Health Care: January 2008 Archives

Should Health Care be a Privilege or a Right?

By Think Retirement on January 23, 2008 9:52 AM | | Comments (0) digg this
A post on the DMI blog about Monday's Democratic Debate in South Carolina, points out that the term "universal" when applied to the candidate's health care plans is not to be construed to mean that everyone will be covered.  Universal does not equate to everyone, and does not mean that everyone has a "right" to health care.  The post points out that only Dennis Kucinich proposes that health care be a right.  The other plans attempt to make it "more available," if you can pay for it, or find someone else (employer) to pay for it.  Estimates are that 15 million people in the US will remain uninsured.

From a retirement perspective, health care costs can rapidly deplete retirement savings, and access to good health care coverage becomes more difficult as one ages.  Medicare is there, but many retired persons augment Medicare with additional coverage obtained from private insurers.

The next administration will face big challenges in the health care arena.  How effective they will be in changing the status-quo will depend on where they are coming from.

Presidential Candidates Are Not Serious About Protecting
Our Health | DMI Blog

http://www.dmiblog.com/archives/2008/01/presidential_candidates_are_no.html

Center Stage for Differences in Health Care Plans

By Think Retirement on January 22, 2008 6:38 AM | | Comments (0) digg this
The Democratic Candidate debate in South Carolina pushed the subject of health care reform to the point where the differences in the three major candidates proposals become more evident.  It's easy to think they are all basically the same in sound bites, but there are differences, and the opportunity for the candidates to explain that to the public, even if the discussion becomes combative, is welcomed. 

Much is being made of the confrontation that took place between Clinton and Obama in the debate last night, and perhaps we saw something of the character and tenacity of all three of the participants.  Beyond that, the real education was in the subject of the discussions and the health care plans were part of it. 

Here's a brief article from Rolling Stone on the subject, as we find more detailed arcticles on the debate and the issues, they will be posted.


http://www.rollingstone.com/nationalaffairs/index.php/2008/01/22/redefining-universal-health-care-clintons-big-win/

Here's an older article from the Washington Post Blog on the differences between the Clinton and Obama plans.

Will aging boomers lose benefits? - USATODAY.com

By Think Retirement on January 17, 2008 11:41 AM | | Comments (0) digg this
It's hard to find anyone that says the system will remain as it is now with no changes.  The question is what changes are being advocated, who is behind the proposals, what segment of the population is going to be compromised and why. 

The article on whether the benefits of boomers are at risk is an interesting read in itself, but so are the comments.  

http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/retirement/2008-01-16-boomer-future-benefits_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

James C. Capretta on Democrats

By Think Retirement on January 17, 2008 11:01 AM | | Comments (0) digg this
In an article on NationalReview.com, James Capretta says all of the Democratic candidates health care plans would eventually lead to government controlled health care, regardless of the differences in their individual proposals, citing a Robert Reich article from the Wall Street Journal. 

It does appear that the health care issue aspect of the campaign is split on partisan lines, with the Democrats advocating universal coverage plans that involve government and private insurance, and the Republicans advocating private insurance for those that can afford it.  Easily lost in the discussion are questions of affordability, the cost and consequences to our society of those that are uninsured, and the impact of either solution on the practice of medicine, healing and raising our standard of living.  

Take a look at the article.  Though Capretta is writing from a particular point of view, it does point out that much of what we will hear during the campaign, from candidates of both parties, when we hear the words "health care" is really about politics and political expediency in terms of satisfying constituents, and not so much about our health and well being.

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NDMyZDNkZmE0MmYxOTE4YjNiOWY4NjMwNzcyNGY3YjA=

Social Security and Health Care for Lower Income Seniors

By Think Retirement on January 15, 2008 8:41 AM | | Comments (0) digg this
Medical News Today reports that a study done by the American Institutes for Research indicates that policy changes are required to bolster the security of programs which aid lower income seniors.  Policy changes that don't rely on reduction of benefits or reliance on privatization are recommended.  The article points out that even seniors with the benefit of 401k plans can be at risk of decline should market conditions reduce the value of their securities and that a health crisis can overwhelm the finances of those with modest means. 

