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Nancy, they are "happy" with them because they have no other choice without greatly increasing their out of pocket costs for supplemental coverage. Not everyone can afford that. We can thank the Government for that arrangement.
I deleted my last post (which you quoted before I finished deleting it) because I am spending way too much time typing today and am obviously being misunderstood.
Yes, I agree that the cost of Med Supps has gotten too high. Some of the MA plans are not very good. I've mentioned this many times. It is difficult to discuss this important issue this way without spending every waking moment on the board. You can go back 2 years and see how much I care about people who can't pay for medical bills (even when I had insurance) which is why I am so passionate about a public option or single payer system. We shouldn't be debating whether to fund Medicare or pay for people who don't have insurance. See what the government is doing to us?
Many agents who sold MA plans lied and took advantage of people who could not afford their supplements any longer. That's a whole other story. I need to eat lunch!
Nancy - each state currently regulates insurance rates for residents of those states. The insurance pool is that state.
Of course I already know this! I just disagree that it would be better and already posted a link that explains why & reflects my point of view.
Signing off for now.
I am back to add one thing. (after I just inhaled a sandwich)
I probably should stop posting because there is so much misinformation fed to people by politicians. In answer to Greatday, by regulating rates the State Insurance Division can ensure that private insurers pay out benefits that are reasonable relative to the premiums they collect. This doesn't always happen, but it's important to have state regulations to control overcharging and fraud.
The bottom line is that companies are making huge profits and paying out astronomical salaries & bonuses while Americans struggle to pay premiums. Whether we are talking about a public option or Medicare, in any case, the cost of health care is out of control. The people on Medicare who are worried should think about what will happen if more people get sick and lose their jobs and don't pay into the system. Illness and medical bills account for over 60% of personal bankruptcies. That's a 50% increase since 2001. Approx 75% of the medically bankrupt had insurance when they first got sick.
Quote:
Originally Posted by southward bound
This is not a bill to benefit the average American citizen.
For me, single payer is the answer, not a public option. I've only been posting in support of it because I gave up on the possibility of single payer. We can't just let this go for another 8 years. Clinton's plan was shot down and it's happening all over again.
Last edited by justNancy; 08-06-2009 at 02:34 PM..
I think there is a vast amount of conspiracy theory misinformation being thrown about. I would support a government plan if we had time to debate it openly and not have something shoved through so quickly. Why couldnt we just have some type of catastrophic coverage instead of covering bandaids and booboo's for all? This is the type of private insurance we have now with BCBS and we do not have a problem with it. We pay for our office visits and small things. It is the cancer and heart attacks or other debilitating diseases that wipe out savings accounts and I would think a catastrophic policy would cost far less.
by regulating rates the State Insurance Division can ensure that private insurers pay out benefits that are reasonable relative to the premiums they collect. This doesn't always happen, but it's important to have state regulations to control overcharging and fraud.
The bottom line is that companies are making huge profits and paying out astronomical salaries & bonuses while Americans struggle to pay premiums. .
Your second paragraph proves that what you say should happen in the first paragraph isn't happening.
How about we get a better job done on that issue?
Then maybe there wouldn't be such a problem.
Your second paragraph proves that what you say should happen in the first paragraph isn't happening.
How about we get a better job done on that issue?
Then maybe there wouldn't be such a problem.
Agreed we dont need insurance co having to comply with 50 sets of regs. Selling across state lines only means they pick..say Delaware (like corps used to)...or a state with the least stringent rules. Plus, its probably cheaper to buy the regulators on a smaller state level.
Don't ya'll think it would be a whole lot cheaper for health care reform to start small.....say, expand Medicare to include a COBRA type government guarantee and maybe do a 5,000 health care tax credit?
No. Your poll made no sense, so I didn't vote in it. Healthcare is a personal problem and should never be a government problem. I am not for anything socialist or communist. The free enterprise system if far superior than any other type of system. Yes, we sometimes have hard times, but if you are free to go out and make a better life for yourself, what more could a person want? Grow up and take care of yourself.
Sorry you've been stuck with such high expenses, but do you have a Medicare Supplement? Most people I know who have had very extensive surgery for heart conditions, cancer, and other life threatening illnesses and have a good supplement, rarely have to pay a balance.
I was mainly talking about the many people I've met who complain about the $96.40 that is deducted from their social security checks for Part B or the $135 deductible. If you've read my other posts, you know that I also realize there are many people who cannot afford to pay for supplements or the additional out-of-pocket costs. I've written about the people living on social security who are struggling and the dual eligibles who are living in poverty.
All I was trying to say is that, although it's far from perfect, Medicare is much better than anything I could get for $96.40 a month. Of course I care about seniors and people on disability who are struggling. But I've been in mansions too. I've heard people who just came back from a Caribbean Cruise complain about a copay for a prescription.
If we lived in a country with medical care for all its citizens, we wouldn't be comparing Medicare with under 65 health coverage, would we? It's sad that it's come to this, where older people are worried about losing benefits because younger people want to be able to go to the doctor. Doesn't this bother anyone? We are #29 out of 30 industrialized countries in infant mortality. We are way at the bottom when it comes to life expectancy. How can anyone possibly say the United States has a great health care system?
As a former poster child for socialism, I was quite happy milking the cow, and enjoying my "entitlements".
Only later did I discover that they came with dire consequences, and a complete surrender of inalienable rights.
Frankly, socialism is nothing less than piracy, where the productive people are dispossessed, under the threat of government sanctions.
And as the ranks of the beneficiaries grow and grow, the burdened taxpayers will suffer more and more.
Do not be deceived. There is no such thing as "free" health care. The question is - who gets the bill?
Government gives nothing but that which was taken from someone else (like yourself) - minus a hefty cut for their benevolent (mis)management.
Government makes nothing but more government.
Government is not the solution, when it is the source of the problem.
You cannot expect long term prosperity when you penalize producers and reward consumers.
Eventually, the "fleas" will kill the "dog" or the "dog" gets a "flea collar".
And you can bet the farm, that "Universal Health Care" will cost far more than what we already pay. Because increasing the size of bureaucracy, paperwork, administrative overhead, regulatory complexity, and staffing will inevitably increase the cost to the consumer. It's common sense.
As a former poster child for socialism, I was quite happy milking the cow, and enjoying my "entitlements".
Only later did I discover that they came with dire consequences, and a complete surrender of inalienable rights.
Frankly, socialism is nothing less than piracy, where the productive people are dispossessed, under the threat of government sanctions.
And as the ranks of the beneficiaries grow and grow, the burdened taxpayers will suffer more and more.
Do not be deceived. There is no such thing as "free" health care. The question is - who gets the bill?
Government gives nothing but that which was taken from someone else (like yourself) - minus a hefty cut for their benevolent (mis)management.
Government makes nothing but more government.
Government is not the solution, when it is the source of the problem.
You cannot expect long term prosperity when you penalize producers and reward consumers.
Eventually, the "fleas" will kill the "dog" or the "dog" gets a "flea collar".
And you can bet the farm, that "Universal Health Care" will cost far more than what we already pay. Because increasing the size of bureaucracy, paperwork, administrative overhead, regulatory complexity, and staffing will inevitably increase the cost to the consumer. It's common sense.
Where did you live when you were enjoying the benefits of "Socialism"?
What bad experiences did you have?
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