannot afford their drugs, I work at a retail pharmacy, but I also see first hand alot of people dont need them, they just want them, some people just think drugs make everythign all better. And then there are all those people who need to get off their asses and stop expectijng my tax dollars to pay for their ******.

Yep, what the heck do people need heart medication for anyway?
At least for the people who don't have hearts...

Ok, first hand how much of it do you see? You read about, I live it 40hrs aweek.

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: FDF12389

Originally posted by: techs

Originally posted by: FDF12389

quote:
U.S. spending on prescription drugs was forecast to soar to $446 billion in 2015, up from $188 billion in 2004, according to the study, which is issued annually. However, the average annual spending rise for prescription drugs over the coming decade was seen at 8.2 percent, lower than the projection made in last year's report due to the government's new Medicare Part D prescription drug program.

Now remember much of that expansion is GOVERNMENT paying for prescription drugs!

Is the government sick? Why should they pay for drugs? I see first hand how many people cannot afford their drugs, I work at a retail pharmacy, but I also see first hand alot of people dont need them, they just want them, some people just think drugs make everythign all better. And then there are all those people who need to get off their asses and stop expectijng my tax dollars to pay for their ******.

Yep, what the heck do people need heart medication for anyway?
At least for the people who don't have hearts...

Ok, first hand how much of it do you see? You read about, I live it 40hrs aweek.

You're new here so you don't know I worked at a health insurance company for years. Then I ran health and welfare funds for organizations. Then I ran a health insurance consulting co.
So I know something about it.

 

[FDF12389]

Originally posted by: techs

Originally posted by: FDF12389

Originally posted by: techs

Originally posted by: FDF12389

quote:
U.S. spending on prescription drugs was forecast to soar to $446 billion in 2015, up from $188 billion in 2004, according to the study, which is issued annually. However, the average annual spending rise for prescription drugs over the coming decade was seen at 8.2 percent, lower than the projection made in last year's report due to the government's new Medicare Part D prescription drug program.

Now remember much of that expansion is GOVERNMENT paying for prescription drugs!

Is the government sick? Why should they pay for drugs? I see first hand how many people cannot afford their drugs, I work at a retail pharmacy, but I also see first hand alot of people dont need them, they just want them, some people just think drugs make everythign all better. And then there are all those people who need to get off their asses and stop expectijng my tax dollars to pay for their ******.

Yep, what the heck do people need heart medication for anyway?
At least for the people who don't have hearts...

Ok, first hand how much of it do you see? You read about, I live it 40hrs aweek.

You're new here so you don't know I worked at a health insurance company for years. Then I ran health and welfare funds for organizations. Then I ran a health insurance consulting co.
So I know something about it.

And you dont beleive that people are on medication they dont need?

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Originally posted by: FDF12389
Oh, and about the poll, medicare needs to cut the amount of drugs it covers about 70%. I picked option C. But instead of favoring the generics, dont cover brand at all, it the same drug, make people take the cheaper one, if they dont like it then they can pout about it at the local George Webb or Dennys.

Interesting number but you know you pulled it out of your buttocks.

Many drugs don't work well, but that doesn't mean we necessarily need fewer. People have differing reactions to similar drugs. Even generic vs trade can be substantive if the preparation is different.

The government should sponsor broad survey studies or clinical trials of medications to determine which ones work best and under what conditions. BIG winners stay . . . even if they are the most expensive. Losers are kicked off the federal formulary. Private insurers would likely follow.

The alternative is that FDA compels drug companies to PROVE their drug works BETTER than something currently on the market. Even if its just fewer (or milder side effects) that's a good reason to have a new drug b/c it increases compliance. On the otherhand, if its just another "me too" it shouldn't be approved.

The primary reason I posted this topic is b/c I'm against drug company welfare that doesn't lead to upward mobility. The drug benefit is basically a GOP attempt to create a new class of corporate welfare queens to go along with big oil, big coal, big forestry, agribusiness, and DOD contractors.

We're getting next to nothing for our money. If anything, the drug benefit will make our healthcare system even more difficult to fix.

