Medicare - Now What?

[Kotsy1]

anniemac, I have sent you a pm.

I have skipped reading alot of the bull****

to those of you that have taken this thread beyond belief;

shame on you. Yes, it is a discussion, but for goodness sake,
have a bit of compassion or empathy at the least.

This family is in dire straights and is looking for some
POSITVE results. For any of you that can offer...post away

If I'm out of line, then I apologize in advance. I deal with this stuff
daily.

 

[greasemonkey]

When you consider the GDP of the US vs Australia, it's incredible to think that the US Government can't provide some kind of medical cover for every citizen (whether it be free public care or subsidised private care like Silc suggested - either is a good option IMO)

The govt can't "provide" anything. All they can do is regulate and confiscate. So, if they were to try and give "free health care" as you put it, that means that they would have to confiscate citizens personal property. STEAL it forcefully and then redistribute it as they saw fit. Why would any human being be for that unless they were the beneficiary of this confiscation? What about those who have their property confiscated? It certainly is NOT FREE and having the govt control it takes away reasons for innovation, drives the best and brightest from being doctors to other professions and leads to many typical beuracratic problems.
Nifty, your fellow citizens are paying for it. Its not free. The govt didn't wave a magic wand and have free hospitals appear. I know you know that as you have mentioned on earlier posts. I am reasserting it as it seems you have abandoned that principle.

A system where there isn't equal opportunity for every citizen just isn't right IMO. ( as I said not necessarily free)

There is equal OPPORTUNITY in America.

Let me ask you, for example, do you think it would be fair for you to have to pay $25,000 per annum towards health care? Well in your "free health care" concept some people do. While others don't pay at all. How is that "free" or "fair" or "equal".?

If you want fair and equal then you wouldnt happily take from another citizen, which is what social programs is.

Perhaps at the grocery store they should make those that make more pay $30 per loaf of bread and graduate it downward until it is free to many others. Would that also be fair?

P.S. I thought 'blacks' was a derogatory/racist term these days? Aren't we supposed to say "African Americans"?

No it is not. Not at all. What if they are not of African or African American heritage? Would you call someone from Jamaica an african american? How about someone from new guinea? South America? What about a black person living in the UK? No. The only thing offensive is when people try to use race to divide or call someone else racist. It is divisive and not necessary.

It is also not offensive to call Whites "whites" or hispanic people "hispanic" or asians "asian".

Fact No. 1: Americans have better survival rates than Europeans for common cancers. Breast cancer mortality is 52 percent higher in Germany than in the United States, and 88 percent higher in the United Kingdom. Prostate cancer mortality is 604 percent higher in the U.K. and 457 percent higher in Norway. The mortality rate for colorectal cancer among British men and women is about 40 percent higher.

Fact No. 2: Americans have lower cancer mortality rates than Canadians. Breast cancer mortality is 9 percent higher, prostate cancer is 184 percent higher and colon cancer mortality among men is about 10 percent higher than in the United States.

Fact No. 3: Americans have better access to treatment for chronic diseases than patients in other developed countries. Some 56 percent of Americans who could benefit are taking statins, which reduce cholesterol and protect against heart disease. By comparison, of those patients who could benefit from these drugs, only 36 percent of the Dutch, 29 percent of the Swiss, 26 percent of Germans, 23 percent of Britons and 17 percent of Italians receive them.

Fact No. 4: Americans have better access to preventive cancer screening than Canadians. Take the proportion of the appropriate-age population groups who have received recommended tests for breast, cervical, prostate and colon cancer:

* Nine of 10 middle-aged American women (89 percent) have had a mammogram, compared to less than three-fourths of Canadians (72 percent).
* Nearly all American women (96 percent) have had a pap smear, compared to less than 90 percent of Canadians.
* More than half of American men (54 percent) have had a PSA test, compared to less than 1 in 6 Canadians (16 percent).
* Nearly one-third of Americans (30 percent) have had a colonoscopy, compared with less than 1 in 20 Canadians (5 percent).

Fact No. 5: Lower income Americans are in better health than comparable Canadians. Twice as many American seniors with below-median incomes self-report “excellent” health compared to Canadian seniors (11.7 percent versus 5.8 percent). Conversely, white Canadian young adults with below-median incomes are 20 percent more likely than lower income Americans to describe their health as “fair or poor.”

Fact No. 6: Americans spend less time waiting for care than patients in Canada and the U.K. Canadian and British patients wait about twice as long - sometimes more than a year - to see a specialist, to have elective surgery like hip replacements or to get radiation treatment for cancer. All told, 827,429 people are waiting for some type of procedure in Canada. In England, nearly 1.8 million people are waiting for a hospital admission or outpatient treatment.

