Thanks - a good read

Be well

Bluedogs2

And then there's this guy: http://news.yahoo.com/ap-exclusive-maine-governor-spent-163658946.html

Can someone please explain to me why it just bugs the begeezus out of some folks to let others have access to health care?

narrow minded idiots perhaps

Smiley Face
Bluedogs2

. . . and we just keep electing them to the highest offices in the land.

yeap - sounds like Hickville - just on a larger scale -

I promised MBDs2 that I would not go down that path so I will simply say -

Wishing all a good night's rest
Bluedogs2

Thanks so much for sharing. I saved this.

Over the years I met people from other countries. Often off support groups very much like this. Although not all, as my in laws came from Scotland so hubs enjoys the company of his British co workers/friends. My MIL never understood our health care. She loved this country but commented on the lack of's in the worlds most powerful country. Keep in mind this was many years ago.

Anyway I cannot tell you the number of times our health care boggled their minds. Costs, lack of coverage & over all how complicated it all is. Of course we all know there is good & bad in every system. Being who we are as a country & our own with little or no help. Yet aiding so many others outside the U.S. it's understandable why there would be such reactions.

LOL BD. I have a "no talk of politics or religion" ( which ends up with voices raised) on a chalk board in my kitchen.
Although my husband & I do tend to exchange opinions behind our daughters backs, lol.
I will do my best to use control here.
It's dirty legal corruption that continues. Never making it as a top priority for "we the people". I've ask this question over & over but I'll ask again.
Why do we not see more on this & pharmactical costs on the news?
I've read about record profits for non profit groups & over paid positions. In fact positions created that served no purpose high up in insurance like blue cross. The buddy system. Creating positions with salaries that are mind blowing as are rates practically doubled. Of course this was swept under the rug so fast it was unreal.

Let's start with abolishing lobbying.
Then perhaps holding those we pay accountable.
Crazy when a CEO has no clue where or why or what charges are for?
I admit I rarely understand my coverage in its entirety? I'm cross eyed by the time I'm done trying. 2 +2 rarely equals 4.
Hospital bills are worse. Years ago they had a report stating over 90% of uninsured were billed wrong. Over charged.
Insured was in the 70% range of mistakes with billing.
That was a real eye opener.
Hmmm.... Wonder if every one with walkers, canes, scooters & wheel chairs protested in Washington if we'd make the news? Not like any of us would get over a wall before they'd catch us.
I truly hope we see Reform done right.
Why can't intelligent people take the best of health care that works from other countries & at least try to implement it here? Of course that would mean cost control to all involved.
That would require putting the big boy & girl pants on & doing the job they were elected & paid to do.
After listening to others around the world I realized so many people I know had no clue other countries had health care sytems. Of course that led to breaking that chalk board rule of no politics.

Thanks again For sharing. As angry as it makes me I'd rather be informed then not.
Blessings, Sammy

Altoclef, let me give it a shot at answering your question. The ACA is making access to Health care difficult or impossible for many people. Covering everything, including things like materity care for elderly folks, is ridiculous. The co-pays are too high. People with chronic conditions should be in high risk and subsided pools. Health insurance does not equal access to care. The times article did ask a great question about the billing, but he also should have asked how much money he expected the Federsl Government to pay his Health Insurance Company for their guaranteed profits for ACA plans. That guarantee was essential to get the insurance companies to participate. That CEO also blamed everything else, hospitals, drug companies, medical equipment companies for the high costs. He knows very well the insurance companies roll in the high costs. Maybe some reform of the FDA could help in lowering drug costs. Does it really need to take ten years and 1.1 billion dollars to bring a new biologic medication to market? The ACA increases the cost of medical equipment by putting a tax on these things. The corruption involved with all this is beyond disgusting. Officials that do not want to bankrupt States are not denying anyone access to medical care, anyone can be treated in an emergency room. This type of care is about as crappy as it gets, but unaffordable deductibles do deny access to a doctors office. Major fixes need to be made right away.
If politics are bothersome, don't post political statements.
Lynne

we'll get there!

this should probably have all been started, initiated, maybe, during the reagan administration? think of how ahead we would be now. imagine :)

i think it took about 70 years for women to get the vote so we have another what 60 or so years of this until the entire present congress and most of the voting constituency now, dies. i don't think there will ever be an epiphany decade like voting rights or gay rights, or depression and social security, i think it will just be like suffrage long and forever. i can't think of anything that was more scary than universal health care, in its time and place, than broads getting the vote :)

sometimes we get bored of talking ra ra ra ra ra ra ra. it probably is good for us to think about something other than synovial fluid at least once a month :) - thanks to all for the brain jog.

depot

Lynne, I never said politics are bothersome, and I wouldn't have put up these two links if I didn't think they were worthy of discussion.

Far from the ACA making health care difficult or impossible to get, it has made my family's life much easier. Being uninsurable under the old rules, I was stuck in a very expensive, not-so-great private policy. My husband had been in the state high-risk pool for several years, which was expensive and had a high deductible.

I live in a state that did take the Medicaid expansion, and our governor is a Republican, for what that's worth. It has saved the state, counties, and municipalities plenty of money by not having had to dip nearly as far into the indigent funds to cover health care for those without insurance or other means.

Emergency rooms are fabulous for heart attacks, compound fractures, and cerebral hemorrhages. They're not so great for a sore elbow or damaged knee that keeps you from fulfilling your duties at a low-wage, no-benefits, but badly needed job. You're right that they will treat you without payment upfront, but do expect to be paid eventually.

Depot, my dear: surely you know who the president prior to Clinton was that tried to put some sort of universal health care coverage in place? http://www.ontheissues.org/Celeb/Richard_Nixon_Health_Care.htm

Alto clef, I agree completely. There are some great things about the ACA. With the pre-existing condition stuff, I would not have access to care. My company has a great (on paper) health insurance plan, $10.00 co-pay, no out of pocket for any diagnostic testing, $250.00 maximum deductible for hospital stays. My problem with this plan was that the Ruematoligists decided that I was a hypochondriac. I think that was the issue. One Ruemy after another told me I don't have RA in my feet, and I still couldn't walk more than 1/2 block. So, I was able to get insurance on my own, for $2,100.00 a month. Geez, the cost is horrible. Suppose I could have obtained a less expensive plan, but then I would have those awful high deductibles.
There are lots of things that can and should be done to fix this. I am glad to have something other than my aches and pains to talk about.
Thank You,
Lynne