Name:   Talullahhound - Subject:   Obama Care Date:   1/2/2017 12:59:43 PM

I actually do think that we need some kind of affordable healthcare program.  Not a free program, but something with affordable deductibles, because Obamacare certainly did not provide that.  Yes, maybe you now how catastrophic coverage, but when you still have a six or seven thousand dollar deductible, the vast majority are still looking at medical bankruptsy.  One clue that Obamacare was going to be a disaster was the rollout - it was a huge mess.  And if that was your legacy program, wouldn't you think there would be more care taken to have a good rollout?  It amazes me with all the brain power in this country, that no one can come up with a better plan than that.  But I suspect what happened is (as usual) the lobbyists and the health care companies wrote it and Obama, desperate for a solution, bought into it. 

One thing that still needs to be dealt with is tort reform.  I've talked to a number of drs. who tell me that a significant number of patients are just looking for a reason to file suit - thinking that it really isn't hurting the Dr., because the personal libability insurance company will pay. And someone needs to crack down on the hospitals  for the amounts they are charging for services. My BIL was in the hospital for 2 weeks, thanks to complications of anesthesia during back surgery.  He was in surgery 11 hours, spent a week in ICU, where they did mulitiple MRIs and CAT scans, and then spent another week in a regular room.  I can't imagine what this will cost.  He is under Medicare and I believe he has a Medicare supplement. 

The other thing that needs to be fixed is a societal problem.  People with altzheimers, terminal cancer, and other end of life illnesses, being put and treated in ICU for weeks because the family can't bear to let the go.  I'm not talking about people that have a chance of being cured and surviving, but the people for whom we are just postponing the inevitable. Even when there is an advanced medical directive, hospitals defer to the wishes of the family.  You may think this sounds cold, but to my mind, it makes no sense to prolong someone's life who is so out of it and will likely pass away as soon as life support is removed.