High-profile killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO in New York

11101 said:
The Swiss model is a happy medium. Private healthcare is mandatory for all citizens and in return providers have to offer a basic level of cover for a set price. If you want to pay extra for a luxury private room with a view, you pay the going rate. When my wife gave birth one of the options was a 3 bedroom suite with balcony, space for the help and a jewellery store in reception.

It's often seen as expensive but that's down to Switzerland being an insanely expensive place. Relative to the cost of other things it's not all that different.

The US could easily implement a similar model if they had the political will. Obamacare was halfway there.
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Same with Germany. Basic public cover that is everyone's right, it's a fixed percentage of salary for everyone, though is free for very low income people (don't remember the limit). If younger, healthier people want a to pay less premium they can opt for private insurance, which might give ancillary benefits as well, but then can't opt back to public insurance when they get older and private premiums increase, or when you have a child since my child's insurance is covered by my public insurance and I don't have to pay extra.

I think the health system here functions very well with most of the things we need healthcare for (child's birth, we have had complications since but that's also been fully covered). One issue I do have is that doctors can discriminate by giving higher priority to private patients, which can be annoying for those on public insurance.
 
RedC said:
He said 'and'.
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Whoops, reading is hard.
Steven7290 said:
Thats what Im saying, highly skilled surgeons and those who work closely with them, doesnt matter the specialty.
Also, surgeons do work with some suppliers for surgical parts ala surgical tools, prosthetic, stent, pacemaker, etc. Its not nothing either.
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Yep sorry I totally misunderstood your post mate, my mistake
 
Raven said:
Where are you finding GPs working unsocial hours? Most of them are 9-5, Monday-Friday right?
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You can only set up a GP practice after years of working as a trainee, which always involves some form of out of hours work.

Depending on the size and location of the practice there's a good chance you'll end up working antisocial hours even after you're established as a GP.
 
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Pogue Mahone said:
I'd say the Australian model is a much better example of a happy medium. Healthy public-private mix with a single payer and excellent public health facilities where eligible patients get treated free of charge. It's similar to Switzerland in that everyone has to pay to fund the service (albeit by payments made to the state, rather than private companies) but doesn't come at an eye watering cost, to the government or anyone else.
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The obvious downside being having to live in Australia.


berbatrick said:
Yes, which is why it is striking that their healthcare spending is high as a %age of GDP too.
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Not really, when you know how the system is setup. From memory the minimum cost when I was there was about 250 quid a month, broadly comparable to the UK. I could very easily have doubled or tripled that had I wanted all the options on offer. That's the bit that jacks the cost up on international comparisons.
 
Can mods clarify whether we are allowed to express non-remorse for this death?
 
I feel the appropriate emotions in regards to the event that transpired.
 
11101 said:
The obvious downside being having to live in Australia.




Not really, when you know how the system is setup. From memory the minimum cost when I was there was about 250 quid a month, broadly comparable to the UK. I could very easily have doubled or tripled that had I wanted all the options on offer. That's the bit that jacks the cost up on international comparisons.
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Not sure what that anecdote has to do with total spending being very high in both per-capita or percentage GDP terms. If your personal spending was low, that means either the government or your employer was picking up a hefty tag.
2019 figures (pre-Covid):

UK per-capita: 3,853 euros
UK %age GDP: 10.5%

US per-capita: $11,582
US %age GDP: 17.7%

Switzerland per-capita: 8,587 euros
Switzerland %age GDP: 11.4%

More than doubling the UK budget would fix every flaw the UK system has, but not every country has the freedom to spend that Switzerland does.
 
Don't forget that this person had a family, and they're dead now. Their kids, spouse, family and friends have to struggle with all of that, and seeing some people gaining a benefit from the whole thing makes me sick.

I am of course talking about one of the many millions of people who were refused coverage and died because of this billionaire dickhead who definitely shat himself before he expired.
 
Mr Pigeon said:
Don't forget that this person had a family, and they're dead now. Their kids, spouse, family and friends have to struggle with all of that, and seeing some people gaining a benefit from the whole thing makes me sick.

