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The Commonwealth Fund
One-third of Americans have gone without health care treatments because of cost, a higher percentage than residents of 10 other industrialized countries.
In Britain, for example, only 5 percent of people have ever missed a treatment due to cost. In Canada the figure is 15 percent.
That's according to a new study from The Commonwealth Fund.
The New York-based foundation, which focuses on health care issues, looked at health spending habits of people in advanced Western countries including Germany, France, Sweden and Australia. The study found that Americans were far more likely to take steps to save money such as not going to the doctor, skipping a follow-up or not filling a prescription.
Americans also were more likely to have financial problems related to health care on a number of fronts, including higher out-of-pocket costs, problems with insurers and and difficulties paying bills.
The results were based on phone surveys of thousands of residents of the various countries conducted earlier this year.
Thanks to DailyFinance, which pointed out the study and has more details here.
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If we weren't paying over $12,000 dollars a year for health insurance (with a $5000 deductible that we never reach) we could actually afford to go to the doctor. Oh! And to cover Obamacare's "preventive care at no charge regulation" our premium just went up 15%.
I do it all the time. And I have insurance. These days, even the $25 co-pay hurts. $25 buys the family a couple meals.
If your health isn't worth $25.00 to you, you have a problem. If your life isn't worth $25,000.00 to you, you have a problem. Or should some rich person cover your rear end? This country is becoming a nation of losers who want everything given to them. Grow up, get an education and take care of yourself. Stop your whining.
Holy crap JH, We are becoming a nation of losers. A bunch of holier than thou hypocritical me first and everyone else can suck it losers. I chose to do everything to make myself healthy, and now my credit is ruined because I couldn't afford the 30,000+ bills on the payment plan "they" decided was fare (I also couldn't afford a lawyer to mediate, imagine that). I hate abused entitlement as much as the next guy, but hard working people should not have their health or future sacrificed for the profit of the few, it just isn't christian (I brought that one up because I hear now that we are a "christian" nation. We sure don't act like it when it infringes our bank accounts though.
Our co-pays are $40 with insurance. It's $800 right out of our pocket for a two-mile ambulance run. We have a child with a known medical condition (occasional seizures) and we have requested that the school to call us first, then the ambulance, IF they think an ambulance is necessary. We can (and have) beaten the ambulance to the school. Ironically, the same farm family sold land to build the hospital and sold land to build the high school. The farm still exists, it is the only thing between the school and the hospital.
JH why don't you stop your whining? Why do you and people like you always assume people want things free? Is that secretly what you desire? Maybe your the one who really has entitlement issues rather than the people your judging. I don't want anything free. I do want to be able to afford it though. Our health care system is on the rocks and the reasons are that it is over priced and that insurance is running the game. We realize free isn't an option but how much really should a 5 minute visit with a doctor cost? How many unnecessary tests to cover someone else's behind should we be expected to pay for? How much equipment that a hospital is paying triple for because that way a middle man can make a hefty cut should we have to finance in order to get a broken bone set or a couple of stitches? Your one of those people who will never want a solution to the problem. You just want to keep screaming how important you are and how little responsibility you should take in this world.
By the way my life is worth millions to me, but I don't value yours very much. See we have a good deal in common after all.
next time you hear someone say that the US has the best health care system, ask for data.
for JH, "Grow up, get an education and take care of yourself. Stop your whining." are you telling people to go to a public school for that education, or a private school that they'd have to pay out of pocket cost for?
Yeah. That problem is, I don't have $25,000 sitting around for a rainy day, and I work full-time AND I have an education. What else should I do? Tell me, oh wise one!
$25 co-pay / $20 per medicine. Hello?!? Think 2x before going and I have insurance.
Don't forget though...30 million + are covered......if you base health care on profit...you get profit. Insurance does not equal health care.
Get use to it...the medicare card carrying teabaggers want to take your healthcare back to the 19th century, while they want their bennies protected and expanded since they are the ONLY ones who have earned anything from their fellow Americans.
Those 30% need to get a job! Bet they're illeagals!
Hail Reagan!
Neat. It's always good to hear from the intolerant and ignorant, as they make up much of the voting block.
and its always good to hear from the lazy always looking for someone else to pay their way for them.....
