Author Topic: Talking Heads - Healthcare Reform (Read 102576 times)

pedln · « **Reply #640 on:** February 04, 2010, 06:42:27 PM »

Annie, I had trouble clicking the link, so copied it instead and put it in the URL bar. Worked fine. This site is about the 17,000 doctors in favor of a single-payer system, or a Medicare for All system. It makes sense to me, but it would be a long time coming. In the meantime, much as I would like to see total health care reform, there are urgent health items that can be done piecemeal, and should be done as soon as possible. The issues of policy cancellation and pre-existing conditions are crucial and should be at the top of the list.

ANNIE · « **Reply #641 on:** February 04, 2010, 08:18:33 PM »

Belle,
Here's a better link. I can not open the one that I left here either.
http://www.pnhp.org/facts/single-payer-resources

bellemere · « **Reply #642 on:** February 04, 2010, 09:21:43 PM »

Dr. Steffie Woolhandler (love that name) has been a long time advocate of single payer health care. She teaches at Harvard School of Public Health. I heard her speak along with a Canadian and a French doctor a few years back
I remember the French doctor saying that he inserts the patients' ID card into a reader and the entire health history comes up on the screen After the appointment, the doctor punches in a code for the procedure or treatment and the bill is paid in 30 days or less.
At the dermatologist practice last week (5 doctors)I counted 30 women in front of computers in the front office; an untold number running around in a back office, at least two nurses for each doctor; three physician assistants, and that is just what I could see. Imagine this replicated thousands and thousands of times. And how many people in the insurance companies on the other end? Staggering.
But the sensible solution of Medicare buy-ins for people with jobs and Medicaid subsidies for people without, will never happen. All we can do is nibble around the edges of this crazy system and try to keep up with our rising payments and reduced coverage.
The news gave some time to the convention of the Tea Party, actually more than one tea party and we learnede that it cost 500 to attnd One person came in full Sottish regalia, kilt and tam the whole works. \

bellemere · « **Reply #643 on:** February 04, 2010, 09:23:56 PM »

forgot to thank Annie for pointing out the Physicians site.

nlhome · « **Reply #644 on:** February 04, 2010, 09:27:30 PM »

Bellemere, I saw that news article. I have the impression that those particular tea partiers are being exploited.

ANNIE · « **Reply #645 on:** February 05, 2010, 07:39:24 AM »

Seems like a third party is not a good idea. Remember the Perot Party??

bellemere · « **Reply #646 on:** February 05, 2010, 09:30:56 AM »

I am trying to pin down the cause of so much anger and fear. Even the staggering deficit resulting from the Iraq war didn't cause such concern. One "pundit" thinks the unhappy people are the same people who, in the 60's, could not support any antiwar efforts; thougth the civil rights people were asking "too much, too fast" and were shocked and repelled by the "sexual revolution" (some aspects of that shocked me, too, and still do)
Remeber the McCarthy era, when the Hearst papers and others used "communism" to whip up hysteria in a confused and fearful public? Now we have the same activity on radio and TV. Plus witnessing the huge technological changes that were so hard to understand and accept.
The more things change, the more they stay the same?

ANNIE · « **Reply #647 on:** February 05, 2010, 06:35:42 PM »

HERE'S AN INTERESTING LINK ABOUT BILL MOYER'S PROGRAM TONIGHT.

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/02052010/profile3.html

maryz · « **Reply #648 on:** February 05, 2010, 10:42:19 PM »

We were out this evening, but Moyers is recorded for us to watch tomorrow. We never miss his Journal.

bellemere · « **Reply #649 on:** February 10, 2010, 02:05:01 PM »

Preview of coming attractions: the 800,000 Blue Cross subscribers in California who just saw their premiums go up by 39 percent while the parent company reported profits last year of 2 1/2 BILLION dollars. No government interference there, for sure. We can all expect similar treatment if the health care reform bill does not pass. God Bless America.

ANNIE · « **Reply #650 on:** February 11, 2010, 08:08:44 AM »

MaryZ
Glad you were able to see the Moyers program. What did you think of it?

Belle,
Ours goes up every year. This year its new monthly amount is $625. That's $7500 a year. This is my supplementary insurance. I also have Medicare(original) which went up this year,too. The parent company involved here is Lockheed-Martin plus Aetna. This is all due to the LM company refusing to recognize my husband's employment time. I feel lucky to have anything.

maryz · « **Reply #651 on:** February 11, 2010, 09:24:58 AM »

Interesting, as always, AdoAnnie. He does find interesting, well-spoken, non-screaming people.

