Someday I fear health insurance will be a thing of the past.

[PatsMom]

One thing that is pretty ironic though Pat is that this year health insurance rose 9% thats 3x's the rate of inflation. inflation was at 3% and its also almost 4x's the rate of peoples salary's. that is not a sustainable cost for the average american family.

So it's going to be a moot point because as less and less people can afford medical insurance, more and more people are going to be on a public health system anyway. Medicare.
More and more seniors can no longer afford private health insurance so more and more seniors end up on a public health system anyway. Medicaid.
Remember seniors are also one of the growing parts of our population.

So by refusing to fix this problem, we end up with the very thing every one is afraid of, a public health system run by the feds because whether or not we want to believe it, these people are not going away and when it comes to the choice between feeding your kids and paying an outrageous health insurance premium most folks worry about the most pressing need and that's food or rent.

I find that highly ironic.

The feds are already running one of the most highly messed up health insurance systems in the world - its called medicare part A and B and it is the primary insurance for most of the elderly. Part A has no premium and covers hospitalization, etc. Part B has a premium, is automatically deducted from your social secureity check. I don't know the exact statistics but very few seniors will decline part B because if you are eligible, no private carrier will cover you even if you are working. My husband is 66 and our health insurance is through his pension plan. We pay an astronomical amount for three person coverage, but because his is subsidized, it is still lower than obtaining coverage through my employer. But his private insurance pays very little. Only the Medicare deductibles. If we could have declined the private insurance and kept me and my daughter covered, and his prescription drug coverage, we would have no Cigna coverage for him at all.

Medicare is just such a maze of rules and regulations. I dread thinking of all of our insurance becoming like that. There are some local providers that do not accept Medicare because of the low reimbursement rates. And when you are living remotely, that can mean a 75 to 100 mile drive to the appropriate specialist.

Medicaid on the other hand is also not the most efficient system around, but it is not as bad as medicare I don't think. Medicaid is administered by the states, not the federal government.

I don't know of a single private carrier that would provide primary coverage if you are eligible for Medicare. So I don't think it is a case of people opting out of private coverage and into Medicare. It is possible that more people will drop their medigap policies. But if you truly are impoverished, there are medication assistance programs, hospital write offs, etc that will write off any balance remaining after medicare makes their payment. That was our experience when my father was terminally ill. His only income was social security and he had no assets. Took some paperwork but we never paid out of pocket for any of his medical bills.

 

[justbishop]

One thing that is pretty ironic though Pat is that this year health insurance rose 9% thats 3x's the rate of inflation. inflation was at 3% and its also almost 4x's the rate of peoples salary's. that is not a sustainable cost for the average american family.

So it's going to be a moot point because as less and less people can afford medical insurance, more and more people are going to be on a public health system anyway. Medicare.
More and more seniors can no longer afford private health insurance so more and more seniors end up on a public health system anyway. Medicaid.
Remember seniors are also one of the growing parts of our population.

So by refusing to fix this problem, we end up with the very thing every one is afraid of, a public health system run by the feds because whether or not we want to believe it, these people are not going away and when it comes to the choice between feeding your kids and paying an outrageous health insurance premium most folks worry about the most pressing need and that's food or rent.

I find that highly ironic.

I'm still confused as to where that leaves middle class families like mine, once private insurance becomes too expensive (premiums and/or deductibles)? We are fortunate enough not to have an income low enough to qualify for Medicare, but if healthcare costs continue to rise while DH's salary remains stable, we will be priced out of insurance, yet still not qualify for gov't help.

I know my posts sound like a lot of "me me me", but I'm not meaning them that way. I just believe that my family is pretty representative of a good chunk of the US populous, financially speaking, and wonder what is going to happen when our chunk can't afford insurance, but don't have enough cash on hand to pay outright for medical care.

