Comments | mrz80: Cultural reinforcement and health care cost

mrz80

Cultural reinforcement and health care cost

Feb 03, 2011 12:09

Below is a letter from an Emergency Room physician discussing the cultural foundations of the current situation vis a vis the cost of health care ( Read more... )

culture, health care, politics

Comments 5

noirem February 3 2011, 19:32:00 UTC

So I don't get health care because she's frivolous? I assure you, my $40/month cell phone bill was not the difference between paying $500/month for COBRA or not. It was probably the difference between eating top ramen or having tuna fish sandwiches, but that's a slightly different level of personal choice.

mrz80 February 3 2011, 19:38:10 UTC

No, I think the point of the letter was that I'm paying for *her* health care ("her payer status was listed as 'Medicaid'") and yet she can bling up her teeth, cover her body with tats and walk around in stylin' high dollar footgear? Why should I have to pay for her irresponsibility? And why is our society structured to reward that sort of mindset? That's what I took away from the missive.

noirem February 3 2011, 19:57:50 UTC

Because not everyone is like her. Yes, people will abuse the system, but it's better that this is the case and the support is there for those who genuinely need it than to take it away from the deserving to keep it out of the hands of the undeserving. To paraphrase, better 10 people get it who shouldn't than 1 fail to get it who should ( ... )

mrz80 February 3 2011, 20:08:49 UTC

Ok, I'll grant you I don't know the exact circumstances of that exact woman. But the doctor's observations are emblematic of a set of attitudes and philosophical approaches to life, work, government, and society that I see CONSTANTLY, in line at Publix, at the gas station, on the radio, in my office, around campus, around town, in the newspapers... the concept of "I'm gonna game the system for all it's worth, and let someone else pick up the tab for when I screw up mightily. After all, I didn't ask to be born; the universe thus OWES me for the fact of my exalted existence!" :-|

jackshaftoe February 3 2011, 19:33:06 UTC

Smokers bump themselves off relatively early/cheaply. Most don't even make it to Medicare age. Typically, in Florida, they get one surgery and then Hospice's unique incentive system under Medicaid does the rest.