Non Sequitur by Wiley Miller for November 14, 2012

You only get surgery until your insurance coverage flatlines.

It’s funny because it’s true.

Actually, you can’t toss somebody to the curb because their insurance is non-existant. Although, the expense comes out of someone else, be it the hospital or the taxpayers.

Ooo! An Obamacare strip! I like it!

Wanna know what we’ve got coming? Look to the UK’s NHS where they put seniors on a terminal plan and folks die of dehydration from neglect in the hospital.

Or look at the FEMA response to Sandy. LOL I think it’s comical that folks want to entrust your health care to the same folks who run Amtrak and the Post Office.

Orion

If you want free health care just hop in a boat and come to Australia like all the refugees.

I think that’s part of the fine print on my HMO…

In 1999, I was showing symptoms of seizures and my doctor asked for an EEG to check whether I was epileptic. The (&$& private sector insurance bureaucrats turned down the the request for the test on the grounds that the cost of the procedure wasn’t justifiable. Not long after, I had a seizure while driving, hit and killed a pedestrian, was arrested, lost my job and my home and narrowly avoided going to prison for vehicular homicide. All because some damnable private sector bureaucrat had to get his stockholders another 1/10th cent per share on their dividents and give the CEO a bigger bonus. That’s why I hate private insurance.

Golden rule: he who doles out the gold makes the rules.

My doc prescribed a med for me that required prior authorization from the insurance company two months ago….I am still waiting for it. Apparently they have nurses employed with them that review each case and ask if other treatments have been tried before deciding to give the okay. Sad, sad, sad. (I don’t see it getting any better because Obama did not enact health care, he enacted mandatory health insurance. Guess who still pulls the purse strings?)

I live in the UK and our healthcare system is fantastic. It is not perfect and sadly a few rare cases have seen people die. But that was down to to human error and had nothing to do with their ability to pay. From an infected cut on your finger to a heart triple bypass it is all paid for by our taxes and not by a for profit insurance company.

Copayus interruptus.

I see Obamacare hasn’t changed the medical insurance industry one little bit.

Dodsniff, Amen Brother! God for President! Endovelicus…Ouch! So true though….

we already have Death Panels, called private Insurance Companies.

but here in America we have to be Politically Correct. the MONEY people would be upset if we said the truth. facts, do get in teh Republican way.

Money Money Money and if you don’t have any, “Hurry Up and Die.” that is so true. so America,

America is so good at killing everyone who’s not a rich white male, even their own, if you are Poor that is. lol

America, Land of the Rich People, for the Rich People, and by the Rich People. gotta love the irony that is America

My brother was a disabled person with VA coverage. He had a heart procedure performed on him. He was sent home from intensive care where he died 6 hours later. That is how tour government run insurance works.

Why do so many people from countries with national health care (like canada) come to the United States for treatment?

The U S should have health care like we have in Canada its not perfect but it covers all the people rich or pore acording to the need.

So, just to be clear, you dummies would also try to turn the 1999 version into an Obamacare comment? Phfft! Link Text

The healthcare policy was Obama’s first “bipartisan” effort when he was elected. He chose a plan proposed by a Republican from Mass.in hopes that would help it move through the legislature. Democrats and Republicans immediately attached their amendments and riders to it and between Pelosi’s arrogance and Boehnor’s incalcitrance a less than perfect bill was passed.Both parties would do well to work together, to talk to hospitals and insurance companies where better ways of doing things are taking place. The lobbyists of the insurance companies, drug companies, and medical supply companies need to be put on the streets and ignored unless they are going to be helpful to the country and not just to their bottom line.We need a national healthcare program, the one we have had up until now was wasteful in money and lives. The one we have is not as good of a product as it could/should be. Write your legislators and tell them you want a bipartisan healthcare plan that will give Americans the protection and security they need without breaking the bank. It can be done.Respectfully,C.