 

[eliza61]

The feds are already running one of the most highly messed up health insurance systems in the world - its called medicare part A and B and it is the primary insurance for most of the elderly. Part A has no premium and covers hospitalization, etc. Part B has a premium, is automatically deducted from your social secureity check. I don't know the exact statistics but very few seniors will decline part B because if you are eligible, no private carrier will cover you even if you are working. My husband is 66 and our health insurance is through his pension plan. We pay an astronomical amount for three person coverage, but because his is subsidized, it is still lower than obtaining coverage through my employer. But his private insurance pays very little. Only the Medicare deductibles. If we could have declined the private insurance and kept me and my daughter covered, and his prescription drug coverage, we would have no Cigna coverage for him at all.

Medicare is just such a maze of rules and regulations. I dread thinking of all of our insurance becoming like that. There are some local providers that do not accept Medicare because of the low reimbursement rates. And when you are living remotely, that can mean a 75 to 100 mile drive to the appropriate specialist.

Medicaid on the other hand is also not the most efficient system around, but it is not as bad as medicare I don't think. Medicaid is administered by the states, not the federal government.

I don't know of a single private carrier that would provide primary coverage if you are eligible for Medicare. So I don't think it is a case of people opting out of private coverage and into Medicare. It is possible that more people will drop their medigap policies. But if you truly are impoverished, there are medication assistance programs, hospital write offs, etc that will write off any balance remaining after medicare makes their payment. That was our experience when my father was terminally ill. His only income was social security and he had no assets. Took some paperwork but we never paid out of pocket for any of his medical bills.

I totally agree that medicare/medicaid have their big problem (primarily because we've ignored it) but it's also a pretty decent system. Why do you think seniors fight tooth and nail not to have any changes or cuts made to it. not only is it inefficient its also expensive.

I think what my main points that I always want to get across is that I don't want a full government take over but I also know from experience that some parts of a single paying system are very good. What we need is exactly what you and I are doing. we need serious, unhysterical dialogue without the high emotional "buzzwords". because the real issue is that the system as it stands now cannot last for another 10, 20, 30 years. One thing that is very sad is that Newt Gingrich sounded the alarm on this many, many years ago, before Hillary Clinton tried to address the system. Look how long we've kicked the can. remember everyone screaming "Hillary" care?

I'm still confused as to where that leaves middle class families like mine, once private insurance becomes too expensive (premiums and/or deductibles)? We are fortunate enough not to have an income low enough to qualify for Medicare, but if healthcare costs continue to rise while DH's salary remains stable, we will be priced out of insurance, yet still not qualify for gov't help.

I know my posts sound like a lot of "me me me", but I'm not meaning them that way. I just believe that my family is pretty representative of a good chunk of the US populous, financially speaking, and wonder what is going to happen when our chunk can't afford insurance, but don't have enough cash on hand to pay outright for medical care.

Not at all, you sound like a concerned mom, wife, person getting older and knowing that as you get older you may need more medical care.

and you're concerns are exactly what is happening. We see more and more "working" poor applying for assistance. People who's companies are ending benefits (my dh's company ended most benefits pension and medical in 2010, he's lucky because they "grandfathered" him in) or who's new jobs simply don't offer benefits. So now you've got no insurance and your kid breaks his collar bone playing football. what do you do? you go to the emergency room where care can wipe you out because 7 years ago when my son broke his collar bone (a very common football injury) the bill was darn near 8K and that was 7 years ago!!

Right now most "experts" believe that most american families are 1"serious" medical incident away from financial disaster and thats even with insurance. The Baby boomers (I'm at the tail end) are now a big portion of hte population. Ask someone you know who is dealing with a parent who has alzheimers, let them tell you about how quickly care for that condition can wipe some one out. Once again, these folks ain't going no where. so we either find a way to deal with this exploding cost or we suffocate from it.

 

[fakereadhed]

Objecting to other people's use of wording in a discussion because they have a view different than seems like an overreaction. That to me is more "hysterical" than use of certain words.