I'm part of that 30%, and I'm a legal citizen w/ a job. There are a lot of people like me who are underemployed or unemployed but actively looking for work who cannot afford healthcare.
Er:..... didn't Reagen give a pardon to all illegals during his time in power?
Sean, thank your for flaming like the ignorant homo troll you are...30 million plus documented individuals are part of that report. Many of them are not illegals, they are hardworking Americans who have been screwed by their governement, employers and health care providers for decades. Now they can't get insurance because the only job they get was for a fortune 500 company that refuses to hire anybody other than contractors. Sounds better than temp agency. People don't have a god damn choice either. Go to college, work hard, and your only options are to work a menial labor or office job for a few bucks over minimum wage with no benefits or insurance, and never get any hope of being hired. But the staffing company makes equal to your pay, to be a middle man. It makes me sick, to bad I don't have insurance, at least I'll die quickly and in pain when my time comes. My wife will suffer when its time to give birth because a godamn ultrasound is 7,000 dollars and a hospital visit with one overnight is 20,000 dollars. Screw you overly entitle faggots who think this country is great because your selfish asses have been given every possible entitlement. I work hard where my piece of the goddamn pie? BTW I am using internet slang before anybody gets their panties in a twist in reference to fag or flaming, has nothing to do with gay people
Reagan was the worst thing to happen to this country in the last 30 years. He was a puppet of the banks and interest groups, anybody with an open checkbook. Reaganomics and deregulation got us into this mess, it was a 30 year time bomb and now we are reaping the consequences.
Hmmm...look at the UK. Universal Healthcare from the NHS and the lowest percentage of people skipping healthcare because of costs. Private insurance is for profit, NHS is not, who gets the better coverage? Looks like the "free market" makes the consumer the loser....again.
How many people in the other countries went without care due to access issues other than cost (long waits) or had to delay treatment of a minor condition until it became serious before they could be seen by a healthcare professional? Not to be too harsh, but if your health isn't worth a $25 copay, then you may want to re-evlauate your priorities.
Good counter point. At least your argument was not full of deleterious comments and slander.
I am floored by the lack of knowledge involved in these comments. Those of you knocking people for being unable to pay a $25 copay don't know the health system very well. Complaining about those individuals not having a job or getting their priorities straight is ridiculous. My family's situation for instance - a family of 5, husband with type 1 diabetes (for the haters that is the genetic, no choice in the matter type). His prescription cost alone is over $600 a month. Then include the cost of the insurance premiums, test strips, lancets, and syringes. Our deductible a year is $10,000 with no prescription coverage. We both have very good jobs, but with wages not increasing in line with the cost of living you all are deluding yourselves if you think people don't have to make a choice like that sometimes.
AMEN Sister, my family is dealing with the exact same situation and everyday is a choice.
If you both have very good jobs what are you saying? Do you feel that other Americans should help you pay the $10,000.00 per year. If you start using nothing but public transportation and have nothing but a land line phone and sell your computer, I will start to contribute to your predicament. You need to set your priorities. Until then I feel you can take care of yourself.
I'm so sorry JH, you are out of touch and in the end times, I won't see you even near the heavenly gates, as God will turn his back on you and tell you you should just take care of your own needs.
Fewer people than you would like to believe do without health care in those countries due to delays. I know someone in England who is always seen promptly and has regular visits to check back up on issues. I doubt if he is anything special in the grand scheme over there. Odds are if you look around you will find that people have delays to get to elected surgery and so forth here comparable with anywhere else. The same if you wait to late in the day to call for a doctors appointment. Wishing their health was more at risk than ours will not actually make it so.
JH is obviouly an a$$ who will die very lonely with his sh*tty attitude!
Lauren,
I live outside the US and so use national health care. I still recall the last time I was in the States and had to go to the doctor. Because there was no time to make an appointment (I had to travel and an appointment would have me wait a week to see the doctor), I ended up with a nurse. After a three-minute consultation ($ 75), the nurse said I had a cold, wrote me a prescription for meds ($20) and sent me on my way. Where I live now, I see a doctor within 30 minutes, no appointment necessary ($ 10) and get my prescription ($ 6) in less time than I did in the US. Moreover, when I had to see a specialist here for my back, I was able to make an appointment for the next day, and after seeing me, the specialist (John Hopskins trained with excellent English) set me up for an MRI the same day. I waited less than 30 minutes and ended up paying $400 for a procedure that my sister ( a professor of nursing in the US) told me would have cost over $2000 in the US. These days, we see folks flying here from the US to have medical treatment that would bankrupt them back home.
