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When I was laid off of work I had to pay for Cobra, the premiums were outrageous. After that ran out I had to look into getting healthcare for my wife and I. We made "too" much on our tax returns the previous year so as a healthy couple in our 20s I had to pay over a thousand a month to keep our healthcare going while unemployed...There are no excuses this country is a joke when it comes to healthcare.

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Just now, BuffaloWeather said:

When I was laid off of work I had to pay for Cobra, the premiums were outrageous. After that ran out I had to look into getting healthcare for my wife and I. We made "too" much on our tax returns the previous year so as a healthy couple in our 20s I had to pay over a thousand a month to keep our healthcare going while unemployed...There are no excuses this country is a joke when it comes to healthcare.

I'll agree to disagree. I don't think that healthcare is a right. It's simply not fair that I workout and eat healthy and have to support the guy eating Cheetos and soda. I have no problem contributing tax dollars to those who cant help themselves or get sick beyond their own control but by far the largest contributor to healthcare costs in this country is diabetes and heart disease which can be largely be linked to obesity. These same fat asses are the same ones who are yelling from their couches to save the environment while they reek of their own methane...

/end rant

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Heres a great example of what I mean. I should mention that my wife works in healthcare, so she sees this everyday. https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collection/health-expenditures-vary-across-population/#item-out-of-pocket-spending-on-health-services-is-almost-as-concentrated-as-overall-health-spending_2016

In 2016, 5% of the population accounted for half of all health spending. The 5% of people who spend the most on health care spend an average of around $50,000 annually; people in the top 1% have average spending of over $109,750. At the other end of the spectrum, the 50% of the population with the lowest spending accounted for only 3% of all total health spending; the average spending for this group was $276.

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I still don't get it. I don't see it being an issue in Canada, Norway, Germany, etc...

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/22/germany-health-care-system-compared-to-united-states.html

Germany blows us out of the water. Watch that video and tell me how you can disagree. It's fact after fact of them having better health care for half the price.

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19 minutes ago, BuffaloWeather said:

I still don't get it. I don't see it being an issue in Canada, Norway, Germany, etc...

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/22/germany-health-care-system-compared-to-united-states.html

Germany blows us out of the water. Watch that video and tell me how you can disagree. It's fact after fact of them having better health care for half the price.

Here's how I disagree.

https://news.gallup.com/poll/150359/half-germans-obese-overweight.aspx

Here's the other issue to keep site of. We don't have enough drs as it is.

https://journal.practicelink.com/vital-stats/physician-compensation-worldwide/

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The COVID-19 outbreak in New York state has spread to about 1,700 people, hospitalizing 19% of them and killing at least 12, state officials announced Tuesday, adding that the number of cases will continue to rise as the state receives more test results.

The state is scrambling to expand its hospital capacity to handle an influx of cases before infections peak here,  New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at a press conference in Albany. New York currently has 53,000 hospital beds and 3,000 ICU beds, far short of what state health officials are predicting will be needed, he said. They estimate the state will need between 18,600 to 37,200 ICU beds and at least 55,000 hospital beds at the peak of the outbreak across the state, which he predicted will take about 45 days.

"That, my friends, is the problem that we've been talking about since the beginning of this exercise," Cuomo said.

The fast-moving virus has spread to more than 183,000 people across the globe, killing more than 7,100, since emerging from Wuhan, China less than three months ago. The number of cases changes by the minute. State officials are revising their data throughout the day, Cuomo's spokesman William Burns said.

At the beginning of the press conference, Cuomo said the state had more than 1,300 cases with a hospitalization rate of 19%. New York state Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker updated the numbers about 30 minutes into the briefing, telling Cuomo there were now around 1,700 cases across the state. Cuomo's data, according to Burns, was current as of 6 a.m. and Zucker's updated numbers will be revised later Tuesday.

Cuomo joined the governors of New Jersey and Connecticut on Monday in jointly announcing several measures to reduce density throughout the region, citing "a lack of federal direction and nationwide standards." The states are closing movie theaters and limiting public gatherings to fewer than 50 people.

 

"Our primary goal right now is to slow the spread of this virus so that the wave of new infections doesn't crash our health-care system, and everyone agrees social distancing is the best way to do that," Cuomo said. "This is not a war that can be won alone, which is why New York is partnering with our neighboring states to implement a uniform standard that not only keeps our people safe but also prevents 'state shopping' where residents of one state travel to another and vice versa."

