Discussion Our healthcare mess thanks to Obamacare

[Brainonska511]

Have you been smoking pot?

Healthcare companies are making too much money because I am being forced to pay almost everything out of pocket. Prior to Obamacare they would set limits on costs to see a doctor ($50 or less), medicine if it was on the formulary ($50 or less). Now you pay 100% of the first $3,000.

Fuck that.

1) You can always get the lower deductible plan. Nothing stopping you from doing that. You can also use a tax-advantaged HSA to make up the deductible shortfall with your HDHP. A savy investor such as yourself should easily be able to crunch the numbers and choose the best options at your annual enrollment.
2) Insurance companies still control costs by putting limits on costs for doctors visits and the formularies. You see this in who you can see "in-network" and which drugs are covered. You also see this in your explanation of benefits when you see a doctor (ie, the negotiated rates and not allowed charges).
3) Some charges are covered pre-deductible - 100% of preventative care services; potential cost-sharing for maintenance medications (such as inhalers).


Now for a little story with #4) Before the ACA, individual health plans that were worth anything in terms of coverage were incredibly expensive. I had a self-employed uncle who put off his own routine care, since he only had a catastrophic policy that only covered hospitalization. Turns out, the symptoms he was experiencing were the result of stage IV colon cancer. He had been looking forward to getting real insurance under the soon to be open marketplaces. Instead, he died before that could become a reality. For some icing on the cake, his catastrophic plan literally covered only the hospitalization. There were doctors bills (who were affiliated with that hospital) to pay directly out of his estate. What a fucking crock of shit system that was, so take your poetic waxing about the past and shove it where you could only see it with a colonoscopy.

 

[NWRMidnight]

Have you been smoking pot?

Healthcare companies are making too much money because I am being forced to pay almost everything out of pocket. Prior to Obamacare they would set limits on costs to see a doctor ($50 or less), medicine if it was on the formulary ($50 or less). Now you pay 100% of the first $3,000.

Fuck that.

It appears you are the one puffing the magic dragon.

I see you still haven't educated yourself about Obama Care, as you are spewing bullshit and lies. Obama care is what put caps on out of pocket costs for medical care (doctor visits and such), there was no caps or limits prior, not in what it cost to see a doctor, or what prescriptions cost. You really need to stop believing the bullshit your handlers are telling you.

What you are not realizing, either thru ignorance, or choice, is the difference between prior to Obama Care, and After Obama Care is the medical plan you had/have. It appears you had a better plan prior, and the plan you have chosen, or your employer has chosen now is crap. That does the fault of Obama Care.

 

[nakedfrog]

I am fair minded and and want low cost healthcare for all. But those greedy insurance companies need to pay their fair share. Instead that heartless Obama gave us all screwball coverage so 1 or 2% would benefit (those who have claims in the hundredes of thousand or millions a year in health coverage) and he could pat himself on the back.

Hopefully you get it now.

You are a liar and a fool.

 

[nakedfrog]

It appears you are the one puffing the magic dragon.

I see you still haven't educated yourself about Obama Care, as you are spewing bullshit and lies. Obama care is what put caps on out of pocket costs for medical care (doctor visits and such), there was no caps or limits prior, not in what it cost to see a doctor, or what prescriptions cost. You really need to stop believing the bullshit your handlers are telling you.

What you are not realizing, either thru ignorance, or choice, is the difference between prior to Obama Care, and After Obama Care is the medical plan you had/have. It appears you had a better plan prior, and the plan you have chosen, or your employer has chosen now is crap. That does the fault of Obama Care.

He actually has a good plan, if he only has a $3k deductible on his HDHP.

 

[NWRMidnight]

He actually has a good plan, if he only has a $3k deductible on his HDHP.

A low deductible is no indication of a plan being good or bad, as the deductible is only an indication of the minimum starting point of out of pocket costs. If his plan was good, he wouldn't be here bitching about the costs of his medical care.

 

[nakedfrog]

A low deductible is no indication of a plan being good or bad, as the deductible is only an indication of the minimum starting point of out of pocket costs. If his plan was good, he wouldn't be here bitching about the costs of his medical care.

Derp, I was thinking max out of pocket.

 

[Stokely]

My family is about to lose most of our doctors (all who are part of Orlando Health, which iirc is most) because OH is fighting with the big insurance company United Health Care. They'll be dropping support for it in a week. I don't know who is going to win this battle, but I know who is going to lose. My employer has UHC. It's not as if we'll lose health care but it pisses me the hell off. We've been going to the same docs for many years.

