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Post by lifesaver on Nov 15, 2013 9:17:19 GMT -5
Just curious if anyone here has had their insurance cancelled, or have successfully logged on to the site and acquired "affordable coverage".
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Post by Venter on Nov 15, 2013 9:50:27 GMT -5
I know that Debi has been online over the past few weeks trying to get in and register - with varying degrees of success... and varying degrees of sucks-ass But I couldn't tell you where we are with signing up. I guess if you wake up before the left-coast does, or go to sleep early, and then go online at 4am, you may have a shot.
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moose
Post Master
Posts: 184
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Post by moose on Nov 15, 2013 14:06:20 GMT -5
I work for the largest manufacturer of widgets in the world and this company has thousands of employees worldwide. My company offered four healthcare plans. One of these four plans qualified as "affordable" under the "Affordable Care Act". The plans ranged from low premium/high deductible plans to high premium/low deductible plans. When I entered all the pertinent data in a spreadsheet it was obvious to me that I needed to select the low premium/high deductible plan, which also happened to be the lowest cost (affordable) plan. This "affordable" plan, when I add my family to it, will cost me $8000 in premiums and deductible BEFORE the insurance company pays a goddamn dime! Then it goes to 80%/20% until I pay another $3600, then the insurance will pay 100%. This "affordable" plan may keep me from going bankrupt in the case of a catastrophic illness, but it may not keep me from going broke. The only good thing, if there is one, is the difference between the premiums can be put into a savings plan that will remain my money (for medical bills) if not used, and can be used to cover the deductible.
A "not for public consumption" nugget that leaked...is the government is courting big companies with incentives that are very hard to pass up, to NOT provide health coverage plans! It smells like the government wants EVERYONE on ObamaCare so they can increase the number of government employees and be essential to everyone's lives! Everyone will need healthcare and the government will then control it (and, you) and it will take a small army to administer it. Watch the ranks (numbers) of government employees swell to unfathomable heights and more people than ever before will be dependent on the government. There currently is also virtually NO security measure in place on the healthcare.gov website to protect an individual's data. The government will now know more than ever before about you than it did before, and who knows who else will get hold of that data! This ain't gonna be good, folks!
Pensions have been dissolved and replaced with 401k's. 401k's have been promised to take place of pensions with company matches. Those company matches have also dissolved. Social Security funds are handed out like candy too, (sometimes to drug addicts who never held a freakin' job) and it too will disappear at some time. May God help us! We may need to keep our trust in Him. I fret deeply about leaving this mess to my kids...
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Post by nilegrazowski on Nov 16, 2013 8:31:14 GMT -5
Moose - Your last sentence is the one that troubles me the most personally
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moose
Post Master
Posts: 184
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Post by moose on Nov 16, 2013 9:35:28 GMT -5
Moose - Your last sentence is the one that troubles me the most personally You have kids, too? We were supposed to safeguard our way of life for our kids and I feel we've gone backwards. EDIT: I guess that's why I'm fighting so hard on the local level. It's one area I can have an impact on and possibly straighten the ship. Our forefathers, who fought in the wars preceding had a clear enemy. Ours' seems to come from within and we can't fight those the same as our forefathers did.
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Post by nilegrazowski on Nov 16, 2013 18:10:37 GMT -5
Yeah, I do Moose. I have basically been the classic underachiever my whole life, (that has had a good time doing it!) but I regret what we are leaving our kids. My kids are doing well but at the same time I don't think they are adaptable and as good at problem solving as I was/am.