Cuomo warned Monday that the outbreak would stretch U.S. hospitals to their maximum capacity, saying the nation doesn't have enough hospital beds to handle a pandemic.

"When we're going to have a real problem is when cases hit their apex and descend on the health-care system and we will not have enough hospital beds," Cuomo said.

Cuomo said he sent a letter to President Donald Trump asking him to deploy the Army Corps of Engineers to the state to "start building temporary health-care capacity." He also criticized the federal government's response to the pandemic, saying it has "been behind from day one on this crisis."  

"States, frankly, don't have the capacity or the power to make up for the federal government," Cuomo said. He called on U.S. officials to coordinate closings across the country, saying state and local leaders have adopted a "hodgepodge" of different actions

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2 hours ago, BuffaloWeather said:

I still don't get it. I don't see it being an issue in Canada, Norway, Germany, etc...

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/22/germany-health-care-system-compared-to-united-states.html

Germany blows us out of the water. Watch that video and tell me how you can disagree. It's fact after fact of them having better health care for half the price.

Germans pay for it, just the bill comes in a different envelope.  Nothing is free, and Germany has problems I am glad we don’t have.  

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Trump is proposing to give a bunch of money to the airline industry, hotels, cruise in the terms of subsidies. I'm sure that will trickle down to the common employee and not be given to the CEOs in huge bonuses. The same thing happened in 2008 with the financial bailouts. As someone who works in the financial industry the CEOS got MASSIVE bonuses while laying off thousands of people. The rich please the rich, always has been, always will be. That is the fundamental issue with the republican party. They believe in less government involvement encourages capitalism, but they fail to realize that those who work in the private industry are just as if not more corrupt then politicians.

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2 hours ago, Luke_Mages said:

Here's how I disagree.

https://news.gallup.com/poll/150359/half-germans-obese-overweight.aspx

Here's the other issue to keep site of. We don't have enough drs as it is.

https://journal.practicelink.com/vital-stats/physician-compensation-worldwide/

Obesity is a life choice. You cannot force people to eat healthy and exercise. Has nothing to do with healthcare in each country.

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7 minutes ago, BuffaloWeather said:

Obesity is a life choice. You cannot force people to eat healthy and exercise. Has nothing to do with healthcare in each country.

C'mon really? You think its ok to be glutenous and expect your fellow citizens to pick up the tab? That has everything to do with healthcare. Spend all the money you would have spent on universal healthcare and spend it on programs to educate healthy living. Treat the problem instead of putting a band-aid on it.

(if we did go full on communist you wouldn't have the option to be obese as food would be rationed)

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1 hour ago, Luke_Mages said:

C'mon really? You think its ok to be glutenous and expect your fellow citizens to pick up the tab? That has everything to do with healthcare. Spend all the money you would have spent on universal healthcare and spend it on programs to educate healthy living. Treat the problem instead of putting a band-aid on it.

(if we did go full on communist you wouldn't have the option to be obese as food would be rationed)

I guess we will agree to disagree. This is coming from someone who goes to gym 5 days a week 2 hours a day and plays hockey/vball on the weekends. I believe health care is a human right. There shouldn't be 27 million uninsured people in the USA. One illness, fall, accident and they're ruined for life.

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3 hours ago, BuffaloWeather said:

I guess we will agree to disagree. This is coming from someone who goes to gym 5 days a week 2 hours a day and plays hockey/vball on the weekends. I believe health care is a human right. There shouldn't be 27 million uninsured people in the USA. One illness, fall, accident and they're ruined for life.

Not to beat a dead horse but you know that you can’t be denied treatment and the first thing a hospital does if you come uninsured is get you setup with Medicaid, right? While there are exceptions what you describe as ruined for life is the rare case. This is coming from a fellow gym rat who grew up on public assistance. 

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1 hour ago, Luke_Mages said:

Not to beat a dead horse but you know that you can’t be denied treatment and the first thing a hospital does if you come uninsured is get you setup with Medicaid, right? While there are exceptions what you describe as ruined for life is the rare case. This is coming from a fellow gym rat who grew up on public assistance. 

