What are y'alls thoughts on this ruling?
Supreme Court Ruling
What are y'alls thoughts on this ruling?
Stillbirth, Miscarriage, Passing of the only dad I knew, Cancer, and 2 kiddos....this is my story!!!
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Kayline (06-28)
I love the fact that America is moving closer to every citizen having access to health care.I do wish we could somehow take insurance companies out of the equation because I think they're the devil...but one thing at a time!
Anger is almost always an emotion for people who wish to control others while simultaneously failing to control themselves.
Gissele (06-29)
I disagree with the whole thing. Don't force me to have healthcare unless you are paying for it.
Take insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies out of the back pocket of politicians and healthcare wouldn't be in the state it is in now. Mandatory health care isn't the solution. It's just a band aid to the real problem of overpriced insurance companies and the greedy pharmaceutical industry.
I agree about the insurance and pharmaceutical companies, Phoenix, but wouldn't you agree that we need a more immediate fix for the millions of Americans who can't afford insurance/health care?
I don't see the problem with mandating that everyone have health insurance coverage, especially since it will be provided for folks who can't afford it. I guess maybe there should be a provision stating that if you would be willing to sign a waiver that you will not seek medical attention that you cannot afford to pay for on the spot, you will not be required to have insurance-? Otherwise, it will remain status quo; people who refuse to obtain insurance coverage will continue to visit the ER for treatment of routine ailments at taxpayer cost.
Anger is almost always an emotion for people who wish to control others while simultaneously failing to control themselves.
What she said!Originally Posted by Phoenix
Though I *do* think there are some good provisions in the healthcare bill, I don't agree with all the "extras" that were included in the bill that ultimately have nothing to do with healthcare.
Kayline (06-28)
Whew! Love hearing some positive opinions. I do agree with you, Kayline!
Stillbirth, Miscarriage, Passing of the only dad I knew, Cancer, and 2 kiddos....this is my story!!!
The Tara Experience!
Kayline (06-28)
I'm thinking this affects me ... will be provided for me, IF I so choose to get it from the state, which I don't like taking handouts so I probably won't ....
Mandating? How in the world can it be mandated? That's a lot of people to control.
Just my dumb thoughts.
Yes, Kerri, mandated. It is not a handout.
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I know ... but mandated? If I don't want insurance I don't wnat it.
I can't afford it.
Oh well.
That's why they are doing it because people can't afford it.
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We do need a fix for those who can't afford healthcare, but why should I be required to have it if I fall into the category of being able to afford it? What about those stuck in the middle where they don't qualify for government programs, but are only making ends meet and can't afford the extra cost of health insurance? I think the better route would be to figure out why millions of Americans can't afford it and fix the root cause of the problem. That relates back to the high cost of healthcare based on the insurance and pharmaceutical industry.
OH was in the emergency room early Sunday morning. Had a cat scan, was transferred to another hospital by ambulance and had an MRI/A at the second hospital. He's completely fine... just had to rule some things out. We have insurance and I can tell you, I'm sure we will be paying well over $1000 out of pocket, at least, for all of that on top of what the insurance pays. (I'm really dreading the bills). So that's the cost of what the insurance doesn't pay, plus what I pay in every other week, which is around $150 for the family. We can't afford that, but luckily, or at least I think, I can make payments to the hospital over time. My point is that we can't afford healthcare and we have insurance. The insurance industry and the pharmaceutical industry have run up the prices of healthcare that even if you do have insurance, you still can't necessarily afford healthcare.
I would be in support of free healthcare for all, but I've heard of problems with Canada's free healthcare system that would make me worry about how a program such as that were run in the US.
Last edited by Phoenix; 06-29 at 08:41.
Kayline (06-29)
See...here's the thing. You have insurance. What do you think would have happened to your SO had you not had it? I believe the millions of Americans who are unemployed or otherwise can't afford health insurance or who have pre-existing conditions that prohibit them from getting health insurance would tell you that's the question at hand, not whether or not you wish to be "forced" to buy something you already have.
I totally agree that insurance and pharmaceutical companies are a racket but I'm hoping against hope that there are provisions in Obamacare will help reel them in.
Anger is almost always an emotion for people who wish to control others while simultaneously failing to control themselves.
Tara (06-29)
I can see both sides of the debate, but I am happy about it for the most part. There are some shady sections that need to be worked out, but I do think that something needed to be done.
Dh pays $467 every month (taxed income, so it is even more technically) for a policy for us with a $1900 individual deductible, $3800 for the family, and a max out of pocket of $8000 for year (after that, insurance covers 100%). I think it is a ridiculous amount of money, but at least with the health care act, all preventative care is covered. Most of our dr visits are check ups, shots, routine blood work and well-woman stuff, covered 100% (as it should be since he pays so much $).
I really hope that once more people are insured, we will see lower premiums. I also hope that those people wil start to recieve regular preventitive care BEFORE they are in dire need of care in the ER with something that could have been treated earlier. Unfortunately, there is no way to tell how it is all going to play out, and the uncertainty of it all is a bit scary. But something had to be done.
