no tort reform has EVERYTHING to do with insurance premiums.

 

Becaue malpractice insurance causes doctors to charge more, and because doctors charge more, insurance companies are forced to pay more which inturn drives up premiums. See the connection now??

 

 

correct, I jumped the gun... but they are all small steps.... it still doesnt solve the issue which I think is a bigger one in terms of getting those that need insurance, but cannot afford the premiums.

 

Just because malpractice insurance premiums are down, do you honestly think the doctor will start billing less?

 

Ie... your boss most likely laid off tons of employees, is he giving everyone else big raises?

 

they are absolutely necessary steps, but it is not a complete plan.

ok... enough enough...

 

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the people getting laid off is a bad example. People are getting laid off at places so that companies can stay afloat and my hourly rate wasn't reduced due to layoffs.

 

BUTTTTTTTTTT I think people in ownership positions need to have more employee loyalty and if there is a choice between paying myself 150k instead of 200k a year in order to keep all my employees employed I'd rather do that then lay someone off to allow me to live the life style that my employee's have granted me. But the rich don't think that way!

my old doctor charges 50.00 for uninsured patients, he also tries to give uninsured patients perscriptions he has on the shelf complimentry from the drug co's..

I really believe at the bare minimum, remove the state line restrictions, make all insurance guaranteed issue, with health discounts given to those with better health, and penalize people for smoking, and select lifestyle choices.

 

Furthermore, give everyone a tax credit to buy health insurance, and for those living below the standard of living, a free, ie medicare, major medical only policy, with 0 deductibes/copays for preventative medicine.

 

The only problem I have with the above is making all insurance guaranteed issue as this takes freedom away from companies, however I understand your point that without this, insurance companies will only insure good risk patients. Those living below the standard of living are already entitled to Medicaid. The un-insured are typically those who are sometimes called the working poor. They hold down those $35k or less a year jobs. I believe however that having catastrophic only policies will drive costs low enough that even these people can get insurance. I believe that the current laws in NJ prevent Health Insurers from offering a simple catastrophic only policies, just as they prohibit refusal due to preexisting conditions.

Re: tort reform. I's not just the $5M lawsuits, it's the cost of all the tests the doctors order to cover their a**es from missing something and being sued.

 

You go to the doctor for a headache or something and they can't find it, they run a battery of expensive tests to try and figure out what the problem is so the patient doesn't turn around and sue them for $5M.

 

It is ridiculous to be able to sue a doctor because they missed something, but we let it happen. They are human and can make honest mistakes that aren't neglect. Sometimes the problem isn't that easy to find and doesn't appear to be life-threatening. But if the patient dies, you have low-lifes like John Edwards suing the doctor for not ordering an obscure test that may or may not have found the problem.

 

Doesn't matter if the doctor is found guilty and his malpractice insurance pays out or if he is found innocent, but still has huge legal bills to defend himself.

 

The costs will never come down if this isn't addressed.

Gentlemen: I am very sorry for having lost track of this thread after I posted. Looks like it was lively. Well, to make it up to you I will offer this Tell-All / End-All video.

 

 

It's a little lengthy, but stick with it and I am sure you will appreciate the content.

Look, the repubs can say "we need tort reform...open the state lines.." or do whatever...until they actually write a damn bill implementing these things, they are just playing the "I'm the victim" bs.

 

As maksim has said, both sides are being a royal pain in the ass right now.

Although he set the stage for the economic downfall, I do hope he gets better as far as health, and I agree he did keep the deficit down while he was in office, but set it up for a depression/recession.

Look, the repubs can say "we need tort reform...open the state lines.." or do whatever...until they actually write a damn bill implementing these things, they are just playing the "I'm the victim" bs.

 

As maksim has said, both sides are being a royal pain in the a** right now.

 

They have written amendments and have written they're plan. The Dems are in the majority and just shut the Repubs down and then say they are the party of no. The only reason Liebama is talking to the Repubs now is because they lost the 60th vote. For the 8 months or so of healthcare meetings, it's been Dems behind closed doors with no Repubs because the stupid dems thought they could just ram it thru and down the throats of the people who are against it and the Repubs couldn't do anything about it.