 

[angwill]

I'm still confused as to where that leaves middle class families like mine, once private insurance becomes too expensive (premiums and/or deductibles)? We are fortunate enough not to have an income low enough to qualify for Medicare, but if healthcare costs continue to rise while DH's salary remains stable, we will be priced out of insurance, yet still not qualify for gov't help.

I know my posts sound like a lot of "me me me", but I'm not meaning them that way. I just believe that my family is pretty representative of a good chunk of the US populous, financially speaking, and wonder what is going to happen when our chunk can't afford insurance, but don't have enough cash on hand to pay outright for medical care.

Basically where it leaves people like you is screwed, sad to say.

It seems most people see what they choose to in the situation depending on their situation. If people are stuggling to pay for health care and have to pay for private insurance, or have none in order to feed their family they want changes made and will fight for it. If they have great health coverage at a lower cost from their employer they want nothing done and will fight for that. If they are seniors and listening to the politicians trying to scare them about how their cost will skyrocket with changes to health care they don't want anything done. Guess what the elderly are the largest group of voters. Guess who they will vote for? Any politician who chooses to say they will fight for no changes to health care. In America sadly too many people only care about themselves and not people who are struggling.

Since someone took this personal. I am not saying that everyone has to fit into one of these categories. I am saying that from what I have seen and heard this is the way I choose to see it.

 

[twinboysmom]

I think the point was the assertion that implantable insulin pumps are available in Europe but not readily available in the US. As far as I am aware (and I am open to correction), implantable insulin pumps are used more for research purposes in the US. A different source for you (bolding mine):

"An implantable pump was created in the 1980′s but there were difficulties. The implantable pump was placed just under the skin and it was clearly visible. There was a projection from the surgery site much like having a hockey puck placed under the skin. The pump could be implanted in the abdomen or on the chest of the pump user. This pump was refilled with a large-gauge needle and the user carried a programming unit and held the unit over the pump to deliver instructions for refilling the pump. Patients could self-administer a bolus dose with a remote-control device. These pumps are still used on an experimental basis in the United States but are available overseas."

http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/info/?p=287

These pumps are used for patient use here as well, not just experimental purposes. I have taken care of quite a few patients with them and know one person on a personal level with one. They are used primarily in people with Type 1 diabetes. The more common diabetes in our country is type 2 and these generally do not work well for patients with that condition. Since this is not a diabetes education forum let me say that they are not for everyone and come with their share of potential complications. I have seen some do wonderful with them (like my friend) and others have a horrible time.

 

[angwill]

I think the point was the assertion that implantable insulin pumps are available in Europe but not readily available in the US. As far as I am aware (and I am open to correction), implantable insulin pumps are used more for research purposes in the US. A different source for you (bolding mine):

"An implantable pump was created in the 1980′s but there were difficulties. The implantable pump was placed just under the skin and it was clearly visible. There was a projection from the surgery site much like having a hockey puck placed under the skin. The pump could be implanted in the abdomen or on the chest of the pump user. This pump was refilled with a large-gauge needle and the user carried a programming unit and held the unit over the pump to deliver instructions for refilling the pump. Patients could self-administer a bolus dose with a remote-control device. These pumps are still used on an experimental basis in the United States but are available overseas."


http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/info/?p=287

I have come to the conclusion that Chris the CPA with his low post count is nothing but trolling and looking to stir the pot. I wouldn't give him the time or effort of responding. Remarks making it sound like people in the US do not know where Minnesota is is a but he/she does is a clear sign of someone trying to make trouble.

Bonnie, Thank you for the intelligent posting of that information.

 

[twinboysmom]

Basically where it leaves people like you is screwed, sad to say.

