MyFox
 

cjl1618's Blog

by cjl1618 from Euless

Last Post 16 days, 14 hours Ago


Ted Kennedy & Federal Health Insurance
Jun 2, 2008 | 12:25 PM
Category: News
Report This Post

As the news today shows Ted Kennedy in surgery to attempt to remove some of the brain tumor, it made me wonder just how much of the cost will be picked up by the Federal Health Insurance that, as a Senator, I am sure he has.

With his surgery being done at Duke, how does he get to pick the best doctors and hospitals in the country to have his health care delivered at? I don't think most regular Americans with even a good health care plan would have the luxury.

The big question is this though: Should Senator Kennedy even get ANY of the surgery or other big costly efforts to prolong his life. I would suspect he will quickly be into the millions of dollars spent to keep him alive. Thing is, this IS going to kill him and probably very soon.

He will, as this disease progresses, lose the ability to speak or even understand language.

Since that is the very likely out come of his illness, regardless of treatments, should he not, since he is very very advanced in age, go out gracefully and save the taxpayers potentially millions of health care dollars.

That question, as the next president will try to advance "universal" health care, is one that will have to be asked over and over.

At what age and at what cost, will we need to simply stop offering costly treatments, but rather offer the best way to add comfort to the last months of life. Should an 80 year old have by-pass surgery? Should someone like Kennedy who is going to die, be offered every single method to try to prolong his life?

I feel, as someone who is dealing with big time diseases myself, that I can ask that question. Many who talk about Universal Health care, speak like it will be comparable to what Teddy has. No limits, and every advanced treatment and technology applied to all of us - for free basically.

The reality will be much different. There will be many limits and rationing of treatments and dollars. There has to be. There is not enough money that we can borrow from China to fund all care for all people.

So when you are voting this November, think about the reality of the things you are being promised. You may end up seeing massive federal spending and very much reduced overall health care. You may get the very basic primary care, but if you think you will get Ted Kennedy type care you are sadly mistaken.
13 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 13
Page 1 of 1
terrellmom read my blog view my photos
Jun 2, 2008 | 12:42 PM

Criminals always get good care
Dak413 read my blog
Jun 2, 2008 | 1:57 PM

of course they do, *smiles* as was discussed on tv this morning !
momcat54 read my blog view my photos
Jun 2, 2008 | 2:20 PM

I think Ted Kennedy and John McCain have earned their coverage. I wish we all had their policy but it's not a perfect world. I am sorry you have had medical problems. I can relate.
Ivyman68 read my blog
Jun 2, 2008 | 2:58 PM

If you desire to discuss the pros, cons, and costs of universal health care, that is fine because it is a valid topic of discussion. However, your comments regarding the denial of health care to Senator Kennedy or any other person suffering from a potentially terminal disease is vulgar and shameful.
terrellmom read my blog view my photos
Jun 2, 2008 | 3:33 PM

He should not be denied coverage but if you (assuming you have ins) get the same medical condition, ivyman...will they send you to duke for surgery? i doubt it and you deserve as much as criminal kennedy does. the kennedy family is like a well respected family of mobsters...murder, rape, adultery...
scottythecomic read my blog view my photos
Jun 2, 2008 | 3:56 PM

I disagree, momcat. I know of a deserving veteran on this blog site who can't even get healthcare. How is Kennedy or McCain are more important than he is?
Ivyman68 read my blog
Jun 2, 2008 | 5:10 PM

If I had not been in the military when my wife was diagnosed as having cancer, she probably would have died because of the cost of the medical treatment. My military insurance (CHAMPUS) paid all of the costs plus the cost of having to hire nurses to remain with her in her hospital room 24-hours per day for 3 months.

In the late 1990's, my son was diagnosed as having Hodgkin's Disease. He probably would have died had I not had medical insurance through my employer.

In 2003, I was initially diagnosed as having Pancreatic cancer and given 3 to 6 months to live. After exploratory surgery, the diagnosis was changed from Pancreatic cancer to Hodgkin's Disease (4th stage). If I had not had medical insurance through my employer, I probably would have died.

The quality of care received in our current medical health care system is based upon a person's ability to pay for that care. Consequently, those who have the ability to pay for a high level of care receive better health care than those who lack the ability to pay.

Senator Kennedy has the ability to pay for a much higher level of health care services than most, if not all, of us. Should we now say that even though he can pay for the health care that it should be denied to him because of his age and that his illness is potentially terminal? The answer obviously is no.

I now come to the topic of Universal Health Care. We can maintain our current health care system, which is based upon a person's ability to pay for care by medical insurance or personal finances, and allow those without resources to perish or w
Ivyman68 read my blog
Jun 2, 2008 | 5:12 PM

I now come to the topic of Universal Health Care. We can maintain our current health care system, which is based upon a person's ability to pay for care by medical insurance or personal finances, and allow those without resources to perish or we can find a way to provide a high level of health care to all of our citizens through universal health care. Universal health care works in other countries; therefore, it can work in our country.
acoolone read my blog view my photos
Jun 2, 2008 | 7:18 PM

The question is this, if America had Universal Health Care and Kennedy was just a normal person, he would be waiting over 6 months to get his surgery if he ever got it at all. Not only that, but he would not be getting the best doctors as he is now. The reason Kennedy is getting the BEST doctors and a fast surgery is because he can afford his OWN INSURANCE! AND HE GETS TO CHOISE HIS ON DOCTORS!
Ivyman68 read my blog
Jun 2, 2008 | 7:43 PM

This is turning into a very interesting topic of discussion. Several months ago, I saw a documentary on universal health care. Before I address your comment, acoolone, I want to review that information in order not to misrepresent the information.
scottythecomic read my blog view my photos
Jun 2, 2008 | 8:21 PM

Ivy, you're sadly mistaken if you actually believe that a high quality of healthcare can be provided to all. It doesn't work as well as you are led to believe.

I bid you research it yourself.
acoolone read my blog view my photos
Jun 3, 2008 | 3:22 PM

Ivyman, UHC does not work in other countries, it’s forced on people to make it work. Study after study shows most people in those countries would rather have a different form of health care. The democrats know it doesn’t work in other countries, but you have to remember it is not about healthcare, it’s about controlling you and your money.
acoolone read my blog view my photos
Jun 3, 2008 | 3:25 PM

You might want to check this out
http://www.freemarketcure.com/brainsurgery.php
Page 1 of 1


Write your comment below:




cjl1618

There is no problem with the climate that cutting the human population in half would not solve.

Member Since: 4/13/2007


 

View All Photos


RSS: XMLWhat is RSS?