Getting caught up--a mini-meara is in order!

My mom's boss is on my tv. Huh.

While Mom and I were watching the Philadelphia news last week, one of the many political ads came on. This one was for Obama, and had a bunch of his former IL legislative cohorts endorsing him. A former state senator named Larry Walsh came on, and Mom said, "Wow, I didn't know my cousin was schilling for Obama now." I said, "I didn't know your cousin was a former state senator!!"

Actually, Switzerland was particularly interesting, because they had a system just like ours until 1994, and then voted in a referendum to change it to a mandated-insurance system (IIRC) with no profits for basic services. Of course, it just barely passed--but now it has broad support and even the right-wing types like it.

I saw this Frontline (highly recommend watching it if you missed it--you can see it on the PBS website), and the reporter pointed out that, while Switzerland did have a similar system to ours up to 1994, their insurance companies were mostly nonprofit even before mandated insurance, so they didn't fight it the way ours will if we have a similar vote.

You have independent medical providers competing against each other for your health care dollars providing incentives for both quality of care and reduced costs.

I found this point interesting in the segment. Apparently, even though the providers and insurance companies aren't competing for profits, they are competing for clients/patients anyway, so they continue providing good customer service and benefits to draw more people in.

Also, there are several studies that indicate that as much as 25% of the health-care dollar is spent trying to *not* pay for treatment.

The highest administrative costs of the five countries profiled was, I believe, Switzerland, at 16 percent, compared to the US's 25%.

The highest administrative costs of the five countries profiled was, I believe, Switzerland, at 16 percent, compared to the US's 25%.

Oh, right. And the percentage of GDP was significantly lower everywhere else as well. The US spends 16% of GDP on health care, and I think the second-highest was like 8%? I forget exactly, but it was lower.

I'm especially impressed that the address was in a whole different state.

Nearest post office! Their address is now in Minnesota, on RR 1. (Though I think they can still use the Ward one. Small towns, and all that.)

Sorry for the morning suckfests, Steph and Daisy Jane.

The highest administrative costs of the five countries profiled was, I believe, Switzerland, at 16 percent, compared to the US's 25%.

And yet, conservatives still continue to blather on about the inefficiency of one big government institution administrating health care. Well maybe there are some inefficiencies, but it's still a hell of a lot more efficient than thousands of insurance companies administrating health care....

I've heard the candidates (Dem) referencing the number of uninsured many times, but to me, that number of people bankrupted is just as if not more compelling - that should be drilled.

Particularly because while medical collections are not supposed to negatively affect your credit (still on your report, but not supposed to count against you), it often still does. Doubly shitty since a lot of those go into collections while the insurance company is fighting having to pay it.

I kinda feel like a freak. I grew up in Kansas and have always been a city boy. My parents were city folk. My grandparents were city folk. Pretty much no farm heritage at all.

Well, my grandfather had a hobby farm, but he sold insurance for a living.

Oh wait, he majored in agriculture. I guess I am slightly less citified than Gud. Though you wouldn't know it by meeting me! I'm all, "So, do you bring the cows inside in the winter? Or what? Wow, how many colors of horses are there? Like, four? Oh. 37, you say. Huh."

I kinda feel like a freak. I grew up in Kansas and have always been a city boy. My parents were city folk. My grandparents were city folk. Pretty much no farm heritage at all.

I have no farm heritage, either, that I know of. Definitely not in my grandparents' generation.

Yeah, I'm farm clueless too. I have driven a full size tractor though, albeit not on a farm.

I think the USPS eventually got around to using a roadname and number.

sara, this is true of my dad's small town. My aunt was on the township board so when it came time to giving roadnames, she used her family's names!