posted
Yeah.. and then there's Medicare cuts. I'll bet seniors are just livid. (well, the ones who understand)
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
I don't understand all of this. I am not even sure what the bill says.
I just know our health care system needs to be better whether it is private insurance.
I had Blue Cross PPO and health net HMO and they both let me down.
I had several doctors tell me I would most likely get more help once I went on medicaid.
Must admit, I have had help while on it but with lyme and company education is so much needed by docs and the powers to be that approve whether or not you do get treatment.
I best bet is to go with the organizations that are helping to train lyme literate docs and pass those laws in each state protecting them.
Still doesn't cover the part about the insurance company not approving medications to treat lyme.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
While channel surfing I also heard that from here the bill goes somewhere else..can't recall where.
Then it has to go back to the house and senate for approval and then somewhere else.
So, the final bill that will be signed if passed is still not known.
We can still put in our in put on what changes we would like to see in the bill.
I felt most of the doctor's I saw felt their hands were tied when I was first looking for answers.
They would say things like I could do this or that but the insurance will not allow it.
I still hear that today. Having a business for profit....millions of dollars of profit or is it billions...a big number... determine what is to be done with our health seems upside down.
Saw a segment on Oprah about Sweden or Norway on health care.
They seem to get a lot of things right in those countries.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
The healthcare bill signed by the House will not be passed by the Senate 'as is right now' The Senate will modify it to be less radical. Then the House will not like it...
The more and more I see things going on in the economic realm, this will not happen and if it does, it will be very modified. The only thing I worry about is 10-20 years down the road... what will government try to do then?
The current healthcare bill requires everyone to purchase health insurance (in which .gov judges if you can afford it or not). If you do not purchase it, you will be fined (in my opinion) a large sum of money in ratio to your income. If you do not pay the fine, you will see anywhere from 1 month to 1 year in jail...
This is not speculation, this is straight from the current bill and Obama's mouth.
I just want to know, where in the constitution can government mandate that you purchase something that is not optional?
Maybe lyme disease is not the most of our worries...
Posts: 458 | From Miss | Registered: Mar 2009
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posted
It's all pretty bad. I like my health care plan. I shouldn't be forced to buy anything!! Either way, this thing is going to cost me more than I have!!!!
I am NOT rich, but I think this is going to cost MORE than I can manage. (If I were rich, I wouldn't even be worrying!)
I've heard of some good plans by Republicans, but I'm sure none of them will pass.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
Here are some provisions of the bill that concern me:
1. The $400 billion cut in Medicare
2. The inevitable scarcity that will result from the addition of 35 million new patients with no new doctors or nurses
3. The fine on the uninsured of 2.5 percent of their income if they don't buy insurance
4. The high cost of these mandatory insurance policies ($15,000 per family)
5. The low level of subsidy available for the uninsured (only after they pay 8-12 percent of their incomes)
6. The likelihood of a $1,700 increase in the average family's premiums
7. The possibility of up to five years in prison for failing to buy insurance or pay the fine
8. The taxation of medical devices like pacemakers, wheelchairs, prosthetic limbs, hearing aids, etc.
9. The tax on sick people (increasing the threshold for deducting medical expenses from 7.5 percent to 10 percent of income
10. The additional fiscal burden on the states of the increase in Medicaid eligibility
11. The 40 percent tax on health insurance premiums that will affect households earning more than $75,000 by the fifth year of the plan.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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lymewreck36
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4395
posted
Switzerland has a law that all people living here have to buy insurance.
Switzerland, a pure democracy, has no homeless, no trash in the streets, and almost no unemployment. The country is micro managed, and we pay less taxes than we do in the U.S.
Wish I knew the secret formula for all of this.
Sure is beautiful here, but it is hugely expensive to live here.
Mary
Posts: 1034 | From North Carolina | Registered: Aug 2003
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LabRat
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 78
posted
Sounds nice and yes I had heard it was very expensive to live there. Do they use a vat tax. Seems one way or another, your working for the government no matter where you live. You never really own anything that is taxable, (like property or home), cause the first time you can't pay your taxes, the government auctions it off. Kinda sucks when you think about it!
Posts: 1887 | From Corpus Christi, Texas | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
We spend far more of our GDP in the US about 16-17% currently and we still have millions that don't even have insurance.
I believe Switzerland spends around 11%.
It's all how you look at the numbers. You see most people here in the states are fixated on talking about taxes and they think they are getting ripped off when they have to pay taxes.
