Studies Confirm Americans Are Self-Rationing Health Care
By Jon Perr Tuesday Oct 13, 2009 7:00am
Among the most pernicious and blatantly false Republican talking points designed to obstruct health care reform is the fear-mongering claim that Democratic proposals will lead to "rationing." Of course, with almost 50 million uninsured and another 25 million underinsured, Mitch McConnell's dystopian future of a system which "denies, delays, or rations health care" is already today's nightmare for millions of Americans. But as it turns out, recent studies show that the market failure that is the crumbling U.S. health care system is producing a another, often hidden crisis: self-rationing.
As McClatchy reported last week, a new Consumers Union survey revealed that due to skyrocketing costs and reductions in coverage, Americans are forced to deny themselves needed medical treatment. Among the findings of CU's poll of a 1,002 respondents:
In the new poll 59 percent said that the cost of their health care had increased more than their other expenses over the past two years. Fifty-one percent said they had faced difficult health care choices in the past year. The most common responses were putting off a doctor visit because of cost (28 percent), not being unable to afford medical bills or medication (25 percent), and putting off a medical procedure because of cost (22 percent).
Twenty-eight percent said they had lost or experienced cutbacks in their health care coverage in the past year. The greatest concerns about health care expressed by respondents were a major financial loss or setback from medical cost due to an illness or accident (73 percent), not being able to afford health care in the future (73 percent), necessary care being denied or rationed by health insurance companies (73 percent), and the prospect of rising costs forcing them to choose between health care and other necessities (64 percent).
Those dismal results echoed the shocking revelations from an April 2009 Thomson Reuters survey.
That poll of 12,000 people not only found that employer-provided health care coverage had plummeted to 54.9% in 2009 from 59% in early 2008, but that 20% of Americans have postponed or delayed medical care. That 1 in 5 figure is a staggering jump from 15.9% in 2006.
Other jaw-dropping numbers from the Thomson Reuters study:
In the most recent survey, 21 percent of U.S. adults expected to have difficulty paying for health insurance or healthcare services in the next three months...
More than 54 percent who skipped care said they missed a doctor visit. Eight percent said they delayed or skipped medical imaging of some sort.
What Republican orthodoxy sees as the appropriate functioning of the health care market are instead the vital signs of its failure. (And other studies show that the conservative prescription, so-called "consumer-driven health care," would only make things worse.) Costs rising at triple the rate of wages, $13,000 family premiums per year rising to $22,000 by 2019, double-digit annual increases for next year, 62% of personal bankruptcies due to medical costs, declining emergency room capacity, health insurance near-monopolies in 94% of U.S. markets are just some of the indicators of a flat-lining U.S. health care system. It's now wonder Gary Pickens of the Healthcare division of Thomson Reuters concluded:
"If this trend continues, it will ultimately have an impact on our collective well-being."
For his part, Senate Minority Leader McConnell, whose home state of Kentucky ranks near the bottom in health care performance, continues to argue, "Americans want to see changes in the health care system. But they don't want changes that deny, delay, or ration care."
Of course, that's precisely what they are doing now.
(This piece also appears at Perrspectives.)
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The Americans who walk on the earth, but do not hover in the sky with the Wall Street piranhas or the Perpetual War Machine, will be self rationing everything.
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A valuable series of pieces on health care reform by L Randall Wray
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons...
They actually had to do a study to confirm that? That people are deciding whether to buy food or go to the dentist or doctor? Maybe they need to talk to regular people more often and then they would know these things without having to do a study.
I was thinking the same thing, I see it all the time when I work. I can tell the diabetics that aren't checking their blood sugar and correcting it, the people that can't afford their blood thinners and have strokes or heart attacks. This wasn't eye-opening in any respect and Republicans don't respect anything that's scientific or done properly, they have their agenda and to that they stick.
"Republicans don't respect anything that's scientific or done properly, they have their agenda and to that they stick"
More like, they stick it to everyone else.
Care about life in the abstract. A cell in a petri dish they call "a human being" hence, women must be denied the right to safe, clean, legal abortion if they need it. Life in the abstract means you don't have to do anything. Nothing is required. Nothing is sacrificed or given.