Fact No. 7: People in countries with more government control of health care are highly dissatisfied and believe reform is needed. More than 70 percent of German, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and British adults say their health system needs either “fundamental change” or “complete rebuilding.”

Fact No. 8: Americans are more satisfied with the care they receive than Canadians. When asked about their own health care instead of the “health care system,” more than half of Americans (51.3 percent) are very satisfied with their health care services, compared to only 41.5 percent of Canadians; a lower proportion of Americans are dissatisfied (6.8 percent) than Canadians (8.5 percent).

Fact No. 9: Americans have much better access to important new technologies like medical imaging than patients in Canada or the U.K. Maligned as a waste by economists and policymakers naïve to actual medical practice, an overwhelming majority of leading American physicians identified computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the most important medical innovations for improving patient care during the previous decade. The United States has 34 CT scanners per million Americans, compared to 12 in Canada and eight in Britain. The United States has nearly 27 MRI machines per million compared to about 6 per million in Canada and Britain.

Fact No. 10: Americans are responsible for the vast majority of all health care innovations. The top five U.S. hospitals conduct more clinical trials than all the hospitals in any other single developed country. Since the mid-1970s, the Nobel Prize in medicine or physiology has gone to American residents more often than recipients from all other countries combined. In only five of the past 34 years did a scientist living in America not win or share in the prize. Most important recent medical innovations were developed in the United States.

 

[lots0]

Annie I know your pain and I truly do understand.
My 28 year old son is 100% disabled and will be disabled the rest of his life, after a car wreck that killed my Daughter and two very close friends.

I am so very fed up with hearing that we have the best medical system in the world, when I know for a fact we don't.

@Greasemonkey
Semper-Fi Bro.

Platoon 3058, San Diego, Class of 1969 (Ya I'm a Hollywood Marine, complete with the shades...)

My war was a little more humid than yours, but other than that as far as I can tell... War is War.

LOL... Now I know why your spouting off all this Fascist crap. You only been out of the suck for a short time. The hardline Marine crap will start to fade as you put some more years of life under your belt.

(Tell you a secret... I even voted for Ronald Reagan. Now I cringe at the thought. LOL, Live and learn.)

 

[Nifty29]

GM

I know we don't see eye to eye on this topic so there's no point trying to convince each other etc, so I'll just ask a couple of questions based on what you just posted.

1. Assuming you received 'free' healthcare whilst in the forces - it wasn't really free was it? Someone else paid for it I.e. the US taxpayers. As mentioned earlier you also received a subsidized education. Will you be repaying the full cost of all these government benefits given that you now believe that the state should not be providing healthcare and education. Yes you were risking your life in the military, but that was your choice. By your reckoning you should have to ' pay your way' like everyone else. After all you were paid for your marine service weren't you?

2. You say that governments should not forcefully extract more from wealthier people to redistribute as they see fit. So you support a flat income tax that is the same for everyone. I.e. $5000 per year regardless of income. If you earn 10k a year then that is just tough luck. If you earn 500k then it's great because you can keep all the money.
Your argument against forced redistribution can't just be applied to healthcare.

I am aware that healthcare in my country is not 'free' but it most certainly is FAIR. Someone who earns 100k pa is not going to miss $1500 just like someone earning $25k isn't going to miss $375. The % system of the medicare levy here is fair and there is never public argument or demonstration against it because it works and the vast majority of Australians are happy to chip in a little more if they earn more to support those less fortunate than themselves.

We are a compassionate society here and I'm proud of that.

As I mentioned earlier I can't believe someone who went through hardship like you did is so harsh when it comes to others who face the same hardships. It's great you pulled yourself up and made it, but not everyone can or does but it shouldn't mean that they deserve lesser healthcare.

The land of freedom and liberty? Absolutely! ...but only if you can afford it.

 

[ksech]

I wasn't going to post to this thread, but after reading some of the "arguments" felt I needed to chime in...
For those who can afford the high premiums for health care (mine currently stands at $525/month/single person), a percentage of your premium goes to pay for those who don't have any insurance (medicaid). I don't disagree with the medicaid program totally, just for the fact that I may be paying for an individual who is too lazy to work EVER.

Why should I be penalized for someone who goes out and has child after child, collects welfare benefits while working the MINIMUM hrs necessary to collect these benefits, and then can collect big bucks at tax time for child credits?

I started working at age 11 babysitting. Did that until I turned 16 and was legally able to get a part-time job. Graduated from high school and worked full-time while going to college full-time and tending to my family. Have NEVER collected any government benefits since the government has deemed I make too much money a month.