 

[Pens1566]

Originally posted by: FDF12389
Oh, and about the poll, medicare needs to cut the amount of drugs it covers about 70%. I picked option C. But instead of favoring the generics, dont cover brand at all, it the same drug, make people take the cheaper one, if they dont like it then they can pout about it at the local George Webb or Dennys.

I'm betting that 70% includes useless medicine like, I don't know, birth control?

 

[dardin211]

I know there are a lot of factors that go into the rising healthcare costs but to me there is one simple factor that can be resolved by people themselves. Americans simply need to start doing a better job of taking care of themselves and quit living unhealthy lifestyles. It seems many Americans truly have that mentality that they can eat/drink/smoke anything they damn well please, never exercise and then they expect medical profession to give them some magic pills or surgery that is going to fix what they did to themselves. This type of thinking needs to be changed. How this can be changed? I truly don?t have the answer to that, I just don't feel that those of us who live healthy and take care of ourselves should have to pay for these people or suffer because of them.

You want to smoke and give yourself cancer, fine, you have the freedom to do so, but there should be no reason you should drive up the cost of my health insurance because you choose to do this or that my tax dollars should pay for your cancer treatment. You want to eat Fast-food 7 days a week 3 times a day, drink 2 gallons of soda a day, become obese, develop diabetes and heart disease, fine, again that is your choice and freedom to do so, but again you should not effect the cost of my own healthcare nor should my taxes have to pay for this.

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: FDF12389

Originally posted by: techs

Originally posted by: FDF12389

Originally posted by: techs

Originally posted by: FDF12389

quote:
U.S. spending on prescription drugs was forecast to soar to $446 billion in 2015, up from $188 billion in 2004, according to the study, which is issued annually. However, the average annual spending rise for prescription drugs over the coming decade was seen at 8.2 percent, lower than the projection made in last year's report due to the government's new Medicare Part D prescription drug program.

Now remember much of that expansion is GOVERNMENT paying for prescription drugs!

Is the government sick? Why should they pay for drugs? I see first hand how many people cannot afford their drugs, I work at a retail pharmacy, but I also see first hand alot of people dont need them, they just want them, some people just think drugs make everythign all better. And then there are all those people who need to get off their asses and stop expectijng my tax dollars to pay for their ******.

Yep, what the heck do people need heart medication for anyway?
At least for the people who don't have hearts...

Ok, first hand how much of it do you see? You read about, I live it 40hrs aweek.

You're new here so you don't know I worked at a health insurance company for years. Then I ran health and welfare funds for organizations. Then I ran a health insurance consulting co.
So I know something about it.

And you dont beleive that people are on medication they dont need?

Oh I absolutely agree that people in America are on too much medication.
But I absolutely agree we need a Medicare drug benefit.
Look, in the 1930's the situation had turned desperate for Senior Citizens. Social Security became a necessity. And it is the best government program, ever.
Nowadays, the cost of meds are thru the roof. And we need some sort of Medicare Drug benefit.
The one we have, written by the drug co.'s to benefit the drug co.'s is a national disgrace.
We need to revamp the one we have, starting with negotiating for lower prices for the drugs plus taking out the enormous overhead built into the plan that benefits insurance companies.
I think we need a nationwide formulary. And that many otc drugs that are still prescriptions in certain strenghts should be covered when bought at the much cheaper otc price.
Basically, its a good idea enacted as badly as possible.

 

[FDF12389]

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc

Originally posted by: FDF12389
Oh, and about the poll, medicare needs to cut the amount of drugs it covers about 70%. I picked option C. But instead of favoring the generics, dont cover brand at all, it the same drug, make people take the cheaper one, if they dont like it then they can pout about it at the local George Webb or Dennys.

Interesting number but you know you pulled it out of your buttocks.

Many drugs don't work well, but that doesn't mean we necessarily need fewer. People have differing reactions to similar drugs. Even generic vs trade can be substantive if the preparation is different.

The government should sponsor broad survey studies or clinical trials of medications to determine which ones work best and under what conditions. BIG winners stay . . . even if they are the most expensive. Losers are kicked off the federal formulary. Private insurers would likely follow.

