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Health Care
Apr. 30th, 2008 03:34 pmOne of the biggest problems with our ridiculous health care system in the US? Besides the fact we spend much more than any other country for the same results, besides the millions of uninsured, besides how much of that gets siphoned off as profits straight to CEO pockets.
The problem is health care is tied to your job. So people keep jobs they hate just because they can't afford to lose health care. Or they might not get it because of "pre-existing conditions". Or they'd have a three month gap before it kicks in at their new job. Or they can't go start their own business because the health insurance costs would kill them. And companies are spending lots of money insuring their employees, when companies in other countries don't have to spend as much, because they have better universal systems.
This video has to do with that. I saw that a couple weeks ago but hadn't posted it. What set me off today was this report from the Kaiser Foundation about health care. Let me steal the section hilzoy quoted over on Obsidian Wings. I heard one piece of this, the 7% marriage part on the radio this morning.
"The poll also found that in the past year, 23% of U.S. residents said they or a member of their household had either decided to stay with a current employer, instead of accepting a new job, or had switched jobs because of health insurance coverage. In addition, 7% of respondents said that they, or someone in their household, had decided to get married to obtain health insurance through their spouse. (...)
According to the poll, 37% of U.S. residents reported at least one of six financial troubles over the past five years as a result of medical bills:
20% had difficulties paying other bills;
20% were contacted by a collection agency;
17% had used all or most of their savings;
12% were unable to pay for basic necessities, such as food, heat or housing;
10% had to borrow money; and
3% declared bankruptcy (Kaiser Family Foundation release, 4/29)."
But, y'know, universal health care will eat your babies and kicks puppies.
The problem is health care is tied to your job. So people keep jobs they hate just because they can't afford to lose health care. Or they might not get it because of "pre-existing conditions". Or they'd have a three month gap before it kicks in at their new job. Or they can't go start their own business because the health insurance costs would kill them. And companies are spending lots of money insuring their employees, when companies in other countries don't have to spend as much, because they have better universal systems.
This video has to do with that. I saw that a couple weeks ago but hadn't posted it. What set me off today was this report from the Kaiser Foundation about health care. Let me steal the section hilzoy quoted over on Obsidian Wings. I heard one piece of this, the 7% marriage part on the radio this morning.
"The poll also found that in the past year, 23% of U.S. residents said they or a member of their household had either decided to stay with a current employer, instead of accepting a new job, or had switched jobs because of health insurance coverage. In addition, 7% of respondents said that they, or someone in their household, had decided to get married to obtain health insurance through their spouse. (...)
According to the poll, 37% of U.S. residents reported at least one of six financial troubles over the past five years as a result of medical bills:
20% had difficulties paying other bills;
20% were contacted by a collection agency;
17% had used all or most of their savings;
12% were unable to pay for basic necessities, such as food, heat or housing;
10% had to borrow money; and
3% declared bankruptcy (Kaiser Family Foundation release, 4/29)."
But, y'know, universal health care will eat your babies and kicks puppies.
