Second Presidential Debate

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I am an Obama supporter, because taxes to me are not the most important issue in this election for me, but...I was so mad at Biden when he basically said that it was time for people who made over $250,000 to be patriotic and pay more taxes! What!??? I'm not patriotic paying the taxes that I already pay, caring for many poor, nonpaying patients in Prince George's County, MD? Yes, I'm currently in practice...only for 1 year, so I haven't had much time yet to enjoy my success!

Tying patriotism to the payment of taxes is a slippery slope, in my opinion. If you're going to be doing that, then you should not be taking advantage of any tax credits or deductions, and you should be paying the full amount of taxes levied each year. If you suggest that those who are against paying higher taxes are unpatriotic, and you're not paying every dime of your tax burden, it's a bit hypocritical.

[AGDee]

The physicians in my health care system don't get paid $250K a year. They get around $150K a year. Therefore, they would not be in the group that would get taxed more.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

Tying patriotism to the payment of taxes is a slippery slope, in my opinion. If you're going to be doing that, then you should not be taking advantage of any tax credits or deductions, and you should be paying the full amount of taxes levied each year. If you suggest that those who are against paying higher taxes are unpatriotic, and you're not paying every dime of your tax burden, it's a bit hypocritical.

I completely agree with you, and I hope you didn't misread my statement above, because it is completely ridiculous to imply that more affluent Americans are not patriotic for opposing a tax increase while middle and lower income Americans can maintain their patriotic appearance while doing the same thing!

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by AGDee

The physicians in my health care system don't get paid $250K a year. They get around $150K a year. Therefore, they would not be in the group that would get taxed more.

It depends on what field of medicine they are practicing. Primary care MDs can make around that much or less...especially Pediatricians. Of course, their residencies are less rigorous and shorter than mine. (Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Family Medicine- 3 year residencies; Surgery and Surgical Subspecialties 5-7 years, Radiology 5 years.) There are many physicians who make more than that...some make A LOT more!

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I completely agree with you, and I hope you didn't misread my statement above, because it is completely ridiculous to imply that more affluent Americans are not patriotic for opposing a tax increase while middle and lower income Americans can maintain their patriotic appearance while doing the same thing!

Oh no, I understood you completely - I was agreeing with you.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

Oh no, I understood you completely - I was agreeing with you.

Good...just making sure!
By the way, I'd like to look at Biden's tax returns...you think he patriotically refuses to use deductions and loopholes?

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

It depends on what field of medicine they are practicing. Primary care MDs can make around that much or less...especially Pediatricians. Of course, their residencies are less rigorous and shorter than mine. (Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Family Medicine- 3 year residencies; Surgery and Surgical Subspecialties 5-7 years, Radiology 5 years.) There are many physicians who make more than that...some make A LOT more!

Yeah, in our medical group, it's set up differently than other health systems where I've worked. They all get paid from health system itself, the health system does all the billing and gets the money directly and the health system provides the benefits, including the malpractice insurance. It's a massive medical group practice. They sacrifice some in pay, but they save overhead on office space, billing, insurance, etc.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Yeah, in our medical group, it's set up differently than other health systems where I've worked. They all get paid from health system itself, the health system does all the billing and gets the money directly and the health system provides the benefits, including the malpractice insurance. It's a massive medical group practice. They sacrifice some in pay, but they save overhead on office space, billing, insurance, etc.

There are lots of ways to go into practice. A lot of hospitals are now buying up medical practices or hiring doctors to basically work as employees...something physicians in the past would NEVER have agreed to! My group is contracted by our hospital to provide radiology services. Radiology is also a field in high demand with a shortage of physicians...always a good mix for the radiologist!

[epchick]

So I have a question. My mom & her teacher friends were talking about Obama's health care plan yesterday, and one of them made the comment about how Obama's gonna tax people who can't afford health care.

I check on his website and it says that children HAVE to be covered, but it doesn't say anything about what would happen if you can't get the health coverage for your children.

Does anyone know about it?

[ajuhdg]

Originally Posted by epchick

So I have a question. My mom & her teacher friends were talking about Obama's health care plan yesterday, and one of them made the comment about how Obama's gonna tax people who can't afford health care.

I check on his website and it says that children HAVE to be covered, but it doesn't say anything about what would happen if you can't get the health coverage for your children.

Does anyone know about it?

Does EVERY state have plans for children? I live in NY and there are plans specifically for children who's parents don't have group insurance.

As someone in the medical field, AOIIAngel (or anyone else) how do you see a government funded health care system affecting your field? Talking with my OB/GYN the other day, that was his biggest reason for NOT supporting Obama. I would hope that nobody chose one or the other based on taxes, I don't think ANYONE wants to pay more! LOL!

[epchick]

Originally Posted by ajuhdg

Does EVERY state have plans for children? I live in NY and there are plans specifically for children who's parents don't have group insurance.

As someone in the medical field, AOIIAngel (or anyone else) how do you see a government funded health care system affecting your field? Talking with my OB/GYN the other day, that was his biggest reason for NOT supporting Obama. I would hope that nobody chose one or the other based on taxes, I don't think ANYONE wants to pay more! LOL!

I know that there is like Medicaid and CHIP, but from what I understand you have to have a certain income level. If you go above that, then you become ineligible.

ETA: That has happened to my aunt before. My uncle is the sole provider for the family (2 adults and 3 kids, one being disabled), and he works for Denny's. My aunt tried to go back to work---for Walmart, and she was told that they couldn't be on the health care plan anymore because now they made too much money. So she stopped working so that the kids could stay on Medicaid/Medicare (whichever one is for the kids). Disability also is reduced for her youngest (who's legally deaf) when my uncle gets a higher paycheck than he should (like if he works overtime).

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by ajuhdg

Just got back from the dentist, who have me some hope.

Originally Posted by ajuhdg

Talking with my OB/GYN the other day

I can't wait to hear what your opthamologist has to say about all this!

*crossing fingers for the jackpot, maybe a podiatrist appointment in the next few weeks*

[AGDee]

http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/Obama...lthcareFAQ.pdf

That has the answers to the questions you're posing. It does say that both SCHIP and Medicaid would be extended to cover more families and working people.

[AOII Angel]

Personally, I don't think anyone is going to be able to pass a comprehensive health care plan because the US is so different than any country with "successful" socialized medicine. Our patients (whether or not they have insurance) expect every test under the sun and perfect care. Unfortunately, in a socialized system costs have to be contained in order that everybody can get care. That means that somewhere, there is a board that gets to decide who can get expensive procedures. In other countries, you can't go on dialysis if you are over a certain age. In this country, there are no limits to dialysis and every dialysis patient is completely funded by Medicaid. In other countries, you can not be admitted to the ICU if you are over 50 years old. If you stop breathing, you get to stop breathing without a ventilator to save you.
The major problem with the cost of health care is the malpractice liability that causes physicians to practice "cover your ass" medicine rather than the evidence based medicine we all aspire to.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by ajuhdg

I would hope that nobody chose one or the other based on taxes, I don't think ANYONE wants to pay more! LOL!

You'd be surprised. That is the main reason why other partner's in my group say they aren't voting for Obama. We're split about 50/50. In some areas, physicians are overwhelmingly Republican because of taxes and threatened socialized medicine. One thing I like to point out, though, is that the Republicans were the ones throwing physicians under the bus this past fall when they refused to pass a Medicare fix that would cut reimbursements to physicians by 10% (Medicare already has pretty crummy reimbursements that insurance companies use as a source to fix the prices they are willing to pay as well.) Finally, the Democrats came to the rescue at the urging of none other than Ted Kennedy!