By Jane M. Orient, M.D.
As Congress struggles to do something about the ObamaCare disaster, Senators may be getting calls pleading, “Don’t take my healthcare away!” But the more influential voices will be whispering, “Don’t take my ObamaCare dollars away!”
The American Medical Association (AMA), for example, is urging people to call about “cuts” (constrained growth) to Medicaid.
Let’s get the terminology straight: The government cannot “take away” or “give” you health care. Caring for your health is something you do—or don’t do—yourself. It costs practically nothing; in fact, it saves you money. Nonsmokers save thousands of dollars a year. Walking around the block every day is free—and maybe you’ll meet your neighbor. Healthy foods like fresh fruits and vegetables cost something, but less than Starbucks coffee-flavored milkshakes or fast-food lunches. Being faithful to your spouse pays huge dividends.
You can go to a “healthcare provider,” get counseled on smoking cessation, and have all your bad habits, risk factors, and soon probably your DNA and political views recorded in an electronic data base, accessible to the government and thousands of other entities. They will constantly score you—on your value to society, eligibility to own a self-defense tool, suitability for a loan or a job, and eventually perhaps your qualifications to have a child.
Your health depends on basic necessities not included in the $3 trillion poured into the “health care system” every year. Lacking a place to stay warm and dry, one homeless person lost his feet to frostbite, while Medicaid was paying someone $563 every month just to have him on a list of enrollees. Last year, Nevada Medicaid paid managed-care companies as much as $213 million for more than 30,000 people who received no care at all. Maybe that money was taken from housing or law enforcement..
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Ridiculous. You can't control random mutation in your genes leading to cancer. You can't control being poisoned by toxic waste introduced to your air or water without your consent.
ReplyDeleteMore shortsided thought from people who would surely be the first looking for handouts should trouble ever fall on them
ReplyDeleteThis is a very important and relevant truth.
Health 'insurance' is NOT health CARE.
And if your health insurance costs you $10,000-12,000 in premiums and copays/deductibles before you ever get one DIME of benefits out of it,
WHAT GOOD IS IT???
How much health CARE can you get with 10,000-12,000 in your HAND when you go to a Doctor's office?
A LOT!
Try it.
I like this article.
ReplyDeleteAgree 100%
I have been stating this same thing that it is not a healthcare bill it is a healthcost bill. Look back in your comments within the last ten days and you will see this is exactly what I stated in slightly different words. Nobody listens to me. People are not going to be kicked off Medicaid that need it. the ones that are able to work are going to have to pay their own way and that is being called "people kicked off Medicaid". This shows we have a society of stupidity with selective understanding.
ReplyDeleteCONgress hard at work = oxymoron!
ReplyDelete