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Post by lifesaver on Nov 16, 2013 19:10:44 GMT -5
Moose - Your last sentence is the one that troubles me the most personally You have kids, too? We were supposed to safeguard our way of life for our kids and I feel we've gone backwards. EDIT: I guess that's why I'm fighting so hard on the local level. It's one area I can have an impact on and possibly straighten the ship. Our forefathers, who fought in the wars preceding had a clear enemy. Ours' seems to come from within and we can't fight those the same as our forefathers did. Right there with both of you! My son is in the demographic of the age group that Obamacare is banking on making the system work. His employer does not offer insurance. For a time he was paying for his own plan (at my insistence), a high deductible plan for I think around $180 a month. He is now able to be covered under my plan for a few years and great coverage. Would he go to a doctor under his own plan? Not unless I paid the bill, which I did on more than one occasion. What in the name of God makes anyone think that he will go back to one of those high deductible plans when he is no longer able to be covered under my plan and pay even more for it? And if you want to see just how pathetic this whole cluster has become take a look at these social media ads that are made to target my son's age group. Yes, these are for real. Let me try leaving that link again: www.ijreview.com/2013/11/93968-thanks-obamacare-tapping-beer-fund/?utm_source=EmailElect&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=Subscriber%2311629&utm_campaign=11-13-13%20IJ%20Review
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Post by Fire Marshal Bill on Nov 17, 2013 8:38:35 GMT -5
I see the Affordable Care Act, as another government program with good intentions but gotten out of hand.
I think everyone should have health care. I also believe that just because someone has a condition, they should not be denied health care. I also believe that the insurance should cover the person, and not stop paying when they think they have paid enough.
My youngest is only 31, and has a medical condition that will require medication to control it for the rest of her life. With her current insurance at about age 50 her insurance will no longer pay for this medication because she will have used her lifetime limit.
People have to change insurance plans for many reasons, and I don’t think it is fare for one company to say, “well you already have what ever it is, so we will not cover it.” But you can be sure that persons premiums will not go down because the company is not covering that condition.
Telling people that their current program is not acceptable is a lot of crap also. I haven’t gotten a letter yet, but having been insured most of my life, I could get a letter saying my current policy doesn’t meet the standards established by the government so I will have to look for another.
Shall we name the other programs that started out good, but got out of hand, or were mismanaged by the government?
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Post by lifesaver on Nov 17, 2013 20:21:58 GMT -5
I see the Affordable Care Act, as another government program with good intentions but gotten out of hand. I think everyone should have health care. I also believe that just because someone has a condition, they should not be denied health care. I also believe that the insurance should cover the person, and not stop paying when they think they have paid enough. My youngest is only 31, and has a medical condition that will require medication to control it for the rest of her life. With her current insurance at about age 50 her insurance will no longer pay for this medication because she will have used her lifetime limit. People have to change insurance plans for many reasons, and I don’t think it is fare for one company to say, “well you already have what ever it is, so we will not cover it.” But you can be sure that persons premiums will not go down because the company is not covering that condition. Telling people that their current program is not acceptable is a lot of crap also. I haven’t gotten a letter yet, but having been insured most of my life, I could get a letter saying my current policy doesn’t meet the standards established by the government so I will have to look for another. Shall we name the other programs that started out good, but got out of hand, or were mismanaged by the government? I agree that health care should be available and affordable to all FMB. Obamacare ain't it. With that availability to affordable care should also come a personal accountability that you will try to protect your health. When your health care system is disease driven the disease drives the cost of health care. Our country, as a whole, is woeful ignorant of their bodies and how our bodies work. There are people out there that actually believe that smoking won't harm them. When 75% of the population is obese or overweight we are doing something wrong. Legislating a ban against large sugary drinks will not make our country healthier. Offering a fresh vegetable on school lunch trays will only feed the trash can if our kids aren't being taught healthy living and strive to eat healthy because they like it. A mandatory seat belt law is not what might save your life in the event you are in an accident. Education on how the correct use of safe belts can help to decrease your chance of serious injury or death in an accident might. You work, eat, and live a healthy lifestyle because you like it and you feel good doing it. In my opinion a health care system that focuses on healthy living and education, as opposed to legislation, and rewarding those who chose to follow healthy lifestyles is the ticket to driving down health care costs, which in turn will provide more funds for those who are sick through no fault of their own. It's ludicrous to think that we can legislate our way into good health in this country.