Hey folks – see any connection between a lot of the comments to this strip (medicine and medical insurance failed me) and the comments in this strip: http://www.gocomics.com/shoe/

I have to say that I’m lucky because here in Ca. we have a very good health plan. They do what’s right and not what is the cheapest. Things like preventive medicine and regular check ups. Also because they have everything under one roof, you don’t have the problem with referrals or having to pay a co-pay every time you see a doctor

Sounds like Obamacare to me …

And YOU should move to CANADA.

I wonder how many people that keep using the term ‘Obamacare’ know the actual name of the health bill. Just curious because the faux news stations don’t seem to know.

one of the many problems of our health care system is the total disconnect between the cost in hospital and the cost in the real world. $10.00 for a dose of tylenol (regular strength) – gimme a break – wait – don’t – i have no health care since i lost my job and can’t afford to get treatment

i know – there is incredible overhead in running a hospital but i still think costs are out of line

Last August my wife was diagnosed with stage 4 breast & bone cancer. Fortunately we do have insurance that’s paid for a lot of her care & treatment. I’m terrified that 1 day the insurance is going to curtail payments which I can’t afford to pickup. Regardless of what you think about Obamacare you better hope it works & everyone can have affordable healthcare.

i had a friend who preferred flies to live

These figures may not be correct, so feel free to take issue: Canadians spend prox 9% of income on national healthcare. Americans spend prox 16% of income on healthcare.-Here’s an idea: scrap Medicare. Use its infrastructure to man a national healthcare system. Tax me (us) 12.5% (splitting the difference) for national healthcare. When I get drugs or see a doctor, ER, whatever, send the bill to the gov’t.-Any other laws that would be enacted should be to protect the gov’t from charlatans, price gouging, etc. Tell the insurance companies to take a hike.-[smacks hands together] All done! Nice and tidy and simple!

“…millions of HOMELESS men women and even children …complain less than [we] regarding the health care issues!”

Only people who believe they can effect change complain; those who know they cannot don’t bother.

“Have you stopped in the streets lately just to give one dollar to a poor sap even if that guy or woman didn’t ask for it?”

Often.

Am I missing something? How is this an “Obamacare” strip and not an “Insurance” strip?

One of those wonderful ironies in hospital care vrs. insured patients happened to a friend of mine. He was hospitalized for several days for some congestive lung problems. He had insurance but with a relatively high co-pay.He was hospitalized in a private room ( which he did not request ) and was charged for, among other amenities, a private telephone line.He objected to paying for it and an argument ensued with the hospital administrator, with me in the middle. To make a long story short, I finally got them to drop the phone charge by threatening bring the local television station in. Reason ? My friend was a deaf mute !

Absolutely. Universal. For now, at least we have “Obamacare”, which will help many people. I went 4 1/2 years without medical care because I didn’t have insurance, and I was elated when I turned 65 and could get Medicare.

From the founding, the US had a War Department and it defended us. After WW-II, we got a Defense Department and it invades any country that thinks its resources are its own instead of Halliburton’’s. .Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness didn’t quite make it into the Constitution, but none are safe without health. It was one of those things the founders thought was self-evident, like corporations being human constructs instead of persons, and didn’t think it needed mentioning.

I wonder what kind of insurance insurance agents have.

Number six, You’ll thank him someday…..

funny.

In my case I was releaed even tho my blood sugar was over 300..Dr. put me on a med that was found later to cause cancer…I was left on it for two years then I didtched that Dr. and found a real Dr.

Wife and I have both had major procedures in the last several years. I work for the Post Office,and without my UNION backed health care plan, would now be bankrupt!. We are looking at more procedures after Jan. 1, and am glad the Dems (backed by unions) pushed for FMLA, Annual leave, Accrued sick leave, etc.

Robert Mishaw: In Canada, our family doctor didn’t decorate his waiting room with Norman Rockwell paintings of a doctor by the bedside of a child. He had wallpaper of the table of contents of peer-reviewed medical journals that published his research. We actually had a home call once and my son said, “I thought only Marcus Welby did that.”

canacda has free health care, of sorts. no matter what your condition, you all get the same pill. generric, even if you are allergic. but at least you get seen.

Your friendly government death panelist.