But once a child is born or a human being needs assistance, the slanders begin -- welfare queen, lazy bastards, illegal aliens, whoring women want abortions or child welfare, etc., etc. leading to "I'm not paying for that ____ to get blood pressure medicine out of my tax dollars. In fact, I'm not paying any damn taxes at all because I'm white, I'm rich and I'm republican!"
As soon as something for the common good is required, Republicans scatter like cockroaches.
And sorry to all cockroaches out there for taking your name in vain. You at least have honor because you live honestly according to you nature.
Republicans!? Not so much.
At least one senator in the Democratic caucus is blocking a public option - but we don't know who. That's because Majority Leader Harry Reid is protecting any senator who wants to join a Republican filibuster of health care reform.
This isn't just wrong, it's deeply immoral. If a Democrat wants to filibuster a public option, make them do it in public.
Almost 30,000 people have told Harry Reid to force the Democrats opposed to a public option out in public. Can you join us?
Click here to sign the petition to Harry Reid to stop the silent filibuster of a public option.
http://action.firedoglake.com/harryreid
He has openly said he will not support the PO, although he gets cover from Conrad and Baucus.
do it in public.
And deprive him or her of their insurance plan.
What's fair is fair.
Is Holy Joe the one blocking the public option? I think it's Lieberman, but I could be wrong.
The Dems having committtee chairmen and the Majority Leader from Red States is asinine. They need to have leaders from died in the wool BLUE states, so they don't have to worry about getting re-elected. Reid, Baucus, all those westerners, you can't get shit done with them in place, or you have to water things down too damned much.
The Dems really need an LBJ who could crack the whip and lean on shits like Lieberman and Nelson AND on GOP folks like Snowe. Yeah, Snowe came around today, but now they've got to toe her line again. And the Red state Dems have to tip-toe on EVERY FUCKING ISSUE. All because we don't have leaders who can can go balls to the wind and take no prisoners.
Maybe in 10 years they will start to get it right, but for now...
a Hieronymus Bosch painting.
it was the scene in "Gone With the Wind," with all the fallen soldiers laid out next to each other.
http://www.hegel-system.de/de/gif/Gruen.jpg
illegal immigrant mexicans
...and perhaps the republicans are of no help, but I have to think that the current democratic plan to mandate insurance (with no public option) can only push these suffering people into debt to buy the shitty coverage they already clearly cannot afford.
My last hope is that Republicans can/will STOP this train, and just leave us where we are. We're being fooled by our own "side" here. We're led by our choir directors to "demand a bill" and to praise ANY bill as better than NO bill. NO BILL is supposedly far better than the rotten end-of-days bill we're about to get. We're being led to nod our heads and agree that the main thing here is to get some kind of "reform" (and oh yeah, thereby save the Obama presidency), and that issues of that public option nonsense, which isn't going to happen (in the senate), is not THE issue, it's no longer even a "thin slice" of the "issue pie." Just some kind of BILL is all we want, right? Any kind. Doesn't matter what's in it, close your eyes, sssshush, are you a Tea Bagger or something?? Good. You better not be.
I wish I'd voted for McCain. I wish we all had.
You are sorely mistaken to play into the two party tyranny deception.
Vote for someone who you genuinely believe will do the job.
I would never vote for either faction of the Party of Power and Privilege.
Oh yeah we'll I got news for you Max . .
I’ll be Goddamn 6 feet under ground, dead in my grave, buried and long forgot
I’ll be so long gone and forgot that my flesh will have turned and returned to the nutrients and elements and the molecules from which it originated before I will EVER BE YOUR FOOL!
as someone who carries his own death insurance, i have put off for years bringing forward certain health issues for fear the bluecross mafia will either not honor it, or cut me off.
and all the gasbags in the senate hearing i am watching are going to screw all of us even more.........
Robbery
What critic of reform can say "my coverage has expanded while the cost has gone down"?
The answer is simple. Give everybody what they want, when they want it, and make it free. This is because we are Americans, and deserve it. I would also like a car.
and on demand.
BO Bill, as Americans what DO you think we "deserve"?
Caustically,
Carly
Deployed Infantryman's parent
(Please, Tea Baggers, don't refuse to pay taxes.
We are at war. Put away your misspelled "No taxes! Not me! NOT ME!!!!" protest signs, and start doing your part as I do mine.)
give you my van , but i might be living in it very soon .