I just "enjoyed" (NOT!) a 4 day stay at the hospital. Had EKG, CAT scan, echocardiogram, MRI, 5 doctors, medication, bloodwork, physical therapy. I suffered a stroke on friday. Thank goodness I have insurance, I'm sure the bills would otherwise bankrupt me.

In anniemacs case, I can't believe a person who has worked all their life without collecting anything government issued and who has contributed through taxes and what-nots is being pushed to the curb (so to speak) and is being given substandard health treatment. I would gladly GIVE to a person such as this than to see my money given to some person who has never worked a day in their life and thinks it is their GIVEN right that I should have to PAY so they don't have to.

Just my two cents, so blast away (I won't contribute anymore to this topic)...

 

[lots0]

The govt can't "provide" anything.

I believe the Government 'provided' some guys several trips to the Moon.

The Government also 'provided' us the Thermonuclear Bomb.

Our Government has 'provided' us the ability to support Dictators all over the world and 'provided' us the ability to Raze Nations.

Our Government has 'provided' us the largest prison population in the world.

Your argument is flawed.
The government "provides" much for many.

 

[footdr]

Perfect Example of Why we don't need ObamaCare

response to anniemac's posts.

The inefficiency of the SSA, Medicare and Medicaid programs is illustrated by what happened to your significant other.

Now the with Obama Care, the IRS and HHS will be getting further involved in private health care with their mandates, taxes and penalties and now creating the "premiums assistance" entitlement that I am certain will be another bunch of "red tape" and it will probably take them forever to process assistance requests(further delaying patients treatment).

Regarding it being hard to find a physician to treat him, if you think it is hard now, just wait. There is going to be a mass exodus from medicare and medicaid as ObamaCare has put more costly regulations on Physicians and already Doctors who enrolled in the Electronic Health Record system are complaining.

It is pretty hard to for a physician to "gouge" medicare unless they bill for services they didn't perform. So check the "explanation of benefits" medicare sent showing what treatments were billed and paid for. If he didn't get those services, contact the medicare fraud department. Also, the expanation of benefits will state the amount you are responsible for paying. I guarantee the amount medicare approved for payment will be less than what the doctor charged as medicare pays horrible for physician services and that is why many have already stopped taking Medicare.

I have worked at the VA Hospital, Private Hospitals, consulted at Nursing Homes, managed private practices. I know what I am talking about. I have 30 plus years of experience.

Congress should have just passed the Patient Protection Act portion of the Bill, established high risk pools within each Medicare Region and asked for bids from Insurance Companies contracting with those that had the best coverage for the best premium. Those unable to attain insurance due to pre-existing conditions and no group policy to be covered by would purchase insurance from one of the Insurance Companies offering insurance to the High Risk pool.

Here is what I predict,

1.The total cost of this fiasco when all provisions are finally in effect will be double what CBO has estimated as too much is unknown and the regulations haven't even been written for much of it. Also, it was never deficit neutral if you read ALL of the CBO reports.

2. Most current policies won't meet HHS's requirements, yet to be released.
so employers and individuals will be forced to obtain a new policy and the premium is guarateed to be higher due to them have to include free preventative care. "FREE", I think not!

3. Doctors are already seeing as many patients as they can and many have extended their hours and/or moved to 6 day work weeks. WHY? to make up from the loss income that began approx. 15 years ago with the onset of managed care, decapitated care, hmos and lower reimbursements for their services.

4. The Individual Mandate was proported to be necessary to reduce our premiums as it would alleviate the high number of Emergency Room Visits. Thats a joke. Anything we might save in premiums will be used to subsidize the same individuals insurance premiums and to pay higher premiums to cover the additional policy provisions HHS will mandate.

5. Medicare insureds will see their premiums increase. Thats a fact.

Remember, most physicians don't receive a paycheck. They own their own business, just like Lawyers, Accounts and other providers of services.
They are free to charge what they believe their services are worth and enough to make a profit after expenses(which are about 50% of their gross if in private practice(solo).

You should ask upfront about the fees as they can show you their "fee schedule". If you think they charge too much, find another Doctor.

 

[BBKPoker]

I will say one thing. You keep repeating infant mortality rate . You do know that the reason for this is not because of lack of healthcare right? But because so many teens and young mothers do not go for prenatal care by CHOICE?? How do I know this? I was one of those "teens" that chose no prenatal care with my first child.
.

Lol at that. There are far more teen and young mothers who cannot afford prenatal care, its not their choice, they'd get it if it was affordable, but its not.

 

[BBKPoker]

Reading these responses, its completely absurd how in denial some people are. It seems like no amount of evidence will convince you, so I guess I'm done trying to convince stubborn, dogmatic partisans who have a 0% chance of changing their mind about essentially anything.

