Do you have private health insurance...??

[carole]

The reason i started this thread was that i was watching our local TV programme Sunday last night, and it was about health insurance in the USA.

I was astounded at what i saw,so many people cannot afford health insurance and so many are dying because of it.

They had people arriving in cars at 5.30 am in the morning from out of state to get free medical care,babies, young mothers etc etc.

They were saying it cost like $12,000 dollars a year to have insurance.

This one poor young mother of five children, needed a liver transplant, had two type of cancer.

They were also saying drugs are like twice the price of anywhere in the world.

Now i am wondering what is your experience, is this all true or is it media hype.

I was horrified and sad at the same time.

I believe Obama is going to right it all at a cost of tribillion dollars.? I ask how?

We in NZ still have a public health system, thank god, i do have private medical insurance, because i choose to, but it is only for surgical cover, and cost us for a family of four $1600 dollars a year, and believe me it is a struggle to pay, but we do, of course when we are elderly i doubt we will be able to afford it, as it will be like $600 a month then, going up every year as we age, and of course we get a discount at the moment because we have not had any surgery's cross fingers.

Anyhow would love your opinions,and to discuss this with you all.

Again it was a real eye opener to me.

[chocolatepuppy]

I have health insurance through my employer for myself and my husband. It costs me nearly a weeks pay to pay for it. With the new plan they started this year, they pay less and copays and deductibles are much higher. Still, I'm thankful I have it, it truly could make the difference between being treated or turned away.:(

[pomtzu]

Medical insurance is very expensive, and not everyone here is fortunate enough to have coverage paid in full or even partial by their employer - if they're lucky enough to even have a job! When I had to retire 3 years ago on disability, I was not old enough to be on Medicare, so I had to pay to continue with the coverage I had at work - to the tune of almost $500 per month. And that was just for me. I couldn't afford it, but at the same time, couldn't afford to be without it, so what choice did I have? I have since become eligible for Medicare, and pay $96 per month for that, but Medicare doesn't cover all expenses, so I had to purchase a supplemental policy to cover those expenses, and that runs me $121 per month. A lot better than the $500 I was previously paying.
I can understand why so many people have no medical insurance, and in this country of ours, it is a shame that this situation exists. But after paying the mortgage, utilities, food, and other living expenses - there's not much - if anything left.
I hope that this new administration of ours can do something to help alleviate this situation. So many people are doing without medical care because they just can't afford it.

[carole]

I don't know how it all works over there, but here even if you don't have private medical insurance, you can see a doctor, we have a community services card which allows us to get cheaper doctors fees and prescriptions, you have to qualify for this, hubby and I do, your income has to be within certain limits.

And you can still get operations and seen to at our public hospitals, of course there is a waiting list, and that is why i choose to have surgery cover incase i need urgent surgery i can have it, as waiting for the public might endanger one's life or one may be in a lot of pain until you receive surgery.

I thought medical care in the states was only not affordable for those who were on very low incomes, the poor, but at $12,000 dollars a year, we certainly could not afford to pay that, it seems outrageous and yes in a country such as the United States, it is not good enough is it?

I think at one time they were trying to privatize all medical care here too,but i am so thankful it did not happen, as it stands now one does have a choice and one can get medical care, no matter what your financial status is.

[pomtzu]

Yes - there is coverage for low income folks, but the "average Joe" usually makes too much money to qualify. I guess the one benefit here is that we don't have the wait or have to go to designated providers for care that you do with a public health care system. If we feel that we aren't getting the care or consideration deserving of a condition, we can always go to a different doctor, and we don't have to wait sometimes months or longer for a particular test or procedure. If I were to go to my doctor tomorrow and he said I had to have an MRI (or whatever), it would be scheduled and performed in a matter of a few days or less. I guess that's why we pay the big bucks!

[ramanth]

Thankfully my medical (including dental, vision, and prescriptions) are covered by my employer. They pay about $14,000 for it.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Private insurance is the major health care system in this country. Public health care is only for retirees or indigent.

Most people have their private insurance through their employer and the employer might pay a portion of the premiums. Consequently, many employees do not know the real cost of the coverage until the company is no longer paying it - loss of job, etc.

An adequate plan will cost around $900 to $1,200 a month for family coverage. And still the insured will need to pay co-pays and deductibles.

With so many layoffs now I often have the responsiblity to tell employees being laid off what they will need to pay if they want to have medical insurance.

