I agree with everything you say, @calmom, but for remdesivir as for other potential drug treatments, there is unfortunately not enough of it to use for people in early stage covid illness.
IMHO:
The US is an unusual wealthy developed country. So many of us have to struggle with health insurance. Why is it connected to employment? Why is it not just a right? So many of us have to chose between going to work to put food on the table or staying safe from the virus. Why does our government put its people in this predicament?
It is a choice that we have made as a country, but I am hoping that the silver lining to this virus is that going forward we will make better choices for our people. We deserve better.
I agree with you with one addition which is that even if we opened up and no one was scared of things being unsafe, things would spike back up, overwhelm hospitals, and kill a lot of people so there is good reason to be cautious in opening back up. If we are at a point when experts feel it is safe to open, I’d be all for the country opening. doesn’t seem like we are hearing a chorus from top experts that we are doing things the right way right now. That’s very concerning to me.
Seriously, what is wrong with people??? I think magical thinking is running rampant.
But will we? Stock market indices indicate that capital (disproportionately owned or controlled by the top 1%) has not paid as much penalty as labor due to COVID-19 and the reaction. The CARES act mostly provided money for big businesses (including the amount of the “small business” money that big businesses managed to get in actuality). In other words, the whole episode is accelerating the redistribution of wealth toward the already wealthy as it destroys wealth across the rest of the economic spectrum.
And that story highlighted by the photo of the people playing beer pong in the crowded park is the kind of thing where some people ruin it for everyone (getting the park closed).
@camathmom because governments are good at some things and bad at some things. Large, highly personalized and forward thinking services like health care are not on the list of good things.
People are afraid of this and we also have tremendous health care. Wonderful doctors and researchers. No queues for elective surgery etc.
Now people should be 100 percent covered if out of work, incapable of work or retirees.
A national health care system won’t happen.
Perhaps a national health insurance system. But if you think working with your insurer is hard now wait for the health care dmv.
Also medical professionals will have to accept much lower pay scale and that means medical education will need to be revamped as well.
I like your idea but it’s not super simple.
Agreed ucbalumnus. Will we insist upon changes? I am hopeful, but not certain. But, how much more can our citizens be made to suffer? How much more can they be pushed to squabbling with each other rather than addressing the real problems?
Oh good grief. I’ve lost all ability to view a calendar and keep track of days.
Yes March 12, 2019 was a Tuesday. I will report back when I see the actual front door of this magical cupcake place and report back.
Now…today is Sunday right…Oh please dear lord…it is Sunday!?
It’s obvious that the general SES of the CC community skews on the high end. Have any of you followed the “cooking during coronavirus” thread? If that doesn’t convince you that we are an affluent bunch, nothing will.
I can sit safely in my home for years and not suffer. But I understand quite well that this is not the experience of most people in the US and in the world. I understand the rational arguments against opening society. And I understand very well the other side-that people cannot sit home for 2 years waiting for a vaccine. It’s a horrible situation. And I have no idea what the perfect answer to this dilemma is.
That said, there seem to be a LOT of people in denial about the need for social distancing/masks even in the act of re-opening. These people seem absolutely delusional to me.
Please forgive me, privatebanker, but I have no interest in squabbling with you. I’ve had these arguments too many times. Suffice it to say that I disagree with everything in your post other than your third paragraph and your last sentence.
Are (traditional) Medicare users in the US, or users of national health insurance systems in other countries complaining as much as users of private health insurance companies in the US?
I can’t imagine the loneliness of those elderly in assisted living or nursing homes. They have such limited time to see their loved ones anyway and now that is gone. It is a living death.
I think this is hard for anyone living alone. Certainly the elderly are most vulnerable but even young people living alone are isolated and alone, and feeling the emotional impact of…being alone.
I agree. My brother lives alone in a resort town that is closed down. Most locals are paired up/families. He knows he is lucky to be safe in an area with few infections, but I worry about his loneliness. He goes for daily walks and sees friends, and they talk from a distance, but that’s not the same as being able to truly connect.
You posed a question. What I suggested I hear and hear from a lot of people.
I didn’t describe my own feelings necessarily. Some are also fears I have as well.
I would be perfectly happy with universal coverage with no decrease in services, quality or innovation. Especially free. Who wouldn’t ?
Since you disagreed with everything but that you had a good idea.
Why do think that the medical profession would be willing to allow for nationwide rate setting and income controls at the governmental level with no corresponding downward shift in the cost involved to obtain those positions?
Also the time in training in the American model and opportunity cost of those years.
UK NHS has issues and they clearly approach it differently already.
I’d be open to any info on that subject. And to move the ball forward in a dialogue, just telling people they are wrong isn’t a real good way to bring people over to your side.
My ex-husband lives alone, in his late parents’ home, where he cared for his mom and dad for several years until they both died last fall, both age 93. I will say that I think they were fortunate to die before COVID-19. They were in ill health for many years, but they were able to have my ex as caregiver and companion, and their deaths were relatively peaceful and pain free.
I would hope that in 8-12 weeks we can, at the very least, have our PPE replenished. I can to work tonight and found out we are out of isoltion gowns! and foot covers…on top of having to reuse our N95s and surgical masks.
The Northeastern states which are working together are going to purchase PPE and equipment as a unit from now on so they won’t be bidding against each other anymore.
Gov, Cuomo also announced today that hospitals in NYS will be required to have a 90 day stockpile at all times of PPE. Doesn’t help right now but for future pandemics/epidemics it will.
I don’t know many ‘happy’ Medicare users, although I don’t know about relative complaining rates.
Some things that Medicare customers are less than thrilled with…Limited access/networks to doctors and hospitals. Confusing options…Medicare thru the government? Or a managed medicare plan? Separate drug policy? Lots of forms and approvals, and denials.
Premium expenses aren’t insignificant either, and 20% co-pays on Medicare B.
There is much complaining in some EU and UK countries by patients who can’t get access to new therapies…because they were deemed not cost effective. Need an antibiotic? You get penicillin.
I also think it’s unlikely we will ever have national health insurance, although I do hope it becomes detached from the workplace…perhaps covid-19 will be the impetus for that change.