2 hours in the emergency room cost me......

[Feralpeg]

My health insurance will stay with me in retirement and once I am 62 (when medicare kicks in) it then converts to a supplimental.

Congratulations! You are one of the lucky. That is not the norm.

 

[sandy2330]

cteddiesgirl
Boy do you have excuses. Nobody can drive you. Are there any cabs in your area? Does your dad have a car? Why not drive him to work and then go to the dental school? Planned parenthood gives ob/gyn for free or a nominal fee. Go there instead of not seeing any Dr. They will refer you to a specialist if needed. I know somebody who works there and does this all the time.

Can you really walk to everything from your home? If not, then how do you get to these places?

I also know a great deal about ovarian cysts and borderline tumors. The pill is a must to reduce the chances by 50% of the other ovary getting a cyst and tumor. These are free on a small income from planned parenthood.

Why would you leave a good job with the state to move to a place where a man lives and then never marry? I would have waited until we were married and I was on his insurance before I gave up mine, expecially after the surgery and medicial history you have. So YES you made some choices that have resulted in your lack of insurance. You need to face that point and stop blaming society for your lack of insurance.

 

[sandy2330]

Congratulations! You are one of the lucky. That is not the norm.

I am paying a price now to have that option. Our insurance is expensive and we are paying $$ for it. This is our choice and we will reap the benefits of that choice.

 

[Feralpeg]

I am paying a price now to have that option. Our insurance is expensive and we are paying $$ for it. This is our choice and we will reap the benefits of that choice.

You are lucky that you have that option. My point was that many employers do not offer that option or their insurance companies do not offer that option. I would have taken that path in a heartbeat, but it was not available to me.

 

[sandy2330]

You are lucky that you have that option. My point was that many employers do not offer that option or their insurance companies do not offer that option. I would have taken that path in a heartbeat, but it was not available to me.

I understood you point and I know that you would have done the same thing too.

 

[golfgal]

Then the choice is to PLAN AHEAD. Get a private plan to cover this eventuality. If you have continuous insurance they CAN NOT excluded preexisting conditions--that is a non-issue if you PLAN AHEAD. It is still a CHOICE no matter how you look at it. Yes, it might be expensive and you might have to cut out your Disney trip but crips, BE RESPONSIBLE. Sorry, sometimes being an adult means you have to make hard choices. Yes, everyone would love to go on a nice vacation each year but if it means youcan't carry health insurance then you don't go on the vacation.

QUOTE]

As far as I can tell in searching for information, depending on idividual state rules, private plans CAN be denied to patients with pre-existing conditions, even if you have otherwise had continuous coverage to that point. As far as I can tell, HIPAA ensures that you can't be denied for group employer plans, not personal plans.

Respectfully, I just resent the implication that because people might not want to lose their homes to medical costs that they may be making irresponsible life choices. We have friends in the situations I have described in my previous posts, and it is sad to see them so concerned about future medical care. If they lose insurance, they could, in about 4 years without that insurance, lose their years of retirement savings and maybe their home due to the high costs of the required medical treatments ($180K per year). These are people who have always paid their bills, raised their children to be productive adults, saved for retirement, and vacationed only if all else was paid. Their yearly income certainly doesn't equal what would be the yearly medical bills. There is just no way they can plan ahead for this.

I would much rather pay higher taxes to ensure all citizens had medical insurance. Maybe we find a way to allow the coverage to be with the private insurance companies but allow the government to collect taxes to pay those premiums. I admit I am not an expert but there just has to be a way to make universal coverage a tolerable reality. It just feels like the right thing to do.

Federal Health insurance portability laws cover this--they CAN'T exclude prexisting conditions as long as you maintain continuous coverage, private or group insurance.

Everybody knew I was going to show up here eventually, I hope you are all impressed that I managed to stay out of it this long!

No system is perfect. Certainly there are challenges with the Canadian and British UHC programs, but to quote an old beer slogan (Alexander Keith's, if anybody is interested): "Those who like it, like it alot!" Just as some of you in the US have fantastic insurance that is affordable and meets your family's needs, please acknowledge that this is may not be the case for some of your countrymen. Many American citizens either have inadequate insurance or no insurance at all. PLEASE also respect that most Canadians and residents of the UK, France, etc are very satisfied that we have access to some of the best medical care in the world, and are delighted that in a time of medical need or crisis we do not have the additional worry of how we are going to pay for it.

When we refer to "free" medical care, we mean that we don't have to reach in our pocket everytime we see a doctor or go to the hospital. I don't have to budget for an illness or to have a child. We understand that our insurance is not free. (Just like I am sure everyone ultimately understands "Free Dining" and "Free Transportation" when you stay onsite at WDW aren't really free. You pay for it with your resort fees just like we pay for our health care with taxes) We understand better than anyone that we are taxed at a higher rate to pay for the standard of medical care that we receive. And we are OKAY with that. Truly, we are.