So a couple billion/trillion dollar companies have a spat over who gets more of their mitts in the profit jar. I got a letter from one blaming the other. I'm sure if I looked in the mail I might have a similar letter from the other one. Get f-ed, both of you.

Our entire system is f-ed. It's the most bloated, layered health care system in the "civilized" world (and that's being kind to modern America). No system is perfect, but ours is not going the right direction. Just look at the charges that get listed if you need an ambulance ride...it reminds me of the Pentagon paying 500 bucks for hammers. Just bloat and budgets so huge that it's more about how to spend it to make sure you get more next year than it is how to help patients.

 

[FelixDeCat]

My family is about to lose most of our doctors (all who are part of Orlando Health, which iirc is most) because OH is fighting with the big insurance company United Health Care. They'll be dropping support for it in a week. I don't know who is going to win this battle, but I know who is going to lose. My employer has UHC. It's not as if we'll lose health care but it pisses me the hell off. We've been going to the same docs for many years.

So a couple billion/trillion dollar companies have a spat over who gets more of their mitts in the profit jar. I got a letter from one blaming the other. I'm sure if I looked in the mail I might have a similar letter from the other one. Get f-ed, both of you.

Our entire system is f-ed. It's the most bloated, layered health care system in the "civilized" world (and that's being kind to modern America). No system is perfect, but ours is not going the right direction. Just look at the charges that get listed if you need an ambulance ride...it reminds me of the Pentagon paying 500 bucks for hammers. Just bloat and budgets so huge that it's more about how to spend it to make sure you get more next year than it is how to help patients.

And here are the insurance companies making mega profits off Obamacare:



Where is our "affordable" healthcare? Where?!

 

[IronWing]

And here are the insurance companies making mega profits off Obamacare:

View attachment 83658

Where is our "affordable" healthcare? Where?!

Oh, fuck off with your crocodile tears. Your voting perpetrates the mess and you know it. You put your money above your health.

 

[MrSquished]

Fuck this guy and Squirrel. They are both irredeemable shitheads. Not to mention some well-known others.

 

[Fenixgoon]

And here are the insurance companies making mega profits off Obamacare:

View attachment 83658

Where is our "affordable" healthcare? Where?!

So you would be in favor of government price controls? Perhaps a single system where the government negotiated the cost of the services, and everyone paid into it, and was also covered by it.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

And here are the insurance companies making mega profits off Obamacare:

View attachment 83658

Where is our "affordable" healthcare? Where?!

Wait so insurance would be cheaper without Gov involvement or would it be cheaper with more Gov price controls?
Come on man here’s your chance to describe the super duper awesome Republican health plan that they’ve been keeping secret for nearly 15 years.
Come on man you can do it.

 

[NWRMidnight]

And here are the insurance companies making mega profits off Obamacare:

View attachment 83658

Where is our "affordable" healthcare? Where?!

Are you willfully this fucking stupid? Insurance companies making Mega profits has NOTHING to do with Obama Care, other than it was used as an excuse to fuck over people, and getting away with it, because most of the American people are as stupid as you are. They have been fucking the American people for decades, and when Obama care came along, they lead people like you, who can't think past their own noses, into believing that Obama Care was to blame for it all, example is telling people that they no longer can offer specific plans, etc, when in fact it had zero to do with Obama Care. It was pure greed and pure falsehoods by the Insurance Companies, with the help of some in Congress and one particular party, pushing such lies. Once again you have your shown us that you have your head so far up your ass, that it's impossible for you to pull it out far enough, for you to learn some basic facts.

 

[Stokely]

If Obamacare is the devil, one wonders why a completely-Republican-controlled government didn't replace it with something better.

Oh, they tried to replace it, but "better" isn't how I'd describe it. John McCain and other Republicans (not coincidentally, once he didn't have to worry about reelection) felt the same.

The Democrats could do absolutely nothing to stop any new GOP plan for several years. So what we have now is the result of their actions or inactions. They own it, the end. It shouldn't be called Obamacare, it should be called Trumpcare (or Bidencare if his government had the power to push something through. We all know an opposition Congress will not support anything from an opposing President, you need control of House, Senate and Executive to do anything major.)

