Comments on: Profits before health http://polizeros.com/2007/12/22/profits-before-health/ Musings on politics: anti-war, global warming, peak oil and otherwise Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:54:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Eminence Grise http://polizeros.com/2007/12/22/profits-before-health/comment-page-1/#comment-146712 Eminence Grise Sun, 23 Dec 2007 16:29:23 +0000 http://polizeros.com/2007/12/22/profits-before-health/#comment-146712 My employer is switching to Cigna in January, and after reading all the horror stories we're terrified that something similar will happen to us. As a result, my family is looking very seriously at emigrating to Europe. I'm not kidding. And I think health care will be the deciding factor as to whether the US remains a major economic power or becomes a very large Argentina in the near future. My employer is switching to Cigna in January, and after reading all the horror stories we’re terrified that something similar will happen to us. As a result, my family is looking very seriously at emigrating to Europe.

I’m not kidding. And I think health care will be the deciding factor as to whether the US remains a major economic power or becomes a very large Argentina in the near future.

]]> By: DJ http://polizeros.com/2007/12/22/profits-before-health/comment-page-1/#comment-146684 DJ Sun, 23 Dec 2007 00:42:32 +0000 http://polizeros.com/2007/12/22/profits-before-health/#comment-146684 I well remember when I was an employer in Los Angeles shopping for health insurance. Kaiser actually told me, "Bring us your pre-existing conditions; we love them!" One of my employees discovered during her first Kaiser health screening that she's had undiagniosed abdominal cancer for several years; even though she'd only been a member for less than 2 months and the condition prexisted the membership, Kaiser treated it at no cost to her. And when I found out I had HCV, the ENCOURAGED me to undergo treatment. Street price: $5K per month; my cost: $125 per month. Kaiser isn't perfect, but at least they're not driven by profits. I wish everyone had the option of Kaiser-- now that I live in a rural area, I no longer do, and I miss them! I envision a nationwide network of regional Kaiser-like non-profit health entities funded by tax dollars. No one would be required to use them,. but if they were run well, most people would want to. I well remember when I was an employer in Los Angeles shopping for health insurance. Kaiser actually told me, “Bring us your pre-existing conditions; we love them!” One of my employees discovered during her first Kaiser health screening that she’s had undiagniosed abdominal cancer for several years; even though she’d only been a member for less than 2 months and the condition prexisted the membership, Kaiser treated it at no cost to her. And when I found out I had HCV, the ENCOURAGED me to undergo treatment. Street price: $5K per month; my cost: $125 per month.

Kaiser isn’t perfect, but at least they’re not driven by profits. I wish everyone had the option of Kaiser– now that I live in a rural area, I no longer do, and I miss them!

I envision a nationwide network of regional Kaiser-like non-profit health entities funded by tax dollars. No one would be required to use them,. but if they were run well, most people would want to.

]]>