I pay more in taxes now than I did 20 yrs ago, yet my medical needs are about the same as they were then. If I left my job tomorrow and never paid another dime in income tax, I would still have exactly the same medical care as I have today. Do you have any idea how reassuring that is? To never have to worry about how to pay to have a sick child treated. For those of us who love our UHC system, we cannot imagine any other way of life. We gladly pay our tax dollars to buy that peace of mind. It's okay with us if our tax dollars buy peace of mind for the unemployed and elderly as well. It is as completely foreign (pun intended) to us to have health insurance tied to an employer. For us, it seems ludicrous that one has anything to do with the other.

In terms of Canadian and American citizens, really the only thing we share is a continent. We are fundamentally ideologically and philosophically different. It is just the way we are wired. We don't understand why you don't embrace UHC, and you can't understand how we can put up with our tax dollars paying for other citizens to get something for nothing. We pay higher taxes, but for the most part we are satisfied that we are getting value for our dollar.

Somebody (sarcastically) commented on Canada being Utopia...well, not exactly but most Canadians would agree we've got it pretty darn good in this country and most of us believe we live in the greatest country in the world.

In your defininition of "free" health care then I guess that is what I have. My out of pocket expense this year for health care-$20. We are a family of 5--I have spent more on our DOG'S vet bills then our kids .

I'm aware of that. Unfortunately, I can't get to the school. No vehicle and no one available to take me in the middle of the day.

You know, I'm just really tired of you pretty much saying that everyone that is poor are just plain lazy and utter morons.
While some lucky people get out of whatever situation they were born into, most don't.
I guess you need to show me the way, Oh Wise One. I must have made the wrong choice to have an ovarian cyst. I must have made the wrong choice in wanting to be physically allergic to cheap products. I must have made the wrong choice in bodies. I must have made the wrong choice to either be employed or unemployed. I must have made the wrong choice in every single aspect of my life.
Give me a better choice.
Oh. And please, please, show me where I can live for only $150 per month and have my rent and utilities paid for. Or please show me where to get a job that will pay for all my expensive necessities. Like shoes, clothes, soap, shampoo, laundry detergent, allergy medicine, etc.
Oh wait. I guess I have to make the choice to live on the streets and go naked, dirty, smelly and hungry.

While I did make some dumb choices such as getting into debt when I was younger, I learned from those mistakes. Unfortunately, after that debt was almost completely paid off, I had to accrue another one because of my medical problems. Even though I had insurance.



One bad bit of luck like bad genes that cause cancer can land you in the streets with nothing to your name even with insurance.



Exactly! My mother was sick for 20 years with an extremely rare blood disease. Do you think she could carry the exact same policy for all that time? One she was diagnosed for something, it was excluded in the policy the next time the company (worked for the same co for 30 years) changed policies. Even within the same insurance company. It increasingly got more expensive for her to even carry insurance that wouldn't cover most of her health problems. And because my parents made too much money, she couldn't qualify for any assistance. Thousands upon thousands upon more thousands of dollars were paid out of my parents pockets. But I guess according to some, that was their choice for her to get sick. Or her choice to not die right away after getting sick.






But many people simply can't get insurance. If they can barely afford a low level policy, even a small problem can put them in the poor house.

this is what some are not understanding. Some people have no choice to not have insurance. My choice is to either get a really poor one and go without food, clothes, shoes, allergy medicine and being clean or have all those necessary things and not have insurance. Which would be your choice? No one has answered that for me. I can't find another job. Not even a second one. Not one that I can actually get to. The only places around me that I can get a second job at is food places. And some food smells actually make me throw up. Literally. It's not something I can control. I just smell the food and I throw up. That would make for a pleasant dining experience.

.

You have every excuse in the book for not having insurance and not having the money to pay for insurance. Everyone has problems and things they need to deal with and the just do that. You claim you can't get a second job, no one to drive you--where are you that you can't get anywhere without being dependent on someone else to drive you everywhere? I will say it again and again, you DO have choices no matter what you think. You are choosing to stay where you are because you can't see a way out and then when someone does give you a suggestion you have an excuse why you can't do that.

I have never said that you are an utter moron or anything close to that but simply pointing out options (since CHOICE seems to be a bad word). As for your mom's company excluding her pre-existing conditions, that is illegal and if that was truly the case then she needs to report her company for violations of federal las.

I do feel the need to say that some may be in for a rude awakening in a few years when you decide to retire. Some will be lucky and have an employer who will continue coverage after retirement. Many will not.

I worked for a large company (over 10,000 employees) for 30 years. I had very good insurance coverage, but there was no provision for continuing health coverage after retirement. I went on Cobra for about 16 months and then had to find a private company. I did find insurance and have it now. I pay about $800 a month for my coverage. That is not the issue.

