My 87 year old dad's incredible healthcare

[wirelessenabled]

I wonder how much money he paid into medicare? He was pretty successful and remember there is NO CAP on medicare tax like social security. How much money could he have grown all that into today?

Not enough for "numerous heart surgeries and recently a pace maker".

Medicare is 1.45% plus employers 1.45%. So max of 2.9% as of now. It was less in the past.

Numerous heart surgeries, say 4 @ $75K is $300K plus pacemaker @ $100K? $400,000 just for the heart problems plus what was paid for other medical care.

At 3% pay in that is 34*$400,000, say $14 million earnings. Was he that successful?

OK so add some interest in over the years to account for that.

 

[spidey07]

Not enough for "numerous heart surgeries and recently a pace maker".

Medicare is 1.45% plus employers 1.45%. So max of 2.9% as of now. It was less in the past.

Numerous heart surgeries, say 4 @ $75K is $300K plus pacemaker @ $100K? $400,000 just for the heart problems plus what was paid for other medical care.

At 3% pay in that is 34*$400,000, say $14 million earnings. Was he that successful?

OK so add some interest in over the years to account for that.

You're neglecting what would have happened to that money at a lowball 5% return over time. But thank you for putting some thought into it.

The main point again is that medicare is not sufficient for quality care and must be supplemented by 90% of seniors. He's a WW2 vet, my pops was operating and decoding shit in the south pacific. And yet he STILL CHOOSES TO USE PRIVATE INSURANCE SO THAT HE CAN GET THE BEST HEALTHCARE IN THE WORLD.

 

[Throckmorton]

You're neglecting what would have happened to that money at a lowball 5% return over time. But thank you for putting some thought into it.

The main point again is that medicare is not sufficient for quality care and must be supplemented by 90% of seniors. He's a WW2 vet, my pops was operating and decoding shit in the south pacific. And yet he STILL CHOOSES TO USE PRIVATE INSURANCE SO THAT HE CAN GET THE BEST HEALTHCARE IN THE WORLD.

Your main point is crap, because the alternative to the "insufficient" Medicare is no insurance at all or private free market insurance that would have to cost an astronomical amount for the insurer to make a profit.

What don't you understand about the imperative for private insurance to make a profit, even when the insured is an 87 year old man that costs hundreds of thousands to keep alive?

Guess what, there are many people with chronic illnesses that would love to have the same Medicare option that your dad has, for a baseline of decent insurance, but you conservatives refuse to give it to them because you consider it socialism. Those are the people we call "uninsurable". Your utopian private-only insurance isn't working out so great for them, just like it would have put your dad in the grave by now.

Get it? If it were up to insurance companies whose only interest is profit, your father wouldn't have been insured and he would be dead right now.

 

[k3n]

I believe forum rules have exempted spidey from that award.

LOL, where can i see the other nominations?

 

[her209]

Apples and oranges. Whether you agree with Spidey or not, at least use the facts on the table.

He's talking about SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE COST. His dad has already paid into Medicare. To tell him to consider the cost of private insurance right now without Medicare is worthless. If you want to compare the costs of the two, take all the money he's put into Medicare so far, allow it to grow at some shitty bank-dictated interest rate or whatever bonds grew at all these years, and look at his lump sum of money now. Does it pay for private insurance?

His dad has no choice but to accept Medicare unless he has a million or two stuffed in his mattress to pay for his own health insurance. We've already paid into it. Whether you like it or not, your money is there. Might as well put it to use right and accept Medicare coverage?

If spidey's dad didn't have to pay into Medicare and was still on private insurance, you don't think that everyone's premium wouldn't go up to cover him and everyone like him?

 

[ericlp]

Spidey is lifer. He doesn't know. Sheesh, people cut him a break.

 

[CallMeJoe]

Spidey is lifer. He doesn't know. Sheesh, people cut him a break.

Spidey is a victim of early-onset Obama Derangement Syndrome.
As soon as our Kenyan Muslim Socialist Marxist President was inaugurated everything about our government instantly became irredeemably evil.

 

[ebaycj]

Your main point is crap, because the alternative to the "insufficient" Medicare is no insurance at all or private free market insurance that would have to cost an astronomical amount for the insurer to make a profit.

What don't you understand about the imperative for private insurance to make a profit, even when the insured is an 87 year old man that costs hundreds of thousands to keep alive?

