Underplayed Story of the Day: Acne Could Make You Uninsurable

Domestic abuse i another pre-existing condition they use. Has anybody explained yet what value the insurers add. No snark. I understand they give big contributions, hire members of Max Baucus’ staff into cushy lobbyist jobs, but what do they give that medicaid and medicare and tricare don’t.
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Seriously. What is the positive case for private health insurance. we continually hear the downside of change. What is the upside of the status quo?

Seriously. What is the positive case for private health insurance. we continually hear the downside of change. What is the upside of the status quo?
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there be no positive case fer privateer health insurance, matey.
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But we needn’t be a changing th’ whole system this a year — specially when th’ changes be worse than th’ blight, an’ll belay real reform nex’ year, me hearty!
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(hey, its talk like a pirate day!)

And yet these unbelievable realities get little play while the cries of the mob – “death panels” and “government takeover” – get non-stop discussion. What’s wrong with this?

http://www.political-buzz.com/

trifecta I asked weeks ago what the deal is with the insurance industry needing to “sign on” to any plan.
What would happen if something passed that they didn’t approve of.

Never did get a response. I think it is as simple as the bribes, oops I mean, contributions.

Vive Le Status Quo!

What is the upside of the status quo?
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Arrr…tha’ upsie be tha’ th’ scurvy ones tha’ be screwin’ ya nar ta pirate off wit’ yer dubloons gets ta keep screwin’ ya!
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Mebbe shud be a-flyin’ the Jolly Roger instead a’ tha’ Blue Cross…Aarrrr….

quibble — the headline here is deceptive. I checked the actual ‘underwriting” documents, and its not “acne” that is the pre-existing condition that creates problems, rather its being or having been treated with Accutane for acne.
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use of accutane creates an extremely high risk of birth defects — and it may well be that this is the reason why its use results in refusal to insure those who are using accutane for acne.

..the headline here is deceptive

Not really, considering that the WaPo is releasing this on a low-attention Saturday.

e-mail that she could not comment on the guidelines because they are from years ago.
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But of course everythings ENTIRELY different now……..wink-wink!

Aye, a hunnert years ‘go, a bright young lad like Upton Sinclair’d ‘ave writtin a book abou’ th’ *jungle* ‘o abuses by ‘ealth insur’nce par’sites on th’ ‘merican people. T’day, we git one bloody art’cle.
Arrg! Wher’ ‘ave all th’ journ’lists gone?
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(O’ course, a hunnert years ago, the ‘merican people’d ‘ave stood up an’ shout’d “Let’s git rid o’ the insurance-denyin’ scallywags an’ bust up th’r treasonous monop’lies!”
T’day, we git a bunch o’ lilly-liver’d TeaBag’ers shakin’ in th’r britches and wailin’ ’bout the *dang’rous* new soc’list cap’n, and please-o-please let th’ insur’nce ind’stry beatin’s continue ’cause we’re cap’talists an’ it’s our duty t’ ‘ave the poor’st ‘mong us be walk’d on th’ plank an’ fed t’ th’ sharks ’cause tha’s wha’ cap’talists do, dagummit!
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Yarrr!
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Ahoy, me should ‘ave found this pirate translatin’ web site earlier, shiver me timbers!

Karen:
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Have you actually looked into the areas of HCR which both Democrats and Republicans both agree should be reformed?
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Have you talked with anyone on the Republican side of the aisle at all to get a feeling from them as to what in the HCR Baccus Bill that they could support? That stopping the practice of denying insurance due to “pre-existing conditions” IS a part of reform that Conservatives believe should be passed in any HCR legislation.
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Conservatives AGREE, pre-existing conditions need to be regulated. They need to be abolished from the under-writing guidelines for insurance.
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Also, what about Tort Reform? Do Democrats agree on Tort Reform? If they don’t agree, have you looked into exactly why they do not want Tort Reform? Is it simply to protect one of their biggest campaign lobbyist groups, the Trial Lawyers?
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Cost is another area, Conservatives agree the cost of healthcare needs reform. Along with waste and abuse contained within Medicare and Medicaid.
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All of these things can be passed with legislation, with bipartisian support and not cost the tax payer a single dime.
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When will you report on these very important parts of Healthcare Reform?
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Simply ask Sen Baccus why he refuses to put a bill up for a vote that has all of the things contained within it that both Republicans and Democrats AGREE.
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This bill needs to be broken down into smaller, more specific bills, instead of one big giant that will never be passed and we go another 20 years without healthcare reform.