We are 10 years away and one Reagan/Palin adminstration away for a national health care system. It's coming, if you can last that long.
Between the 55 furlough days, rising gas prices, rising co-pays, rising premiums, rising taxes, rising food prices, there is nothing left to cut in my budget. Cable, cell phone, long distance, Internet access, meals out, occasional movies have all been eliminated. When my doctor asked me to get some routine blood tests, cholesterol, blood glucose, thyroid, and a few others, I was presented with a co-pay of over $150. So I had a choice, eat for the next month and a half or get the blood tests. Food won. Next year the co-pays and premiums are going even higher. I won't even be able to visit the doctor let alone get any tests.
Yeh, its bad. I'm waiting to afford so chest X rays. Even if they find something I doubt I can do anything about it. Maybe I should get another job, because being an engineer in Arizona isn't cutting it.
No internet access but youre posting here??? Guess this isnt the internet huh?
Well look at it this way once you can't afford it make a trip down to social services and pick up a card for free. Once you do that the government will pick up the tab like they have always done for everyone. But since you are just here to write a fantasy story about your poor wretched life that wouldn't be an option for ya huh?
Idiot....
At work, on my break ...And I work for the government. I don't qualify for assistance. Even if I did, I would not accept it.
Steve you should move into the new century. Wifi free all over the country and nearly every library in America has internet access. Not having it in your home does not mean you have no access at all.
Too bad Steve has never been to the library and doesn't venture far from his mother's basement to realize that stuff Lauren. Oooo look, I can make assumptions too. And its fun.
I'm with you with the internet. I cut it because it is easier to just hop online at the end of a workday and do my internet thing here instead of going home and doing it there. And much chieper.
California state employee. Boo hoo. Keep voting for Pelosi and thank her for you currency (food stamps).
Boo hoo you poor California state employee. Keep electing democrats and collecting Pelosi money (food stamps).
JH, you are a jerk. You may be wealthy enough to afford all the health care you want, but most of us struggle to meet the rising costs of LIFE in this country. Everything is more expensive, and if Tony's job is like mine, he hasn't gotten a raise in two years because of "rough economic times." That hasn't stopped fuel prices from going up. I still have to drive to the same job. That hasn't lowered the price of food, it's still going up. Tony and I aren't loosers because we chose to spend our limited capital on the most pressing issues in our life. Pull your head from your spincter and see that millions of good people are just trying to make ends meet right now.
No Brian.... You're the jerk....Get off your lazy ass and learn to take care of yourself and quit living off of me and my hard work..... JERK !!!!!!!!
JH is a probably a rich weekend Harley rider. Got plenty of money and cheats on his taxes. So I'm pretty sure nobody is taking your money seeing how you probably don't pay in the first place. Rich entitled jerks like you have been taking avantage of those who make less than you for decades and its ok because you can get away with it. The rich are the lowest form of human morality, they have no conciences, have no bad consequences, because they can afford not to. Say what you want about the french, they had a similar problem wiht their class system, I seem to remember they solved it by the invention of the guiotine
awwww and everyone who can afford a Harley and drive it on the weekends is screwing the world over... That must be how liberals think... You screw everyone so you think everyone else acts the same as you huh? If you ever figure out its not the rich that are the problem but it's folks like you that think they are enmtitled to things they didnt work for that are....One thing you never have to worry about is being rich though....and neither do I....So a Harley Davidson classifies you as rich huh? Good god are you even employable?
Steve your behind in your payments to me I guess. Because I've never seen a cent of your money. The only government check I have ever gotten was a tax refund based on having to much taxes taken from my paychecks. If you have ever gotten one of those yourself then I suspect your as guilty as all the people your complaining about.
