The US Private Healthcare System fails again

[Riot]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

She had the ability, she just didn't do it.

Really? Find a private US insurance firm that will write a travel insurance policy for an elite athlete competing in that dangerous sport, then let us know the cost.

Although I just realized: that will be available by the end of next year, due to Obamacares. The ACA exchanges kick in next year, and will be fully functional by the end. So there will be insurance companies (probably the non-profits on the exchanges) that will start writing high-risk policies.

People have said that the above provision, that of allowing non-profit insurance companies to enter the exchange market, will do for healthcare opportunity costs what Medicare currently does. As the non--profits don't have to gouge for a profit-margin (like Medicare, which is much less expensive to deliver than private insurance) - they will be able to undercut the for-profits markedly for both healthy and unhealthy patients.

Now Riot, how will the millions of illegals living here be handled under Obamacare. Will they:

Just the same way they are now. They are here illegally.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Danzig

our medical industry as a whole needs serious attention. obamacare isn't a solution.

It's a darn good start. As it is being implemented, the surprise benefits are wonderful.

It has already insured 10 million Americans who didn't have insurance last year, at affordable prices on the temporary exchanges. Lowered prices for the elderly. Cut Medicare waste by $500 billion over 10 years. Removed the ability of your insurance company to rescind coverage from you, and removed lifetime caps on your coverage so you can no longer have your insurance say, "sorry, we won't pay for your heart disease any more, your limit has been reached".

Once the open exchanges kick in next year, and the non-profits take away the business from the profit-mongers (whose profit has been limited by the ACA to 80-90% of paid premiums, refunds going out to many Americans) healthcare costs will drop markedly for everyone over the next few years. Outstanding.

Some of the non-profits have the highest medicare supplement premiums in the country. You're delusional as usual.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

Some of the non-profits have the highest medicare supplement premiums in the country. You're delusional as usual.

Let's remove your useless bi.tchy snark, and try again:

Some of the non-profits have the highest medicare supplement premiums in the country.

Yes. But that will change once the current competition environment changes.

It won't change and will eventually skyrocket because 'tards ( the ones you want to protect) won't get coverage and the expense will be added to the pool. The "tax" won't cover it

Now take your pro-Obama horses.hit and shove it, b.itch. I'm tired of your flouride-ridden drivel.

[Danzig]

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/20...er-sarah-burke


in the article it discusses the medical bills (totals revised downwards), insurance that could have been purchased, that canada does pay the medical bills of it's citizens when they are treated outside the country (but off canada's price list-you'd have to pay the difference if it's higher)etc.
note that the lowered bill is more than covered by donations.

i find it odd that people would donate-i have no doubt that this young lady had funds to pay bills. she wasn't a down on her luck person, but a sponsored olympic champ. but what people do with their money is their business.


as for people here declaring bankruptcy due to medical-people here declare bankruptcy for a variety of reasons. perhaps the bankruptcy laws are too lenient? people become awash in debt for many reasons, so like the catholic church, do a bit of penance and you're good to go. many don't declare even when faced with high bills-they pay what they can when they can.

Originally Posted by Riot

Let's remove your useless bi.tchy snark, and try again:



Yes. But that will change once the current competition environment changes.

I cannot believe that you would complain to a moderator about my abusive language yet use the same type of language in your posts.

You are a disgrace to disingenuous liberals nationwide. For shame.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

I cannot believe that you would complain to a moderator about my abusive language yet use the same type of language in your posts.

You are a disgrace to disingenuous liberals nationwide. For shame.

just apologize to the board and it'll be ok.

I would like to apologize to the board for calling Riot some of her many nicknames. Many times in the past I have called her these nicknames and she took them with a badge of honor. Now it seems she's gone socially conservative on us.

Oh lawd. Please forgive me. Ah have sinned.

[Danzig]

its-too-late-to-apologize.jpg

[Riot]

What the MSNBC story updates show is the biggest ongoing negative of our "private" healthcare system - the most expensive in the world.