The alternative is that FDA compels drug companies to PROVE their drug works BETTER than something currently on the market. Even if its just fewer (or milder side effects) that's a good reason to have a new drug b/c it increases compliance. On the otherhand, if its just another "me too" it shouldn't be approved.

The primary reason I posted this topic is b/c I'm against drug company welfare that doesn't lead to upward mobility. The drug benefit is basically a GOP attempt to create a new class of corporate welfare queens to go along with big oil, big coal, big forestry, agribusiness, and DOD contractors.

We're getting next to nothing for our money. If anything, the drug benefit will make our healthcare system even more difficult to fix.

I posted that wrong, they should only cover about 30% of the drugs on the market today. And of course they should allow a Prior auth. option. But they need to totally crap everythign that they are doing now, its a mess.

 

[Pens1566]

Originally posted by: dardin211
I know there are a lot of factors that go into the rising healthcare costs but to me one simple factor that can be resolved by people themselves. Americans simply need to start doing a better job of taking care of themselves and quit living unhealthy lifestyles. It seems many Americans truly have that mentality that they can eat/drink/smoke anything they damn well please, never exercise and then the medical profession is going to give them some magic pills or surgery that is going to fix what they did to themselves. This type of thinking needs to be changed. How this can be changed? I truly don?t have the answer to that, I just don't feel that those of us who live healthy and take care of ourselves should have to pay for these people or suffer because of them.

You want to smoke and give yourself cancer, fine, you have the freedom to do so, but there should be no reason you should drive up the cost of my health insurance because you choose to do this or that my tax dollars should pay for your cancer treatment. You want to eat Fast-food 7 days a week 3 times a day, drink 2 gallons of soda a day, become obese, develop diabetes and heart disease, fine, again that is your choice and freedom to do so, but again you should not effect the cost of my own healthcare nor should my taxes have to pay for this.

While you're at it, make sure you blame the hundreds of thousand of children diagnosed each year with cancer. Putting the blame on people for conditions that are most often genetically passed down is just the same. Smokers, no argument there.

 

[FDF12389]

Originally posted by: Pens1566

Originally posted by: FDF12389
Oh, and about the poll, medicare needs to cut the amount of drugs it covers about 70%. I picked option C. But instead of favoring the generics, dont cover brand at all, it the same drug, make people take the cheaper one, if they dont like it then they can pout about it at the local George Webb or Dennys.

I'm betting that 70% includes useless medicine like, I don't know, birth control?

I think personally think people should pay for their own contraceptive measures, but if it?s medically ness than the DR can send in a Prior auth.

Originally posted by: techs
Oh I absolutely agree that people in America are on too much medication.
But I absolutely agree we need a Medicare drug benefit.
Look, in the 1930's the situation had turned desperate for Senior Citizens. Social Security became a necessity. And it is the best government program, ever.
Nowadays, the cost of meds are thru the roof. And we need some sort of Medicare Drug benefit.
The one we have, written by the drug co.'s to benefit the drug co.'s is a national disgrace.
We need to revamp the one we have, starting with negotiating for lower prices for the drugs plus taking out the enormous overhead built into the plan that benefits insurance companies.
I think we need a nationwide formulary. And that many otc drugs that are still prescriptions in certain strenghts should be covered when bought at the much cheaper otc price.
Basically, its a good idea enacted as badly as possible.

I agree, but i think the formula needs to be small, thats strictly my opinion, but dont let someone get a brand when there is a generic available, dotn let people tell you generic are formulated differently and dont work on them, its mostly all in the head.

 

[dardin211]

Originally posted by: Pens1566

Originally posted by: dardin211
I know there are a lot of factors that go into the rising healthcare costs but to me one simple factor that can be resolved by people themselves. Americans simply need to start doing a better job of taking care of themselves and quit living unhealthy lifestyles. It seems many Americans truly have that mentality that they can eat/drink/smoke anything they damn well please, never exercise and then the medical profession is going to give them some magic pills or surgery that is going to fix what they did to themselves. This type of thinking needs to be changed. How this can be changed? I truly don?t have the answer to that, I just don't feel that those of us who live healthy and take care of ourselves should have to pay for these people or suffer because of them.