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Post by Venter on Nov 19, 2013 14:40:28 GMT -5
I've only been to the doctor a few times since we no longer have health insurance. Medicines at WalMart, no matter how else you feel about them, are a great deal. Haven't had an X-ray or EKG, or EEG, or Blood Test in some time. Seems like I was always going to get some sort of test. I feel about the same as I have for the past few years, with or without the barrages of tests. The disparity in costs between Insurance Payments for Pharmaceuticals, and the Personal Pay is ridiculous. A medicine that I can get at WalMart now, for $4 or $9, was costing me $15 PLUS the $185 they'd receive from the Insurance Companies. No shit... One of my meds normally costs me $9. I take the pill 3 times a day, so for 30 days, I get 90 pills. One time my doctor wrote the scrip for an "Extended Release (XR)" version of the SAME PRESCRIPTION.So instead of 90 pills, I'd be taking just 30 pills a month - just ONE a day! Not bad!? I guess it depends on how you look at it. One pill, or three pills? One is easier But the other choice was... Pay $9 for 90 pills, or Pay $175 for 30 pills? Which do you think I pay?BUT... Which do you think I'd take if insurance was paying for it?Not with the desire of ripping off the Insurance Company, but because no matter WHAT the Actual Cost was, I only had to pay $15.It wasn't until it actually came out of MY pocket, that I realized there was a difference. Otherwise, I was on "Insurance Auto-Pilot". Until they fix THAT clusterfuck, nothing will work. Blame Obama if you'd like, but this corrupt system was in place LONG before he tried to intervene.
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Post by lifesaver on Nov 19, 2013 16:22:53 GMT -5
I've only been to the doctor a few times since we no longer have health insurance. Medicines at WalMart, no matter how else you feel about them, are a great deal. Haven't had an X-ray or EKG, or EEG, or Blood Test in some time. Seems like I was always going to get some sort of test. I feel about the same as I have for the past few years, with or without the barrages of tests. The disparity in costs between Insurance Payments for Pharmaceuticals, and the Personal Pay is ridiculous. A medicine that I can get at WalMart now, for $4 or $9, was costing me $15 PLUS the $185 they'd receive from the Insurance Companies. No shit... One of my meds normally costs me $9. I take the pill 3 times a day, so for 30 days, I get 90 pills. One time my doctor wrote the scrip for an "Extended Release (XR)" version of the SAME PRESCRIPTION.So instead of 90 pills, I'd be taking just 30 pills a month - just ONE a day! Not bad!? I guess it depends on how you look at it. One pill, or three pills? One is easier But the other choice was... Pay $9 for 90 pills, or Pay $175 for 30 pills? Which do you think I pay?BUT... Which do you think I'd take if insurance was paying for it?Not with the desire of ripping off the Insurance Company, but because no matter WHAT the Actual Cost was, I only had to pay $15.It wasn't until it actually came out of MY pocket, that I realized there was a difference. Otherwise, I was on "Insurance Auto-Pilot". Until they fix THAT clusterfuck, nothing will work. Blame Obama if you'd like, but this corrupt system was in place LONG before he tried to intervene. I agree Venter. There is much about our current system that needs reform....no doubt about it! That doesn't mean we should trade one bad system for another! The pharmaceutical industry is making a KILLING because our system is disease driven! Sick.....here's a pill! And if I didn't have decent insurance you can bet that I would be buying my medications at Walmart! Check out the list sometime, it's quite impressive! A routine visit to a doctor once or twice a year is cheaper than any insurance policy you will ever buy. Taking advantage programs such as Multiphasic Blood screening is an affordable way to monitor your health. You can go to a doctor when you are sick and REALLY REALLY need to go, or wait until you are a trainwreck and spend a LOT for you to get better. Because my husband started to take advantage of the Multiphasic Blood screening program his potentially life threatening condition was found and treated early. A big reason that America is so unhealthy is that the general public is ignorant in many ways of their bodies and how they work. Education, not legislation, in my opinion, can help us have a healthier America. Which in turn will help drive health care costs, and the pharmaceutical industry will become more competitive because less people will require medication or less medication to stay healthy.