The word "Taxes" has become a dirty little word. Yet, most people don't stop to consider how much of our country's "GDP" which is probably the most important thing when discussing this whole health care mess we spend on health care and we have very little to show for it.
We pay far less in taxes than almost any other industrialized modern nation.
-------------------- aka: Lyme Warrior
In order to do "real" science, you have to have a "real" conversation with nature.
Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History!
"Just Demand your Rights" Posts: 869 | From nor - cal | Registered: Apr 2008
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posted
Lymewreck, how does Switzerland manage to have no homeless and no unemployment? Are there jobs for all who want them?
Posts: 13171 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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posted
"That's one reason we are better off than the other countries at this point in time."
Not true for a lot of people in this country. There are many that are not better off. I agree there are many that are, but there are just as many if not more that are not better off.
-------------------- aka: Lyme Warrior
In order to do "real" science, you have to have a "real" conversation with nature.
Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History!
"Just Demand your Rights" Posts: 869 | From nor - cal | Registered: Apr 2008
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I have been studying this a lot lately and looking at different models around the world. It fascinates me. Kinda like a hobby.
I thought to give you an overview of Switzerland you might want to read this first. I don't always like wikipedia, but thought this seemed pretty spot on from all the other sources that I have gathered info from. They do pretty darn well there. =)
Since the Wikipedia link that I posted above shows information up to 2006, I thought you would also like to see this as well. It's from this week and shows that their unemployment rate is at 4.1%....
I realize that you were not referring to anyone in particular and that you were talking about the country in general.
I guess what I am upset about is that the middle class is dwindling away right before our eyes.
Our wealthy class is growing and or poorer class is growing. If we don't have a strong middle to support it all we will be no different than a country like Argentina. Look at what happens when there is a revolution.
We are pricing middle America right out of health care. Before you know it only the truly wealthy will be able to have any kind of health care. All the while more and more Americans will and are having to drop their coverage and then there are always those that risk it and don't even have coverage when they can afford it.
If that is the direction that people want to support than so be it. But, I won't sit by idle and not point out facts about other countries that I believe we can learn something by.
Anyway, I do see your point.
-------------------- aka: Lyme Warrior
In order to do "real" science, you have to have a "real" conversation with nature.
Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History!
"Just Demand your Rights" Posts: 869 | From nor - cal | Registered: Apr 2008
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posted
I agree that is a huge problem and I don't really see how anyone on either side is doing anything about it. So sad.(SIGH)
-------------------- aka: Lyme Warrior
In order to do "real" science, you have to have a "real" conversation with nature.
Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History!
"Just Demand your Rights" Posts: 869 | From nor - cal | Registered: Apr 2008
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
I just know there is something really wrong with our system when I was too sick to work or do household chores and I went to 35 specialist and 7 primary doctor's only to have them shake my hand and tell me there was nothing they could to for the most part.
This is when I had Health net HMO and then blue Cross PPO.
I also had doctor's telling me they had things they could do but insurance would not allow it
I had doctor's tell me they would not go through the process of getting approval for me to see certain specialist or have certain testing down as it would cut into their quarterly bonus.
I did contact the watch dog for insurance companies in the state I lived and they went through the paper process which resulted in the doctor's doing all they could per guidelines the insurance had.
The watch dog organization said both PPO and HMO's were doing a very poor job in general.
I also was told not to feel sorry for the doctor's as they had a choice on which contract they sign on how much they would spend each quarter on patients.
Most choice the less expensive of course so they could get the higher income for themselves.
A sad state of affairs.
I have not heard any of this addressed in the bill.
I also know several small business owners who are not able to purchase insurance for their families so are going without all together.
I know have medicaid which is provided by those same insurance companies that would not allow meds and testing that is needed and less funds to the doctor's.
Insurance companies also regulate how long a doctor can have an office visit.
I had several doctor's tell me that insurance would not allow them to talk to me any longer than 5 or 7 min...this wss both with the PPO and HMO and medicaid.
I forget how many patients the local primary doc office saw when I first got sick a day. It was unbelievable....a conveyor belt type of practice.
The local primary doc I have now has let me know that he will schedule to office visits at one time for me so he can have the time he needs.
Most of that time goes towards him being on the computer filling out the codes he needs for the office visit and paper work.
I did have some doctor's do testing. They all worked out of the same tool box.
They repeated the same tests that doctor's before them had done.
When I said I had all ready done that test and here are the test results, I was told that the testing is frequently done wrong and they needed to do their own testing.
This was for MS, Maysthenia Gravis, Parkinson's, etc.
They got the same results. That was a waste of energy, time and money.
