Aha !!.. . .. .Might This Be A Good Idea For Healthcare ?

Question

I'm not for any current proposed form of Healthcare . Although I'm also a realist and see some form of Healthcare as an eventual inevitability . So why don't we start figuring out how to do it right?

I propose the following. . . . .. Mandate that each and every one who uses Healthcare Benefits , also must do some type of community service in return for the benefits . Now before any of you get bent out of shape and say the sickest people aren't capable , I would also exempt the bed-ridden and highest tier of the ill . Afterall they are the smallest fraction of our society . But what I'm talking about is the vast majority of all doctor visits . . . . . . physicals , stitches , the flu , broken bones , concussions , etc. etc .
Kids under 16 could either be exempt or better yet , hold the parents accountable for community service . Community Service could be identified and listed as anything approved that helps our country .
Basically what I'm calling for is PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

Ran out of space , but clearly there could be more to add . And I'll leave that to YOU in your answers . Thank you .

Scuba - I whole-heartedly agree , but like I said , I'm a realist and I don't think my opinion is of the majority . So rather than ***** about it until the day it does come , I'd rather start thinking about how to do it right .

Some of you who do take personal responsibility and currently pay for your own benfits should open your eyes to what has happened to many others like you who suddenly lost their jobs , their benefits and , unless they found gainful employment soon thereafter , would like spiral into further economic ruin . It's a tailspin that goes out of control in many cases and leaves formerly productive citizens in a terrible position . Been there .

Many good suggestions . and some , not so good . But whether my idea is sound or not.. . . .At least I'm trying . Are you ?

Answer 1

Working in healthcare I see more that are not insured that do not pay than anything. Perhaps tweaking your idea a little in that patients repay their debt to the hospital with service could work. Insurance is definitely screwed up in so ways it's not even funny.

Do you realize that with each provider (hospital, doctor, etc.) and each insurer there is a different contract? These are not standard payment contracts, each is different. There are whole companies who pay people to ensure that the provider is billing the insurance company correctly based on their contract and making sure the payment is correct to the provider. I used to work for a very good one.

There are also companies who teach docs how to code to alleviate the issue of nontrained personnel coding incorrectly the procedure that was done based on either messy handwritten notes or dictated/transcribed notes that can be misinterpreted because the doc is too tired or ESL. (Again, personal experience.)

There is so much going on with insurance that is wrong but there is so much going on that is right, as well, and could be messed up in so many ways with government involvement.

Also, would the government then be forced to shell out more tax money to ensure the work got done? Someone is going to have to babysit people who have no idea of personal responsibility. Someone will have to mandate it, log hours, ensure performance, etc.

I am not sure it would work, but as you said, at least you're trying. :-) Though, performing work for a hospital to which you owe money would be a nice thing if they'd let us. I do owe $1600 for pneumonia, can you call the hospital and see if I can do transcription for them? I thought about it but have never seen it done to pay off a debt. Perhaps you need to work with the hospitals and not the government with this idea.

Answer 2

I am not sure of this really cutting down on the entitlement that I see health care is and dragging down the budget even more, since this is then a program we have forever. I like the public service but do you think that many would really put their efforts into it with the busy lives many have that have children at home and busy jobs.

Answer 3

It is good in theory, but not practical.
If a person is driving drunk, and injures 10 people, he has to do community service after jail time?
Would parents have to pay the time for all the abortions that their 15 year daughters get that they would not even be made aware of under current "healthcare"? Or would the "father" of the murdered unborn be responsible?

Answer 4

That is what taxes are about , you pay for a service that the government provides.

Just because it is a government that can be elected instead of a Government tyranny chosen by your employer doesn't change the dynamic except to lower the costs by about 30%

I am actually in favor of Jim Sock's Draft as a way to run the entire Government. It appeals to actual patriotism, instead of the phony bumper sticker kind.

If the government was full of people who just wanted to do their patriotic duty and then leave, you would have a way more honest and efficient government. With constant turnover and awards for outing corruption, that corruption would have a very hard time remaining secret.

Unfortunately the winger idea of personal responsibility is every fool for themselves, while the liberal idea of responsibility is that those deciding and running things be held accountable for the outcome and honor of their decisions. This is the responsibility that wingers abhor.

Research shows that this is often the result of abused or neglected childhood, causing many pathological symptoms including such faulty reasoning. I can just see a bank president, forced to collect garbage to pay for an appendectomy. But then you only mean that poor people shoud be enslaved so rich folk could buy their way out of it

Answer 5

I gotta love ya Ernest! What we really need is affordable private insurance for everyone. That is personal responsibility when you are able to do things for yourself! This way they would have the choice without the excuses.
Wal-Mart is now starting an even more affordable prescription program. I would like to see insurance companies have group plans for everyone to lower costs.
There are many ways this will work without the government running it. Insurance reforms, and I already see insurance companies coming out with more affordable family plans.
Is anyone checking into these plans or are they just waiting for "Hillary care?' It may be an "Inconvenient truth" but I had to say it. (smile)

Answer 6

I would prefer a draft.
Everyone should be drafted into some sort of government service with the military as one of the optional choices. The rest could be everything from congressional aid to sanitation. They could be placed according to education, ability and experience into agencies such as DOT, IRS, CIA, Pentagon, Dept. of Agriculture, Treasury, FBI, NASA, NOAA, USGS and on and on. People who elect to stay with the agency after the obligation could have their health care covered for life and or College tuition refunded or graduate work done on the job. There will be no limit to the increase of talent available to run our government instead of the patronized appointments.

Waiting for people to do community service once they are sick will be a negative yield. Let them do the work first and if they get sick, cover them.

Answer 7

The libs can do whatever they want in the form of free healthcare, as long as private doctors are still made available for those of us who want to continue paying for services and carrying insurance.
I certainly have no intentions of waiting in lines that resemble the DMV or post office, every time I need to see a doctor. That's EXACTLY what happens when the government takes over something.
I prefer choices and availibility. I've invested in myself through higher education, and I can personally afford to pay a premium for speed and excellence. I don't want to be punished because someone else didn't choose to do the same.

Answer 8

That would be fine, if it were something given to you for free. But it is not free. Health care is paid for (today by insurance companies, and out of pocket). Perhaps in the future it will be paid for with taxes, but you will still be paying for it.

So I imagine you are saying that it would be affordable if there was a community service requirement, there by lowering the outlay by governments on other services. Perhaps, but if you look at where government spends it's money, I don't think you will save a lot by putting things on the backs of involuntary community service 'volunteers'.

Answer 9

A $25 co-pay will stop lots of the visits for hangnails and colds. As the price of healthcare goes up, so should the co-pay.

Answer 10

Yes, personal responsibility is also the lodestar of the Republican health care reform proposals. It's stunning how negatively some people have reacted to the concept that one must EARN what one RECEIVES!

I would treat employer-provided health insurance for what it is - INCOME - for tax purposes, but also give an corresponding tax credit. Let people buy insurance themselves, and reduce the barriers to competition from out-of-state insurers.

Health insurance is expensive precisely BECAUSE people are insulated from its costs! Let people know what plans cost, and cover - become true consumers! - and the market will respond.

People's main complaint with the present situation (apart from cost) is what is NOT covered. Believe me, a "national health insurance" plan will have FAR more rationing than the present system. People seem to think that with the government involved "everything will be overed," but the exact opposite is true.

But like a lot of issues, I fear that we may be too late, and the advocates of true reform are not speaking loudly or clearly enough. I hope I'm wrong.