[Violabelle]

I guess I would clarify that you don't have to be rich, because Medicare/Medicaid will pay for many of these operations/meds, but you do have to actually *have* Medicare. Many people who qualify don't actually have all the forms filled out and such. This is why social workers are teh awesome.

...this is all unless you live in Arizona...

Seriously, health care in this country is ridiculously tricky to finance and it is nice that there are experts out there.
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[Tinu.]

Health care in the US hinges on one thing: Don't get sick. And good luck to you if you are.
We're supposed to switch over to a system similar to Canada's soon, aren't we?
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Keeper of Gaia and all the books on Earthsong

"If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing it is stupid."
~Einstein

[Tinalles]

Well, no.

Canada has a single-payer system, meaning that the government pays for all health care expenses (except some elective procedures, like plastic surgery to make you more smexy). Citizens pay their taxes, they get medical care when they need it, and the government foots the bill. You can still pay for private health care if you want, but most people don't.

Anyway, the government is far and away the biggest purchaser of health care supplies, medicines, medical equipment, and so on -- meaning they have a lot of clout for negotiating bulk discounts on the stuff. It's not a perfect system, but it seems to work pretty well.

The new U.S. health care system won't kick in for a couple of years yet even if it survives the multiple law suits challenging its constitutionality. If I understand, it works basically like this:

1) Every citizen is required to get health insurance. Either you buy it yourself, or you get it from your employer as part of your job.

2) If you opt NOT to buy health insurance and do not get it through your job, the government charges you more taxes.

3) Each individual state is supposed to set up a state-run health care program called an exchange, to offer cheap health care policies to people who can't afford it regularly. There will also be subsidies for the poor.

So, instead of having a single payer system, we'll basically have the existing system of for-profit health care companies, only with fifty new non-profit health care programs run by the states. The key to making it work is the mandate that everybody has to have health insurance, because the much larger pool of insurees makes it a lot easier to spread the risk around. Or that's the theory anyway; I'm not entirely convinced that it'll work, since although the number of insured people will increase, they'll still be segmented across 50 state insurance providers and heaven knows how many private companies.
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Keeper of The Remnant Minuon (cognomen Lucy, the Eaten One) and the Emissary Caeli

[Tenshi]

..I think I like Canada's better.
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. Dubbed "Usagi" by AsA .
Keeper of the Siderean Swords

"If by chance some day you're not feeling well, and you should remember some silly thing I've said or done, and it brings back a smile to your face or a chuckle to your heart, then my purpose as your clown has been fulfilled."
Red Skelton

[Nem]

Wonder how large a risk pool you need in order to self-insure under that system. Lots of companies over here self-insure their vehicles up to a point because they don't incur as many costs on top of the price of the risk as an insurance company would.
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Never forget,
We stroll along the roof of hell
Gazing at flowers.
- Issa

[Tinu.]

I'm going to agree with Tenshi. That sounds incredibly unstable. Besides which, making everyone purchase health care would probably file under unconstitutional. If it makes it in a few years I'll be surprised.
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Keeper of Gaia and all the books on Earthsong

"If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing it is stupid."
~Einstein

[Tinalles]

I dunno; the constitutionality of the health care mandate can be argued either way. If I recall correctly, there are four separate challenges working their way through the court system right now. So far, two judges have declared it unconstitutional, and two judges have declared it constitutional.

Soooo ... not a clear-cut case either way.

Incidentally, here's a summary overview of the health care bill. There's quite a lot in there. The original is thousands of pages long after all.
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Keeper of The Remnant Minuon (cognomen Lucy, the Eaten One) and the Emissary Caeli

[Tinu.]

It rarely seems to be a clear-cut case.

Oh awesome! Thanks for the link!
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Keeper of Gaia and all the books on Earthsong

"If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing it is stupid."
~Einstein

[Tamir]

Darn, I can't believe I didn't catch this topic sooner. Need to work on my lurking.

Anyhow, I feel a need to respond to this:

[Asa]

Thanks for the education and clarification, Tamir!
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Self-styled Forum Grandmother, because I hand out nicknames and hugs whether you want them or not. ^_^

Keeper of the Library and the Gateway to Haven

Nem: "It's the sort of face you just know is getting ready to poke you with something sharp."
BS: "...then insist you eat a brownie."
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If we shadows have offended,
Think but this and all is mended...
Give me your hands if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.

[Allicat]

Yes, thank you, it was fascinating! I'll admit I don't know much about the religious views here so any information is most welcome.
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He who does not eat cheese will go mad. ~ French proverb.

Keeper of the fallen leaves. 'Cos they're still pretty.