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Kayline (06-29)
I agree, tootsie roll. I think a lot of generation Y are choosing not to purchase health insurance because they are young enough to feel invincible when the reality is they're just as likely as anyone else to be involved in an accident or to become ill. Perhaps things will improve when they no longer have the option of declining coverage.
As an aside, my daughter works in the insurance industry and she told me something very interesting about preventive care (another prime example of the insurance industry as a racket):
If you go in for preventive care (e.g., annual physical, well woman exam) and tell the doctor you've had a problem that the doctor then investigates and/or treats you for, the doctor can then choose to code the visit as other than preventive care so it's not 100% covered.
Ridiculous, no?
Last edited by Kayline; 06-29 at 10:02.
Anger is almost always an emotion for people who wish to control others while simultaneously failing to control themselves.
Tara (06-29)
Yes, very ridiculous, Kayline! In fact, every time I am in the dr for preventitive care, I double check to make sure it will be billed that way.
What really ticks me off is the lack of transparency in costs to consumers. I was going to get a MRI when I was having dizziness and other issues. I had two locations to choose from, and there was no way to tell how much it would have cost me. With my plan, we pay 100% until the deductible is reached. There are so many hidden agreements between insurance companies and providers, and I couldn't tell if it would be cheaper to go with one place or the other or even forgo submitting to insurance and just pay cash. I really think there needs to be more clarity. It is like going to buy a new washer price unknown, and getting a bill for $1000 the next month, not knowing it would cost that much and not being able to shop around for the best deal.
Last edited by tootsie roll; 06-29 at 12:41.
SAHM to Liliana (5)
Kayline (06-29)
I just don't understand how it can be MANDATED, and if you dohn't get coverage, you will be fined a certain amount. If you can't afford health care, how can you be expected to pay a fine? I am lucky to have insurance, btu I also have to fight them to pay for what should be covered. Last Sept Dominic had his 5 year well check. In May (!) I get a bill for $800 for that visit! Here it was somehow billed in my husbands name- as if he would get a 5 yo well check. ER visits- yes, we have a deductible, but you get a bill from each DR and each test and each procedure. DD's concussion cost me over $400 for her to lay in a bed for 3 hours in the hospital, get an xray and be told to take it easy for the next week or two!
Healthcare has gotten way out of hand/overpriced. And don't forget the poor Drs who have to carry crazy amounts of malpractice insurance due to those people suing! It needs reworked and so does our entire governmental system!
In today's economy, the only thing we should be cutting out of our budget is COUPONS!!!
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Kayline (06-29), tootsie roll (06-29)
It's not as if everyone is expected to come up with $500/mo. for health insurance. There will be government assistance for those who can't afford the premiums, the medicaid program will be expanded and there will be exemptions for certain people.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics...ow-much-is-it/
http://www.insureme.com/health-insur...urance-mandate
Last edited by Kayline; 06-29 at 12:41.
Anger is almost always an emotion for people who wish to control others while simultaneously failing to control themselves.
If he didn't have insurance we would have set up a payment plan with the hospital when we received the bill. We have been in that situation before with him when he wasn't eligible for my insurance. Heck we are still going to have to set up a payment plan with both hospitals because my insurance won't pay 100% for everything, plus we have deductibles.
IDK, I just have a hard time with the government mandating this. It just seems like we are becoming such a 'take care of me' society. Why not make the current programs like medicare or the medical card for kids more available or easier to get/use rather than forcing those stuck in the middle class income levels, who don't qualify for government aid, to purchase insurance or pay a fine.
wendy1214 (06-29)
IDK..I would sure rather have health insurance that pays for some percentage of my medical expenses than nothing at all. Can you imagine a hospital setting up a payment plan for something like open heart surgery? Ain't gonna happen.
Obamacare is supposed to make health insurance more affordable. That's why it's called the Health Care Affordability Act. Cost is one of the biggest barriers to obtaining health insurance. If that barrier is removed, I can't imagine why anyone would be so stubborn as to not want to have health insurance just on principle. Makes no sense whatsoever to me.
Last edited by Kayline; 06-29 at 01:46.
Anger is almost always an emotion for people who wish to control others while simultaneously failing to control themselves.
Tara (06-29), tootsie roll (06-29)
I agree 100%. I'm not sure what we would have done , last year, if we didn't have insurance when I was diagnosed with cancer. In less than 1 year I had: 2 surgeries, 4 biopsies, blood work, ultrasounds, and doc visits every 3 months. In addition to all of that...we added another sweet baby girl to the mix. Insurance covered $6,275 of that hospital/delivery bill for Ava. Healthcare is definitely overpriced but insurance sure does make it a little more affordable. If it weren't for insurance...we'd have close to $50,000 in medical bills. I personally think it's wise to have coverage since we never know when a real emergency may arise.
Stillbirth, Miscarriage, Passing of the only dad I knew, Cancer, and 2 kiddos....this is my story!!!
The Tara Experience!
