Democrats want everyone else to pay for the health care

Onekidneynurse · Nov 8, 2009

Does the fact that insurance companies advertise to Medicare recipients mean that those people NEED to purchase private insurance?
Many seniors can afford to, and do, purchase additional insurance. Many others cannot afford this additional insurance and do not purchase it. I find more people who have additional pharmacy coverage since the introduction of the "donut hole" by legislators a few years back.

Medicare doesn't pay for everything. And IF ( a very big IF) this bill goes through they will pay even less.

Are you saying that our government is rationing care to Medicare patients? Appalling.

Onekidneynurse · Nov 8, 2009

Sources?
Then again Health care reform will save us all 100 Billion over 10 years.....
sources embedded....

Oh yeah just like Massachusetts program has saved them money. NOT.

tewdles, RN · Nov 9, 2009

I do know that private insurance companies ration care...that is part of the way they insure profits. I don't know that medicare rations care and did not suggest that it does.

Onekidneynurse · Nov 9, 2009

I do know that private insurance companies ration care...that is part of the way they insure profits. I don't know that medicare rations care and did not suggest that it does.

You did suggest by saying that medicare patients purchase private health care insurance. Why woudl they do that if the government paid for everything.

www.medicare.gov then click on Medicare Premiums and Coinsurance Rates. They even have to pay a premium and isn't that your contention that there are people who can't afford healthcare insurance. And many seniors have no income nor any means to earn any income. They are much more vulnerable than a 25 year old.

Medicare for all would be a paying proposition except we'd give our money to someone who'd squander it. Past history proves that fact.

tewdles, RN · Nov 9, 2009

I certainly am under no illusion that all retired folks who are eligible for medicare are poor. That some medicare recipients also choose to purchase private insurance is not an indictment against medicare...although apparently some might interpret it in that fashion. Most folks that I know and come into contact with have medicare only...and they are, for the most part, satisfied with their insurance.

And yes, it IS my contention that there are many people who cannot afford to pay insurance premiums in our current system. They end up with really, really bad coverage, with high copays, for a big premium...then when they get sick or need the insurance they are too frequently denied or dropped. Naturally, I don't necessarily expect someone to understand if they have never had to seek insurance coverage outside the safety of a large employer group.

Onekidneynurse · Nov 10, 2009

I certainly am under no illusion that all retired folks who are eligible for medicare are poor. That some medicare recipients also choose to purchase private insurance is not an indictment against medicare...although apparently some might interpret it in that fashion. Most folks that I know and come into contact with have medicare only...and they are, for the most part, satisfied with their insurance.
And yes, it IS my contention that there are many people who cannot afford to pay insurance premiums in our current system. They end up with really, really bad coverage, with high copays, for a big premium...then when they get sick or need the insurance they are too frequently denied or dropped. Naturally, I don't necessarily expect someone to understand if they have never had to seek insurance coverage outside the safety of a large employer group.

Then you do now agree that Medicare doesn't pay for everything. A turn about? Why would someone buy private insurance if they have adequate coverage?

There are people in this country who can't pay for food and shelter also. What's your plan for them?

elkpark · Nov 10, 2009

There are people in this country who can't pay for food and shelter also. What's your plan for them?

Every state has food stamp and housing assistance programs for people who meet eligibility requirements (who are poor enough) -- but I'm guessing you're opposed to those, too, right?

tewdles, RN · Nov 10, 2009

Then you do now agree that Medicare doesn't pay for everything. A turn about? Why would someone buy private insurance if they have adequate coverage?
There are people in this country who can't pay for food and shelter also. What's your plan for them?

Wow, not sure where I posted that I "agree that medicare doesn't pay for everything", but if you are comforted by that thought...ok...I'm cool with that.

My plan is to keep dialog open with people, who are stuck in the status quo and get irritable and personal when someone disagrees with them about health insurance in America.

nicurn001 · Nov 10, 2009

Medicare does ration care or why would the AARP want more Americans to HAVE to purchase private healthcare insurance?

The reason for wanting more Americans to have to purchase healthcare insurance , is related to a fundemental of all insurance , the larger the risk pool , the lower the risk to each individual policy holder ,which results in lower premiums to all policyholders .It has nothing to do with rationing of care , AARP is simply advocating a course of action which would lead to a reduction in individual premiums .

As to rationing of care , all healthcare systems have to exist within the financial constraints of the funds available to them , so whether it is a public or privately funded system , the provider will have to deny / ration some care , unless they have an infinite pool of funding to pay for the care.

Onekidneynurse · Nov 11, 2009

Every state has food stamp and housing assistance programs for people who meet eligibility requirements (who are poor enough) -- but I'm guessing you're opposed to those, too, right?

I am not opposed to it. That's why I brought it up. There are healthcare programs in this country that people can't be bothered to sign up for. Every state has help for sick people too.

Actually, it's the government program called Medicare that has driven up health care costs. Medicare doesn't pay the going rate and therefore docs, NH, hospitals etc have to increase their fees to cover Medicare. So let's go further in the red with another hand out.

Onekidneynurse · Nov 11, 2009

The reason for wanting more Americans to have to purchase healthcare insurance , is related to a fundemental of all insurance , the larger the risk pool , the lower the risk to each individual policy holder ,which results in lower premiums to all policyholders .It has nothing to do with rationing of care , AARP is simply advocating a course of action which would lead to a reduction in individual premiums .
As to rationing of care , all healthcare systems have to exist within the financial constraints of the funds available to them , so whether it is a public or privately funded system , the provider will have to deny / ration some care , unless they have an infinite pool of funding to pay for the care.

So let me get this straight. The commercial insurance companies are making obsence profits. And yet you think the government should require us to buy into these money grubbers.

Have you spoken to the people of Mass. Their premiums have gone up more %wise than anyone elses in the US. Their premiums have not decreased.

When you add more people you also add sicker people so the risk is the same if not more.

tewdles, RN · Nov 11, 2009

Actually, many of us probably believe that the government should require the insurance companies to provide basic health insurance to the people at a no profit level...others support a government option, like Medicare. Either way, the american people need to have options for insurance that are not permanently tied to employers, that is affordable, that does not make them choose between needed care and other financial responsibilities.