Steve, I'm trying to figure out your problem. You don't do everything for yourself why do you make such a big deal to when others don't or need extra assistance. And you are a jerk, which by dictionary.com is "a contemptibly naive, fatuous, foolish, or inconsequential person. " I am pretty sure you come off as foolish.
Also, I am not living off your hard work, if I were, then I would be accepting government aid but since I'm not, then in no way am I living off you.
Steve, did you not catch that part where he said "if Tony's job is anything like mine?" If you had, you would have noted that Brian has a job. Therefore, you are not paying to support him. If you have something meaningful to contribute to this discussion, then go for it. If all you want to do is troll, slander, and make faulty assumptions against people, then you need to shove off.
What they didn't tell you is 30 % of the treatments, prescription drugs and follow up visits were all unnecessary anyway and nothing more than the doctors, hospitals and clinics screwing people out of their money under the guise of health care. It never ceases to amaze me how the ignorant blame the insurance companies and the conservatives for the health care problems but most never question the necessity of the vast majority of these health care professionals, clinics and doctors who are free to charge whatever they like without question...
and then these liberal groups like this publish a survey using nothing more than twisted and skewed inuendo and hand picked facts to support a cause that is only self serving to those who are incapable of taking care of themselves and their own responsibilities...
Are all democrats losers looking for the government to fix their lives? It would be so refreshing to hear a democrat say...
"I don't care what the government says or does. I am capable of taking care of myself and my family all on my own.....
While the lefties have an opinion and something to say about everything... You will never hear one say that.....
Like it or not, you live in a *society*, so really, you DON'T take care of yourself all on your lonesome. You DO reap the benefits of living in a nation of people.
Unless you're literally living in the woods and hunting your own food and not using any public utilities, in which case, congratulations on developing your own internet access.
Yes but there is one difference you fail to see. Some of us pay for the benefits of living in a "society" others live off the benefits of "society"
This is where the liberals fail .... But thats ok. For all you poor souls who are not capable of taking care of yourselves you will always have the government and people like me to pay your bills... Sleep easy tonight... The working stiffs have ya covered... Now who needs grocery money this week?
Are you really this daft? I pay into the system just as you do -- but I would consider it a grand use of my taxpayer dollars (which come from my precious little pocket) to see more programs that HELP people and improve our society.
You're not the only person who pays for those benefits. I do as well. And I would pay more if it meant improvements. While paying my own bills in the process. Do you understand that?
Steve, seriously do you really believe your the only person in America working any more? I work and own my own company and that in no way prevents me from wanting health care costs in this country being brought to a point where people can actually afford it again.
Stop griping about us and quit using the roads we help pay for, the sewers we help finance, drinking the clean water that we are partly responsible for, being protected by our police and our military!
I'd like to go to the doctor, I've got sinus problems acting up but have crappy 20/80/20 with 2500 deduct insurance, so that won't be happening anytime soon, last week had my kid's birthday and mother-in-law's funural that came first (what little $ I had went to them), the stupid att bill that went up by $40 or so is next (would like to have my phone back)
so I'll just wait till I'm so sick I have to go the the emergency room...because last few days I only had $11 dollars to work with...and what money I took out of my IRA account is covering bills I couldn't pay last week. [yep, gonna' get taxed to h@## at tax time, oh well]
Then I guess you should have saved a little of your paycheck every week instead of blowing it all buying nachos and beer for the football game last weekend..... Sounds like it's time for a second job eh? But of course that's not an option for you... It's easier to blame someone else for your own inability to take care of yourself. Must be a huge disappointment to find out that Obama didn't have a better paying job, a bigger paycheck, and some of the rich mans money to give you.....Those are all things you have to work for.. Please tell me you didn't bring children into this world....
what the f### you talking about steve, why should I have to have a second job to cover my medical expenses when I have insurance to pay for it???
oh that's right, your one of the dirty ones who, nickel and dime and cheat others out of their hard earned money so you and your little dirty fake corporation can have the best of the best...what ever
LOL.... yeah right. You're the one bitchin about not being able to afford healthcare. Insurance took care of my mother in laws funeral and if I had the choice of going to the doctor or buying my kid a birthday present I can tell ya right now my kid would not be getting a birthday present. You made the choice to spend your money on presents instead of health care. Ask your kid what he wants most a birthday present he/she won't remember or a living healthy parent... Stupid people make stupid decisions...Maybe we could all chip in and buy your kid a birthday present too....Such a lazy bunch of whiners you lefties are.... What is it with you people that spend your money on friviless things that don't amount to anything and then cry when you can't take care of yourselves.... Maybe Obama should campaign for a birthday present task force... ......