Medicaid is only for very poor people. Not all of those 27 million people are poor. I mean look at those income levels. I grew up very poor in the city with 2 working parents struggling just above min wage. They refused any type of social assistance, but could definitely have used some help. They had to sell nearly every possession they had (including my moms engagement ring) to pay for my medical bills as a kid. (I had loads of issues as an infant)

https://www.medicaidplanningassistance.org/medicaid-eligibility-new-york/

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1 hour ago, BuffaloWeather said:

Medicaid is only for very poor people. Not all of those 27 million people are poor. I mean look at those income levels. I grew up very poor in the city with 2 working parents struggling just above min wage. They refused any type of social assistance, but could definitely have used some help. They had to sell nearly every possession they had (including my moms engagement ring) to pay for my medical bills as a kid. (I had loads of issues as an infant)

https://www.medicaidplanningassistance.org/medicaid-eligibility-new-york/

They would have qualified for Medicare and I would have to know the specifics to be sure but they should have qualified to pay nothing. Sorry but I grew up in the city on miller ave and broadway in the east side and I saw first hand what happens when you enable people to do nothing and get free handouts. Give out universal healthcare and it will just get worse. This country rewards those that work their asses off, not those who ask for handouts. 

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On 3/16/2020 at 10:36 AM, BuffaloWeather said:

#BREAKING: NY, CT and NJ are taking joint regional action to reduce the spread of #COVID19:

Effective 8PM TONIGHT:

-Crowd capacity reduced to 50
-Restaurants/bars will be takeout/delivery ONLY
-Gyms closed
-Movie theaters closed
-Casinos closed

I've been watching and observing everything and come to the potential conclusion that this a all being handled wrong and something seems off. I'm thinking it might be better to just isolate the at-risk population rather than destroy the global economy, cause a global depression and enact various draconian "shelter in place" policies for everyone... that are unsustainable in an open society. We don't even know the actual mortality rate as we've tested relatively few and only those symptomatic. South Korea (who have tested a large cross section of people, reports 0.7%).  I think the 2-3% estimates are too high.  But...no data is no data which gives me pause. 

This virus has likely been in circulation for months. China knew about it as early as mid November but didn't announce until 12/31. There's no way this is spreading from individual point sources at this point. There is no "patient zero". What we are seeing now is positive tests as there are now more tests being done...though only on suspected cases (unless you are rich NBA players/teams that can afford to pay for the tests themselves apparently).

It is becoming evident that this virus may have been circulating earlier than mid November as a patient zero has never been identified. In fact, it makes me question my 3 to 4 week upper respiratory and occasional mild fever illness back in October as soon as I returned from europe, where I was in and around throngs of Chunese tourists in Prague, Salzburg and Amsterdam. I even took antibiotics which seemed to not help, though it probably was something other than Covid-19.

It'll be interesting to see how this develops but frankly, the media and political panic is driving panic buying in stores and intentionally destroying the economy.  I'm beginning to think this is being approached wrong, from a macro level...(edit: and this isn't to defend the President, who has been doing his level best Emporer Nero impersonation for weeks...)

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11 hours ago, Luke_Mages said:

I'll agree to disagree. I don't think that healthcare is a right. It's simply not fair that I workout and eat healthy and have to support the guy eating Cheetos and soda. I have no problem contributing tax dollars to those who cant help themselves or get sick beyond their own control but by far the largest contributor to healthcare costs in this country is diabetes and heart disease which can be largely be linked to obesity. These same fat asses are the same ones who are yelling from their couches to save the environment while they reek of their own methane...

/end rant

I don't disagree with what you say but...once you get into the game of regulating what people can eat, drink etc., it's pretty much the final straw to living in an authoritarian society.  We're already sliding into Canada and UK's thought and speech crime society. Just in my lifetime (50s), I've seen an amazing amount of increased societal regulation designed with good intentions, from seat belt laws to banning this and that, all with the intent of protecting us from ourselves. The aggregate effect is lost on most people, because well, they're ignorant AF.  They have accepted the surveillance culture we now have.  This is what facist systems do, gradually regulate, monitor, and control everything down to the minutae of everyday life until just waking up and breathing is some sort of crime (environmentalists and their ever increasing regulation are front and center of this trend).  Creeping facism is what it all amounts to. I hope everyone enjoys it cuz its it's the only facism you got. ;)

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30 minutes ago, Syrmax said:

I've been watching and observing everything and come to the potential conclusion that this a all being handled wrong and something seems off. I'm thinking it might be better to just isolate the at-risk population rather than destroy the global economy, cause a global depression and enact various draconian "shelter in place" policies for everyone... that are unsustainable in an open society. We don't even know the actual mortality rate as we've tested relatively few and only those symptomatic. South Korea (who have tested a large cross section of people, reports 0.7%).  I think the 2-3% estimates are too high.  But...no data is no data which gives me pause. 

