Little rant about health insurance

[Darwin333]

So you're angry about having to pay for a necessary medical procedure, and instead of suggesting an alternative to the system we have now, you turn your ire to the people that actually do get care? That seems like a poor way to look at it.

I think he is pissed that he is already paying for other peoples almost free (to them) health care while he follows all the "rules" and gets reamed.

Sorry Texas, I know it sucks but it is what it is. I went through something similar not long ago so I really feel your and your wifes pain (literally).

 

[Darwin333]

He's not angry that he needs to pay for services. He's angry that different people have different rules. His taxes pay for poor people, but his own taxes don't pay for him or his family. It feels like straight up theft.
The real solution is to have medicaid cover everyone. If you have cash and you can get premium service, that's great, but medicaid should still cover everyone. If you don't have the cash, you wait in line like Canadians do.

Take the cost of medicaid and divide it by the number of people on it. Then figure out how many people we have in this country and multiply it by that number. Hell, I'll even let ya shave 10 or 15% off of it for a "group discount". Then tell me how the hell we can even think about affording that.

 

[Darwin333]

The OP makes it sound like it is.

A dictatorship sucks like hell, unless you are the dictator of course and then it rocks ice fo real dawg.

 

[sandorski]

Take the cost of medicaid and divide it by the number of people on it. Then figure out how many people we have in this country and multiply it by that number. Hell, I'll even let ya shave 10 or 15% off of it for a "group discount". Then tell me how the hell we can even think about affording that.

It doesn't work that way. You are taking a group that's at it's most expensive, medically speaking, point of their lives and assuming the Young/Healthy will cost as much.

 

[shira]

errr i think he is bitching that the hospital wants payment up front and i agree with him thats bullshit.

i dont agree with a lot of what TH post but this one i do.

So let me get this straight; OP wouldn't be whining if he had to pay the $2500 two weeks or a month after the procedure? But the fact he has to pay it now is the problem? Excuse me for being skeptical.

No, I think the problem is that the OP has a high-deductible plan, and he's pissed that he "got caught." Of course, the OP conveniently ignores the fact that his high-deductible plan probably saves him hundreds of dollars a year in premiums.

What it comes down to is that the OP wants health care to be cheap.

 

[sportage]

I love how people blame Obama for at least trying. If Obama had it his way, we would have a public option. And that would have put us on a path to that nasty government healthcare for all. You know... non profit healthcare everyone can afford. Who the hell wants THAT? Healthcare for you and your family that you don't have to sell your house to afford. Who the hell wants THAT? We're all millionaires in our own little mind. So we can afford that. Sarah Palin and Rush told us so...

But... while we expected republicans to fight against healthcare reform of any kind, it was those few "owned" democrats that really killed off Obama's plan.
Then Obama began the deal making, to at least get older kids covered under their parents plan, the elimination of caps, and a few more helpful reforms.

As long as we have healthcare for profit, we will have an "owned" congress. Look how much money insurance companies give to elections. Those insurance companies should not have all that spare money to give away in the first place. People died not getting needed care for them for have such a huge war chest.

It is so crazy that we even talk about this. People are so gullible. So ignorant. Putting their full faith in a system that is out to make money by hurting them.
Go ahead.. vote republican and see what happens to healthcare.
Watch and experience the love insurance companies feel for you.
Listen to all the BS we are fed from our "insurance company owned" politicians.
They will never have to worry about their healthcare. They will enjoy a nice government pension after they retire from office. And if they fall on hard times, they can always write a bestselling book.
So how’s your bestselling book coming along?
The book that will pay for your future healthcare...
(You might want to ask Sarah about that one. Or Rush Limbaugh)

 

[dmcowen674]

I am trying to find the news article, but maybe a year ago there was lady in southeast Texas who died because her appendix ruptured.

Her doctor told her the appendix needed to be removed, but the hospital refused to admit her without paying her co-pay first. She knew she was sick for a couple of weeks before her appendix reputered, tried to get approval, and was denied access to the surgery unless she paid the co-pay up front.

The news article was on KFDM out of Beaumont, and on the evening news, but I can not find the article as of right now.