Steve, its probably a good thing your mother is dead, she wouldn't have to live to see what an indoctrinated right wing heartless pr1ck you turned out to be. Or maybe she did and thats what killed her. If you woulnd't pay for your kids bday present I doubt you would have paid for your mothers healthcare.
Wrong again Randy... But you should be used to that by now. You fail to see the point. I take care of my family and do whatever it takes to make that happen. Most likely if your mother isn't dead you are still borrowing money off her....
Who wants to bet that Steve is the sort who cheats on his taxes just a little bit?
@ Lauren...a little bit..I bet he pays someone big $'s to find every single tax scam out there!
I think Steve is just a lonely man and finally realized that his mother has died and thankfully she had insurance to cover the costs of a funeral. Are you having fun in that basement yet Steve? You should come out and join the real world. But you can't use any of the things that we paid for. We paid for them specifically for only our family to use and you cannot use them.
Wow. This is like 4th grade all over again.
I have been working for the same company for over 36 years. I have insurance through my company but pay over $11,000/year to cover my family. The co-pays for a Specialist are $50. When I had to do physical therapy after knee replacement it was suggested 3x/week. I'm sorry but I just couldn't afford the $150 per week so I asked for excercises to do at home 1 day a week to save my self $200/month. $1000 co-pay for hospital stay, up to $75 for a prescription. It's not right. I think I have my priorities straight. Sometimes you just don't the money to put out and you need to put food on the table, pay LIPA, etc.
Must be disappointing to find out you worked for a crappy company with crappy insurance for all those years. To bad you didn't have enough ambition and intelligence to realize you were working for a crappy company and get a better job. Guess it was just easier to spend your life there instead of changing jobs. But now I am supposed to give you some of my money to help fix that. I too had a crappy job 35 years ago but when I figured out it was a crappy job with crappy benefits I got another one. Too bad you spent your life waiting on someone else to fix your problems instead of taking charge of your life and fixing it yourself.
Boo hooo... all of these poor folks with all these medical bills spending their day posting on an internet forum.. You poor wretched souls.... My heart bleeds for ya.... LOL....
I agree with Peg ... why pay a therapist if you can do the exercises at home. I did the same thing after a motorcycle crash. Went for awhile, got better, then stopped going as often and took responsibility for getting better myself. Oh wait .. I decided to do that to save myself time and money. It was a PERSONAL CHOICE. I took responsibility for my own health care. Wow .. what a concept.
Why should I pay for someone's health care because I can better manage my money than you can?? What right does someone have to expect me to pay higher taxes to take care of their budgeting issues.
Insurance is not FREE. Taxes are not FREE. SOMEONE has to pay into the system for someone else to get something out of it.
I'm getting really tired of it being ... me. I've had insurance my entire life, I've had medical bills in the thousands of dollars. I made arrangements to pay them and did without so I could.
STFU and take responsibility for own life instead of demanding someone else bail you out..
What is it with this take responsibility BS? The need to be better than other people? And what is it with the free BS? Who said free? Why does reasonable prices mean free? Just because you don't feel good about yourself and think it will make you more important to trash strangers doesn't mean they are any less responsible or hard working than you are.
so you work for the government but you can't afford health care but you think government run healthcare is going to fix that?
Not hard to see why you are a liberal... LOL
Steve, I am not sure who you are and why you feel like you can judge others this way. Everyone has a story and you don't know the whys and hows of all who can't afford health care. You've expended a lot of time and energy on your vitriolic comments on this article. I wish you would have a little compassion...you'd be better off in the grand scheme of things.
