Anyone else have serious health problems and no Insurance coverage!

[dogofwar]

That we have the healthcare system that we have SHOULD be offensive to everyone...

The people who pay THE MOST for healthcare are those without insurance, because those without insurance don't get the discounts that health insurance companies and the government negotiate.

I hop

 

[JD7.62]

That we have the healthcare system that we have SHOULD be offensive to everyone...

The people who pay THE MOST for healthcare are those without insurance, because those without insurance don't get the discounts that health insurance companies and the government negotiate.

I hop

So it should be offensive because I cant buy a pallet of toilet paper at a discount because I dont have the money to pony up for a Sam's Club membership?

I contribute to my own Health Savings Account. I am accountable for MY OWN HEALTH CARE. Hmm imagine that, who woulda thunk that managing YOUR OWN HEALTH should be up to YOU?!

Since I am paying for MY OWN health do NOT take MY money to pay for anyone else's.

Hybrid, PM me the details of your wifes insurance policy, that doesnt sound right.

Also remember people that if you have coverage through your employer, THEY (your employer) negotiate what type of coverage you have, NOT the insurance company. The insurance company baisically "sells" differenct policies and your coverage depends on what policy your employer "buys" and how much they contribute to the premiums. In most cases you pay about a third of your premium (what they take out of your paycheck) and your employer pays the difference.

Also many large group employers pay for their own health care. In other words the insurace company doesnt pay for a dime, the employer pays for everything and the insurance company only manages the paper work. These are called ASO groups. ASO groups literally pick and choose what they want to cover and what they want to pay for. So, if your group is an ASO group and you dont like your coverage, ***** at your employer. The insurance company has NOTHING to do with what is and what is not covered.

Universal healthcare is NOT the answer.

Tort reform, standardization of information, information exchange technology, and ACCOUNTABILITY is the answer

 

[12 Volt Man]

the problem I have with the US health care system is that if you can't afford treatment you are screwed.

and no one should have to face life threatening problems just because they can't afford to pay.

human life is worth more than that.

thats why I am glad I live in Canada.

granted, it has some problems too (eg. long wait times)

there was a woman on the news yesterday who went to the states to get treatment for a problem because the wait times for surgery (or whatever) was too long in Canada.

it cost her $100,000. but she is alive. I think she took out a massive loan to pay?

still, I think that universal health care is probably the better system.

I hope Obama can change things for the better in the USA.

 

[meghanashley]

unfortunately the fact that everyone does not have insurance, causes my, yours, who ever does have insurance more money, because you pay for a large quanity of uninsured people medical expenses. Whether because people have medicaid/ care, or becuaes they ditch out on hospital bills by either giving faulty info or just never paying.

I've been uninsured at times, I've had to go to the hospital when I was uninsured. The dr saw me for under five minutes, gave me no resolution, and I left with a $1000.00 plus bill. Guess I paid for the ambiance of the waiting room.

I'm not saying universal insurance is the answer, but what do you say to someone that needs medical attention they can not pay for? Or their children are in serious medical need. Some countries health care systems or lack there of turn these people away to their deaths and I'm glad that most times that is not the case in the US. I don't want my taxes to be through the roof, but countries that provide health care that way have merit to the idea of medical coverage to all.

 

[12 Volt Man]

but what do you say to someone that needs medical attention they can not pay for?

thats what I was getting at earlier.

less fortunate people deserve to stay alive too

 

[dogofwar]

A surgery that (directly) costs someone without insurance $17,000 probably costs $7-8,000 to the insurance company and - depending on coverage - a few hundred dollars to the insured directly.

I'd assume that because the OP has a pre-existing condition that he wouldn't qualify / be accepted in an individual insurance plan with any commercial insurer, high deductible HSA or otherwise.

The idea that you can plan enough money in a HSA to cover catastrophic health costs just doesn't play out.

That's why healthcare costs represent the leading cause of bankruptcy for individuals in the US (about 50%) with many going bankrupt having insurance before bankruptcy.

