Melbourne MICA
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Information from a major US health study released this week - the number 3 leading cause of death in the US today after heart disease and cancer?????
Lack of private health insurance.
I kid you not.
(I will try and find the details of the study - I heard this info from an ABC (Australian Broadcasting Commission) radio report this morning - missed where the study was done). One anecdote provided was a woman who was diagnosed with Leukaemia and phoned to arrange the commencement of her treatment programme. She was told (before any other information was given) to bring a cheque for $45,000 otherwise she would not be treated.
Another reported "fact" was the average annual private health insurance premium for Joe Citizen in the US is...........$14,000!!!!!! Since the average mortgage takes about 1/3 of your annual income, this health bill must be at least another 1/3 - sound about right??
The point made about these facts was the study revealed that as much harm is being done to those who under insure as to those who have none at all.
Also reported was the fact that many of the leading critics and opponents of Hillary Clintons Universal Health Care Bill shot down in the mid 1990's are now apparently prepared to support a new one by Obama.
Universal health care may be back on the agenda again. I would love to hear some real stories from you US EMS guys rather thean the filtered crap you get through the media.
And no - it is not to trumpet how wonderful health systems are elsewhere including here in Aussie land.
I just want to know from the best people to ask - ambos. You see it all and work smack bang in the middle of the system. Not trying to stir up a fuss just interested - I think this health care battle is going to be incredibly important for everyone as I said in another post from before Christmas on the same subject.
Cheers guys
MM
PS Unless my memory fails me, the info came form Obamas working group on helath care and this was some of its findings. I appreciate some might see some political tarring of these results from Obamas side - however it doesn't seem to me that there is anything to be gained politically for him by dishing out more doctored (pardon the word play) doom and gloom.
Lack of private health insurance.
I kid you not.
(I will try and find the details of the study - I heard this info from an ABC (Australian Broadcasting Commission) radio report this morning - missed where the study was done). One anecdote provided was a woman who was diagnosed with Leukaemia and phoned to arrange the commencement of her treatment programme. She was told (before any other information was given) to bring a cheque for $45,000 otherwise she would not be treated.
Another reported "fact" was the average annual private health insurance premium for Joe Citizen in the US is...........$14,000!!!!!! Since the average mortgage takes about 1/3 of your annual income, this health bill must be at least another 1/3 - sound about right??
The point made about these facts was the study revealed that as much harm is being done to those who under insure as to those who have none at all.
Also reported was the fact that many of the leading critics and opponents of Hillary Clintons Universal Health Care Bill shot down in the mid 1990's are now apparently prepared to support a new one by Obama.
Universal health care may be back on the agenda again. I would love to hear some real stories from you US EMS guys rather thean the filtered crap you get through the media.
And no - it is not to trumpet how wonderful health systems are elsewhere including here in Aussie land.
I just want to know from the best people to ask - ambos. You see it all and work smack bang in the middle of the system. Not trying to stir up a fuss just interested - I think this health care battle is going to be incredibly important for everyone as I said in another post from before Christmas on the same subject.
Cheers guys
MM
PS Unless my memory fails me, the info came form Obamas working group on helath care and this was some of its findings. I appreciate some might see some political tarring of these results from Obamas side - however it doesn't seem to me that there is anything to be gained politically for him by dishing out more doctored (pardon the word play) doom and gloom.
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