Steve, I hope that one day you'll see the other side of it, when your old and sick and nobody gives a damn about you or how much an MRI costs. I hope it bankrupts you, so you can see how the other half lives. Maybe you work for a company that has been good to you, most people do not. It doesn't make you better than everybody else as you seem to think it does, that just makes you a douchebag. Saving lives isn't a left wing conspiracy, but according to you letting everybody else twist in the wind while you rape and pillage the weak is ok. You will get yours someday,and I hope it hurts. You have to be in procurement or insurance, maybe a banker. Scum of the earth for sure.
If it does I will still not be looking for you to give me your money Randy. Hence the difference between us...
Maybe you work for a company that has been good to you, most people do not..
Pooor mistreated thing you...... *sniffle* Whine a little more. Maybe you can get someone to feel sorry for ya and buy you a harley to ride on the weekends. lol
Steve is not a real person folks, quit buying into his rants and feeding the frenzy, What he gives so shall he receive, and leave him empty and alone. He claims he is all powerful and extremely happy with his life, however he curses, calls people names, instigates unrest, strives to undermine even Jesus Christ himself and His teachings, so ignore the imposter, the less we feed the machine, the less it grows.
Edie...I hear ya...a troll at his best....he will rot in hell this we know!
Just mark his comments as inflammatory, click on ignore, and move on.
If your getting better isn't worth $25, then you must not be that sick. Seems you have a computer and Internet access .. how much a month is that costing you. Cell phone?? Time to get a land line.
Maybe your just need to adjust your priorities instead of asking me to pay for your health care.
Land line? Nowadays that's more expensive than a cell, especially if you just get one of those pay-as-you-go phones.
Steve 267218 you seem to be very harsh, angry and mean. You don't know what the lives are like for any of the people posting here just as no one else knows what your life is like but guessing by your posts you are very angry at something.
As a Christian working mother and a middle-class citizen I see how bad things are for the middle class and poor. That whole "lazy" excuse is so wrong. Tell, me, when am I to find the time for an extra job (yes, I have a full time job but no health insurance is offered so I have to buy)? Should I work while I should be home with my child and sleeping or should I work when I should be home making him dinner? Should I work instead of teaching him and helping to form him into a good man? Should I say, yeah lets go to the doctor or eat? Hmm, lets go to the doctor or pay my mortgage so I don't loose my home? Tell me Steve 267218 what should I do? What should any of us do? We (middle class) have to make HARD choices.
The cost of care in this country is outragious and what we get for our money is horrible. If you think otherwise are you then by any chance very wealthy? If you think the survey is so bad and clearly don't like democrats, lefties or the President then why even bother to be on this website? Have some respect for the less fortunate and this President.
I am so glad you are so good at psyco analyzing me. Perhaps you should consider getting paid for your vast knowledge and then maybe you can afford to pay your own bills instead of expecting me too...
You folks seem to know everything except how to be responsible for yourselves but that subject seems to elude alot of democrats.....
I can't tell you how to fix your problems. When you decided to have children did you not think about how you were going to support and take care of them? What was your plan? If you didn't have one then I guess you screwed up huh? Maybe next time you will take the future into consideration when you take your pants off and now you want me to take care of your kid for you.... I wonder how many times you thought about your childs future the night of conception.. None would be my guess. But now you're concerned..... A little late for that now I think....
I think Steve might be Glenn beck, he certainly isn't human. Steve have ever had an independent thought in your head that your buddies at the country club didn't give you first. Maybe you heard it on Fox news. Your a robot, a brainless robot, repeating the same tired retoric of your masters.
my buddies in the country club???? LOL.....Too bad you don't get paid to be a comedian.. You could pay everyone's medical bills... So proud of being an independent thinker..... Too bad your independence doesn't exist without government help..... I'm so proud of being an independent thinking democrat... Now give me some more government asistance so I can pay my bills.LOL.... Spoken like a true liberal Randy.... and if it means anything.... I don't wish anything bad to happen to you. I wish you prosperity and riches beyond your wildest dreams. That way you can pay your own bills and healthcare and keep your grubby hands out of my pocket....
Ugly, ugly posts on this site! I would not even bother trying to argue with these ugly, self-centered posters. Where is the mediator? There are a lot of these posts that need to be deleted!
You are right Enma3, you are so right, esp those comments of Steve 267218
Well said.
