The cost of health care

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

Just found out a couple of days ago that my "after insurance cost" for this wound vac I've had for a while now is $300 per week. Ouch! Before insurance it costs $200 per day. Wow! Not sure if I feel lucky or hosed. 

[cookiedough]

Hosed still.  My wife's insurance premiums went up as well every 2 weeks out of her check on top of much higher deductible and co-pays for everything per year.  Might as well not have any insurance unless something happens to our family costing over say 5 grand per incident.  Insurance premium  rates are thru the roof if you ask me and if I was single, I wouldn't be paying these higher premiums and take my chances.  Just wait until Obama tries to enforce insurance for ALL in American and see who foots the bill then for those not having insurance - WE will be paying even more than we are now that is a given.  If I was young and healthy or even older and healthy, why enforce health insurance on people who do not want it and have to try to pay for it?  Seems to me Obama is overstepping his Presidency authority and sure hope the Supreme Court throws out his idea for insurance for all.

[Fritz The Cat]

A good friend of mine who works at the local hospital told me that they periodically upgrade their computer and office equipment. He said certain people get dibs on any of the old stuff they want and the rest gets tossed in the dumpster irregardless of whether it works or not. I stopped by one afternoon when he called me and told me the dumpster was full so I could see it for myself. I picked up a laser printer off the top of the heap and took it home. It worked perfectly and has continued to do so for the last 2.5 years.

Why is the waste and greed of the medical industry never mentioned ??????

[Gear Jammer]

Geez, now Bob is going to post ad infinitum about all the errors you've uttered 

[alph]

my wife works for a major hospital chain, it costs me $56 for a "free" physical!!  i'm supose to get one free a year, that is, if you DON'T talk to the doctor.  it's gotten to the point of needing to bring a lawyer to your doctors appointment.

[Oss]

1600 + a month for insurance for the family

Blue cross

NYS

 

and my oldest is no longer covered under me, thank goodness her job pays most of her insurance now

[valkmc]

Had a colonoscopy which was covered unless they found something. They found a polop and removed it so I had to pay for the whole procedure including the free test.

Everytime someone who does not have insurance goes to the emergency room and does not pay for it, those of us who have insurance absorb it. Look at bill the next time you use the e-room. $14 for two tylenol. Just like credit cards those who pay absorb  the cost for those who dont. I do not have the answer but the way we do it now is not working.

[salty1]

No argument that the medical types are greedy, but wait until Obama care kicks in full swing. You'll be truly "hosed"!

[ohblackwater]

I pay 750 / mo for my wife and I.  3,500 deductible per person each year, then my dr is on a conceirge plan as of this month which is designed to:  "maintain her income while reducing her patient load".   I work 70 hours a week and have exposure to $19,200 worth of medical costs each year for my wife and I.

This sucks. It amounts to us paying principle and interest on a $300,000 mortgage every year.  We're both healthy and have never met our deductibles in a single calendar year. 

It's out of control people.  This year my insurance premiums increased by 27%.  The insurance company rep said it was because of Obamacare.  I'm not making a political commentary, but someone needs to give us a freaking break. 

[Jess Tolbirt]

when my wife has to have a cat scan done it cost us 250 dollar deductable for a 2500 dollar procedure.
the last time we went in i told them that we are self pay and guess what? the whole thing was 97 dollars, paid in full..

same with my doctor,, insurance i have 2500 deductable,, office visit is 125.00 dollars,, self pay it is 85 dollars...

something is wrong here,,,

[cookiedough]

get this,  a co-worker part time no benefits just had stints put in for her heart attack.  She has no insurance and asked to be laid off work.  Reason:  The hospital cannot collect money from her and her paycheck if she is laid off work not getting a paycheck with no insurance.  Might as well be poor and out of a job since everything is free?  Trust me, if Obamacare goes full throttle, it will become much more expensive than it already is with higher premiums and deductibles and co-pays.  My ear appt. dr. wanted 3 visits in 1 week for my ear infection last year each time fully paid with our insurance except for a 25 dollar co-pay for each office visit.  I paid the first 25 copay for 1st office visit and 3rd office visit 5 days later since they actually did something and cleaned out my ear.  I refused to pay 25 bucks for the 2nd office visit since it really wasn't needed since all she did was look into my ear for 10 seconds and say yep, the infection is clearing up and come back 2 days later.  All this is now is a money maker for the drs. and clinics.  Dean Care has threatened to refer this 25 bucks left unpaid for 8 months now to a collection agency and wasted at least 25 bucks in phone calls and statements mailed to me.  Let them try to collect since I am not paying.  It is the principal not the cost that ticks me off.  I told their collection dept. all of this telling them just because their dr. requests 3 follow up visits in 1 week when not needed doesn't make it right she can charge 125 bucks per office visit to our insurance just so she can make millions and pad her purse so she can take that yearly trip to the bahamas.  I spent 20 bucks in gas and over 1 hour driving time each time to come to them 3 times in 5 days and to charge me 25 buck co-pay for 10 seconds of looking into my ear is crazy on that 2nd visit.

[Bob E.]