The arguments for and against privatization as a solution to both Social Security and Health Care issues has many facets, and one of the most serious questions is whether individuals have the means to take advantage of plans that propose to provide incentives for private solutions.  For many, and especially those who do not have employer provided health insurance, the cost of private plans is greater than their income will allow, even with incentives and subsidies.  When they can afford them, the deductibles and limited coverage leaves them with bills they can ill afford if even the most minor of health issues arise.  And remember, the lowest cost policies provide only the most basic coverage.  Many services and fees are not covered.

Many studies cite health care issues as the primary cause of financial breakdown.  The costs of modern health care can be staggering.  Any plan, government or private, must take into account the ability of those covered to stay covered, or it's not adequate, and not really a plan at all.  

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/93929.php

Aspen Institute Health Stewardship Project

By Think Retirement on January 14, 2008 1:57 PM | | Comments (0) digg this
A press release from The Aspen Institute announces Christine Todd Whitman, Julie Gerberding and Joseph Hogan will join Mark Ganz to Lead Aspen Institute Health Stewardship Project.

One facet of the project is to formulate questions for the candidates and publish the questions and responses.  

"We are calling on the candidates and the public at large to prioritize stewardship of our shared health resources in the same sense that we prioritize stewardship of the environment," Gov. Whitman said. 

From prnewswire via earthtimes.org


Another article on the same project referred to the current system as "broken" and suggested the candidates were going to get an "earful."  


Hope they do!

Health Insurance: Leaders Lead by Example

By Think Retirement on January 14, 2008 8:13 AM | | Comments (0) digg this
According to a story on NPR, four of the seven Republican candidates declined to respond to the question of how they are covered for health insurance.  

When the question was initially asked, only one of the candidates of either party responded, but eventually all but the four provided a response.  Admittedly, this is personal information that some people would consider private.  However, Health Care (including care for retiring Boomers) is a major issue in the campaign and the ability of the general population to acquire and afford health insurance is central to the candidates positions, and in many cases is a differentiating factor.  

Should the candidates solutions to their own health insurance issues be known by the voting public?  Is transparency on this subject warranted?  Is this any different than other disclosures that candidates are expected to make?  What is the downside of disclosure? 

Read the article to see how what seemed like a simple question turned out to be something else.

NPR : Health Care's a Big Issue. Who Covers Candidates?
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18033917

Senator Gravel to discuss Health Care on Retirement Living TV this Friday

By Think Retirement on January 14, 2008 5:53 AM | | Comments (0) digg this

From The Mike Gravel for President Website

"On Friday January 18, at 2 p.m. EST, Senator Gravel will participate in an informal discussion of Health Care issues with Dr. William Brody, President of Johns Hopkins University. The Senator’s interview will be one in the five part series Health Care ’08 – Search for Solutions. This series is presented by Retirement Living TV, Johns Hopkins University and the National Coalition on Health Care. The series will give Senator Gravel and others an opportunity to address the health care crisis facing Boomers and Seniors.

 

 2008 Presidential Candidates and other Public Leaders Address Changes in the American Healthcare System  Impacting Boomers and Seniors

Washington, DC – January 11, 2008 – Retirement Living TV (RLTV), in association with Johns Hopkins University and the National Coalition on Health Care (NCHC), announced today that they are producing a multi- part series, Healthcare ’08: Search for Solutions.  The series begins airing January 14 at 2 p.m. EST on RLTV.  AARP, Johns Hopkins University, NCHC and RLTV will also make the series available on their websites.. Healthcare ’08: Search for Solutions will give the presidential candidates and other public leaders an informal forum to discuss their views on the possible solutions to the healthcare crisis facing Boomers and seniors in America."


http://www.gravel2008.us/content/senator-gravel-discuss-health-care-retirement-living-tv-friday

What Does Mike Gravel Say?

