Ground Zero Workers' healthcare

[FoxyPV]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/12/september-11-rescue-workers-healthcare

The last three paragraphs reinforce how lucky we are to have something like the NHS. The fact that these guys have to fight to get help in their healthcare is a joke.

(then again i think them suing the government is a bit of a joke as i'm sure they were getting plenty of overtime pay and enjoyed the kudos of working on Ground Zero)

Despite all the NHS' failings - it's a safety net and the fact that we never have to worry about healthcare costs bankrupting us is a hidden bleesing.

A bit heavy but i feel i need to share these things.

[Phube]

Just watch the Michael Moore film SICKO!

It is quality and makes you appreciate the NHS... and worry about Americans!

[purpleronnie]

I agree the NHS is truely astounding, but lots of Americans wouldn't want it, they argue that the service provided by the NHS isn't at the high standards they would require, waiting lists is another grudge. They find it hard to understand why an individual should have to pay to help someone else. Plus Amercians have never liked the idea of the government having so much say in their health care.

Michael Moore makes good programmes but its always so one sided and biased.

I think the NHS is fantastic but it has faults, the US has fantastic health care for some but thats the problem its only for some, so many have no health insurance and suffer unnecessarily.

[Jordan]

rant time:

I agree the NHS is truely astounding, but lots of Americans wouldn't want it, they argue that the service provided by the NHS isn't at the high standards they would require, waiting lists is another grudge. They find it hard to understand why an individual should have to pay to help someone else. Plus Amercians have never liked the idea of the government having so much say in their health care.

What you say about American opinions on health care is spot on, but it's amazing how many of my fellow countrymen misunderstand what health care/health insurance is all about.

With my health insurance, my employers pay a large portion of my premium and I pay the rest. If I need health care, I pay some of the costs out of pocket and my insurance company pays for the rest (very much an oversimplification, but you get the idea). I also pay some taxes towards Medicare, and a little portion of my federal income tax also goes towards other government- run or -sponsored health care...

...yet as a fairly healthy 27-year-old, I really don't use much health care. In fact, here's a run down of all of my health care usage in 2009:

-One physical exam by a family practice/general medicine doctor. (covered 100% by insurance, with me paying $34 for a blood test)

-One quick office visit to have a little chat with my doctor.

-One flu shot (covered 100% by insurance)

-One 3-month supply of a prescription medication ($30 out of pocket, rest paid by prescription drug insurance)

-One visit to a podiatrist to treat a banged-up toenail (covered %100 by insurance)

...and that's it. Right now, I'm on pace to use even less health care than that in 2010, and many people that have insurance will.

[edit to add that, without insurance, the costs of my two doctor's office visits that involved treatment would be ridiculous--and especially more so because medical care almost always less when the patient has insurance than if the patient doesn't. So, my podiatrist billed my insurance company about $350 for my foot procedure, yet if I didn't have insurance, I'd have paid close to $1,000 out of my own pocket]

The whole idea of insurance is about spreading risk. For example, dragon attacks might be a rare occurence, but if I were to ever be attacked by a dragon, I'd be fooked (both physically and financially). So, I and other people agree to contribute a little bit of money to purchase dragon insurance from DragonSurance Corporation, so that in case dragons attack any of us, DragonSurance Coporation pays for dragon attack repair costs for that dragon insurance policy holder from the pool of funds we've all invested. This way, we have peace of mind knowing that we won't have to owe a ridiculous amount of money to pay for dragon attack repairs out of our own pocket in case god forbid...

But let's say I don't get attacked by a dragon, but fellow policy holder LaNiqua Jenkins does. Not only has my premium been used to pay for Ms. Jenkins' dragon attack repair costs, but a portion of it has also been used to pay for DragonSurance Corporation's overhead costs, administrative costs, wages and profits for its executives and its shareholders. If nobody gets attacked by a dragon, even more of my premium is used to pay for profits... ditto if DragonSurance decides to reject Ms. Jenkins' claim.

Just like my dragon insurance claim above, with health insurance, I (and my employer) are paying for other people's health care with my premium. Many other Americans opposed to the idea of paying for "other people's health care" do the same thing (AND are paying for profits), yet don't realize this because they're so stuck on semantics.

Not only that, but we're not talking about dragon attacks--we're talking about the health and safety of our country's people. Nobody in a nation as rich and powerful as ours should have to decide between receiving necessary health care and repaying a mortgage/going to school/buying food. If cancer were a Muslim extremist group from Afghanistan, the Republicans would have given a lot of Americans spending accounts for buying their own personal hospitals.

-Americans hate insurance companies yet remain wary of government intervention in health care.

-Taxing the rich is always a popular plan among lower- and middle-class Americans yet people still express concerns about "how we're gonna pay for all this [health care reform]."

-All reputable public opinion polls show that a majority of Americans want a government-run "public option" health care plan to compete with private insurers, but rank-and-file support for this option has been tepid aside from active liberal Democrats (it looks pretty much certain that we won't get this with the bill that is expected to pass the House and Senate, likely within two weeks).

-Americans are losing more and more health benefits from their employers every day yet still do not trust labor rights groups and unions.

-Americans express reservations about more government influence in health care, yet the government already "controls" half of our nation's health care--and with the status quo, that number is rising (as are the costs paid for by the government, thanks to health insurance companies' greed and unwillingness to control costs).

-Americans want to spend less money on health-related expenses, yet we continue to follow unhealthy habits and aren't willing to sacrifice convenience.

-Americans hate "socialism" but hate paying for their own expenses even more.

Americans want to eat their cake and have it, too.

Very soon, we will take a step in the right direction with a health care reform bill that will limit unfair insurance company practices yet also help tens of millions of Americans that cannot afford health insurance to be covered and live healthier lives. However, the bill will still add millions of Americans to private insurance policies. With a little more resolve from the Democratic Party, the American people could have won even more, but I suppose at this point, we'll take this. Fundamental changes in our health insurance/care systems, our attitude, our food/drug policies and our own actions on our health are still needed before the U.S. becomes a more healthy, happy nation.

[FoxyPV]

Absolutely FUBAR!

Jordan,

What do the US public think of the workers putting in claims? Do they see it as unpatriotic or is it par for the course?

[Jordan]

Absolutely FUBAR!

Jordan,

What do the US public think of the workers putting in claims? Do they see it as unpatriotic or is it par for the course?

I'm not sure about the rest of the country, but here in the NY area, the workers seem to have public support on their side and think it's ridiculous that they've had to wait so long before getting compensation from the government. The rescue workers and their departments (NYPD, FDNY, etc.) are still held in very high esteem across the country.

However, there are probably a lot lawyers of that stand to get a huge pay day out of this, and lawyers aren't exactly the most popular people in this country (except among those that stand to make a lot of money on a lawsuit or a legal settlement).

All in all, this is, as you say, par for the course. Remember, the United States is a very litigious society.

I have two uncles who were early responders at the WTC on 9/11 and were doing all-day shifts at Ground Zero in the days and weeks after the attacks (one was a police officer, the other a firefighter). Thankfully, they're both not only with us today but have avoided all of the health problems that have plagued many of their peers. Had either of them suffered any long-term debilitating ailments, I would hope that the government would ensure at the very least that the only thing they'd have to worry about would be getting healthy. If a large sum of cash would be the best way to achieve this and help them receive the best health care available, then well, show 'em the money.