Health

(Updated) ObamaCare Impact: McDonald’s Could Drop HC for 30,000 Workers

McDonald’s health care plans for some of its workers could soon go the way of its trans fat cooking oil. That is to say, the fast food giant is considering dropping coverage for nearly 30,000 workers unless a mandate in the new health care law is changed, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The Journal reports that last week a senior McDonald‘s official informed the Department of Health and Human Services that the restaurant chain’s insurer won’t meet a 2011 requirement to spend at least 80% to 85% of its premium revenue on medical care.

Currently, McDonald’s offers “mini-med” programs to workers at 10,500 U.S. locations. Those plans allow a single worker to pay $14 a week for a plan that caps annual benefits at $2,000, or about $32 a week to get coverage up to $10,000 a year, the paper explains.

But, the WSJ says, McDonald’s and trade groups say the percentage requirement, called a medical loss ratio, is unrealistic for mini-med plans “due to high administrative costs owing to frequent worker turnover, combined with relatively low spending on claims.”

The requirement was originally included in the law by Democrats who wanted to curb executive compensation and other costs that lawmakers determined as not directly helping patients.

The Journal based its report on a McDonald’s memo:

McDonald’s, in a memo to federal officials, said “it would be economically prohibitive for our carrier to continue offering” the mini-med plan unless it got an exemption from the requirement to spend 80% to 85% of premiums on benefits. …

“Having to drop our current mini-med offering would represent a huge disruption to our 29,500 participants,” said McDonald’s memo, which was reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. “It would deny our people this current benefit that positively impacts their lives and protects their health—and would leave many without an affordable, comparably designed alternative until 2014.”

The Journal also points out that McDonald’s move is just the latest example of possible unintended consequences from Obama Care: “Dozens of companies have taken charges against earnings—totaling more than $1 billion—over a tax change in prescription-drug benefits for retirees.”

“We’ve had the opportunity to speak with regulatory agencies directly to better understand the implications of the law and to share our point of view,” Steve Russell, a senior vice president with the company, said in a statement. “Moving forward, we will continue to have an open dialogue with legislators as well as regulators.”

UPDATE:
McDonald’s has since denied the Journal‘s report according to the Associated Press:

McDonald’s said Thursday in a statement it has been speaking with federal agencies to understand the law, but the company called reports that it planned to drop health care coverage for employees “completely false.”

Read the entire article.

Comments (104)

1 2 3
  • Justthinking
    Posted on September 30, 2010 at 10:24am

    Let’s think about a few things for a moment.
    1) If conservatives take every seat that is up. Obamacare can’t be overturned. They won’t have enough votes to overturn a veto, and Obama would have to sign the bill. Paul Ryan at a 9/11 rally in Racine WI.
    2) If they pass a vote to defund Obamacare, see #1.
    3) Pelosi was correct when she said that the bill would have to be passed to see what is in it, because or representatives no longer write bills like that. They pass a general draft then send it out to have the details written into it.
    Paul Ryan wants to submit a bill requiring congress to vote again on a bill after the details have been filled in, before it goes to the president. I personally wonder why all the lawyers in congress can’t seem to write a legal document and understand it. Personally I feel if you need to be a lawyer to understand the law that is being written, it shouldn’t be passed, because we the people are supposed to be able to follow them, and most of us aren’t lawyers.
    We need to keep our hopes high but our expectations within reality. To turn this around is going to take more than one election, and there is a very loud faction that will do everything they can to transform America into something it was never intended to be. Be alert, Be aware, and Hold people and ourselves accountable for what they and we do.
    Thanks for allowing me to Justthink.

    Report Post »  
    • caitlynsdad
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 12:37pm

      Yes, victory in 2010 should not become an excuse for declaring victory or falling back asleep. We need to make sure (a) that the incoming Republicans have no doubt we’re keeping our skeptical eye on them and holding them accountable; (b) that we keep our mind focused on the next big battle, which is 2012. Victory in 2010 will mean little if Obama ends up getting re-elected anyway.

      Report Post » caitlynsdad  
  • April
    Posted on September 30, 2010 at 10:06am

    But.. But… Barrack Hussein Obama told me that if I liked my health insurance I could keep it. He also said that it would not raise costs and I would have better healthcare too. I have the sound clips, it’s true, he said so….