Guess I'll record it again tomorrow and watch the Olympics opening. Or maybe the other way around - then I can fast-forward through the commercials.

Babi · « **Reply #652 on:** February 12, 2010, 08:39:32 AM »

BELLE and ANNIE, perhaps it's time to write your congressmen again,
pointing out these facts. Both of your posts would be good reminders
of their responsibility to protect their constituents. A 39% premium
boost ought to be illegal.

nlhome · « **Reply #653 on:** February 13, 2010, 08:22:53 PM »

AdoAnnie, have you ever talked with a SHIP counselor in your state to see what other options you have for your supplemental coverage?

ANNIE · « **Reply #654 on:** February 14, 2010, 08:56:01 AM »

nlhome,
What is a SHIP counselor?? No, I haven't but if its possible to reduce our montly fees for medical, I would certainly be interested.

nlhome · « **Reply #655 on:** February 14, 2010, 09:57:56 AM »

The SHIP program is a system of volunteer and paid counselors who help people with their Medicare and supplement issues. You can find your main number on the Medicare site, and I believe it's also in the Medicare and You book. It is the state health insurance counseling and assistance program. Each state does it a little differently, so I can't say exactly what information you will get, but it's free and confidential and neutral counseling and help. In our state, people who have trouble paying for their supplemental coverage can call and get information on alternatives that may cost less but still provide good coverage. It never hurts to check.
You can go to www.shiptalk.org, and on the leftside of the page there is a way to search for your state's main office, it should be a toll-free number or website.

Steph · « **Reply #656 on:** February 15, 2010, 06:10:31 AM »

Thats downright interesting and I may take advantage of it to get this bill and accident stuff straight.

Babi · « **Reply #657 on:** February 15, 2010, 09:10:42 AM »

Good advice, NL. Looking for an alternative insurerer is the first
thing I do if a current provider...of anything...raised their rates so
outrageously. I don't continue with any program that I feel is gouging
me. That includes insurance companies, energy companies, credit cards and health care providers. With rates like that, I'm surprised Blue Cross
hasn't lost all it's customers!

bellemere · « **Reply #658 on:** February 26, 2010, 11:53:49 AM »

Have you been asked what you think of the Health Care Reform by any pollster_ I haven-t Nor any of myt famioly and friends. and yet theRepublicans keep trum,peting The American People oppose this bill. Obver and over they refer to The American People. Did they poll in the poor neighborhoods of big cities or the very rural areas where poor pdople live and go without health insurance- I think the carefully tailored their audeience to the well to do, in order to get the response they wanted to their polls. But government is not by poll. I hope the administraion does use the so called recondiliationmethod to pass the bill by majority vote.. the same method was used to pass the Bush tax cuts for wealthey people. Nobody asked me about those, either.

nlhome · « **Reply #659 on:** February 26, 2010, 07:35:35 PM »

I know that one of our Senators says that he is constantly asked for "tallies" on the calls he gets on this subject, for and against. He was speaking to a group of constituents who mostly favored reform, and he suggested that they get people to contact him. I think people are more apt to contact Congress when they are against something rather than when they are for something, and I suspect, although I have no facts, that many of those against reform are listening to the emotional talking points against rather than the facts. I know that those who talk to me about how awful the reform is are woefully uninformed, to the point that some believe the reform has gone through already and that's why they are having problems with their insurance coverage.

Steph · « **Reply #660 on:** February 27, 2010, 06:00:59 AM »

Yes, I have noticed that my emails from conservative friends tend to be uninformed or worse yet.. informed by very inaccurate ideas. Amazing the stories floating around.. Still insisting on this.. The US has the best health care in the world....just not true, but they get so indignant if you bring it up.

Babi · « **Reply #661 on:** February 27, 2010, 09:04:55 AM »

Ladies and gentlemen, may I hesitantly suggest that we have ridden this
horse almost to death. Surely there are other topics of interest waiting
out there to engage our minds. Is there really any new information for us
in this one? How say you?

nlhome · « **Reply #662 on:** February 27, 2010, 12:52:26 PM »

Well, things have heated up again, and there is a possibility that something actually will get passed. It will be interesting to watch.

As this is more a books discussion site rather than current events, maybe it is time to find something new. However, we should not forget how important it is to keep in contact with those who govern us.

Me, I am looking for a few good States(wo)men. We've discussed several who have been such in our history - will we see any come out of this current Congress?

Babi · « **Reply #663 on:** February 28, 2010, 08:24:14 AM »

Actually, hasn't this always been a site where topics of interest found in magazine articles are
discussed? Sometimes it's current events, other times just whatever looks interesting.
Anybody know why a Hopi reservaton is sitting inside a Navajo reservation? Can anybody
explain the term 'top down Calvinism' to me?

