the 40 million uninsured is the Health care boogey man

[MikeWaters]

We need to get Zulu to weigh in. He would be acutely aware of the issues, as a surgeon.

Also, there are surgeons I know that take a salary. They work for the medical school.

[MikeWaters]

One other point that I think is interesting. In Dallas, there is a county hospital system. All county residents pay taxes to support it. They cover medical care for something like 55% of the indigent. That means that 45% is covered by other hospitals.

They are going to build a new hospital, and the county board decided that this number should not change. In other words, they dictate what percent will be covered by private hospitals. Because if they fold up shop, 100% will be covered by private hospitals. The choice of beds is critical. This is sort of de facto socialism.

[Cali Coug]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

"easily covered by charity."

link?

What charity or charities can cover the healthcare for 10 million people?

The reason medicaid and CHIP exist: DEMOCRATS.

The problem is very real for the self-employed working poor. It's hard for families to pay $1000 a month to self-insure.

I've seen it happen many times. You make too much to qualify for this govt. program.

Also, your insurance is so crappy no hospital will take you, but because you have insurance you don't qualify for any govt. programs.

In Dallas I pay taxes that go toward the county health system which includes Parkland Hospital, one of the more famous public hospitals in the country. It is socialism in a sense, but what is the alternative?

I agree. And Cobra is way too expensive for your average American who is struggling to find health insurance. It is a nice bridge for those with cash.

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by Cali Coug

I agree. And Cobra is way too expensive for your average American who is struggling to find health insurance. It is a nice bridge for those with cash.

for me, wife, two small kids, would be over $1000 per month.

[Cali Coug]

Originally Posted by Mormon Red Death

10 million of uninsured spread out over the whole country is not that tough lets say that each take 2000 in healthcare coverage average per year that comes to 20 billion divide that by how many hospitals there are in the US and it comes to probably a couple of million per hospital.


My point is that the health care system does a terrible job at finding insurance for those who actually have it. For example, Joe Blow comes home from Iraq. Starts working without health insurance and then get sick 6 months later. He is still covered under the military.

Jane and Bob smith don't have insurance and are injured in an automobile accident. Do they know that their Auto Insurance covers them?

If we need to do anything we need to lessen the paperwork and red tape it takes for the "working poor" to get the programs that are already in place. As silly as it may seem there are many (I didnt say all) who simply wont take the time to fill out the medicaid application when they would be covered

First of all, you are assuming there are only 10 million left. You are going to need a link for a statement like that. You are just tossing out millions of people from the category of "uninsured" because in your opinion, you think they can find insurance. Show me some evidence.


And yes, auto insurance can cover people (if they have a car, if they can afford auto insurance at all, and if they have a high enough coverage to actually do anything for their injuries without too high of a deductible).

[Cali Coug]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

of the two basic models, which is more common, for surgeons?

(I don't know a single surgeon who is a paid employee for a hospital, if that helps you).

and I should add, it is usually a lot more than 1 surgery every quarter. Esp. for trauma surgeons and neurosurgeons.

And generally more than one hour of surgery per operation.

[Indy Coug]

How many uninsureds are illegals?

[Mormon Red Death]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

The percent of money that does not go directly for medical services. I.e. the "overhead" to run the plan.

private insurers range from 20-25% Their incentive is to make money so I would guess that medicaid is in th 30-35% range. If you look on the web they will probably say 5-10% but that is complete hooey as they don't add in hidden costs like management, cost of capital etc...

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by Mormon Red Death

private insurers range from 20-25% Their incentive is to make money so I would guess that medicaid is in th 30-35% range. If you look on the web they will probably say 5-10% but that is complete hooey as they don't add in hidden costs like management, cost of capital etc...

so you go from published 5-10% to your guess of 30-35% "just because"?

you're going to have to make a better argument.

[Mormon Red Death]

Originally Posted by Cali Coug

First of all, you are assuming there are only 10 million left. You are going to need a link for a statement like that. You are just tossing out millions of people from the category of "uninsured" because in your opinion, you think they can find insurance. Show me some evidence.


And yes, auto insurance can cover people (if they have a car, if they can afford auto insurance at all, and if they have a high enough coverage to actually do anything for their injuries without too high of a deductible).

I can't as it proprietary information