Earlier today, I came across ads for “Nurses for McCain” and “Nurses for Obama” t-shirts and warm-up jackets. It made me think about the political affiliations of nurses. Are there more Republicans or Democrats among the ranks of nurses?
I really have no idea how the percentages run. I suppose that nurses are as diverse in their opinions as the general populace, and I know that, in this election, there are more issues to consider than just health care. But health care is a huge concern for everyone, and nurses have the advantage – or disadvantage – of seeing firsthand the fallout from this country’s lack of a cohesive health care policy or program.
Nurses in clinics, emergency rooms, hospitals and long-term care facilities must deal with the frustrations of trying to get or give care to patients who have no insurance or who are underinsured on a daily basis.
Even though I’m not in a clinical setting, I hear from others frequently about their angst over health care and insurance. They are upset when they learn about the audacious salaries of health insurance executives, especially when they are refused coverage for minor problems.
They are even more distressed when they learn that between 10 and 30 cents of each insurance dollar is never used for actual care. That money is taken right off the top for insurance companies.
Most people I talk to are willing to pay for health insurance. They don’t expect something for nothing. They also generally agree that for those who can’t pay, some basic health coverage should be provided.
The elephant in the room that everyone is ignoring is a really basic question: Should anyone be making a profit off from people’s health or lack thereof?
Some argue that this country prides itself on a free enterprise system (which it really isn’t anymore; witness the latest government bailouts), but is profiting from the certainty that illness will strike most of us the same as making a profit selling cars or flat-screen televisions?
Just to clarify, I’m not suggesting that a non-profit system not pay nurses and doctors and other health care professionals the salaries they deserve. I’d just like to eliminate the need for the millions of dollars that are paid to executives and shareholders.
To be fair, insurance companies provide employment for probably millions of Americans. A non-profit, single-payer system wouldn’t need nearly the number of employees, so eliminating for-profit insurance companies would mean some additional unemployment. There would be no need for the thousands of nurses now employed by insurance companies as case managers, although they should be able to find jobs elsewhere, considering the nursing shortage.
Neither the Republicans nor Democrats are actually proposing a single-payer system. Senator McCain wants to let employers off the hook for providing health insurance, and he wants employees to purchase their own insurance using a $5,000 subsidy. McCain also says there would be a plan for the otherwise uninsurable.
Senator Obama says no American will be turned away because of pre-existing conditions, and that people should have insurance plans similar to the one which members of Congress enjoy.
What are your views on trading a for-profit health care insurance industry for a non-profit system?
Does your party affiliation make a difference in your opinion?
Tell us what you think.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Nurses: Red or Blue?
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4 comments:
I feel that the Democtatic push is still underlying socialized medicine. Do you really want to work under this type of system? Can you work where unless you have money - you wait and wait for care.And if you want to believe that we get insurance like the Congress - you have been fooled. If Congress had our HMO or Medicare - our national health system would be fixed in 6 months. They would not tolerate the issues that arise in the public sector.
I think McCain's idea of healthcare reform in a disaster in the making. It sounds well and good to let people have "options," but in reality, millions of people would lose their benefits if employers were taxed on health benefits. That is part of McCain's plan.
His $2500 per person and $5000 per family tax credit might be okay for a young healthy person, but many people and families pay upwards of $10,000 or more per year. Fortunately their employer picks up much of the tab. His tax credit wouldn't do much to help them.
Analysts have projected that under the McCain plan, about 20 million people would lose their insurance while 21 million would buy insurance. A net gain of 1 million insured. Under Obama's plan, it is projected that about 34 million uninsured would gain coverage in 10 years. Quite a difference.
Basically, McCain is looking a deregulating the health insurance industry. We've seen where deregulation has brought the financial industry--to the brink of destruction. And California suffered greatly from deregulation of energy, a few years back. I don't think we need that to happen in healthcare--things are bad enough.
In response to Dee - Re: waiting and waiting for care under socialized medicine - most people do that now in emergency rooms, even when they have health insurance. I can't see how anyone can buy health insurance for a family for $5000/year - and what about all those who won't be able to get health insurance because of pre-exising conditions or, in some cases, nearly insignificant problems? I'm not sure why you dismiss the promise of trying to emulate the health plan that Congress enjoys. i'm not naive - politicians don't always deliver on promises, but at least there is a standard by which we can strive to achieve. I fear under the Republican plan for health care, things will only deteriorate.
I'm a tad late with my comment, the election having been decided, and all, but I want to go on record as agreeing with E'Louise re: McCain's proposal of $2,500 per person and $5,000 per family being unrealistic. I have been self-insured for 20 years and am currently paying $12,000 annually. That's with a $3,500 deductible and, after that, a 50-50 co-pay rather than the usual 80-20. After some other large amt. is reached I finally get to quit paying. Most years I don't have enough medical expenses to even come close to meeting the deductible, so I'm not much of a risk. Costs the earth anyway.
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