Instead they passed tax "reform" that made the rich richer, and according to Paul Ryan saved a woman the cost of her Netflix bill each month (but let's not talk about the national debt that paid for this rich citizen's raise).

 

[FelixDeCat]

Wait so insurance would be cheaper without Gov involvement or would it be cheaper with more Gov price controls?
Come on man here’s your chance to describe the super duper awesome Republican health plan that they’ve been keeping secret for nearly 15 years.
Come on man you can do it.

After much hand wringing I proposed a single payer system OPTION with a 3% income surtax with 1k deductible.

No takers. 😞

 

[Fenixgoon]

After much hand wringing I proposed a single payer system OPTION with a 3% income surtax with 1k deductible.

No takers. 😞

Because you don't understand how income taxes work, and who does (or doesn't) pay them.

I doubt many people here outside of forum conservatives are opposed to single payer itself.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

After much hand wringing I proposed a single payer system OPTION with a 3% income surtax with 1k deductible.

No takers. 😞

fuck yeah I’d take that I need these questions answered
I assume blanket coverage for everything
Lifetime caps?
Any Weird loopholes that get people out of paying for your treatments?
What’s to prevent me from opting out the. Opting in the second I need something? Does everyone just pay an extra tax to cover that scenario?

Get the Shitheads on your side of the isle to agree to this plan.

 

[NWRMidnight]

After much hand wringing I proposed a single payer system OPTION with a 3% income surtax with 1k deductible.

No takers. 😞

You are not very good with math are you?

For anyone to take you seriously, you first have to put up a realistic proposal using realistic numbers. Let me explain, as of 2020 11.6% of MEDIAN INCOME of the American people goes towards Medical Premiums and Deductibles, which does not take into account the portion of those premiums employers cover. It's a reasonable conclusion that that percentage is higher today in 2023, as medical premiums have increased faster than incomes. So, for us to take your proposal seriously, you have to give us the details on how your solution is workable, giving us the same level, if not better care and services at 1/3 the cost to the American people. Where is the difference going to come from?

Single payer system would very beneficial to the American people, and reduce costs, but you are living in a magical, make believe world, if you think it's possible to reduce that burden to only 30% of what it costs people today. OR at the very least give us viable ways of reducing costs to make that happen. Until then, your proposal shows you have no connection to reality, and is lacking a foundation of making it a realistic reality.

Or, are you proposing 3% surtax above what people pay now? Please, don't let it be this, as that would make you look much, much more foolish than you already do.

 

[VashHT]

I know some people like FDC irl, before ACA they complained about insurance companies all the time. Every year when the rates went up they complained about greedy insurance was and such, but immediately after ACA suddenly everything was obamacares fault.

The lack of critical thinking is astounding, like these same people who already knew insurance companies were greedy shitheads suddenly seemed to forget that once ACA was passed.

 

[Stokely]

Oh they didn't forget it. It's just seeing a chance to hang something on the other team. I have learned to ignore such people. If fault can truly be laid at the feet of someone or something, fine, let's be honest about it. Iraq invasion for example, I hold each and every Democrat who didn't stand against it to be almost at as much fault as the bastards who pushed for it.

Problem for the simple-minded is that few issues are so simple to have a simple, or single party, fault. Who is responsible for the 2008 housing crisis? That takes longer than a pithy sentence to discuss. Try to get into context or nuance or go back to see how things started and 90% of the electorate gets glazed eyes. They want "axis of evil", "good guy with white had, bad guy with black" and though the world doesn't work that way, they simply twist things around until it fits that childish mentality.

 

[nOOky]

Yes. I've really hated having the pre-existing conditions clause, keeping kids under their parents coverage while in college until age 26, or the long list of standard services now routinely covered under my plan such as colonoscopies or preventative care. Insurance has been going up long before the ACA for some time. But keep whining about it, don't seek to improve your position in life.

 

[IronWing]

But keep whining about it, don't seek to improve your position in life.

Felix would have to get a job or otherwise become a productive citizen. It's antithetical to his nature.

 

[Dulanic]

I think fuck you. Is it my fault that my medication costs 80k a year? Nope! But I should be screwed because of some arbitrary cap?

The problem imo is big pharma and their insane prices.

 

[MtnMan]

 

[hal2kilo]

And here are the insurance companies making mega profits off Obamacare:

View attachment 83658

Where is our "affordable" healthcare? Where?!

Destroyed, during negotiations that would only let the plan pass using insurance companies instead of single payer, by, by, Republicans.