Kayline (06-29), tootsie roll (06-29)
It's kind of like auto insurance...if it weren't mandated by the state, how many people do you think would opt not to purchase it, even though it makes perfect sense to have it? We all tend to think, "it won't happen to me," (car accident, catastrophic illness, even death) so maybe we need a little push to accept the reality that, yes, "it" very likely will happen to us.
Anger is almost always an emotion for people who wish to control others while simultaneously failing to control themselves.
Yup! I definitely didn't think I'd be diagnosed with cancer at 25. Thank God I'm cancer free now but goodness, that was a scary road!
Stillbirth, Miscarriage, Passing of the only dad I knew, Cancer, and 2 kiddos....this is my story!!!
The Tara Experience!
Kerri, I believe if you can't afford it you will be offered medicaid. Problem? Is who is going to pay for it. It has the rich people up in arms. O well. We do need healthcare available to everyone. Other countries have it, why can't it work here?
Kayline (06-29)
Maybe that is part of the problem I have with it. I put myself through school, work to support a family of 4, didn't buy a house I couldn’t really afford a few years ago when they were handing out mortgages like candy (therefore not asking for government bail out) and I’m financially responsible so that if I lost my job tomorrow, I would still be ok and willing to actually find work, even multiple jobs or learn another trade, to do what I had to in order to support my family.
Government programs are in place for people when they are in temporary hardships. Heck, I’m not ashamed to say that the first thing I did when I lost my job years ago was call to get medical insurance for my kids and food stamps to feed them. Unemployment was second. It was a hard and stressful time, but I also took the initiative to finish my degree so I could obtain a better job with more stability and not live off the system for any longer than I had to.
I’m just so sick of this entitlement mentality that is increasing in our society. Should the government do something to help? Yes, there should be programs in place to help when needed… for those who fall into hardship or for those who really can’t work (not the lazy people who claim disability just so they have an income and don’t have to work… there are a few of those in my family). The current programs should be expanded, while regulating the insurance and pharmaceutical industries. Instead of requiring everyone to have health insurance, make it easier for those who want it, need it or simply can’t afford what their employer has to offer. If you don’t want or don’t get what is available and something happens to you, then you suffer the consequences of not having it. It is your choice and you deal with the outcome.
Lower the cost of healthcare and insurance premiums, remove, lower or revamp requirements or restrictions to government programs and more people can afford it or become eligible for needed aid. Requiring people to have insurance is not the answer.
As far as who is paying for this… the rich may seem like they are in an uproar about it, but they are the same people who have stock in the healthcare, pharmaceutical and insurance industries. How much have the stocks in these industries gone up recently? How many people got richer once it was passed? The people who are paying for this are the working middle class who are making an honest living trying to provide for their families, barely making ends meet, who have insurance available to them, and still can’t afford the cost of healthcare. I have no problem with aiding those who need it and I would be completely for free healthcare for all Americans, but mandatory insurance is not the answer, revamping the system is.
Maybe if the Health Care Affordability Act was truly that and not the ‘health insurance affordability act’ I wouldn’t have as much of a problem with it. Too many politicians have the insurance and pharmaceutical companies in their back pocket for a true health care reform. Just my opinion and only time will tell if this is a benefit for all or not. I hope it is, but I have my serious doubts.
Last edited by Phoenix; 06-29 at 08:06.
As someone who works in the medical field I think it is a start in the right direction. I hope that people with minor illnesses will be triage to medical clinics rather than ER. People who have never had insurance seeem to use the ER like I use my family doctor. This is a complete waste of money and resources. Family doctors want to be paid for services and ER will usually give you a payment plan so that is where they go. It will also mandate people who can afford to purchase it. I know people who make over 100k and don't have insurance b/c they don't want to pay for it. They would rather risk it. These are people who work in the medical field who know better but money wins. I think preventive care is worth it and people should have access to it. In the same token people don't need all these expensive tests and meds but doctors order them to cover their a$$ or because the person insists. The public need to change their view on more is better when it comes to testing/meds. Yes, testing/meds are good but I'm sure we all know one person whose body has been tested unecessarily or is over-medicated. Just my 2cents.
Kayline (06-30)
Of course we can't believe everything we read, one of my facebook friends posted this explanation that sounds like it was well researched and might bring us to a better understanding of what the program does and doesn't do. I found it most enlightening. Especially this part that explains the logic of the mandate:
1/1/2014
This is when a lot of the really big changes happen.
- No more "pre-existing conditions". At all. People will be charged the same regardless of their medical history.
- If you can afford insurance but do not get it, you will be charged a fee. This is the "mandate" that people are talking about. Basically, it's a trade-off for the "pre-existing conditions" bit, saying that since insurers now have to cover you regardless of what you have, you can't just wait to buy insurance until you get sick. Otherwise no one would buy insurance until they needed it. You can opt not to get insurance, but you'll have to pay the fee instead, unless of course you're not buying insurance because you just can't afford it.
Click herefor the original post if you the above link doesn't work or you don't have facebook.
Last edited by Kayline; 06-30 at 12:38.
Anger is almost always an emotion for people who wish to control others while simultaneously failing to control themselves.
tootsie roll (06-30)
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