It is very difficult. I had an employee just last week call me frantic how he will provide medical care for his family if it will cost him over $900 a month. And he will only get about $2,000 in unemployment benefits.

The stimulus plan just passed by Congress has a provision that will pay 65% of the premiums for employees involuntarily terminated for nine months.

This will be a help.

[carole]

wow really, that is fantastic, i still prefer our system, i guess it is the only one i know, with the private medical insurance, we also can have treatment rather swiftly, but a few days is really great, we would probably still have to wait about two weeks,but you can pick and choose as well, that is why i have chosen to take it out even though it is almost not affordable for us, as we get older when we need it most, is when we will probably have to stop it as we just will not be able to afford it,plain and simple.,and that worries me alot.

I am somewhat confused, as this programme showed hundreds of people lining up at all hours of the morning to get free medical care as they cannot afford private insurance, but yet you are saying there is coverage for those on low incomes, can you please explain, thanks.

Ok just read your post edwinas secretary, here public health system is available to all no matter what your financial situation is, rich or poor, you can choose as of now,there i see a bit of a grey area, i think if you can afford it, you should have to take our medical insurance, that way the waiting lists will go down,for those who cannot afford it.
Maybe we should be rewarding those who take our private medical insurance, the government should pay a percentage, but of course whether that is financially viable i don't know, but i think it would be a good idea.we also have employee schemes which means we can get it cheaper, we did not opt for that with my husbands employer because we have to basically start all over again, and any pre-exisiting conditions would not be covered, so that was not a good option for us alas.

[pomtzu]

I am somewhat confused, as this programme showed hundreds of people lining up at all hours of the morning to get free medical care as they cannot afford private insurance, but yet you are saying there is coverage for those on low incomes, can you please explain, thanks

I wish I could explain - but I don't know of any situation like this. The low income here that are on public medical care, can go to the same doctors I go to. I couldn't tell from looking at people in a doctor's waiting room, who is there with high priced insurance, and who is having it paid by the government.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Yes - . I guess the one benefit here is that we don't have the wait or have to go to designated providers for care that you do with a public health care system.

This is not necessarily true. In many HMOs if you do not like your doctor or the service you receive the only way to change (at least until the next open enrollment) is if you want to pay the whole thing on your own (and who can afford to do that??) I had an employee recently who needed to see a specialist but her HMO could not schedule her for weeks.

Most plans today are HMO or PPO - in an HMO you do not have coverage unless you do to the designated doctors/clinic/hospital. In a PPO you can go to other than the designated but your benefits will be reduced (often sharply.)

And doctors go in and out of plans. In Chicago we had a doctor we liked very much. His hospital decided not to stay in the plan we had. We either had to change doctors or switch to a lesser plan in order to continue to see him.

[pomtzu]

This is not necessarily true. In many HMOs if you do not like your doctor or the service you receive the only way to change (at least until the next open enrollment) is if you want to pay the whole thing on your own (and who can afford to do that??) I had an employee recently who needed to see a specialist but her HMO could not schedule her for weeks.

Most plans today are HMO or PPO - in an HMO you do not have coverage unless you do to the designated doctors/clinic/hospital. In a PPO you can go to other than the designated but your benefits will be reduced (often sharply.)

And doctors go in and out of plans. In Chicago we had a doctor we liked very much. His hospital decided not to stay in the plan we had. We either had to change doctors or switch to a lesser plan in order to continue to see him.

Yes - that's true. But you do have the option to go out of network.

Another thing that I find rather ludicrous, is what doctors are "allowed" to charge. I'm now on Medicare and supplemental insurance, and I questioned a recent bill for a routine follow-up visit with my primary care doc. I was charged $122 for a simple office visit, yet a sign in the reception area stated that rates were now $70 for the same. When I called the billing dept to question it, she told me that he charges me what Medicare "allows", and that the $70 was for cash patients with no insurance. So the government is allowing doctors to cause rates to be high. What's wrong with that picture??? Fortunately my supplemental picks up what Medicare doesn't pay, or I couldn't afford to go to a doctor either!

[carole]

Woah the charges are expensive over there, i do have a community services card so i get my doctors visits at around $40 a visit, without the card is around 60, my hubby gets a 15 min visit for only $10, he just enrolled at this medical centre, if you are PHO enrolled here you also get it cheaper again.

I wish i could remember the state this was filmed in, i think it may have been kentucky, but i am not really sure.