Tort reform is a canard. How come states (like Texas) where there has been tort reform (a cap on damages against those found guilty of malpractice / harming / killing someone) for years still have some of the highest healthcare costs in the country.

This issue is the fragmentation of our healthcare system and the financial incentives for providers to do more to get paid more.

That's why healthcare in this country costs about double per capita what it costs in other industrialized countries...and we don't cover a big chunk of our population.

So it should be offensive because I cant buy a pallet of toilet paper at a discount because I dont have the money to pony up for a Sam's Club membership?

I contribute to my own Health Savings Account. I am accountable for MY OWN HEALTH CARE. Hmm imagine that, who woulda thunk that managing YOUR OWN HEALTH should be up to YOU?!

Since I am paying for MY OWN health do NOT take MY money to pay for anyone else's.

Hybrid, PM me the details of your wifes insurance policy, that doesnt sound right.

Also remember people that if you have coverage through your employer, THEY (your employer) negotiate what type of coverage you have, NOT the insurance company. The insurance company baisically "sells" differenct policies and your coverage depends on what policy your employer "buys" and how much they contribute to the premiums. In most cases you pay about a third of your premium (what they take out of your paycheck) and your employer pays the difference.

Also many large group employers pay for their own health care. In other words the insurace company doesnt pay for a dime, the employer pays for everything and the insurance company only manages the paper work. These are called ASO groups. ASO groups literally pick and choose what they want to cover and what they want to pay for. So, if your group is an ASO group and you dont like your coverage, ***** at your employer. The insurance company has NOTHING to do with what is and what is not covered.

Universal healthcare is NOT the answer.

Tort reform, standardization of information, information exchange technology, and ACCOUNTABILITY is the answer

 

[JD7.62]

Where are the examples of the uninsured dieing in the streets in the U.S.?

What about the MILLIONS of ILLEGALS that are driving hospital costs up that are getting free health care? My wife is a nurse and hispanic and I asked her last night how easy it would be pretend to be illegal and get free health care. She said its easy, have dark skin, speak little english, and say you dont have a social security number and give a fake address. She said they know these people are illegal and wont pay but they have to admit them and treat them. This happens in hospital across America EVERY DAY. Who do you think eats that cost? US, the PAYERS, the LEGAL paying citizens. meghanashley, that $1,000.00 bill probably paid for a couple illegals who didnt pay a dime, feels good doesnt it? Now just wait when 40-50% of your paycheck that youve worked hard to earn is being eaten up in taxes and is going to pay for LaQuinta's and her 9 kids healthcare as she buys groceries with an EBT card and drives off in a Cadiliac nicer then your camry you saved up for.

Another problem (I have MANY) with universal health care is that inevitably there will be people who determines who gets what. In many countries and I believe Canada is starting this too, I know UK does this, they are taking away certain services and medicines because they cost too much. Who is to say that I cant live because the drug keeping me alive costs too much, even if that drug extends my life jsut a couple months. If I can pay for it I should be able to get it, PERIOD. In a one payer system, that wont happen. NO ONE other then you, your family, and your doctor should be able to decide what you get and what you dont get.

I agree we need reform, but like mentioned earlier, what we need is not what is being proposed. What is being proposed is nothing more then fluffy feel good, Robin Hood, legislation that appeals to the ignorant and people who believe the .gov should support them so the proposers can get re-elected. There is no thought of the cost, no thought of the future. Social Security worked our real well now didnt it?

Americans need to STOP and look at themselves. They need to look at what it took to build this country. It was hard work, it was capitalisim, it was striving to be the best. There was no mushy feel good stuff that made you feel ok if you failed. If you fail, you get back on and try again and succeed. Things like universal healthcare breed complatency and lack of self accountability. A complatent society is static at best. It breeds a large class of people that are "blood suckers" the "elected" ruling class do all that they can to appease these blood suckers to get re-elected and in doing so they take from the hard working folk trying to make a living. That is not what this country is about!

