An interesting April for me.

[solo1]

Yeah, interesting in that it had to do with medical health problems.

A visit to my family doctor, a visit to my Urologist, a visit to the ER, and a subsequent follow up visit to the hospital.

A visit from the mailman with a notification that my retiree's group health insurance will be stopped July1 st. 


Most all is resolved and I'm back on track.  I now have a new individual Medicare Advantage Plan. The Advantage plans looked good until this AM.  It seems like the Obama administration with no input from Congress 'tacked on' 8 billion bucks to help the Advantage plans look good until after the election.  The 8 billion is now in question by the government watch dog agencies.

However, more GOOD news.  I'm finally getting into the VA since my income has dropped enough to let me in.  It made no difference that I served in Korea in 1953. The means test put in place in 2003 was meant to keep out rich guys like me.  Since I'm no longer "rich", I'm in.   That should make a difference when I hit the 'doughnut hole' for prescriptions. Hopefully, a back up for me now but that could change too.

Darn, I said that I don't want to talk about the Feds but things that disrupt my 'quality of life'  almost always go back to what the Feds do.  Enough.

I did manage to take the Vstrom out for a ride and that added a plus to my 'quality of life' not to mention that I quit thinking about the mess that we are in.  Another real plus is that I only have one motorcycle but one is enough to adjust my attitude.   A real PLUS was the pre birthday get together that my family did for me last night.


Life is good.   

Wayne, solo1

[..]

 

[Jess Tolbirt]

in my case i have to make less than 34,000 per year to be able to get into the va...
that just sucks...

[Jess from VA]

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/an_billion_trick_ImTBFfz7MeuZLJY7JzXEIJ

[Karen]

Happy Almost Birthday, Wayne, glad the family took care of you. Also good on the VA, glad you are able to meet the criteria. Looks like Medicare Advantage plans will be good for one more year as a pre-election facade, then who knows. Come on, Supremes! Really glad you are able to 2 wheel it for mental health. looking forward to seeing you again next year.

[R J]

Know what ya mean on the Government firkin with your retiree Health policy.

They screwed me over in March, so now I pay a $68.00 premium that is of no value to me but it does save $700 on my monthly premium.    DUH.

[cookiedough]

solo1,  glad you are having a better end of April and hope it continues that way.  Health insurance unfortunately is a necessary evil and can't imagine what the costs will be in 15-20 years when I will be needing it more or so I hope it is 20+ years away.  The monthly premiums just starting this year for our insurance keep sky rocketing thru work and we never use it hardly plus the deductibles and co-pays out of pocket first are several 1,000's more per family than they were basically NOTHING last year.  We might as well not have health insurance unless something medical comes up like a 5,000 or more surgery since it doesn't pay to have high premiums being paid out of the check if not using it much.

Also, thanks for the year(s) of service in Korea.  My dad was also in the Korean War from 1950-1952 but never talked about it much.

Also agree, only need one cycle so why not have the best - the Valkyrie rules, no need for any other cycle although the Vstrom is not bad either, just not a Valk.

[solo1]

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/an_billion_trick_ImTBFfz7MeuZLJY7JzXEIJ

I had no choice to not enroll. My company bailed before the Abomination Health Care Plan takes full effect after the election.    Now i know why Medicare Advantage looked so much better than a supplemental plan plus a prescription plan.

I cannot even  begin to express my dislike ( mild word) for The present 'rammed down our throats'  Obamacare, Chicago politics, and the present administration.  Words fail me, at least on this board.. 

[solo1]

I just called my new Medicare Advantage reps.  They have no idea what will happen if the 8 billion dollars appropriated by OBAMA to 'shore up' the Advantage program is withdrawn.  By the way, this appropriation is to hold reimbursements to doctors and hospitals at the present level until the new year ( after the election) when they will go down.  That will be additional reinforcement for doctors to give up Medicare patients and get out of the healthcare system.

That, in turn, will result in rationing of care.