Once again, I’m going to play the Devils’s advocate.

We can all agree that the practices described in the article are despicable but riddle me this? If Insurers are routinely engaging in these practices and yet are actually pulling in profits that are commensurate with other sorts of business activities, what will the outcome be if these practices are abruptly declared illegal?
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While people here have decried mandate’s as givaways to the insurers, the fact is that the additional customers are a crucial component of any successful overhaul of the system. I you beleive, as p-luk clearly does that these companies are nothing but parasites who should be legislated out of existence, then you won’t be happy with that premise. But a large proportion of Americans don’t share that view.
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A health reform plan that falls short of progressive ideals is nevertheless a vast improvment over the status quo. Let us please not fail to get it done.

Yet another example of how the private insurance system is working so well that we don’t need a public option.

Every politician that is against it is bought and paid for by the insurance companies and big pharma.

Rusty: I’m not sure how well if would work, though, outside the context of larger reform and specifically a big expansion of coverage.
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We’ve seen incremental measures before (don’t forget Kennedy Kassebaum, back in 1996, was supposed to do away with pre-existing condition exclusions, and we’ve also seen community rating in a number of states). What happens is that costs soar as the insurers raise rates, young and healthy people leave the system, leaving only the sick expensive people, which makes rates go up even faster.
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Certainly, there are philosophical differences on how you should expand coverage. But I don’t think a lowest-common-denominator approach is going to get you very far. It is an empty promise.
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And, yes, I agree the tort system should be part of the mix.

Great minds, PD. Please see my response to Rusty.

While people here have decried mandates (without a public option) as givaways to the insurers.
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I think that is what people have decried. And people feel that way for a reason. It is.
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And yes more people in is important but please don’t assume that everyone not insured now is a healthy 25 year old that will pay in without using the services.

KT me lass, could ye run yer post through th’ pirate translator t’ make it read easier? Ye write great stuff but ’tis difficult t’ translate into English today, me hearty. Thank ye.

No, but the size of the pool is a vital consideration anyway. Try shopping for a group policy if your ‘group ‘ is only four or five employees and compare the results if you have 50 employees.
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More warm bodies = better rates and less need for screening.

And PW,
To discuss underwriting IS to talk like a pirate, no matter your word choices!!

When barrels o’ shark bait known as ‘nsurance companies deny claims as such, ‘tis practicin’ medicine without a letter o’ marque ans be wrong. Avast! Ban it. Jus’ ban it already. Do t’ ri’ thin’ ‘lready. ARRGH! (a new thought be comin’ up while translatin’…)

Ah matey, am I in trouble? I didn’t tell my employer I’ve ad hemorrhoids ereI was hired! Who knew they’d care so aboot my arse?

Rusty, me lad, the Patients’ Choice Act Summary (pdf) be havin’ a mains’l's full ‘o text describin’ tort r’form an’ cost r’duction. Nary a word o’ pre-existin’ conditions.
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P’raps the “auto-enrollment” featur’ is s’posed to take care o’ this.
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‘Ere’s yer Patient’s Choice: enroll in th’ plan, or ye c’n take out yer own spleen!
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Arr.

Rusty, thank ye fer once bringin’ up breakin’ th’ bill into pieces o’ gold. I had remembered yer riddle but forgot who asked, was ye, ‘n I asked here, receivin’ an answer from pluk. Wha’ do ye reckon, me comrade? comment #3.2 – http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2009/09/16/a-very-belated-question-about-health-care/

KT, remember th’ Maine! Or at least th’ Dirigo. T’ mandate coverage fer all would make this work – all share, all suffer as one – but let us do so without a thrashin’ from t’ cat o’ nine tails. Here’s yet another, belay that, original thought – th’ Lord forbid we do original thinkin’ ‘round here ala Wikipedia – let us run th’ exchange like SSI where once ye’re on th’ grid ye’re in ‘n payin’ in. Thar be no fine; ye be already signed up, so declare yer policy or pick th’ public option. KT me beauty, a nubbin o’ brie ‘n a barrel o’ fine wine fer yor thoughts on this (even if ye hate t’ idea, no crickets be all I ask)….

If Insurers are routinely engaging in these practices and yet are actually pulling in profits that are commensurate with other sorts of business activities, what will the outcome be if these practices are abruptly declared illegal?

