ABC Health Dr Orin Devinsky Obama pledge to take gvt healthcare

[TheShannonlaw]

this is my neurologist, and i like that he baffled the president of the united states :)

[cricketjdw78]

Boy, he dances around a question really well! What a jerk! I bet a lot of people who voted for him and thought he was the savior of the world are kicking themselves now.

[andotech]

If you don't like a government sponsored health plan, go get a private health plan. What's the problem? Why is this concept so hard for people to understand?  The point is that a government plan would give people a choice between that plan and any available private plans.

[THEHONEYMOONERS2003]

@andotech :

don't you think that it's possible the govt will be able to offer lower rates and, eventually, that the competition could be wiped out because they can not offer the same rates?

[andotech]

Good question.

The existence of public schools did not wipe out private schools. The existence of public libraries did not wipe out book stores ('brick and mortar' or online).

In both cases, the reason for this is because of the variety of services offered in public vs. private. Consumers who want something other than what is available publicly can obtain it privately. Insurance companies are insentivized to NOT spend money on healthcare, but rather drop those who get sick.

[THEHONEYMOONERS2003]

@andotech

what you say is true. however, the huge presence of a government take over of 1/6 of our county's total revenue can, in my opinion, not be likened to a public library. the library does not set rules that penalize businesses for not getting a library card or for not having their employees get one. the library does not decide what potentially life saving procedures i am "allowed".

[THEHONEYMOONERS2003]

@andotech

however, if you want to stick to the library example, they do have a limited selection of books. i do have one other good county option for books, but it will cost a good amount of money and an inconvenient drive.

if the government plan becomes accessible and at an unbeatable rate for the consumer, private companies will be unable to maintain costs. they won't have the negotiating power with the heath care providers.

[THEHONEYMOONERS2003]

@andotech

i am interested more in hearing about opening up insurance across state lines, creating opportunity for competition which drives prices down and innovation up. health care will always be expensive. but, i want full control over it.

aren't you at all concerned with president obama's answer to the woman whose mother not only survived the surgery for the pace maker.. but also continued to live?

[kmanship]

So he is saying Government health care is the right way to go but if it's his family he is going to look for the best care even if it's not through the Government program.... Well, that gives me great confidence that Government run health care is a good solution...LOL

[twilitbeing]

@ejayhawk: Precisely. The legislative process was designed to be slow for a reason: so that temporary political shifts don't cause long-term damage to the system. A massive reform shouldn't be rushed.

Degree of change / time taken = chance of unplanned effect.

@EtherealStrife: I see your point; however, there is a difference between paying for private care yourself and doing so with public money. (That doesn't mean politicians' salaries, of course; I'm talking about the plan itself.)

[ejayhawk]

What Obama doesn't understand, is even if you give the Government the power to overrun your life and if the current administration has great intentions, what if the next guy whom you've now empowered......doesn't?

[ddsharper]

ejayhawk: they understand perfectly. watch?v=HcBaSP31Be8

[Mustanggtcrusin]

Obama talks over and around the real question, thus never giving real and true answer to our questions.

[randysorchestrations]

He is a politician.

[JonnyFion]

Completely agree with you. Although he did accidentally answer the question during his very broad and distracting babble. If you listen carefully his true answer slips out which was "you're absolutely right. if it's my family, I want them to have the very best care." So it sounds to me that this "plan" is good enough for us "the American people" but not for his family. I sympathize with the loss of his grandmother, but was that supposed to make us think that he doesn't have good health care?

[harryflocyberman]

Obama speaks of bankruptcy, would this plan if it is implemented bankrupt America if more money needs to be printed to pay for it, further lowering the value of the dollar and thus the end of life of our currency. We are losing jobs everyday it doesn't matter if it is slowed down a loss is a loss and china employment keeps getting better thanks to our wonderful capitalist companies across America, but everybody wants and needs the money money money. including our congress with stuffed pockets.

[thatbritts]

Dont join and dont pay you will be fined, Dont pay the fine and you go to jail up to five years. :)

[Qidron]

Did he answer the question? I get tangled up in lots of words.

[positrondave]

If it's such a "public option" I opt not to join.... But I also opt as, not a member, I won't pay for it either...think about it.

[dougstar02]

At least he's doing something about it. Everyone was complaining while Bush was in office, that things were out of control. At least, he is trying to change it. I salute him! ;-)

[OmODei1986]

Obama does give you an answer in this interview. "I always want them (His Family, not yours) to get the very best care." I agree 100% with pbeum1. Take back this country.

