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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: phyxter who wrote (41827)	10/3/2000 1:53:55 AM
From: nihil	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769667

Most poor child and infant care in the US is attributable IMO to the refusal of many people to utilize the facilities that are available to them. They are often too ignorant or afraid to sign up for free subsidized care available through Medicaid. Many of those with incomes above poverty level refuse to pay the large copayments that are required on available insurance. Many medicare recipients refuse to buy part B insurance because they think they are too poor and then, once destitute, sign up for medicaid. In Hawaii, which has one of the most advanced and expensive systems of free and subsidized insurance and by far the cheapest comprehensive private insurance, 11 percent of the population is estimated to be uninsured.

To: phyxter who wrote (41827)	10/3/2000 7:55:11 AM
From: kvkkc1	Respond to of 769667

deleted

To: phyxter who wrote (41827)	10/3/2000 8:02:33 AM
From: Frank Griffin	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 769667

Thanks for your response. And, a very good question; where do we start? Frankly, I have known people who didn't carry insurance because they simply had poor judgement and wanted to use their money for other purposes instead of insurance believing they wouldn't get sick or knowing they can go to the emergency room and can't be turned away. That still makes it a bad deal for everyone. I own a small business and I have had employees who choose not to purchase family coverage when they could afford it. We insure the employee and pay the cost but the employee has to pick up the dependent coverage so they just take the free coverage. So, some of the problem is with the judgement and value system of some of the people. We have clinics that are effectively a safety net in that people who cannot afford care can go there for medical care. It is a tough one but I think it may be overstated in that there is care for everyone although restricted to certain facilities. One thing that might be appropriate is to require those who are employed to purchase coverage for their families through the group. There are a lot of opt outs, especially among the young. They are less concerned about health coverage because they don't feel vulnerable. And, many of them make very good money. I wish I knew a good solution but I, unfortunately, do not. I do feel strongly that government control would be the most wasteful and least effective approach. One final thing is that through our church I contribute monthly to a program called Mercy Ships. They sail to other, usually third world, countries and perform medical and surgical assistance as a Christian mission. Maybe there are medical people out there who would be willing to forego the "big money" and work for clinics that serve the poor as a form of either a secular or religious ministry. The best things could come from the hearts and will of the people.