posted on September 6, 2009 04:10:50 PM new
Squirrel, We are not talking about raining free benefits down on ne'er do wells who don't want to work or spend money like drunken sailors(although even ne'er do wells deserve medical treatment) We are talking about affordable health insurance. If you work hard, make $50,000 a year and have 2 kids there is no reason why health insurance should be out of your reach. If you have lost your job and having trouble finding another one, you should be able to get good medical care. Not everyone lives beyond their means, except when it comes to health insurance.
Being financially responsible is a whole other thread.
posted on September 6, 2009 05:04:33 PM new
Coach-you keep talking about 'good healthcare'.
What is good healthcare?
Like Dave said all heathcare is good if you dont have to file a claim or dont get sick.
Down here we have an AFLAC lady who sells to hispanic folks and they like one of these polcies which give you cash,like you pay 17.99 a month and if you cut your finger or come down with a fever,you get 25-50 from them.
Now,many are laborers and they do get sick or cut their finger and they take that 35-50 and go see a doctor in their neighborhood and get treatment.
To them,this is what they can afford and they are happy until they get very sick.
Then they go back to their own country and seek treatment there.
I know in Chinatown,you can see a US trained Chinese doctor for 35 dollars and she will tell you with some exercise and low fat diet,you dont have to take 16 prescription drug per day.
But my friend who is diabetic would rather continue his lifestyle eating here and eating there and no exercise,why?
Because he works for a good company which provides good healthcare and his share of the 16 prescription drug is minimal.
He would duck when he sees her coming out of the office lest she will see him chowing down dumplings,roast duck,BBQ pork and hot and sour soup.
Do you know Chinese call diabetis the rich man disease as only rich people can afford to eat so well ?
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There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on September 6, 2009 05:51:44 PM new
Hwa, IMO,good health care consists of access to competent doctors, tests, surgical procedures and medicine. Good health care also consists of access to nutritional education, preventive medicine and being able to see an internist or family doctor consistently, instead of having to use anonymous ER docs for routine care.
posted on September 6, 2009 06:45:56 PM new
good health care consists of access to competent doctors, tests, surgical procedures and medicine. Good health care also consists of access to nutritional education, preventive medicine and being able to see an internist or family doctor consistently, instead of having to use anonymous ER docs for routine care.
////////////////////////////////////////
I would think in most metropolitan area,you will find all of the above.
I go to West Houston Medical Center and they have most of what you are looking for,some said they are not the best ,but then I dont have serious illness and they are good enough for me!
I have no problem making appointment with any of the doctors there and the fee they charge is fair,they are one of the approved provider of my insurer.
If the doctor orders Xray,MRI,blood test,biopsy etc,they can all be done within walking distance of the doctor's office.
This has nothing to do with your insurance company,it has to do with where you live,may be the area you live do not have all the facilities you are looking for?
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There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on September 6, 2009 07:52:23 PM new
That's just the point, Hwa. Millions of people do not have health insurance like you do. You mentioned that your deductible is $5000. You are fortunate that you have not had a serious illness or accident. The uninsured's family doc is probably whichever one is on duty in the ER. Not only is that not good medical care for the uninsured patient, it is a glut on the emergency room, which should be used only for emergencies. It is equivalent to calling 911 because your cat is stuck up a tree.
posted on September 7, 2009 06:49:03 AM new
Well,my sister in law thinks having a deductible of 5k means the insurance company never have to pay any claims!!!!!!!!!
So far she is right,I never exceed 5k medical expenses per annum but I keep my policy and watch the premium keep going up each year but then I am not getting younger so per actuarial statistics,the risk of them paying out claims goes up every year!
I dont understand why you keep saying the uninsured family doctor is whoever is on duty at ER,if it is not a crisis,why cant you schedule an appointment with a regular doctor?
I know when we call for appt ,they always ask if you have insurance,if you do not and you make 50k a year,then you will tell them you wil be paying cash and they will quote you fee for the office visit .
It has been my experience hospitals and doctors can be quite accomodating when patients offer to pay cash.
Or if you do not have enough cash for all the procedures,they will arrange financing with third party for you.
Also do you have walkup medical clinic in your area?
I used to visit one in my old neighborhood for GP related issues such as ear infection,too much wax in my ears and H Pylori test,it was 50 dollars per visit and now I think it is 75 dollars,all doctors are US trained and pretty good too!
You dont need appointment and the wait is not that long.
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There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on September 7, 2009 07:50:06 AM new
Hwa, Most uninsured families cannot afford $75 for a doctor visit--not including any lab tests,x-rays or prescriptions. Consequently, they only go to a doctor when they are sick enough to warrant it. What about well-baby visits? What about checkups and immunizations for kids?