[Taz_Zoee]

I didn't read through all the posts. But I had insurance through my employer until this past December. They had been offering two different carriers and this year dropped the carrier I was on. I didn't want to go with the other carrier (sorry I don't like Kaiser). So I went independently. It's not much more expensive for me. But then again, I am single and "fairly" young and pretty healthy overall.

[pomtzu]

Woah the charges are expensive over there, i do have a community services card so i get my doctors visits at around $40 a visit, without the card is around 60, my hubby gets a 15 min visit for only $10, he just enrolled at this medical centre, if you are PHO enrolled here you also get it cheaper again.

I wish i could remember the state this was filmed in, i think it may have been kentucky, but i am not really sure.

Yikes - that's cheap - I'm moving to NZ. Got an empty room??? :D

Since you said Kentucky, I'm wondering if that was part of the t.v. documentary on the people of Apalachia, since I didn't see it. I'll bet it was. That would make sense then, since these people are very isolated and keep to themselves, and are not in an area that has medical care and facilities readily available. But this is not the "norm" of low income folks - it's just a "handful" and not a fair comparison of the overall system of medical care for those of low or no income.

[buckner]

Yikes - that's cheap - I'm moving to NZ. Got an empty room??? :D

Since you said Kentucky, I'm wondering if that was part of the t.v. documentary on the people of Apalachia, since I didn't see it. I'll bet it was. That would make sense then, since these people are very isolated and keep to themselves, and are not in an area that has medical care and facilities readily available. But this is not the "norm" of low income folks - it's just a "handful" and not a fair comparison of the overall system of medical care for those of low or no income.

I'm living in the Appalachia part of Kentucky, and I'm not at all to myself or isolated. Also, we do have medical facilities. In the smaller towns and cities here, pharmacies and doctors close early and such, and in the larger towns, they can stay open all night. If the Appalachians that live in the hollers and way up in the mountains don't know about medical coverage, they don't get it because they don't desire it.
I don't know, guess I don't like stereotypes. We don't all live without medical coverage or have low income and stuff.

Personally, because I'm still a full-time student, I'm still covered by my mother's insurance. She gets ours through her work. Her job pays the majority each month, but she still gets quite a bit deducted from her pay. If I ever stop being a full-time student or when I turn 25, my insurance will cease and I will have to find my own. I'll have started my career before than, so hopefully, all will be well.
My boyfriend does not have insurance. Simply, he cannot afford it. He can't even afford to go and pay out of pocket if he is sick. Insurance is insanely high, and so are office visits!! I can't even begin telling you how many illnesses he has had that have gone untreated. He hasn't seen a real doctor in years. Not a dentist, not a general doctor, nothing.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Yes - that's true. But you do have the option to go out of network.

Another thing that I find rather ludicrous, is what doctors are "allowed" to charge. I'm now on Medicare and supplemental insurance, and I questioned a recent bill for a routine follow-up visit with my primary care doc. I was charged $122 for a simple office visit, yet a sign in the reception area stated that rates were now $70 for the same. When I called the billing dept to question it, she told me that he charges me what Medicare "allows", and that the $70 was for cash patients with no insurance. So the government is allowing doctors to cause rates to be high. What's wrong with that picture??? Fortunately my supplemental picks up what Medicare doesn't pay, or I couldn't afford to go to a doctor either!

In an HMO you cannot go out of network and have any insurance coverage.

The doctors will charge medicare whatever their rate is...but usually the negotiated (PPO or HMO) rate is lower than what the uninsured or government insured pay.

[Puckstop31]

We provide ourselves and our employees a high deductible and co-pay, but relativley low cost health plan. I say health plan, because it is more than insurance. I mean, your auto insurance does not pay for oil changes, does it?

I pray we never become a country where I am forced to use a "national" plan. I enjoy being able to shop around for the best care for the best dollar. When our daughter was born, we found a hospital who would do the delivery and ALL pre-natal care for $3600. This cost did NOT include tests or medication, but that was OK with us. $600 of that was Tanya's epidural. And you know what? We got amazing care. A small hospital, 5 delivery rooms, 9 post natal (PRIVATE) rooms. Now, if we chose to use the insurance? The insurance company would have paid well over $20,000 for the same basic care at the big, fancy hospital.

Now, Hannah required a NICU stay after birth due to her getting pneumonia. This we did submit to the insurance company, as it was not routine care. They paid about half of the $18,000 dolalr NICU bill. The balance we are making payments on, intrest free via the hospitals finance department.



I will ALWAYS prefer the system we now have. I work very, very hard to provide the life I do for my family. I would be ashamed to take a handout I did not require from my fellow taxpayer.