It seems most people see what they choose to in the situation depending on their situation. If people are stuggling to pay for health care and have to pay for private insurance, or have none in order to feed their family they want changes made and will fight for it. If they have great health coverage at a lower cost from their employer they want nothing done and will fight for that. If they are seniors and listening to the politicians trying to scare them about how their cost will skyrocket with changes to health care they don't want anything done. Guess what the elderly are the largest group of voters. Guess who they will vote for? Any politician who chooses to say they will fight for no changes to health care. In America sadly too many people only care about themselves and not people who are struggling.

I do have decent health coverage for a decent price per my husbands employer. That doesn't mean that I don't want something done and it doesn't mean that because I don't agree with a universal healthcare system or with the new changes that have been made that I care only about myself. It means that I think that something else should be done to fix the system. I do care about people who are struggling to pay for healthcare. I am a nurse and see this every time I work. I also have family members that are uninsured, some by choice. My DH carries our benefits and has chosen his job partially due to health coverage offered by that particular company.

Just a side note, for those that think our new healthcare reform won't have some negative changes towards Medicare patients you are mistaken. And many, many elderly are aware of that. The company DH works for will most likely be cut and it services only Medicare patients. Companies like the one DH works for will likely close their doors as they will struggle for funding and this will take away a significant portion of this type of specialized health care needs for this population. I also know many physicians who do not accept Medicaid and plan to drop Medicare patients if any changes to reimbursement are made. Not great for this group as well.

 

[twinboysmom]

I have come to the conclusion that Chris the CPA with his low post count is nothing but a troll looking to stir the pot and try to make himself or herself sound intelligent. I wouldn't give him the time or effort of responding. Remarks making it sound like people in the US do not know where Minnesota is is a but he/she does is a clear sign of someone trying to make trouble.

Bonnie, Thank you for the intelligent posting of that information.

Must not be too much of a troll since he has been on these boards since 2006 and has less than 20 posts. Correct me if I am wrong but he hasn't had too many posts trying to stir the pot. Perhaps your issue with this person is that his opinion disagrees with yours so therefore you feel the need to call him a derogatory name. There has been a lot of not so nice remarks made. I am probably guilty of some but let's try to keep things civil before this gets locked.

 

[DISNEYSIX]

No you look at the number of foreigners coming here. If you would actually take time to investigate you would see that there is NOT some big foreign influx for medical treatment.

I stated that many foreigners come here for their emergency treatments because we have the best care in the world. Obviously Canada's Premier of Newfoundland agrees with me (http://blog.heritage.org/2010/02/09/the-canadian-patients’-remedy-for-health-care-go-to-america/).

"Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams is seeking heart surgery in the United States, drawing criticism from 'local bloggers and people calling in to the province’s immensely popular open-line radio shows.' Yet his actions are hardly unusual for world leaders. Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz is known to have his checkups at the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi had heart surgery at the Cleveland Clinic in 2006 . Even middle-class Canadians are utilizing their proximity to the United States to seek treatment here."

Don't get me wrong, I want everyone to have access to affordable quality health care but that can only be achieved through deregulation (crossing of state lines) which the gov't won't allow because they want the private insurance carriers to bankrupt us so they can have an excuse to take them over. Look what deregulation did to the airline industry. It created a very competitive business model that now offers affordable prices with the same assurance. There is no reason this can't happen to the medical industry except for our government being in the way.

 

[eliza61]

Objecting to other people's use of wording in a discussion because they have a view different than seems like an overreaction. That to me is more "hysterical" than use of certain words.

not really. words have power. If you tell a senior that a certain procedure is going to "kill grandma" or start "rationing" senior healthcare, how likely is that person to want to discuss a solution.

If you make a derogatory sterotype, how willing do you think I would be to want to discuss any view you have.

When you tell breast cancer sufferes that if you switch to a certain program they are going to have to wait 12 months for care because thats what someones sister, cousin, girlfriends daughter in Canada had to do and thats what exactly is going to happen to us if we dare change, you're telling me that person is going to calmly join in a debate?

