Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Frog-marching us toward socialized medicine

Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean circulated an email Tuesday afternoon containing one of his favorite talking points for socialized medicine:

"The fight to guarantee healthcare for all depends on giving every American the freedom to choose between keeping their private insurance - if they have any - and a universally available public healthcare option like Medicare."

Funny he should mention that. Lexington attorney Kent Masterson Brown is preparing now to be in U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. on May 22 for a hearing in his case Hall, et al. v. Johnson, et al, in which the plaintiffs seek to force the federal government to let them opt out of Medicare.

Lead plaintiff Brian Hall stated in a court declaration:
"If I am forced to enroll or forced to remain enrolled in Medicare, Part A, I will be forced to accept healthcare services that are inferior to those I could obtain privately. I will be forced to limit my choice of providers and physicians to only those who participate in the Medicare program. I will further be forced to accept health care services that are now rationed, and will, in the future, be increasingly rationed because of budget constraints. I further believe that I will be forced to accept the undermining of my maximum privacy in my health care decisions and records."

11 comments:

Hempy said...

Medicare is not socialized medicine. Alleging that one gets inferior service from providers who accept Medicare is bogus.

Doctors who don't want to accept Medicare patients, form a group, that levies an annual fee, for example, $1,500 a year. If you have Medicare, they'll take it, but take from your $1,500 the difference between Medicare's allowable amount and their charge.

At the end of the year, if you haven't used up your $1,500 it's forfeited.

It's like a co-pay collected at the beginning of the year, each and every year.

This tactic is used to limit the number of patients a doctor wants to see. Often, it's used by doctors who are nearing retirement age and want to wind down their careers. They usually are not the most up-to-date practitioners, and you probably ought to look elsewhere for younger doctors who take Medicare, and are more up-to-date, and better skilled in their fields.

David Adams said...

It's the difference between making your own health care decisions and having the government do it for you.

Hempy said...

Under Medicare, you do make your own healthcare decisions. They government doesn't do it for you.

You don't understand Medicare.

David Adams said...

I understand Medicare is a huge money loser. At the rate it is going, widespread rationing of care is not a matter of if, but when.

Anonymous said...

The only people who do not understand that Medicare IS socialized medicine are those who do not practice in the field or those who are blinded by the radiance of an increased census obtained through the admission of Medicare patients when there is a private insurance drought.

I, on the other hand, and others like myself witness and must advocate for those most vulnerable and often most fragile patients who are passed on to the "Medicare" docs.

These doctors are referred to as desperate for a dollar, not tactical.

I challenge and would like to see research or other facts that support the written comment that "Medicare" doctors are the most up-to-date practitioners. Certainly there are physicians whose primary source of income is based on Medicare payments however these folks are infrequently found in the field as I know it.

My colleagues and I have literally begged for other physicians to be assigned to or take over the care of patients of these "Medicare" docs.

Might I recommend a few doctors for your loved one?

Melissa

Hempy said...

You neither understand the cost of an uninsured population such as we now have, nor do you understand anything about proportional taxation much less promote it.

Tax fairness is not one of your agendas.

Hempy said...

Melissa:

You clearly don't even understand socialize medicine.

No, I wouldn't want your recommended doctors. I have good doctors who accept Medicare.

Their services are as good as anyone's.

Anonymous said...

Hello !.
You re, I guess , perhaps curious to know how one can make real money .
There is no initial capital needed You may commense to get income with as small sum of money as 20-100 dollars.

AimTrust is what you thought of all the time
AimTrust incorporates an offshore structure with advanced asset management technologies in production and delivery of pipes for oil and gas.

Its head office is in Panama with affiliates around the world.
Do you want to become a happy investor?
That`s your chance That`s what you wish in the long run!

I`m happy and lucky, I started to take up real money with the help of this company,
and I invite you to do the same. It`s all about how to select a proper companion utilizes your money in a right way - that`s AimTrust!.
I earn US$2,000 per day, and what I started with was a funny sum of 500 bucks!
It`s easy to join , just click this link http://ubisuryqev.fcpages.com/obokev.html
and lucky you`re! Let`s take this option together to get rid of nastiness of the life

Anonymous said...

Good day !.
You may , perhaps curious to know how one can reach 2000 per day of income .
There is no initial capital needed You may begin to get income with as small sum of money as 20-100 dollars.

AimTrust is what you haven`t ever dreamt of such a chance to become rich
The firm incorporates an offshore structure with advanced asset management technologies in production and delivery of pipes for oil and gas.

It is based in Panama with structures around the world.
Do you want to become a happy investor?
That`s your chance That`s what you really need!

I feel good, I started to take up income with the help of this company,
and I invite you to do the same. It`s all about how to choose a proper partner who uses your money in a right way - that`s AimTrust!.
I take now up to 2G every day, and what I started with was a funny sum of 500 bucks!
It`s easy to join , just click this link http://jykywyfu.freecities.com/ahylyt.html
and go! Let`s take our chance together to feel the smell of real money

Hempy said...

Anon:

Re your investments. I hope you're successful. Just keep a sharp eye out for bubbles.

James Morgan - Puritan Financial Advisor said...

I will be forced to limit my choice of providers and physicians to only those who participate in the Medicare program. I will further be forced to accept health care services that are now rationed, and will, in the future, be increasingly rationed because of budget constraints.