Nothing in life is "free". To let the government control something as important and intimate as your and your familes health care is akin to being enslaved. I see how it works in Canada, a country with 1/10th the population of the US. Its great when you are young. Then you get old and wait YEARS for life extending or life enhancing care that is routine in the US. Imagine how screwed up it will become WHEN we get it here?

"People who are willing to give up a little liberty for a little bit of 'security', shall have nor deserve, either."

[carole]

Hmm your point of view interests me, i however love the system we have in NZ, and by the way it is free to have a baby here in NZ, you can also opt to go privately, i like the choice of being able to do either, if you are not in a position to afford private care at least you have a back up system, most people have their babies here free, only go to a specialist if there are problems or there were with their last baby.

I had wonderful care for my second baby, i certainly could not complain about it.,My GP delivered her and i spent a week in hospital with excellent care.

The day you have to pay to have a baby in NZ will be a very sad day indeed .

Canada may well have a system like our's , i really don't know.

I would be scared if we changed to be like the US myself, i would be very worried about my health then.

I certainly don't profess to understand your system ,but i am happy with ours for now anyhow.

I don't think it was the people from Apalachia, i wish i had taken more notice, i didn't really just about how bad off these poor people were, my heart went out to them.

[Daisy and Delilah]

This is a huge thorn in the sides of many Americans, Carole. Some of us have insurance and some don't. Some of us have better coverage than others. Medical costs all over are through the roof. I long for the day that something is done about this mammoth problem.

I could go on and on about this. It really irks me to think about certain situations. Much of the care we get in my area is inadequate. I spend 2 hours in the waiting area and see the doctor for 5 minutes. Alot of the doctors act too busy to be bothered with patients. Alot of us leave doctor's offices shaking our heads, etc.

Not all doctors are this bad but in this area, good medical care can be hard to find with or without insurance. Sorry to get off the question but it makes my blood boil to see these doctors getting away with murder.

In response to what you heard, I think it would really surprise me to see how many people in this country have no insurance at all.

As soon as possible, something has to be done about this situation. People are going to be ill, no matter what happens. These people all need proper care. When will we ever see this tragic ordeal come to an end?:(

[Edwina's Secretary]

i like the choice of being able to do either, if you are not in a position to afford private care at least you have a back up system, I would be scared if we changed to be like the US myself, i would be very worried about my health then.



Choice...it is a wonderful thing and something sadly lacking in our system.

One out of every four people in the state of Texas do not have medical insurance. No medical insurance equals poor if any medical care. Which equates to a very high cost to society of treatment (vs. prevention.)

In the US we pay the greatest percent of gross domestic product in health care (17%) yet are a long way from best in healthcare (as measured in such things as life span, maternal and infant mortality.)

There was a thread in the DogHouse recently that spoke of the "horrors" of the Canadian system of healthcare, yet there were a number of Canadian PetTalkers who spoke quite highly of their system.

I think there are many different possible avenues to pursue. But the one we are on does not work. Can you imagine...one out of every four people in a state as populous as Texas not having access to adequate healthcare???

As you are to the least of my people so shall you be onto me....

[carole]

Yes people moan and groan about our system too, although it is not fail proof and does have its problems, i think we are lucky to have what we have for such a small country,yes the waiting lists will get longer and i am sure there are people who are not getting adequate care in my country too.

I think the figure of people who died because of lack of proper care in the US was horrendous, i won't quote it as i cannot remember the exact figure, but it sure astounded me.

[Edwina's Secretary]

There have been a few ghastly examples here in the last year or so of people dying in the waiting room of the emergency...waiting for care. Waiting for hours and hours and hours...while employees ignored them.

Paying the most does not promise the best care!

[blue]

For most of my working life I havent had insurance. I currently dont have insurance at all.

[Twisterdog]

I have insurance now, through my husband's work. He works for a large international company.

However, for the ten years prior to us marrying, I had no insurance. I am self-employed and the premiums for a plan that was actually useful were literally more than what I made. A plan I could barely afford was completely useless.

At the same time, I did not qualify for Medicaid, even though I had a young child, was a single mother, and made below the poverty level. I did not qualify because I owned assets ... namely my business and house. So, if I would have sold my house, moved into public housing rent-free and quit working ... I would have had great insurance. Hmmm ... ya think there is something wrong with the American medical system?