I hope you are right, NL, and something will get passed. Do you know anything about a
the new govt. (?) programs that are springing up, advertising coverage for 'about' $3.
a day?

ANNIE · « **Reply #664 on:** February 28, 2010, 10:12:54 AM »

Wow, Babi, where did you see that? Give us a link!

nlhome · « **Reply #665 on:** February 28, 2010, 01:00:49 PM »

$3 a day/$90 a month? Sounds like a discount plan to me, and certainly not a government plan.

Unless the ads are a come-on for a Medicare Advantage plan, because this is the open enrollment for people who want to get into or out of Medicare Advantage (Medicare Health Plan). Those are the plans that people choose to get their entire Medicare coverage from a private company. Some of these plans are really good; others are not so good because they have high co-pays and high out-of-pocket maximums so that people with a lot of illnesses spend more than if they were in original Medicare plus a Medicare supplement. The open enrollment period ends March 31, so expect to see some ads advising "act now" but of course, unless you really want to change plans, it's probably not necessary.

The Medicare Advantage plans are part of the reason that Medicare is losing money so fast, as they cost Medicare more per person that original Medicare.

bellemere · « **Reply #666 on:** February 28, 2010, 04:48:53 PM »

Babi, we do seem to have chewed this over pretty much. but as NLhome says, it is just getting to the final home stretch. Maybe once it is either passed or defeated, we could ask our administrator to table it for a while, maybe even a year and then call us back to discuss what we see as the pros and cons of the passage-or nonpassage of Health Care Reform.
I nderstand the oppostition plan strts with malpractice reform,
capping awards, and the cpngressional budget people have estimated this will restrain costs by less than one half of one percent.
Dont forget to keep calling those offices. the count a phone call as worth ten emailis.
On my way home tomorrow from Mexico, where a doctor charges fifty dollars for a house or hotel call.

Babi · « **Reply #667 on:** March 01, 2010, 08:23:17 AM »

Can't, ANNIE. It's something I've been seeing advertised on TV. I
suspect NL is correct. The ads are prefaced with Obama making a speech
somewhere on the subject, and use the term "government approved" which
is not the same thing as a government plan.
This is why I wanted to know more about them. I suspect the ads are
a come-on for some less than dependable programs.

I'm willing to see this through to the end, BELLE, assuming, of course, that the end
is not far away. I see Pelosi is cracking the whip at the Democrats; I hope it helps.

(I'm having trouble posting this reply. I'll come back a little later and try again.)

Babi · « **Reply #668 on:** March 01, 2010, 08:23:48 AM »

YAY! Success!

Steph · « **Reply #669 on:** March 02, 2010, 06:06:28 AM »

There are some compelling arguements for dumping Medicare Plus. It is not what it was set out to me. A good example of how insurance companies can skew what was supposed to be a good thing. Thats why I really support the public option.. Would help to keep them in line.

ANNIE · « **Reply #670 on:** March 02, 2010, 11:25:34 AM »

You know, Steph, the thing that bothered me about all those plans that were presented to us as a choice instead of Original Medicare, like the Advantage and the Plus programs, was that the providers on their lists could stop taking the insurance that you were carrying at anytime they chose.

I guess that we should keep this folder open until the fat lady sings. Its still one of the more important things in our lives right now.

What we need is some more debt!

bellemere · « **Reply #671 on:** March 02, 2010, 04:11:37 PM »

Our governor, Deval Patrick has the guts to tell health care providers there are going to be caps on what the state will pay them for services. Do they not realize what controlling costs means? It means they are going to make less money. Maybe fewer staff, with computerized records replacing dozens of people pounding on computers in the back office. Less purchases of expensive technology and maybe sharing arrangements for MRI's etc. Maybe lower salaries for administrators. Maybe postponed capital improvements: one of our hospitals just spent millions on very fancy private rooms and closed its adolescent psych residential service. Maybe less glamourous marketing, fewer three color newsletters and expensive fund drives
yes, only a real publci option would force them to reduce their overhead costs to bare bones, but it is not gonna happen.

Steph · « **Reply #672 on:** March 03, 2010, 06:06:20 AM »

Yes, I realized the other day when my daughter in law and I went to Orlando, that nowadays the only cranes in town are at the two major hospital complexes. Several years ago there were at least 10 cranes busy building various high rise residentials and commercials. Nobody has money now except hospitals. Something wrong with this picture.