Guess what, there are many people with chronic illnesses that would love to have the same Medicare option that your dad has, for a baseline of decent insurance, but you conservatives refuse to give it to them because you consider it socialism. Those are the people we call "uninsurable". Your utopian private-only insurance isn't working out so great for them, just like it would have put your dad in the grave by now.

Get it? If it were up to insurance companies whose only interest is profit, your father wouldn't have been insured and he would be dead right now.

This.

 

[spidey07]

This.

Bulshit. He would pay for it out of his millions or go to the va. He chooses instead to have the best healthcare in the world. There's a reason why the "free stuff" isn't good enough.

 

[umbrella39]

I believe forum rules have exempted spidey from that award.

And here I was thinking the OP had already maxed out on teh dumz...

 

[alphatarget1]

So you support this?


Sounds pretty liberal to me. Your dad is taking the money others are making due to his "lifestyle". I thought you were against this.
Oh thats right you are a hack and don;t like it when you pay out but when your girlfriend makes money as a Gov employee its well earned and when you have to pay out for others they are the theives etc...

Yeah and his wife works as a superintendent in a school board ripping the taxpayers off.

 

[Zebo]

The problem is most of the population of the US does not save for retirement that is why SS is neccessary. If you just got rid of SS as it is now most people would just spend that extra money that got each check and not save it in a 401k etc. It would be a lot worse later in life when these people are unable to work without a SS safety net.

Sure if everyone was super responsible with their money then i would agree that getting rid of SS is for the better. But with the eroding middle class and more and more people falling into lower income classes the chances of saving into 401k get slimmer and slimmer.

Not just irresponsible. Ever hear of Enron? crashing markets and thousands of pensions looted? GM's would be toast if Govt wasn't backstopping. Sometimes plans just don't work and Shit happens like about to happen to millions of state retirees, they just don't know it yet. Shit also happens like you need to cash out retirement for medical bills for you or loved one.

Without SS & medicare many old people would die.

 

[SammyJr]

Not just irresponsible. Ever hear of Enron? crashing markets and thousands of pensions looted? GM's would be toast if Govt wasn't backstopping. Sometimes plans just don't work and Shit happens like about to happen to millions of state retirees, they just don't know it yet. Shit also happens like you need to cash out retirement for medical bills for you or loved one.

Without SS & medicare many old people would die.

This is impossible in a conservative's world. They have a magic force field that protects them from the everyday problems of everyone else. They're immune from medical bills, financial disaster, and job loss. They exist in a bubble apart from everyone else where the problems of their neighbors have no effect on them.

Shit doesn't happen to conservatives because they're right with the Free Trade gods.

 

[gingermeggs]

He's getting up in age and the subject of his health came up as he's had numerous heart surgeries and recently a pace maker. Simple question I asked was "is medicare covering all of this?". Because we're talking a ton of healthcare related costs and expense.

Oh god no, he said. Medicare wouldn't come close but he gets to have pretty much any procedure he wants, from any specialist or doctor he wants. How does he get the greatest care in the world?

Supplemental insurance. 200 bucks a month to supplement medicare and that insurance picks up what medicare won't. Yep, those evil insurance companies are making sure my dad lives a long and happy life without depleting his nest egg he's living off of.

I'd rather die then get cut up every few months, your definitely got the "greed" gene!
Father time will take the old codger down sooner or later, probably under an anesthetic like he is hoping for!

 

[Jhhnn]

First off, I don't think anybody will find a domestic insurance quote for persons over 65 that *doesn't* take medicare into account. Basically, everybody over 65 receives medicare benefits, so premiums are based on that fact.

All insurance is based on pooled risk. The vast majority of people over 65 are a lot healthier than Spidey's father, and he's the beneficiary of that, of having shared risk with others over the years. He's also a statistical outlier, something that's taken into account wrt the price for all members of the insurance plan.

The whole idea of supplemental insurance reinforces the rightwing notion of personal responsibility, as well. People who've planned appropriately can afford the better supplements when they retire. Those who haven't can't afford them, but still receive care, obviously not at the same level.

As has been offered earlier, It's a lot like the French system of socialized care, except it extends only to those over 65... And even Spidey admittedly loves it. If it works so well for Spidey's father, it seems likely it'd work just as well for the rest of us...