By Think Retirement on January 13, 2008 11:26 AM | | Comments (0) digg this

Another entry in a series that links to material posted on the web sites of the candidates.


What Does Mike Gravel Say?


The Gravel2008 site has a page that addresses a wide range of issues, including Health Care and Social Security.


http://www.gravel2008.us/issues 


These links may change over time, and the candidates may provide more information. We'll post current links when we find them.

What Does Duncan Hunter Say?

By Think Retirement on January 13, 2008 10:20 AM | | Comments (0) digg this

Another entry in a series that links to material posted on the web sites of the candidates.


What Does Duncan Hunter Say?


The GoHunter08 site has a single issues page that includes Health Care.  At the time of this post, there is no mention of Social Security on that page.


http://www.gohunter08.com/inner.asp?z=4 


These links may change over time, and the candidates may provide more information. We'll post current links when we find them.

What Does Alan Keyes Say?

By Think Retirement on January 13, 2008 9:16 AM | | Comments (2) digg this

Another entry in a series that links to material posted on the web sites of the candidates.


What Does Alan Keyes Say?


Health Care: http://www.alankeyes.com/issues_list.php#health_care 


Social Security: http://www.alankeyes.com/issues_list.php#social_security 


These links may change over time, and the candidates may provide more information. We'll post current links when we find them.

The Detroit Free Press - ELECTION 2008: The candidates' views on health care

By Think Retirement on January 13, 2008 8:20 AM | | Comments (0) digg this
The Detroit Free Press has published a summary of the candidates positions on Health Care and takes a position.

"OUR VIEW: The editorial board's position

The best, most efficient solution to rising health care costs and the swelling ranks of the uninsured is a government-sponsored, single payer system. But that is a long way off, at best, and it ultimately may represent too large a step away from Americans’ marketdriven instincts. In the breach, we have embraced VEBAs that remove health costs from employers’ bottom lines and may achieve further cost savings; programs such as SCHIP, which expands Medicaid eligibility for poor children; and experiments with universal health care programs in states such as Massachusetts and California."

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080113/NEWS15/80113011/1068/OPINION



"Dying" for Healthcare by Suzie, MD

By Think Retirement on January 13, 2008 8:15 AM | | Comments (0) digg this
Very few of the doctors we've seen over the past 20 years handle insurance claims.  Most of them require payment directly, and leave the insurance paperwork and payment negotiation to their patients.  It's not difficult to see why they have chosen this stance when one sees the insurance company challenge treatments, deny or reduce payments and delay payment through formalities or misplaced paperwork. 

Two reasons we hear from physicians for not dealing with patient insurance are:

  • Health Care insurance company policies inhibit their ability to practice medicine by limiting their choices of treatment.
  • The cost of handling insurance company paperwork is unprofitable and bad for their business.   

Suzie, MD gives us an example of how health care insurance company policies and practices affect her profession in both ways.  

http://dyingforhealthcare.blogspot.com/  (Note: The page this link connects seems to have gone away)

"I thought it was all about controlling cost but it's not. Out attempt to do so has created a very inefficient and bureaucratic system that thrives on paper work and authorizations. It seems to me the more we pay for health insurance the more limited our options and the more out of pocket expenses. I don’t hear any of the politicians addressing those points."

Is the system really working when the business of medicine becomes the business of profitability, and that profitability is measured primarily by dollars and not units of "care?"

Do your doctors process your insurance claims?  


What Does Ron Paul Say?

By Think Retirement on January 12, 2008 1:00 PM | | Comments (0) digg this

Another entry in a series that links to material posted on the web sites of the candidates.


What Does Ron Paul Say?


Health Care: 

http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues/health-care/ 

http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues/health-freedom/ 


Social Security;

http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues/social-security/ 


These links may change over time, and the candidates may provide more information. We'll post current links when we find them.