ANNIE · « **Reply #673 on:** March 03, 2010, 07:12:41 AM »

Back in the '80's, Red Skelton was appearing in Atlanta. At that time, Atlanta was experiencing a building boom. The first lines out of his mouth were:
"You know know they out to make the crane the state bird. There's one on every corner here."

ginny · « **Reply #674 on:** March 03, 2010, 07:29:21 AM »

Yes we need to leave this open until, in the immortal words of our own Pat, Congress gets its act together.

We'll be opening, however, a new Talking Heads to run concurrently this weekend, which will have a shorter run on another topic.

Having just come off COBRA, I wonder sincerely how anybody manages. If a young person has been laid off or fired how on earth does he afford those premiums? Ours ( my husband retired on December 31 and his health program did not retire with him) were $1,300 a month. How on earth does any young person with a mortgage no job and children to educate manage COBRA? Yet that's what everybody says, oh get COBRA, no problem, just get COBRA. And starve?

And then there's the Advantage Plans mentioned above. You get Medicare A if you want Medicare. Then you must pay for B, if you want an Advantage Plan (drugs, dentist) you have to have B. B does not include prescription drugs so you need, variously, D, C or other letters or an Advantage plan. The new Supplementary plans, which are different from Advantage Plans, do not include drugs. I have read more materials, studied more spreadsheets, read entire BOOKS, talked to Medicare, the State Ombudsman for this stuff, Social Security, enough research to have a PhD and still at the end I know almost less than I did when I started. IF you get a good/ smart person at Medicare, they can answer your questions.

IF you don't, and you get somebody reading the same spreadsheet you have in your hand it's no help.

The Medicare Advantage plans vary by county and state. You can look yours up on the Medicare website, which IS useful. Some doctors as AdoAnnie mentioned above can drop that plan, not you, that plan, I guess it's about the same thing, tho: they dislike being harassed I guess. Here locally we have doctors who won't take two famous companies we've all heard of. Why I don't know but they won't.

The good thing about the Medicare sponsored Advantage plans is you can change once a year and cannot be denied. That's the good part, unless you have end stage renal disease and are on dialysis, if so there are special plans. I've got the mantra memorized.

Can you deduct from your taxes what you have to pay IN for B?

ANNIE · « **Reply #675 on:** March 03, 2010, 08:15:42 AM »

Ginny,
Yes, you can, if the IRS doesn't notice! hahaha!
We have been in both positions where you and Winston were yesterday and you are absolutely right about calling everyone in the world before making a decision. I complained about our supplementery plan which includes Rx's at $625 a month for the two of us. But, if you take out an Advantage plus plan which covers Rx's, you will have the donut hole of $4500?? to pay-plus your monthly cost of $240 a month just to be on the whole plan. And you will be paying somewhere the same amount that we are, IF you are taking many Rx's. Ralph has one med that he is on that costs our company $1700 for a 90-day prescription. We only had to pay a $40 co-payment for that. And there are other non-generic drugs that many folks have to take to keep them going that cost more than that.
We,too, have several insurance companies that the drs here will not honor. Even Medicare is now refusing to pay what they were paying to some drs. The drs took them to court. I don't know who won.

Babi · « **Reply #676 on:** March 03, 2010, 09:00:58 AM »

Why, of course, GINNY! Why did no one think of that before? Simply run a concurrent site for
another Talking Heads topic. Well, I always knew you were brilliant.

I'm beginning to realize, ANNIE, that my low prescription costs are probably why I am doing
so well with my Advantage plan. I haven't needed any supplemental plans and my costs have
been minimal, thank goodness!

nlhome · « **Reply #677 on:** March 03, 2010, 01:25:00 PM »

Healthy people do well in Medicare Advantage plans. The problem is, as people age they usually get less healthy, or they develop chronic illnesses or cancer, and then those Advantage plans can become very expensive. And by that time, it's difficult to move into a Medicare supplement unless certain things happen that give a person guarantee issue.

maryz · « **Reply #678 on:** March 03, 2010, 03:50:31 PM »

Ginny, will you be posting a link to the new Talking Heads discussion?

ginny · « **Reply #679 on:** March 03, 2010, 04:33:31 PM »

Yes, I will, and Jane will feature it in the Newsline too.

There better not be any donut holes in our insurance! There's nothing mentioned about them now and I asked the agent ( of course you have to call the insurance co to get more info) about the Medicare projected out of pocket costs thing, too. So far there's no 240 a month costs either, but maybe different states have different rates.

We'll find out, it may be the hard way, in for a penny (literally).

Of course we don't have any $1700 prescriptions either, bless his heart, Ann.

News:

Author Topic: Talking Heads - Healthcare Reform (Read 102576 times)