From: lafave@ial4.jsc.nasa.gov (Dr. Norman J. LaFave)
Newsgroups: alt.politics.clinton,alt.politics.bush,talk.politics.misc
Subject: Re: National Health Care
Date: 21 Aug 92 21:06:53 GMT
Organization: Lockheed Engineering & Sciences Co.

In article <VBg-P=+@engin.umich.edu>, jwh@citi.umich.edu (Jim Howe) writes:
> 
> In article <92234.071414DGS4@psuvm.psu.edu>, <DGS4@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:
> |> In article <1992Aug15.223532.19090@oakhill.sps.mot.com>, pjm@anegada.sps.mot.com
> |> (Patrick J. McGuinness) says:
> |> >
> |> >In article <1992Aug14.213401.27774@berlioz.nsc.com> worden@bouncer.nsc.com
> |> >(Dennis Worden) writes:
> |> >>tag@hermes.ecn.purdue.edu (Tony A. Gibbens)
> |> >>>      In the US, currently only the rich and the lucky people with
> |> >>>good employers get health care.  The fact that the infant mortality rates
> |> >>>are among the highest in the western world, and that some 30% of the
> |> >>>country isn't covered for all medical costs is quite pathetic.
> |> >
> |> >This number is way off base. See below.
> |> 
> |> No, it's not.  Read what was written, "30% of the country isn't covered for
> |> all medical costs."  The past ten years have seen large increases in required
> |> co-payments, deductibles, reductions in benefit coverage.  Studies show that
> |> a large number of Americans (even more than 30%) would have their savings
> |> completely wiped out by a single serious episode of medical need.
> |> 
> 
> Which is an argument for people having some form of catestrophic health
> insurance rather than insurance which covers 'all medical costs'.  People
> wonder why insurance is so high.  Imagine how much auto insurance would
> cost if it covered fill ups, tune ups, oil changes, etc.  Insurance should
> be just that, insurance.  Minor medical procedures, check-ups, etc.,
> should be covered by the individual.  Doctors fees can be increased
> simply because the customer (patient) isn't paying the bills.  When
> you intervene in a market transaction so that the customer doesn't
> realize what the good or service he is buying costs, its not surprising
> that the market 'fails'.

This still doesn't address the drain on tax revenues due to the poor
coming into hospitals with chronic states of easily-treatable ailments
because they can't afford preventitive treatment. The cost of
treating these ailments goes from a few dollars to a few hundred
(or thousand). It will cost less over time
to treat these people if everyone has regular access to a doctor.

This doesn't address the fact that the insurance companies and hospital
suply companies have increased the cost of their goods and services at 4 times
the rate of inflation. Medical care does not work in the free market
because you cannot choose whether or not to get your (insert life-threatening
ailment) treated. These companies have us over a barrel and they know it.

This doesn't address the fact that Hospitals and doctors are "double dipping"
when making claims, and making claims for procedures not performed.

This doesn't address the massive amount of litigation. Some is justified,
but alot of it is not. The court costs and massive malpractice premiums are
strangling some doctors and closing some practices. The costs are passed down
to us.

> 
> |> 
> |> I was without insurance one time for 3 months during a job change.  It
> |> completely changes your life-style.  Stopped playing racquetball becuase I
> |> couldn't afford it if I got hurt, not to mention the possibility of pre-
> |> existing conditions not being covered.  Used two forms of contraception,
> |> because there's no way we could afford to pay for a birth.
> |> 
> 
> Gee, personal responsibility.  What a concept.  Of course, judging by
> your comments you would prefer if someone subsidized your life-style.

Obviously, you must be one of these guys who believe all the poor are
lazy good-for-nothings, deserving of their fate.

> 
> 
> James W. Howe                  internet: jwh@citi.umich.edu
> University of Michigan             uucp: uunet!mailrus!citi.umich.edu!jwh
> Ann Arbor, MI   48103-4943         
> 
> 

Dr. Norman J. LaFave
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