The best general medical care is received from a doctor who knows you and your family. Docs in a Box are ok for ear wax, a sore throat or other very routine illnesses. A doctor who has never seen you may not be aware of what is and is not normal for you.
Even routine medical care is outrageously expensive. What if your child needs a tonsillectomy? What if your gall bladder needs to come out? If you are below the poverty level, Medicaid will pay. If you are rich, you can pay. What about the middle class? A Harvard study shows that half the bankruptcies in this country are caused by medical bills---even though most had medical insurance at the start of their illness or injury. Many patients were dropped by their insurance, had reached a max of coverage, or lost the insurance due to time off from work due to the illness. There is something wrong with this system. It needs reform.
posted on September 7, 2009 11:28:14 AM new
"We are not talking about raining free benefits down on ne'er do wells who don't want to work or spend money like drunken sailors(although even ne'er do wells deserve medical treatment) We are talking about affordable health insurance. If you work hard, make $50,000 a year and have 2 kids there is no reason why health insurance should be out of your reach. If you have lost your job and having trouble finding another one, you should be able to get good medical care. Not everyone lives beyond their means, except when it comes to health insurance."
Yeah, that would be great...except. Think of your friends who work for the gov who have great HMOs. I'll bet every sniffle the kids get it's off to the clinic for tests, antibiotics, etc, etc. Think of the poor crack whore who get's the shakes. But ultimately, the killer will be when groups like the one on this board really get thinking:
Free needles and smack for addicts because it will be "cheaper" to have "good" drugs than treat the consequences of street stuff. "Wellness" programs for the poor. Never doubt the ability of people to think of something that's "good" for you.
posted on September 7, 2009 03:26:11 PM new
I'm sure there are people who do this, but most people visit the doctor when necessary. This is no reason to reject health care reform.
As far as crack whores and free smack: Geez, you are pretty weak in scare tactics, compared to your compadres. You forgot about cosmetic surgery for illegal aliens, fertility treatments for welfare mothers and veterinary insurance for the family dog.
posted on September 7, 2009 05:30:10 PM new
Nothing is free,we all have to pay for good service.
If you get something cheap and good,probably someone is subsidising you,could be some wealthy philantrophist,could be some newly arrived immigrant who is willing to work for less,could be someone overseas reading your xray results.
Obama is trying to make some groups to subsidise other groups,unfortunately few can afford to carry more than their own burden,this is a bad time,really bad time to ask!
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There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on September 7, 2009 07:19:10 PM new
Who's asking for free health insurance or medical care? Health insurance and medical care are ridiculously expensive---beyond the reach of a good portion of Americans. Reform would mean keeping your expensive insurance if you want to and can afford to or availing yourself of government sponsored insurance at lower, more affordable premiums. It is up to each individual. A little competition is a good thing.
posted on September 7, 2009 07:29:47 PM new
Please reread my post on who is subsidising a good deal,how old are you?
It is obvious we can no longer afford each other's product and service-hire a Puerto Rican or Mexican to mow our lawn,get a haircut from the Vietnamese immigrant,buy a chair made in Thailand,a T shirt from China and Xray read by Indian radiologist.
I wonder if Obama is from MARS,how else can we afford him?
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There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on September 7, 2009 11:30:28 PM new
[i]hwahwa said - Please reread my post on who is subsidising a good deal,how old are you?
It is obvious we can no longer afford each other's product and service-hire a Puerto Rican or Mexican to mow our lawn,get a haircut from the Vietnamese immigrant,buy a chair made in Thailand,a T shirt from China and Xray read by Indian radiologist.
I wonder if Obama is from MARS,how else can we afford him?
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There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose banker[/i]
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Great Post.
Last year I fractured my femur and I spent 2 weeks in the hospital and 5 1/2 months in a nursing home and when I left I had no bills. I do have insurance.
There are means out in the world to help with medical costs, you have to find them. Of course with the lazy ones complaining they want the money to come to them. It doesn't work that way.
posted on September 8, 2009 05:50:49 AM new
hospitals and doctors have ways of making their patients spend more money,look around their office ,how many support staff they have,how many equipments do they own or lease?
They all have to be paid for.
Once I went in for a SIMPLE Xray mammogram,and they asked me to come back since they dont have prior record to compare the results,so I went back for more Xray and MMR.Then they suggested that I go see a surgeon and then I should schedule for a biopsy.
They have studied my insurance policy and called my insurer and they know if I do all of the above,I would have exceeeded my deductible and the insurer will pick up all the future expenses.
I dont like the way they handle this matter so I cancel my appointment and it has been a few years and I feel fine.
But then I know 3 ladies who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and went in for treatment and I have a friend who died of brain cancer,she has a blue cross and blue shield policy and the doctors passed her around knowing there is really no cure.