[krazyaboutkatz]

I currently have HMO insurance with Kaiser through my employer and I think that my boss also pays half of my premuim each month. We also have the option to have another insurance which is PPO but since I'm older now Kaiser costs me less and so far I've liked my doctors. The new Kaiser is only about 5 minutes away from my home so it's very convenient too.

I still have to pay $30 for an office visit and generic medication is $10 or $15 I think and lab work is $10. One time I was waiting in the waiting room at Kaiser and I noticed that most people there had very low co-payments. One only had to pay $5, another one $10, another one $15, and another one $20. I felt like I was paying way too much at $30. I know that my former roommate worked for the government and she only had a $5 co-payment. Must be nice.:rolleyes:

Even though I work for a dental lab, my employer doesn't provide us with dental insurance.:( We used to have it when I first worked there but then it got taken away. Now we have to provide our own or we can also go with an Aflac plan. I chose to go with my own which is Smilecare. I only have to pay $65 or $70 a year but I have to go to only Smilecare dentists. I still have to pay some towards my cleaning, x-rays, fillings, crowns, etc. but it's at a reduced rate so it's much more affordable.

I don't have a vision plan either.:( I just go to Costco every 2 years for a check up which doesn't cost me too much money. Luckily my vision hasn't changed too much. I bought several pairs of glasses online last year and they were so much more affordable than those even at Costco or other optical stores or offices. My dad had detached retina's in both of his eyes and this is an inherited disease so I have to be sure to have my eyes dilated every 2 years to make sure that everything is okay.

Both of my parents are on the Kaiser senior medical plan and they really like it. Some of their premiums are still being paid my dad's former employer. I think that their co-payments have gone up though. For some reason they found that their lab work co-payments are less if they go to a Kaiser in Southern CA than in Northern CA. If they didn't have medical insurance, my mom wouldn't be alive today. She's a breast cancer survivor.

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

I don't know how it all works over there, but here even if you don't have private medical insurance, you can see a doctor, we have a community services card which allows us to get cheaper doctors fees and prescriptions, you have to qualify for this, hubby and I do, your income has to be within certain limits.

And you can still get operations and seen to at our public hospitals, of course there is a waiting list, and that is why i choose to have surgery cover incase i need urgent surgery i can have it, as waiting for the public might endanger one's life or one may be in a lot of pain until you receive surgery.

I thought medical care in the states was only not affordable for those who were on very low incomes, the poor, but at $12,000 dollars a year, we certainly could not afford to pay that, it seems outrageous and yes in a country such as the United States, it is not good enough is it?

I think at one time they were trying to privatize all medical care here too,but i am so thankful it did not happen, as it stands now one does have a choice and one can get medical care, no matter what your financial status is.


Our system is very much like yours. Everybody has an insurance; lots of people also have a "hospital-insurance". This mostly through work. This insurance pays most of your bills for you! That was very interesting for me last years, since I was in hospital for at least 6 times...:eek::D

[pomtzu]

I'm living in the Appalachia part of Kentucky, and I'm not at all to myself or isolated. Also, we do have medical facilities. In the smaller towns and cities here, pharmacies and doctors close early and such, and in the larger towns, they can stay open all night. If the Appalachians that live in the hollers and way up in the mountains don't know about medical coverage, they don't get it because they don't desire it.
I don't know, guess I don't like stereotypes. We don't all live without medical coverage or have low income and stuff.

No need to take offense, as I was not referring to all of Apalachia, nor stereotyping the people of that area. I was simply pointing out that this might have been about the t.v. coverage of a small group of people in that region - as you make reference to people in "the hollers".

[pomtzu]

The doctors will charge medicare whatever their rate is...but usually the negotiated (PPO or HMO) rate is lower than what the uninsured or government insured pay.

Yet my rate could be, and is, higher than another's, simply because Medicare has authorized x$ to be charged, and he is charging the max allowed by law. It isn't a set rate for a basic office visit for every patient, as it used to be "back in the good old days". :(

[Puckstop31]

Choice...it is a wonderful thing and something sadly lacking in our system.

One out of every four people in the state of Texas do not have medical insurance. No medical insurance equals poor if any medical care. Which equates to a very high cost to society of treatment (vs. prevention.)

In the US we pay the greatest percent of gross domestic product in health care (17%) yet are a long way from best in healthcare (as measured in such things as life span, maternal and infant mortality.)

There was a thread in the DogHouse recently that spoke of the "horrors" of the Canadian system of healthcare, yet there were a number of Canadian PetTalkers who spoke quite highly of their system.

