Help me understand Obamacare (deductible, cancer, Mayo, clinic)

[Heidi60]

I totally agree! When your employer is giving you free health care, it is free to you. But, when that employer is a medical provider/insurer, then the paying patients have to make up the difference. Stop and think. Where do hospitals get their money and whine they need more? If you don't pay your hospital bill you had either declare bankruptcy or they will take your home to collect money for their free care.

I also agree that the entire system is bloated by insurance, doctors, and pharmaceutical companies taking care of their own closed circle. If you read the link I posted and read to the bottom of the article, it explains that those who get cadillac care will, hopefully, eventually be taxes as care that is free to them is paid for by those of us with no voice.

[gigimac]

The gov website provided earlier has lots of tabs that will take you to all sorts of information about each aspect of the new Affordable Health Care Law. But as a quick "pros" list, that is wholly different from the insurance we got before, and I think I've got this right, here you go:

1. If you can't afford insurance, there are pools or exchanges (no later than 2014) that you can get coverage for little or no cost
2. 30 million people who cannot afford the high cost of health insurance company premiums will now be able to get insurance
3. There is no lifetime cap on insurance coverage, so you won't be cut off in the middle of a cancer crisis
4. There is no pre-existing condition that will prevent you from getting insurance
5. Children automatically get affordable or free health care coverage
6. Young adults to the age of 26 (like those still in college) can stay on their parents' insurance coverage plan
7. Quality of health care (better outcomes with issues) will be rewarded thru bonuses to physicians
8. Medical school students will receive certain scholarships or loan payoffs if they choose to practice in areas needing doctors
9. Many preventive basic health care checks will be free
10.The bottom financial line is the new law will save consumers a tremendous amount of money, in effect improving economy, thus reducing the deficit

I'm sure I've left out some things, and perhaps made a mistake of some kind, but those are the issues that I recall because they were important to me. Important mainly because people who oppose such a good law have trotted out so many scary things that I made it my business to know. One commercial that was particularly offensive and incorrect, I sent an email to that organization, and while I know it wasn't just my email that did it, that commercial was taken off the air as I requested. You see, health insurance companies heavily lobby the Congress, they like their profits, and so that's why the law is controversial, not because of anything in it. And the reason why everyone needs to sign up is to HELP those companies afford to pay for all the things they say they haven't been able to in the past. In addition, the law keeps insurance companies going, whereas the "social" gov health care systems enjoyed by all other free world countries except us would have put them out of business.

[lovfl]

If you get free healthcare, we're not paying for it! the employers of these people are. It's a business. they want good people, hire you and offer free healthcare. Obamacare is a tax. It's socialistic. We have to get insurance or be fined! Also, the healthcare will not be as good! My doctor told me his visits will go from 15 minutes to 10 minutes. It's bad all the way around. This is America, not a dictatorship. I happen to like freedom.

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by lovfl

If you get free healthcare, we're not paying for it! the employers of these people are. It's a business. they want good people, hire you and offer free healthcare. Obamacare is a tax. It's socialistic. We have to get insurance or be fined! Also, the healthcare will not be as good! My doctor told me his visits will go from 15 minutes to 10 minutes. It's bad all the way around. This is America, not a dictatorship. I happen to like freedom.

You have no idea what you are talking about. Of course it is a social program or as use "socialistic" because it benefits society. You use that term with some idea of the red scare and linking with your idea of a "dictatorship" shows a lack of knowledge, education and consequently you misuse the term. All governments, including Western Democracies, have Social programs for the common good.

Livecontent

[Robyn55]

Originally Posted by gigimac

The gov website provided earlier has lots of tabs that will take you to all sorts of information about each aspect of the new Affordable Health Care Law. But as a quick "pros" list, that is wholly different from the insurance we got before, and I think I've got this right, here you go:

1. If you can't afford insurance, there are pools or exchanges (no later than 2014) that you can get coverage for little or no cost
2. 30 million people who cannot afford the high cost of health insurance company premiums will now be able to get insurance
3. There is no lifetime cap on insurance coverage, so you won't be cut off in the middle of a cancer crisis
4. There is no pre-existing condition that will prevent you from getting insurance
5. Children automatically get affordable or free health care coverage
6. Young adults to the age of 26 (like those still in college) can stay on their parents' insurance coverage plan
7. Quality of health care (better outcomes with issues) will be rewarded thru bonuses to physicians
8. Medical school students will receive certain scholarships or loan payoffs if they choose to practice in areas needing doctors
9. Many preventive basic health care checks will be free
10.The bottom financial line is the new law will save consumers a tremendous amount of money, in effect improving economy, thus reducing the deficit

