Being an ex-self payer, I understand all too well the problems associated, my wife just quit her business and a paycut, to take a similar job with the State, sole purpose, Health Insurance. I posted this in another thread dealing with the same issue. ---------------------------------- Is there some language in this bill that caps what an Insurance company can charge for premiums? The op stated that Insurance companies can no longer drop you if you get sick, I never knew they could do that (actually I think it's illegible), they just keep jacking the rates until you can not afford them, so you are forced into downsizing your coverage plan, increasing deductibles all the time with a max out pay looming over your head. They can force the Insurance Companies to do whatever they want, but those Insurance Companies will not offer a product that statistically loses money. They will jack the price and since you have a federal gun pointed at your head you will be forced to pay it. In my state, Oklahoma, no one is denied insurance coverage, once you have been turned down by 2 different companies for health reasons, you can apply to the state, they have a high risk pool that is subsidized. You can get the same coverage with just a slightly higher premium. Imho, any public option needs to be along these lines, availability to those who do not qualify on their own. Limits could be imposed on the Insurance Co's as to what conditions would dictate denial of coverage. http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=2679457#post2679457
Bigarrow typifies the wrongheaded thinking of americans who buy liberal crap. 1. He thinks medicare is solvent. It isn't and with this plan its about to get worse. People like this don't really care the government has to print money to keep medicare going, all they want is for government to take care of their problems. 2. He thinks medicare doesn't limit treatments. Goverernment run care is all about red tape, delays, and cost cutting option limiting. Again typical of the delusional thinking of people who think big daddy liberal should take care of them. Sadly there are too many, this will end badly with severly limited health care due to an impoverished government and people. Many lefties don't care about that, they want it to fit their definition of fair, but this guy is in for a shocker when he finds out he eventually will get less for more money.
Mav Mav Mav again you show your inability to read or comprehend. Your #1 "people like this" what do you mean. Small business owners who make payroll every Friday and pay taxes and buy equipment and invest most of their money to keep the business going and their employees working, do you mean that kind of people? Because that is the kind of people I am, no government handouts here fella. #2 All treatments are limited, there is no such thing as unlimited treatments, except for maybe the Bill Gates of the world. I do know that there are restrictions with health insurance, read "limit treatments". Bottom line is I and most do not trust the insurance companies. You probably don't realize that most of the protection you have with the insurance companies is because of legislation that forces the insurance company to do what is right, because they screwed customers in the past. And you failed to read and comprehend that I said I would pay a "premium" to be under medicare. Do you know what that means, I would pay more. There are probably many like me. This would help the bottom line of medicare. I don't think you know anyone on medicare, the ones I know are very satisfied and the service is fast. The wrongheaded thinking is on your side my friend.
Simple public option that even Republicans could/should support. Figure the government cost of medicare insurance add 5% so as not to be an unfair advantage to private companies, and offer the plan to "ALL" who want it and let the chips fall where they may. If medicare is more expensive than private insurance then they shouldn't have much to worry about, if it is less then they need to cut premiums to compete. Simple, no cost, no fuss public option that would keep insurance companies a little more honest and help shore up our medicare plan. If we're lucky we will all be on medicare someday. Why haven't the Republicans put a plan like this out there? Or the Democrats?
I know people on medicare and medicaid. The medicaid folks face blackouts (non covered months) due to funding shortfalls. The medicare and medicaid folks I know have limited choices in doctors because medicare limits payments. Do you trust government? I don't. I'd rather take an insurance company to court than the government. Just recently I helped a relative with disability benefits, the person currently is receiving private benefits through UNUM and has applied for SSID. We talked with an attorney about how to best get continued benefits as there is a decision point. The attorney was emphatic that UNUM was far easier to get benefits from than SSID. It is well known that almost all SSID applicants are rejected and must get attorneys. If you think government is like some benevolent big daddy you are tragically niave. Oh, you'll be paying all right, you'll be paying in more than just cash too. It's quite simple really, the government destroys the marketplace because people think medicine is a right. Since we are so fat, sick, and old there is 0 chance everyone can have all they want under system that is perceived by many as 'free' but really costs a lot, and there will be zero chance that producers will innovate and bring price down because they will be stifled by socialist policies.
My sister is on SSID. She was injured in a car wreck and the insurance company of the car at fault didn't pay her medicial bills. If it wasn't for government paying the medical she would of been up a creek, she is still in bad shape. She didn't have to hire a lawyer to get ssid. She did have a lawyer against the insurance company though. The insurance co. held out longer than her lawyer. She was in no shape physically, emotionally or financially to fight the insurance co. I do trust our government more than the insurance companies. tragically niave
I don`t trust you with control over the government/initiating violence to get me to pay for yout medical treatment. Is it right to make me pay for other peoples medical treatment(regulation that forces insurance companies to provide equal coverage to everyone regardless, just like universal healthcare). Can`t you pay a premium, without forcing others to pay to/join the same pool as you?
The point with the reform, is that does who don`t buy/pay for insurance today, are going to get it for free/heavily subsidized, at other peoples expense.
I think you got a little worked up loik. Try to have an open mind when looking at these issues, it'll calm you down.