[pbeum1]

No, Obama does NOT give a clear answer in this video, at 1;45 or any other time. Typical total doubletalk BS non-answer from Obama. Of course he and the politicians would keep their gold-plated health coverage instead of going on the "public option" the rest of us would end up on. Everybody knows this. Obama is just a liar. He lies about the healthcare plan every time he talks about it. He wants to rush legislation through so nobody has the time to examine it, like with the stimulus bill.

[EtherealStrife]

pbeum1: "Of course he and the politicians would keep their gold-plated health coverage instead of going on the 'public option' the rest of us would end up on."

If you ended up on the public option, then you were probably uninsured or poorly insured before.

I'm sure those in upper-middle class and up would be keeping their superior health coverage, why are you targeting just one man? Instead of being resentful, try working to better yourself and your position.

[livegems]

It is kind of amazing some "people" think health costs are like buying a car or any other commercial proposition (eg: all the insurance co-sponsored posts on Youtube by varying "people"). You can plan to buy a car or a house: it's your own responsibility and your money allocation--but you can't plan a medical affliction. Not the same. I simply note one anti-health plan person on Ytube had her two fave videos as a) a revolver shooting into a tank, and b) a clip of Milton F'man on "Greed". True!!

[zRichi]

Forty percent of bankruptcies in America arise from desperate people trying to fund decant care for their families. And the US spends twice per capita on health provision than does the UK.

The British system may not be perfect, what is, but for a rich country to have hospitals that turn away the sick because they cannot pay is just plain revolting, and that a large constituency of the citizenry should support such callousness is sick in itself.

[JMED04]

There is nothing wrong with his response to the question. He never said that he wouldn't primarily take the universal health plan for his family. He just said that if there came to be a decision he was faced with that gave a better and alternative choice to save a family member, then he would take that plan instead. And who wouldn't?? He is not sacrificing anything, because it is a PUBLIC OPTION to join the new universal health care plan. You, just like the president, can choose whatever option.

[HerrBismarck]

I don't understand people saying that he didn't answer. He did answer, he said yes at 1:45.

He is being realistic, he's admitting it. What's wrong with that?

[Gerts4th]

So Obama admits that he would go outside of his Obamacare, to get the best care for his family. However if Obamacare is passed as it is, it will end up killing off independent insurance. People (other than elitists like Obama) will have to stay with the socialist rationing program or else they will be penalized. Regular people like us won't be able to afford the special care/procedures we now have access to, if it's not included in our Obamacare, and if Obama's czars say we can't have it.

[HerrBismarck]

Obamacare? You mean public option?

Anyway, there is one problem with your story. You say "Regular people like us won't be able to afford the special care/procedures we now have access to".

Maybe you can, but most can't and that's the problem. That's why we need reform.

Also, you say that what we have now is better than "Obamacare". If so, then how will it "it will end up killing off independent insurance?". Remember, its a public "option". You can keep what you have now.

[HerrBismarck]

If what you have now is better, then public option will die. By you saying that it will kill Ins Companies, then you are admitting that public option is better.

I doubt that it is going to be like premium (for that we need Universal Health Care, not public option) but if it can give me the same benefits I have now (which aren't many) for cheaper and for more people (the great number of americans uninsured) then I am happy.

[goharlan]

typical lib, he never answered the question just did a lot of babbling about nothing.

[jz0711]

I agree 110%

[cousindupuis]

How do you know when a lawyer is lying? His lips are moving.  Dodging the question by going into some rant about his grandma is pathetic. Just answer the mans question el Presidente!!!!

[twizatch]

what a douche

[ed2kou1]

If this health care program is so good. WHY IN THE BILL DOES CONGRESS EXEMPT THEMSELVES!! I WANT THE HEALTH CARE OBAMA HAS. WE ARE THERE BOSSES. DON'T THEY REPRESENT WE THE PEOPLE. As the 4th of July approaches, do you really think this is what our forefathers fought for. WE HAVE BIGGER GOVERNMENT THEN EVER BEFORE. EVERYTHING IS A CRISIS. THAT'S BHO'S EXCUSE.

[joskemom]

What a stupid question and the answer was a typical long winded saying alot but nothing that did not get to the point, and he did not answer the question. If I or anyone else had the means and the freedom of choice, hell yea we would try everything to save a family member. Why would we not? I dont want a statest to tell me what they will and will not provide and then restrict me in my options. That should be between me my doctor and MY money.

[Cortelco1]

Obama scares the hell out of me.

"Sorry....No more money for treatment for you!"

"Your life is basically over anyway.... Here's a pain pill; now go away and die."

Obama - for the social good.