    Ok back to reality, I hope everyone remembers the above. Vote everyone out who voted for this bill and make BHO a one-term president.

    Report Post » April  
    • wingedwolf
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 11:32am

      And he had the stones to SAY IT AGAIN yesterday! Why aren’t these people who go to see him screaming the word liar every time he says this?

      Report Post » wingedwolf  
  • charles1540
    Posted on September 30, 2010 at 10:04am

    Add your comments

    Report Post »  
  • charles1540
    Posted on September 30, 2010 at 10:03am

    I suppose this is what the Speaker of The House was referring to when she said you have to pass it to know what is in it. Well I guess people are starting to read the bill and they don’t like. Perhaps politicians should be required to read these bills, that have been put together not by the people elected to represent us. Instead bills are put together by non-elected people. Well thankfully November is getting closer every day and let us hope that we elect some people who under they are in Congress to serve us.

    Report Post »  
  • Sister_Mary
    Posted on September 30, 2010 at 10:03am

    think about it .. It only takes say a 5th grade education to figure this out .. How can Obama think he can make PRIVATE companies keep offering insurance to thier employees?? Most will just pay the fine … AGAIN they are PRIVATE companies !!!

    Report Post » Sister_Mary  
    • prism of reality
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 10:12am

      As an owner of 2 companies, an s-corp and a c-corp, if the companies don’t make any money, you can’t tax them. It’s kind of hard to squeeze blood from that stone.

      Report Post »  
  • tobywil2
    Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:59am

    When the Bureaucrat replaces the “free market” with a regulation, we all lose. Every regulation gives a political crony a windfall at the expense of the general population. Printing money is not the only cause of inflation!

    THE DEVASTATING AFFECT OF THE BUREAUCRACY:

    Rules and regulations created and enforced by the “Fourth Branch of Government” (the bureaucracy) that restrict innovation, inhibit the creation of wealth and provide advantages to the “technologically challenged” are the root cause of our problems. Inflation, credit and failure of financial institutions are just the symptoms, an attempt to cover up the failure of “disastrous centralized planning.”

    Money manipulation is simply a method of misappropriation of wealth. Wealth must be created before it can be misappropriated and the Bureaucracy inhibits the creation of wealth.

    Our problems started when the bureaucracy obtained significant power during Roosevelt’s (T) Administration. About 10 years later the Fed Was created and it’s been downhill every since.

    Chapter 8 (The Bureaucracy – ICC) of “21st Century Common Sense” addresses this point in detail, including a description of the “Iron Triangle” (control of the bureaucracy by special interest) and an enlighten quote by Woodrow Wilson highlighting the capture of the Bureaucracy by “special interest.”

    The bibliography on my website allows you to visit the websites used for the book’s research just by “control-clicking” on the website address.

    http://commonsense21c.com/

    Report Post » tobywil2  
  • Soconservativereagonlookslikenewdeal
    Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:58am

    A very well planned move on the part of the socialist. If only we were as organized – or are we being undermined as we speak by our own? Everytime I hear a slam on DeMint, O’Donnell, or patting Murkowski on the ass – I have to ask…are we being sabotaged? Many in the news media as well as the politicians benefit from “we the people” fighting among ourselves. Pat Buchanon is an excellent example of a guy that would lose money if conservatives actually took control and started working America back to stability…who would want to hear him give applause to positive results versus slamming the perceived enemy as we spin out of control.

    Report Post »  
  • RobR
    Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:57am

    Did you ever notice that if Obama touches something…..it immediately turns to sh#t?

    Report Post » Barack Must Go  
  • Mr.Nick
    Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:46am

    Ask your self this question: how do you destroy the private sector while manifesting a Stalinesque socialist government at the same time?

    Socialized government health care will allow the government the means to achieve their overall goal.. Now you can tax anything you want into oblivion by citing it as a “health risk” hence an “unnecessary health care cost” while restricting peoples personal rights and freedoms in the process, telling them what they can and cant do because the taxpayer is footing the bill for their health.