What Does Fred Thompson Say?

By Think Retirement on January 12, 2008 11:45 AM | | Comments (0) digg this

Another entry in a series that links to material posted on the web sites of the candidates.


What Does Fred Thompson Say?


Health Care: http://www.fred08.com/Principles/PrinciplesSummary.aspx?View=OnTheIssues 


Social Security: http://www.fred08.com/virtual/socialsecurity.aspx 


These links may change over time, and the candidates may provide more information. We'll post current links when we find them.

What Does Dennis Kucinich Say?

By Think Retirement on January 11, 2008 5:00 PM | | Comments (0) digg this

Another entry in a series that links to material posted on the web sites of the candidates.


What Does Dennis Kucinich Say?


Health Care: http://www.dennis4president.com/go/issues/a-healthy-nation/ 


Social Security:

http://www.kucinichonline.com/pdfs/Kucinich_Social_Security.pdf 

http://www.kucinichonline.com/pdfs/Kucinich_Seniors.pdf 

http://www.kucinichonline.com/pdfs/Kucinich_Universal_Health_Care.pdf 


These links may change over time, and the candidates may provide more information. We'll post current links when we find them.

What Does John Edwards Say?

By Think Retirement on January 11, 2008 12:30 PM | | Comments (0) digg this

Another entry in a series that links to material posted on the web sites of the candidates.


What Does John Edwards Say?


Health Care: http://www.johnedwards.com/issues/health-care/


Social Security: http://www.johnedwards.com/issues/seniors/ 


These links may change over time, and the candidates may provide more information. We'll post current links when we find them.

What Does Rudy Giuliani Say?

By Think Retirement on January 11, 2008 10:05 AM | | Comments (0) digg this

Another entry in a series that links to material posted on the web sites of the candidates.


What Does Rudy Giuliani Say?


Health Care: http://www.joinrudy2008.com/issues/view/11 


Social Security: http://www.joinrudy2008.com/article/pr/823 (there is no specific position statement on Social Security in the Issues section of the Giuliani site, so we've included a news article)


These links may change over time, and the candidates may provide more information. We'll post current links when we find them.

What Does Mitt Romney Say?

By Think Retirement on January 11, 2008 9:25 AM | | Comments (0) digg this

Another entry in a series that links to material posted on the web sites of the candidates.


What Does Mitt Romney Say?


Health Care: http://www.mittromney.com/Issues/healthcare 


Social Security: http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/Romney_Agenda_10.9.07


These links may change over time, and the candidates may provide more information. We'll post current links when we find them.

What Does Mike Huckabee Say?

By Think Retirement on January 11, 2008 7:30 AM | | Comments (0) digg this

Another entry in a series that links to material posted on the web sites of the candidates.


What Does Mike Huckabee Say?


Health Care: http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=8


Social Security: http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=5


These links may change over time, and the candidates may provide more information. We'll post current links when we find them.

What Does Barack Obama Say?

By Think Retirement on January 11, 2008 1:09 AM | | Comments (0) digg this

Another entry in a series that links to material posted on the web sites of the candidates.


What Does Barack Obama Say?


Health Care: http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/ 


Social Security: http://www.barackobama.com/issues/socialsecurity/


These links may change over time, and the candidates may provide more information.  We'll post current links when we find them.

Bill Richardson Leaves The Race

By Think Retirement on January 11, 2008 12:02 AM | | Comments (0) digg this
Bill Richardson announced today that he is dropping out of the race for the Democratic nomination for President.

http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/10/ap-bill-richardson-drops-out-of-democratic-presidential-race/


For the record, Governor Richardson presented some thoughtful and considerate positions on Health Care, including an emphasis on Behavioral Health issues. 

As long as the Richardson for President site is up, the links below are his statements regarding Health Care.

http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/healthcare 


http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/behavioralhealth 


When Bill Richardson left the race, there were no votes for him in our Candidate Poll. 