Be afraid... Be VERY afraid!

[DumpsterBaby1]

Classic Chairman Mao bama. He's asked a pointed question and deflects with some sob story about grandma. We all know that the last year or so of one's life is the most expensive, but what about when it's someone in their prime?

As a leader in the treatment of Epilepsy, Dr. Devinsky sees people who in their early years develop life altering problems. Are those patients to be deprived the specialty care they need and go to a Doc In The Box while footing the Medicaid tax bill for freeloaders.

[stri8ted]

LOL nice complete derail, trying to evoke sympathy and relate with the crowd using a complete irrelevant subject.

He speaks big ideas, which of course no one can argue with, ( lol who is gonna argue we don't need quality heath care)

How he will go about doing that, he fails to mention.

The same way he got himself to presidency,

Who is to argue we don't need change, heath care , education...

[miami525]

i love how the same people who want you to send your kids to public schools and have rationed health care also don't practice what they preach. i'm sure that he will use the 3 million dollars he's worth and obtain the best healthcare for his family, much in same way his kids go the most prestigious schools in america. does that sound like "real change"?

[waste234]

I support the idea that Obama should be forced to put his entire family on whatever public health plan they come up with. That would give him a good perspective on what the average American will be dealing with.

[121721271]

I agree! However as the earlier post states, they will never do that. They are only trying to take away from your care, not theirs. These people have created laws that put themselves above the law and have abused their rights. Most in Congress would have been jailed if they were not in Congress. Sad but true.

[AntiApparatchik]

He did NOT answer the Question! Here comes Soviet-style Health Care. "Party Members" and their "Komrades" will always be powerful enough to seek the best treatment for themselves. Sen. Kennedy put a provision/amendment that EXCLUDES Congress and the President from having to participate in Socialistic Health Care (or non-Care).

[121721271]

You are correct. Anytime politicians try to control us they write in an out for themselves. Why is it that the laws they pass don't apply to them. Watch the Boston Guy on Youtube discuss Congress and you will see that these people are not looking out for you and me and have only self interest in mind.

[121721271]

His philosophy, and those of his supporters who pay no attention to what is really happening, is if you can't win with the facts, baffle em' with BS. Obama is using Linguistic Programing at it's best and continues to mask the truth. His plans cannot stand on their own. Name one policy that he and this Democratic Congress has tried to pass that will somehow help the vast majority of Americans rather than discriminate against them. Remember many people went along with Hitler's plans. WOW.

[121721271]

In countries like the UK and Canada, companies have to buy additional insurance as a premium just to supplement the government run Healthcare. That is a fact. Just to keep good employees Companies still have to fund the insurance and Obama never talks about that.

[121721271]

Family make these decisions today. If passed, the government would have a say in that.  The Obama team is just trying to absorb power and an additional money stream from the public to control as they would like. Can you imagine what they would do with additional monies beyond Social Security and Medicare that they rob from to fund other projects today? Not a good idea. Obama himself said many times they don't have a solid plan but they want to pass the bill anyway. How irresponsible!

[johnlaw63]

You are 100% correct - This President is at best telling half truths and at worse absolutely lying to the American people.

[waste234]

That's just simply not the case. If you'd ever been through a serious medical illness, you would know that every single minute decision, down to the last detail, must be submitted to an insurance company or HMO for approval. And many are denied. So much for family making decisions.

[121721271]

Well that's ignorant! I broke my back, my son had 5 brain surgeries for Hydrocephalus, my wife's had two children, one by C section, I have had 3 kidney stones and I have used both a PPO and an HMO with no problems at all. Oh, and my son has been in and out of the hospital with a Seizure condition. You're way off base and if not dishonest you just had bad luck. Some people have problems with insurance just because they don't read the coverage. They are not end all policies.

[meatballstyle]

I suspect those complaining are the ones who chose the worst-possible (cheapest) basic coverage for themselves. Even those co-workers of mine who took the cheap HMO coverage from work have had no problem with multiple hospital visits, while my PPO provides amazing care with no 'haggling' with insurance.

[121721271]

Right on Meatballstyle. If you don't value your life you might be tempted to go without it too. Young people often do by choice to have extra beer money. Some get themselves into financial trouble I will admit but that is a problem that I should not be paying for. Stuff Happens. That was the nice version.

[onlyrey]

What if we can buy extended insurance that can cover things that go beyond what is known to work... if I want to have a hip replacement when my remainder life is 3 months, I can use the extended insurance for that. Obama is only talking about the basic public option. Dr. Devinsky asked a valid question which is the end of life management which is in many physicians minds. It is a valid question.