The difference t’ me be that th’ insurance companies dasn’t provide any value fer the’r profit. If they made a better vacuum clister an’ made great profits that would be one thin’, but they add a lot o’ paperwork fer sea dogs an’ land lubbers else in th’ system, deny coverage fer procedures as well as pre-existin’ conditions an’ dasn’t improve th’ product.

Tha landlubber who ortin’ t’ be keel hauled!

Aaarrr… Since I be too yeller ta be squawkin’ like a Pirate, you’ll have to do wi’ me lookin’ like one….
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/phd9/2656648642/

Ahoy, crewmates!
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I be bloody impressed a’ deconstructiva, kbanginmotown, pluk, Ivy, Beth, an’ grape_crush fer gettin’ in th’ spirit o’ th’ day!
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I be wee mite dis’ppointed in KT, bu’ then upon further ruminatin’ I be realizin’ she no be havin’ th’ soul o’ a pirate, ‘er mission bein’ t’ protect th’ interests o’ th’ crown, ere all.
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Don’t ye be findin’ it a might strange tha’ people who were receivin’ treatment wi’ a FDA-’pproved medication be later denied insurance cov’rage? I wonder…were th’ insurance corporations coverin’ th’ accutane whilst th’ acne were bein’ treated?
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Wha’ a glorious symbiosis, mates – corporate pharmaceuticals buy off th’ FDA t’ get a medication ‘pproved fer use, then corporate insurance be denyin’ cov’rage later on down th’ course fer usin’ tha’ very medication! Th’ circle be unbroken, me hearties!
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YARR!

Aye, aye, Paul Dirks, ye should ha’ in’ited us all t’ come aboard with you today, gar!

Truly could celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day like that, me hearty. Cheers.

Be ye th’ fine young gent in th’ red sash, PD?
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Th’ postin’ o’ th’ picture be special dispensation fer ye !
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YARR!

Pirate Wench, pluk posted early this morning on The Baucus Health Care bill thread (with a translating site noted) and deconstructiva posted noting the stroke of midnight at The Week That Was.

We all be doin’ ar best in yr hon’r!

Thank ye all!!!
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An Rusty – go f yerself, ye worthless scabbrous pus-drippin’ boil on th’ arse o’ humanity!
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Yarr!

is it okay if i just THINK like a pirate? (argh.)

The comments here boggle my mind! What the vast majority of you apparently want is “free healthcare” not insurance.

Quick lesson; insurance s RISK based. If the situation EXIST there is no RISK. If my car is already wrecked or my home destroyed; I can’t buy INSURANCE.

Do you believe that if your body is ALREADY damaged that INSURANCE should fix it?

I do believe that insurance companies provide benefits, one is that they spread risk among a group and thus protect the individuals. Likewise, they protect the group by keeping the cheaters, known existing conditions, out of the pool.

If you want all conditions covered under any circumstances; then demand universal healthcare not insurance.

As a side notes;

1. Consider the Government run VA as an example.

2. Do some math and see if all the profits of al the insurance companies equal the additional cost of your desired “coverage”?

3, If you want “European” style coverage, heck with any physician about working for “European” compensation.

JMHO

JB

I be seein’ tha’ Bausus postin’s Ivy!
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Th’ cap’n were requirin’ me wenchin’ attention las’ night, so I were havin’ t’ cover me sails early-like . An, considerin’ th’ lovely Isle o’ Whidbey in th’ emerald State o’ Washington be 3 hours b’hind a lot o’ ye, I be leavin’ th’ marina a wee bit later than some .
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Yarr!

I’m in the gray vest with the white saber….er guitar…..

pirate, we be wantin’ t’ give ye a fittin’ tribute this fine day!
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and KT me hearty crewmate, aye, do reckon like a pirate! We needs nah accept th’ status quo ‘n instead create fresh ideas t’ solve this fish entrail-laden mess. We must sink them mighty ‘nsurance scum t’ th’ bottom o’ th’ sea if they keep screwin’ us o’er. (btw, KT, I’m usin’… http://pirate.monkeyness.com/online_pirate_translator …w/ minor tweaks followin’ pirate’s speech here, try it, lass!)

jlbrumb ye krill-brained idiot –

Lots o’ folks tryin’ t’ get insurance AFTER they be sick HAD insurance B’FORE, bu’ lost it ‘long wi’ their means o’ makin’ a livin’. Now, they can’t get no more when they be tryin’ t’ find cov’rage ag’in.
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An’ per’aps YE should be checkin’ wi’ “European” style physicians – most o’ ‘em be quite satisfied wi’ their chosen pr’fession. Exact which “European” style physicians be ye talkin’ ’bout?
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An, wha’ be wrong wi’ a “European” system in th’ first place, ye slubberin dolt? They be payin’ half wha’ we do fer overall health outcomes be bettern’ ours in most areas – I’d sure li’ me some o’ THA’ sort o’ health care!
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I think ye be intendin’ t’ be usin’ th’ word “European” as a scare tactic, bu’ th’ crew ‘ere don’t be scarin’ easy, ye flimflammin sea sh*t!
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YARR!

