APP - The Catchall Healthcare Megathread

Damocles said:
Yeah, sorry. But you knew what I meant anyway.

I agree, it would give us the time to do what is right and find what is effecting the costs while still helping the people who need it. Personally I think they should offer a graduated subsidy where some would pay to be on the medicaid to defer some of the costs but still offer the hand up.
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Well Damo, we've figured out a great short term solution in what? 30 posts? Looks like we need to run for office. :clink:
 
I think more companies need to start doing more health programs to prevent healthcare rates from rising. I currently work for an ESOP and the rates have not gone up in three years. It's a cheap rate for the employees, and co-pay is $5 for specialist appointments. My wife's pregnancy was completely covered and we owe $20 to the OB/GYN for the office visits she had. Never in a million years would I trade my insurance in for something run by the government. But, to help keep our rates low, the company invests in little stupid things to get people motivated to stay healthy, and it works.

They have a list of things you need to do to by the end of the year, and if you do it, you get 2 months insurance premiums paid for. They have Weight-loss Competitions where the winners get $100 gift certificates to the local grocery store. 2nd place gets $50, and 3rd gets $25. So basically all you have to do is try and you got a good chance of getting those. People are participating. It costs the company maybe a couple grand to do these little things, but it ends up saving the company tens of thousands by making sure premiums don't go up.

Long story short, Americans are just unhealthy, even those with insurance. This drives the rates up and makes it much harder for those without insurance to get something affordable. Government feels the need to step in now to provide Americans with something affordable, but its not going to solve the root problem. Some companies will feel that it's ok to no longer offer the benefit (I doubt my company does this) of health insurance, and more people will end up on the government plan. That is a given. However, we can reduce costs be offering other incentives for people to stay healthy or work towards getting healthy.
 
Fish said:
I've eaten nothing but Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches, slices of american cheese, and canned vegetables for months.

Also, if you can prove you can't afford insurance you don't have to buy it even under a mandatory plan.
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I have lived pretty much the same way for long periods of time in my past.
Hang in there lady. It is hard to see past the present when it sucks, but if you hang in there things can and will get better.
 
Yepper just expand medicaid and offer lower mid income families medicaid coverage with a cheap/free premium based on their income/family size. Roll CHIPS in there too. It is not too bright to take care of just the kids and not the parents of the kids. Family values you know.
The kids lose too when the parents lose their home, etc from medical costs. Or die from lack of treatment.
 
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Fish said:
I've eaten nothing but Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches, slices of american cheese, and canned vegetables for months.

Also, if you can prove you can't afford insurance you don't have to buy it even under a mandatory plan.
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Obviously you're getting shitty value in the overpriced liberal urban utopia where you live.

Under the conditions you claim you'd qualify for medicade. My guess is that mummy and daddy are still claiming you as a dependent and giving you less of an allowance then you think you deserve. :)
 
Southern Man said:
Obviously you're getting shitty value in the overpriced liberal urban utopia where you live.

Under the conditions you claim you'd qualify for medicade. My guess is that mummy and daddy are still claiming you as a dependent and giving you less of an allowance then you think you deserve. :)
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If she is going to college that is not cheap.
I think medicaid should exempt the money you spend on college from the income requirements. After all with a college education you will be helping America in the future, not being a burden.
Or so the theory goes.
 
uscitizen said:
If she is going to college that is not cheap.
I think medicaid should exempt the money you spend on college from the income requirements. After all with a college education you will be helping America in the future, not being a burden.
Or so the theory goes.
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I think all education expenses should be tax exempt.
 
Southern Man said:
Obviously you're getting shitty value in the overpriced liberal urban utopia where you live.

Under the conditions you claim you'd qualify for medicade. My guess is that mummy and daddy are still claiming you as a dependent and giving you less of an allowance then you think you deserve. :)
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I'm not going to discuss my parents on this board, just let me just say that your claim is extremely off base.
 
Fish said:
I'm not going to discuss my parents on this board, just let me just say that your claim is extremely off base.
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I doubt it. Lots of kids rebel against their parents and become mindless Democrats. Most grow out of it; many like USC don't. *shrug*
 
uscitizen said:
If she is going to college that is not cheap.
I think medicaid should exempt the money you spend on college from the income requirements. After all with a college education you will be helping America in the future, not being a burden.
Or so the theory goes.
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I am going to college, but I'm basically getting a free ride from Uncle Sam. It's strange that they'll pay to educate me, but not to keep me alive.

As far as not qualifying for Medicade, Damocles hit it on the head a few pages back: I fall through a donut hole between poor and middle class that can't afford insurance but don't meet income requirements for Medicade. I apply once every three months for it and have been denied for over two years.
 
Fish said:
I am going to college, but I'm basically getting a free ride from Uncle Sam. It's strange that they'll pay to educate me, but not to keep me alive.

As far as not qualifying for Medicade, Damocles hit it on the head a few pages back: I fall through a donut hole between poor and middle class that can't afford insurance but don't meet income requirements for Medicade. I apply once every three months for it and have been denied for over two years.
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Many fall into that hole. Why I say and damo as well that expanding Medicaid coverage to higher incomes with a cheap starting graduated premium for lower income working class persons/families.

just off the top of my head.

Below 25K free
below 30k income with one dependent free.
30-35k $50 per month. etc...
Again just of the top of my head. And the numbers could be adjusted for the cost of living in an area?
 
I think that's pretty close, usc. I might go even a little lower. A few years ago I was making about 32K and was able to afford pretty decent health care through my employer.
 
Fish said:
I don't have a refrigerator , range, or microwave. I do drink tap water. I do buy fruit whenever I can, but I often have to choose between things like soap and toothpaste or fresh fruit/vegetables.

Saying I've eaten nothing but those things is facetious, saying that's where a majority of my calories come from is not.
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all I can say then, is that you need to drop one of your part time jobs and get a job instead as the last shift busboy at a Chinese buffet....at least you could eat the food they can't save till tomorrow on a daily basis....
 
PostmodernProphet said:
all I can say then, is that you need to drop one of your part time jobs and get a job instead as the last shift busboy at a Chinese buffet....at least you could eat the food they can't save till tomorrow on a daily basis....
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Haha! That's the best part about working in a restaurant! :)
 
Ok thread. What can we do to help people who make enough to have insurance, but can't afford the amount of insurance they really need? This is another "donut hole" that exists in our current system.
 
Fish said:
Ok thread. What can we do to help people who make enough to have insurance, but can't afford the amount of insurance they really need? This is another "donut hole" that exists in our current system.
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what is the amount 'they really need'?....I, for example, carry a $5k deductible and a $10k max on co-pay...reducing the co-pay max is almost a dollar for dollar shift on premiums ($5000 a year less in copay max for $5000 a year more premiums)....so, any year where we spend less than $5k is actually a savings....so, is this a donut hole?....(this is with BC/BS Flex Blue plan.....incidentally, I can use the health care savings plan with this, so I can deduct up to a certain amount as a credit to my taxes each year for my deductible....I forget how much at the moment, I believe $2400 - this was part of the Bush tax cut, will Obama roll it back?).......the premiums, including me, spouse, and two children over 18 {surcharge}, come to $525/month.....premiums are deductible from my income - again, Bush tax cuts....

now, if you would like to expand the health care savings account credit to cover the entire $10k, then I wouldn't have a donut hole at all, would I......
 
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