I am of course talking about one of the many millions of people who were refused coverage and died because of this billionaire dickhead who definitely shat himself before he expired.
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You had me in the first half
 
UHG really didn't think it through when they announced the death of their former boss on Facebook. They disabled the comments, sure, but they could not disable the "Haha" emoji reaction... it's currently sitting at 47'000.
 
berbatrick said:
Not sure what that anecdote has to do with total spending being very high in both per-capita or percentage GDP terms. If your personal spending was low, that means either the government or your employer was picking up a hefty tag.
2019 figures (pre-Covid):

UK per-capita: 3,853 euros
UK %age GDP: 10.5%

US per-capita: $11,582
US %age GDP: 17.7%

Switzerland per-capita: 8,587 euros
Switzerland %age GDP: 11.4%

More than doubling the UK budget would fix every flaw the UK system has, but not every country has the freedom to spend that Switzerland does.
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Do you know how averages work?

The spending figures are increased by the additional, optional services and treatments that are not available in a system like the NHS.
 
G3079 said:
UHG really didn't think it through when they announced the death of their former boss on Facebook. They disabled the comments, sure, but they could not disable the "Haha" emoji reaction... it's currently sitting at 47'000.
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:lol::lol::lol::lol:
 
berbatrick said:
hm

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Anthem POV

kedbici.gif
 
altodevil said:
Can mods clarify whether we are allowed to express non-remorse for this death?
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I’m currently [sending thoughts and prayers] over some fine wine and aged cheese. Might even mourn further with flan and coffee for dessert.
 
ohnoanyway.gif I feel the same sympathy for him as he did for all those his company denied coverage to. I'm gutted and heart broken at the passing of such an amazing human being who made the life of millions upon millions just that much better. Here's hoping for jury nullification when the perp goes on trial.
 
mitChley said:
Apparently it seems likely that it wasn't a case that he hadn't tested it, it was just that kind of suppressor means you manually have to draw the gun back each time (no idea the technical term). I saw the video on twitter, it's not gory but it's quite brutal in regards to how ruthless it is.

Edit: just clicked that tweet and seen it's in relation to that exact video
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Hammer fired single action
 
Carolina Red said:
As someone who watched earlier this year as their wife had a heart attack, and later, a stroke, due to her plan of care being repeatedly denied by insurance, this resonates with me…

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I hope your wife is recovering. And yeah, I don't feel any sympathy for people like Thompson who profit off the suffering of others, particularly those who make more money every time they feck someone over who has actually paid to receive the health care you're denying them.
 
I do feel sorry for his family, assuming he had one, but just being the CEO of an American health insurance firm guarantees that he had a net evil impact on the world, so... yeah who gives a feck.
 
nimic said:
I do feel sorry for his family, assuming he had one, but just being the CEO of an American health insurance firm guarantees that he had a net evil impact on the world, so... yeah who gives a feck.
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It's true that his family could be shocked by the online reactions from strangers. Though some may understand why.
 
Red in STL said:
Actually it's about 54% that get their via their job
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Right but if you look at those covered by commercial payers only it's like 80-85% via employment.

Basically I was pointing out that most people who aren't on Medicare or Medicaid are not really able to shop around for different commercial coverage.
 
Steven7290 said:
In the state that i'm living most insurance is somewhat reasonable to at least negotiate with. I will never forget United refused my patient who lost 2 legs and an arm her stay in the hospital after 1 week of amputation, discharge home on her own without any assistive equipments but a wheelchair despite us basically on our knees begging.
Sadly he was just a piece of the puzzle, working for a system design to trade people's welfare for profit, who is ruling this country.
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Indeed. That's a very well stated point to remember.
TheMagicFoolBus said:
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Just to caution taking this one data point as definitive here because Kaiser HMO is the absolutely worst I have ever personally encountered. A few family members had disastrous experiences through them and I would pretty much choose ever insurance company on that list above Kaiser.
 
Considering the social media reaction, I would like to know if the cops are getting less tips and help on this case compared to similar high profile cases.
 
11101 said:
They pay for what they get, probably the best healthcare system in the world.

They also have exorbitant costs for everything. This is a country where lunch at Starbucks will cost you 50 quid.
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If it's the best healthcare system in the world why are they all unhealthy?
 
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