Mmmm I think the better question would be is it right for people to choose between finacial ruin or death?

Clearly this post is about how insurence company will find any excuse to not include anyone with the slightest amount of health problems. I mean heck being denied coverage due to acne? I bet my left boot everyone here has had a case of ance growing up.

Ivy –
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I were goin’ back o’er th’ postin’s fr’m yesterday – lots o’ pirates got into th’ spirit at th’ stroke o’ midnight – ARRGH!
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All pirate, all day, mateys!
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YARR!

An example for you to consider
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http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/opinion/13kristof.html?_r=1&ref=opinion

No be tossin’ fish entrails here, ye yeller cur. Be police or fire protection free? O’ course nah. All pay fer it. Are ye wishin’ that we maroon all public services?
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…thank ye pirate for bringin’ up “krill”.

deconstructiva –
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Thar be oceans full o’ tiny – aye, even single’celled – creatures tha’ be ‘quivalent comparisons fer’ th’ brains an, intellectual capabilities o’ some o’ th’ blasted nuts ‘ere…
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No’ t’ be mentionin’ they be nothin’ bu a bunch o’ scurvy cleaner wrass happily nibblin’ up th’ sh*t coverin’ Beck an’ ‘is crew in return fer havin’ their blind rage an’ idiocy stoked!
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Yarr!

I have checked the European coverage compensation; lived under NHS for years.

Yes the physicians are accepting of their compensation; the question is, would ours be happy with those levels?

I do believe that catastrophic coverage should be available at a reasonable cost.

I, however , do envision a Munchausen by proxy epidemic with these proposals along with near total lack of personal responsibility for life style induced problems!

Try that KRILL.

JB

Ye’re natterin’ funny again. Some doctors are in th’ business o’ like healin’ scallywags instead o’ jus’ makin’ doubloons. They will do jus’ fine.

What you are saying is totally hipocritical “Yes if a serious accident were to happen I want people to be saved, but if they go on without health care receiving no check ups no advice from a doctor on what and how to improve their life then I’m ok with them dieing.”

Me apologies t’ actual cleaner wrass ev’rywhar in th’ seas – they do be offerin’ a necessary service, o’ course!
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Yarr!

So, ye be talkin’ bout th’ British system be ye?
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An’ assumin’ none o’ us ‘ere be knowin’ thar be other “European” models whar doctors be happy in private practice?
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Oh – Canada no be in “Europe”, so their doctors no be countin’ I suppose…nor Japanese…
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B’sides – if doctors ‘ere no be likin’ th change – whar be they goin’ t’ be goin’, since near ev’ry other developed nation in th’ world be usin’ some variation o’ th’ “European” model?
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I were too generous affordin’ ye th’ brainpower o’ a single piece o’ krill…ye don’t even be possessin’ tha’, ye bilge-swillin’ scallywag!
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YARR!

KT –
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I wish ye could be thinkin’ li’ a pirate, lass, bu’ ye be self-condemned t’ bein’ a privateer instead (aye, thar do be a diff’rence me hearties).
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In order t’ be thinkin’ li’ a pirate, ye’d be havin’ t’ be firin’ a broadside through th’ smokescreen th’ crown be layin’ down, an’ pr’vide real, usable information – li’ Stuart keep beggin’ fer, fer instance.
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Ye’d be havin’ t’ be talkin’ ’bout whether th’ proposed “reform” would be bringin’ our costs more in line wi’ other countries, an’ why it be no’ doin’ so.
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Ye’d be havin’ t’ be wastin’ yer time talkin’ ’bout th’ ways a single pay system’d be affectin’ our health care.
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Ye’d be havin’ t’ be describin’ a real, strong, open Public Option an’ how tha’d be affectin’ our health care, an’ contrastin’ it wi’ th’ week-old-rum-vomit version tha’ be passed off on us.
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Nah, lassie, thar be no much ‘ope fer ye even thinkin’ o’ livin’ th’ pirate’s life.
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yarr.

