Barack Obama

[The Conquistador]

Originally Posted by TracyCoxx

We will be in hyperinflation.

Ammunition will be the new currency...

[randolph]

Lack of Health Care Killed 2,266 US Veterans Last Year: Study

WASHINGTON - The number of US veterans who died in 2008 because they lacked health insurance was 14 times higher than the US military death toll in Afghanistan that year, according to a new study.

[US soldiers attend a "Veterans Day" ceremony at Camp Eggers in Kabul. The number of US veterans who died in 2008 because they lacked health insurance was 14 times higher than the US military death toll in Afghanistan that year, according to a new study. (AFP/Massoud Hossaini)]US soldiers attend a "Veterans Day" ceremony at Camp Eggers in Kabul. The number of US veterans who died in 2008 because they lacked health insurance was 14 times higher than the US military death toll in Afghanistan that year, according to a new study. (AFP/Massoud Hossaini)
The analysis produced by two Harvard medical researchers estimates that 2,266 US military veterans under the age of 65 died in 2008 because they lacked health coverage and had reduced access to medical care.

That figure is more than 14 times higher than the 155 US troop deaths in Afghanistan in 2008, the study says.

Released as the United States commemorates fallen soldiers on Veterans Day, the study warns that even health care provided by the Veterans Health Administration (VA) leaves many veterans without coverage.

The analysis uses census data to isolate the number of US veterans who lack both private health coverage and care offered by the VA.

"That's a group that's about 1.5 million people," said David Himmelstein, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and co-founder of Physicians for a National Health Program who co-authored the study.

Himmelstein and co-author Stephanie Woolhandler, also a Harvard medical professor, overlaid that figure with another study examining the mortality rate associated with lack of health insurance.

"The uninsured have about a 40 percent higher risk of dying each year than otherwise comparable insured individuals," Himmelstein told AFP.

"Putting that all together you get an estimate of almost 2,300 -- 2,266 veterans who die each year from lack of health insurance."

Only some US veterans have access to medical care through the VA and coverage is apportioned on the basis of eight "priority groups."

"They range from things like people who were prisoners of war, who have coverage for life, or who have battle injuries and therefore have coverage for their injuries for life," said Himmelstein.

Veterans who fall below an income threshold that is determined on a county-by-county basis can qualify for care, but many veterans are "working poor" and fall just above the bracket.

"The priority eight group, the lowest priority, are veterans above the very poor group who have no other reason to be eligible and that group is essentially shut out of the VA," according to Himmelstein.

The study comes as the US Senate weighs health care reform legislation and whether to offer government health insurance.

Himmelstein warns that congressional proposals could still leave veterans uncovered and favors a national health care program similar to those in Britain and Canada.

[franalexes]

Last time I checked, people die because they are sick.
Not because they are too poor to pay the bill.

[randolph]

Originally Posted by franalexes

Last time I checked, people die because they are sick.
Not because they are too poor to pay the bill.

Why do people have health insurance? Well, when they get sick they go to a doctor, who helps them get well so they don't die.
Makes sense to me.

[The Conquistador]

Originally Posted by randolph

Why do people have health insurance? Well, when they get sick they go to a doctor, who helps them get well so they don't die.
Makes sense to me.

The ER policy is to treat first, pay later.

[The Conquistador]

Veterans who don't get healthcare through the VA; if the Gov. is so unwilling to give them healthcare after they bravely serve their country, what makes you think that the same Gov. will give it to them through another Gov. instituted program?

Miss Fran is right about what she said.

[randolph]

Originally Posted by TheAngryPostman

Veterans who don't get healthcare through the VA; if the Gov. is so unwilling to give them healthcare after they bravely serve their country, what makes you think that the same Gov. will give it to them through another Gov. instituted program?

Miss Fran is right about what she said.

Perhaps you both should reread the report.

[The Conquistador]

Originally Posted by randolph

Perhaps you both should reread the report.

I did read it and still it sounds bogus. Canada's Healthcare system. Sure...

Let's see what John Stossel says: Sick in America

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEXFUbSbg1I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpsEA...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=refrY...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzhiG...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsp_J...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_KCLm9cekU&NR=1

[randolph]

[QUOTE=TheAngryPostman;116638]I did read it and still it sounds bogus. Canada's Healthcare system. Sure...

The study was done by doctors at Harvard, that would seem to provide it with considerable credibility.
I find it tragic that there are veterans that have fallen through the cracks and are not getting adequate health care.
Our so called "competitive" private health care system is the most expensive and inefficient in the world.
In Japan health care is paid for by the government. Hospitals, however are all private. A typical room is ten dollars a day and a luxury room is eighty a day. Hospitals here charge you five thousand dollars a day just to sit in the emergency room waiting for help. Until we get profit obsessed companies out of the health care system we will have nothing but endless escalation of health care costs.

[ila]

Originally Posted by TheAngryPostman

I did read it and still it sounds bogus. Canada's Healthcare system. Sure...

Let's see what John Stossel says: Sick in America

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEXFUbSbg1I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpsEA...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=refrY...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzhiG...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsp_J...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_KCLm9cekU&NR=1

John Stossel was very selective in his series on Canada's health care system. He wanted to prove a point and so he interviewed only people who would support his point of view. He never looked for anyone to provide a different view.

So now it's time to hear from someone who uses Canada's healthcare system. I am able to choose any doctor that I want. It doesn't cost me anything to see a doctor. If there is something that requires a specialist to look at then I will be referred to a specialist; no costs involved there. If I get a life threatening disease everything is paid for. I won't become homeless or destitute because I can't afford to pay my medical bills. I don't have long wait times to get medical tests or procedures. My hospital stays don't cost me anything.

So what do I have to pay for:

Prescription medications - but I have group health insurance to cover those costs
Hospital stays - if I want a private room I pay extra, but again I have group health insurance
Eyes - eye examinations and prescription lenses - group health insurance for that too
Dental - all dental expenses - group dental insurance for that.

Note that should I have a serious disease I will be guaranteed further medical treatment because there is no insurance company to cancel insurance. I won't lose my group health and dental insurance because it is group coverage.