Why is that Enma. Maybe the hard working taxpayers of this country are finally getting sick and tired of supporting the lazy losers in this world that take no responsibility for their own lives or their childrens but instead choose to make that someone else's responsibility..... Sorry I work 60 plus hours a week to take care of my family because thats what I have to do. I don't like it either but I am the one who made the decision to have a family so I am the one responsible for taking care of them. If that means I have to work two jobs or 60 + hours a week to have the money to take care of my responsibilities thne so be it. I could have made the decision to not have a family but I did not make that decision. That being the case why should I exepct you to pay for my chosen responsibilities? If it makes you feel any better I will not ask you or the pay for any of my decisions or responsibilities. I will always step up to the plate and do whatever it takes to ensure they are taken care of. Thats mine and my wife's responsibility. Not your's and not the governments.
Time to grow up now kiddies.....
Agreed
Maybe I'm not getting this but I am not asking anyone to pay my healthcare. I do not have a crappy job in a crappy company. People should not be so judgemental of others when they do not know what the others are going through or have gone through.
I agree Peg!
You people bragging about how superior you are at handling money are utter fools and you've never experienced a true medical catastrophe. I haven't either, thank God, but I have a close family friend who had a near-fatal illness -- caused by heredity, not his lifestyle -- and is millions in debt for it, has hit lifetime limits on insurance, and is currently basically waiting to die.
You sanctimonious people who sit there and profess to be oh-so-skilled at managing your finances are living with a false sense of security, because you haven't dealt with a TRUE financial disaster, and you don't understand it at all. My friend worked in finance. Pretty sure he knows a thing or two about money, and he's still wiped after his illness.
Get over yourselves. You're absolutely full of crap if you honestly believe everyone who needs financial assistance for medical problems is "lazy". Pull your head out and look at what the real world is like for a LOT of good, hard-working people.
Youre absolutely right. We are the ones that don't know what we are doing. Thats why you guys want us to pay all your bills.... Cuz we are the ones with the problems.. We just haven't experienced all those hardships you have...
Is that how you justify your inability to take care of yourself and your family? By telling yourself those other folks are just lucky????
Pathetic....
Did you even read what I wrote, or are you deliberately ignoring what I said? *I* don't need help, never have -- I've HAD my share of medical trauma, I've paid for it myself. I was writing about a FRIEND who I have witnessed struggling with our crappy system. I would like to see the system improved for OTHER PEOPLE. Do you understand that? I would like our whole *society* to be healthy and have access to what they need.
Get it?
Then give your friend some of your money and help her out. Like I said why is the only time you want to be helpful is when you are spending some one else's money..... Be a caring liberal and give her some money... Or are you not that concerned?
You are so cute when you assume. *pet*
Plenty of us have donated and helped. But it's *millions* of dollars. Do you have that kind of money stockpiled in your mattress? If so, have fun taking it with you when you die...oh, wait.
Yeah right....You have all the answers...
Next step in life.... How to get the government to pay for it all..
Oh wait???? Hahaha... Perhaps thats your problem... You've been waiting instead of doing..... I have to run now... I have a dr's appointment but I have a dilema... Birthday present or a Dr's appointment... hmmm what will I decide.... LOLOLOL.... I can probably get someone else to pay for my Dr appt so Im off to buy some fun stuff with my money... Heck with those dr bills and responsibilities... Let's have a birthday party instead !!!!!
Yah I'm a responsible parent..... SO what If I can't afford to take care fo the kids I concieved or myself.. It's not my fault.....
What are you even talking about? O.o
disgusted, Steve is nothing but an immature troll, so arguing with him is pointless. Just ignore him, mark everything he says as inflammatory, and don't even give him the time of day.
Tired of lazy whiner liberals lookjing for a handout so I guess that makes us even....
Now go pay your own bills... I can only afford to pay my own.... losers...
Ever occur to you that some people would like to see healthcare improved for OTHER people, not necessarily for themselves? Because I don't need the assistance, and never have -- I was able to afford an emergency surgery and a hospital stay, on a low income, but I'm good with my money (just like you! omg). No, I don't need the help -- I want to see it for OTHERS who DO.