Sometimes I feel we are just the prawn in this tug of war between the insurance co and the providers.
I think the best defense is follow what Nancy Reagon said -DONT GET SICK.
IF YOU DRINK,DRINK MODERATELY,IF YOU SMOKE,GIVE UP SMOKING,EXERCISE AND EAT HEALTHY FOOD !
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There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on September 8, 2009 06:52:02 AM new
"There are means out in the world to help with medical costs, you have to find them. Of course with the lazy ones complaining they want the money to come to them. It doesn't work that way."
What "lazy" ones are these? If we all had affordable health insurance, we would not have to hunt down assistance like it was buried treasure.
I am a care giver for an 87 year old relative with Alzheimer's. She has reached her donut hole for Medicare Part D prescription coverage---meaning she must pay 100% of her prescriptions until she reaches $4700.00 for the year. We are in the process of applying for Medicaid, but that could take months. In the meantime, she has no money for her prescriptions. I asked CVS pharmacy if they had phone numbers for the various drug companies so that I could call their assistance programs. No one at CVS had even heard of such a thing. Having worked in the medical profession for over 30 years, I know these programs exist and found the numbers myself. Been working on it for a week. What about people who don't know?
Contempt is just dripping from your post. This is not a welfare program we are talking about. This is affordable health insurance, paid for by the subscribers!
posted on September 8, 2009 07:47:48 AM new
We are not professional counsellor,you may feel better venting on this board but time would be better spent looking into other venues,have you contacted your local Congressman or Senator?
I understand they have resources in their office on where to get free ride,where to get aids etc etc.
They can send you materials free,those clerks in the pharmacy do not know,they just come to work.
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There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on September 8, 2009 07:56:34 AM new
hwa---I don't believe you got my point. My post was not for venting purposes. I was using my situation, which I have well in hand, as an example. Because of my experience in the health care field, I know most of what is available---even if CVS Pharmacy does not. It was a response to a post about all the available aid out there (which often is not made known to patients by the health care industry.)
posted on September 8, 2009 08:08:38 AM new
As far as I know,Eckard and Costco pharmacies contracted their pharmacists from some agency,I have met pharmacists from Africa,India,they know how to dispense drug but I doubt they know the phone numbers of drugmakers or US tax codes or where is Hamburger University?
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There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on September 8, 2009 08:42:42 AM new
Let me try this again. There are assistance programs with all pharmaceutical companies, they just don't advertise it. I am not questioning the fact that CVS did not have phone numbers for these companies (although I am sure they do,) but the fact that they had no idea there were assistance programs.
This is not even the point of my original post. There are assistance programs, if you qualify, but with affordable health insurance, relatively few would need the assistance programs.
[ edited by coach81938 on Sep 8, 2009 08:46 AM ]
posted on September 8, 2009 10:08:53 AM new
Unfortunately the drug companies cannot give free medication because of the part D medicare and I feel that is wrong. If the drug company wants to give it away I think that is their business and not the governments.
When part D was inacted the free medication for seniors was stopped.
I am sorry Coach that there isn't any help but if they do get a health care bill I hope they address that problem. The drug companies make millions of dollars and they can afford to either give it away or sell it at a lesser price.
[ edited by fruscia on Sep 8, 2009 10:11 AM ]
posted on September 8, 2009 11:16:46 AM new
What medication is your mother taking?
I found this website for Aricept,it will help seniors who is trapped in this donut hole situation-
http://www.aricept.com/insurance.html
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There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on September 8, 2009 11:27:51 AM new
Thank you, fruscia---but I am apparently not communicating very well. All the drug companies I contacted do have assistance programs. If you have paid $600 for meds (co-pays, non-covered Rx's)have an income of $30,000/year or less for an individual, you will qualify for some assistance. They are not free, but (in our case) the patient pays $25 for a month's supply of a particular medication, as opposed to $150.00 each we would have had to pay for several medications. They will do this until Jan.1, when Medicare part B kicks back in. Pfizer, Smith Kline and AstraZeneca are the 3 I contacted, but most of the pharmaceuticals have these programs. We are only getting assistance for the brand name meds. The generic meds are relatively inexpensive.
posted on September 8, 2009 11:46:45 AM new
I have been buying drug from Mexico,some are generic and some are brand names,they are licensed to make them and sell them outside USA,besides selling them in Mexico,they also sell these drugs in Spain.
The generic ones are better than ours as each pill is blister packed instead of ours where they are all kpet in one big bottle.
I buy acid reflux and anti biotics from them,but they also have others like Lamisil,Diflucon?
They shipped from Cancun via registered mail,around 10 dollars.
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There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
