RandyBrian Loc: Texas

Keep repeating it, Barracuda: "ACA is not insurance. The insurance companies are the bad guys."
You've made this same point at least three times in the last two days. No one with any knowledge is going to buy your line.
No , the ACA is not an insurance company. Yes, they set minimum standards. They also set them so high that policies are unaffordable by trying to cover EVERYTHING, but with less coverage. Out of the reach of the vast majority of people without subsidiation from the government. It is great for the poor. It is no problem for the rich. The middle class is being driven to bankruptcy. You apparently think it is a good thing. Tell me, several people have posted the costs they faced with ACA. I notice that you have not posted what YOU pay, or how much it is subsidized by the government. Odd, considering how much you like ACA. I'm not asking. Not my business. But I am curious as to why you haven't mentioned it.

WEBCO

Yes I know, they coerced me into paying for something I didn't want or need. That's the point.

Army

Thanks

SSDD

Our government??? Benevolent??? Are we sure we live in the same country??? Sorry, I jest of course, but yes, competition IS key to keeping premiums from hyper-inflation, over-regulation IS harmful and "fairness"? That my friend is merely an ideal, some may even go so far as to say merely a pipe dream even.

No, we can only do what we can do, try for perfection, settle for realistic and optimally... take satisfaction in hopefully getting the best that we could reasonably expect to get.

SSDD

Can't argue with the t***h.



Ideally yes, not always the case.



Opinion, depends on individual, absolute t***h (assuming of course that this poster IS telling the t***h of THEIR OWN experience)... After this assessment, I guess I shouldn't have to wonder why IF some start calling me "Captain Obvious".



Succinctly stated, though I was fairly certain you earlier stated that insurance companies weren't the issue, "The Insurance companies make normal to low margins. However, they make up for it in volume." you said, now HMO's ARE part of the problem? HMO, Health Maintenance Organization, basically an amalgamation of health care providers and the companies that charge the patients a fee to help the patient afford the care in that AFTER the patient pays the bills until their deductible is reached, the insurance company pays a PORTION of the bills from that point forward, that is of course provided the patient remembered to "stay within network". There was NEVER any doubt for me, I ALWAYS knew that the ENTIRETY of the medical industry was the problem. It stems from, I believe, the fact that greed seeps in. We want and need for the latest in advancements to be available and used in our health care, that is a given, what isn't needed is for greedy equipment manufacturers, instead of manufacturing with upgradeability being designed into these over-priced machines needed by the industry, they design the machines to be "disposable", when better comes out, you dispose of the old and buy a brand new model at full cost+ and all they did was "make the optional cupholder adjustable", in many cases. Minimal design improvement, full replacement necessary. Don't even get me started on the pharmaceutical industry... With the costs the hospitals incur in treating us due to all the price gouging of big pharma and the equipment manufacturers constant minor design improvements requiring full replacement of way over-priced machinery at full cost to purchaser... Is there really any question why health care costs keep rising? I ONLY mentioned two of the biggest offenders within the industry, they aren't the only culprits though, the insurance companies are another of the biggest offenders.



Obviously you have never been to an extravagant restaurant, prices are NOT displayed, could be part of the vetting process, "if you need to ask, you CAN'T afford it".



This is very true and we have a word for why, it is spelled C-O-R-R-U-P-T-I-O-N!!!



Somewhat of a bleak and pessimistic view you have there, not entirely without merit though.



And off the rails we go. Damn, and you were holding it together so well up to this point, and yes, that wasn't sarcasm, up until this point, you WERE holding up very well and now... Doesn't bode well.

When one ventures off to fringe media, be it left fringe or right fringe, that is where they lose me. I chose not to engage fringe media. That said, I obviously didn't bother reading the article as I am not fond of "venturing down the rabbit hole", one never knows if one will be capable of getting back out if they do, The article MAY or it MAY NOT hold merit, not ALL articles on fringe media are "f**e news".

JFlorio Loc: Seminole Florida

Of course I've been to restaurants like you describe, but if you ask you get the price. Try it at a Hospital. You are correct I did throw HMO's in with the hospitals. My mistake, The article you reference was very short and actuarily correct. Not a big deal. You can get the same figures from the government.Believe me I am not a fan of the way the healthcare industry is run. Can't tell you how many times I have had to give the same information over and over. I have five doctors in my immediate family. It seems they agree about as much as economists. However; they all believe t***sparency and a cap on litigation would go a long way in reducing costs. I have my own plan to pay for pre-existing conditions. Have sent it too numerous politicians. My plan would cover everyone with out premiums for the healthy going up. Politicians haven't reacted. Health care entities I have run it by love it. Probably why politicians aren't interested.

Cuda2020

Well Big Mike, I don't disagree with you there, but in the mix there are some good people who do care. Here's a simple thought, take the F-ing money, all of it... out of the component, I mean all, it be voluntary and only repay expenses, real and proven expense, a standard for traveling anything above that you pay on your dime. We'll see then who's left and truly dedicated to the cause for the greater good of the country.

JFlorio Loc: Seminole Florida

LOL. Washington will be empty. A beautiful thought. Think about it. Wasn't that long ago congress passed small targeted bills. Our reps didn't fly back and forth all the time. Both sides wanted the same for the country. They just had different ideas how to get there. This is were I part ways with progressives. I do not believe the left wants what the Founders intended at all anymore.

Carol Kelly

Vastly different.

Carol Kelly

Nor do I. In fact, I’m quite certain they don’t.

RandyBrian Loc: Texas

I agree as well. The l*****t want America to be a cleaned slate where they can write their own plan to create a "people's utopia". Losing all personal freedoms and chances of building a future for yourself and your family is just part of the price we all have to pay. But be of good cheer! We will have free healthcare and a standard of living every bit as good as Cuba, North Korea, and Venezuela.

Cuda2020

No some will stay, the ones that care, and the rest of the people will follow. After this v***s we've learned we can all ZOOOOM. Yee Doggy. Everyone can work in their jackets and underwear! What can be finer. We'll save bokoos of money. If teachers can do it so can congress. Let's get the selfish prigs outa there.

As far as parties, you can keep em, just there to manipulate people against each other.

Cuda2020

Show me one American who wants true socialism, the old way you're thinking of, under a dictatorship, no one, not one. We're a capitalistic materialistic,(and now a very disposable) society through and through. Haven't ya heard, we love money!!!! Why do you think that is? Our social classes are dictated by it, we feed our egos by it on a daily bases. Who fits in and who doesn't, who is better than the other, and who's trash, we live by it.

JFlorio Loc: Seminole Florida

The masses, especially a majority of the younger class think they want Socialism They believe it means equal, and let’s face it, free stuff. What the Democrats are actually wanting is a bunch of progressive Oligarchs supported by sheeple. .

Cuda2020

No Jim, that's just propaganda nonsense. As long as people keep fighting each other, individually or by party, we are all hurting only ourselves. Everyone I know are against oligarch's also. Dem's are more less likely to be sheeple also. They tend to not travel in packs like the right.

The younger people have new definitions for just about everything, some is a lack of knowledge and some of it is creating new paths for themselves without the old baggage. I'm all for that. The old baggage as been a ball and chain.