Evolv-ing Thread

SlickWilly

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and we got plenty of those already ;)
as to the best and brightest - i doubt very much that most people would find those in their network :p

as i said before, i strongly lean republican but the profits made in the health care industry are obscene :( even the plans in obama care are allowed up to 20% of every dollar in administration fees ..... sigh

Yup, I would love to roll back to before Obama care was passed. My wife and I loved the blue cross ins we had for many, many years, $300 per year deductible each, $5 per script co-pay, after that most everything was no out of pocket. There were some copay for hospital stays but very reasonable and most years we each spent maybe $450 tops (co-pays & meds) each out of pocket. Each year that passed since OC passed the cost of that plan drastically increased. The year before last, for the two of us it would have cost $225 a WEEK! (rounded, a tad more than that, can't remember the exact $) Now of the beginning of 2019 my wife and I were both forced into Medicare, when my wife was in the hospital for a week last spring the bills (co-pay & deductibles) were a little over 6K.... For one week in the hospital!!

When I had the treatments of my cancer four years ago I finished just weeks before my coverage on that BC plan ended, other then $5 a script for meds I spent zero money out of pocket for all those treatments and Dr visits. I can not begin to imagine what it would cost us if my cancer should return, I would seriously weigh just forgoing treatments so not to leave my wife totally broke.

Yes I would love to roll back the clock and I would gladly pay to have our BC insurance again.
 

ShamrockPat

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    I can not begin to imagine what it would cost us if my cancer should return, I would seriously weigh just forgoing treatments so not to leave my wife totally broke.

    Yes I would love to roll back the clock and I would gladly pay to have our BC insurance again.
    Just become a refugee Willie. In upstate NY you can take a cab to a dead end road, walk through a path and our RCMP will help you with your bags. Bunk at my place during your hospital visits/treatment and then head home after your change of mind. ;)

    upload_2019-11-21_9-16-43.png
     

    awsum140

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    Our BC/BS coverage just ended, the Mrs retired, so now we're on Medicare and United Health Care. I was at the doctor and hospital yesterday for an exam and a regular treatment. No copay at all, BC/BS was $15. I do expect a bill from United for the deductible for this year, and another one in January, but that deductible is under $200 (I think). The big problem is the "donut hole". How the system was designed, and maybe when it was designed is a factor, with something like that is beyond my comprehension. That's what happens when our estimable legislators provide "help".
     

    SlickWilly

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    Just become a refugee Willie. In upstate NY you can take a cab to a dead end road, walk through a path and our RCMP will help you with your bags. Bunk at my place during your hospital visits/treatment and then head home after your change of mind. ;)

    View attachment 853457

    In my younger days my buddy and I just crossed the river in a canoe and walked right in, many times. One year we spent a weekend camping and fishing on one of those tiny islands out in the middle of the river. I remember it was a very hot summer day, we stood chest deep in the water, pole in one hand, Canadian beer in the other, fishing and watching the big ships and tour boats go by. Doubt we could get away with that these days.
     

    tiburonfirst

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    Our BC/BS coverage just ended, the Mrs retired, so now we're on Medicare and United Health Care. I was at the doctor and hospital yesterday for an exam and a regular treatment. No copay at all, BC/BS was $15. I do expect a bill from United for the deductible for this year, and another one in January, but that deductible is under $200 (I think). The big problem is the "donut hole". How the system was designed, and maybe when it was designed is a factor, with something like that is beyond my comprehension. That's what happens when our estimable legislators provide "help".
    as you see, medicare with supplemental insurance, works rather well. drug coverage is a different story - here medicare does not have any kind of bargaining power
     

    tiburonfirst

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    Yup, I would love to roll back to before Obama care was passed. My wife and I loved the blue cross ins we had for many, many years, $300 per year deductible each, $5 per script co-pay, after that most everything was no out of pocket. There were some copay for hospital stays but very reasonable
    yes, willy ;) but don't blame obama care for everything - it was written quite differently and then the lobbying began ..... sigh
     

    tiburonfirst

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    LoL, ok....
    ;)

    and yes, willy, i'm not a fan of how obama care turned out :( as you will see, medicare is functioning rather well ;) for my husband i stayed with original medicare (any choice of doctors and hospitals) paired with a medigap plan f at $130 per month now (community rated not age based) and have had NO out-of-pocket expense or copays.
     

