Ya, your response is in no way a counter to what I stated. I am quite familiar of how insurance works. If the cost per procedure is more expensive in the United States than it is in other countries (often, higher than ANY OTHER country), then getting more healthy is not going to make that procedure any cheaper. Healthy people will still be paying the cost of the unhealthy. Absent a medical miracle, people will still get breast cancer, and brain cancer, and 100s of other ailments that are not necessarily tied to healthy habits.
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I agree with you. I live in Washington State which has a “death with dignity” law.
I’m sad this week because we had to euthanize our 15 year old border collie/ German shepherd mix. I had been nursing him for a year. Expensive meds, home cooked meals because he refused kibble, incontinence. But he was still “working” (picking up the other dog’s bowl and carrying it to me – his job for which he got “paid” with treats). On Monday his hip went out and he couldn’t stand. That was the end. He was really suffering so we euthanized him.
Here he is in 2016.
Frankly, I wouldn’t want a human to suffer that kind of pain. (As an acquaintance did who died of cancer last week.)
But there is tremendous push-back against euthanasia for humans. Ethical concerns, slippery slope. Especially concerns about poor people in Medicaid nursing homes.
Your parents were fortunate. They died in peace surrounded by love at home. The same can’t be said for everyone. Many die in terrible pain and/or alone.
Wendy
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Are you? About 80-90% of US health care costs are associated with treating those with chronic diseases. The incidence of chronic disease is significantly affected by obesity. Americans are among the most obese populations in the world. So…
Reduce the level of obesity to reduce the frequency of chronic diseases to lower US health care expenditures. Substantially lowering the amount of money insurance companies and medicare have to pay should result in lower premiums.
FYI, the incidence of breast cancer and other cancers significantly increase with obesity. In addition, the high frequency of chronic diseases among the obese substantially increases the difficulty of treating most ailments, from broken bones to infectious disease to dementia. All that increases costs to insurance companies and medicare that ultimately gets passed on to everyone else.
I’m sorry for that. 15 years is a good journey.
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Condolences Wendy. A hard decision to make…..but a gift to be able to exercise the choice. I oftentimes say that I’m relieved a veterinarian is likely to be making end of life decisions for me
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Not exactly. Post menopausal obesity increases the risk of breast cancer, but pre menopausal obesity decreases risk:
It might not be possible, unless we take profits out of the NHE (National Health Expenditure) equation and we get creative. I listened to an interesting story this morning about how Community Kitchen is trying to challenge the status quo in the food industry -
“In doing so, the Community Kitchen team aims to build a model founded on the belief that healthy, delicious food should be accessible to all, and that it doesn’t need to come at the cost of fair labor or environmental compromises—–from the farmer tending the soil, to the hostess welcoming guests, to the diner from the local neighborhood.”
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@VeeEnn a veterinarian?
Wendy
Yep….my daughter. I hope she will be able to exercise the same commonsense and compassion that she does with her patients.
Yes. I’ve spent over 20 years in the industry and I have required continuing education every year.
But, I am also wise enough to know when it is time to agree to disagree. You may have the last word.
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That’s a fantastic explanation from Krugman.
Every Republican health plan I’ve seen requires bringing back “pre-existing conditions” and medical underwriting.
Even the "faith-based " health insurance scams require that you don’t drink or smoke. {{ LOL }}
intercst
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Sorry to hear that. I’ve had to put down 2 dogs so far. But as long as you’re with them at the end, they seem to be OK with it.
intercst
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No. The main problem is lack of antitrust enforcement and lack of price competition.
The providers charging the highest fee are aren’t always the highest quality.
intercst
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AI will be making the “end of life” decisions in the future using an algorithm that maximizes excessive Executive Compensation.
intercst
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Hannah. - age 13. Purebred red collie.
Faith. - age 17. Stray found on the street. Border collie X spaniel
Tyree. - age 15. Adopted from dog pound. Border collie.
Cliff. - age 15. Adopted from Border Collie Rescue.
Jazzy is still alive at age 14 though her breed (English Cocker Spaniel) is said to have a life expectancy of 12 years. Adopted from deceased friend.
Our dogs reflect our emotions so it’s important for the humans to stay calm. If we are upset the dogs will think they have done something wrong. They don’t know that this visit to the vet is the last.
Wendy
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We are lucky enough to have a friend/vet that will make a home visit for that last trip.
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