 

[ShawnD1]

First off, I don't think anybody will find a domestic insurance quote for persons over 65 that *doesn't* take medicare into account. Basically, everybody over 65 receives medicare benefits, so premiums are based on that fact.

If you want to get an idea of what it would really cost, shave a few years off that. Try to get an insurance quote for a 60 year old man with heart disease.

 

[Homerboy]

Bulshit. He would pay for it out of his millions or go to the va. He chooses instead to have the best healthcare in the world. There's a reason why the "free stuff" isn't good enough.

Just out of curiosity, and I really don't know the answer to this and I'm not trying to be a smart-ass, but if he were to go to the VA for his ailments, who pays those bills? Where does the money come from to fund VA Hospitals?

 

[Pens1566]

Just out of curiosity, and I really don't know the answer to this and I'm not trying to be a smart-ass, but if he were to go to the VA for his ailments, who pays those bills? Where does the money come from to fund VA Hospitals?

You really shouldn't try to confuse spidey like that.

 

[Homerboy]

You really shouldn't try to confuse spidey like that.

LOL so my GUESS and gut instinct is correct then? I assume there are donations and fund raisers too though correct? I mean I "buy" those little poppie flowers from the old Vets outside the grocery store every time I can, but I didn't figure that was enough to pay for hospitals...

 

[sunzt]

You're neglecting what would have happened to that money at a lowball 5% return over time. But thank you for putting some thought into it.

The main point again is that medicare is not sufficient for quality care and must be supplemented by 90% of seniors. He's a WW2 vet, my pops was operating and decoding shit in the south pacific. And yet he STILL CHOOSES TO USE PRIVATE INSURANCE SO THAT HE CAN GET THE BEST HEALTHCARE IN THE WORLD.

That affordable health insurance is made possible by the fact that medicare reduces risk for the insurance companies so they can make a profit.

Medicare should not cover 100% of health costs for seniors, but should allow them to be able to supplement it with private insurance to fill gaps. This is a realistic implementation of government health insurance.

ALERT! ALERT!: GOVERNMENT WILL NOT PAY 100% OF EVERYONE'S HEALTH COST. NO ONE SHOULD EXPECT IT TO. IT WILL ALSO NOT BAN YOU FROM BUYING SUPPLEMENTAL HEALTH INSURANCE.

 

[sunzt]

Bulshit. He would pay for it out of his millions or go to the va. He chooses instead to have the best healthcare in the world. There's a reason why the "free stuff" isn't good enough.

Great solution.... and for everyone else who may have slighly less millions?

 

[Phokus]

Bulshit. He would pay for it out of his millions or go to the va. He chooses instead to have the best healthcare in the world. There's a reason why the "free stuff" isn't good enough.

1. We all know every old person has 'millions'

2. And the alternative would have been to use true socialized medicine

Spidey, you are dumb as hell

 

[child of wonder]

You're neglecting what would have happened to that money at a lowball 5% return over time. But thank you for putting some thought into it.

The main point again is that medicare is not sufficient for quality care and must be supplemented by 90% of seniors. He's a WW2 vet, my pops was operating and decoding shit in the south pacific. And yet he STILL CHOOSES TO USE PRIVATE INSURANCE SO THAT HE CAN GET THE BEST HEALTHCARE IN THE WORLD.

Assuming he was making $10,000 per year starting in 1945 with a 5% raise every year for 45 years (if he retired at age 67), and a 8% return every year that's only $195,000.

I'm sure one of his recent operations alone covered that.

 

[ShawnD1]

Are you aware you just described the French system? A public system that covers the basics well, with optional private insurance on top of that, and small payments (20-50 euros to see a doctor) to prevent abuse/overuse.

I sure wish Canada had those. Right now it's 100% free to see a doctor, and the result is that people will go there just to waste time and be retarded. One of my coworkers (who is fairly young) sees a doctor twice a year just for a check up. What a waste of money. Also, my childhood neighbors wasted so much government money it was unbelievable. Any time one of the kids had a cold, they would see a doctor. If that shit was $20 a pop, they would think twice.

ALERT! ALERT!: GOVERNMENT WILL NOT PAY 100% OF EVERYONE'S HEALTH COST

When the world of Shadowrun happens, does this mean I'll need to pay for my own cyberware?

 

[child of wonder]

When the world of Shadowrun happens, does this mean I'll need to pay for my own cyberware?

Props for the Shadowrun reference.