Mr. Alexander,

Submitted by macmurchadh on March 14, 2010 - 8:55pm.

you may be my senator, but you do not speak for me, nor for more than a few others I know. Someone with your voting record on bills with reconciliation should not be throwing the words "political arrogance" around.
Link

Your CBO says this bill pays for itself. Oh, sorry that's right the CBO is only correct when your party is in control.

Someone close to me that works very hard for a living, but is not offered an insurance plan by her small business employer is now facing a bill of over $5000.00 for emergency services just last week, (That's just the doctor's bill). A healthy young woman with her first emergency, and she can't afford her own, out of group policy.
Of course there is no number of these real life, flesh and blood stories will be enough when insurance company profits and the subsequent lobbying dollars are at stake.
No, no reform or public option needed, Mr. Alexander, the market will take care her. It's done a fine job so far.

Just a note... Tell the
Submitted by harrimanite on March 14, 2010 - 10:31pm.

Just a note... Tell the friend to "negoiate" her bill. When the doctors and hospitals realize it's hard to "get blood out of a turnip" they tend to drop the amount of the bill!
Besides, it's done with the insurance companies they "partner" with on every account. If you are "in the network", they accept the insurance payment as full payment on most charges.
I wonder why they charge so much more than they agree to accept. Why don't they just use the insurance coverage payment chart to start with!!!

That is true and helpful
Submitted by grasshopper on March 14, 2010 - 11:32pm.

That is true and helpful Harrimanite. Unfortunately, sometimes the uninsured can't afford even the "negotiated" costs.

Considering mac's friends' tax dollars helped to bail out AIG, et. al., after the capitalists almost destroyed capitalism as we know it, then walked away with millions in bonuses anyway, I would say mac is right to question for whom we vote.

We need a party for the people.

AMEN!!!!
Submitted by harrimanite on March 15, 2010 - 8:13am.

AMEN!!!!

Turnip blood
Submitted by Stump Creek on March 15, 2010 - 8:15am.

Yes it is hard to get blood from a turnip. Problem is some turnips have just a bit of blood such as a job with wages and the medical collection services will hound folks to hell to get what drops they can. One of my daughters participated in a free bankruptcy clinic hosted by UT Law School last year and she was appalled that over 70% of the folks seeking help were there as the result of medical crises. These were working middle and poor classes not bums. A few years ago Dub Harmon proposed an ordinance to the county commission that the Harriman Hospital charge folks without insurance the same rate that is given to insurance companies. I greatly admired him for that but it did not fly. Probably was not within their authority but a noble and practical idea none the less.

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