Seriously backwards thinking....

[gwynne]

THIS is the problem with the "Affordable" Care Act. It's not. Forcing people to buy coverage that is useless is worse than having NO coverage. You are already broke from paying the premiums so there's nothing left for the deductible etc...If you didn't have that high premium, maybe you could work out a payment plan or something,but you can't do both. Mt sister-in-law in NC had this same problem. It stinks. The ACA did nothing to fix the problem we have with medical costs in this country, it just put a band-aid on an amputation. It needs ACTUAL fixing. Can the new administration come up with a plan? I sure hope so. Some of what I heard the other night on CNN sounded like it might help so I hope those proposals get included in whatever plan they come up with, but for sure something needs to be done.

It will be interesting to see what they come up with...when they finally do. 2018? 2019? They aren't in any rush.
Most of what I've heard is that they are considering offering more "affordable" plans with far less benefits. Sorta what there used to be when people thought they were covered, but only had here's a bandaid type plans.

 

[mom2rtk]

We have a high deductible that we always meet. Therefore, we try to schedule expensive tests and procedures at the beginning of the year. We know we will pay OOP at least $6000 before insurance kicks in and we only pay 10%.

That sounds like sound planning.

But if someone doesn't have the money for the deductible, they don't have it. Some are spending much more than that just to meet the requirement of being insured.

 

[Lillychilly]

I think lots of people are in her position. Broke from premiums, high deductibles. It is sad.

 

[gwynne]

It is not useless. Imagine getting hit with a major injury or illness and your responsible for only $20,000 instead of $1M or $2M. That's the real point of insurance. To protect you from major financial responsibility in case of something catastrophic. It's not there to pay for every little thing.

If she truly can't afford it then when one of her children has an abnormal test that needs further investigation, she wouldn't have that done either right?

Oh my. I hope that wasn't pointed out to her. I think being kind and supportive to her is better than being overly confrontation, but that's just my opinion.

 

[mom2rtk]

It is not useless. Imagine getting hit with a major injury or illness and your responsible for only $20,000 instead of $1M or $2M. That's the real point of insurance. To protect you from major financial responsibility in case of something catastrophic. It's not there to pay for every little thing.

If she truly can't afford it then when one of her children has an abnormal test that needs further investigation, she wouldn't have that done either right?

She was probably hoping not to face that sort of awful decision.

Berating her over it would not suddenly make the money appear.

 

[Mizzoufan]

I feel for your friend. She must be so scared.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I don't know here. I'm not going to say where I heard the story because politics is banned.

Huh? So this is something you read somewhere and don't have any actual personal knowledge of the situation?

It is not useless. Imagine getting hit with a major injury or illness and your responsible for only $20,000 instead of $1M or $2M. That's the real point of insurance. To protect you from major financial responsibility in case of something catastrophic. It's not there to pay for every little thing.

If she truly can't afford it then when one of her children has an abnormal test that needs further investigation, she wouldn't have that done either right?

Bolding is mine. You're going way too far to bring her kids into it like that. Have some compassion.

 

[loves to dive]

I have made that kind of decision for myself and rolled the dice and not had the test. I would imagine if it were one of her kids, she would probably pay for the tests but if a mom has to decide whether to feed/put clothes on and a roof over her kids head or get a test for herself, kids are going to win every time. Heck my current insurance pays for a basic mamo but not a 3D, which my doctor recommends because I have issues. It will pay for an ultrasound though. So I opt for the regular mamo since I know I'll just have to have an ultrasound any way. I've had biopsy's and it has been recommended I have surgery, I've opted out because of the cost and because after research it didn't seem necessary. I don't judge anyone else for having to make those kind of choices.

 

[Lillychilly]

As for planning.... great if you can do that. I was in the hospital in Dec and now my deductible reset. So I couldn't get treatment completed last year, doctor was booked, I will have to pay deductible two times. I will try to get it all done this year.

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

Huh? So this is something you read somewhere and don't have any actual personal knowledge of the situation?