You know full well scare tactics work heck for the next 13 months we're going to be bombarded on tv with 30 sec soundbites that use suggestive "wording" as you call it to sway people and rarely do those 30 sec soundbites contained the entire truth. , I for one have plenty of people who hold different beliefs from me, Heck like I said most of my inlaws are still trying to figure out Americans. we just manage to debate without trying to scare each other to death.

 

[Tink-aholic]

One thing that is pretty ironic though Pat is that this year health insurance rose 9% thats 3x's the rate of inflation. inflation was at 3% and its also almost 4x's the rate of peoples salary's. that is not a sustainable cost for the average american family.

So it's going to be a moot point because as less and less people can afford medical insurance, more and more people are going to be on a public health system anyway. Medicare.
More and more seniors can no longer afford private health insurance so more and more seniors end up on a public health system anyway. Medicaid.
Remember seniors are also one of the growing parts of our population.

So by refusing to fix this problem, we end up with the very thing every one is afraid of, a public health system run by the feds because whether or not we want to believe it, these people are not going away and when it comes to the choice between feeding your kids and paying an outrageous health insurance premium most folks worry about the most pressing need and that's food or rent.

I find that highly ironic.

Okay...first of all, 9% isn't "nearly 4x" the rate of people's salaries; it is exactly 3x. Exaggerating doesn't bolster your point, particularly if your math is off.

Second, if we are only discussing those who are employed and haven't undergone significant downsizing due to the recession, then I do not agree with Eliza's contention that a 9% increase is not "sustainable" by the average American family. Insurance costs have been rising for these same amounts for years; many have been absorbed by the employers up until now. Eliza, how close to the edge do you think that the average middle class family is that an additional 6% causes them to "go on the public health system" (which is Medicaid, not Medicare)? Why is that the only choice?

Third, Medicaid is administered differently in each state. But each state has stringent (and usually very low) requirements for what is allowed for income for full medical coverage. Rarely can you just decide to go on Medicaid.

It is my personal belief that one of the main reasons that this country is in the mess that it is in is because too many people got used to spending every single cent they had available to them. Personal responsibility means making provisions for yourself and your family that do not require you to become a burden to the rest of us. So, if my healthcare premiums go up this year and my salary does not, I rework my budget to allow for the new costs. But since I live beneath my means and have considerable savings, it is not a big deal to me.

This was not meant for anyone who has suffered a job loss or was downsized -- I was simply referring to those who have not really felt much of an impact from the current economy in terms of their employment.

 

[ToddyLu]

Healthcare in this country is a huge problem...but what aggrevates me more is people who are young and healthy not having the iniative to work and make money to support themselves. Once again there is a since of entitlement that the US govt should take care of folks.

I am sick and tired or paying taxes out my pocket that I work very hard to make....just to pay for some lazy person who lives with Grandma and doesn't work...I think if you want benefits from the govt you should be asked to do something like volunteer, pick up trash, take seniors back and forth to their appointments. You should not be eligible for Medicare if you never paid into the system, if you are 25 and healthy ( not disABLED) you should have to work for Medicaid--doing something. What kills me are the few people I have taken care of that have a private insurance and Medicaid---so they are paying for their insurance and now I am too. Doesn't happen often but I have seen it twice this year in our clinic. Don't even get me started on the incarcerated folks we take care of that get better treatment that law abiding citizens. But once again when the county provides that person healthcare--it is still coming out of my pocket....I am sick of it

 

[eliza61]

Okay...first of all, 9% isn't "nearly 4x" the rate of people's salaries; it is exactly 3x. Exaggerating doesn't bolster your point, particularly if your math is off.

Second, if we are only discussing those who are employed and haven't undergone significant downsizing due to the recession, then I do not agree with Eliza's contention that a 9% increase is not "sustainable" by the average American family. Insurance costs have been rising for these same amounts for years; many have been absorbed by the employers up until now. Eliza, how close to the edge do you think that the average middle class family is that an additional 6% causes them to "go on the public health system" (which is Medicaid, not Medicare)? Why is that the only choice?