Yes the physicians are accepting of their compensation; the question is, would ours be happy with those levels?
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Arrr, if they isn’t happy wi’ tharr compensatin’, they should be settin’ up shop in some odder place wi’ health care systim similarr t’ America’s tha be payin’ dem whar they tink they shud be a-gettin’…na’ tha’ I can tink of essactly where any o’ dem places are existin’…
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Which prolly rendars yar point a moot one, swabbie.

Yarr, me hearties!
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I be hearen’ too many insults leveed on yar plankton. ‘Tis a bit unfair to be invokin’ they an’ their kin when conveyin’ ignorances, jlbrubmb.
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Aye, an’ don’ ferget that they be here far longer, say by 722,000,000 years!
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As fer yer scurvy, fever ‘rack’d musin’s, I be thinkin’ what God be givin’ ye fer brains got tossed in the scuppers:
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We wants the public option, ye scow scrubber.

Well, Swabbie;

I suppose that since this is Opinion not Fact or Logic; you may take that position. The last time I looked at the stats, there is already an extreme shortage of physicians; I an certain that cutting their compensation will cure the problem.

Even real pirates are in it for the money!

Quick lesson; insurance s RISK based. If the situation EXIST there is no RISK. If my car is already wrecked or my home destroyed; I can’t buy INSURANCE.
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Thar be wonna dem bad comparisatin’, brumbie…fer one, tha’ body y’ be wearin’ iddn’t a car thatcha’ be tradin’ fer a new…fer two, if’n I got a stain onna th’ seat or be drivin’ wonna dem ay-tee-vees, y’ bet yar boots y’ can get yerselve somma tha’ eensurance…

I be leavin’ this chum fer the sharks in Canada or Europe to partake of, ye’ spineless acritarch!
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Ye be drinkin’ too much o’ the scurvy rum Glenn Beck be handen’ out.

Luckystar;

You hit the nail right on the head. It’s called responsibility.

I’m completely in favor of enforcing personal responsibility, if someone chooses to smoke for 40 years; I don’t have responsibility to provide a lung transplant.

I be supposin’ that when we be readin’ of the preamble to the Constitution of these hyar United States, that sayin’ “Life, Liberty, and Happiness” be only applyin’ to certain physicians an’ lowlife CEOs?
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Me thinkin’ is also ye be usurping God’s role when ye complain of “life-style induced problems”.
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Be ye settin’ claim as some higher form of life, me dockside urchin?

“I’m completely in favor of enforcing personal responsibility, if someone chooses to smoke for 40 years; I don’t have responsibility to provide a lung transplant.”
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An who be deciden’? You? Yer scurvey peers?
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The scoundrel just pee’d into his own throat, methinks. My brain be rackin’ fer any description of a “death panel” more perfect!

If you want all conditions covered under any circumstances; then demand universal healthcare not insurance.

Well, that’s exactly what many of us do advocate. All the talk about the “public option”, insurance exchanges, and competition, are diversionary; they are about rearranging deck chairs on the titanic.

I read a comment somewhere that compared the current proposals to the theories advanced against Galileo: astronomers came up with all sorts of convoluted theories to maintain their belief that the universe revolved around the earth. Private, employer-based insurance is our problem, and the solution to our healthcare financing problems lies in embracing a different model.

If you want “European” style coverage, heck with any physician about working for “European” compensation.

Because? What are they going to do, where are they going to go? It may be true that some small proportion of students would choose to go to business school rather than medical school but most would adapt to the new order — especially if we subsidized medical education so that they don’t start out under a huge debt burden.

Please people, GIVE THE PIRATE GARBAGE A REST ALREADY! Pirate Wench was positively unreadable and I’m not totally sure why ya’ll thought that was so amusing. Now everyone is going to ruin (well, further degrade) this blog with pirate-talk??
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I implore you people, please let the pirate wench shove off to sea or wherever the heck it is she went. She does not need to be replaced. If it was ever funny it really isn’t anymore. What’s next, are we all going to start writing Twitter-talk? OMG, shoot me now…

Don’t worry piper, “panties in a wad” day is coming soon and then everybody will pay tribute to you on that day by overreacting in ALL CAPS.

