Do we dare discuss the Supreme Court decision re: Healthcare

[Catty1]

In Canada public health is paid for through our taxes. I think there are still one or two provinces that charge an additional health care premium, which people under a certain income don't have to pay.

Just so I understand the new US health care - does that mean one still has to pay for government coverage? When we had premiums in Alberta I think the max for a family was under $200 monthly, but don't quote me on that.

[cassiesmom]

The SCOTUS determined that the federal government couldn't require the states to expand Medicaid to help cover more people. I've read in the paper that with Illinois Medicaid, the system is so prone to fraud and abuse that large amounts of money are being lost that could be spent providing care. So in my mind, we're back to the same problem which is many, many uninsured and under-insured people.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

One thing they really need to do is monitor the hospitals. I had to go in for an overnight procedure in 1999. I took my medicines with me like they told me to do. Then the stinkers gave me my own medicine and CHARGED ME FOR IT!!! (I had counted my pills and knew exactly how many I had) I called them out about it and they did finally take that charge off the bill. Still they wouldn't take the 10 dollars for a box of tissues I never touched off though.

[pomtzu]

Just so I understand the new US health care - does that mean one still has to pay for government coverage? .

You bet. I'm over 65 and on government Medicare, and I'll continue to have to pay that. My concern is that Medicare will reduce what they now cover, which is far from everything now anyway, and most of what's paid, is only paid at 80% of the cost. That's where private supplemental insurance comes in - to help out with that other 20%. My supplemental policy is a high option one (you can get lesser coverage), and they pay everything that Medicare doesn't. Between the 2 insurances, I have never paid so much as one cent to any doctor, hospital, lab, etc, since I have had it. I do pay for any occasional prescriptions that I might need tho, since I don't carry that coverage, but I take nothing on a regular basis.

[Cataholic]

Snakemama said it best, "don't let perfect get in the way of good".

Something has to be done to fix this healthcare mess. Perhaps by making the entire nation involved in it- willingly or not- we, as the populus, can bring the health insurance companies back into conformity. Healthcare belongs in the hands of the doctors/nurses/healthcare providers. Not the people with NO medical training, who get to decide that open heart surgery = 2.43 days, and 10 minutes is enough for a pediatric newborn visit. Health insurance (actually, ALL insurance) companies continue to return high profits, doing less with less. Right now, the population most greatly affected by no insurance (our lower income'd and seniors) have NO voice. They don't have insurance, they can't complain, switch insurance companies, make a difference, etc.

I pay $257 a month for family coverage, preventatives are 'free', and I have a $5000.00 deductible. Thank God I am healthy, and pray that J remains so, too. There has to be something 'better' than that. One trip to the ER would set me back tremendously. This isn't really a good plan. To get something more in line with reasonable, I would pay over $750 a month. I can't swing that. While I recognize the need for health insurance, I can't afford health insurance. What I have is a catastrophic type of coverage. $5000 deductible.

We all have to do things we don't like: pay taxes on schools we don't use, property tax when services aren't that great. Heck, I pay a 'stadium tax' to subsidize the sports arena here, and I have never seen a game! Car insurance, I pay it. Go to another state and I pay their sales tax. The list goes on. I have to wear a seat belt, my child needs to be properly restrained, too. My dog has to have a county tag, and sometimes I have to pay tolls on roads that I know have been paid off for eons! Not sure why THIS is such a sore spot with people.

Basic health care, to me, is a necessity. Not a luxury. Anyone going without has an effect on the entire system. While this might not be perfect, it is a good start.

[sasvermont]

That is another sore subject and should be considered health insurance coverage. How can teeth, gums etc. not be related to one's health. Dentists in VT charge horribly high prices and live expensive existances as well. I don't mind people making money, but why SO much? Greed! And stupid consumers.

Someone mentioned that if we do enroll millions of new health insurance folks, we will have a long wait for a Dr. appt. So? I am sure an emergency would be just that. I should think the Dr.s would be thrilled to have more people to carve on or stick. And paying ones to boot!

I, too, think we will see this insurance tax evolve and hopefully be fair, available to all humans and cheap!

[Catty1]

If the USA gets dental insurance you'll be way ahead of Canada!

[RICHARD]

I just saw a bit of an interview between Nancy Pelosi and David Gregory (NBC).

"It's not a tax, it's a penalty. It a penalty for the people who are freeriders...


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IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR HCI, YOU ARE NOT CHOOSING NOT TO PAY FOR IT.

YOU CANNOT AFFORD IT.