You want to smoke and give yourself cancer, fine, you have the freedom to do so, but there should be no reason you should drive up the cost of my health insurance because you choose to do this or that my tax dollars should pay for your cancer treatment. You want to eat Fast-food 7 days a week 3 times a day, drink 2 gallons of soda a day, become obese, develop diabetes and heart disease, fine, again that is your choice and freedom to do so, but again you should not effect the cost of my own healthcare nor should my taxes have to pay for this.

While you're at it, make sure you blame the hundreds of thousand of children diagnosed each year with cancer. Putting the blame on people for conditions that are most often genetically passed down is just the same. Smokers, no argument there.

Negative, my post is very clear about a specific group I am talking about, if you actually read it. Nice try on putting a spin on this. Please take the trolling somewhere else.

 

[FDF12389]

Originally posted by: Pens1566

Originally posted by: dardin211
I know there are a lot of factors that go into the rising healthcare costs but to me one simple factor that can be resolved by people themselves. Americans simply need to start doing a better job of taking care of themselves and quit living unhealthy lifestyles. It seems many Americans truly have that mentality that they can eat/drink/smoke anything they damn well please, never exercise and then the medical profession is going to give them some magic pills or surgery that is going to fix what they did to themselves. This type of thinking needs to be changed. How this can be changed? I truly don?t have the answer to that, I just don't feel that those of us who live healthy and take care of ourselves should have to pay for these people or suffer because of them.

You want to smoke and give yourself cancer, fine, you have the freedom to do so, but there should be no reason you should drive up the cost of my health insurance because you choose to do this or that my tax dollars should pay for your cancer treatment. You want to eat Fast-food 7 days a week 3 times a day, drink 2 gallons of soda a day, become obese, develop diabetes and heart disease, fine, again that is your choice and freedom to do so, but again you should not effect the cost of my own healthcare nor should my taxes have to pay for this.

While you're at it, make sure you blame the hundreds of thousand of children diagnosed each year with cancer. Putting the blame on people for conditions that are most often genetically passed down is just the same. Smokers, no argument there.

You've tried to start a fire in the same thread twice now. Since you prolly played softball its safe to say you have struck out, please try again next inning.

 

[Pens1566]

Originally posted by: dardin211

Originally posted by: Pens1566

Originally posted by: dardin211
I know there are a lot of factors that go into the rising healthcare costs but to me one simple factor that can be resolved by people themselves. Americans simply need to start doing a better job of taking care of themselves and quit living unhealthy lifestyles. It seems many Americans truly have that mentality that they can eat/drink/smoke anything they damn well please, never exercise and then the medical profession is going to give them some magic pills or surgery that is going to fix what they did to themselves. This type of thinking needs to be changed. How this can be changed? I truly don?t have the answer to that, I just don't feel that those of us who live healthy and take care of ourselves should have to pay for these people or suffer because of them.

You want to smoke and give yourself cancer, fine, you have the freedom to do so, but there should be no reason you should drive up the cost of my health insurance because you choose to do this or that my tax dollars should pay for your cancer treatment. You want to eat Fast-food 7 days a week 3 times a day, drink 2 gallons of soda a day, become obese, develop diabetes and heart disease, fine, again that is your choice and freedom to do so, but again you should not effect the cost of my own healthcare nor should my taxes have to pay for this.

While you're at it, make sure you blame the hundreds of thousand of children diagnosed each year with cancer. Putting the blame on people for conditions that are most often genetically passed down is just the same. Smokers, no argument there.

Negative, my post is very clear about a specific group I am talking about, if you actually read it. Nice try on trying to spin things. Please take the trolling somewhere else.

The only problem with your idea is that you can't tell whether a person that has diabetes got it from over-eating or genetics. Ever been to a new doctor? First thing the nurse/PA/doctor asks for your history is whether you have any family history of heart disease, diabetes, cancer. How do you plan on distinguishing whether these illnesses are "personal responsibility" related or not? Lie-detector?

