Explain major issues in health care reform/debate likely to come up in interview

[rhcpdoc]

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Hey everybody,

So I have a few interviews scheduled over the next month and wanted to know how everyone else is preparing for the unavoidable health care reform discussion that is likely to come up during interviews.

Don't get me wrong, I know some of the basics by listening to the news daily and actually sifting through the America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009.

However, with an issue of this magnitude, its hard not to feel underprepared...do you guys have any useful resources or websites that explain major issues or sides of a debate that are likely to be discussed in the interview?

Thanks!

 

[flip26]

read a newspaper...something in there every day about this.

Try the NY Times if your local rag is no good.

 

[Contrarian]

read a newspaper...something in there every day about this.

Try the NY Times if your local rag is no good.

Or the Wall Street Journal since the NY Times is no good.

 

[Rogue Synapse]

WSJ? Just stay away from their editorial page. It's not exactly "fair and balanced".

 

[armybound]

if you can't find this information somewhere, you must live under a rock

 

[BlueElmo]

if you can't find this information somewhere, you must live under a rock

+1. Yup, it's everywhere.

 

[Desaad]

It's difficult to get a genuinely balanced view of the situation, in part because I don't think there is really a 'right' answer here, as every plan has it's drawbacks and potential calamities.

If you don't mind a partisan look at the subject, Howard Dean (head of the Democratic Party and M.D.) wrote a small book about this fairly recently that I thought explained the subject fairly well and presented a good case for his (and the president's, and the democratic party's) public option healthcare plan. It's worth reading some republican/conservative views as well, and I'm sure you could find some refutations or counterplans online somewhere, but the responses and discourse coming from the other side haven't been as compelling or complete to me as Howard Dean's little manifesto.

 

[BBender716]

If you're really into finding out more and to determine your own view point look at something way "free market" and some "centrist" and some way in favor of universal healthcare.

Cato Institute website (libertarian)
Brookings Institute website (more centrist/slightly left)
Roosevelt Institution (liberal)

Read and evaluate the arguments that way you can decide on your own and also carry on a good conversation/argument and know both sides so that you can come off as informed and confident even if you disagree with the interviewer!

 

[The Bearded One]

politics!

 

[strummin]

Or the Wall Street Journal since the NY Times is no good.

Haha. To the OP - don't listen to this guy. The WSJ is faaaar from objective. For god's sakes, it's owned by Rupert Murdoch.

 

[BBender716]

Haha. To the OP - don't listen to this guy. The WSJ is faaaar from objective. For god's sakes, it's owned by Rupert Murdoch.

I agree with WSJ being biased, just know that the NYT is as well. (see, every presidential endorsement since 1960).

I think it's really hard to get truly objective views on something so divisive, so read the extremes and some middle and find a point in the middle where it makes the most sense to you.

 

[GTV]

exactly how much detail are we expected to know about reform? I sort of fear a question to the extent of: "compare and contrast the details of the various proposals given by the house, the Obama plan, and the Baucus plan"

 

[rhcpdoc]

I get that this information is everywhere, but I was looking for a source where all plans or opinions were listed in an unbiased fashion. I was not looking for this information on a silver platter, but was simply asking whether or not a non-biased source such as a database or an health care organization may present the facts in one area.

I have read most of the articles/journals/newspapers/actual bills that you have guys have mentioned, and often times the bias is much more confusing than it is helpful.

If anyone does find a site that presents the key aspects/rationale for each side, that would be much appreciated, as I have been looking for such a site for myself and others.

 

[The Bearded One]

It's not possible to be unbiased about healthcare because it is intrinsically a political topic. Everyone is speaking from a different worldview, and what you are asking for does not exist. You need to find out what you think by reading a lot of different stuff and doing some real research. What makes sense and what does not?

 

[Rogue Synapse]

exactly how much detail are we expected to know about reform? I sort of fear a question to the extent of: "compare and contrast the details of the various proposals given by the house, the Obama plan, and the Baucus plan"

You definitely won't get a question like that. You may get something like "what is your opinion on the healthcare reform debate?" or maybe "have you thought about the current problems in healthcare and how that will impact your career"? Honestly, the interviewers are not out to pimp you, they just want to have a conversation that shows them that you're conscientious and have thought about your future career.

 

[flip26]

I get that this information is everywhere, but I was looking for a source where all plans or opinions were listed in an unbiased fashion. I was not looking for this information on a silver platter, but was simply asking whether or not a non-biased source such as a database or an health care organization may present the facts in one area.

I have read most of the articles/journals/newspapers/actual bills that you have guys have mentioned, and often times the bias is much more confusing than it is helpful.

If anyone does find a site that presents the key aspects/rationale for each side, that would be much appreciated, as I have been looking for such a site for myself and others.

Umm, yes you are - you want someone to boil it down to bullet points for you.

It really is not that tough to sort it out.

 

[armybound]

Haha. To the OP - don't listen to this guy. The WSJ is faaaar from objective. For god's sakes, it's owned by Rupert Murdoch.

everything's going to be biased. just read sources on both sides

 

[Trexate]

I'm not going to say this is the norm, because I don’t have a large sample size as a basis for comparison, but...

During my two interviews it was pretty laid back and we just had a nice conversation. They said quite simply, "Health care reform has really dominated the news lately. What do you think about it?"

The question is so open ended that as long as you aren't completely unprepared for it (which you shouldn't be) you'll be fine. Don't go in with an answer ready to recite it, because you really don't need to.

And if anyone asks you to compare and contrast the two bills just stick with what you KNOW. One has a public option, the other doesn't. That alone should fill up a minute or two of speaking time. Then just make a joke about neither one really addressing tort reform and you'll be golden.