If you want to change medical insurance, stop buying it from private

[pooja]

sellers. If everyone stopped buying the policies, then the companies go out of business... and then the Dr.s and the drug companies have to ask the govt to do something to get their cut of your money. The only problem is that so many people are dependent on drugs and medical care, that they are running scared to dare the system.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

1. what do you suggest that people do if they don't get employer-provided insurrance?

I agree, that something needs to be done, but this seems a wee bit simplistic to just say "don't go buying it."

[Kelly Rupert]

2. Okay, I'll go without coverage for the sake of your half-baked boycott.

:eyes:

[BlueEyedSon]

3. Oh yeah, I'd like to be WITHOUT INSURANCE

ps, who do you think your employer is buying it from?

[Nite Owl]

4. I have insurance through NYS and it's run

by United Health Care. There is no way out right now, the insurance companies have the control.

[KoKo]

5. In my state if you are self-employed you fight to get coverage from One

Provider! There is No Choice! And, if you don't have it and have a major medical problem like Cancer....and need chemo...you won't get anything.

You can't boycott insurance. You need it...for the damn regulations like "co-pays" and the rest just to survive for strep throat, and pneumonia and if you fall and break a wrist or have an accident that costs thousands to repair yourself.

Boycotting insurance just isn't an option. You are lucky if you can GET HEALTH INSURANCE these days! With folks thrown out due to Mergers and Downsizing and Outsourcing.

[tkmorris]

6. This is irresponsible

People cannot, and SHOULD not, go without health insurance. Do you realize that many people die every year here in the US at least in part because they do not have insurance? When people lack insurance they tend to not see a doctor in circumstances where they should, and some of those undiagnosed illnesses can and do kill.

This is one of the worst ideas I have ever heard.

[pooja]

7. I meant drop it all together.. You have a choice not to take insurance.

If everyone revolted, who makes any money? It won't work. People are way too dependant on it. But if for one second people would stop running scared in America, it would work.

Sorry, I've recently watched V and still have some faith..

[lostinacause]

9. You should't have "faith".

Thinks like this don't work because coordination is impossible. Hence there is a need for government. End of story.

[DaveinMD]

10. and then you get sick

and lose your house. This is idiotic.

[matt819]

13. Are you for real?

Yeah, the system sucks. It's absolutely appalling that insurance costs what it does and that health care costs what it does. And we elect representatives and/or live in states that are trying to make a dent in the problem. But go without? You are either foolhardy, covered by someone else's plan, independently wealthy, or don't care about the impact that astronomical health care bills will have on your family.

[NMMNG]

14. Sure, no problem

Are you going to pay for my prescriptions, which exceed $400 per month?

[jelly]

26. I want to believe

I applaud your idealism but I agree that from a pragmatic perspective, it would probably not work. Not because collective action is impossible -- improbable, perhaps, but by gods not impossible -- but because there are people who require ongoing medical care *right now* that would be harmed, that might die or quickly lose their homes and life savings, without medical insurance. I believe however that a world where no medical insurance means no access to medical care for most people is a world gone mad and I hope our leaders figure out a solution and do something about it.

[Selteri]

8. Right now without employer provided insurance I'd have no coverage

I'd also have no way to pay for the cancer meds that I've needed nor the radiation treatment. Wen and if I leave this job, I'll have no insurance whatsoever ebecause I'm in that eve growing stack of people who can't get insurance regardless of income.

[Cleita]

11. Not a good idea for those who need it.

What we need to do is sell Medicare to buyers. Medicare can undercut private insurers both in price of coverage and in reimbursement for actual coverage. The insurance companies will get out of the market when they no longer can compete. Then we can extend and improve Medicare for everyone. It will be the beginning of actual universal, single payer coverage.

[kiahzero]

12. Sure. Just give me the $60,000 a year my meds cost. (n/t)

[pooja]

15. So much for anyone here ever leading a revolt.... when it comes

down to it...

We've been pilled to the gills and now are dependant on our puppeteers...