Geez, now Bob is going to post ad infinitum about all the errors you've uttered 

Yeah like premiums NEVER used to go up before Obamacare!!  No actually, this whole debate has reminded me of my 2 daughters ages 4 and 7.  They share a room next to mine and occasionally, they'll wake up in the middle of the night crying, scared of the dark.  "There's a monster in the closet, there's a monster in the closet."  And no matter how much you try and convince them, showing them inside of the closet, moving the clothes around, whatever, they are still convinced there is a monster (or sometimes, a tiger) hiding in there.  Eventually, I just tell them good night, turn off the light, and go back to bed.  So, good night...for now

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

There is one aspect of Obama care which I'd like to see become law. It's the part that bans insurance companies from refusing to cover prior conditions.

I've got a good friend who's wife has been battling cancer for years. This battle keeps them on the edge of bankruptcy but they have been able to fight cancer to a draw several times. She still has it, it's end stage but with new treatments she has been able to be a mother, wife and provider as the battle rages on.

But, my bud can never change jobs. If he was to lose his job the loss of insurance would probably cost his wife her life since chances are no new employer's insurance would cover her. To me, that's wrong.

But, forcing everyone to buy health insurance. I can't imagine that could be constitutional. We don't have any Jeffersons in government now and we aren't likely to elect anyone of that caliber anytime soon. Probably the best the we can do to preserve our freedom under present circumstances is to preserve the constitution our founders fought to leave us.

[Serk]

There is one aspect of Obama care which I'd like to see become law. It's the part that bans insurance companies from refusing to cover prior conditions.

Therein lies the rub, and the argument for the requirement that everyone buy insurance. If insurance companies are required to take you, no matter how bad shape you're in, then it's only fair that everyone be required to always have insurance, otherwise someone could go without for years until they get really sick, and THEN buy insurance and force the insurance company to take them at that point.

(DEFINITELY not arguing in favor of the universal mandate, just pointing out it's difficult to have your cake and eat it too, to coin a phrase...)

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

There is one aspect of Obama care which I'd like to see become law. It's the part that bans insurance companies from refusing to cover prior conditions.

Therein lies the rub, and the argument for the requirement that everyone buy insurance. If insurance companies are required to take you, no matter how bad shape you're in, then it's only fair that everyone be required to always have insurance, otherwise someone could go without for years until they get really sick, and THEN buy insurance and force the insurance company to take them at that point.

(DEFINITELY not arguing in favor of the universal mandate, just pointing out it's difficult to have your cake and eat it too, to coin a phrase...)

Yep, you are right and I know it.

The machine shop my youngest son works for was recently looking at getting their insurance from a different company. The company wouldn't talk to them until after my Grandson Ryder was born.

Because she'd had a tough pregnancy it looked like too big a risk to them. And, with the current policy roughly the first $10,000 came out of my son's pocket anyway.

It's nearly to the point that only those who will never pay their bills and don't own anything can afford to have children.

[cookiedough]

Requiring health insurance for all is crazy and if not unconstitutional.  If single, I wouldn't get health insurance unless the premiums were reasonable - I'll take my chances.  It is always that 'what if' factor if something happens that I am willing to risk.  Forcing payment on someone who doesn't want insurance and doesn't need it is plan wrong period.  I figure for all the premiums I have paid in the last 20+ years of working, I'd be rich beyond my wildest dreams since I have really ONLY used my insurance once in that 20+ years with a $5,000 knee surgery 2 years ago.  Yes, accidents or unforseen illnesses do happen, but I am willing to gamble to some degree.

[BF]

Insurance companies are the biggest supporters, lobbiests and backers of Obamacare.  That should tell you everything you need to know. 

We don't need "healthcare" reform......we have the best healthcare on the planet.  What we need is healthcare INSURANCE reform.  Healthcare isn't the problem......it's access to healthcare and the cost of healthcare that's the problem. 

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

Insurance companies are the biggest supporters, lobbiests and backers of Obamacare.  That should tell you everything you need to know. 

We don't need "healthcare" reform......we have the best healthcare on the planet.  What we need is healthcare INSURANCE reform.  Healthcare isn't the problem......it's access to healthcare and the cost of healthcare that's the problem. 

I agree.

[salty1]

You "duh" man BF!!!  +1    

[BF]

I have mixed opinions on a universal type of healthcare....some parts a like and others I don't, but one thing I'm 100% sure of........people shouldn't be forced into bankruptcy simply becuase they get sick. 

[musclehead]

There is one aspect of Obama care which I'd like to see become law. It's the part that bans insurance companies from refusing to cover prior conditions.

I've got a good friend who's wife has been battling cancer for years. This battle keeps them on the edge of bankruptcy but they have been able to fight cancer to a draw several times. She still has it, it's end stage but with new treatments she has been able to be a mother, wife and provider as the battle rages on.

But, my bud can never change jobs. If he was to lose his job the loss of insurance would probably cost his wife her life since chances are no new employer's insurance would cover her. To me, that's wrong.

But, forcing everyone to buy health insurance. I can't imagine that could be constitutional. We don't have any Jeffersons in government now and we aren't likely to elect anyone of that caliber anytime soon. Probably the best the we can do to preserve our freedom under present circumstances is to preserve the constitution our founders fought to leave us.

there in lies the rub, it sounds good and all, not being able to refuse coverage on preexisting conditions, but then all you have to do is wait until you are sick and go get covered.  aren't you allowed to carry your insurance with you to a new job?