Third, Medicaid is administered differently in each state. But each state has stringent (and usually very low) requirements for what is allowed for income for full medical coverage. Rarely can you just decide to go on Medicaid.

It is my personal belief that one of the main reasons that this country is in the mess that it is in is because too many people got used to spending every single cent they had available to them. Personal responsibility means making provisions for yourself and your family that do not require you to become a burden to the rest of us. So, if my healthcare premiums go up this year and my salary does not, I rework my budget to allow for the new costs. But since I live beneath my means and have considerable savings, it is not a big deal to me. This was not meant for anyone who has suffered a job loss or was downsized -- I was simply referring to those who have not really felt much of an impact from the current economy in terms of their employment.

jeez louise, i typed incorrectly. I meant 9% was 3X's the rate of inflation and 4X the average % wage increase of workers last year (the average worker supposedly got a 2% raise last year. I know many people who did not get a wage increase at all for the last couple of years.)

sorry.


I glad you live below your means, but eventually if the cost keeps rising at that rate sooner or later you run out of things to cut.

and I still don't think because a guy makes a stupid choice with his money if his kid breaks his arm the cost should freakin wipe out his entire savings.

Lastly rarely does any thing happen in a vacuum. maybe you can absorb the rise in your insurance, now couple that with the rise in gas prices, the rise in food cost, the rise in clothing, the rise in medicine. All those other little "incidentals" that we need to live off of and you've got the perfect storm of disaster. oh and some how you're still supposed to be "responsible" and save for college tuition and your retirement.

Generally it goes like this, your insurance premiums rise 40 bucks a month and you say ok, no problem. Now your gas goes up 50 bucks a month, which of cost effects food cost so now the cost of your groceries are easy up 20-30 bucks a month. so you generally stop putting a little in your savings. Now your washer or dryers goes and opps there's a big bill and since I think some one here posted a while back that showed most Americans couldn't get their hands on $2000 bucks in an emergency, I have no problem envisioning a 9% increase in health care premium causing some one to trim their health care to the bare bones.


http://money.cnn.com/2011/08/10/pf/emergency_fund/index.htm

So basically if I'm reading this right, the middle class shouldn't be whining at all about rising prices because if they were "responsible" enough and plan better they could just continually absorb it all? talk about bad math, with stagnet (sp) wages, exactly how is that supposed to happen? Seriously, because I'm what the government classifies as one of the rich and it still not working for me.

 

[fakereadhed]

not really. words have power. If you tell a senior that a certain procedure is going to "kill grandma" or start "rationing" senior healthcare, how likely is that person to want to discuss a solution.

If you make a derogatory sterotype, how willing do you think I would be to want to discuss any view you have.

When you tell breast cancer sufferes that if you switch to a certain program they are going to have to wait 12 months for care because thats what someones sister, cousin, girlfriends daughter in Canada had to do and thats what exactly is going to happen to us if we dare change, you're telling me that person is going to calmly join in a debate?

You know full well scare tactics work heck for the next 13 months we're going to be bombarded on tv with 30 sec soundbites that use suggestive "wording" as you call it to sway people and rarely do those 30 sec soundbites contained the entire truth. , I for one have plenty of people who hold different beliefs from me, Heck like I said most of my inlaws are still trying to figure out Americans. we just manage to debate without trying to scare each other to death.

You are are only noticing the rhetoric on one side- the other side than your opinion lies. There have been the same type of "scare tactics" used to support single payer. Such as people dying without healthcare, when we have healthcare available in this country but we do not all have health INSURANCE. Just saying, if you call for a certain tone in the discussion you're going to be held to the same standard.