    awsum140

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    The problem is that Medicare works well for a relatively low number of people, specifically retired people. Implementing the same system for the general population is a whole other ball of wax just by sheer numbers.

    We also have a prescription plan and while copays are a little higher it's not a deal breaker by any means. The thing that drives me nuts is their "formulary", list of covered drugs, and the so called tiers that are in it. I've been on a cholesterol medication for almost 20 years and it is available as generic that works for me. If I continued using that medication it would cost me $225/month versus a newer, non-generic, that costs $15 for three months. Go figure.
     

    SlickWilly

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    ;)

    and yes, willy, i'm not a fan of how obama care turned out :( as you will see, medicare is functioning rather well ;) for my husband i stayed with original medicare (any choice of doctors and hospitals) paired with a medigap plan f at $130 per month now (community rated not age based) and have had NO out-of-pocket expense or copays.

    Well, I'm glad it's working out for someone, Medigap plans vary state to state. Here in NY, well guess who runs the show...

    ETA: The blame lays right at the feet of the Dems, the Republicans warned them this would happen and that's why not one of them voted for it, remember?
     

    tiburonfirst

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    let's keep obama care and medicare separate ;)

    as to medigap plans it takes some digging and they are getting harder and harder to find.

    nonetheless, health care is a basic human right that should not throw anybody into bancruptcy! we're covering the poorest but then let down tax=paying workers and settle them with debts they can't pay
     

    ShamrockPat

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    I just gotta say folks .......... I'm truly impressed that we adults discuss so many varied touchy topics without hostility. :wub:
    And when Bernie talks about Canadian healthcare, you get the on the ground truth from us Canucks. BTW, to vote here we need federally approved ID.
    @TrollDragon I see you appreciated my post on Rabbit pie over there. We'll be getting a bag of ground moose meat next week for mincemeat pies. ;)
     

    tiburonfirst

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    Obama care is directly to blame, there is no separation when Obama care forces you off your private plan and into medicare. ;)
    ok, willy ;) let me get to the bottom of this in my mind - i'm assuming now that you were eligible for medicare because of disability (this is another guess on my part because of the things you shared here) but you kept your private insurance till it was no longer feasable. why? as far as i understand the system, there would have been deductions for medicare insurance no matter if you used it or not :?:
     

    tiburonfirst

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    I just gotta say folks .......... I'm truly impressed that we adults discuss so many varied touchy topics without hostility.
    as far as i can remember it always has been like that in here and a FEW other threads ;)
     

    awsum140

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    Mayor Pete is whole other thing. Check with how happy the citizens of his city are with his abilities as a mayor. If he can't run a small city, actually large town, do you really think he can handle the megolith that the Federal Government is? He was in over his head in South Bend, he'd be so far behind the eight ball as President that he couldn't even see the bar where pool table is. While it might be nice to dream of his ideas, his ability to get them done, without destroying the country or economy is very, very, questionable. We can't elect anyone, Democrat, Republic, Progressive, based on one issue.

    Most people that have private insurance that is provided by their employer, at least in my experience, may not "love" it but don't want to give it up, either. That is especially true of the Public sector employees, like police, fire, teachers and so on. Note that Congress excluded itself from the ACA until embarrassed into it by public pressure. Also keep in mind they can afford the Unobtanium version, not the tin/lead version. A public option may look attractive but I strongly suspect that it would turn into another ACA debacle in short order given the way our estimable legislators can ruin a nice, warm, sunny day and turn it into the blizzard of the millennium.
     

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