Katrina Health Plan

With all the fuss about how insurance carriers waste dollars that could be used to deliver health care coverage at a lower cost, I felt this article was appropriate. It seems there are some who feel the government does a better job at administering almost everything.

Let's see.

Two Years After Katrina, $1 Billion Missing and 11,000 Complaints

$1B missing. In the big scheme is $1B much money? I mean, we are talking about the federal government that spends money in the TRILLIONS.

What is $1B in all that?

Of the nearly $7 billion spent on Katrina victims, an estimated $1 billion was either stolen or wasted.

$1B out of $7B!!!

Where did the money go?

anger might be directed at someone like Walter Ray Stall. Stall claimed he lost everything in New Orleans. Federal workers gave him $2000 – but it turns out he actually lives in Texas.

$2k to a guy who lived in TX at the time Katrina hit.

Wonder who would get my meds under a Katrina Health Plan? Somebody in KS probably.

"The reaction of the government was to throw as much money as you can as quickly as possible and don't worry about it if these people really deserve it or need it,"

Sounds like the way some people want to treat health care. Just throw more money at it and don't worry where the money lands or who benefits.

The Justice Department defends its efforts saying 700 people have so far been convicted.

700 convictions.

11,000 complaints.

Then there is this.

The two audits found that up to 900,000 of the 2.5 million applicants who received aid under FEMA’s emergency cash assistance program — which included the $2,000 debit cards given to evacuees — were based on duplicate or invalid Social Security numbers, or false addresses and names

900,000 out of 2,500,000 willing to commit fraud for $2000 in free cash. Wonder what they would do for free health care?

Duplicate payments were made to about 5,000 of the nearly 11,000 debit card recipients who received Katrina aid, first with debit cards and then again via electronic bank transfer.

"Yes Mr. Jones. I realize we have already removed one kidney. But hey, the second one is on us."

FEMA may have bought too many temporary homes — 24,967 manufactured homes obtained for $857.8 million and 1,295 modular homes at $40 million — resulting in 10,777 such homes sitting empty in Hope, Ark., in sinking mud without proper storage. “It was unclear how the decision was made,” the Homeland Security audit stated.

26,262 homes bought.

10,777 sit empty.

Sounds like they are ready to run a more efficient health plan.

I can hardly wait. Wonder if Canada has a place for me. I hear they have a wonderful health plan there.