 

[lots0]

I wasn't going to post to this thread, but after reading some of the "arguments" felt I needed to chime in...
For those who can afford the high premiums for health care (mine currently stands at $525/month/single person), a percentage of your premium goes to pay for those who don't have any insurance (Medicaid).

That is not true.
Your private medical insurance paymnet does NOT subsidize Medicare/Medicade.
I have no idea where you got such mis-information. (OH wait a minute, I just heard that this was a big Fox propaganda push to get people to think that their PRIVATE Insurance was subsadizing Medicade... It is not. Just more lies from Fox.)

The funds for Medicare/Medicade come from taxes/fees that we all pay.

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If you want to blame someone for your excessively high medical insurance costs... You should place the blame where it belongs, the Insurance Companies...

Because all Insurance companies care about is profit.
Remember those death panels that the con's were scaring everyone with last election cycle... Well they exist, only they are run by the insurance companies and not the government. The insurance companies decide if you get the treatments you need to live when you go to the hospital... not the government or the Doctors.

 

[ksech]

That is not true.
Your private medical insurance paymnet does NOT subsidize Medicare/Medicade.
I have no idea where you got such mis-information.

I'll see if I can find the letter I received from Blue Cross/Blue Shield Excellus (back in September of 2010 I believe was the date on the form letter) which states a percentage of my premium will now go to NY State medicaid.

It may take me a few days to find it as I have to wait for my son to lift the boxes I have everything stored in. I'm on light lifting until further notice by the doctor...

 

[lots0]

If that is truly the case, it must be an agreement between your state, your insurance company and employer. But it is not the norm to use private medical insurance preimums to subsidize a welfare program like Medicade.

Medicaid is a program that is not solely funded at the federal level. States provide up to half of the funding for the Medicaid program. In some states, counties also contribute funds.

source:

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[anniemac]

@Ksech, Believe it. Tim applied for disability in 2002, finally granted a hearing in 2004 and was immediately approved. From 2002 until present it has been one ongoing battle after another.

From Dec. 2010 until Jan. 2011, he contacted 3 different Dr. after his Dr. of 7 yrs. decided he didn't want to see him anymore. Finally found an Internist in the the same town his back Dr. is in that would see him. Town is 50 miles from my house one way.

@ftDr. You are correct. It is going to get worse. People that do not have insurance, or as is happening here now, the right insurance will find that their healthcare will be greatly affected.

I sent a letter to Medicare after one visit to a pain management clinic explaining that Tim didn't get the services and you know what I reply I got? None. They paid him and never batted an eye. So much for letting the fox in with the chickens.

So Tim and I muddle along. So far so good. We budget to pay for the co-pays for the Drs. he has to see. Kinda use to it now. LOL!

 

[lots0]

double post

 

[lots0]

Wow Annie, all I can say is 'keep your chin up'.
Like I said I know your pain.

I tried turning in one of my son's Clinics for charging and not providing services... What a joke. Nothing happened and the clinic is still charging for services not provided..


@ksech
You were correct. I was wrong.

I guess Blue Cross has started to help fund Medicade.
Link Removed ( Old/Invalid)

BCBSA believes that adequate Medicaid and SCHIP funding is necessary to: (1) support outreach and enrollment efforts (2) minimize cost-shifting; and (3) continue the participation of private health plans in Medicaid and SCHIP.

source:Link Removed ( Old/Invalid)


If I may suggest, If you don't like the fact that your private medical insurance is voluntarily helping the poor... Get another Insurance company, one that does not use your money/premiums to help fund a government welfare program.

 

[footdr]

@Ksech, Believe it. Tim applied for disability in 2002, finally granted a hearing in 2004 and was immediately approved. From 2002 until present it has been one ongoing battle after another.

From Dec. 2010 until Jan. 2011, he contacted 3 different Dr. after his Dr. of 7 yrs. decided he didn't want to see him anymore. Finally found an Internist in the the same town his back Dr. is in that would see him. Town is 50 miles from my house one way.

@ftDr. You are correct. It is going to get worse. People that do not have insurance, or as is happening here now, the right insurance will find that their healthcare will be greatly affected.

I sent a letter to Medicare after one visit to a pain management clinic explaining that Tim didn't get the services and you know what I reply I got? None. They paid him and never batted an eye. So much for letting the fox in with the chickens.

So Tim and I muddle along. So far so good. We budget to pay for the co-pays for the Drs. he has to see. Kinda use to it now. LOL!

Anniemac, my husband is a Podiatric Surgeon and is Certified by the State of Texas to do Disability exams (foot and ankle problems only) for rating purposes. It is unreal that he had to wait so long for a ruling.

