Campfire

[havingfunnow]

When 40 million fellow citizens cannot get or afford health insurance, that is a sad commentary on our country.

Absolutely! We have the greatest talent pool and the finest facilities in the world, but we rank about 20th in overall health care (World Health Organization). That's because so many people cannot afford insurance or health care. It's time to start sharing that expertise fairly; a good chunk of the overall costs of medical training, facility upgrades, etc., comes from public funds.

OK, I've talked enough politics for a while.

[Bethers]

It's because we have always had a terrible health insurance system and greedy insurance companies and doctors. JMHO

[BirdbyBird]

...and the insurance companies and the AMA have deep pockets to pay lobbyists to promote laws in their own interests rather than the citizen's best interests..... I still think back to the long awaited medicare prescription bill that got passed in the middle of the night and did not include the ability of the our government to negotiate with the drug companies on drug costs.

[chalet05]

If politicians had to live on a budget, things would be different! Why is there always money for other countries, but we have so many needs here at home? I have never understood this.

My specific Humana policy is no longer available to me. I can go to an HMO for less or keep a PPO for a lot more. Deductibles, etc. also changed. LeRoy has basically the same policy in another state. His policy is still available, didn't change and his premium went down! Humana isn't available everywhere and then is priced by county and state. My letter from Medicare came just the other day and luckily my daughter opened it.

[havingfunnow]

The Terrible Trio: the pharmaceutical industry, the insurance industry, and doctors!

Don't get me started on lobbyists . . .

A friend of mine had a wonderful idea. We should require all political candidates to wear suits with the colors and/or logos of their sponsors, as racecar drivers and jockeys do. Then we'd at least know which "owners" we were voting for!

[Cudedog]

If politicians had to live on a budget, things would be different! Why is there always money for other countries, but we have so many needs here at home? I have never understood this.

Ok, I have probably posted way too much today. One more and I will stop.

Most, if not all, politicians are millionaires. Some are multi-millionaires. Some got that way after gaining office. A millionaire politician that takes home a salary of $174,000/year (plus allowances):

http://www.senate.gov

is totally clueless as to what it takes to live on the median (half make more, half make less) United States income of $50,000/year.

I'll say it again: the United States has been the caretaker of the world for decades, and has left her own people ignored in the dust. It is time to move the American people to the front of the line.

Anne

[JoanE]

Watch the movie Park Ave, available on Netflix, to see who controls our government. The wealthy 1%. Both parties are guilty.

[AlmostThere]

Forget "affordable" healthcare. How about not having any providers at all to choose from! I can, barely, afford healthcare insurance, but Washington state has had no individual healthcare providers! Can you believe that?! I only qualified because my county was grandfathered in with Portland, OR. (Blue Cross/Blue Shield).

Just recently, like last month, two providers are now listed. I hesitate to change because I would be in fear that the new providers will dictate my preference to Drs, hospitals and pharmacies I can use.

In the meantime BC/BS sent me notice that, because of Obamacare my premiums will go down from $911 a month to $709, but my coverage will also change, less coverage, and a much higher deductible! And dental will still be separate if I still wanted it.

All Obamacare is doing is pushing out those who would like to have a choice and getting us closer to socialized medicine.
Middle class can no longer shoulder all the government handouts.

Shame on all of them.

[JudyJB]

Insurance companies HATE to offer individual policies. I had to buy one several years ago when I was unemployed. The best one I could get had an enrollment period of only three weeks in July. In addition, you had to complete a very long application in their office in person, and give them a check for the first three months payment right then. (In other words, you had to sit right there and fill it out.)

AND, to make it even more difficult, the office was only open four days a week from 10 am to 3 pm to accept applications!! Big deductibles and no prescriptions, either. The state had forced them to offer an individual policy, but they made it almost impossible for someone who was working to apply.

I am glad Medicare is available to old people like me, with options for supplemental insurance and prescription coverage. Personally, I would welcome socialized medicine.

[havingfunnow]

I've experienced socialized medicine on three continents, and I have to say I admire it. Nobody dies because they can't afford health care and nobody goes bankrupt trying to pay for health care. (Over half the bankruptcies here are because of medical bills -- and of that group, over 40% carried health insurance.)

Another system that seems to work well is to allow multiple insurers, but to require insurance to be a nonprofit industry and to put a cap on operating costs. I've never needed medical care in, for example, France -- but countries with that system show very good figures for overall health care.

The for-profit system of medical care just doesn't work well.

And I have to say . . . when a doctor's office refuses payment for service, even after you point out that you're not a resident and pay no taxes into the system . . . well, it is a surreal experience!

[Excel]

Well, I mostly agree with what others have posted... of course I believe everyone should have medical care, I just don't believe the way this bill is written that it's the best for all. Besides it exempts all those politicians in Washington...they should have to take it too... Spent 4 hours on the phone yesterday trying to get an application for my Grandson for Federal Assistance (his income is at the poverty level as he is going to school & working at a lousy job)... anyhow, I eventually was told that Medi-Cal doesn't even have the applications yet either.... Then today in our local San Jose newspaper it said quite plainly that the middle class is footing the bill for this program .... I'm wondering how long the 'middle class' will survive... and like others have said, why are we spending trillions of $$$ in foreign countries & not taking care of our own... it's unbelievable yet it's not going to change no matter how much we complain... and yes, my insurance is no longer what it was.... paying more, getting less...

[Ladyhawk]

I'm currently paying $1,000 a month for basic coverage from COBRA through my previous employer. I had the appalling lack of consideration by getting breast cancer and am now uninsurable. Don't know what the right answer is, but when I'm stressing just to pay for basic health coverage for me and Bobby, I get a little peeved. It shouldn't be this way.

Not wanting to walk away from the fire on a bad note: Wine Tasting last night was fun, although chilly. They must enjoy it because my guests usually stay an hour after the cut off time. It's always a blast getting to know people, where they're from, where they've been...I can definitely see this activity continuing through winter as long as they give us an indoor spot.

[JoanE]

I have to chuckle when people comment on the way the ACA is written. Really? You read the whole bill? Or do you rely on your favorite pundit's opinion?

[JoanE]

Amy, it is outrageous that your COBRA costs so much. My daughter cannot even get health insurance till now due to a pre-existing condition. Hopefully you will now be eligible for something more affordable.

BTW, individual states can make it cheaper or more expensive for your coverage. If they don't accept the Federal exchanges, for instance. So if you live in a red state your leaders may cost you more with their refusal to go along.

[Redwahine]

Wether it is Red or Blue state, it's screwy. I currently pay $750 per month just for me through my DH's company's retirement plan. I have a pre existing condition. With the new "affordable" plans mine will be more expensive with higher deductibles and less coverage and my current doctors and the medical center will not accept that brand insurance.