We really need universal healthcare...

OOOOh, don't get me started...I am about to submit my bills from weigh****chers and the bariatric doc, knowing full well they will deny me.  However, i plan to take this to the appeal level; i might even make the papers.  To prove a point, dammit. Mine covers WLS, but nothing lesser...not even a nut.  Now put THAT in your pipe and smoke it...if you can light it!!!!!  That is sooooo lame.

The inurance business is highly regulated at the state and federal levels and many local state legislators will impose mandates on companies.  These costs are merely shifted back to the employer group in the way of higher premiums, and the employer will sometimes then shift them back to the individual employee in higher co pays, deductibles, or in the exclusion of certain benefits altogether.  That is what happens when some local legislator thinks he is going to "stick it to those big, bad, HMOs".   The politician may get a political push up out of it, but he actually may cause people to lose benefits by imposing mandates.    It is your employer who purchases a plan for insurance.  He has a set dollar value limit in his budget he wants to spend, therefore, he can choose from a menu of services he wants to include or exclude.   He also has to look at the demographic of the group.   Groups with larger numbers of older employees who are more likely to heavily use services will be rated to pay higher premiums.   If you have an HMO or a PPO, it is your employer who can decide what services to exclude altogether.   It is that simple.   The insurance company will tailor a plan to cover whatever the employer wants within his budget. Universal health care only means everyone will be covered.  It speaks nothing about the quality of the care that can be expected, including the wait times to be seen.  Let's face it, Michael Moore's  personal physical condition bespeaks that he does not take care of his body -- not unlike many people.  He can afford to get as much healthcare as he wants, and I'm sure he would be the first person complaining that the government should not be dictating to him who he can see and which hospital he must use.  Is he running off to Cuba to get healthcare?   I doubt it.  He is a hypocrite.  I personally do not want bureaucrats I did not elect deciding which doctors and hospitals I will be permitted to use.  

yuppers!  that article up there that I cited states that while the limits for wls in the UK are similar to here in the US many waiting lists are limiting the procedure to those with a BMI over 60!  and they will wait 2-3 years for surgery... those who dont reach a BMI of 60 may never qualify to get on the list.