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Post by nilegrazowski on Nov 30, 2013 22:49:09 GMT -5
Checked out the website tonight and could not set up an account but the site could not tell me definitely why. ither my account name had already been taken, my password was not right or "other". None made sense and the site could not help me narrow or fix the problem. Well done!
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dspitz17325
Need to Get a Life!
I came to chew bubblegum and kick some ass and i am all out of bubblegum .
Posts: 543
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Post by dspitz17325 on Dec 15, 2013 20:00:41 GMT -5
I think I will chime in , 5 years ago I was paying 10 dollars a week for my wife and I to have insurance with a 500.00 deductible with a 5 dollar copay for office visits and now I am paying 80 dollars a week with a 7,000.00 deductible and the insurance company pays NOTHING till the deductible is met and this is the Governments fault . So please anyone with brain and tell me how the working poor can afford this .
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Post by lifesaver on Dec 16, 2013 10:34:31 GMT -5
I think I will chime in , 5 years ago I was paying 10 dollars a week for my wife and I to have insurance with a 500.00 deductible with a 5 dollar copay for office visits and now I am paying 80 dollars a week with a 7,000.00 deductible and the insurance company pays NOTHING till the deductible is met and this is the Governments fault . So please anyone with brain and tell me how the working poor can afford this . It really is no different from uninsured people now. While some will take advantage of the system every chance they get, thereby driving up costs for everyone, others will ignore their health because they can't "afford" to pay for a doctor. Yet, for SOME, can "afford" to smoke a pack or two of cigarettes a day, or have their daily booze (or drug) fix. (Spitz, I'm NOT suggesting this is you.) What I am suggesting for you is to consider seeing you doctor and paying the bill, not for every sneeze and sniffle, but if you are really sick, or seeing your doctor once or twice a year for a checkup if you have a chronic condition, or even just to make sure you are healthy. And I can also tell you that in Adams County there is help for ANYONE that needs assistance, and programs available to help you stay healthy, help paying for your medications, and trying to keep you healthy enough that you stay out of the hospital, whether you have insurance or not Unfortunately, what many people do is ignore their heath, or don't take their medications because they can't afford them, or continue to pay for cigarettes, booze, or drugs that they CAN'T afford, then end up in the hospital a train wreck, wracking up a huge hospital bill. Some get pissed that they abuse their bodies then get mad because we can't fix them. Others are truly grateful for the assistance that we can offer them to help them get well, and help them with the expenses of hospitalization. I see this on a pretty frequent basis, not just a couple of times a year. I think until we strive for a health care system that promotes healthy living (thru EDUCATION, not LEGISLATION) and assume a personal accountability to be healthy as we can within our control (and "pay" the consequences in some fashion or another if we don't) our health care system will continue to be a cluster of epic proportions. We now are simply trading one bad system for another, as it is still disease driven.
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dspitz17325
Need to Get a Life!
I came to chew bubblegum and kick some ass and i am all out of bubblegum .
Posts: 543
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Post by dspitz17325 on Dec 16, 2013 11:45:52 GMT -5
IF I go to the doctor more than once a year that's a miracle so now I can't afford to so if I die because something was not caught in time who do I blame , I do like to thank the government because my wife needs surgery and it will ALL COME FROME MY FUCKING POCKET AND THIS IS THE GOVERNMENTS FAULT . When they took over the Mustang ranch in NV for not paying their taxes and they couldn't make a profit on PUSSY AND LIQUOR WE SHOULD HAVE KILLED THEM ALL, A RETARD COULD HAVE MADE A PROFIT off of that business.
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Post by lifesaver on Dec 16, 2013 15:51:42 GMT -5
IF I go to the doctor more than once a year that's a miracle so now I can't afford to so if I die because something was not caught in time who do I blame , I do like to thank the government because my wife needs surgery and it will ALL COME FROME MY FUCKING POCKET AND THIS IS THE GOVERNMENTS FAULT . When they took over the Mustang ranch in NV for not paying their taxes and they couldn't make a profit on PUSSY AND LIQUOR WE SHOULD HAVE KILLED THEM ALL, A RETARD COULD HAVE MADE A PROFIT off of that business. You can blame the government spitz, but I can assure you that they won't care. BTW, any time you want your blood pressure checked I'll gladly do it....for free. Hope your wife's surgery goes well, she's worth it, and so are you.