I think there are many different possible avenues to pursue. But the one we are on does not work. Can you imagine...one out of every four people in a state as populous as Texas not having access to adequate healthcare???

As you are to the least of my people so shall you be onto me....

Please do not think that I am not compassionate to these peoples plight. But are there not already options for the uninsured? I thought that was what Medicade was for? Better yet, who are those one of every 4? How did they come to be in the situation they are in? As usual, there is more too it than just a passionate speech, tugging at heartstrings.

Further, in a world of sunshine and roses, government controlled healthcare would be swell. But government never stops intruding. Enough is never enough.

Like I said before.... I'd rather succeed or fail on my own.

[moosmom]

Because I like to eat, no.

[Spiritwind]

I currently do not have health insurance. I did up until a little over a year ago, but I left my job I had at that time and was unable to pay for it all myself.

My current job I am only technically part time, even though I get the max. amount of hours a person can get and still be considered part time (they claim they have to many full time people, but they just hired several new part time people???? go figure?? ).... so I can't get health insurance thru them, and even if I did I couldn't afford for them to take anything else out of my check at this point in time.

I haven't looked into private insurance, but I know I couldn't afford it right now....

[caseysmom]

I have had Kaiser for years. Never had any problem. My employer pays 1086.00 a month and I pay 200 something. We have a 15 dollar co pay when we go in for a visit. This covers the whole family of course.

I have never had any problem with kaiser, they were pretty good with my pregnancies. You just have to find the good doctors.

[Daisy and Delilah]

My health insurance has covered most of my medical charges. I look at those charges and my mouth drops open at the amounts. Why do the insurance companies keep paying such high amounts for everything? It worries me alot because I can't help but think that they will all eventually run out of money to cover these charges and we will all be without any coverage.

A few years ago, I was forced to try for one of those that are advertised on tv. Humana One and Blue Choice One. I was turned down because I have hig blood pressure and other medical conditions. I was told those policies are underwritten and underwriters are reluctant to approve many people. Unlike the group policies that we have through work, these people are much more particular. If I run out of my current insurance, where will I go? It's really scary.:eek:

[pomtzu]

My health insurance has covered most of my medical charges. I look at those charges and my mouth drops open at the amounts. Why do the insurance companies keep paying such high amounts for everything? It worries me alot because I can't help but think that they will all eventually run out of money to cover these charges and we will all be without any coverage.



Terry - I know exactly what you're saying here. When I fractured my wrist 18 months ago, it was too badly damaged for just a cast, so I had to have an external outrigger surgically screwed into my hand and arm. For that piece of hardware by itself, my insurance (private at the time) was charged $14,000!! Yup - you read that right! Of course all the other charges were right in line with being over the top - emergency room, surgery to install it, surgery to take it off, physical therapy for over a month, all the follow up visits to the orthopaedic surgeon! One of these days I should total it all up to see the grand total. I'd probably get sick! Lord knows what the fractured hip came to, since I'm still going for follow-ups and x-rays for at least another year for that!! :(

Here's a pic of the pricey hardware I had to wear for 7 weeks!

[Daisy and Delilah]

WOW!!! That must have been uncomfortable to say the least. The cost is insane!

With the three knee replacements I had, the prosthesis' alone were $27k, 36k, and the last one(I have it in now), 54k. It was almost like the doctors/companies kept jacking up the prices to see what they could get. Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful it was paid but I feel this can't continue forever. At the same time, it's keeping other people that are dying from possibly having funds available for their needs. I know I'm not explaining this too well but I think everyone knows what I mean.

People might think I'm crazy but I actually think twice before making an appointment, etc. Why? So my insurance company won't cancel me.

[Edwina's Secretary]

The cost of medical insurance is breaking many employers as well. That is why they hire "part-time" who are not eligible for group coverage. Or stop offering group coverage all together. Or go out of business.

Who are the uninsured? Well...we see on this thread who some of them are. People who have lost their jobs (and therefore their insurance) people who work for employers that do not offer insurance, the self-employed, kids who graduate and cannot find jobs, many agriculture worker and retail employees.

It is not just the unemployed or the unemployable. They often qualify for what public programs there are. It is usually those who can least afford it - working folk - not rich folk.

Uninsured medical expenses are a major contributor to bankruptcy filings in this country. So in the end...we all pay for those expenses one way or another.

[pomtzu]

People might think I'm crazy but I actually think twice before making an appointment, etc. Why? So my insurance company won't cancel me.

