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Why not Tax Employers for Uninsured Healthcare Cost

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FreakinDJ Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-31-09 06:45 PM
Original message
Why not Tax Employers for Uninsured Healthcare Cost
Edited on Sun May-31-09 06:46 PM by FreakinDJ
Those lame ass employers are costing the average family in America over $1000 annually in hidden Uninsured Healthcare cost already. As far as I'm concerned if the only way a business can survive is to pass on thier responsibilities and obligations onto the average American citizen then they have no business being in business

Study: Insured pay 'hidden tax' for uninsured health care



WASHINGTON — The average U.S. family and their employers paid an extra $1,017 in health care premiums last year to compensate for the uninsured, according to a study to be released Thursday by an advocacy group for health care consumers
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/insurance/2009-05-28-hiddentax_N.htm


And Please save the Lame Ass Rush LickBalls logic of "You never tax a business because they only pass on the cost to the consumer" for the other forum. Since they were so RIGHT about "Free Market Policy" I thought we could leave them out of this discussion
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Shagbark Hickory Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-31-09 06:48 PM
Response to Original message
1. Here's a thought. Why don't we just end the war(s)
That ought to free up enough money to provide healthcare for every American for lord knows how many decades. I can't add numbers that big in my head.
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Mind_your_head Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-31-09 06:52 PM
Response to Original message
2. Why don't we tax the MEGA-CORPORATIONS with offshore
'talent' (read using essentially slave labor) and who aren't paying "their fair share" (or ANY taxes) to the USA.
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FreakinDJ Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-31-09 06:56 PM
Response to Reply #2
4. Like Walmart?
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dkf Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-31-09 06:52 PM
Response to Original message
3. Why do hospitals and doctors have to be paid?
Maybe they should take the hit and just do some work pro bono.
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Wapsie B Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-31-09 07:05 PM
Response to Reply #3
6. They already do take the hit in units like the ER
Edited on Sun May-31-09 07:06 PM by Wapsie B
where the uninsured go to get care. Many provide lots of free care, not just to the uninsured but to the underinsured and Medicare patients. Problem is, hospitals have hired WAY too many MBA's/MSN's white collars to really be able to offer care at a reasonable price. Administrative costs in this country are driving healthcare up. I'd like to know how the average Canadian hospital operates, or European hospital for that matter.
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dkf Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-31-09 07:18 PM
Response to Reply #6
8. Well I honestly don't understand why medical care is so expensive.
Maybe its true that malpractice insurance is too high (again an attack on the insurance industry!).

We need to get medicine down to the things that truly benefit patients and get rid of the rest of the crap. Then maybe people can afford to see the doctor and pay for things without needing insurance and we can have a catastrophic policy which kicks in for the really dire stuff.


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Wapsie B Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-31-09 07:24 PM
Response to Reply #8
9. It's a number of factors, administrative costs of hospitals and insurance companies being one part.
This model of healthcare has run its course. Time to bring this country in line with the rest of the civilized world.
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dkf Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-31-09 07:29 PM
Response to Reply #9
10. I support Obama's quest to bring costs down.
I don't think that starts with insurance companies though or with charging all people for insurance.

I wonder too if people simply don't know how much the visit will cost so they are hesitant to come in. Maybe doctors need to be more transparent in their charges?
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Wapsie B Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-31-09 07:32 PM
Response to Reply #10
11. Yes they do need that transparency.
I have patients calling me all the time about costs for procedures, out of pocket and total costs.
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FreakinDJ Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-31-09 10:11 PM
Response to Reply #8
17. 16% Adminstration cost plus 20% profit margin
roughly 35% of the cost of Healthcare
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FreakinDJ Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-31-09 10:09 PM
Response to Reply #6
15. No - Emergency Rms and Hospitals pass on the cost of Uninsured
This has been known for years - Sen Feinstien had it up on her website for a while how California Healthcare premiums reflected a 20% cost of providing "Non-Reimbursed Medical Cost" at local hospitals

So NO - Hospitals and Emergency Rooms pass on the cost of treating the Uninsured
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Sanity Claws Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-31-09 06:58 PM
Response to Original message
5. Get rid of the insurance companies
That's the solution. No one should have to pay to support those fucking rip off artists.
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snowdays Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-31-09 07:05 PM
Response to Reply #5
7. Congress and the WH are making deals with them as
I write this. They trust the insurance industry to keep down costs. Hogwash I say.
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stray cat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-31-09 08:24 PM
Response to Original message
12. You and I can pay for the uninsured - lets puts our money where are mouths are
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Fire_Medic_Dave Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-31-09 08:29 PM
Response to Original message
13. I'm sure that would really help the unemployment rate.
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FreakinDJ Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-31-09 10:04 PM
Response to Reply #13
14. Don't worry - the Cheap Ass Employers are Fucking you already
If you have Healthcare Ins. they are "Deep Up In Ya" for 20% already

But then again - you might think that is not such a "Bad Thing" after all
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Fire_Medic_Dave Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-31-09 10:21 PM
Response to Reply #14
18. Given my medical problems I don't consider it a bad thing.
My portion of cities medical insurance policy is $60 a month. It pays 90% with a 300 dollar deductible.

David
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FreakinDJ Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-31-09 11:04 PM
Response to Reply #18
19. I only pay $20 office visit and $50 per day hospital
and the premium is $866 per month but its paid by my employer

The difference is if the Cheap Ass Employers stop shucking their respocibility off onto you and me - you could have the same coverage with No Deductable and No $60 monthly cost

So tell me - how does it feel

Now my next door neighbor had Blue Cross and his policy only paid 80%. Which I guess a lot of people with out insurance would thik is pretty good.

And it was - until his kid seriously broke both bones in his leg riding jumps on his bicycle. That 20% equaled over $22,000.00 all said and done when he got out of the hospital. I have NEW neighbors now because they lost their house
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Fire_Medic_Dave Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-31-09 11:09 PM
Response to Reply #19
20. I feel pretty good now that my medical problems are being treated.
Edited on Sun May-31-09 11:13 PM by Fire_Medic_Dave
My brother pays 100% of his employees premiums. The city where I work though uses the excuse that our benefits should be in line the private sector.

David
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FreakinDJ Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-31-09 11:20 PM
Response to Reply #20
21. Glad to hear your brother is a responsible employer
Why don't you ask him how much he would like it if he didn't have to compete with Irresponsible Low-Ball Employers that dump the Health care Cost of their employees on the rest of us Americans.
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Fire_Medic_Dave Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-31-09 11:22 PM
Response to Reply #21
22. He has to offer those kind of benefits to get the employees of the caliber he needs.
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FreakinDJ Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-31-09 11:29 PM
Response to Reply #22
23. I was going to say that
Edited on Sun May-31-09 11:29 PM by FreakinDJ
And he probably doesn't have to worry too much for the Low-Ball express type competition out there either.

Quality does sell and that is a fact

Right now at work we were given a large no-bid contract to insure the quality of the work. But then again I've been doing computer controls for Oil Refineries and Power Generation Plants for over 20 years
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ColbertWatcher Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun May-31-09 10:10 PM
Response to Original message
16. Smart move. n/t
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