As far as medicare not following up on the overpayment, I am not surprised they did nothing. Medicare is impossible to deal with as they are so mismanaged. Private Insurers do a much better job of processing claims and disputes. Because its their loss of revenue if they overpay and if they dont have good customer service they would lose insureds and groups.

This is one case of them not following through on "stopping waste and abuse", does anyone really believe they are going to pay for this new massive program partially from "billions of dollars by stopping waste and abuse"?

Working in Medical Administration at the V.A. Hospital was so frustrating because there were too many chiefs and not enough Indians and it took an act of God to fire incompetent workers, it took two employees to do what should have been one persons job partly due to the number of vacation and sick days employees recieve and partly due to the disorganization of the entire system. It was a zoo, anything but efficient.

The federal government needs to clean up their own shop before they start taking on the private sector.

I don't trust them to efficiently implement and manage this Law. They passed it without any written guidelines or regulations. Much of the decision making is going to be left up to non-elected individuals. Meaning they have the power over the public and those we elected to represent us will be taking a back-seat.

I have files and files of research, CBO reports, etc. saved in my computer. Why I don't know because I believe all my emails to Congress and phone calls fall on deaf ears. Basically, I give up.

People will understand why so many in the Health Care field oppose this when their premiums rise twice as fast as they would have, their employers cancel group coverage forcing them into the "phantom exchanges" which at present we have no idea if those premiums will be lower then what is currently available. According to CBO we will be lucky to see a 3% reduction in premiums and medicare payroll tax increases and the hidden taxes included in the Bill will eat that savings up.

Guess I am on another one of my rants. Just want someone to hear what I have to say and get it off my chest.

LOTSO

 

[lots0]

LOTSO

???
Are you yelling at me?

I do agree with you about the gov cleaning up their act.

But sooner or later we are going to have to trust the government to fix this. Because the Private sector insurance companies are not looking out for the people they are susposed to take care of and they always put money before people.

For all you folks that think Government can't fix problems... you forget... We are the Government.

If you still think the Government can't do anything... take a close look at the Chinese. Their government controls everything, and they are kicking our asses in business and will soon replace us as the most powerfull country in the world.

Government does work, when we make it work.

 

[Cabrair32]

???
Are you yelling at me?

I do agree with you about the gov cleaning up their act.

But sooner or later we are going to have to trust the government to fix this. Because the Private sector insurance companies are not looking out for the people they are susposed to take care of and they always put money before people.

For all you folks that think Government can't fix problems... you forget... We are the Government.

If you still think the Government can't do anything... take a close look at the Chinese. Their government controls everything, and they are kicking our asses in business and will soon replace us as the most powerfull country in the world.

Government does work, when we make it work.

Your communist thoughts are very scary.

communism and socialsim are unsustainable. Ask Greece.

People have risked their lives to escape it. Given their lives to fight against it. You? You want to throw all the sacrifice to avoid such Government control away and freely give up and succumb to it. Even embrace it. How sad that you don't appreciate what you have and what you are thinking would be good to throw away.

LOL@ Government works!!! It never has and never will. Look at it realistically. Have you ever worked in a Government office or job? It is wasteful to the Nth degree. People are not motivated to work hard for no personal gain. There is no drive to work extra hard to have your hard work shared equally. It has never worked and never will.

That is all. Rant done.

 

[lots0]

Your communist thoughts are very scary.

communism and socialsim are unsustainable. Ask Greece.

Thanks I needed a good laugh...

No I'd rather ask China... As they are currently kicking the crap out of us at our own game. A much better example, don't you think?
The Chinese Government works... Why can't ours? Are the Chinese so much smarter than we are?

Their government controls everything, even what they see on TV and the internet to how many kids they can have... yet they are rubbing our noses in the FACT we OWE them Trillions and we keep borrowing more and more from them every single day.... The Chinese economy is growing at an amazing rate, while our economy is at best floundering... Ya being a commie is so really bad... so bad the Commies already OWN us... Wake up.

Just for the record - I killed more Commies, in the service of this great country, than I care to think about.

 

[Nifty29]

As a light hearted aside ... if anyone here enjoys a good belly laugh then you have to see the best political satire of all time.

The show is called "Yes Minister" and I'm sure u can get a look on YouTube.

It's based on the UK Government but it applies to every democratic gov and it's very clever.

Recommended viewing.

Now, snowballs ready.,,,and....FIRE! !

 

[footdr]

sorry about that lotso

Don't know how the "LOTSO" ended up at the the bottom and in caps. I have trouble typing on this laptop (keys are too flat and not backlighted) plus I was getting really tired.

???
Are you yelling at me?