That's an expensive knee you have there girl!

Can they cancel you? I don't know. My private insurance was always thru my employer, and I never heard of anyone getting cancelled. If anything - they would have cancelled me with all that they paid out on me over the years. An when I was still married and my now ex was on my insurance, they paid out over $300,000 for his quadruple by-pass.
So now I'm on Medicare and have a supplemental policy with United Healthcare thru AARP. Now I'm wondering if they could cancel me at their option - or maybe raise my rates. However my brother has the same supplemental policy that I have, and he's had mega bucks worth of surgery, procedures and treatments, and they have never even raised his rates. Actually his premiums went down when he moved from FL to NC since it's based on where you live. And I pay even less than he does for the exact same coverage.

If you need to go to the doctor - go!!!!

[Daisy and Delilah]

I don't know if they can cancel me or not but it concerns me.

I forgot to mention that the last implant was a femoral implant only. They had to order several models to match it correctly so I think that's why the charge was so high. They can't remove the tibial implant. It's too hard to take out(doctor's words).
Sorry I'm off topic again.

[JenBKR]

My husband and I are blessed. He works for a small company but they provide excellent medical coverage. We don't pay anything for it, the company covers 100%. It is considered part of his pay though. Our co-pays are $10-$20 for doctor visits and $15 for prescriptions. I didn't pay a penny to have Ty - not for any doctor visits or any hospital charges. Ty was added on to the insurance plan free also. As I said, we are blessed to have this insurance.

I think that insurance can vary from state-to-state too. In PA we have a children's insurance program that can cover children who don't have insurance through their parents. We also have low cost clinics, though I am not sure how the quality is. Our health care in this country is in a sad state for sure.

[carole]

I am so thankful to have our community services card, as i said before it cuts down our doctors fees, and our prescriptions are $3.00 per item.

[pomtzu]

I am so thankful to have our community services card, as i said before it cuts down our doctors fees, and our prescriptions are $3.00 per item.

$3.00???? :eek:

I have osteoporosis, and one med my doctor wanted me to take would have cost me $950 per month. The cheapest I found it was thru a Canadian pharmacy for $750 per month. I guess you know who isn't taking it!! :p

[carole]

Yes well not every medication is subsidised by the government, i have to take some medicine that i have to pay for as well,luckily it is still cheap compared to the prices you are quoting,this is what the article was saying also that the USA are paying double the price anywhere else is, that is terrible.

The normal price you pay for a prescription on a government funded medication is $15 per item, so is a big saving for me.

I am getting even more thankful for the system we have in place here in NZ as i read your posts, i would not be able to survive paying what you people pay, i have to have one particular medicine otherwise i would be unable to eat, so if i had to pay those outrageous prices i guess i would truly be down under.

[pomtzu]

luckily it is still cheap compared to the prices you are quoting,this is what the article was saying also that the USA are paying double the price anywhere else is, that is terrible.


And this is exactly why so many people (mostly seniors), choose to buy thru Canadian pharmacies!

[Freedom]

Dad still has really great insurance coverage, through his prior employer, under his pension plan. That kicks in after Medicare, and with all his health issues, thank goodness!

For 15+ years when I was working I had health insurance through my employers. Then I stopped working to care for Dad. There is only one company in this state which even offers private pay health insurance, and only one plan, so you have no choices. It costs me over $700 per month. It is going up again in April. I have high deductibles, and high co pays. I don't qualify for any group plans. :( I often wonder if it is worth it.:confused:

[wolf_Q]

I have insurance through my work. I think it's about $80 every paycheck (every 2 weeks, so about $160 per month). If I ever quit, try to be self-employed, or work for a company that doesn't offer insurance I'm in trouble. I tried to get insurance through private companies because the work insurance isn't that great...yeah none of them will insure me - because I have poly-cystic ovarian syndrome, which is fairly common (I've worked with 3 other people that have had the same thing), and for the past several years I haven't even had any symptoms. It's a pretty ridiculous thing to be turned down insurance for :rolleyes: but I was by two different companies.

I went several months without insurance because I was dropped from my parents for being too old and I couldn't sign up for the work insurance until open enrollment. Luckily nothing happened to me during that time but I worried about it.

[Marigold2]

I have health insurance through my husband. With my medical issues it would be impossible to buy private insurance. Sad but true. Perhaps our new pres can change that given time.

[Edwina's Secretary]

This new thread http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=151245

really makes the point!

