British National Health Weighs “Writing Off” Bad Risks

AZCONSERVATIVE ^ | 2 Feb 2008 | John Semmens

[John Semmens]

The British National Health Service (NHS) is considering its options for shoring up the financial condition of this socialized medicine system.

“The problem is, when the government provides free health care the system gets clogged with malingerers and hypochondriacs,” said Dr. Frank Sayer, a general practitioner in the NHS. “With little or no out-of-pocket cost, people with minor or imagined ailments haven’t much incentive to moderate their demand for service. The vast majority of these patients don’t need to see a doctor. They will get well on their own. But they come to us, using up time and resources.”

Dealing with this problem has been blocked by politics. Since the vast majority of voters are relatively healthy most of the time, a system that caters to their minor complaints serves a majority of voters. The small minority that is seriously ill carries less weight at the ballot box. The result is a system that is driven toward providing largely unnecessary care for the healthy while neglecting to invest in the expensive means to treat the desperately ill.

Cognizant of the politics behind the NHS, policymakers are seeking ways to avoid the cost of serving the seriously ill minority. One approach that is gaining traction is to set age limits on who may be treated. “The idea is that a person who is elderly and out of the workforce is more socially expendable,” Sayer said. “It is argued that these people have already led full lives and that they owe it to society to make way for the younger generations.”

Another potential source of savings would be to exclude those with unhealthy lifestyles from receiving care. “We have told people that smoking, drinking, and overeating is bad for them,” Sayer pointed out. “The government feels it has a right to deny treatment to those who don’t do as they have been told.”

Sayer warned that Americans shouldn’t be too quick to criticize. “You’re moving toward the same type of system in your country,” Sayer observed. “The political dynamics are pushing you in the same direction. Promising free or cheap health care funded by the government is a big vote getter. You may be a few decades behind us, but you’re on your way toward undermining the whole foundation of medicine, too.”

In related news, the Sierra club has proposed a so-called “couch potato” tax in which video games and televisions would face levies to fund programs that encourage families to spend more time outdoors. Mike Casaus of the Sierra Club says “people are spending too much time indoors in front of the TV when they should be out hiking and camping. We are asking the government to step in and help modify people’s behavior. The tax on sedentary pleasures is the ‘stick.’ The great outdoors is the ‘carrot.’” The Sierra Club predicts the tax would raise about $4 million per year that could be used for programs like an outdoor classroom to tech children about the outdoors.

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http://www.azconservative.org/Semmens1.htm

[Esther Ruth]

Sierra Club says “people are spending too much time indoors in front of the TV when they should be out hiking and camping. We are asking the government to step in and help modify people’s behavior.

***

Maybe sirens or something that will sound every 2 hours nationwide. At the sound of the sirens all ze people must leave zee indoor buildings and take to the street for exactgly 20 minutes, both the young and old...and no babies shall be left in cribs napping, zay must be with de mudders, rain, shine, sleet, blizzard— and 2 hours will be added to the work day - a 10 hour work day by all -

[rednesss]

"“The idea is that a person who is elderly and out of the workforce is more socially expendable,” Sayer said. “It is argued that these people have already led full lives and that they owe it to society to make way for the younger generations.”"

Come on Grandma and Grandpa, you have an obligation to go off yourself to make way for the younger generation. If you don't do it voluntarily, you will be "assisted" by the appropriate party member. Reminds me of an episode of Star Trek: TNG called Half a Life. Plot outline: Counselor Troi's mother visits the Enterprise and becomes infatuated with a man who's culture forces him into a suicidal ritual called "The Resolution."

[socialismisinsidious]

Socialized Medicine aka Universal Health Care PING LIST

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[socialismisinsidious]

“The problem is, when the government provides free health care the system gets clogged with malingerers and hypochondriacs,”

Well duh! Should have realized this before; it's not that hard to see that people will put no forethought into usage if healthcare is "free"

“The government feels it has a right to deny treatment to those who don’t do as they have been told.”

And this is a big duh too...if We The People don't realize that this is always what does happen and what must happen under a government, one payer system then we deserve the rationed, lousy care we are going to get.