Sure glad those rocket scientists did this study , I could have saved them the time and money . Yesterday I went to refill my prescription for Plavix , it's a blood thinner , long story short I went to pay for it and pick it up but the tab was 150 bucks for the one month supply up from 35 dollars I'd paid previously . Come to find out my former employer ( I was laid off ) has gone to a cheaper ( near worthless ) insurance plan and this insurance which I am partially paying for through cobra would have saved me a whopping three dollars off the full price of 153 dollars . Laid off and trying to stay afloat on unemployment ( first time in my life , I'm 58 yo ) , my wife working part time for minimum wage ,the only work she could find , obviously can't afford 150 a month for one medication so I'm going with just aspirin , out of principle I don't think I'd pay them 150 bucks for the crap even if I had the money . I could tell you another story but you get the point and have heard it all before I am sure . Damn the Repugs , the Blue dogs and the stupid fools who vote for and support them !
Unless someone is very wealthy we all have to consider the crappy co-pays and budget for any and all necessary drugs and procedures. Who hasn't put off something because of $$$$.
Bottle of Jack Daniels and two Marlboro's please.
And don't forget the deep-fried butter!
Lets hear another resounding chorus about "Greatest country in the world" & "USA #1" chanted over and over again ............ bwhahahahaaa
I wonder how many of this lot sit back and complain, and how many actually do something about it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZdJRDpLHbw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlmmui8iq50
When I see fellow Americans bellow the infantile 'USA!! USA"!! chant, which somehow is a vocal declaration of their belief of American superiority to all other nations & societies, it always reminds me of children of cover their ears and shout 'LA LA LA', so as not to hear the truth...The 'USA' chanters are usually flag waving nationalists who are too ignorant to argue for (or against) any position, so all they can do is shout sophmoric slogans...
we aren't socialist! Couldn't have that! If Americans need to die without healthcare to prevent a socialist/communist/nazi/anti-christ takeover of the U.S., then so be it!
snark
Didn't he invite the mechants into the temple?...oh wait a minute, he kicked them out...Mabey they weren't charging enough?
Here's a kick-in-the-head.
Most health care workers of the level less than a nurse have to live on food stamps and presumably can't afford health care.
I'm shorting anti-depressants and I haven't seen the dentist in 8 years.
Some Americans would rather see other Americans DIE than see a national health coverage (A health plan most western nations offer their own people-but NOT the US). Not having universal health coverage is not only immoral-it's illogical, and DANGEROUS- When the day comes a deadly contagious virus worse than the swine flu sweeps through the land , that could be kept in check by a vaccine-the UNINSURED will likely opt not to pay for the vaccine-because they can't afford it- as a result, they get sick, and the virus will be spread to other people-
Americans are so blinded by the CULT of capitalism,the idea of having health coverage for all causes the same reaction Christians make when they encounter those who don't share their worship their 'god Jesus (the reaction being fear and hatred)....
Here's the front page headline: (AP): DEMOCRATS SCRAMBLE AFTER SALVO BY INSURERS.
Byline: President Obama's No. 1 domestic priority - the health care overhaul - is THREATENED!!
And then here's the first line of the article: "INSURANCE COMPANIES AREN'T PLAYING "NICE" ANY MORE."
Say what??!!
Would someone...anyone...please tell me when it was that the insurance companies have EVER played "nice"??
The article goes on, "Their dire message that health care legislation will drive up premiums for people who already have coverage comes as a warning shot at a crucial point in the debate, and threatens Obama's top domestic priority."
"At the heart of the industry's complaint is a decision by lawmakers to weaken the requirement that millions more Americans get coverage."
Now here's the kicker....
"Since the legislation would ban insurance companies from denying coverage on account of poor health, many people will wait to sign up until they get sick, the industry says. And that will drive up costs for everybody else."
Ummm, well...yes. Ms. Ignagni, president of Americans Health Insurance Plans is absolutely right about this American.
I will refuse to participate in Obama's "MANDATE". I will continue to wait it out for Medicare to kick in (another two years for me) and I will just pay the penalty (under protest) and yes, if I get REALLY sick...THEN I'LL GO CRAWLING ON MY DEATH BED TO SIGN UP WITH THE VULTURES!!!