What Does John McCain Say?

By Think Retirement on January 10, 2008 4:45 PM | | Comments (0) digg this

Another entry in a series that will link to material posted on the Web sites of the candidates.


What Does John McCain Say?


Health Care: 

http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/19ba2f1c-c03f-4ac2-8cd5-5cf2edb527cf.htm 


Social Security: 

http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/0B8E4DB8-5B0C-459F-97EA-D7B542A78235.htm 


These links may change over time, and the candidates may provide more information.  We'll post current links when we find them.

Glenn Beck: Put the 'care' back in health care

By Think Retirement on January 10, 2008 2:21 PM | | Comments (0) digg this

 

Regardless of your opinion of Glenn Beck's reporting, his experience points out that there are other aspects to health care than those that have to do with how much it costs and who should pay for it.

 

Obviously, not all individuals who provide health care are like the ones he encountered in his recent visit to a hospital for outpatient surgery, and hopefully they are in the minority. But, it's also true that many of us can recall experiences where one begins to question the motivation of some of the people who make their living from the health care industry. Why are they there, if not to provide "care?" Is this the best we can do?

 

In determining the pay for company executives, a compensation study is often done to determine what level of pay is sufficient to keep a good executive from straying. Sometimes, the amount of compensation for a position is determined by the dollar value of the business they are responsible for handling. People in public service have said that the pay for public service is too low to attract people with high qualifications because they can do better in the private sector.

 

In the case of health care, is the pay given to healthcare workers an appropriate portion of what we collectively pay for care? What is happening when an insurance company approves a lower amount for a service provided, then reports record earnings to the shareholders and pays record salaries to their executives.

 

Are the shareholders still winners when they show up at the hospital?

What Does Hillary Clinton Say?

By Think Retirement on January 10, 2008 12:53 PM | | Comments (0) digg this
This is the first entry in a series that will link to material posted on the Web sites of the candidates.  Some have specific entries in the "Issues" sections of their sites that address retirement issues such as Health Care and Social Security.  Others have press releases and transcripts of speeches that address the issues.  Some have lots of information and some have very little.  So, to help you see what they are saying, check out the links!

What Does Hillary Clinton Say?


Retirement Plan - 401(k): http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=3632 


These links may change over time, and the candidates may provide more information.  We'll post current links when we find them.

Campaign 2008 - Retirement - Vote in our Poll

By Think Retirement on January 8, 2008 10:54 AM | | Comments (0) digg this
Welcome to the Think Retirement blog! 

The 2008 Presidential Candidate selection process has officially begun with the Iowa Caucuses and the New Hampshire Primary.  Today is primary day in New Hampshire, and the residents of that state are lining up in what appear to be record numbers to cast their votes.  What's driving people to vote for one candidate or another?  Iraq?  Immigration?  War on Terror?  Foreign Relations?  The Economy?  Who is the best "Agent of Change?"

How will the candidates address Retirement issues?  What can we see from their position statements and what they are saying today?  We'll be taking a look at those issues as the campaigns progress, in addition to other topics that are of interest to people of retirement age.  

Vote in our poll on the right.  We'll keep it up through the entire campaign season, so check back to see who's leading the race.  It's unbiased, not affiliated with any party or candidate and completely unscientific!  Only one vote per person, please.  

Issues that speak directly to the subject of retirement do not seem to be foremost on the minds of the candidates, or the reporters and pundits who speak endlessly on their every move and sound bite.  No matter what transpires in terms of the War in Iraq, Immigration, or any of the other major issues over the next four to eight years, we are all going to get older, and many will be giving more and more attention to retirement issues.  Health Care, Social Security, Employment and fiscal responsibility issues will get our attention as record numbers of Baby Boomers confront leaving the mainstream workforce.  

Let's Go!  Vote in our Poll - Tell us what you think is important!
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