I'm sure I've left out some things, and perhaps made a mistake of some kind, but those are the issues that I recall because they were important to me. Important mainly because people who oppose such a good law have trotted out so many scary things that I made it my business to know. One commercial that was particularly offensive and incorrect, I sent an email to that organization, and while I know it wasn't just my email that did it, that commercial was taken off the air as I requested. You see, health insurance companies heavily lobby the Congress, they like their profits, and so that's why the law is controversial, not because of anything in it. And the reason why everyone needs to sign up is to HELP those companies afford to pay for all the things they say they haven't been able to in the past. In addition, the law keeps insurance companies going, whereas the "social" gov health care systems enjoyed by all other free world countries except us would have put them out of business.

I will note that at least some of these things are incorrect when its comes to Medicare. We have and will have limits on our lifetime coverage - especially if we're talking about "hospital days".

We will not be guaranteed the right to buy Medigap coverage except during the guaranteed issue period without medical underwriting. We will pay more for Part B and Part D coverage if we don't buy them when we're first eligible to buy them (which is the current system).

Seniors who can't afford traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage will still be at the bottom of the barrel as Medi/Medi patients (Medicare/Medicaid patients).

If physicians are paid on the basis of who gets better - they will tend to avoid those of us who are older and sicker - and less likely to get better - although we're not fixin' to die tomorrow (and that includes a lot of seniors).

People under 65 are supposed to get government subsidies if their incomes are less than 400% - yes that's 400% - of federal income poverty levels. That's an upper middle class income that many lower or middle income seniors would give their right arms for. I do realize that Medicare is subsidized - but at incomes near that level - some seniors pay more in Part B and part D premiums. Why should any senior - unless he or she is wealthy - pay anything to subsidize people who are making a whole lot more than they are?

Sending doctors to places where they're needed. Who decides that - and what kinds of doctors? I live in a metro area of 1 million+ people with 5 rheumatologists (generally a senior specialty). Three of whom aren't taking any new patients (and the other 2 are at Mayo - expensive and a 2-3 month waiting list). We have lots of doctors - just not many rheumatologists.

So - apart from the donut hole thing (which is chopped liver in the scheme of things when it comes to lots of seniors) - how does this help the average income senior? Best I can figure out - not much - if at all. Robyn

[Ariadne22]

Indeed, the ACA does nothing for seniors. The focus was the uninsured. I do agree, the Part B premiums are pretty darn high for those above the income thresholds - which are also high, actually. $85ksingle/$170kcouple? What percentage of seniors have that household income?

Schedule of Part B/D rates:
Medicare Premiums: Rules For Higher-Income Beneficiaries

Part B - $100 - $320 - per month - depending on income
Part D - Plan Premium - plus $12 - $66 - per month for higher incomes

[lovfl]

Originally Posted by livecontent

You have no idea what you are talking about. Of course it is a social program or as use "socialistic" because it benefits society. You use that term with some idea of the red scare and linking with your idea of a "dictatorship" shows a lack of knowledge, education and consequently you misuse the term. All governments, including Western Democracies, have Social programs for the common good.

Livecontent

And there not working. UK wants to get out of theirs. People in Canada are not only getting poor heathcare, but also getting poor period. Just ask my relatives.

[gigimac]

ROBYN (and others), here's the link again that will explain to you better what you don't know about the new Health Reform Law: Home | HealthCare.gov

I'd take you point by point, but you can do it just as well as me by reading what's on that website. There are tabs that take you to specific parts of the bill, to the whole bill itself, the highlights of the bill, and so on and so forth. Look all around in there.

BUT, I'll take your very first point just as an example. I'm on Medicare. My income is what I get with Social Security, period, and I am below the poverty line. You are incorrect about limits on lifetime coverage, whether on Medicare or Private Insurance or whatever insurance. "The Affordable Care Act prohibits health plans from putting a lifetime dollar limit on most benefits you receive. The law also restricts and phases out the annual dollar limits a health plan can place on most of your benefits — and does away with these limits entirely in 2014." As for "most benefits," this is stuff like how some insurance companies will put a lifetime limit on benefits not considered "essential," and other sorts of work-arounds they might do to us. You've GOT to understand that health care reform is needed to stop insurance company control of health care, to lower costs for hospitals, doctors, and patients, and to prevent loss of life on account of being dropped from insurance or being denied insurance. That's the bottom line, really, is OUR LIVES.