Bombshell Drops on Cholesterol Medication's Glass House


http://www.newstarg et.com/021147. html

It had to happen sooner or later. On October 3, 2006, after extensive review of all studies relating to cholesterol- lowering benefits by statin drugs, scientists reporting in the Annals of Internal Medicine pulled the rug out from under the current government-sanction ed cholesterol levels for reducing cardiovascular disease risk. Their conclusion, "current clinical evidence does not demonstrate that titrating lipid therapy to achieve proposed low LDL cholesterol levels is beneficial or safe." This is not a trivial issue. Many billions of taxpayer dollars have been wasted on the cholesterol drug scam. The health and well being of millions of Americans may have been compromised by reckless lowering of cholesterol, a substance that is vital to health and energy production.
It has long been recognized that adults who have naturally lower cholesterol levels during their 40s and 50s have less heart disease as they grow older. A large body of science supports the notion that LDL cholesterol levels lower than 130 mg/dL is an excellent goal for one and all. How a person should arrive at this goal is a matter of considerable debate. A good diet and exercise is the foundation for any person's health program and for many this approach is adequate. The use of nutritional supplements to help lower cholesterol, products that have virtually no side effects and may be highly effective, is considered by the FDA to be an illegal health claim. Instead, the FDA expects Americans to use statin drugs to accomplish this goal, even though the medications have a general anti-energy effect and long list of potentially serious side effects that are not clearly explained to those taking the medications or even to the doctors giving them out.

[Lurking Dem]

16. That's a fine and dandy stance to take

when you have your health and get the occasional antibiotic or muscle relaxer.


Some of us are actually sick. As in, without our medical care we die rather quickly and somewhat painfully.

[pooja]

17. And Dr.s take an oath to treat patients... Go to the hospital... When the

hospital is screaming for congress to do something, guess what they will listen... money talks... people are not the leaders anymore.

[benEzra]

23. And when you can't afford the $330,000 hospital bill,

and the hospital turns the bill over to a collection agency, then what?

Hospitals DO expect payment--and your insurance company would LOVE for you to let them off the hook for your hospital bills, and have you pay them yourself.

Sorry, my 7 y.o. son will die without medical treatment, or at best live life seriously disabled (but with the procedures he needs, his prognosis for a normal life are good). He can't get anything but emergency treatment without insurance, AND the type of procedures he needs can't be done at your local ER.

BTW, in a lot of states, Blue Cross is a nonprofit, as opposed to a for-profit corporation. We have BCBS, and they're not making any money on our family...

[Lurking Dem]

24. And....what? LIVE there?

The 10 medications I take daily, the blood testing, the physical therapy, acupuncture...

You are full of shit.

[pooja]

25. Do you think it would last forever? I don't. The whole system is

broken to take as much as it can from you and your employers... Do you know how much money the insurance industry spends in Washington. They are just as bad as an oil company.

[Lurking Dem]

27. It would last longer than I would live.

[pooja]

28. I understand.... some of us are further along in what they would give

up for freedom and some are still scared. I personally put my faith in humanity rather than the hands of the rich and powerful.... It will happen one day.. we will overcome. I may not be here to personally see it.. but truly I hope my children will....

Peace.

[The2ndWheel]

18. A revolt? In the US?

Where the oppressed have always fought for the right to be part of the system that oppresses?

Not bloody likely.

[Kerrytravelers]

19. You have got to be kidding?

Listen, I'm not Che. I don't pretend to be. Believing that a safety net of universal health care should, exist isn't a revolutionary idea, either.

Post a sensible suggestion and I'll jump on board.

[Marrah_G]

22. Are you really that clueless?

This is real life not a god damned movie.

This is one of the worst and more dangerous posts I have seen on here. If you have a family and you drop your insurance exactly how is it helping anyone to watch you or your children either die or go completely bankrupt? You also fail to realize that if one of your family comes down with a long term illness or injury while un-insured it becomes a pre-existing condition.

Yes we want universal health care but this is NOT the way to go about it.

[MadHound]

20. Virtually every single health plan, whether purchased independently

Or from an employer has a private insurance company backing it. That is the way of health care in our country. Therefore, to do as you wished would require virtually everybody to forego insurance. Sorry, but the vast majority of people simply can't afford to do that.

It would be energy better spent to fight for UHC than to propose a boycott of private insurance. The former at least has a growing chance of success, whereas the latter is simply cutting off one's nose, arm, leg, etc. to spite your face or body.

[Texasgal]

21. Sorry...but this

has got to be the dumbest idea ever.