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: Pens1566

Originally posted by: dardin211

Originally posted by: Pens1566

Originally posted by: dardin211
I know there are a lot of factors that go into the rising healthcare costs but to me one simple factor that can be resolved by people themselves. Americans simply need to start doing a better job of taking care of themselves and quit living unhealthy lifestyles. It seems many Americans truly have that mentality that they can eat/drink/smoke anything they damn well please, never exercise and then the medical profession is going to give them some magic pills or surgery that is going to fix what they did to themselves. This type of thinking needs to be changed. How this can be changed? I truly don?t have the answer to that, I just don't feel that those of us who live healthy and take care of ourselves should have to pay for these people or suffer because of them.

You want to smoke and give yourself cancer, fine, you have the freedom to do so, but there should be no reason you should drive up the cost of my health insurance because you choose to do this or that my tax dollars should pay for your cancer treatment. You want to eat Fast-food 7 days a week 3 times a day, drink 2 gallons of soda a day, become obese, develop diabetes and heart disease, fine, again that is your choice and freedom to do so, but again you should not effect the cost of my own healthcare nor should my taxes have to pay for this.

While you're at it, make sure you blame the hundreds of thousand of children diagnosed each year with cancer. Putting the blame on people for conditions that are most often genetically passed down is just the same. Smokers, no argument there.

Negative, my post is very clear about a specific group I am talking about, if you actually read it. Nice try on trying to spin things. Please take the trolling somewhere else.

The only problem with your idea is that you can't tell whether a person that has diabetes got it from over-eating or genetics. Ever been to a new doctor? First thing the nurse/PA/doctor asks for your history is whether you have any family history of heart disease, diabetes, cancer. How do you plan on distinguishing whether these illnesses are "personal responsibility" related or not? Lie-detector?

I guess we are all expected to perfect little angels. Show me one person who doesn't do something that can be injurous to their health.
Heck, if you live in a lot of cities in America you can get asthma, cancer, etc.
This whole personal responsibility thing is way out of hand when it comes to health coverage.
Yes, some people eat, smoke and drink to excess. But to say to them, sorry no health care for you if you can't afford it because its self inflicted is ridiculous.
Some people smoke two packs a day, drink 5 shots a day and die at 92 from a car accident.

 

[Starbuck1975]

This whole personal responsibility thing is way out of hand when it comes to health coverage. Yes, some people eat, smoke and drink to excess. But to say to them, sorry no health care for you if you can't afford it because its self inflicted is ridiculous.

Why? When did it become the burden of government to make amends for people choosing to lead unhealthy lifestyles.

Our society is becoming increasingly over-medicated, and the health care sector largely finds itself in a reactive mode to the lifestyle choices made by patients.

The money would be better spent on pro-active and pre-emptive initiatives to encourage healthy lifestyle habits, thereby reducing the burden on our health care system in the long run.

That being said, access to health care is not a fundamental human right...society managed to not tear itself apart 200 years ago when mortality was largely in balance with nature.

How do you plan on distinguishing whether these illnesses are "personal responsibility" related or not? Lie-detector?

There are plenty of indicators of health issues due to lifestyle choices versus genetics.

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: Starbuck1975

This whole personal responsibility thing is way out of hand when it comes to health coverage. Yes, some people eat, smoke and drink to excess. But to say to them, sorry no health care for you if you can't afford it because its self inflicted is ridiculous.

Why? When did it become the burden of government to make amends for people choosing to lead unhealthy lifestyles.

Our society is becoming increasingly over-medicated, and the health care sector largely finds itself in a reactive mode to the lifestyle choices made by patients.

The money would be better spent on pro-active and pre-emptive initiatives to encourage healthy lifestyle habits, thereby reducing the burden on our health care system in the long run.

That being said, access to health care is not a fundamental human right...society managed to not tear itself apart 200 years ago when mortality was largely in balance with nature.