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davew
Poster Child
Posts: 308
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Post by davew on Dec 16, 2013 17:03:58 GMT -5
Single payer is coming, it's just how long. I'm not saying that because I want single payer, but the regulations, the litigation, everything, adds cost and the government doesn't really have an interest in reducing costs that come out of your pocket or my pocket because it's likely that we contribute less to campaigns than do medical supply companies, etc.
I was betting with someone (just a bet for bragging rights) that the over/under for single payer following obamacare was 7 years. I don't know if that's accurate at this point, but there will be TV ads from people getting subsidies talking about how much they're saving (and to some extent, a lot of them will be getting better care than they did before because another payer has been added to the equation - us). That will create envy and sooner or later a majority of folks will want to have the system equalized, it'll be replaced with a VAT or something and we'll have national healthcare.
I can't see the legal bar and the drug companies going down without a fight, but they'll be compensated in some way, shape or form to lubricate passage of the needed legislation.
That's my guess. As far as I can tell at this point, Obama doesn't like what the specialist physicians get paid, though I don't know what % of coverage doc fees are. It's probably not miniscule, but utilization is the problem, and I don't see anything in the care as it is that minimizes that.
I also don't believe it will look like canada or UK or whatever, the single payer will come via all state exchanges getting uniformity and a national code for health insurance (instead of a bunch of state codes added on top of obamacare). That's how I see it. We'll get a base plan with the option to pay out of pocket for better coverage. The VAT will cover the base, and for the poor, it'll cover more.
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Post by lifesaver on Dec 16, 2013 20:49:58 GMT -5
Single payer is coming, it's just how long. I'm not saying that because I want single payer, but the regulations, the litigation, everything, adds cost and the government doesn't really have an interest in reducing costs that come out of your pocket or my pocket because it's likely that we contribute less to campaigns than do medical supply companies, etc. I was betting with someone (just a bet for bragging rights) that the over/under for single payer following obamacare was 7 years. I don't know if that's accurate at this point, but there will be TV ads from people getting subsidies talking about how much they're saving (and to some extent, a lot of them will be getting better care than they did before because another payer has been added to the equation - us). That will create envy and sooner or later a majority of folks will want to have the system equalized, it'll be replaced with a VAT or something and we'll have national healthcare. I can't see the legal bar and the drug companies going down without a fight, but they'll be compensated in some way, shape or form to lubricate passage of the needed legislation. That's my guess. As far as I can tell at this point, Obama doesn't like what the specialist physicians get paid, though I don't know what % of coverage doc fees are. It's probably not miniscule, but utilization is the problem, and I don't see anything in the care as it is that minimizes that. I also don't believe it will look like canada or UK or whatever, the single payer will come via all state exchanges getting uniformity and a national code for health insurance (instead of a bunch of state codes added on top of obamacare). That's how I see it. We'll get a base plan with the option to pay out of pocket for better coverage. The VAT will cover the base, and for the poor, it'll cover more. Sadly, I think you are right davew. Then you will get the best healthcare that money can buy, right? Not always. When you are on the waiting list of the only game in town sometimes no amount of money will pull you to the top. And did anyone else see this story? abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/suit-marines-body-home-pa-heart-21169011 Does anyone else have trouble believing that this soldier's heart was removed for "toxicological studies"?
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dspitz17325
Need to Get a Life!
I came to chew bubblegum and kick some ass and i am all out of bubblegum .
Posts: 543
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Post by dspitz17325 on Dec 16, 2013 22:22:05 GMT -5
IF I go to the doctor more than once a year that's a miracle so now I can't afford to so if I die because something was not caught in time who do I blame , I do like to thank the government because my wife needs surgery and it will ALL COME FROME MY FUCKING POCKET AND THIS IS THE GOVERNMENTS FAULT . When they took over the Mustang ranch in NV for not paying their taxes and they couldn't make a profit on PUSSY AND LIQUOR WE SHOULD HAVE KILLED THEM ALL, A RETARD COULD HAVE MADE A PROFIT off of that business. You can blame the government spitz, but I can assure you that they won't care. BTW, any time you want your blood pressure checked I'll gladly do it....for free. Hope your wife's surgery goes well, she's worth it, and so are you. Lifesaver it's always high and I can only hope to die soon .