    I have said it before and I’ll say it again — these evil communists will have you running on treadmills generating power for them like a bunch of cattle 10-years from now, citing it as your patriotic duty to yourself and the [our] environment.

    Report Post »  
  • GeeWhiz
    Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:45am

    Just wait, it’s going to happen everywhere.

    Franchises were doing this back in the 70s when I first started working. Have you work 32 hours a week so that they didn’t have to provide benefits. Now you have a corporation that offerred something to fill that gap, and now it will have to be dropped because it doesnt‘ meet the fed’s requirements.

    It’s regressive, not progressive, you liberal tools. But this is what happens when you have activists writing laws and not people who’ve actually had any business experience.

    Report Post »  
  • heidi586
    Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:45am

    We have to pass the bill – so you can ‘have no healthcare’. I pray the people of this country throw all the bums out of office in Nov. *Then* the newly elected keep their promise to repeal this insane bill!!

    Report Post » heidi586  
  • Marylou7
    Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:45am

    Welcome to the United Socialist States of America. This is where we are headed.

    Report Post » Marylou7  
  • PA PATRIOT
    Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:44am

    Lets see if the 10/2 rally participants make donations of charity for the McDonalds Employees, or any organization for that matter. I think not. Not now, not ever.

    Report Post » PA PATRIOT  
    • wingedwolf
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 10:00am

      Them pay?!! Goodness, they are probably getting holiday pay@ 4hrs reporting time plus free ride and food IF they show up! They‘re probably sending busses or taxis to their houses to pick them up so they don’t have to bother arranging a ride to the meeting place! Union workers do NOTHING for nothing. And these demolibersocialcommies do nothing unless something is in it for them, or unless they have repay a “favor.”

      Report Post » wingedwolf  
  • parmajohn
    Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:44am

    How Do WE Fight This? BOYCOT Mcdonalds? No Its not their fault..Order apples With your Fries? Get back to wholesome home cooked meals? But who can trust our food supply? Plant a “victory” garden and be Fined 5,000 dollars? Who will help us If we don”t help them?…Vote them out In November The Nudging has Begun…. PUSH back before the door closes and the only way out is thru the window God Bless Americans…Each and everyone

    Report Post »  
    • parmajohn
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:58am

      Just a after thought Mavbe SEIU can come to the resque and take over their health care dollars and then we the people the goverment can bail them out and then……”.NEVER MIND” To quote Roseanna Danna Danna

      Report Post »  
  • Will NV
    Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:40am

    I hope the Dems will need Obamacare after they lose in the next election.

    Report Post »  
  • EyebrowsLaMana
    Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:35am

    We just came across a major problem with Obamacare, we wanted SC kidcare for our son, pre obamination, $140.00 bucks a month. After obimination, SC kidcare on hold due to obamacare. and to insure him it was $435 a month….Thanks obama you sure made that easy for us, way to go there buddy thanks for taking that food off our table and that money out of our pockets.

    Report Post » EyebrowsLaMana  
  • rdk
    Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:29am

    You think Obama cares? Michelle Maybelle wants to be president of something, why not McDonald’s? Just think of all the carrots that could be sold by McDonald’s. Fried carrots, broiled carrots, raw carrots, grilled carrots, and carrot souffle!

    Report Post »  
    • caitlynsdad
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:34am

      Don’t forget carrot tofu :)

      Report Post » caitlynsdad  
    • Freelancer
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 10:47am

      The People for the Ethical Treatment of Vegetables will boycott McD’s if they try and push carrots.

      Report Post » Freelancer  
    • saneromeo
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 11:43am

      I agree Freelancer, look at how mad they are when people say something negative about Obama…

      Report Post » saneromeo  
    • JD Carp
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 12:20pm

      My question is, which Toe did the Foo come from?

      Report Post » JD Carp  
  • pro1822
    Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:26am

    Hussain Obama hijacked the government and flew it into health care, the economy, immigration, liberty, Isreal, financial institutions and so on. Time to fight back….Let’s Roll!

    Report Post »  
  • trueblueday
    Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:19am

    Be prepared to have your “kids” sit on your health insurance for a very very long time.