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Luckily we have insurance through my husband's job...I am not sure what we would do without it! I'm not sure how much his employer pays, but we have BCBS and we pay $240/month for the family.

Since our plan paid for nearly all of my prenatal visits, I never saw a bill except for a few odd times when I had to pay extra. One of those times was an ultrasound I had. It was a routine screening, and the scheduled visit was only about 25 minutes. I was looked at by an ultrasound technician- not a doctor- (though the tech did show the doctor the images) and the charges before insurance negotiated were $1,000! The insurance negotiated it down to 300 some dollars (and luckily I only had to pay about $50)...but without insurance, I would have been stuck with that whole bill- $1,000. I'm not sure why an insurance company is entitled to pay so much less than an individual.

Clearly there is something really really wrong with our healthcare system! I like president Obama, but drug and health insurance companies are so powerful I am skeptical that anything much can be done. :(

[Skyfire]

I didn't have any health insurance at all, nothing until I visited a clinic last month. I was told to sign up for something called PPP. I guess that's what you're referring to. So, I have to go to free clinics. I had a doctor appointment today for a check to a recent surgery I had, and I didn't have to pay for my visit. I haven't been to the doctor for a long time because I wasn't aware that there was such things as free clinics...not until I really needed it!

When I went to the hospital for surgery, I was only charged $120, which I thought was going to be in the thousands, but I suppose since I don't have insurance and that I went to a county hospital that this is why the cost was relatively low. People might think that is great to have to only pay so much, but I was in the ER and in lots of pain and waited 12 hours until I got seen by the doctor/surgeon!!! I don't know how to feel about this...I'm sort of conflicted, part of me wants to be able to afford insurance, but part of me is grateful for not having to pay thousands of dollars on clinic and hospital visits.

[Puckstop31]

I understand the need for "better" government sponsored health plans. Just don't make it UNIVERSAL. (I.e. don't FORCE me into it.) I've worked inside the PA Medicade system for a few years. A bunch of 5th graders would have been more efficient.

I guess I am "lucky". I work 70+ hours a week to provide the life I do for my family. Don't force me into substandard healthcare because others are not in the same situation. Because no matter what you think or say... Government provide care will not be the same as my private plan. Worse the government then has a reason to control your life. You think they won't once we are all "equal"?

We are guaranteed our freedoms, but NOT equal results. It never ceases to amaze me how many people are willing to simply give up what liberty we have left.

Just stop and think for a minute what it means to give government control of your healthcare. You don't think it will turn into them FORCING you into lifestyle changes? Imagine the taxes they could/will impose.

Think with your BRAIN for a second please. I understand that a lot of you ladies are very compassionate and that is good. But balance it with some common sense!

Free people are never equal and equal people are never free.

[carole]

Well in NZ you still have the choice, you can opt to rely on the public system and waiting lists or go private, even though it is an enormous struggle for us we have private, i like the security of knowing if i need an operation or have something serious, i can use my health insurance and be seen to quickly and get the best care possible.

I guess this is what you mean puckstop is it?, to still have the freedom of choice, the best of both worlds.

The way it is now, if i have something less serious, i can choose public and wait, and have it seen to without claiming on my insurance, which of course will put my premiums up,so far i have been lucky enough not to do either, and have not used my insurance,as i only have surgery cover i have covered the cost of the specialists visit personally myself, as luckily we did not need surgery.

[IRescue452]

No insurance here, unfortunately.

In WI you only qualify for any assistance if you are pregnant, elderly, disabled, or under the poverty level that hasn't been updated since 1960. The biggest group hit is single people between 19 and 35 with no families. I fall into that range. I have a full-time job but can't get on insurance until next January, if I can afford it. Wisconsin's healthcare definately perpetuates the truth that you don't get help unless you drop out of high school and have 5 kids by the time you are 18.

[Nomilynn]

Since I lost my job, I do not have any extended health insurance. However, since in Canada it is the law for everyone to have government supplemented health insurance, I am still able to see a doctor, go to the hospital, etc without having to pay. I pay a premium every month that gets me these services. If I was unable to pay this premium, I would still get the services, and they would arrange a payment plan with me for when I was earning income again.

I am also a type 1 diabetic. So, without my medication and doctors, I would die. Thankfully, I don't have to worry about that since I know I'm covered.

There are private clinics in BC that people have the option of using, but they still have to pay into the governement plan. I pray that my province/ country would NEVER convert to a plan like what is in the states, because I'm pretty sure that I would be far worse off than how I am now.