They would then say they had done all the insurance company will allow.
I agree Switzerland does a good job. I too have watched the different ways different countries provide health care.
But, it does not appear the people who are writing the new health bill are looking at how other countries have done things and using the best from each to create a health care system for us.
It appears the insurance companies are doing what they can to continue things in their best interests.
Insurance companies have unbelievable profits.
Note: I am not in the middle of things but on the outskirts.
I was naive when I first came down sick. I thought our health care system was there for our health.
Saw the First Lady on Larry King last night for a bit.
Once again I heard about how the billions are going towards preventable conditions.
That is one piece of the pie.
When I first came down sick, I looked for answers to make changes in the health care system.
it was unacceptable to me that I could be so sick and the stories I heard from others.
It was unacceptable to me that it seemed doctor's were getting paid not to do their jobs.
It was unacceptable that a doctor would need to see so many patients a day just to get the income he or she wanted coming in.
No wonder kids were dying as parents went from doctor to doctor trying to get help.
I liked the days when you had the same family doctor and he knew you and your family and did what he could to find solutions to health issues...he or she stuck with it.
he did not bill the insurance companies but we billed the insurance companies.
I think it was doing the Reagan administration that the insurance companies were able to change things....a change that helped them have bigger profits and our health care system become less healthy.
Just my two cents...I am not an expert on this and I have not even stayed in a Holiday inn.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
Also kind of disappointed at myself for wasting ...yes wasting...time on this....I am so limited on what I can do each day.
both brain wise and physically. Taht this was really a poor choice this am and the brain is doing that swelling thing that it does when I have oer tasked it. DAm Dam Dam
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
All I have found I can do is to write local reps and let them know the trouble I have had and am having towards getting my health back or even getting health care for that matter.
Back in 2001, insurance premiums were going to be $1,000 or $1200 a month when I worked for the state of CA.
I have no idea what my co workers are paying now. I do know i looked into not paying any premiums as I found out that I was not getting the help needed.
I learned that was not an option.
years ago, you use to be able to set aside money for health care instead of paying an insurance premium.
It was taxed deductible. I was hoping I would be able to do that again instead of paying out $12,000 or so a year to an insurance company that as it turned out really was of no help.
Samsun clinic had a professional package that they would do once a year for $1,200. I would get more done with them than the insurance would do a year for the $12,000.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
I still think the solutions are to come up with solutions and send those to the reps.
I tried that on this board a while back. That is more difficult.
Much easier to complain on what is not being done or what is being done.
What the solutions are is another thing.
Leaving things the same is not an answer.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
Kam... but the premiums would go up for most of us with the new health care. And if you think things are bad now...it would have been even worse with the bill that was proposed. Putting the government in charge of our health is really scary to me!!
The Congress/Senate can't do ANYTHING right anymore. They just MUCK it UP!
I wish the PEOPLE could write the bill!!!!
Oh, wait!! The Congress IS working for the PEOPLE!!! They ARE our representatives. What's wrong with them!!?
So blinded by ambition.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
WAtched a bit of Larry King Tonight. it was mentioned that Blue Cross in CA has had almost a 40% increase.
not sure what that meant...increase in insurance premiums?
increase in what your co pay is?
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
I have noticed not for profit clinics opening up but not sure how they are doing...
..and they can not provide hospital services...yet...that I know of
..I think if we had a choice, the hospitals and doctor's that are giving good service would do well and the ones that are not would go out of business.
How that would come about, I don't have a clue.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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Blue Cross went up 39% on their cost. I believe this is the amount they went up that they are going to be billing out for premiums.
Each employer(or whoever is responsible for paying the premium should see this increase in their bill.
If you work for a company you may or may not have to pay the 40% increase.
That will be for your company to decide if they are going to eat the cost or not or if they are going to pass it off onto the employee to pay.
This is very scary as this means that more and more employers and employees will continue to opt out of coverage because they simply can't afford it.
Basically what is happening is that prices will continue to go up as more people drop their coverage.
Another way of looking at it is that coverage is becoming only for the wealthy and eventually you will not see most middle class Americans with health care at all if we don't do something.
If Americans refuse to acknowledge that something meaningful must be done than we are heading in a direction where only a certain class of people will have health care coverage.
It will get to the point where everything will be paid out of pocket. So sad IMHO.
-------------------- aka: Lyme Warrior
In order to do "real" science, you have to have a "real" conversation with nature.
Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History!
"Just Demand your Rights" Posts: 869 | From nor - cal | Registered: Apr 2008
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