What are your thoughts on the Massachusetts health care system? (health insurance, bankruptcy)

[Blue_Dog_Democrats_Rising]

Now that congress is getting close to passing a new public health, I find myself very concerned about the type of plan that it is. I have read up a little on the plan that Massachusetts has and I find it more appealing. Can you give me your thoughts, both pros and cons, to the system you currently have in place?

[bostontopueblo]

I live in Mass currently and do not have health insurance. I also waive the $912 fine under "religious exemption". I can not stand it when the government tells me to do something whether I want to or not. I cannot afford the plans which seem to start at 300 a month.

[Woof Woof Woof!]

My thoughts are, the HCS here rots. They make you pay for those high priced premiums whether you can afford it or not, and I cannot!

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by bostontopueblo

I also waive the $912 fine under "religious exemption".

Interesting. Can I waive paying taxes under "religious exemption?" Just out of curiosity, what religion is it that prohibits you from having insurance or paying fines?

[Valerie C]

I believe it was PJ O'Rourke who said "If you think health care is expensive now, just wait until it's free!"

Originally Posted by Woof Woof Woof!

My thoughts are, the HCS here rots. They make you pay for those high priced premiums whether you can afford it or not, and I cannot!

[Blue_Dog_Democrats_Rising]

Originally Posted by Valerie C

I believe it was PJ O'Rourke who said "If you think health care is expensive now, just wait until it's free!"

That is what I am afraid of.

[bostontopueblo]

Originally Posted by neil0311

Interesting. Can I waive paying taxes under "religious exemption?" Just out of curiosity, what religion is it that prohibits you from having insurance or paying fines?

No you can not waive paying taxes or you end up in jail, not paying penalties such as this one have no teeth so it is no easily enforced.

[Blue_Dog_Democrats_Rising]

It certainly doesn't seem like many people are complaining about it, so it must not be so bad.

[clevedark]

It's all so complicated. I try to follow it but can't pay attention long enough. I agree that fee for service is the wrong philosophy. I'd much rather see a Mayo clinic, one fee for treatment of a diagnosis system, so we don't wind up, for example, building football field sized proton radiation fields to treat slow growing, in many cases, non-fatal, prostate cancers so that investors can make tons of money without having proven that the treatment is effective.

I think everyone should have access to preventative healthcare, and everyone should have access to free healthcare to treat serious conditions regardless of their personal finances.

We're all one diagnosis away from bankruptcy.

[knitgirl]

Clevedark, I agree with you. I have no experience with the MA system, but we have to do something about healthcare in this country and I think that free or very cheap access to preventative healthcare would be an excellent start. I had been without health insuance for almost a year, started working freelance (1099) for a former employer. When he found out that I didn't have health insurance, he switched me to W-2 with them paying about 1/2 my premium. I pay a bit over $200 a month for Blue Cross Blue Shield with 90% coverage of most things. SIX days after it went into effect, I was in the hospital having just about every cardio and neuro test known to man because I'd passed out at the gym. Now, if I didn't have insurance, I don't know if they would have given me all those tests or not, but the bills totalled over $26,000 which would have bankrupted me. I probably would have insisted on not going to the ER.