I do agree with you about the gov cleaning up their act.

But sooner or later we are going to have to trust the government to fix this. Because the Private sector insurance companies are not looking out for the people they are susposed to take care of and they always put money before people.

For all you folks that think Government can't fix problems... you forget... We are the Government.

If you still think the Government can't do anything... take a close look at the Chinese. Their government controls everything, and they are kicking our asses in business and will soon replace us as the most powerfull country in the world.

Government does work, when we make it work.

 

[anniemac]

footdr,

Actually 2 years is about the norm unless the SSA expects you to die in a short amount of time, then they get on the stick.

Tim filed in Sept., 2002 and in April, 2004, he went before the Admin. Law Judge. Was in the hearing about 15 minutes and was granted disability.

I will never forget sitting in one of the many Dr. offices and striking up a conversation with a lady waiting also. Her husband had something neurological wrong which was not terminal at the time but he was bedridden. Anyway, their insurance had maxed and they had been waiting over a year and were nowhere near a hearing date.

The common thought among people waiting is that SSA is waiting for you to either die or get better, whichever comes first. LOL!

 

[jod5413]

footdr,

Actually 2 years is about the norm unless the SSA expects you to die in a short amount of time, then they get on the stick.

Tim filed in Sept., 2002 and in April, 2004, he went before the Admin. Law Judge. Was in the hearing about 15 minutes and was granted disability.

I will never forget sitting in one of the many Dr. offices and striking up a conversation with a lady waiting also. Her husband had something neurological wrong which was not terminal at the time but he was bedridden. Anyway, their insurance had maxed and they had been waiting over a year and were nowhere near a hearing date.

The common thought among people waiting is that SSA is waiting for you to either die or get better, whichever comes first. LOL!

Unfortunately, the last statement above is not all that funny. Depending on what state you live in, the waiting time to be approved for SSD is two to three years. And if you protest, that alone can take another one to three years. Definitely NOT a good system. I am not sure what SSA is, but I would assume it is not managed any more efficiently than SSD.

Our government mis-manages the existing programs and based on that I can safely assume that if they take over health care they will not do any better job than they do for any other domestic program.

 

[lots0]

In my state, SSD eligibility is determined by a State Board, not a Fed/SSA Board.

So in other words, if you are able to light a fire under a local state legislator or some other well positioned state official, you maybe able to speed up your hearing date.

My son was approved for SSD in less than six months.
My entire family started a letter writing/phone campaign to our local Representatives and it worked to speed things up.

I agree, the whole Social Security system is totally mismanaged and needs to fixed.
We NEED to make our elected officials and especially those god damned Bureaucrats accountable, we need to hold their feet to the fire until they fix it.
(Oops... More of my Communist thoughts slipping through... LOL)

 

[anniemac]

Jod,

I didn't mean my last statement to be funny, I was being truthful. Matter of fact, the lawyer we had to hire to take care of all the paperwork told us as much.

Just got a phone call from Tim's Dr. this a.m. reminding him that we will owe them $112.00 tomorrow above what medicare pays. Now this is just his regular MD that takes care of regular stuff. I know that Drs have to make a living, I'm not begrudging them anything. Just let's be reasonable, please.

 

[LinkinFart]

???

For all you folks that think Government can't fix problems... you forget... We are the Government.

If you still think the Government can't do anything... take a close look at the Chinese. Their government controls everything, and they are kicking our asses in business and will soon replace us as the most powerfull country in the world.

Government does work, when we make it work.

I agree completely. Only thing that needs to be fixed is the government, which orientation government is doesnt matter, if gov. is corrupt and not here for the people then what good are the elections and so called democracy by US standards.

Just ask Britts and Canadians how "socialist" is bad when it comes to health care. Yes, there are people abusing this system but overall effect is that I really dont have to worry how much will I need to pay the doctors when I need them, now or in the future. Whatever health problem I might have that could potentialy cost a lot of money I know I will be taken care of.

And those scare stories about long waiting lists and such are just another form of payed propaganda by health insurance companies. I never heard of anyone dying because it had to wait to get to the top of the list in any half decent country. In my country there are lists too, but they are here just to bring some order in chaos, not to serve as the law. If someone needs medical attention immediately, trust me that person will get if not the same than only better medical care than any US health care provider would offer, whether its an organ transplant or urgent transfer to different hospital or even different country if its in the best interest for the patient and this is not because we cant perform some surgery but if doctors council, i dont know correct term in english, determines that there is some surgeon in nearby country, Italia or Austria, that will perform that particular surgery better, not every case is the same and some surgeries demand even specialized specialists and that is the reason for transport in different country. How much will that person be billed, nothing.