This person is covered by her Canadian insurance 100% for out of country problems, but only up to the point that the same services would cost in that country. As our healthcare is the most expensive in the world, even with the revised downward cost total (that's good news), our costs still leave thousands to be privately covered privately.

Thank goodness the fans have more than covered this.

And the typical "who will pay" fight among the insurance companies remain. Let's hope it comes out in favor of the family, and not the insurance companies.

Shows our healthcare costs do need to be addressed - why do our citizens pay much more than every other first world country for healthcare, and yet our quality is not even rated in the Top 25 internationally?

Glad to see that athletes do have national organizations that provide high-risk insurance to them. But obviously, the gap between the national org. not covering her as it wasn't a national org. approved event, sponsors of small events don't buy coverage for the athletes they invite - shines a spotlight on the athletes being left hanging.

as for people here declaring bankruptcy due to medical-people here declare bankruptcy for a variety of reasons. perhaps the bankruptcy laws are too lenient?

Rather than our healthcare being too expensive, and our insurance companies being allowed not to pay what they contracted for?

The overall point is: it's terribly sad that, within our convoluted and expensive private healthcare system, the stories surrounding the unfortunate death of a promising young athlete during sport highlight, not her career, but the intracacies and complications of who can, and cannot, be free of deep concerns about paying for costly medical treatment in the event of sudden life-threatening trauma in America.

[Clip-Clop]

Originally Posted by Riot

What the MSNBC story updates show is the biggest ongoing negative of our "private" healthcare system - the most expensive in the world.

This person is covered by her Canadian insurance 100% for out of country problems, but only up to the point that the same services would cost in that country. As our healthcare is the most expensive in the world, even with the revised downward cost total (that's good news), our costs still leave thousands to be privately covered privately.

Thank goodness the fans have more than covered this.

And the typical "who will pay" fight among the insurance companies remain. Let's hope it comes out in favor of the family, and not the insurance companies.

Shows our healthcare costs do need to be addressed - why do our citizens pay much more than every other first world country for healthcare, and yet our quality is not even rated in the Top 25 internationally?

Glad to see that athletes do have national organizations that provide high-risk insurance to them. But obviously, the gap between the national org. not covering her as it wasn't a national org. approved event, sponsors of small events don't buy coverage for the athletes they invite - shines a spotlight on the athletes being left hanging.



Rather than our healthcare being too expensive, and our insurance companies being allowed not to pay what they contracted for?

The overall point is: it's terribly sad that, within our convoluted and expensive private healthcare system, the stories surrounding the unfortunate death of a promising young athlete during sport highlight, not her career, but the intracacies and complications of who can, and cannot, be free of deep concerns about paying for costly medical treatment in the event of sudden life-threatening trauma in America.

She was practicing, not an event. Training.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Clip-Clop

She was practicing, not an event. Training.

Wow. That adds another layer of confusion with the "non-national org." "sponsored event invite" type of thing.

It's just still a terrible tragedy she lost her life.

And all the stories highlight the convoluted discussion of "who will pay". We shouldn't even need to have that discussion, or there be any worry about it!

[Clip-Clop]

I snowboard often. I live very near the most difficult and dangerous mountains in the country. If I get seriously injured and require a lot of care because I choose to risk my life for the sport that I love doing, why should I expect anyone to pick up the tab? The same way a smoker or an obese person should be responsible for themselves and the choices they make, though I would be more likely to die quickly as opposed to being a drain on society for a long time.

[Clip-Clop]

Originally Posted by Riot

Wow. That adds another layer of confusion with the "non-national org." "sponsored event invite" type of thing.

It's just still a terrible tragedy she lost her life.

I agree with the tragedy, these are my people. Didn't know her personally but I know many people of the ilk.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Clip-Clop

I snowboard often. I live very near the most difficult and dangerous mountains in the country. If I get seriously injured and require a lot of care because I choose to risk my life for the sport that I love doing, why should I expect anyone to pick up the tab? The same way a smoker or an obese person should be responsible for themselves and the choices they make, though I would be more likely to die quickly as opposed to being a drain on society for a long time.