This virus has likely been in circulation for months. China knew about it as early as mid November but didn't announce until 12/31. There's no way this is spreading from individual point sources at this point. There is no "patient zero". What we are seeing now is positive tests as there are now more tests being done...though only on suspected cases (unless you are rich NBA players/teams that can afford to pay for the tests themselves apparently).

It is becoming evident that this virus may have been circulating earlier than mid November as a patient zero has never been identified. In fact, it makes me question my 3 to 4 week upper respiratory and occasional mild fever illness back in October as soon as I returned from europe, where I was in and around throngs of Chunese tourists in Prague, Salzburg and Amsterdam. I even took antibiotics which seemed to not help, though it probably was something other than Covid-19.

It'll be interesting to see how this develops but frankly, the media and political panic is driving panic buying in stores and intentionally destroying the economy.  I'm beginning to think this is being approached wrong, from a macro level...(edit: and this isn't to defend the President, who has been doing his level best Emporer Nero impersonation for weeks...)

You knew something was serious when China built a emergency hospital in 10 days. Describes exactly what you put in those in China were spreading it for awhile.

 

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2 minutes ago, BuffaloWeather said:

You knew something was serious when China built a emergency hospital in 10 days. Describes exactly what you put in those in China were spreading it for awhile.

 

Did you see where the 5 story hotel they commandeered for patient surge collapsed and killed a bunch of people?  That place is unbelievable. But they make cheap sh*t we need to buy cuz we hollowed out our industrial base.

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19 minutes ago, Syrmax said:

Bill Gates needs to stick with something he knows...which is ripping off other's intellectual property and making Billions off of it. :)

He's given 45 billion to charities to help global poverty. I don't know much about him but always thought he was the worlds greatest philanthropist.

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17 minutes ago, wolfie09 said:

Cali and Florida right now 3rd and 6th in confirmed cases, while these are populated states they are also warmer..

Louisiana another warmer state is 7th..

2 Cases in Hamburg NY.

The County Executive has just informed me that there are two confirmed coronavirus cases in the Town of Hamburg. Two women, one of whom is in her 60s and resides in Blasdell has been diagnosed with COVID-19. The other is a younger woman in her 30s who resides within the Township of Hamburg.

This sobering news is very concerning to all of us. We are likely to realize many more confirmed cases over the weeks ahead.

Please maintain social distancing. To the extent that you can refrain from gatherings of 10 or more people. Our best hope is to take extra precautions in our day-to-day activities.

I will keep you informed as new developments are given to me.

Respectfully yours,

James M. Shaw
Supervisor, Town of Hamburg

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2 minutes ago, BuffaloWeather said:

He's given 45 billion to charities to help global poverty. I don't know much about him but always thought he was the worlds greatest philanthropist.

I give him credit for that...but those of us old enough to remember his f*ckery with Apple have a more "nuanced" view of him as some sort of savant.  Give me a few billion and I could sit around lecturing people and doing presentations on things I know jack sh*t about also.

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1 minute ago, Syrmax said:

I give him credit for that...but those of us old enough to remember his f*ckery with Apple have a more "nuanced" view of him as some sort of savant.  Give me a few billion and I could sit around lecturing people on things I know jack sh*t about also.

What about Zuckerberg and FB, that guy is the biggest scam artist of our time.

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2 Roswell park patients have it. If my mom got this virus last year while undergoing stage 4 cancer treatments she would of have been as good as dead. She currently is very ill and doesn't a have primary care doctor. We are in the process of trying to get her tested this week.

https://www.wkbw.com/news/coronavirus/two-roswell-park-patients-test-positive-for-covid-19?fbclid=IwAR3nUdOiZrgoPtfWqCzXJdqJQRODqIhYW-j7t_wHRnT9VPlIqwNo92PN_Ag

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