But of course, just go ahead and lump us all together as "lazy liberals". There couldn't *possibly* be any other reason that some of us would like to see healthcare improvements. Right.
good then you can do that. Volunteer at the local hospital. volunteer at the local soup kitchen, Volunteer to help at the seniors home this weekend or is the only time you are interested in helping people is when you can do it with someone else's time and money.. Wow you are so kind and caring....
Nice pantload youre trying to sell there....
What makes you think I don't volunteer? Or is this just fun assumption time for you?
Maybe you should just go ahead and avoid using anything that uses "other people's money". Like roads. God knows I'd rather not run into you in traffic.
I agree, disgusted. Steve, don't use anything that is paid for with taxpayer dollars. If someone fell down in front of you, rather than extending your hand to help them up, you'd probably kick mud in their face. Shame!
Well, dammit, Ingrid, they should have planned ahead! Steve NEVER falls down, because he's such a hard worker! ;)
It worked for me.... Must be a frustrating life to know all these answers and still not be able to take care of yourself... Poor wretched souls... Keep rooling around in self pity. That will fix alot... Oh Poor meeeeeeeeeee..... LOL... How about it... anyone want to tell a little sob story about how they can only afford a tuna sandwich for Thanksgiving and thats all they will have to eat before they head off to the store for beers and pretzels for the football game??
Based on the non-sequitur nature of your responses, I don't think your reading comprehension is very strong...too bad, because I'm guessing you probably had a wonderful opportunity to attend public schools, which is paid for by a bunch of "other people".
Yes once again you are correct. I am uneducated. Wanna borrow ten bucks to help your friend? hahahahaha....
If you are an educated person then you better safeguard your diploma and hang it in a prominent place so everyone can see it... They will likely not believe it otherwise...I am assuming the government paid for your education too because you couldn't afford that either? Most likely I am paying for your defaulted student loan too...Let me know if you need some financial assistance for Christmas shopping. I am paying for everything else your kids get I just as well play Santa for them too....
You have yet to make a correct assumption. But go ahead, keep playing. :)
Steve sure makes this a little more entertaining. His off topic banter is greatly appreciated. He never has said that he paid for his own education. And Steve, I have yet to default on any loan before you try to bring that up. I paid for my college by working ever since I turned 16 to pay for schooling. Did your parents pay for your education to sit in school for 5-6 years and finally dropping out without a degree?
Guys, Steve is just a troll. Don't waste space feeding it. Just mark everything he says as either inflammatory, no value, or just click ignore, and otherwise don't acknowledge him. Don't waste your time or energy on someone with less maturity than my 9-year-old.
Wall of J...you are right...Steve is a troll....but I must say he is one of those people that you wish something horrific on and no one would care!
I didn't hear one person asking for a handout here.
The writing is on the wall and the people paying are "sick and tired" of the lack of personal responsibility and disgusting culture that defines the "I'm owed" mentality. I had a history proffesor describe the accordions of human nature through the centuries and when it gets out to far out it always pendulums back. You folks that want to live off my hard work feel something slipping ?? tick tick tick, day is comming for change.
Don't get me wrong I am a very generus person but the millions who are gamming the system make me puke. Since the government just decides to take and take I have become resentful. The local charities know the folks in their own neighborhoods and know who is deserving and in crisis vs loosers gaming the system NOT the government. But cutting off the free stuff would hurt voting turn out !!
I partially agree here. You are correct about the folks who milk the system for every dime they can get; with all the time and effort they put into getting free money, you would think they would have enough energy to work a job - ANY job. And yes, I too am sick of the narcissism (sense of entitlement, for those here who don't know what narcissism means) that is prevalent among the welfare crowd.
You do have to admit, however, that the cost of health care is out of control, and that the fact that people can't afford to see a doctor is atrocious. If countries like Canada have figured out how to make health care affordable while keeping the high quality, why can't the same be done here?
I just can't believe you're THIS daft. Liberals pay taxes just like you do -- we'd just like to see our system actually helping people. I would consider that a good use of my taxpayer money. I would see that as me making a positive impact on my society.
Do you not understand that those of us who would like to see more welfare programs in place KNOW that that money would come from our pockets? And yet that's what we CHOOSE? Stop acting like you're the only person in the world who pays into the system.