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davew
Poster Child
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Post by davew on Dec 17, 2013 9:11:37 GMT -5
Single payer is coming, it's just how long. I'm not saying that because I want single payer, but the regulations, the litigation, everything, adds cost and the government doesn't really have an interest in reducing costs that come out of your pocket or my pocket because it's likely that we contribute less to campaigns than do medical supply companies, etc. I was betting with someone (just a bet for bragging rights) that the over/under for single payer following obamacare was 7 years. I don't know if that's accurate at this point, but there will be TV ads from people getting subsidies talking about how much they're saving (and to some extent, a lot of them will be getting better care than they did before because another payer has been added to the equation - us). That will create envy and sooner or later a majority of folks will want to have the system equalized, it'll be replaced with a VAT or something and we'll have national healthcare. I can't see the legal bar and the drug companies going down without a fight, but they'll be compensated in some way, shape or form to lubricate passage of the needed legislation. That's my guess. As far as I can tell at this point, Obama doesn't like what the specialist physicians get paid, though I don't know what % of coverage doc fees are. It's probably not miniscule, but utilization is the problem, and I don't see anything in the care as it is that minimizes that. I also don't believe it will look like canada or UK or whatever, the single payer will come via all state exchanges getting uniformity and a national code for health insurance (instead of a bunch of state codes added on top of obamacare). That's how I see it. We'll get a base plan with the option to pay out of pocket for better coverage. The VAT will cover the base, and for the poor, it'll cover more. Sadly, I think you are right davew. Then you will get the best healthcare that money can buy, right? Not always. When you are on the waiting list of the only game in town sometimes no amount of money will pull you to the top. And did anyone else see this story? abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/suit-marines-body-home-pa-heart-21169011 Does anyone else have trouble believing that this soldier's heart was removed for "toxicological studies"? Goodness, we'll be lucky if the level of care stays remotely the same for a while and doesn't decrease. One of the things that always irritates me is to hear radio shows where people bring up garbage ratings of health care by nation, and they say the US is 30th or something. If you have the money to pay in the US, you get better care than anyone else in the world, and the more modern and advanced the treatment, the bigger the difference. Most of those statistics are peddled by socialists who either use them to mislead on purpose or who have no idea how to interpret statistics. They will lump uninsureds in with insureds and take the average outcome and say our medical care doesn't produce good outcomes compared to other places. Well, If I put a whole bunch of people who get no care in and claim that shows the potential of quality of care, of course it would look bad. What it will allow the government to do is run various parts of health care with no oversight, there will be cronyism like we haven't seen before, and there will be abuses (like people trading organs for money under the table - I'm sure that happens to some extent now, but wait until it's going on at a level where there is no built in mandatory oversight). In my opinion, when they go to a model where the government is in charge of all of this stuff, they should have private audit companies that are paid incentive compensation to find corruption, but our government weill never work like that. A lot of the specialist docs now who are making huge money will quit or find something else to do, which is a shame, because most of the specialists making huge dollars are doing so because they are excellent at what they do and because they work ungodly hours. Once gov care comes into place, those folks will roll back their efforts and hours until they find something else to do. There really is no optimal solution, I guess, but as someone who can pay, I appreciate the level of care I get, especially in an urban area where I have a deep selection of doctors and specialists.
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Post by lifesaver on Dec 17, 2013 9:37:58 GMT -5
I think people who support single payer systems should be careful what they wish for. They think they will get this great care but they are in for a rude awakening. Yes, you do get great care in other countries, IF you survive the wait to get it. When there is one hospital in the entire COUNTRY that has the ability to provide open heart surgery, even though they may be the best there is how many people do you think will die before they get a chance to receive that top notch care? How would you feel that knowing at age 65 your dialysis treatments will STOP, unless you have the money to pay for them? How would you like to wait seven years for that hip replacement? This is our future unless we can come up with a plan to support wellness, rather than support disease.
