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ORIGINAL: MusicalBoredom

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ORIGINAL: willbeurdaddy

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ORIGINAL: tweakabelle

How much longer will the USA fail to take care of its own citizens basic needs? What kind of message about the USA does this send out to the rest of the world?

When will people in the USA learn personal responsbility?
And who gives a fuck what message the rest of the world, which is going broke faster than the US, thinks? Especially a bunch of marsupial fuckers.

I get really tired of hearing that health care reform is about me not wanting to take care of my personal needs.  Here is my story:

I started a business and had health insurance for me and my kids.  More for my kids than for me because it's what I could afford.  In January of 2010 I got a group policy policy in my new company and stopped the old bad policy.  In March of 2010 I had a heart attack.  My insurance company refused to pay because of the 6 month preexisting clause (fair enough I guess).  I paid $80,000 out of pocket for health care.  Had my insurance paid it, the bill to the insurance company would have only been $52,000 but as I was the person paying it cost be an extra $30K.  Then my insurance company invalidated by coverage to exclude all heart related care on my policy.  The new preexisting coverage that's part of the new health care law would offer me coverage at about $800 a month which I would gladly pay but it requires a letter of denial of coverage from an insurance company.   They won't deny me, they simply write so many riders that what I need covered isn't covered.  If I have another heart attack in the near future I won't be able to afford another $80K.  All I want is to be able to purchase insurance that covers me.

Now before someone says I shouldn't be able get insurance or that it's not fair that others policies would pay for my health care understand that that's what insurance is.  Everyone pays a fixed amount for insurance and a few people (which could be you at any moment) have their bills paid in the event of a medical emergency.  If you have insurance and get cancer for example your policy will be paying more than you as an individual paid -- in other words other people will be paying for your health care.  That's how insurance works.

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ORIGINAL: tweakabelle
A woman fighting a terminal form of bone cancer

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ORIGINAL: MusicalBoredom

I think that's where the US has been stuck for my whole life.  Politicians can't come up with a perfect system so nothing gets done.  Having money to fall back on if things don't work well is a great idea but that's not the same as self insurance.  There is no way a young couple can self insure their way though a young child with cancer for example.

I'm not sure what the big deal on everyone having a public health insurance policy. To me it seems like paying for fire and police protection.  Most people's house never catches on fire but some of their taxes go to pay for the department.  Those that want more fire protection pay for sprinklers or alarm monitoring or any number of things.  Seems to me that health care should be the same. Everyone pays into the system and everyone benfits.  We don't have to keep track of each dollar amount each person pays and receives in benefit anymore than we do for the fire department.  People would still be able to purchase additional insurance from a private provider to cover private rooms or some odd uncovered treatment or whatever they choose to write policies for. 

Here people sound like little children.  "It's not Fair!!!! I paid $5 and they only paid $1 and they got $2 worth of services." 

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ORIGINAL: DomYngBlk
So do carry your Alberta social insurance card and get extra insurance or have you thrown caution to the wind and are dealing with the US system

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ORIGINAL: tj444



I agree with you that public health care would be similar to paying for fire & police protection. But think most people are afraid of it getting out of control, mismanaged and all that. Btw, the medical system in the US is way out of control and costs over-inflated, imo. That Canadian guys heart operation ($50,000) would have cost about half had he been able to get it done in Canada and pay for it himself but that is considered 2 tier health care and verbotten in Canada. Well, there are a few loopholes but not many so people go to the US and pay two or even three times as much...

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ORIGINAL: willbeurdaddy

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ORIGINAL: MusicalBoredom

quote:

ORIGINAL: willbeurdaddy

quote:

ORIGINAL: tweakabelle

How much longer will the USA fail to take care of its own citizens basic needs? What kind of message about the USA does this send out to the rest of the world?

When will people in the USA learn personal responsbility?
And who gives a fuck what message the rest of the world, which is going broke faster than the US, thinks? Especially a bunch of marsupial fuckers.

I get really tired of hearing that health care reform is about me not wanting to take care of my personal needs.  Here is my story:

I started a business and had health insurance for me and my kids.  More for my kids than for me because it's what I could afford.  In January of 2010 I got a group policy policy in my new company and stopped the old bad policy.  In March of 2010 I had a heart attack.  My insurance company refused to pay because of the 6 month preexisting clause (fair enough I guess).  I paid $80,000 out of pocket for health care.  Had my insurance paid it, the bill to the insurance company would have only been $52,000 but as I was the person paying it cost be an extra $30K.  Then my insurance company invalidated by coverage to exclude all heart related care on my policy.  The new preexisting coverage that's part of the new health care law would offer me coverage at about $800 a month which I would gladly pay but it requires a letter of denial of coverage from an insurance company.   They won't deny me, they simply write so many riders that what I need covered isn't covered.  If I have another heart attack in the near future I won't be able to afford another $80K.  All I want is to be able to purchase insurance that covers me.

Now before someone says I shouldn't be able get insurance or that it's not fair that others policies would pay for my health care understand that that's what insurance is.  Everyone pays a fixed amount for insurance and a few people (which could be you at any moment) have their bills paid in the event of a medical emergency.  If you have insurance and get cancer for example your policy will be paying more than you as an individual paid -- in other words other people will be paying for your health care.  That's how insurance works.

Why would you even switch out of the "bad policy" if you were in the 6 month period? And locally at least, cash payers get steep discounts. My oldest had knee surgery at a cost of 60% of R&C.

