Health Care Costs is the Primary Driver of our National Debt

[FayeforCure]

Any questions?

[jerry cornwell]

game, set, match!

[tufsu1]

sure...I have a question

This garphic shows that health care spending will be a driver of our future debt....but what does the garphic look like for the past 30 years (say 1981-2011)?

[jerry cornwell]

The huffington post reports costs have doubled over the past 9 years. Ive heard it was like 125% over tthe beginning of 2000.
Everyone agrees its a problem, just no concrete solution.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/16/us-healthcare-costs-double-report_n_862677.html

[acme54321]

Any questions?

Ok, so right now we are going into 2012, where the chart shows health care costs rising.  The question is why are costs rising?  What has changed from 2011 to 2012 that causes such a sudden reversal in the trend (the chart shows costs decreasing in 2011)?

[FayeforCure]

sure...I have a question

This garphic shows that health care spending will be a driver of our future debt....but what does the garphic look like for the past 30 years (say 1981-2011)?

I like your question.

Here is the historic break-down:

Nore that the green line for Medicaid and Medicare combined is what preceeds the initial graph that started this thread:



http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/United_States_Health_Care_Expenditures_as_a_Percentage_of_GDP_(1960_to_2008).png

[buckethead]

Looks like we're going to need to eliminate Medicare and Medicaid.

It is a relief to know that defense spending and socialization of banking losses are copacetic.

It's my backwards way of stating that Faye's claim is uhhhhh.... silly.

[dougskiles]

I would like to see the obesity rate plotted on these graphs.

From surgeon general Richard Carmona to a subcommittee of the US House of Representatives in 2003:

As Surgeon General, I welcome this chance to talk with you about a health crisis affecting every state, every city, every community, and every school across our great nation.

The crisis is obesity. It’s the fastest-growing cause of disease and death in America. And it’s completely preventable.

Nearly two out of every three Americans are overweight or obese.
One out of every eight deaths in America is caused by an illness directly related to overweight and obesity.
Think of it this way: statistics tell us that of the 20 members serving on this subcommittee, at least two will die because of a completely preventable illness related to overweight or obesity. Because of overweight or obesity, two of you will spend less time serving your communities and enjoying your children and grandchildren.

Read the entire speech here: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/news/testimony/obesity07162003.htm

One of the number one cures for obesity?  Get people out of their cars.

[FayeforCure]

Looks like we're going to need to eliminate Medicare and Medicaid.

It is a relief to know that defense spending and socialization of banking losses are copacetic.

It's my backwards way of stating that Faye's claim is uhhhhh.... silly.

What claim is it that I am making?

To reign in healthcare costs, we might want to do something about the over-billing for unnecessary medical procedures...........and better yet, implement a universal healthcare system..........as the US is paying twice as much per American on health care as other advanced nations, while leaving 20% of the population without  any healthcare coverage, and many more without adequate healthcare coverage ie junk insurance.

It is the only advanced nation in the world where people have to file for bankruptcy due to sky-rocketing medical expenses. According to AARP, over 2 milion Americans file for bankruptcy every year due to medical expenses.
http://www.bankruptcylawnetwork.com/aarp-185-million-americans-go-bankrupt-due-to-medical-bills-in-one-year/

The number of people that file for bankruptcy due to medical expenses in other advanced nations: 0

[jerry cornwell]

I would like to see the obesity rate plotted on these graphs.

From surgeon general Richard Carmona to a subcommittee of the US House of Representatives in 2003:

As Surgeon General, I welcome this chance to talk with you about a health crisis affecting every state, every city, every community, and every school across our great nation.

The crisis is obesity. It’s the fastest-growing cause of disease and death in America. And it’s completely preventable.

Nearly two out of every three Americans are overweight or obese.
One out of every eight deaths in America is caused by an illness directly related to overweight and obesity.
Think of it this way: statistics tell us that of the 20 members serving on this subcommittee, at least two will die because of a completely preventable illness related to overweight or obesity. Because of overweight or obesity, two of you will spend less time serving your communities and enjoying your children and grandchildren.

Read the entire speech here: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/news/testimony/obesity07162003.htm

One of the number one cures for obesity?  Get people out of their cars.

Moderate sugar from the American diet....... tax it! But it would be social legislation.

[dougskiles]

^A start would be to restrict the lobbying power of the food industries.

[buckethead]

Looks like we're going to need to eliminate Medicare and Medicaid.

It is a relief to know that defense spending and socialization of banking losses are copacetic.

It's my backwards way of stating that Faye's claim is uhhhhh.... silly.

What claim is it that I am making?

Health Care Costs is the Primary Driver of our National Debt

[FayeforCure]

Looks like we're going to need to eliminate Medicare and Medicaid.

It is a relief to know that defense spending and socialization of banking losses are copacetic.

It's my backwards way of stating that Faye's claim is uhhhhh.... silly.

What claim is it that I am making?

Health Care Costs is the Primary Driver of our National Debt

Actually that is evident from the chart...........not just a claim that I make.

In reducing the deficit we MUST find ways to reign in healthcare costs.............preventing over-billing by providers to cover for uninsured services provided, and combatting rampant Medicare fraud  is the way to go.

Not the inhumane ideas of Republicans to shut down Medicare and Medicaid altogether.

[kells904]

You had me until you said "Universal Health Care", Faye.

It's a pie-in-the-sky concept, like ending world hunger.  It sounds fantastic, but it's not realistic.  One size never fits all, not even the hats that claim.  If obesity is a disease, it's a desease of the mind.  Not knowing you ate too much, or that woofing down half a pack of Oreos is bad for you.  It's only hereditary in the sense that fat children tend to have fat parents (or lazy parents).

And what about medical facilities' collective fear of getting sued?  Doesn't that also play into the cost of care?  Precautionary measures, running tests, administrators, paperwork, beaurocratic red tape...$$.

And you want the government to handle to your health care?  The government seems awfully fond of banning things.  Through the eyes of an official, I would think the most efficient means of achieving the goal of affordable health care is to control what goes into people's bodies.  Don't we have enough proof that there are things the government should keep its hands OFF of?

[FayeforCure]

Don't we have enough proof that there are things the government should keep its hands OFF of?

Yeah, keeping their hands off the Financial Industry CAUSED our current economic crisis. That was just excellent for our county's sake......let the financial industry go wild.

People still haven't learned......shakes head.

It is plain wrong to say that government should keep their hands OFF our country's economic well-being.

We need effective government to protect our citizens' health and economic well-being.