I’ve never thought about it like that, but you raise an interesting point. From the point of view of patients insurance is an inextricable part of health care. I’m not so sure you can separate them that easily. Even in Western Europe the trend is towards privatization so when something happens to me health wise my first concern is insurance, never mind the actual problem. It’s a tragedy. Let’s just go back to setting up a mandatory fund and paying out from that without the profit seeking middlemen. We don’t need them.
Every American who has private insurance right now, could pay that exact same amount instead to the federal government and let it pay our medical bills, and it would result in more people getting care and less cost for the healthcare industry.
Of course, for some reason, some people are strongly opposed to the destruction of a multi-billion-dollar rent-seeking middleman industry and also opposed to healthcare going to certain, shall we say, melaninistically-blessed Americans.
Mine costs my employer and myself $15,000 yearly. Colorado marketplace insurance for a “silver” plan (probably very expensive to actually use) is over $8k.
If we all just pooled that money it’d make Medicare for All a reality.
Yeah, it could fit in the current framework so I guess state power isn’t essential for creating it. State power is definitely essential to do things like negotiate drug pricing like Medicare does. We saw the power of that recently.
Every American who has private insurance right now, could pay that exact same amount instead to the federal government and let it pay our medical bills
Probably pay less and get more access to a wider range of medical services.
Every American who has private insurance right now, could pay that exact same amount instead to the federal government and let it pay our medical bills
That’s called a single-payer healthcare system, and it’s a good idea. The government can negotiate pricing for the entire country, rather than having a lot of smaller insurance companies that are all in it to make a profit.
Australia has a hybrid public/private system where everyone has public health care (so you can see a doctor and get treated even if you don’t have any money), but you can choose to get private insurance if you want to. It’s a decent idea.
I really don’t get this. I know where my parents and grandparents came from. Should I care if I have Irish or African blood? It baffles me that anyone does. How would that information would change my life? We should be judged by our actions, not by the origin of our distant ancestors.
Knowing whether I have First Nations blood on my mother’s side would have real legal benefits for me (my mom is estranged from her family and so has never told me much about them, but there’s some possibility there given their historical context). I know a friend who had to prove he was 1/8 Metis in order to get a job as a web designer with a particular company.
I think it’s ridiculous and flat out racist, frankly, but there are indeed benefits in this day and age from having particular ancestry.
My position has always been “if there are people who are disadvantaged then pass laws to help disadvantaged people rather than making the assumption that everyone with a particular set of genetics need help.” I guess it’s just easier to take that shortcut though.
There are lots of special considerations for a legal standpoint concerning Native Americans because technically they compromise several semi-sovereign nations within the US’s borders. Some of the treaties the US signed with them during westward expansion are still enforceable.
I’m of the same mind. Luckily my entire family is fairly skeptical of things like this. While we want to know more about our ancestry (we know the culture we’re from as it’s pretty well documented, we would like to hone down where exactly we’re most likely from. Our last name hints at it in the region but it’s still unclear.) I would rather travel across the ocean and do manual research than give my DNA to any of the ancestry companies.
The people who most benefit from DNA ancestry are people who want to know where they came from but documentation is scarce or non-existent. In the US that group is primarily composed of the descendents of slaves. It can also help people descendent of native groups who only know that they are from some native people of North America identity a particular tribe.
Don’t worry, the data will get bought up by the healthcare industry and start using it to deny coverage or to increase premiums.
Health insurance industry.
Most people in healthcare hate them too.
I’ve never thought about it like that, but you raise an interesting point. From the point of view of patients insurance is an inextricable part of health care. I’m not so sure you can separate them that easily. Even in Western Europe the trend is towards privatization so when something happens to me health wise my first concern is insurance, never mind the actual problem. It’s a tragedy. Let’s just go back to setting up a mandatory fund and paying out from that without the profit seeking middlemen. We don’t need them.
You know what’s really stupid?
Every American who has private insurance right now, could pay that exact same amount instead to the federal government and let it pay our medical bills, and it would result in more people getting care and less cost for the healthcare industry.
Of course, for some reason, some people are strongly opposed to the destruction of a multi-billion-dollar rent-seeking middleman industry and also opposed to healthcare going to certain, shall we say, melaninistically-blessed Americans.
Mine costs my employer and myself $15,000 yearly. Colorado marketplace insurance for a “silver” plan (probably very expensive to actually use) is over $8k.
If we all just pooled that money it’d make Medicare for All a reality.
Could a citizen created “Robin Hood” health insurance company incorporate and steal all their lunch?
I think we need the power of the state behind it.
That would be nice, but I can’t see lobbyist allowing it. It state power really essential?
Maybe s co-operative insurance company could fit inside the current framework without legislative change.
(Obviously, I’m just spitballing here)
Yeah, it could fit in the current framework so I guess state power isn’t essential for creating it. State power is definitely essential to do things like negotiate drug pricing like Medicare does. We saw the power of that recently.
Probably pay less and get more access to a wider range of medical services.
That’s called a single-payer healthcare system, and it’s a good idea. The government can negotiate pricing for the entire country, rather than having a lot of smaller insurance companies that are all in it to make a profit.
Australia has a hybrid public/private system where everyone has public health care (so you can see a doctor and get treated even if you don’t have any money), but you can choose to get private insurance if you want to. It’s a decent idea.
I’d be really interested to know my heritage but this scenario actively is stopping me from doing so.
It’s okay, you can just be like me and have both your parents do it! They may not know my exact data, but they’ve got enough to guess.
I really don’t get this. I know where my parents and grandparents came from. Should I care if I have Irish or African blood? It baffles me that anyone does. How would that information would change my life? We should be judged by our actions, not by the origin of our distant ancestors.
I think you get disease risk data, which does give you some useful info.
Knowing whether I have First Nations blood on my mother’s side would have real legal benefits for me (my mom is estranged from her family and so has never told me much about them, but there’s some possibility there given their historical context). I know a friend who had to prove he was 1/8 Metis in order to get a job as a web designer with a particular company.
I think it’s ridiculous and flat out racist, frankly, but there are indeed benefits in this day and age from having particular ancestry.
Holy fuck, how is this legal?
“Good intentions”, I presume.
My position has always been “if there are people who are disadvantaged then pass laws to help disadvantaged people rather than making the assumption that everyone with a particular set of genetics need help.” I guess it’s just easier to take that shortcut though.
Ah, understood, thanks
There are lots of special considerations for a legal standpoint concerning Native Americans because technically they compromise several semi-sovereign nations within the US’s borders. Some of the treaties the US signed with them during westward expansion are still enforceable.
I’m of the same mind. Luckily my entire family is fairly skeptical of things like this. While we want to know more about our ancestry (we know the culture we’re from as it’s pretty well documented, we would like to hone down where exactly we’re most likely from. Our last name hints at it in the region but it’s still unclear.) I would rather travel across the ocean and do manual research than give my DNA to any of the ancestry companies.
The people who most benefit from DNA ancestry are people who want to know where they came from but documentation is scarce or non-existent. In the US that group is primarily composed of the descendents of slaves. It can also help people descendent of native groups who only know that they are from some native people of North America identity a particular tribe.
Great point. I can see that being a big draw.