Ready for some more Palin maybe (Metlakatla, Chicken: credit, how much, taxes)

[Nephler]

Originally Posted by Rance

If we'd quit dumping money on pointless wars, this country could afford to insure itself.

Man isn't that the truth!

[Wynternight]

Originally Posted by wildchild_to

I used them when I first stated out in business. Have you checked Blue Cross?

About the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association | Get a BCBS Insurance Quote from a BCBS company | Go to Your BCBS Company Member Log In

ASNA uses BCBS and pays the premiums for us a benefit (for single folks).

Edited to add: We are out of network if we are seen at SSMH though.

[RedJacket]

Originally Posted by gobrien

It's the insurance companies that anger me.

Until you take insurance companies out of the equation, nothing will change. I don't see that happening because they have too much influence in Washington. Our entire political system is broken almost beyond repair and we have no one to blame but ourselves.

Most people put off retirement until they can get on medicare, and most people would like a health care system like medicare. It's only when the word socialized is used to define medicare that people get turned off. All in the wording.

Politicians on the right decry medicare, single-payer, or universal health care as being socialized medicine akin to what those cheese-eating French surrender monkey's have, and the people in this country buy it.

Little do they know all politicians are pigging out on socialized medicine and all the other socialized tidbits they can get their hands on -- courtesy of the US taxpayer.

Right now we have a very corrupt political system along with a very divided (moronic) voting population and that benefits only the well-to-do. The rest of us will continue to pay the price and that's a pretty pathetic state of affairs for a country that loves to chant USA! USA! USA!

[LittleJazzyP]

Originally Posted by RedJacket

Until you take insurance companies out of the equation, nothing will change. I don't see that happening because they have too much influence in Washington. Our entire political system is broken almost beyond repair and we have no one to blame but ourselves.

Most people put off retirement until they can get on medicare, and most people would like a health care system like medicare. It's only when the word socialized is used to define medicare that people get turned off. All in the wording.

Politicians on the right decry medicare, single-payer, or universal health care as being socialized medicine akin to what those cheese-eating French surrender monkey's have, and the people in this country buy it.

Little do they know all politicians are pigging out on socialized medicine and all the other socialized tidbits they can get their hands on -- courtesy of the US taxpayer.

Right now we have a very corrupt political system along with a very divided (moronic) voting population and that benefits only the well-to-do. The rest of us will continue to pay the price and that's a pretty pathetic state of affairs for a country that loves to chant USA! USA! USA!

I think I love you. Will you please run for president?

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by gobrien

The taxpayers already pay for those who cannot afford health insurance, for the most part. This is riduculous and I agree with Rance. I wish I had health insurance. Even when I had insurance, I spent hundreds per month for the premium and then more for the medicines. It's the insurance companies that anger me.

While tax payers already pay for those who can't afford insurance, most of the money collected from the tax payers is being used by the government agencies that are supposed to be involved in the process of healthcare, so only a very small portion of this money trickles down to the people that need the care.

All Obama should have done was to figure a way to help only those who can't afford healthcare when needed, without screwing-up the work-healthcare insurances we already have. By forcing all to buy insurance, those who don't want it or can't afford it will now have it, but the rest of us will have to pay for it like it or not. It means that if you already have health insurance with your employer, the cost will double of triple by 2013.

While healthcare is being screwed-up at the moment, nobody is paying attention to S.S.

[tidelines]

I've seldom used the healthcare insurance I've paid for; certainly not enough to offset the cost of the premiums. I'm seeing the value of the health savings plans as opposed to insurance, but then I'm fortunate enough to be healthy and avoid (to this age) debilitating illness or devastating health care expense. And there was rightness in the comment that our government leaders are enjoying the benefits of socialized medicine while decrying it for the masses. WE ARE BROKEN as a government and as a people as long as we keep electing the same thinking that put us in this mess we're in. Time to quit playing Follow the Leader - look where it's gotten us.

[Dakster]

Tidelines - It only takes 1 injury or illness to make every premium you have ever paid worth it. Unless Hospitals are less expensive up there than down here.

Wife spent a few days in the hospital... $30k in bills and no surgeries. Between the ER, treating ER Doctor, tests, 3-days in PCU, treating Doctors in PCU...

Even though I gripe about the $12k a year I spend on health insurance - it saves me money every year... I don't even need to go into the other bills it has paid for my kids and myself to see a savings after that one event.

Part of the problem is the hospital billing. They charge you 10-30 times what it actually costs, because not everyone has or will pay their bill.

Give you a brief example. I got a cut on my foot that wouldn't stop bleeding (capillary bleed), so I went to the "Urgent Care Center" down here and they cauterized it, the bill was $3k. The next week I was on vacation out of state and had the same problem. Close to where I was staying, I saw a sign that said "Urgent Care Center", but it turned out it was actually a Doctor's Office that saw people with "emergencies". The treating Doctor did some minor "surgery" and then re-cauterized the wound, which ended up being a permanent fix. The bill was $160... I had to write letters and file a complaint against the insurance company to pay the $160. Of course, they paid the $3k without a hitch.