Who is John Galt?

 

[JD7.62]

A surgery that (directly) costs someone without insurance $17,000 probably costs $7-8,000 to the insurance company and - depending on coverage - a few hundred dollars to the insured directly.

I'd assume that because the OP has a pre-existing condition that he wouldn't qualify / be accepted in an individual insurance plan with any commercial insurer, high deductible HSA or otherwise.

The idea that you can plan enough money in a HSA to cover catastrophic health costs just doesn't play out.

That's why healthcare costs represent the leading cause of bankruptcy for individuals in the US (about 50%) with many going bankrupt having insurance before bankruptcy.

Tort reform is a canard. How come states (like Texas) where there has been tort reform (a cap on damages against those found guilty of malpractice / harming / killing someone) for years still have some of the highest healthcare costs in the country.

This issue is the fragmentation of our healthcare system and the financial incentives for providers to do more to get paid more.

That's why healthcare in this country costs about double per capita what it costs in other industrialized countries...and we don't cover a big chunk of our population.

That is funny you mention Texas. My job is to know Texas legislation inside and out regarding the health care industry and how it implies to private insurance, specifically Texas Senate Bill 418.

I will have to COMPLETELY disagree with you regarding health care costs in Texas. Texas' health care industry is BOOMING. Funny not only is their health care industry booming, their entire economy is booming yet they are a low tax state, how is that possible?! but thats a whole nother can o worms right there.

Tort reform has led to Texas graduating more and more qualified doctors and more investments in health technology among many other positives. This all leads to greater health care for all. Of course they also have to deal with a high numbe of non paying illegals.

 

[meghanashley]

I'm not saying I do not see your side of the argument. It's a frequent debate I have with one of my brothers. As I said in my post I'm not saying that universal health care is the answer, I do not see any answer that will not have a ton of cons and loop holes.

Of lot of your last post I agree with and somewhat said in mine, but as I say to my brother what do you do for the people who can't (or even won't) do it for themselves, whether it's universal healthcare or what we have right now your going to end up paying for them. Paying for the people who decide to look for any opportunity to sue, for the people who push out kid after kid that they won't take of or unfortunately can't take of, people who refuse to take jobs, but ...... also people who can't mentally or pysically take care of themselves.

It does bother that I end up paying for indegent but capable people (who arejust lazy), but I would rather pay for 10 of those people who abuse the system if it means that the 3 or 4 people who are hard working or are just down on their luck and deserve (and need) it get the help the need and deserve (as a human being) are provided with the care in their time of need.

His argument is much the same as yours and probably a little more extreme, responsiblity is on the individual and the family. He dosen't even believe the need for any welfare system/ programs. My response is basically we are both arguing for utopia's which will never exist.

 

[dogofwar]

Healthcare costs are out of control in Texas precisely because of a "booming" healthcare industry.

Check out the attached article by Dr. Atul Gawande about the reasons that McAllen, TX is one of the most expensive health-care markets in the country.

Only Miami—which has much higher labor and living costs—spends more per person on health care. In 2006, Medicare spent fifteen thousand dollars per enrollee there, almost twice the national average. The income per capita is twelve thousand dollars. In other words, Medicare spends three thousand dollars more per person here than the average person earns.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/06/01/090601fa_fact_gawande

Spending on doctors, hospitals, drugs, and the like now consumes more than one of every six dollars we as a nation earn GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

That is funny you mention Texas. My job is to know Texas legislation inside and out regarding the health care industry and how it implies to private insurance, specifically Texas Senate Bill 418.

I will have to COMPLETELY disagree with you regarding health care costs in Texas. Texas' health care industry is BOOMING. Funny not only is their health care industry booming, their entire economy is booming yet they are a low tax state, how is that possible?! but thats a whole nother can o worms right there.

Tort reform has led to Texas graduating more and more qualified doctors and more investments in health technology among many other positives. This all leads to greater health care for all. Of course they also have to deal with a high numbe of non paying illegals.