And even if they have 'Low Cost' programs that you still CAN'T afford, what happens then?

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I always thought that politicians were effing stupid.

Kinda sad to know I am right.

[Edwina's Secretary]

There are reasons people do not buy medical insurance. Some do not buy it because they figure they are young and do not need it. There are people who prefer to spend there money elsewhere knowing they can always go to the emergency room if it really matters. Some cannot afford what it costs today (well over $1,000 a month for family coverage) but would love to be able to buy it if it was less expensive.

I would like to see universal healthcare coverage as most of the western world has. But that would be too much of a shock to the system for this country. Something is better than nothing.

The purpose of the act - and the link Jessika posted http://www.reddit.com/tb/vbkfm is a really good summary - it to make healthcare affordable.

This

IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR HCI, YOU ARE NOT CHOOSING NOT TO PAY FOR IT.

YOU CANNOT AFFORD IT.

is simply not true. There are people who choose not to pay for it.

The other day an employee asked me if he could add his wife to his insurance because she is pregnant. I told him that is like buying car insurance after you have an accident.

And this

And even if they have 'Low Cost' programs that you still CAN'T afford, what happens then?

is the whole point. Making healthcare affordable. Tort reform will not make these people any more able to afford insurance.

But, as some continue to post without reading what the ACA really says:

No, there would not be coverage for illegal immigrants

It will - over time - get rid of pre-existing condition exclusions

It has provisions designed to decrease the cost of medicines

It will - over time - eliminate life time maximums

It will - over time - require insurance to cover preventative care

Beginning in 2014 if you can afford it you will be required to either have insurance coverage or pay a tax or mandate or whatever you want to call it. Of about $600 a year. If you choose not to have insurance. Again if you can afford it. There are provisions in the plan for those who cannot afford it.

There are no "death panels" any where in the bill.

Now which one of those things takes away your freedom? Which one of those things is so oppressive? Which one of those things represents the government intruding in the doctor/patient relationship? (That is still left to the insurance companies and their profit motives!)

[momoffuzzyfaces]

No, there would not be coverage for illegal immigrants


There are no "death panels" any where in the bill.

Well, since lots of illegals already get free care, it would make sense that they don't mention covering it.
Who wants to turn someone who is sick away just because they broke a law by being here illegaly? No one!

As for 'death panels', please don't give them any ideas!!! I look for them to sneak them in when no one is looking.

[RICHARD]

Make mine a sugar free Kool-Aid.

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Affordable HCI?

When you do not have the money to pay for insurance, it's not that you do not choose to buy it, It's you cannot afford it.

I guess it's too hard to imagine that when you never have had to worry about it. I heard the same crap on all the sunday news shows and how my life is going to improve because some arseholes voted to penalize people for being poor.


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Universal healthcare is the stupidest thing on the planet.

Case in point?

Go buy some accessory/aftermarket part for your car that says "UNIVERSAL FIT" or "FITS ALL MODELS" on it.

You are going to get a part that might fit your car.

It's more or less a sub standard fit, finish, and material.

I'd love to trust my health or loved ones to a 'close enough' style of medicine.


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As with anything on the planet, I'll believe it when I see that it's great for everyone.

This bill is Horse Crap and to think that the prices of meds and implants will go down is pretty entertaining.

Please,

Cross you legs and don't let anyone blow smoke up your heinie. It's not good for you and you may not be covered by your insurance company.

[smokey the elder]

In an ideal world, preventative care catches conditions before they cost six figures to treat and send one into bankruptcy. In the real world, a lot of people cannot afford this.

In an ideal world, doctors prescribe appropriate tests. In the real world, our litigious society almost forces MDs to prescribe the kitchen sink.

In an ideal world, Republicans and Democrats would have crafted the ACA together. In the real world, this didn't happen.

I can't help but think about the kerfuffle over Medicare Part D, aka Prescription Drug Coverage. The world was going to end then, according to certain pundits. As far as I can tell, it's still here.

Bottom line: let's give the ACA a chance to work before chucking it out.

[pomtzu]

Me thinks this will be a very long thread.................

[Cataholic]

Me thinks this will be a very long thread.................

Someone on FB posted this picture of a guy with a microphone and the caption was, "Brace yourselves. Everyone on FB is about to become a constitutional scholar!"

Very funny.

[Grace]

Someone on FB posted this picture of a guy with a microphone and the caption was, "Brace yourselves. Everyone on FB is about to become a constitutional scholar!"

Very funny.

Here he is -