 

[fakereadhed]

I think the point was the assertion that implantable insulin pumps are available in Europe but not readily available in the US. As far as I am aware (and I am open to correction), implantable insulin pumps are used more for research purposes in the US. A different source for you (bolding mine):

"An implantable pump was created in the 1980′s but there were difficulties. The implantable pump was placed just under the skin and it was clearly visible. There was a projection from the surgery site much like having a hockey puck placed under the skin. The pump could be implanted in the abdomen or on the chest of the pump user. This pump was refilled with a large-gauge needle and the user carried a programming unit and held the unit over the pump to deliver instructions for refilling the pump. Patients could self-administer a bolus dose with a remote-control device. These pumps are still used on an experimental basis in the United States but are available overseas."


http://www.diabetes-support.org.uk/info/?p=287

They are covered by Medicare. Not experimental at all. The inventor was Dean Kamen, the Segway guy.

http://www.medicare.com/equipment-and-supplies/diabetic-insulin-pumps.html

Thanks to this thread I could now do a report on insulin pumps.

 

[angwill]

I do have decent health coverage for a decent price per my husbands employer. That doesn't mean that I don't want something done and it doesn't mean that because I don't agree with a universal healthcare system or with the new changes that have been made that I care only about myself. It means that I think that something else should be done to fix the system. I do care about people who are struggling to pay for healthcare. I am a nurse and see this every time I work. I also have family members that are uninsured, some by choice. My DH carries our benefits and has chosen his job partially due to health coverage offered by that particular company.

Just a side note, for those that think our new healthcare reform won't have some negative changes towards Medicare patients you are mistaken. And many, many elderly are aware of that. The company DH works for will most likely be cut and it services only Medicare patients. Companies like the one DH works for will likely close their doors as they will struggle for funding and this will take away a significant portion of this type of specialized health care needs for this population. I also know many physicians who do not accept Medicaid and plan to drop Medicare patients if any changes to reimbursement are made. Not great for this group as well.

You are right that not everyone fits into set categories. I am speaking of what I have seen and heard as the majority. Sorry you took offense.

I never said that we should go with a universal health system again sorry you assumed such and seem to have taken it personal.

As for your family who you feel choose not to have health care does that mean that you know what their finances are like and that they indeed can afford it but instead choose to take a chance that they will go financially broke if an emergency comes up? That is sad that someone who can afford it would take such a big chance with their future and the future of their family if they have one.

If things are done correctly with health insurance I would hope it would not effect the elderly or your husbands career making it a personal reason to be scared of changes in healthcare for you and your family.

Nobody really knows what it will be like for sure when changes to healthcare roll out and only with trying will we see what happens. Will it be glitch free no because what is. Hopefully, lessons would be learned and things changed till things run more smoothly. Change is a scary thing for everyone but without trying we will never know for sure what will happen or work to fix the mess it is in now.

Must not be too much of a troll since he has been on these boards since 2006 and has less than 20 posts. Correct me if I am wrong but he hasn't had too many posts trying to stir the pot. Perhaps your issue with this person is that his opinion disagrees with yours so therefore you feel the need to call him a derogatory name. There has been a lot of not so nice remarks made. I am probably guilty of some but let's try to keep things civil before this gets locked.

Well that is your opinion to feel that telling a person in the US to research where Minnesota is is not stiring the pot and trolling. Perhaps your issue with me is that your opinion agrees with theirs and disagrees with mine. Sorry if that offended you I meant it to describe an action not a person. I feel everyone has a right to their view and opinion but I don't think it is nice to post random garbage like telling someone in the US to research where Minnesota is. I agree please try to keep things civil. You know looking back I see I did word my post in the wrong way I will go back and edit it so it is not personal which is not what I intended. Sorry if anyone took it personally.

 

[CdnCarrie]

I stated that many foreigners come here for their emergency treatments because we have the best care in the world. Obviously Canada's Premier of Newfoundland agrees with me (http://blog.heritage.org/2010/02/09/the-canadian-patients’-remedy-for-health-care-go-to-america/).

"Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams is seeking heart surgery in the United States, drawing criticism from 'local bloggers and people calling in to the province’s immensely popular open-line radio shows.' Yet his actions are hardly unusual for world leaders. Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz is known to have his checkups at the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi had heart surgery at the Cleveland Clinic in 2006 . Even middle-class Canadians are utilizing their proximity to the United States to seek treatment here."

Don't get me wrong, I want everyone to have access to affordable quality health care but that can only be achieved through deregulation (crossing of state lines) which the gov't won't allow because they want the private insurance carriers to bankrupt us so they can have an excuse to take them over. Look what deregulation did to the airline industry. It created a very competitive business model that now offers affordable prices with the same assurance. There is no reason this can't happen to the medical industry except for our government being in the way.

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/03/danny-williams-surgery-controversial.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/08/palin-crossed-border-for_n_490080.html


Hmmm Williams left a rural area to go to the U.S for medical treatment while Palin left a rural area to come to Canada for medical treatment.

Ironic isn't it.......

Do you have any proof yet about Canadians using the American health care sytem? I guess I should have asked that of the waiting room full of North Dakota / Minnesota citizens at the ophthalmologists office here in Canada....

Oh did you know there was a black market of Ontario Health cards floating around the U.S. Americans were sneaking up here to steal services.

This is an old article but still...

http://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/20/w...lth-care-in-canada.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

 

[DISNEYSIX]

Do you have any proof yet about Canadians using the American health care sytem? I guess I should have asked that of the waiting room full of North Dakota / Minnesota citizens at the ophthalmologists office here in Canada....

Oh did you know there was a black market of Ontario Health cards floating around the U.S. Americans were sneaking up here to steal services.

This is an old article but still...

http://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/20/w...lth-care-in-canada.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

Ok, so you have proven that Americans without health insurance come to your country to get treatment and I have proven that Canadians with health insurance come to our country to get superior treatment. Good to know that if I do lose my health insurance, I can just cross the border to get some for free. I don't know how your country can keep your system viable with this abuse by Americans. This is another reason why Universal Heath Care would never work here in the USA. We would be picking up the tab for most of South America given how lax our government is with immigration (let alone our own deadbeat citizens who refuse to work and/or pay taxes).

 

[Bonnie151]

These pumps are used for patient use here as well, not just experimental purposes. I have taken care of quite a few patients with them and know one person on a personal level with one. They are used primarily in people with Type 1 diabetes. The more common diabetes in our country is type 2 and these generally do not work well for patients with that condition. Since this is not a diabetes education forum let me say that they are not for everyone and come with their share of potential complications. I have seen some do wonderful with them (like my friend) and others have a horrible time.

They are covered by Medicare. Not experimental at all. The inventor was Dean Kamen, the Segway guy.

http://www.medicare.com/equipment-an...lin-pumps.html

Thanks to this thread I could now do a report on insulin pumps.

I'm really trying hard not to be completely thick here but all articles I've found state that the implantable insulin pump is not available in the US, and from personal experience (aunt) you'd need to travel to Europe to get one. I'm aware that insulin pumps are available in the US, but these are the ones that are inserted just below the skin, aren't they?

ETA: This is from United Healthcare's policy May 2011 (bolding mine):

"External insulin pumps that deliver insulin by continuous subcutaneous infusion are
proven for treating patients with diabetes. Disposable external insulin pumps are
considered equivalent to standard insulin pumps.
Implantable insulin pumps are investigational and unproven.

No implantable insulin pumps have received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval
at this time. While some preliminary studies reported improved glycemic control and fewer
episodes of hypoglycemia in carefully selected patients, complications such as catheter blockage
and infection were observed. Larger, randomized controlled trials are needed to determine the
long term impact of implantable insulin pumps on diabetes management."

https://www.unitedhealthcareonline....es/Cont_Glucose_Monitor_and_Insulin_Pumps.pdf

Dean Kamen did invent the insulin pump, but he didn't invent the implantable insulin pump.