Talk of insurance mandate growing

momandstudent · May 21, 2009, 06:46 PM

Re: Talk of insurance mandate growing

"I would not have 3 kids if I could really only afford to insure ONE.. But that is ME, I tend to think logically.. I only buy and own what I can afford without debt."

All I can say is I hope nothing like this ever happens to you if and when you have children (or child). I am guessing that you have never had the rug slipped out from under you. Just a guess. Well, we did-just like so many other Americans. Heck...just like so many others on this site. When I was younger, I too had no debt and only bought things that I could afford. That was before we had our children. Am I happy that I have debt and am currently struggling during these difficult times? H*** no, but I have daily reminders of why I have debt now. Three very beautiful faces that I will always try my hardest to provide for and I will make darn sure they are taken care of.

DrugReptoNurse · May 21, 2009, 06:50 PM

Re: Talk of insurance mandate growing

Must of been one hell of slippery rug to have 3 kids by mistake

lovebugstudentnurse · May 21, 2009, 07:05 PM

Re: Talk of insurance mandate growing

Originally Posted by DrugReptoNurse

Must of been one hell of slippery rug to have 3 kids by mistake

It isn't a question of how they get here, its a question of whether or not you predicted the fast growing costs of insurance and care for them or anyone else in your family. It works both ways: my mother didn't anticipate spending thousands a month on my grandmother because when she was young and living in the UK, people got sick and died quickly. Period. There was no "cost" to care. They died at home.

I think its overly convenient to argue that you wouldn't have them if you couldn't afford to insure them unless of course you have some kind of crystal ball that lets you know how much every single thing would cost.

chihmom8 · May 21, 2009, 07:08 PM

Re: Talk of insurance mandate growing

There are so many factors other than "greedy insurance companies", that go into the cost of health care. I was hospitalized long-term 2 yrs ago. The cost of my bill? Nearly $100,000, which is what I would have had to pay had I not had insurance. Insurance paid all but my ded & co-pay totalling $1500. Did the insurance company pay $100k? Absolutely not. They paid only $25k, based on contract prices, etc. Why the mark-up and disparity for private payers? Same service and private payer would pay $100k, but insurance pays $25k.

Plus, I take two prescriptions for asthma. I tried making arrangements ahead of time to take the meds with me so that I would not have to pay hospital prices. Would they let me? NO. So, they charged $120/pill each day plus $200/inhaler treatment. That is a rip-off. I understand that the nurses need to know what meds you are taking, etc, but I tried to make arrangements ahead of time, and even said they could hold onto them to monitor, but it is against hospital policy, so I was charged insane amounts to cover the extra meds.

I agree with those who say costs needs to be regulated. Why in Canada is my same prescription from the same manufacturer 1/4 the cost I pay here in the US? And no, it has nothing to do with insurance. I did some research and found out a lot of info about how pharma co's lobby to extend patents to keep raking in money long past expiration dates here in US. Ridiculous. I have had to quit buying one of my meds because I simply can't afford it...even with insurance!

I honestly don't think insurance companies are to blame completely for this mess, there is enough blame to go around and until ALL areas are addressed nothing will change.

AZ_RN2B · May 21, 2009, 07:13 PM

Re: Talk of insurance mandate growing

Originally Posted by stephenfnielsen

This very well might be the most complicated subject for the USA since slavery. It is so much more than meets the eye. Is health care a right or a privilege? Should the government support (monetarily) things that large factions of the country don't agree with (circumcision, octomom-ism, stem-cell treatment, elective abortion, sex-change, suicide, and on and on!). There will be blood!

My guess is that any government-run insurance would not pay for any of the above because they would not be considered "essential" medical procedures. You'd still have to pay for these things on your own. And put me down in the camp that believes that access to basic essential health care is a right, the same as a right to a basic public education. It shouldn't come down to how much money you have or don't have.

multicollinearity · May 21, 2009, 07:33 PM

Re: Talk of insurance mandate growing

Originally Posted by DrugReptoNurse
Last time I checked cell phone bills were running $100 a month. You can get HEALTH INSURANCE for less than that.

Originally Posted by multicollinearity

Only if you are a male under 25 years of age who has zero pre-existing conditions. And that rate will go up, quickly. The average health insurance policy for a family is $12,300 per year. (Hint, I'm an insurance agent.)

In hindsight, I should have said you can't get a policy for less than $100 per month that is a real health insurance policy. Yes, you can get a "limited benefit" plan on the cheap for less than $100 per month that leaves you exposed to hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills. You know, one of those policies that won't cover chemotherapy or MRIs or physical therapy or prescription medications or doctors' office visits.

One of those policies that means you'll end up on medicaid if you have a big health problem (unless you have ~200k in the bank to pay for medical adventures). That's not what I call "real" health insurance. "Limited benefit" health coverage is not a solution, it is an insurance card in your wallet masquerading as "health insurance." It's insurance companies offering cheap and confusing plans that rely on the public medicaid system to pick up catastrophic bills.

I keep "harping" on this because these "limited benefit" policies are exploding in the individual health insurance marketplace, and most people have no idea just how bad they are. These are the plans being advertised on certain AM radio shows and being offered by the largest players in the individual health insurance market. Plans made for bankruptcy court.

tnstaafl.