Its called "insurance". If you want to argue that you have higher premiums for overweight people, smokers etc you have a valid argument.
But to deny health insurance to, well, how many would it be? is wacky.
Especially at time when the nations finest minds are concoting advertising to get people addicted to cigarettes.

 

[Pens1566]

Originally posted by: Starbuck1975

This whole personal responsibility thing is way out of hand when it comes to health coverage. Yes, some people eat, smoke and drink to excess. But to say to them, sorry no health care for you if you can't afford it because its self inflicted is ridiculous.

Why? When did it become the burden of government to make amends for people choosing to lead unhealthy lifestyles.

Our society is becoming increasingly over-medicated, and the health care sector largely finds itself in a reactive mode to the lifestyle choices made by patients.

The money would be better spent on pro-active and pre-emptive initiatives to encourage healthy lifestyle habits, thereby reducing the burden on our health care system in the long run.

That being said, access to health care is not a fundamental human right...society managed to not tear itself apart 200 years ago when mortality was largely in balance with nature.

How do you plan on distinguishing whether these illnesses are "personal responsibility" related or not? Lie-detector?

There are plenty of indicators of health issues due to lifestyle choices versus genetics.

Such as? Other than a smoker. There is no Type-McDonalds diabetes.

 

[dardin211]

Originally posted by: techs

Originally posted by: Pens1566

Originally posted by: dardin211

Originally posted by: Pens1566

Originally posted by: dardin211
I know there are a lot of factors that go into the rising healthcare costs but to me one simple factor that can be resolved by people themselves. Americans simply need to start doing a better job of taking care of themselves and quit living unhealthy lifestyles. It seems many Americans truly have that mentality that they can eat/drink/smoke anything they damn well please, never exercise and then the medical profession is going to give them some magic pills or surgery that is going to fix what they did to themselves. This type of thinking needs to be changed. How this can be changed? I truly don?t have the answer to that, I just don't feel that those of us who live healthy and take care of ourselves should have to pay for these people or suffer because of them.

You want to smoke and give yourself cancer, fine, you have the freedom to do so, but there should be no reason you should drive up the cost of my health insurance because you choose to do this or that my tax dollars should pay for your cancer treatment. You want to eat Fast-food 7 days a week 3 times a day, drink 2 gallons of soda a day, become obese, develop diabetes and heart disease, fine, again that is your choice and freedom to do so, but again you should not effect the cost of my own healthcare nor should my taxes have to pay for this.

While you're at it, make sure you blame the hundreds of thousand of children diagnosed each year with cancer. Putting the blame on people for conditions that are most often genetically passed down is just the same. Smokers, no argument there.

Negative, my post is very clear about a specific group I am talking about, if you actually read it. Nice try on trying to spin things. Please take the trolling somewhere else.

The only problem with your idea is that you can't tell whether a person that has diabetes got it from over-eating or genetics. Ever been to a new doctor? First thing the nurse/PA/doctor asks for your history is whether you have any family history of heart disease, diabetes, cancer. How do you plan on distinguishing whether these illnesses are "personal responsibility" related or not? Lie-detector?

I guess we are all expected to perfect little angels. Show me one person who doesn't do something that can be injurous to their health.
Heck, if you live in a lot of cities in America you can get asthma, cancer, etc.
This whole personal responsibility thing is way out of hand when it comes to health coverage.
Yes, some people eat, smoke and drink to excess. But to say to them, sorry no health care for you if you can't afford it because its self inflicted is ridiculous.
Some people smoke two packs a day, drink 5 shots a day and die at 92 from a car accident.

The problem here though is its no longer just "some people" it's well on its way to becoming the majority. Look up the numbers on obesity in American, the rate of increase on this is insane, while at the same time, the amount of exercise people get is on a steady nose dive. As long as obesity keeps increasing, keeps on the rise, then more and more people will need medical treatment for these conditions they caused themselves. This amounts to ever increasing cost.

 

[Pens1566]

And how do you discern whether their obesity is of their own doing or because of genetics/metabolism disorder? I'm all for raising premiums on people with problems they've created themselves. Thats the point of insurance premiums, higher risk, higher premiums.