Nobody is talking about others "picking up the tab" - it's about paying for insurance, and being covered in the event of tragedy.

Canadians each pay into their system about the percentage of their income that we do for our elder Medicare coverage. Yet they are covered 100% from cradle to grave, and we only use that same amount of money to pay for some services for those 65-68 and older.

I don't want the government to take over providing the actual health care (let that remain private), but why is our healthcare so expensive, and so much isn't paid for, and we have millions that don't even have healthcare access, when every other first world country does it more affordably, completely, and at higher quality?

Because we are the only first-world country that pays private people to insure us, and they only make a profit when they do not pay for what we are contracting! So bass-ackwards ....

[Clip-Clop]

Originally Posted by Riot

Nobody is talking about others "picking up the tab" - it's about paying for insurance, and being covered in the event of tragedy.

But what is to be done about people, whether it be me (action sports), or the people of Mississippi (obesity), that put themselves in harms way? How will this be evaluated and why would a milquetoast or gym rat that in no way voluntarily has any risk in their lives pay their "fair share"?

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Clip-Clop

I agree with the tragedy, these are my people. Didn't know her personally but I know many people of the ilk.

At least, yes, you are doing what you love to do.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Clip-Clop

But what is to be done about people, whether it be me (action sports), or the people of Mississippi (obesity), that put themselves in harms way? How will this be evaluated and why would a milquetoast or gym rat that in no way voluntarily has any risk in their lives pay their "fair share"?

One extreme: places like Canada, France, England, etc. (that have more highly rated and less expensive healthcare than the US) decide that everyone pays in an equal amount once they reach adulthood, and everybody gets everything paid for cradle to grave.

Then it goes down to our type of private system, where private insurance companies charge more, or refuse to pay for some things at all, or refuse to pay after the fact for some things, or $50 million can't afford to participate in the "healthcare system" at all.

That's exactly what all the "healthcare fight" is about in this country. What system to we want for ourselves?

I have severe asthma, but over the past five years have made changes that have enabled me to get off $400/month (copays) of multiple daily asthma meds (that I was on for 10 years). I only use meds in an emergency now, maybe once a year. But I still was being charged hundreds extra than other people without asthma pay, but was still unable to be covered for any health problem that could be remotely associated with allergy, ever, for the rest of my life.

Obamacares changed that. Through the temporary exchanges, now I pay a reasonable amount of several hundred a month, and my health insurance covers everything.

Obamacares allows funding for each individual state to set up and run their own state-specific insurance plan, with basic needs having to be required. But there are some governors (all republican) that have sent that funding back to the feds. The law says they will still have to have the healthcare exchanges, but now they will get the generic federal one.

Meantime, Vermont just voted to use their funding to develop all-inclusive single payer full coverage for every citizen. Looks like moving to Vermont will be a better deal than moving to a Republican state with a generic health plan!

[Clip-Clop]

Originally Posted by Riot

Nobody is talking about others "picking up the tab" - it's about paying for insurance, and being covered in the event of tragedy.

Canadians each pay into their system about the percentage of their income that we do for our elder Medicare coverage. Yet they are covered 100% from cradle to grave, and we only use that same amount of money to pay for some services for those 65-68 and older.

I don't want the government to take over providing the actual health care (let that remain private), but why is our healthcare so expensive, and so much isn't paid for, and we have millions that don't even have healthcare access, when every other first world country does it more affordably, completely, and at higher quality?

Because we are the only first-world country that pays private people to insure us, and they only make a profit when they do not pay for what we are contracting! So bass-ackwards ....

We are talking about countries no larger than Texas in most cases. I have no problems with my insurance companies, they do an excellent job. I paid about $900 out of pocket for a shoulder surgery I had last year and was happy to do so. Total tab was around $22K after all was said and done.