I agree with every statement you've made davew. It sucks to be us unless we all wake the hell up and stop this insanity.
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Post by lifesaver on Dec 17, 2013 9:44:38 GMT -5
You can blame the government spitz, but I can assure you that they won't care. BTW, any time you want your blood pressure checked I'll gladly do it....for free. Hope your wife's surgery goes well, she's worth it, and so are you. Lifesaver it's always high and I can only hope to die soon . Your blood pressure is always high? I would have never guessed! At any rate, your hope of dying doesn't always work out the way you want it to. Most people don't have the luxury of keeling over or dying peacefully in their sleep. You might as well stick around awhile longer and aggravate the shit out the government that's trying like hell to kill you but can't because you are just too stubborn to die.
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Post by Venter on Dec 17, 2013 10:47:49 GMT -5
Lifesaver it's always high and I can only hope to die soon . Your blood pressure is always high? I would have never guessed! At any rate, your hope of dying doesn't always work out the way you want it to. Most people don't have the luxury of keeling over or dying peacefully in their sleep. You might as well stick around awhile longer and aggravate the shit out the government that's trying like hell to kill you but can't because you are just too stubborn to die. My Dad always said that he would shoot himself if he got too bad. (As his brother did upon finding out he had cancer) In a strange twist of fate, he ended up dying a natural death - with Dementia... ... I can only suppose that he forgot what he said he would do
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davew
Poster Child
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Post by davew on Dec 17, 2013 12:53:16 GMT -5
I think people who support single payer systems should be careful what they wish for. They think they will get this great care but they are in for a rude awakening. Yes, you do get great care in other countries, IF you survive the wait to get it. When there is one hospital in the entire COUNTRY that has the ability to provide open heart surgery, even though they may be the best there is how many people do you think will die before they get a chance to receive that top notch care? How would you feel that knowing at age 65 your dialysis treatments will STOP, unless you have the money to pay for them? How would you like to wait seven years for that hip replacement? This is our future unless we can come up with a plan to support wellness, rather than support disease. I agree with every statement you've made davew. It sucks to be us unless we all wake the hell up and stop this insanity. That reminds me of two stories, both are UK related, I haven't talked to too many canadians, though I do understand that the provincial health care systems in urban areas are quite good, the rural health care in canada doesn't get such glowing reviews. Anyway: 1) a friend of mine who grew up in the UK and then came here would get extreme headaches, hallucinate and pass out from age 9-14. They diagnosed him at age 9 as needing a tonsillectomy or something similar, and described the procedure as non-essential (knowing the pain was so bad that it would cause him to hallucinate and pass out). they let him go for 5 years before he got surgery (which solved the issue). 2) there was a girl, I think from the Penn State basketball team, who went to a pro league in the UK and had knee issues. When she went to the doctor, they described the problem as something that's not essential to fix. It was essential to her because she was making a living playing basketball (probably for not much money), and the surgery would've been provided for any insured individual here, but there it was determined by flat standards that must not have accounted for the fact that a bum knee is a real problem for a basketball player. As my buddy from #1 says, "you have no idea how good you have it, there is no better place in the world to live if you are willing to provide for yourself". He has been in the UK, SA and here and traveled all over the world, is an ardent liberal (and still believes that about this country) and at the same time has no desire to see the health system change in terms of how it provides services to him. The payers will continue to pay, but we will see less and less service. It shouldn't be that way, but I can't think of anything that will be politically tolerable otherwise.
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dspitz17325
Need to Get a Life!
I came to chew bubblegum and kick some ass and i am all out of bubblegum .
Posts: 543
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Post by dspitz17325 on Dec 18, 2013 23:18:16 GMT -5
I want to die while on the edge doing something amazing like parasailing or something out there I would feel ripped off if I died in my sleep , people like me don't die in their sleep .
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