Bolding is mine. You're going way too far to bring her kids into it like that. Have some compassion.

Sounds like OP has no real knowledge of the situation and is playing internet judge from a high horse.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

THIS is the problem with the "Affordable" Care Act. It's not. Forcing people to buy coverage that is useless is worse than having NO coverage. You are already broke from paying the premiums so there's nothing left for the deductible etc...If you didn't have that high premium, maybe you could work out a payment plan or something,but you can't do both. Mt sister-in-law in NC had this same problem. It stinks. The ACA did nothing to fix the problem we have with medical costs in this country, it just put a band-aid on an amputation. It needs ACTUAL fixing. Can the new administration come up with a plan? I sure hope so. Some of what I heard the other night on CNN sounded like it might help so I hope those proposals get included in whatever plan they come up with, but for sure something needs to be done.

Our healthcare system has needed an overhaul for many years. The question is, "what is the solution?" Simply going back to millions having no insurance isnt, unless you (a general you) only care about yourself & are good with others having no quality of life at all or worse dying without the medical care they need. Unfortunately, it appears we have way too many people in this country who only care about themself. That's a sad statement for a supposedly civilized society.

 

[Gracie09]

I would suggest so go to planned parenthood where they will provide cancer screenings at a low cost or free.

 

[sam_gordon]

Oh good, another "cost of health care" thread. Look, I understand it's a conversation that needs to be had, but do we need to do so in multiple threads? Why not contain it all in one?

 

[DizBelle]

Huh? So this is something you read somewhere and don't have any actual personal knowledge of the situation?



Bolding is mine. You're going way too far to bring her kids into it like that. Have some compassion.

I have no personal knowledge but that doesn't make it any less valid as a discussion topic.

 

[DizBelle]

I have made that kind of decision for myself and rolled the dice and not had the test. I would imagine if it were one of her kids, she would probably pay for the tests but if a mom has to decide whether to feed/put clothes on and a roof over her kids head or get a test for herself, kids are going to win every time. Heck my current insurance pays for a basic mamo but not a 3D, which my doctor recommends because I have issues. It will pay for an ultrasound though. So I opt for the regular mamo since I know I'll just have to have an ultrasound any way. I've had biopsy's and it has been recommended I have surgery, I've opted out because of the cost and because after research it didn't seem necessary. I don't judge anyone else for having to make those kind of choices.

Re: bolded - if she doesn't have the tests and then whatever potential treatment is needed, the other option is to leave her kids without their mother. Why would any mother choose that? We're not talking about her skipping a cheeseburger so her kids can have one. We're talking about saving her life so her kids can have their mother.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Here's a crazy idea. They can look at the healthcare of Canada, Spain, Germany, Norway, Denmark, UK etc, etc healthcare and copy one plan. Any one.

Without getting political, these aren't without their own problems. My stepfather is from a county with universal healthcare and one of the downsides of it is often waiting months for referrals or tests.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I have no personal knowledge but that doesn't make it any less valid as a discussion topic.

You can't have a discussion when you don't know the whole story. Besides you're not having a discussion about anything meaningful. You're just bashing some woman from a high horse. You are totally lacking basic compassion. It's not a good look.

 

[DizBelle]

Sounds like OP has no real knowledge of the situation and is playing internet judge from a high horse.

Nice. Don't you think this is an important topic that warrants discussion? This is a discussion board after all. If you don't want to participate, you can just bypass the thread.

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

I have no personal knowledge but that doesn't make it any less valid as a discussion topic.

How and why is anyone discussing a situation that we know nothing about. It doesn't sound like a very intelligent discussion, does it?

 

[tarheelmjfan]

It will be interesting to see what they come up with...when they finally do. 2018? 2019? They aren't in any rush.
Most of what I've heard is that they are considering offering more "affordable" plans with far less benefits. Sorta what there used to be when people thought they were covered, but only had here's a bandaid type plans.

Well, that's a good solution.