this man can call himself a Christian all he wants....

[callmeslick]

but, he isn't. He's barely qualified to be called human.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2 ... onditions/


really, is this the 'vision' of the American right, anymore? Heaven forbid YOUR kid have an early onset disease, or your middle aged parents have a chronic ailment. No insurance for you. Are there not workhouses anymore? Oh, that's right, he was in favor of that idea, too........

[woodchip]

Huckabee should stick to playing guitar at church socials and get out of politics.

[Lothar]

The insurance system in this country is completely wack in every way. I wouldn't call it "Christian" and I wouldn't call it "sensible".

https://www.chministries.org/ is a much better approach.

[woodchip]

Latest indications are premiums for the "Affordable" care act are rising, lots of people are opting out because they cannot afford the premiums and it seems the insurance companies are raking in huge profits from it.

[callmeslick]

which is precisely what those of us who wanted a public option suggested would happen. My premiums are up around 20%.this year.

[Spidey]

Not to mention nearly half of the CO-OPs have gone under.

[callmeslick]

as I suggested 6 years ago, I think this whole sorry hodgepodge compromise, while a step forward, was only a step.. I suspect that Universal Healthcare will be an election item next year.

[Top Gun]

God I hope so. Maybe then we can finally join the rest of the civilized world.

[woodchip]

Or we could mandate all states have to open their doors to all insurance companies to do business there. Nothing like a little competition to drive prices down...

[Tunnelcat]

Woody, that's the biggest pile of horse crap I've ever heard. What makes you think opening up the states to all the insurance companies will bring down premiums and costs? Health insurance companies are already feeding in a merger frenzy. Allowing them to operate across ALL state lines will only encourage more mergers and monopolistic behaviors, and LESS competition. What we really need to worry about is the free market now.

http://money.cnn.com/2015/10/29/investi ... index.html

[woodchip]

Nope, read something about Florida doing that and their rates went down. Can't find a good link about it though.

[Tunnelcat]

Here's Trevor Noah's experience with our vaunted medical system, since he had to be suddenly hospitalized for appendicitis.

http://theweek.com/speedreads/587468/da ... pendectomy

[Ferno]

And the civilized world goes 'Well maybe america will be caught up to us in twenty years. But we'll see.'

[Tunnelcat]

As long a there's a boat load of baby boomers, who never want to get sick or die, the system will never change. It's got a captive audience with an infinite demand. It makes one wonder what will happen once all the boomers are dead and the number of users in the system crashes to record lows. Will the system crash, or just charge more to make up profits?

[Ferno]

The system will simply change.

[woodchip]

As long a there's a boat load of baby boomers, who never want to get sick or die, the system will never change. It's got a captive audience with an infinite demand. It makes one wonder what will happen once all the boomers are dead and the number of users in the system crashes to record lows. Will the system crash, or just charge more to make up profits?

The system is already starting to crash.

[Tunnelcat]

The system is already starting to crash.

It was crashing long before Obamacare came along. Getting rid of the ACA won't change that course either.

[Jeff250]

And the civilized world goes 'Well maybe america will be caught up to us in twenty years. But we'll see.'

I don't want to start comparing anecdotes, so I'll just ask--are you sure that Canada is better than the U.S. when it comes to emergency room wait times? I'm genuinely curious on seeing some numbers too if you're aware of any.

[Ferno]

I don't want to start comparing anecdotes, so I'll just ask--are you sure that Canada is better than the U.S. when it comes to emergency room wait times? I'm genuinely curious on seeing some numbers too if you're aware of any.

Last time I went, it took less than a couple hours for me to go from intake to surgeon -- and that was for something non life-threatening. Other people who had more serious cases got in around half the time.

[Lothar]

There are electronic billboards in my area advertising things like "Emergency Room wait time: 7 minutes".

Both of the times I've taken someone in the last couple years, the wait has been about that long.

But of course these are all anecdotes...

[Nightshade]

but, he isn't. He's barely qualified to be called human.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2 ... onditions/


really, is this the 'vision' of the American right, anymore? Heaven forbid YOUR kid have an early onset disease, or your middle aged parents have a chronic ailment. No insurance for you. Are there not workhouses anymore? Oh, that's right, he was in favor of that idea, too........

*uckabee is being dropped off the main debate stage for the next debate at least.

[Tunnelcat]

Thank God.