When I took out my policy, BC/BS went back through my medical history and put riders on my policy. They do not cover anything that was previously noted in my medical history. For instance, they will not cover anything having to do with acid reflux. I had breast cancer. They give me very limited coverage for anything having to do with the breast. I had to have the implant that was put in following my mastectomy removed last year when it ruptured. Of the entire cost of the surgery, the covered $400. My daughter is also insured by BC/BS. She has had IBS since she was a baby. They will not cover anything related to IBS. I once took her to a clinic because she had be vomiting far too long and needed something to stop it. BC/BS would not cover the doctor visit because it had to do with her gastrointestinal track even though it really wasn't IBS. They are very picky about their coverage.

I looked at many different insurance companies and this was true of the majority of them. Finding insurance that covers all your needs following retirement is difficult. I was a responsible person and always had insurance coverage. It is not about being lazy or irresponsible. There are some things that happen that are just out of a person's control. Believe me, I'd love to have a policy that would cover anything that could happen to me. I haven't been able to find one.

Peg--when did you do this? Was it before the Federal portability laws? You might need to check into this again. Also, there IS a time limit on what they can exclude so it isn't a permanent exclusion.

No, most companies don't cover retiree medical care but this is the 'plan ahead' part and budget enough into your retirement fund to cover a supplemental policy. I know YOU did that, I was referring to people in general. Also, keep in mind that you are somewhat unique in that you were pretty young when you retired. Most retirees qualify for medicare when they retire and then get a supplement to augment that.

 

[FayeW]

In your defininition of "free" health care then I guess that is what I have. My out of pocket expense this year for health care-$20. We are a family of 5--I have spent more on our DOG'S vet bills then our kids .
.

Yes, but if both my husband and I decided to not work another day in our lives, we'd still have our "free" healthcare. Can you say the same?

 

[golfgal]

Yes, but if both my husband and I decided to not work another day in our lives, we'd still have our "free" healthcare. Can you say the same?

Well, technically yes since he is part owner of his company and he can do what he wants when he retires. The US does have a medical system for retirees too but there are more out of pocket costs for that plan. Also, keep in mind, I pay a LOT less then you do for our plan.

 

[minnie56]

Well, technically yes since he is part owner of his company and he can do what he wants when he retires. The US does have a medical system for retirees too but there are more out of pocket costs for that plan. Also, keep in mind, I pay a LOT less then you do for our plan.

OMG here we go again. Talk about flogging a dead horse!
You do NOT know whereof you speak!

 

[golfgal]

OMG here we go again. Talk about flogging a dead horse!
You do NOT know whereof you speak!

Same goes for you-- . I am just basing my statements off the numbers YOU posted about how much your insurance costs you--nothing more so if I am wrong, I guess you are too.

 

[tomthebarncat]

Cteddiesgirl asked about 3 hots and a cot and health insurance, join the military and these will no longer be problems. You seem to have time to whine about your current situation but you have not written one thing that you have actually done to make your life better. Our prisons are littered with women who did things for a man, that is so lame and certainly no excuse for lack of judgement and poor decision making.

 

[minnie56]

Same goes for you-- . I am just basing my statements off the numbers YOU posted about how much your insurance costs you--nothing more so if I am wrong, I guess you are too.

Doesn't cost me a dime!
I am a 'Domestic Goddess'

 

[golfgal]

Doesn't cost me a dime!
I am a 'Domestic Goddess'

Whatever, mine doesn't cost me anything either since my DH's company has the health coverage and mine doesn't

 

[minnie56]

Whatever, mine doesn't cost me anything either since my DH's company has the health coverage and mine doesn't

Then you are one happy camper then!
Too bad the same cannot be said for all your fellow Americans as we can proudly say here. One even playing field for all!

 

[momto2girls]

Then you are one happy camper then!
Too bad the same cannot be said for all your fellow Americans as we can proudly say here. One even playing field for all!

Sigh... I very nicely stated before that I (and most others that post on these threads) am not dissing Canada's system at all. It works for you and that is great. However, I really don't see why you can't extend the same courtesy. Many Americans are pretty happy with our system. Sure, there is room for improvement and I hope that there are some changes made, but that does NOT mean that a UHC is what we want or need. Why is it so hard to understand that? I am having trouble understanding why you feel the need to push your system on us.

 

[minnie56]

Sigh... I very nicely stated before that I (and most others that post on these threads) am not dissing Canada's system at all. It works for you and that is great. However, I really don't see why you can't extend the same courtesy. Many Americans are pretty happy with our system. Sure, there is room for improvement and I hope that there are some changes made, but that does NOT mean that a UHC is what we want or need. Why is it so hard to understand that? I am having trouble understanding why you feel the need to push your system on us.

Honestly, truly..that is NOT what I am remotely trying to do at all. How can I??

I posted at the beginning of this thread that I could not imagine being faced with that kind, or any kind of bill for necessary medical treatment..the OP had my empathy. That's all...from there...these threads always seem to take a turn in the direction of Canadian Health Care..why? Most of us sleep tight at night knowing that though there may be hurdles and troubles in life, our medical care and whatever might lurk around a corner therein will not be one of them!

You all must support whatever system you deem to take care of your people and thus work effectively for all Americans. That's all.