    Report Post »  
    • allforryan2008
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:34am

      Here’s the thing, people, ObamaCare was designed far in advance to funnel just such actions by corporations, small businesses and insurance companies alike. They planned this in order to turn around and demonize these companies, so they could justify shoving a single payer system down our throat, because the evil job creators are failing to provide insurance to you out of GREED! The government will then ride in and save the day! Never waste a crisis, real or conjured up… it doesn’t matter. Think of what happened with the legislature forcing banks to give loans to unqualified people, which sent banks into scramble mode to find a way to compensate for the onslaught of loan defaults. It’s the same basic premise. The evil banks are greedy and government, which created the problem through unscrupulous mandates, will ride in and save the day!!! Ugghh! If anyone doesn’t vote Conservative, they should have their freedom card revoked immediately!

      Report Post »  
    • wingedwolf
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:50am

      ALLFORRYAN2008, please, your blood pressure! Take heart, a movement has begun and America has been RUDELY awakened from a long, apathetic sleep. Pray that we never lose sight of what this country stands for ever again and that we teach our kids and grandkids and everyone who will listen what to do when demolibersocialcommies raise their ugly heads ever in the future. “Eternal vigilance is the cost of freedom.” LOL

      Report Post » wingedwolf  
  • Freelancer
    Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:17am

    And my daughter who works for McDonalds Corp. Thanks you much for the loss of her insurance you fascist PUTZ Obama!

    Report Post » Freelancer  
  • LadyIzShy
    Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:15am

    no surprise want to bet as a lame duck congress they pass gov health care for all?

    Report Post » LadyIzShy  
    • wingedwolf
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:45am

      They at least had PLANNED to rush a bill through which attached a public-option, completely government-run “insurance” to the medical takeover bill. The scuttlebutt is that it has been shelved until after the elections in November. LOL

      Report Post » wingedwolf  
  • prism of reality
    Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:13am

    I actually see this happening across the country as companies decide that people can go out and get their own policies. But, at 8% (tax penalty for not having insurance) vs a family of 4 paying 12-1500 a month….. at 100,000 a yr income, 8,000 is still better than 14,400 + so you still haven’t solved the problem. People will still choose to forget the health care. Especially since the 100k club isn’t representative of the people the bill was supposed to “help”

    Report Post »  
  • YouSickTwistedFreak
    Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:08am

    The Progressives will keep saying “our intentions were good”. (The road to hell is paved with good intentions.)

    Report Post » Eric  
    • IrishRose18
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:20am

      Well, said. haha

      Report Post » IrishRose18  
    • Silversmith
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 11:53am

      The problem has become semantics. What is good? A socialist utopia that shares misery equally? Well, yes, if you are part of this administration. So when someone gives you an arsenic cocktail and says “don‘t worry it’s good”, they aren’t lying if they want you dead.

      Silversmith

      Report Post » Silversmith  
  • caitlynsdad
    Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:06am

    Of course, this is what Obamacare intended. McDonald’s, we are told, shouldn‘t be in business anyway since it’s creating a nation of fatty fat fatsos. Why should the death panels be expected to have sympathy with them?

    Report Post » caitlynsdad  
    • MattyFos
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:14am

      Yep, the plan was to make it unaffordable for companies to make a profit AND give coverage to employees. So companies are forced to drop coverage, thus pushing the employees into the Public coverage. Then the Gov’t will subsidize costs and force private insurance companies to continue to drop coverage, or just go out of business because the profit margin of the subsidized cost will be minimal. AGAIN, another influx into the public sector. Eventually there will be “single payer” health coverage, provided by the Feds… Welcome to Socialism.

      Report Post »  
    • Mr.Nick
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:15am

      Bingo….

      Not to mention the dim-bulb president was told exactly what the end result of Obamycare was going to be – but I guess we just had to pass the bill to see what was inside.

      But that was the plan all along – painting business as evil while taxing the hell out of their products in an attempt to destroy all private sector jobs, while controlling peoples lives, under the ruse of “health care costs.”

      Report Post »  
  • Awakenow
    Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:01am

    How is that Obama care workin out for you Andy?

    Report Post » Awakenow  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:11am

      I wonder what % of workers voted for Obama and now rue the day? Don’t know how “hope” is workin’ out for them but “change” – not so much.