There are extreme cases when some new drug or new surgery method is not on the list of services available and then you have to jump few hoops to get it free, but nothing extensive, simple request to Ministry of health, takes a week or two for them to make decision if its not urgent, and they can decide whether this treatment is really needed or not for the patient. If they determine its needed, than you get it free wherever this treatment is available whether it is in Croatia or some other country like Germany or even US, doesnt matter really. If not there are situations where they will pay only part of the cost, etc. This is for individual cases but eventually it will get on the list of offered services. Most recent case I heard of was that person got part of surgery costs covered by public health insurance for surgery that could be performed in Croatia but in Germany they had far more experience with cases like the one in question and it could be debated whether they are really better or not so it was practically a choice by this person to do this surgery in different country, yet that person had his costs covered by public insurance up to the amount that surgery would cost in Croatia.

I really cant understand how can someone say that privatized health insurance is better. Just because someone is telling you this will lead to communism it doesnt make it to be true. I mean, wtf.

Get real already. I`ve compared average spending in my country and in US by person on yearly bases for health, everything included. it turned out that we actually pay less, get more for our money and without fear that some hospital or doctor would tell me FO just because I`m with different provider.. Anytime, anywhere in the country, although there is a enormous amount of lobbying from several health insurance companies to completely privatize our health insurance system.

What good is the so called privatized health to someone who is healthy and under 30 years old. At that age and condition nobody cares and will probably say what the current propaganda is presenting.

I`ll bet that if we are to find biggest supporters of privatized health inssurance from 30 or so years ago that were from middle or lower class and didnt become billionaires in between, that most of them would rather have public health inssurance now when they are in their mid 50`s, 60`s or 70`s and they need medical care the most.

Yes, you will be paying for someone else too, but who will pay for you when you are sick or injured and cannot earn money to afford your treatment. As I understand all those health insurance policies of yours have a limit on how much you can spend, here there is no limit on anything. It may look enough to have, I dont know, $500,000 limit. I`ll ask you that question when you need hip replacement, god forbid, or some new and expensive drug for prolonged period of time. Get your s..t together already and throw those health insurance companies out of the country and GET HEALTHY.

Its a righ not a privilege and its not free either just BETTER.

 

[lots0]

Get real already. I`ve compared average spending in my country and in US by person on yearly bases for health, everything included. it turned out that we actually pay less, get more for our money and without fear that some hospital or doctor would tell me FO just because I`m with different provider.. Anytime, anywhere in the country, although there is a enormous amount of lobbying from several health insurance companies to completely privatize our health insurance system.

You only have to ask yourself two questions...
Where does the Private Insurance companies BILLIONS in PROFIT come from?
How much money does the PRIVATE Insurance pay out to it's Stock Holders?

In the PRIVATE Insurance world all that money comes directly out the services YOU receive... So for the same money we get less health care because the Insurance companies have to get their 45% markup...

But here in America, the insurance companies own the political system. They have purchased the best government that money can buy.
Along with the political propaganda that the Insurance Companies have spent 100's of millions on... think Fox news.
Americans will most likley NEVER see a better health care system than the one we have right now.

 

[BBKPoker]

Just poking in to post yet another non-partisan group that recently ranked the US last among the 7 industrialized countries they surveyed, all of which were countries we named as comparisons to the US:

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We rank last in most metrics btw, and our best ranking is 4th of 7 while still having 2-3x the expense of every other country surveyed.

Still think the US has the best healthcare? LOL!

 

[lots0]

Just poking in to post yet another non-partisan group that recently ranked the US last among the 7 industrialized countries they surveyed, all of which were countries we named as comparisons to the US:

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We rank last in most metrics btw, and our best ranking is 4th of 7 while still having 2-3x the expense of every other country surveyed.

Still think the US has the best healthcare? LOL!

The problem here is that our elected officials (that are owned by the Insurance Companies) Like to lie to us... all the time.

I just heard that moron and Governor of Mississippi Haily Barber(republican) go on and on about how the US has the BEST Medical System in the World...
No wonder our Country is in such a mess... when the people that run things can't tell the truth and no one holds them acountable for it.

My own State, that is totally controlled by the Republicans, just gutted Medicaid (the program that provides medical care insurance to the very very poor children and disabled) The poor in my state will now die without care... That is a fact.

These same ass hole Republican politicians that gutted medical care for poor kids and the disabled gave our states BILLIONAIRE residents a huge tax break...

They cut programs to provide wheel chairs, in home care and restricted the type and AMOUNT of Medical care the poor and disabled can receive. They took a system that didn't work very well and instead of fixing it, they destroyed it... All so their greedy BILLIONAIRE owners don't have to pay a few thousand more in taxes.

