David S:
What Obama was up against, were the VERY wealthy, powerful and well-organized health insurance providers. Bernie would have the same insurmountable problem, if he attempted to cut them out of the health insurance marketplace.
So what? They aren't running the country, and they weren't elected.
The many countries where this type of Universality of Health care works best, and perhaps we can model after, (Canada, UK) has government paid doctors is my understanding.
Physicians and Surgeons in the UK do not make
millions of Dollars as they do today,
off the bad luck of patients who need their services but its still above average living. Hospitals, Clinics and HMO CEOs do not make multi-million dollar bonuses each year there. Only here do they make that much. We went on a trip to Egypt-Jordan one year, (watched the video again last night looking for Jordan photos of Mt.Nebo ), and saw this couple again, we vacationed with and ate dinner with nightly.
A comedian, (like about 50ish, with his much much older wife? girlfriend?....can't recall, but what I do recall is she was extremely wealthy, (of course Republicans) from Florida where he does routines in clubs. She was about 80ish, looked good with multiple surgeries, (maybe a PalmBeach matron)...AND more germane to this post - She is
a retired CEO of United Health Care.
Well, her husband was entertaining, so we ate with them. He was funny in his "routine" that is. This was back in 2009.
Insurance companies are in the business to make as much profit as possible by charging the Highest premium they can get away with, and then denying as many claims as possible.
Why do Americans insist on a program in which high paid bookkeepers are ultimately in charge of their health care each year? They'll always find ways to jack up the prices, year after year, after skimming the top (bonuses) and then justifying more increased out of line profits for themselves.
Did you ever get a bill for
over $30,000.00 for one week in a hospital and they did essentially nothing but room & board for the week? I did. And that was in the year 2000 20 years ago! That, btw, did NOT include the one week worth of doctors who popped in and out to see the patient (me) for about 2 min. max. Add another $1,000 at least for them.
Today
one knee replacement in 2017 cost about $17,000. hospital, anesthesiologist for one overnight visit only. In otherwords, they get you up after the operation, see that you can make it, and you are discharged the next day. I can dig out the statement again later this week, if you want to see it. These bills are quite honestly, unbelievable, but maybe I"m just from the old days.
Today, my husband 's doctor for a prostrate issue
sent a bill to our
HMO through Medicare Advantage. In other words, the same cost to everyone, whether you have insurance or not, or whether you have medicare of not. He does all patients. the cost for a 30 minute in office procedure? (we were home in one hour, btw including recovery time).....Cost?
over $18,000.00 (Medicare paid less then 1/2 of that), but STILL!!!! (he laughed and told us he does 6-8 of them per day)
I don't think I'll ever fully recover from the shock of this Greed! I think of all those other poor men crowding his office, day after day (he's younger & personable too), the first guy was even greedier and worse, but supposedly, "the best surgeon in Phoenix" we were told. This one is better and nicer, but talk about COST. This then, IS the going rate.
Other men better beware IF you have prostrate issues when older, because this IS the type of service, care & COST you will face.
Now the Anesthesiologist just sent bills in separately (even though in office procedure) and my husband wasn't knocked out or anything -) guess how much HE wants separately? $2,000. or more. The HMO posted "DENIED" all over the charges. I have no idea if he'll just pursue it now.Probably, they usually do.
You may recall or not what Mitt Romney, a Republican multi-millionaire hopeful for President a few years ago running against Obama's 2nd term said about this don't you? When someone asked about what he and his family would do with no insurance and got sick?.....Romney the good Mormon said,
"Just call 911 and an ambulance will come and they'll deliver you right to the emergency room of the hospital".
I almost spit out my popcorn, then and there!
https://berniesanders.com/issues/medicare-for-all/
but most Americans are / were greatly relieved their life long savings were not threatened because of Mr. Obama's heroic efforts during that awful time. Both my grandparents and my parents lived (as young teens) during that awful Great Depression. I heard first hand the horror of it
Just as Bernie's been saying for YEARS now.