      Report Post »  
    • Independent Tess
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:30am

      The whole plan was to force insurance companies out of business, and to force workers to HAVE to go on the gov’t plan. Works out well for THEM don’tcha know……..

      Report Post » Independent Tess  
    • wingedwolf
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:42am

      LOL, have you read the bill? UNION MEMBERS ARE EXEMPTED ALONG WITH ALL OF CONGRESS, congress’ families, the senate and any other government employee!!! None of this will affect Andy or his gang of thugs, Only we, the private sector, job and wealth-creating backbone upon which the rest of the country stands while sucking the last tidbits of meat from our tired bones, are going to be forced into this abomination.

      Report Post » wingedwolf  
    • beekeeper
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:57am

      It‘s suprising that this issue didn’t come up during the review and debate that would normally surround a bill of such magnitude – unless you remember there was no review or debate – we were told we had to “pass the bill to see what’s in it, away from the fog of all the controversy” by Speaker Pelosi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV-05TLiiLU).

      They passed it, we now know what’s in it, and we don’t like it.

      See you in Nov., Nancy.

      Report Post » beekeeper  
    • carrera
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 9:58am

      Shall we expect bus loads of Union workers, Commies and HAMAS supporters, on their way to Obama’s coming out party on Saturday, to stop by McDonald franchises to terrorize the employees and children eating their “Happy Meals” or perhaps we can expect Congressional hearings that will surely come. There is absolutely no way our Administration will allow this “misinformation” about Obama Care to stand.

      Report Post »  
    • ishka4me
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 10:23am

      When Obama was a Senator, he talked about making insurance so expensive no private insurance could exist. It seems his plan is working. My Question is why candidates don’t show Obama inearlier times planning to crush insurance as their advertisement on t. v. and radio. we know other media will not cover this.

      Report Post »  
    • GOTT-EM-MAUSER
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 10:23am

      This actually really Good News. The more disruption and chaos that they bring about, the sooner the economy will fall completely apart. As they continue to alienate more and more people with their Socialist/Communist shenanigans, the more ENEMIES they create. The final resolution of this problem is not far in the future.

      Report Post »  
    • dollfin
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 11:05am

      Tess spells it out exactly. Nix the phrase…”unintended consequences.”

      Report Post » dollfin  
    • tommee
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 11:28am

      Wow! That‘s some health insurance McDonald’s offers to it’s employees. Let’s see, premiums of $32 per week – that’s $1664 per year – for annual coverage of $10,000… that’s almost the average cost of a one day stay in an American hospital… $8,000.

      In essence, McDonald’s health insurance is subsidized by the taxpayers if any of their employees really get sick. Obama’s health insurance reform actually brings to the surface the short comings of private, for profit, health insurance. More stories like this will only hasten the acceptance of single payer universal coverage.

      Report Post »  
    • solaveritas
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 12:36pm

      OBAMA knew it was a LIE. OBAMA, “YOU LIE!”

      “IF YOU LIKE YOUR INSURANCE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP IT, NOTHING WILL CHANGE”!!!

      Report Post » solaveritas  
    • Eagle07
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 1:49pm

      All part of the Barack Osama master plan .He will say look at the evil corporations cancelling policies.Than the dimwitocrats will try to make a push for the public option.More reason than ever to get more conservatives in the in NOV. to stop the systematic distruction of this Country.

      Report Post »  
    • 5000YRLEAPER
      Posted on September 30, 2010 at 5:20pm

      HOPE and CHANGE!!! With this news, more like HOPE it CHANGES!!! Obama’s “Hope” changes America into socialism.

      Maybe McDonald’s will now be able to afford “CHANGING” the french fries to carrot sticks.

      Report Post » 5000YRLEAPER  
    • PostProgressiveAmerican
      Posted on October 1, 2010 at 4:47am

      @TOMMEE, a few problems with your comments…

      Keep in mind it is medical INSURANCE, not ‘cradle-to-grave-run-to-the-emergency-room-when-I-get-the-sniffles-and-pay-nothing’ healthcare.

      Also, it is a good deal when the average employee in fast-food is relatively young and healthy…hence the “relatively low spending on claims.” It is there to provide coverage for the unexpected, which it does.

