Healthcare Lists! Motivations, Current Legislation, Banned Systems (Part 5 of The Struggle For Health Care Reform ... in the United States)

Due to the poor coverage the healthcare issue is getting in the mainstream media, I'm resorting to the power of lists. It's like the power of the pyramid -- worked for Bernie Made Off

My list of the components of healthcare reform currently under consideration (as I become aware of more, I'll add to it)

1. Public Option
2. Payment caps
3. Patient dumping, ban of
4. Pre-existing conditions, ban of
5. Medicare subsidies to private insurance companies, cut or eliminate
6. Health insurance co-op, a public option-like plan that is run by private companies

Here is my growing list of styles of universal health care, all of which are currently off the table (not being considered for implementation or are basically banned systems).

1. Single Payer (Canada Style)
2. Single Payer (United States Medicare Style)
3. Single Payer (United States Military Style)
Correction U.S. Military health care system is not "single payer" (where hospitals and doctors are private and paid by the patients via their government insurance, like Medicare)- it is not. It is a socialized medicine system like the NHS of Britain (government owns the hospitals, employs the doctors).
4. National Health (UK Style)
5. National Health (French Style)*
6. National Health (Cuba Style)
7. National Health (Japan Style)
8. National Health (Taiwan Style)
9. National Health (Germany Style)
10. National Health (Switzerland Style)
* best healthcare system in the world

Here is my growing list of the motivations for healthcare reform.

rising cost to employers (for employee plans)
35,000,000 uninsured
high deductibles (before you pick up that phone to call an ambulance, better ask how much it'll cost you to do that first)
lifetime limit on patient coverage ("Sorry - you've exceeded your limit - should have gone to a cheaper hospital!")
conditions not covered (to be determined when you get a condition)
medicines not covered (usually it's the one the doctor prescribed)
treatments not covered (your insurance company won't think it'll help you)
pre-existing conditions used to deny enrollment (I had hepatitis-C, so I will never be allowed to enroll for individual coverage again)
patient dumping of high-liability patients, like those with cancer, AIDS, Lupus, diabetes ("We're sorry, but your insurance coverage has been terminated")
pre-existing conditions denied coverage (for me it's asthma and allergies)
denial of coverage (decision made on the spot not to cover a treatment, procedure - bills bounce to the patient, who usually cannot afford to pay it - hospitals itemize your treatment expenses when you show up at an emergency room - each item is usually over $100 - insurance pays some and rejects payment on others)
skyrocketing cost of pharmaceuticals
skyrocketing cost of hospital stays
administrative costs too high (30% of your private healthcare dollar goes to non-medical expenses -- nationalized healthcare plans only 4%)
doctors' offices overwhelmed by paperwork
doctors and hospitals gaming insurance companies with:
unnecessary or excessive testing
unnecessary or excessive surgeries
avoiding diagnoses because they trigger cut-off of insurance money (patient is a cash cow and cannot be lost due to a diagnosis!)
16% of GDP in United States spent on healthcare - unsustainable cost
8% of GDP in countries with nationalized health care spent on health care - sustainable and everyone is covered from cradle to grave!
medicare cannot control the cost of the services it provides to seniors -- lobbyists made sure of that
Having to locate your proof of insurance in the middle of a heart attack

Stay thirsty for change, my friends!