DrugReptoNurse · May 21, 2009, 07:42 PM

Re: Talk of insurance mandate growing

"limited benefit" plan on the cheap for less than $100 per month that leaves you exposed to hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills. You know, one of those policies that won't cover chemotherapy or MRIs or physical therapy or prescription medications or doctors' office visits. One of those policies that means you'll end up on medicaid if you have a big health problem (unless you have ~200k in the bank to pay for medical adventures).

My policy is a limited benefits plan. I just read the fine print a few hours ago for my own reference.

It covers everything you mentioned except doctors office visits.

Yep, I get MRIs, Chemo, physical therapy and PRESCRIPTION medications.

Do some more research as your statements are flawed. After my $2500 deductible BCBS covers at 80% whatever I am charged and I pay $47 a month for me and $47 per month for my son. My total annual out of pocket will not exceed $5000 a year. Your scare tactics of going on Medicaid and filing for bankruptcy are without merit.

I am happy

multicollinearity · May 21, 2009, 07:49 PM

Re: Talk of insurance mandate growing

Originally Posted by DrugReptoNurse

"limited benefit" plan on the cheap for less than $100 per month that leaves you exposed to hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills. You know, one of those policies that won't cover chemotherapy or MRIs or physical therapy or prescription medications or doctors' office visits. One of those policies that means you'll end up on medicaid if you have a big health problem (unless you have ~200k in the bank to pay for medical adventures).

My policy is a limited benefits plan. I just read the fine print a few hours ago for my own reference.

It covers everything you mentioned except doctors office visits.

Yep, I get MRIs, Chemo, physical therapy and PRESCRIPTION medications.

Do some more research as your statements are flawed. After my $2500 deductible BCBS covers at 80% whatever I am charged and I pay $47 a month for me and $47 per month for my son. My total annual out of pocket will not exceed $5000 a year. Your scare tactics of going on Medicaid and filing for bankruptcy are without merit.

I am happy

You are in happy denial, and I don't believe you understand your policy. Most people don't. Your above statement mimics some common errors regarding what people think or assume is covered after their deductible.

According to your profile, you have an MBA. Wise up. Super cheap insurance policies are "cheap" for a reason.

tnstaafl

blue note · May 21, 2009, 08:01 PM

Re: Talk of insurance mandate growing

Originally Posted by DrugReptoNurse

You might want to take an economics and finance class before you start talking up Medicare. Just in case you haven't heard....Medicare and Social Security are both facing insolvency within 10 years if not sooner. I don't plan on either being here when I retire in 25 years and neither should you.

You might want to take a read at what Princeton economics professor Uwe Reinhardt says on this issue:

Part 1: Why Does U.S. Health Care Cost So Much? (Part IV: A Primer on Medicare)

Part 2: U.S. Health Care Costs, Part V: Can Americans Afford Medicare?

Part 3: U.S. Health Care Costs Part VI: At What Price Physician Autonomy?

Medicare is horribly ineffecient and full of fraud. I even believe shows like the liberal 60 minutes have showcased the amount of fraud in the system.

As opposed to fraud like health insurance companies illegally dropping customers and having to pay big penalties and reimbursements? Here's another one about Blue Shield and Blue Cross having to pay $13 million in fines.

Private insurers are in the business to make sure fraud doesn't happen.

Quite the opposite in fact.

They serve a purpose as middlemen. They do a good job in my opinion of eliminating waste.

Wrong. They add to the cost of health care because of indefensible administrative costs.

I prefer to stick with professionals who understand nursing/medicine even if some of you prefer to call your brothers and sisters in arms "cubicle monkeys"

This insurance company paid its senior cubicle monkey $20,000 in bonuses for "meeting or exceeding annual targets for revoking policies," about 1,600 policies between 2000 and 2006.

You are extremely naive at best if you think that insurance companies care about nursing or medicine instead of maximizing their profits at the expense of customers.

AZ_RN2B · May 21, 2009, 08:08 PM

Re: Talk of insurance mandate growing

Originally Posted by multicollinearity

You are in happy denial, and I don't believe you understand your policy. Most people don't.

According to your profile, you have an MBA. Wise up. Super cheap insurance policies are "cheap" for a reason.

tnstaafl

My wife and I now both work for a healthcare provider that is self-insured and has excellent and affordable healthcare. But we both know what it's like not to have health insurance. A few years back, when we were without health insurance, before we were working for who we are now, we both sat down with a reputable insurance agent who gave us some quotes from a few different individual health insurance plans. The figures we were quoted ran in about the $500 to $600 a month range. And we are both in relatively good health, with no chronic diseases or ongoing medical conditions. One thing working against us was our age - we were both in our early 50's. No kids at home. At that time we could not afford to pay $500 to $600 a month solely for insurance (probably not today either) so we declined on getting a policy, and just basically crossed our fingers and hoped we wouldn't get sick. I'd be leery and skeptical myself of any outfit that tells you that you can have real health insurance for less than $100 a month.

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Talk of insurance mandate growing

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