[switching back to English briefly] piper, today is a worldwide online event – Talk Like a Pirate Day. It’s all over the web, just look at twitter, not just at this site. Although for here, if pirate plans to take a long break or even leave for good (though I wish she wouldn’t), I’m honoring her by participating. Now if there’s a Talk Like Sarah Palin Day Also, I’m going to be there too also, just so you know in advance. Thanks.
http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html

I’m with piper1 on this. I can live with pirate wench, but I’d really like to be able to read the comments — some of which make legit points — without having to translate this cr*p. If I want nonsense, I’ll read some of M.S.’s posts. Don’t make me read it in the damn comments.

And JB, if you forget to turn the oven off and your house catches on fire I’m not going to cry if a fireman, whose salary is paid by my taxes, puts out the fire. True, personal responsibility is a lost concept these days, but the fact remains, we need each other. Everybody has bumps in the road, everybody needs help at some point. You are no different.

How’d we all be talkin’ on said “panties in a wad day”, me hearty? In a shrill, panicked falsetto, per’aps? Some o’ th’ scurvy wingnuts be doin’ tha’ on a near daily basis, so we must be embarked upon th’ “panties in a wad” decade, ‘r poseidon forbid, century!
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YARR!

If it’s jump off a damn cliff day, are you going to jump off a damn cliff? All of this stupid pirate stuff makes rusty look intellligent. Give it a rest.

deconstructiva – ye fergot yer “you betcha!”
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arrgh !

Well excuse some of us for wanting to have an intelligent conversation. I’ll just let you people return to living in a bad Saturday Night Live skit.

An’ piper an’ john –
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Yer bumptious bellyachin’ be doin’ nothin’ bu’ firmin’ me resolve t’ continue t’ exhort me mateys t’ continue celebratin’ th’ day, ye worthless pieces o’ chum!
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It no be li’ KT were givin’ us somethin’ new ‘r earthshakin’ t’ be discussin’ ‘ere, neither…jus’ th’ same ol’, Congress an’ health “care” corporations tryin’ t’ slip yet ‘nother stupid restriction by in their pr’posed “reform.”
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If ye can’t stand th’ talk, abandon ship fer th’ rest o’ th’ day ye scurvy devils!
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YARR!

Aye, me mistake! lol

It be just li’ a self-righteous sea squirt t’ be makin’ sweepin’ pr’nouncements on th’ intelligence o’ our conversatin’ on its first visit t’ th’ Swamp – ‘ow’d we ever survive wi’out it?!
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YARR!

Well SNL is a comedy show so I’m confused as to how you are aware of it.
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Demwoman, lots of CAPS and exclamation points!!!!! And yes, as Obama took the oath of office an eight year P in a W period began for many older, paler, slightly less intelligent citizens.

The last time I looked at the stats, there is already an extreme shortage of physicians; I an certain that cutting their compensation will cure the problem.
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Arrr…ye be makin’ the right observatin’ of , brumbie, but yer ramblin’ on aboot compensatin’ bein’ th’ issue is na’ ringin’ true…Thar’s [odder reasonin's why thar' don' seems to be mor' meddycal p-aych-dees roamin' aboot]…

Then, show us yer stats, ye spineless sea t*rd !
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Ye seem t’ve missed th’ ones showin’ Canadians be havin’ a much higher percentage o’ primary care doctors, haven’t ye, ‘r are ye neglectin’ t’ mention those a’purpose!
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YARR!

Yep, personal responsibility is paramount.
AntiVirus Market

deconstructiva – well, in honor o’ th’ American troops, I say ye just quit makin’ (up) mistakes !
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yarr.

Avast, 53! “Denyin’ med’cal care to a smoker?”…
Be soundin’ like the Krill ‘as jus’ made ‘imself judge, jury and ex’cutor of ‘is very own death panel !!1!!

Blast, shu’da scroll’d futher, 53! I see ye’ve already toss’d th’ turd back ov’rboard! Good work, matey!

Bril’ant, retort, SPLI !

“Acne Could Make You Uninsurable”
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An’ a stunt’d sense o’ humor cou’d make ye Insuff’rable!
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H’nestly, lads, wer’ the f’nnybone-ectomy a pre-existin’ condition, or did ye haf’ta work at it?
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Th’ day ‘as bin a much-need’d respit’ from days o’ project’l vomitin’ aft’r TIME’s cov’r art’cle on B…B…Blehhhhck!!
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Arrrg!

Fer yer pirate viewin’ pleasure, me hearties:
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I’ve a few others I be savin’ fer throughout th’ day!
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YARR!

Oh – an’ this one – thar do be a connection t’ th’ health care thread here, mateys, as I be thinkin’ th’ mention o’ th’ sad condition o’ chapped lips’d be considered a pre-existin’ condition in any health insurance policy worth its salt, me hearties!
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“One big insurer refused to issue individual policies to police officers and firefighters”

Like FDNY Assistant Commissioner Stephen Gregory?

