Health Care Reform
Here is an article dealing with California's attempt to get universal health coverage. Gov. Schwarzenneger's plan is outlined. I thought since we had recently talked about this topic in class you would be interested to see how one state plans to deal with its 5 million uninsured residents. The plan also details how this coverage will be paid for...no surprises...more taxes. Please include your comments as California Closes in on Universal Health Care Plan.
Mr. Thompson
posted by erdecker @ 8:46 AM
5 comments
5 Comments:
That's an interesting proposal. While I would be all for it, I'm curious to know how this is impacting Hospital and doctor's especially's incomes. Will there likely be a decrease in the number of Doctors in CA then? Where would the impact most likely going to hit hardest?
Optimally, this shouldn't affect the hospitals' or doctors' incomes because they aren't lowering the rate of medical treatments, rather changing the method by which it is paid. Instead of paying an insurance company who then pays those who care for you, you are paying the government, and so I don't see any direct repercussions on the health care field financially. I honestly think the biggest impact will be on the insurance companies who will try to do anything to keep making exorbitant amounts of money. If this does go through, I would assume that health insurance costs would also decrease substantially since the government isn't attempting to make a profit in this venture.
Meanwhile, on the topic of the Governator, I have to say that I feel a sense of admiration that he can set aside party differences to work for the good of the people. Not to endorse more celebrities in political office, but he looks at this issue for what it is, rather than following his party.
I don't think this is so much of a problem for the hospital and doctors. They already make waaaaaaaaay too much money as it is (Just look at all the doctors' kids going to Century). The people this would affect the most would have to be the common homeowner. They are the ones who will see the tax increase and be experiencing the changes of universal healthcare. In the words of Deckerism, their paradigms will be shifted in the way that they seek healthcare. It's hard to go into more detail on this subject without more details about this plan and the specific effects it will have on the people. Krishna and Katie, it's not all about the rich people!
I'm just gonna throw this out there. Arnold isn't much of a conservative.
http://www.ontheissues.org/Arnold_Schwarzenegger.htm
Pro-choice, pro-environment, pro-healthcare. Why haven't the republicans thrown him out yet?!
That being said, more power to you, California. We should allow the states to decide whether they want universal healthcare. I say nay to federal plans, but if the states want it, go for it...
Katie and especially Krishna are not making it "all about the rich people." Krishna is criticizing the insurance companies for putting profit over providing health coverage. It is true that under this plan the doctors' incomes would be affected because the pool for subsidizing coverage would be partly provided through taxes on hospitals and doctors. Also, "employers that do not provide insurance would give 4 percent of their payroll to the pool." This would be a good idea for regulating large corporations, but could end up hurting small businesses who can't afford to provide these employee benefits.
Post a Comment
<< Home