[Winona Online Democracy]
Thanks, Glen, for that info., but I wonder if it wasn't really some other
point that John was trying to make? Isn't this an apples and oranges
comparison? I'm thinking that the federal revenues are taxes, yes? And
they go to fund a heck of a lot more than healthcare, yes? Insurance as an
industry is also broader than just health care, as you indicate life
insurance in the mix.
I think it might be more meaningful to look at the dollars related to only
health care--unless this is already what your figures are related to--it
isn't clear to me.
The idea I was getting from John was that the insurance companies take in
more in premiums than they pay out in benefits to subscribers. The
government takes out FICA money from our salaries and then pays for some
healthcare to the current retirees. They must also purchase part B and
supplemental insurance which covers only the deductible and co-pays of
medicare-covered services. Anything not covered is out of pocket. The
uninsured, working poor are on their own and pay out of pocket or don't seek
services. The government also takes income taxes and uses some of it to help
with healthcare for the poor--maybe some of my colleagues more well-versed
in this area than I can cite the real percentage of the federal budget that
goes to medicaid (of course there are state monies as well).
My understanding is that it is a very small percentage. I wonder what the
amount spent on health care for the poor compares to the amount spent on the
war last year?
Those figures would be quite telling--I'll see what I can do to find some
for us!
Kathy Seifert
----- Original Message -----
From: "Glen Schumann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 06, 2006 12:56 PM
Subject: RE: [Winona] re: Mandatory Health Care
[Winona Online Democracy]
As measured by contribution to Gross Domestic Product, the first statement
below is not accurate.
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, in 2004, the Federal
government contributed $824.6 billion to GDP while Insurance carriers
contributed only $544.1 billion.
See
http://www.bea.gov/bea/industry/gpotables/gpo_action.cfm?anon=160&table_id=1
2759&format_type=0 for verification.
The statement is also not true as measured by total revenue.
In 2002 (most recent data I found), direct health, life and medical
insurance carriers had total revenues of $755,389,255,000. Source:
http://www.census.gov/econ/census02/guide/INDRPT52.HTM
In 2002, total revenue of the Federal Government $2,192,000,000,000
(nearly
3 times as much).
Source:
http://frwebgate6.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=669422163015
+0+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve
Glen Schumann
Winona, MN
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
507.454.3056
www.hbci.com/~gschuman
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of JJ
Sent: Monday, March 06, 2006 8:51 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Winona] re: Mandatory Health Care
[Winona Online Democracy]
The insurance companies have more money than the US government. I've
little
hope that something short of a revolution will fix this situation soon
enough for anyone reading this group.
Examine how it works. If you have an insurance policy, but it is not
generous but all you can afford, you get enough care to use up your
benefits, then coast on luck with inadequate or no treatment, possibly
die,
while those with no insurance are often billed at a higher rate than the
heavily insured - because the insurance companies negotiate with health
care
providers. My recent surgery was billed at $19,000. The insurance company
knocked it down to about $7,000. The hospital continued to bill me as if
I
didn't read the adjusted bill. Some business persons in the health
industry
seem to take the default behavior and leave it to the rest of us to beg
for
parity.
It's not your doctor who is to blame, although I have heard too often,
"No,
these tests won't show me anything I don't know, but you are insured, so
what do you care?" (Not from my current MD, thank heavens.)
More later. I have a physician's appointment. :) Really!
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