“You know like when they demolish a building, how when they blow up a building, when it falls down? That’s what I thought I saw. And I didn’t broach the topic to him,but he asked me. He said I don’t know if I’m crazy, but I just wanted to ask you because you were standing right next to me. He said did you see anything by the building? And I said what do you mean by see anything? He said did you see any flashes? I said, yes, well, I thought it was just me. He said no, I saw them, too.”

Or firefighter Edward Cachia?

“It actually gave at a lower floor, not the floor where the plane hit, because we originally had thought there was like an internal detonation explosives because it went in succession, boom, boom, boom, boom, and then the tower came down.”

Or paramedic Daniel Rivera?

“It was a frigging noise. At first I thought it was — do you ever see professional demolition where they set the charges on certain floors and then you hear “Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop” That’s exactly what — because I thought it was that. When I heard that frigging noise, that’s when I saw the building coming down.”

http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2009/01/15/new-yorks-bravest/

Right now we have sick people, we have people dieing, and we have people who are dead all because they didn’t have health insurance. Did many of these people failed to keep themselves healthy because of certain lifestyle chooses? More then likely, but it doesn’t mean they have earned a death sentence. If we as a people are unwillingly to put a murder to death why are we giving a death sentence to someone who ate too many cheeseburgers and didn’t exercise?

Personal responiblity is that personal. I will not forsake my country men for the lives they live. I can only care for them when they are sick and try and teach them to better themselves.

pirate, I must set sail fer th’ rest o’ th’ day but bon voyage n’ good luck wit’ yer new adventures. If ye can make an occasional port o’ call here fer any reason – promote a new blog, give our fair beauties KT and Amy a new beginnin’, or jus’ change yer mind, ‘twould be much appreciated. Godspeed!

Fair winds an’ followin’ seas t’ ye, deconstructiva, an’ good luck in th’ Swamp!
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Arrgh!

Well, accordin’ t’ Barbara Ehrenreich, one o’ em were a 12-yr-old kid who’s mum didn’a have th’ 80 doubloons it took t’ be havin’ an abcessed tooth pulled, an’ it turned into a ragin’ infection, and th’ child died.
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I be havin’ a ri’ hard time tryin’ t’ figure out how a 12-yr-old were failin’ in ‘is personal responsibility…’r are we advocatin’ th’ OT adage tha’ th’ “sins” o’ th’ parents be deservin’ t’ be on th’ heads o’ th’ children, now?
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YARR!

Avast 53 – th’ scallywag must o’ run off t’ th’ head t’ be washin’ its mouth out after th’ peein’ – not a peep since th’ unfortunate incident!
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Yarr, me hearty!

PW, I’ll “Splice the mainbrace” in your honor tonight. It’s too bad bilge-sucking Time chose to coddle a demagogue just prior to your ship’s launch. Yuts, Sacred, many of your best mates have already set sail. In any event, all the best!

Oregonjc, fill me in, did some of our buds jump ship because of the coverboy?

Arrrgh! Pirate Wench!
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Me and me merry proterozoic sphearomorphic acritarchs be takin’ offense at ye scurvy dog’s scurrilous slights o’ the plankton’.
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He be lookin’ the part o’ the sharks’ food ere the dinoglagellates get through w’ the likes o’ him. We be tiny, but we be trillions!
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As fer his barnacle clad excuse fer a skull, he best be findin’ a different sort a substance t’ store in it!
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Mainly, a brain!

Ye do tha’ jcapan – an’ I’ll hoist a few t’ ye after castin’ off me lines later. Who be knowin’ – we may pass in th’ night somewhar – I’ll fire ye a salute!
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YARR!

Aye, Pirate Wench!
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May we be hopin’ useless for the occasional round from yer blunderbuss to be fired into the scurvy red tide of GOP lackeys?
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I be only askin’ to hear the searing screech o’ the shot o’erhead fired from dear ol’ Isle of Whidbey!

Alri’, alri’ 53 – me most sincere apologies t’ t’ entire plankton phyllum!
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Ye’ve got t’ be admittin’ though, tha’ admirable as plankton be fer bein’ plankton, when it be comin’ t’ sheer human brainery, havin’ one th’ size o’ a single plankton cell (‘special when paired wi’ a bark loud as a testosterone-crazed bull elephant seal) be no’ exact’ a compliment…
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YARR!