      The government does not subsidize people with these health plans when they go over the limits, other people and their insurance companies who pay more to cover the losses from the under- and non-insured do.

      Medical insurance companies have a very low profit margin, far lower than most other companies of comparable size.

      The real shortcomings in the pre-Obama healthcare system come from several sources: out of control payouts for lawsuits and the resulting high malpractice insurance premiums, Government price-fixing via Medicare, enormous administrative burdens placed on healthcare via (you guessed it) Medicare and, believe it or not, too much access for those under Medicare (if it costs too little, people get unnecessary treatment which drives up costs and limits resources). Add to that the inherent inefficiency of big Government and the massive fraud, waste and abuse and, well, most rational people see where the ‘single payer option’ will lead.

      I believe we will see several effects from Obamacare as it evolves to complete socialized medicine:

      First, free healthcare will put a strain on the system due to a loss of healthcare professionals combined with excessive use (or abuse, if you prefer) by people. As a result, the QUALITY of the healthcare received will suffer.

      Second, the strain on the system caused by more people demanding unnecessary care will eventually require rationing to take place…not a choice determined by the individual (as is the case now), but by the government. It will be interesting to see how they choose to implement the rationing.

      Third, costs will go up due to the added unnecessary treatments, the massive and inefficient Government bureaucracy to oversee Healthcare, the administrative costs to comply with Government regulations, and the on-going (and most likely increasing) fraud, waste and abuse. These increased costs will not be ‘subsidized’ by the tax payers, they will be paid for IN-FULL by the tax payers.

      Bottom line is that I believe in Capitalism and the free market, and that our healthcare problems arise from too much Government interference, not too little.

      Report Post » Post-Progressive American  
    • Nostraquedeo
      Posted on October 1, 2010 at 9:27am

      McDonalds can run to congress with a change to the bill and get media coverage. But what about small businesses? They don’t have the power to get things changed.

      Report Post »  
    • tommee
      Posted on October 1, 2010 at 12:32pm

      POSTPROGRESSIVEAMERICAM: I agree with you to some extent. McDonald’s current employee health insurance benefits are a great deal FOR THE INSURANCE COMPANIES. Young people typically don’t have need of extended health care. If their health care needs do surpass the very low cap, the insurance companies pick up the tab. They in turn pass the cost down to their clients – who happen to be for the most part, the good old American tax payer.

      However I disagree with the many assumptions you make. You say government health insurance is inefficient and costs more to run than private for profit insurance. That’s just not true. All of the industrial developed countries with universal health insurance spend a fraction of what Americans pay as a percentage of GDP, and the amount they spend per person on health care is far less than what Americans spend. That is indisputable fact – yet there are still 40 million Americans WITHOUT health insurance. Americans pay more for less. That’s the numbers speaking, not me.

      You also assume that the Quality of healthcare will suffer with national insurance. Again, that’s just not true. The countries with universal health insurance have greater life expectancies and lower infant moralities than that of the United States. The 5 year cancer survival rate for example in Canada, is statistically the same as in the United States. I mention Canada, because I am very familiar with their health care system. Being in Detroit, I have family and friends directly across the river. I know first hand how their system works. There is no rationing. There are no death panels. General practitioners are readily available. The wait times for a specialist are not much longer than they are here. Wait times are a bit longer for elective surgery though, but timely care is given when needed. My aunt of 88 years went into the hospital a month ago with a headache. She was given a ct-scan the same day and diagnosed with having had a mini stroke. The cost?… a slightly higher tax rate… well worth it in my mind.

      I have never met a Canadian who came across the border for healthcare. Though I do know Americans who work in Canada and continue to stay there because of Canada’s health insurance. Canadians really like what they have. I read in the news once in a while where a Canadian will come to the U.S. if there is a better facility or treatment for whatever ails them – The United States unquestionably has the best medical facilities in the world. But here’s the kicker: Canada‘s Universal Health Insurance will pay for the cost of one of it’s ordinary citizens to travel to the United States for treatment if it is needed. Yet that same treatment the Canadian gets here at home in the U.S.A. is out of reach for many millions of Americans. Something is wrong here.

      Report Post »  
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