Another quick point that I'll take you to task on is you said something about seniors not being able to afford Medicare. Perhaps I misunderstood your point, but hon, if you get full Social Security benefits (that is, you don't retire "early"), you automatically get Medicare, which cost is automatically taken out of your Social Security monies. There is no "paying" for anything; it's all automatic. And there's one more quick thing I can throw out: You said docs will avoid the sick...that's your prediction, not reality. Doctors do what they do because they love it, they're smart enough, they want to help people, and they DO get a good salary for curing us if we must stare death in the face. GG

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by gigimac

ROBYN (and others), here's the link again that will explain to you better what you don't know about the new Health Reform Law: Home | HealthCare.gov

I'd take you point by point, but you can do it just as well as me by reading what's on that website. There are tabs that take you to specific parts of the bill, to the whole bill itself, the highlights of the bill, and so on and so forth. Look all around in there.

BUT, I'll take your very first point just as an example. I'm on Medicare. My income is what I get with Social Security, period, and I am below the poverty line. You are incorrect about limits on lifetime coverage, whether on Medicare or Private Insurance or whatever insurance. "The Affordable Care Act prohibits health plans from putting a lifetime dollar limit on most benefits you receive. The law also restricts and phases out the annual dollar limits a health plan can place on most of your benefits — and does away with these limits entirely in 2014." As for "most benefits," this is stuff like how some insurance companies will put a lifetime limit on benefits not considered "essential," and other sorts of work-arounds they might do to us. You've GOT to understand that health care reform is needed to stop insurance company control of health care, to lower costs for hospitals, doctors, and patients, and to prevent loss of life on account of being dropped from insurance or being denied insurance. That's the bottom line, really, is OUR LIVES.

Another quick point that I'll take you to task on is you said something about seniors not being able to afford Medicare. Perhaps I misunderstood your point, but hon, if you get full Social Security benefits (that is, you don't retire "early"), you automatically get Medicare, which cost is automatically taken out of your Social Security monies. There is no "paying" for anything; it's all automatic. And there's one more quick thing I can throw out: You said docs will avoid the sick...that's your prediction, not reality. Doctors do what they do because they love it, they're smart enough, they want to help people, and they DO get a good salary for curing us if we must stare death in the face. GG

I read your fine post and that response from the person who thinks she knows much but cannot understand a simple sentence. That is why I have ceased responding to her posts. Your are wasting your time and are just talking to a blank wall.

I am very well versed in this law and that is what is in place. Lazy people will complain and dance around the issues but they do not take the effort to fully understand or even took the time to read the Congressional Bills, leading to the Consolidated Act. It was at that stage, at the time of discussions of the bill, that objections are voiced and changes are proposed but of course most were too lazy and some too ignorant to contact their representatives with their concerns; I did and suggested changes to the bills.

Livecontent

[Ariadne22]

Originally Posted by gigimac

you said something about seniors not being able to afford Medicare. Perhaps I misunderstood your point, but hon, if you get full Social Security benefits (that is, you don't retire "early"), you automatically get Medicare, which cost is automatically taken out of your Social Security monies. There is no "paying" for anything; it's all automatic.

Not so. Just because it's "automatic" doesn't mean I'm not paying for it.

Medicare Part B costs $100 a month, at the minimum. If one is well-to-do, their premium can be as high as $319 a month before Part D coverage. Part D coverage is also adjusted upwards by income. Chart here:

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10536.html#a0=5

$100 is deducted from my SS every month for Medicare Part B. I certainly am "paying" for Medicare. Doesn't matter if I don't write a check. My SS benefit is reduced by $100 every month.

There are a few posters on C-D who have never signed up for Part B because their SS benefit is so low - in some cases only a few hundred dollars a month. These people feel they cannot afford even the $100 for Part B. One of these lives in SoCal, sees a charity clinic there, and goes to Mexico often for treatment and drugs. He pays cash for his services.

So, you are definitely "paying" for Medicare. And then, if people feel they need the additional security of a Supplement and Part D drug coverage, they are paying usually an additional $2,000/yr, at least, for that.

Medicare costs money and, for some, a lot of money.