Conservatives AGREE, pre-existing conditions need to be regulated. They need to be abolished from the under-writing guidelines for insurance. 
Conservatives in this country would never agree to the level of regulation that would be required to make that work. The necessary bureaucracy would never be adequately funded. More importantly, why waste the money that way?
 Do Democrats agree on Tort Reform? If they don’t agree, have you looked into exactly why they do not want Tort Reform? Is it simply to protect one of their biggest campaign lobbyist groups, the Trial Lawyers? Why is the responsibility of Democrats to defend the prinicple that someone who is harmed by a physician is entitled to compensation? The CBO concluded that the threat of malpractice suits constitues a negligible cost to the overall system and in Texas, the only beneficiaries of tort reform seem to have been insurance companies: It hasn’t made any difference in the cost of care. Cost is another area, Conservatives agree the cost of healthcare needs reform. If that were really true, they would be doing everything they could to move the nation’s focus from for-profit insurance to another model. The insurance companies’ fee for service payment policies have strangled primary care physicians and the deals that insurance companies cut with hospitals have been a major contributor to escalating costs (see the Boston Globe story about Partner’s Healthcare for details about just how that works). 

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/12/28/a_handshake_that_made_healthcare_history/?page=full

Who is responsible for this board. It is one of the most messed up blogging sites I have ever seen. What does it take to get paragraph separators? There is no “Contact us” and no help. The regulars have all just accepted that they have to create blank lines with a period. Some people have figured out the key but I’ve experimented with every HTML tag I know and I still get run on posts.

Somepeeps, see here:
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http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2009/09/17/glenn-beck-makes-times-cover/#comments
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Droppin’ like flies, they were.
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But not to worry, the rest of us masochists will pick up the slack.

Messenia, per her instructions, all complaints should be sent directly to Karen Tumulty’s home address.
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As for regulars accepting, see the above masochism reference.

“we may pass in th’ night somewhar – I’ll fire ye a salute!”
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Tis a small pond sep’ratin’ our isles, fair wench. As I’m settin’ sail for the day, once more, bes’regards!
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YARR!

We be no takin’ offense at ye commentary Pirate Wench, aye, tho’ for the likes of that commenter, he be no better’n a spirochete hidin’ up the anal orifice.
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Spirochetes be landlubbin’ parasites, aye, an’ they be no good for anything else. But us plankton, we be workin’ fer our swag, we be. An’ we be remakin’ the planet, we be!
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Kbanger:
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I be seein’ that buttsnake growin’ as he spewed it out his mouth, ere he pinched it off with his lips! Aye, a sorry sight!

Go DAWGS!

[...] religious right wing dithers and invokes God’s name to smite down the sinners, it turns out acne is a pre-existing condition that could keep you from getting insured. A proposal to make [...]

Ahoy Pirate Wench, may yer storms be short, an’ yer sunsets long. ARRR!

PW:

I be readin’ this blog for nigh ‘most a year, now and ne’r peeped a word. But I ha’ ta say I be hopin’ tha ye drop in time ta time e’en tho’ ye mentioned ye be movin’ on. Also I be tryin’ ta splain my fascination wit all ye swampy folks here to my darlin’ husband by readin’ ou’loud to im fer example a random PW post an’ now all o’ a sudden I find me self up in th’ crow’s nest and Sweety keeps repeatin “wenchin’ attention, wenchin’ attention, aaargh!”

PW, I be settin’ sail an’ forgot yer ship be sailin’ too. I f’ed up me lassie and gave th’ rusty dog me last post when it should’a been for a fine bonnie lass like yerself. I could’n a let the ship sink wi’ out wishn’ ye smooth sailin’.

Smooth sailing and calm waters pirate wench.

I’m going to miss many of you other folks too. Good luck.

Oh, an’ Go Ye Dawgs! Yarr!

Me two! Or three.
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May your trails be a twisted as a fair lassie’s hair in the wind…

“Oh, an’ Go Ye Dawgs! Yarr!”
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Sixteen be such a sweet number, aye!

Thank you! That is the stupidest, most annoying, least comprehendable schtick on these comments.

And don’t ever leave the house. You might fall victim to a car that swerves onto the sidewalk… or a stray bullet… or a tree limb falls over the pathway.

And even better, choose your parents and grandparents wisely. They could be carrying some nasty genes.

And we civilized society don’t want to pay for your negligence in any of the above situations. You are the controller of your fate.

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