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ORIGINAL: willbeurdaddy

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ORIGINAL: tj444
I agree with you that public health care would be similar to paying for fire & police protection. But think most people are afraid of it getting out of control, mismanaged and all that. Btw, the medical system in the US is way out of control and costs over-inflated, imo. That Canadian guys heart operation ($50,000) would have cost about half had he been able to get it done in Canada and pay for it himself but that is considered 2 tier health care and verbotten in Canada. Well, there are a few loopholes but not many so people go to the US and pay two or even three times as much...

There are economic benefits to the US system that are never factored into the "cost" differentials. Eg shorter waiting times (that increase expense because you need more docs/operating rooms/hosp beds etc) mean less time out of work and less progression in the case of progressive/degenerative diseases. Also to the extent that more modern diagonistic and surgical techniques are used, shorter recovery times means shorter hospital stays, less time out of work etc.

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ORIGINAL: zephyroftheNorth

God Hunky sometimes you are such an asshole. She's doing it because she can't afford treatment for cancer. How about you take your head out of your ass and try having some compassion.

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ORIGINAL: Aylee

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ORIGINAL: zephyroftheNorth

God Hunky sometimes you are such an asshole. She's doing it because she can't afford treatment for cancer. How about you take your head out of your ass and try having some compassion.

I think that his point is valid. It is not the health care system doing this. It is the regulatory system. The same regulatory system that won't let seven year olds have Lemonade stands.

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ORIGINAL: Aylee

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ORIGINAL: zephyroftheNorth

God Hunky sometimes you are such an asshole. She's doing it because she can't afford treatment for cancer. How about you take your head out of your ass and try having some compassion.

I think that his point is valid. It is not the health care system doing this. It is the regulatory system. The same regulatory system that won't let seven year olds have Lemonade stands.

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ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

Those are 2 separate issues.    Having financial problems is not an excuse to drag down the neighborhood.   Maybe she could rent the tents out to the homeless.

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ORIGINAL: Aylee

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ORIGINAL: zephyroftheNorth

God Hunky sometimes you are such an asshole. She's doing it because she can't afford treatment for cancer. How about you take your head out of your ass and try having some compassion.

I think that his point is valid. It is not the health care system doing this. It is the regulatory system. The same regulatory system that won't let seven year olds have Lemonade stands.

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ORIGINAL: zephyroftheNorth

rml, a reminder: this is Hunky you're talking to.

...you're welcome

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ORIGINAL: willbeurdaddy

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ORIGINAL: tj444



I agree with you that public health care would be similar to paying for fire & police protection. But think most people are afraid of it getting out of control, mismanaged and all that. Btw, the medical system in the US is way out of control and costs over-inflated, imo. That Canadian guys heart operation ($50,000) would have cost about half had he been able to get it done in Canada and pay for it himself but that is considered 2 tier health care and verbotten in Canada. Well, there are a few loopholes but not many so people go to the US and pay two or even three times as much...

There are economic benefits to the US system that are never factored into the "cost" differentials. Eg shorter waiting times (that increase expense because you need more docs/operating rooms/hosp beds etc) mean less time out of work and less progression in the case of progressive/degenerative diseases. Also to the extent that more modern diagonistic and surgical techniques are used, shorter recovery times means shorter hospital stays, less time out of work etc.

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ORIGINAL: DomYngBlk

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ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

Hill-Burton Free and Reduced-Cost Health Care In 1946, Congress passed a law that gave hospitals, nursing homes and other health facilities grants and loans for construction and modernization. In return, they agreed to provide a reasonable volume of services to persons unable to pay and to make their services available to all persons residing in the facility’s area. The program stopped providing funds in 1997, but about 200 health care facilities nationwide are still obligated to provide free or reduced-cost care.Steps to Apply for Hill-Burton Free or Reduced-Cost Care1. Find the Hill-Burton obligated facility nearest you from the list of Hill-Burton obligated facilities.
2. Go to the facility's admissions or business office and ask for a copy of the Hill-Burton Individual Notice. The Individual Notice will tell you what income level makes you eligible for free or reduced-cost care, what services might be covered, and exactly where in the facility to apply.
3. Go to the office listed in the Individual Notice and say you want to apply for Hill-Burton free or reduced-cost care. You may need to fill out a form.
4. Gather any other required documents (such as a pay stub to prove income eligibility) and take or send them to the obligated facility.
5. If you are asked to apply for Medicaid, Medicare, or some other financial assistance program, you must do so.
6. When you return the completed application, ask for a Determination of Eligibility. Check the Individual Notice to see how much time the facility has before it must tell you whether or not you will receive free or reduced-cost care.

http://www.hrsa.gov/gethealthcare/affordable/hillburton/

Wasteful....give everyone a ID card..take it to the doctor..get treated..go back to work........

Compared to....all that you listed? no thanks

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ORIGINAL: Rule

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ORIGINAL: tweakabelle
A woman fighting a terminal form of bone cancer

If it is terminal, it is terminal. Recommended treatment: none. Bills to be paid: funeral bill only.

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ORIGINAL: rulemylife

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ORIGINAL: Rule

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ORIGINAL: tweakabelle
A woman fighting a terminal form of bone cancer

If it is terminal, it is terminal. Recommended treatment: none. Bills to be paid: funeral bill only.

You truly are an asshole.

I can only hope you face your eventual death with the same bravado.