Re-Newed "40 Million Have No Health Care" - Where Did This (Old Number) Come From?

Self - "Millions" of self-serving democrat quotes and campaigns | 05--14-2003 | Self

[Robert A Cook PE]

The latest democrat tactic is clear: They are pushing the re-re-re-newed "crisis" of health care - particularly abusing the "40 million uninsured" health care line that constantly pulls a cry-line to liberals/socialists who want to control our lives.

I know that a similar number (39 million) (?) was used by Hillary! in her socialized medicine crisis in '91-'93.

But, where does the "40 million" come from?

Is it as "valid" as the 3 million homeless the democrats have always used to attack republicans? (And the same homeless who were ignored by the media when Clinton was in the White House.)

(That "3 million homeless" was always a false claim, and the best anybody could ever count (coldest days, best cavassing everywhere in all shelters, etc.) was 5% of that figure (170,000 "homeless" actually counted and estimated....)

How many of this "40 million" victims are part-time, and or double-timer who are covered in their primary job, or by their spouse in his/her primary job?

How many are young/middle-aged/agricultre/small business who are employeed and paying, but who don't want/choose not to have expensive health insurance?

[Robert A Cook PE]

ALL (illegal aliens, legal aliens, and the poor, and the unemployed) can get free health care at ANY emergency room courtesy of our tax dollars and the payers of regular health insurance .... so who are the 40 million?

... and who came up with that figure we are being dumped on?

[Rodney King]

It's 40 million throughout the course of the year, not at any one time. For example, when I moved this year I was without health insurance for like two days, so I am one of the 40 million.

[MEG33]

Never question..They have good intentions.It is for our own good.

[jimkress]

40 years ago, 100 million Americans did not have medical insurance. That did not then (and does not now) mean they could not (or cannot) get health care.

This whole use of 'lack of medical insurance' argument is a red herring. The question should be 'can people get necessary health care?'. The answer is YES. End of discussion.

[jimkress]

Also, rich people (like Rush Limbaugh) don't have medical insurance. They pay as they go. To them, insurance is an unnecessary negative factor on their cash flow. Rush regularly points this out.

[Rodney King]

Also, lots of guys in their 20's don't have insurance. Why should they pay 500 bucks per month if they incure medical expenses of like 100 bucks per year?

[bluefish]

ALL (illegal aliens, legal aliens, and the poor, and the unemployed) can get free health care at ANY emergency room courtesy of our tax dollars....

Robert, I've heard this and have never questioned its accuracy. The last time I was in an emergency room with my mother (she fell down some stairs - no permanent damage other than her ego), there was a pile of Mexicans sniffling and coughing. I heard the nurse behind the counter discussing "no insurance and no money" so I assumed this was exactly what you mention.

My question: Why can't I just walk into an emergency room with no ID whenever I have a need for a prescription? Claim unemployment, adopt an accent even. I could avoid the co-pay when visiting my doctor!

[lizma]

and who came up with that figure we are being dumped on?

The Spin meisters.

I spent twenty years in medicine. The poor are always taken care of. Between the docs and hospitals and their state something is arranged and NOBODY, let me repeat, NOBODY, is turned away.

But what bugged me the most was the uninsured with the fancy new cars and trucks and etc. I had one uninsured brag about his vacation home while I'm taken care of him out of my own pocket!

A group of of Americans make the choice NOT to have insurance, that should not be our responsiblity.

Free health care is greatly abused and becomes more expensive because people use it at every whim. I've spent time with doc's in Communist and Socialist countries. It stinks.

But the bottom line, it a privilege, not a right. You want it, you work for it.

[ChicagahAl]

I recently read an interview with a proponent of universal health care. He actually admitted that the intent is to charge twentysomething men $300 or more a month. Since they rarely need health care, they will help fund the program. The money has to come from somewhere. Unfortunately, that group doesn't vote at a high percentage, so they will certainly get screwed.

[jimkress]

You are correct.

[ChicagahAl]

Here in Cook County, (Chicago), anyone without health insurance can go to Cook County Hospital at no charge. And the best part is that they don't have to pay insurance premiums. In some cases, being uninsured is a better deal than being insured.

[Reeses]

That did not then (and does not now) mean they could not (or cannot) get health care.

One big difference today: organized crime. I mean lawyers. Half the cost of medical care goes to pay judgements. Doctors are expected to be gods and if they fail to meet the standard the patient wins the lottery. Lawyers take their 1/3rd and donate a bit to the Democrats.

[ValerieUSA]

I don't have health insurance, but I had health care when I went to the ER with acute pain and an infection from kidney stones last month .... then was sent a $4,000 bill because they insisted on doing a CAT scan before giving me pain meds. I had had the problem before and knew what it was, and it was discovered back then with a much less expensive ultrasound. I told them upfront that I have no insurance and no money - yet they did a CAT scan anyway. I knew when I went in that I needed antibiotics and pain medication - I had no idea it would cost $4000 that I cannot pay.

[speekinout]

Why can't I just walk into an emergency room with no ID whenever I have a need for a prescription?

You need the id. If you can't afford the care, and can prove you can't, you will get it. But I'm happy to say that it is getting harder for people to get a free ride.
Your co-pay is evidence that you have ins. BTW, most clinics in this area also have the same co-pay amounts. You have to have positive statements (like income tax returns) to prove that you can't afford the co-pays.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Since when has health insurance become a right? It is a benefit at most jobs. No one forces a person to take out insurance anyway so what's the problem.
Why should a working person with insurance for his family have to pay for some other person's insurance if the other person does not want to but his own?

[bluefish]

Thanks, although I was kidding. How does an illegal or unemployed prove that they can't pay? My understanding is that they just show up and get treated. Or is it not as simple as that? This is one case where I would welcome a bit of bureacratic inefficiency, unless of course a life is threatened.

[MarkM]

There is a difference between people having health insurance and getting health care.
Poor people can get health care at emergency rooms whether they can pay or not.
Many rich people don't buy insurance because they can afford to just pay the bills when they come due.
And a fair number of young healthy people just take the chance that they won't get seriously sick.

A large portion of the uninsured are illegal aliens. If you want to lower the uninsured, stop illegal immigration.

[Dolphy]

The major hospital in the area I live (Western Michigan) came to blows with Blue Cross last year when they couldn't come to agreement on increased fees. The hospital's defense for the fee increases was because of a deficit created by uninsured patients. So, it seems to me that those of us who are insured are paying through both taxes and increased premiums.

Secondly, I know of a Hispanic couple in the Atlanta area who had no insurance and were able to get free health care through an entire pregnancy as well as continuing free coverage for their children. The program included free classes and coupons for milk and vitamins.

I don't know who the uninsured are. NBC did a piece on the uninsured (within the last few years) and found multiple programs available for the people claiming no coverage.

[montag813]

I have a friend who is 25, makes $75,000 a year...and has no health insurance. He hasn't "gotten around to it". He is unconcerned. This is very common, and greatly skews the numbers. So many of this group think they are invincible (didn't we all when we were young).

People who leave jobs, end COBRA and become sole-proprietors also often are counted as having no health insurance, even when they do. The number is as phony as the CAIR "8 million Muslims in America" lie.

[montag813]

My question: Why can't I just walk into an emergency room with no ID whenever I have a need for a prescription? Claim unemployment, adopt an accent even. I could avoid the co-pay when visiting my doctor!

Don't forget the sombrero. You'll get no questions at all with that thing.