SCREW EM'!!!!!
MEDICARE FOR ALL!!!! H.R. 676 IS THE ONLY WAY!!!
SEND THE ROTTEN SCUM-SUCKING KAREN IGNAGNI AND ALL HER BUDDIES INTO SOME FIELD OF ENDEAVOR WHERE THEY WON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER LIFE AND DEATH ISSUES THAT ARE NONE OF THEIR F'ING BUSINESS!!!
Me too. It's nice to know I'm not going to jail for something I believe in ALONE. Because I am going, before I'll cave to Obama's mandate. And it is OBAMA'S mandate, let there please be no mistake. I want my vote back! *insane laugh*
I've got 6 years till Medicare. If this end-of-days mandate kicks in around 2013, I'll still have two or three years to wait. I'm not going to allow the fines and taxes to be taken from my paychecks, even if it means I have to see to it that I don't receive paychecks. I'm clever enough to make a self-employed living. Then they'll have to come and GET it from me if they want it.
That's if I can't get into Canada, which I probably can't. "I'm moving to Canada!" is actually a CANARD. You can't just move to Canada. What does Canada want with a flood of Americans 45-64 fleeing the States to escape the Obama Mandate? They're probably aleady busy up there putting up extra roadblocks to make sure we can't flood into their country. I don't blame them.
I'm healthy. I also ration my health care like you wouldn't believe. Exercise, eat right, don't smoke, and if you get a lump somewhere, for God's sake don't go to the doctor—you'll be entering the system, and that's all she wrote.
I'm not anxious to live forever, dying isn't my fear, unfortunately it's NOT dying, but landing on my butt with something so painful and debilitating that I can't walk it off, must seek medical care, no choice. If I move to Siberia and live with the Inuit (I'll pull my weight, promise), can I get an ice floe out to sea as soon as the first debilitating OWIE strikes? Think how much better that would be than the MANDATE that's coming for us!
Abbybwood, I realize you didn't say you want to go to jail. :D Sowwy, carried away there. You know what I mean.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVUXPjFWfX4
With the health insurers notorious for denying coverage to people with preexisting conditions- I'm left to wonder- how are the physically disabled able to find a company that will cover them?
What if you have a degenerative disbility like parkinsons disease, or alsheimers? How about diabetes? Is it possible you could be denied coverage?
Those disabilities qualify people for Disability, they don't have to work.
It's a great point, though. If an insurance company refuses to insure you, that should render you legally disabled, shouldn't it? Whereupon your medical care and everything else is free from then on.
Canada. Buy your medicine online from C-A-N-A-D-A.
At least the ones you can. Some medicine, you can't.
My wife made me go get blood work done and have a physical. Why didn't I want to go? Because I'm deathly afraid they find I'm diabetic or something. Then maybe I lose my job. Then when I get reemployed I will be denied coverage due to preexisting conditions. This country is so fucked it ain't even funny.
Quote:
"Costs rising at triple the rate of wages, $13,000 family premiums per year rising to $22,000 by 2019"
This is wrong. Between my employer and my premiums together for the contract for next year of 2010 will be $1800.00 per month. That is 21,600 per year. I am forced to use United health care. I have every reason to believe that that 13,000 number they use is wrong.
your premiums are crazy.... In British Columbia I pay $60 a month for a single person.There are no co-pays,no hmo's and contray to w2hat the right wing says"NO RATIONING". Our system isn't perfect but if you're sick you can go to the doctor.And the w2ords pre-exsisting condition don't exsist here.
they don't. That's because Canadians are sane, having figured out long ago that the idea of leaving the lives and deaths of their citizens up to for-profit corporations was nothing short of crazy.
Now, the standard bullcrap about England's and Canada's national health systems is that the SYSTEM delays medical procedures (which is actually only done for elective or cosmetic procedures).
So, here, the system doesn't get the blame, because patients do the delaying themselves. EXCEPT: These are people who say they are putting of NEEDED procedures, not elective ones.
Folks, that is a BIG FREAKING DIFFERENCE, and the biggest reason we need a SINGLE PAYER SYSTEM (yeah I know we aren't gonna get it, but it is still what we NEED).
So, the real choice to be made is this:
Do we want only elective procedures delayed or do we want ALL procedures we can't afford delayed?
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