EDIT

I "think" this is the video, no speakers on my work computer right now so I can not listen tot he audio

http://www.kfdm.com/video/v/26506099001/kfdm-health-kfdm

Here is the full article

http://www.kfdm.com/news/dead-32278-hospital-refuses.html

June 15 2009
Daughter dead after mother says hospitals refuse treatment

​

A young Orange County woman has died and her family says it could have been prevented. 21 year old Jessica Hurt died this weekend in a Beaumont hospital after two other Port Arthur hospitals refused to treat her. Jessica Holloway explains why the girl's medical insurance wasn't enough to save her life.

"She went to the hospital. They told her to come back when she had 5 grand. Ya. They put a gun to my baby's head," said Schamber.

Jessica Hurt couldn't get treatment because she couldn't afford the $5,000 deductible. She developed pancreatitis and her mother says neither Christus Saint Mary nor The Medical Center of Southeast Texas would admit Jessica for day surgery, even if she paid them in installments.

​

​

 

[Texashiker]

Here is the full article

http://www.kfdm.com/news/dead-32278-hospital-refuses.html

June 15 2009
Daughter dead after mother says hospitals refuse treatment

Thank you for finding the article.

As of right now the insurance considers my wifes surgery as being elective, because its not life threatening.

The doctor said if the cyst grows too much more, it can twist the ovary, and when that happens my wife will be at the emergency room in pain.

What is probably going to happen, my wife will either wait until January to have the surgery, or her ovary will twist and I will have to take her to the ER and get some kind of emergency surgery.

The problem is, my wifes doctor is in houston, more then 2 hours away. If we go to a local hospital, no doctors there will have her history. I dont think we even have a doctor here that specializes in womens health to do the surgery.

 

[umbrella39]

I love these "Our healthcare system is screwed up so I hate poor people RAWR!" threads.

100% this. FFS OP, for someone who is supposed to be an adult, you really need to GTFU. Plonk.

 

[dmcowen674]

Thank you for finding the article.

As of right now the insurance considers my wifes surgery as being elective, because its not life threatening.

The doctor said if the cyst grows too much more, it can twist the ovary, and when that happens my wife will be at the emergency room in pain.

What is probably going to happen, my wife will either wait until January to have the surgery, or her ovary will twist and I will have to take her to the ER and get some kind of emergency surgery.

The problem is, my wifes doctor is in houston, more then 2 hours away. If we go to a local hospital, no doctors there will have her history. I dont think we even have a doctor here that specializes in womens health to do the surgery.

Not good on options. Hard to believe this is happening in the U.S.

That Canadian system people have been so dead against in here s looking good about now eh?

I hope your wife is able to get the surgery as soon as possible, she should be be needlessly suffering or even have potential to suffer because of a f$%#ed up medical system.

 

[Fausto]

Not to belittle your wife's situation, but you really can't decide whether you want to be on or off the grid, can you?

 

[Texashiker]

FFS OP, for someone who is supposed to be an adult, you really need to GTFU. Plonk.

Part of being an adult is being responsible.

Why should I have to provide health care for people who do not want to apply themselves, to lazy to go to school or learn a trade,,,, or otherwise just want to bum off the system?

Not to belittle your wife's situation, but you really can't decide whether you want to be on or off the grid, can you?

I do not understand your question?

My wife and I work, pay for our health care coverage, pay our taxes, but the people who mooch off the system get health care for almost free.

Where is the balance in that?

I have been working since 1984, the only social benefits I have ever drawn was unemployment back in 2002 - 2003.

But people that have never worked a day in their lives can get on all kinds of programs.

 

[Fausto]

All things being equal "free" health care fucking sucks. It is disingenuous at best to say those "mooching off the system" have anything approaching a reasonable quality of life. Your wife is getting major surgery done for something like (guessing here) 10% of the full price. Additionally, I'm going to go out a limb and wager it will be performed by competent docs in a modern medical facility. Yes, $2500 is a lot of money, but consider the alternative.

 

[sm625]

For low - medium income families, what is the incentive to get married? When people can have the kids they want, mooch off the system, get all the food stamps and medicaid they need.

There is no incentive. It was designed that way. To break up the family so the state can be the parent. That ideology is the reason they are using Medicaxx fraud to jack up health care costs. The federal govt is infected/infested and it must be cured before it brings down the entire country. Get rid of the infestation, or continue to pay 8% more per year while the govt cancer grows and continues to implement policy that destroys families, jobs, and futures. I just dont get why people have to let something get so far gone before attempting to fix it.

