Gingrich in Town to Talk Healthcare (Hilton Head Healthcare Summit)

[norml]

10/12/05
Gingrich in Town to Talk Healthcare



Newt Gingrich

The rising cost of healthcare has many concerned and brought a Washington mover and shaker to town. Former speaker of the House Newt Gingrich was the keynote speaker at state representative Richard Chalk's healthcare forum on Hilton Head Island today.

He's traveling around the country with a three-part plan that he says will cut costs and make sure everyone has health insurance.


snip


The first part of his plan: to give you an incentive to take care of yourself. "If we can recenter the system so that you as an individual are aware of your own health, paying attention to your own health, looking at nutrition and exercise, we can dramatically improve the system."

That includes encouraging people to "shop" for less expensive prescription drugs, much like you might shop online for cheap airfares. Gingrich says half of the savings would go into your pocket. The other half, into the system.

"I think you would bring down drug prices dramatically, just as you have seen with airline fares," Gingrich said.


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http://www.wtoctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3972183&nav=0qq6

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. actually, not a bad set of ideas. BUT

we also BAN all drug advertising, and force them to put that money into R&D, testing and more R&D.

I mean, not even an aspirin v. motrin ad. and anyone who dares put up a viagra or expand my one eyed snake's length, well, the people placing, making, editing and paying for those ads should suffer some unspeakable torture.

of course, a nationalized system, which allows the maximum benefit, minimizes paper and administrative costs, and still permits experimentation, drug research, non-medical cures, and prevention would be even more welcome.

I read on another site that more than 36,000 preventable deaths occur simply because they had no access to the most miminal health care. every year.

[DemoTex]

2. The Hilton Head retirement ghetto ...

Hilton Head is 99.9% GOP golfers (in jackass pants) with millions in the bank. They don't care about either drug prices or airline fares. What a crock of shit. Newt loves preaching to the choir (rich kool-aid drinkers!).

[justgamma]

3. Only time I tried to shop for drugs

I was told they couldn't give out price information. BS

Wasn't advertising drugs illegal at one time?

One thing they tend to forget is that eating an apple is really hard when your teeth are rotting out. You never hear about dental care.

[oneighty]

9. How much does that Albuterol cost?

"We cannot give you that information. What kind of insurance do you have?"

So sayeth the lady at the drug counter. "I do not have insurance I will pay cash." I reply being thankful that I can actually afford this medicine that I need right now.

"Oh" the lady say; "Twenty six dollars."

Conclusion. If I had insurance the cost would be:

A. Higher

B. Lower

???????????

180

[justgamma]

12. This is true.

Daughter lost her job and her insurance. With insurance medicine was $32.00. Now with no insurance, $48.00.

I would think they would be cheaper because no paperwork. It's almost like the uninsured are supporting the insured.
I think that also happened at the hospital. If you are insured the billed less.

[oneighty]

13. I used

to b able to get fair market price quotes from the VA pharmacy. Boy oh boy cash shopper for meds do not stand a chance.

It is true I believe.

180

[Charlie Brown]

4. Gingrich wants us to provide our own surgery and medication

and not to burden doctors and pharmacists with our medical emergencies.

[eridani]

5. The notion that this has any effect on health care costs is bullshit

Taking better care of yourself will certainly improve the quality of your life, but the reality is that not many people are going to get expensively sick, anymore than they are likely to have their houses burned. That's why health care and firefighting should be public goods.

[area51]

6. "... make sure everyone has health insurance."

Yeah, keep talking, fuckstick Gingrich. I remember when you said that you'd solve the problem of people not having health insurance -- you'd make a law forcing everyone to buy health insurance. Earth to Gingrich: people don't buy health insurance b/c they can't afford it!

[Boredtodeath]

7. Newt's entire plan

Make sure the health insurance industry gets richer.

If it helps corporate America, it helps Newt.

[raccoon]

11. Also, Earth to Gingrich,

Some people can't GET private insurance no matter how much money they have, because of pre-existing contitions.

Also, private insurances can and do refuse to cover some pre-existing conditions. They won't pay ANYTHING for these conditions, EVER.

[LatinoSocialist]

8. I don't want to hear ANYTHING from Gingrich

about healthcare. His Contract of America was enough of an insight on what he thinks should be done with government services.

Go back to having affairs, Newt. You had your day in power, it's GONE.

[nibbana]

10. Newt just wants to line his pockets the old fashioned way.

Make a law that requires the citizens to purchase insurance from his cronies...This is typical Newt Bull-shit.