I learned several things after that:

1. Out of town? Call 911 and have an ambulance take you to a hospital, so the insurance company will pay for it without any problems.

2. NEVER try to save the health insurance company money, but not doing #1.

3. You don't necessarily get what you pay for.

---

I agree our health care system is broken along with our political system.

My question to all of you is: "What's the fix?"

[Grannysroost]

Originally Posted by Dakster

Tidelines - It only takes 1 injury or illness to make every premium you have ever paid worth it. Unless Hospitals are less expensive up there than down here.

Wife spent a few days in the hospital... $30k in bills and no surgeries. Between the ER, treating ER Doctor, tests, 3-days in PCU, treating Doctors in PCU...

Even though I gripe about the $12k a year I spend on health insurance - it saves me money every year... I don't even need to go into the other bills it has paid for my kids and myself to see a savings after that one event.

Part of the problem is the hospital billing. They charge you 10-30 times what it actually costs, because not everyone has or will pay their bill.

Give you a brief example. I got a cut on my foot that wouldn't stop bleeding (capillary bleed), so I went to the "Urgent Care Center" down here and they cauterized it, the bill was $3k. The next week I was on vacation out of state and had the same problem. Close to where I was staying, I saw a sign that said "Urgent Care Center", but it turned out it was actually a Doctor's Office that saw people with "emergencies". The treating Doctor did some minor "surgery" and then re-cauterized the wound, which ended up being a permanent fix. The bill was $160... I had to write letters and file a complaint against the insurance company to pay the $160. Of course, they paid the $3k without a hitch.

I learned several things after that:

1. Out of town? Call 911 and have an ambulance take you to a hospital, so the insurance company will pay for it without any problems.

2. NEVER try to save the health insurance company money, but not doing #1.

3. You don't necessarily get what you pay for.

---

I agree our health care system is broken along with our political system.

My question to all of you is: "What's the fix?"

Good example, and if you get the answer...let me know

[LittleJazzyP]

Originally Posted by Dakster

Tidelines - It only takes 1 injury or illness to make every premium you have ever paid worth it. Unless Hospitals are less expensive up there than down here.

Wife spent a few days in the hospital... $30k in bills and no surgeries. Between the ER, treating ER Doctor, tests, 3-days in PCU, treating Doctors in PCU...

Even though I gripe about the $12k a year I spend on health insurance - it saves me money every year... I don't even need to go into the other bills it has paid for my kids and myself to see a savings after that one event.

Part of the problem is the hospital billing. They charge you 10-30 times what it actually costs, because not everyone has or will pay their bill.

Give you a brief example. I got a cut on my foot that wouldn't stop bleeding (capillary bleed), so I went to the "Urgent Care Center" down here and they cauterized it, the bill was $3k. The next week I was on vacation out of state and had the same problem. Close to where I was staying, I saw a sign that said "Urgent Care Center", but it turned out it was actually a Doctor's Office that saw people with "emergencies". The treating Doctor did some minor "surgery" and then re-cauterized the wound, which ended up being a permanent fix. The bill was $160... I had to write letters and file a complaint against the insurance company to pay the $160. Of course, they paid the $3k without a hitch.

I learned several things after that:

1. Out of town? Call 911 and have an ambulance take you to a hospital, so the insurance company will pay for it without any problems.

2. NEVER try to save the health insurance company money, but not doing #1.

3. You don't necessarily get what you pay for.

---

I agree our health care system is broken along with our political system.

My question to all of you is: "What's the fix?"

Do you want a perfect answer (I don't think there is one), or an obvious one?

I think health care should be as much of a right as public education. I would like to see our system modeled after those "socialist" Europeans some here love so much to deride.

Now I have a question. Nobody bats an eye about the fact that if you are going to drive a car, the law in virtually every state requires you to carry liability insurance, or to prove that you can self-insure. Why is the mandate for health coverage so much more onerous? I want one reason, just one.

[Dakster]

Originally Posted by LittleJazzyP

Do you want a perfect answer (I don't think there is one), or an obvious one?

I think health care should be as much of a right as public education. I would like to see our system modeled after those "socialist" Europeans some here love so much to deride.

Now I have a question. Nobody bats an eye about the fact that if you are going to drive a car, the law in virtually every state requires you to carry liability insurance, or to prove that you can self-insure. Why is the mandate for health coverage so much more onerous? I want one reason, just one.

I agree that there needs to be more equal access to health care and insurance. Mainly in the affordability and ability to get coverage - but you have to contend with that word "socialism" again... (argh!)

An even better point to your car insurance analogy. Driving a car is a privilege not a right - in order to exercise that privilege you must have insurance. Health care and health insurance should be a right...

To invoke a thoughtful discussion, as I haven't put a ton of thought into this. On the surface, I kind of like some of the ideas behind Canada's health care system. If I understand it correctly, everyone pays into it thru primarily sales taxes? Maybe some Canadians can chime in on this.

Not sure of the answer or even what approach I would be for -- just that something needs to change from our current system.

Yes, I do want a perfect answer, because I don't have it.