 

[Fausto]

There is no incentive. It was designed that way. To break up the family so the state can be the parent. That ideology is the reason they are using Medicaxx fraud to jack up health care costs. The federal govt is infected/infested and it must be cured before it brings down the entire country. Get rid of the infestation, or continue to pay 8% more per year while the govt cancer grows and continues to implement policy that destroys families, jobs, and futures. I just dont get why people have to let something get so far gone before attempting to fix it.

I think you need to adjust your tinfoil, bro.

 

[JSt0rm]

I think he is pissed that he is already paying for other peoples almost free (to them) health care while he follows all the "rules" and gets reamed.

Sorry Texas, I know it sucks but it is what it is. I went through something similar not long ago so I really feel your and your wifes pain (literally).

I don't think he is. Poor people don't pay taxes.

 

[Ninjahedge]

They should first start with low-cost HQ preventative care.

Restrict "insurance" back to higher cost surgeries that are less likely AND which will be reduced with good preventative care.

The problem is, people are being misfed the reality of the situation.

There IS an initial cost, but the net cost in the long run is cheaper for everyone.

And the 1 out of 50 that carry no insurance and think this pittance will somehow break their bank UNTIL they have something like appendicitis or, god forbid, cancer and it blows their entire financial structure.

Our system SUCKS. We have more loopholes for Rogaine and Viagra than for ovarian cysts and the like.

Just like in that movie, we are more interested in hair and sex than a cure for cancer.

 

[Nebor]

I don't think he is. Poor people don't pay taxes.

Probably true. If he doesn't have the money to pay for the co-pay, odds are he's in a bracket that gets all of (or more) of they're taxes back at the end of the year.

 

[Ninjahedge]

Poor people should not have to pay taxes in the FIRST PLACE.

Who the pluck thought collecting it, going through a tax review, then sending it back to them was an efficient method of taxation?

If your job earns less than $X a month, DON'T TAX IT!!!! Come tax time you need to submit your returns showing that your total income did not exceed $$, and then that is it. Every time money changes hands, the stack gets smaller.

 

[nobodyknows]

They should first start with low-cost HQ preventative care.

Restrict "insurance" back to higher cost surgeries that are less likely AND which will be reduced with good preventative care.

The problem is, people are being misfed the reality of the situation.

There IS an initial cost, but the net cost in the long run is cheaper for everyone.

And the 1 out of 50 that carry no insurance and think this pittance will somehow break their bank UNTIL they have something like appendicitis or, god forbid, cancer and it blows their entire financial structure.

Our system SUCKS. We have more loopholes for Rogaine and Viagra than for ovarian cysts and the like.

Just like in that movie, we are more interested in hair and sex than a cure for cancer.

LOL

 

[Ninjahedge]

THAT was what I was talkin' about!

 

[Nebor]

Poor people should not have to pay taxes in the FIRST PLACE.

Who the pluck thought collecting it, going through a tax review, then sending it back to them was an efficient method of taxation?

If your job earns less than $X a month, DON'T TAX IT!!!! Come tax time you need to submit your returns showing that your total income did not exceed $$, and then that is it. Every time money changes hands, the stack gets smaller.

Because if they did that, then a HUGE block of voters would no longer be manipulated by promises of tax cuts, not raising taxes, etc. Because when those phrases are thrown around, a lot of people assume that will apply to them, even if it won't.

Also you would lose the mechanism to give the poor more money back than they paid in. Where would they get that extra income from?

 

[Ninjahedge]

Um, your last comment made no sense.

You do not get more tax money back than you paid. Different systems you are referring to....

 

[Bacstar]

Thank you. The money is not the issue, its the principle of the matter.

Something that has not been brought up, the end of the year is the worst time to have surgery. We fork out $2,000 sometime in November or December, something goes wrong, wife has to go back to the hospital in January.

After January 1st, we would owe another $2,000 - $2,500.

Worse case situation, we would have to fork out $4,000 - $5,000 in 2 months "just" for the deductible and 20%.

Not a lot of people have $4,000 - $5,000 spare changing just laying around.

This happened to me...freaking sucked, but I got them back though. 8 months later that year, I had a relapse and needed another surgery. Guess there's the silver lining, and my deductibles were met. :hmm:

 

[spinejam]

I enjoyed reading your post you laid everything out logically but the problem is our Healthcare for profit model and they are padding the palms in Washington to look the other way. We could have got a public option until big insurance talked President Obama/Congress into throwing it under the bus. That really fucking pissed me off.

I concur!

I crossed party lines and voted for him -- he lost my re-election vote b/c of this!