Way to go Republicans... I understand that in several states controlled by the Republicans they are doing away with the Child Labor Laws.

In my state the republicans just destroyed the public school system here by taking more than 65% of the funding away and we didn't have enough money in the first place to educate all our kids.

The Republicans believe that 8 year old kids should be working in the Coal mines or Oil Fields instead of going to school... After all LEARNING leads to LIBERALISIM... and there is nothing the repugs hate more than those Wonderful Educated LIBERALS.

 

[LinkinFart]

if it will be any comfort lots0 lying politicians are everywhere not just in USA.

Also, its hard for me to grasp the idea of cutting down education budger by 65% and that it went through whatever governing body was responsible for it. Jesus, you guys are in bigger shithole than I thought, excuse the language but cant help it. Cutting down education is just another way of enslaving people. In Europe most of the old monarchies were replaced with some other form of government only after people were given access to education, regardless how basic education it was compared to present standards. Those that were not replaced have been reformed into something else.

Sick. Sick. Sick. You must do something relatively quick and get back on track, because in generation or two when those poor people that cant afford schools start to think of revolution they will blame rich people and even maybe upper middle class people. In any outcome it will not be pleasant experience, to anyone. I`m talking about full revolution here not just some localized riots. Sick and said to see any country today fall to this level, sorry nothing personal. Who knows, maybe Us government will start executing intelectuals like Pol Pot did in Cambodia.

 

[lots0]

if it will be any comfort lots0 lying politicians are everywhere not just in USA.

Also, its hard for me to grasp the idea of cutting down education budger by 65% and that it went through whatever governing body was responsible for it. Jesus, you guys are in bigger shithole than I thought, excuse the language but cant help it. Cutting down education is just another way of enslaving people. In Europe most of the old monarchies were replaced with some other form of government only after people were given access to education, regardless how basic education it was compared to present standards. Those that were not replaced have been reformed into something else.

Sick. Sick. Sick. You must do something relatively quick and get back on track, because in generation or two when those poor people that cant afford schools start to think of revolution they will blame rich people and even maybe upper middle class people. In any outcome it will not be pleasant experience, to anyone. I`m talking about full revolution here not just some localized riots. Sick and said to see any country today fall to this level, sorry nothing personal. Who knows, maybe Us government will start executing intellectuals like Pol Pot did in Cambodia.

I know the politicos are all full of it, no matter where they are. But here in the US these guys are organized and lie with a purpose, to mislead the public.

Cutting down education is just another way of enslaving people.

Oh I know it, it is a crime that most Americans were never taught that lesson in school.
but here... Learning leads to Liberalism.

And the neo-cons hate Liberals more than they hate ingrown toe nails.
They are willing to tear it all down, just so the "Liberals" don't win anything.

That hate factory Fox has been attacking what the talking heads on FOX like to call Arrogant Intellectual Liberals from day one on the air, they have started something that is not going to end well.

Your analogy of Pol Pot is very very... unsettling.

 

[lots0]

Sick. Sick. Sick. You must do something relatively quick and get back on track, because in generation or two when those poor people that cant afford schools start to think of revolution they will blame rich people and even maybe upper middle class people. In any outcome it will not be pleasant experience, to anyone. I`m talking about full revolution here not just some localized riots.

I don't believe it will come to that. We in America have just about Perfected Propaganda.

Perdy soon the politicos and talking heads will have the majority believing that we are the number one country in the world... For say medical care... Oh thats right they already did that...

Or they might get everyone believing that the US is a "True Democracy" and not a Capitalist State... Oh thats right they already did that too.


Before too long the politicos and talking heads will have everyone thinking they are eating "high on the Hog" when they are eating

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... just wait and see.

 

[LinkinFart]

I agree learning does not necessarily leads to liberalism. I`m trying to learn something new every day and I dont think I could be called liberal. Maybe at some things but generally speaking no.

I mentioned Pol Pot as sarcasm, not likely to happen in any scenario.

Revolution on the other hand will be most likely outcome, maybe not in 2 generations but will be inevitable if this oplicy continues. History has a tendency to repeat itself without a fail when it comes to oppression. Sooner or later, oppressed becomes oppressor in one short burst of anger. No propaganda can handle that. Once oppression begins to represent a threat to oppressee`s survival, survival instinct kicks in and uneducated people usually dont see any other way of handling that kind of situation, or to be more precise maybe there wont be any other methods available, and what you have is full scale revolution. You could compare recent and ongoing revolutions in Africa and Middle East to this but I believe that just because of the size of USA and its military might it will be compareable more to Russian or French revolution. Tigher the oppressors grip on the power is, bloodier the revolution is.