Obamacare Survives, Supreme Court Rescues 'Big Health'

TopazLover, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2012

I agree. We all know that the system as existed yesterday was broken. Today's announcement brings a new battlefield. The conservatives will scream about taxes but the real issue of care is the one that we as health care professionals have to promote. Keep your eye on the prize is good advice. I think what HCP want is a healthier nation and everyone able to afford to get prevention as well as illness care.

If we never had to deal with catastrophic health care issues because they were treated properly in the beginning I doubt too many of us would complain.

I am cautiously opimistic about the ruling. I do worry about how crazy the crazies will get over this. Some will set themselves into stroke territory fussing about this.

I believe most level headed people will accept it and work to improve it over the next few years.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2012

The problem remains.....how do you have the money to buy healthcare when you are losing your home, can afford groceries and gas and have been looking for work for 2 years?

All this does is protect the insurance companies steady income from premiums and hospitals a steady income from the insurance companies paying. The little guy in the middle still suffers for if they can't afford the premiums they will be forced a higher tax that they can't pay either. One can blow off the credit card companies but the government always gets their money.

The one thing I am thankful for is being saved from being canceled/denied for pre-existing conditions. Now if I can keep from getting canceled til 2014.

chevyv, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2012

I am watching and learning. I have a son with severe cardiac dx so I'm relieved that he won't be without care once he turns 18 (in just a couple of years). I'm also concerned with my sig other having to pay for medical insurance as he is a one man business owner. He barely makes it some months and then has a few months when the money is good. In WI our Governor has decided to do nothing until after November's elections. Gotta love it

allnurses Guide · Jun 28, 2012

[color=#496a8b]sanders, nurses: we still need 'medicare for all'

what sanders says about thursday's supreme court decision upholding the aca provides important insights for progressives as they respond to a complex decision that, in the words of the [color=#496a8b]national nurses united union, "should not be seen as the end of the efforts by health care activists for a permanent fix of our broken health-care system."

so what does sanders say?

on the ruling, [color=#496a8b]his line is upbeat:

today is a good day for millions of americans who have pre-existing conditions who can no longer be rejected by insurance companies. it is a good day for families with children under 26 who can keep their children on their health insurance policies. it is a good day for women who can no longer be charged far higher premiums than men.

it is a good day for 30 million uninsured americans who will have access to healthcare. it is a good day for seniors who will continue to see their prescription drug costs go down as the so-called doughnut hole goes away. it is a good day for small businesses who simply cannot continue to afford the escalating costs of providing insurance for their employees. it is a good day for 20 million americans who will soon be able to find access to community health centers.

but that does not mean that sanders is satisfied.

"in my view, while the affordable care act is an important step in the right direction and i am glad that the supreme court upheld it, we ultimately need to do better," the independent senator says. "if we are serious about providing high-quality, affordable healthcare as a right, not a privilege, the real solution to america's health care crisis is a medicare-for-all, single-payer system. until then, we will remain the only major nation that does not provide health care for every man, woman and child as a right of citizenship."

sanders's vermont is taking the lead in [color=#496a8b]seeking to implement a state-level single-payer system--much as canadian provinces too the lead in the 1940s and 1950s in developing who would eventually be that country's national healthcare system. the court's ruling won't slow that push down, and it could actually speed it up, as attention focuses on fights over state-run medicaid programs. ...

http://www.thenation.com/blog/168649/sanders-nurses-sc-ruling-cool-we-still-need-medicare-all#

chevyv, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2012

I heard the health care in Canada is horrid. Not sure how true this was, perhaps a disgruntled former pt. They told me that say you need heart surgery, you go on a list and when your number comes up, it's your turn. If you die before you number comes up, well that just sucks for you and your family. I find that process hard to believe so I'll definately be educating myself on this and wathcing this thread.

TopazLover, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2012

chevy, one thing that will help your hubby is that there are now limits on how much of the premiums have to be used for payments for care. Individual policies were getting gouged badly. I can find the figures if you want. Insurance companies must return funds that they have collected in excess. Of course in the past these funds were used for political advancement, lobbying, and other things that did not promote the health of the people buying the insurance.

I am thankful your son is going to be covered. That is a huge burden off your shoulders.

wooh, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2012

I heard the health care in Canada is horrid. Not sure how true this was, perhaps a disgruntled former pt. They told me that say you need heart surgery, you go on a list and when your number comes up, it's your turn. If you die before you number comes up, well that just sucks for you and your family. I find that process hard to believe so I'll definately be educating myself on this and wathcing this thread.

Where as here, if you need heart surgery, and you don't have insurance, you just die with no hope of your number coming up.

(And that whole waiting for your number thing is NOT how Canadian healthcare works, but it makes a good soundbite.)

wooh, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2012

chevy, one thing that will help your hubby is that there are now limits on how much of the premiums have to be used for payments for care. Individual policies were getting gouged badly.

And then if you actually ever went to use your individual policy, at that time they'd go and look to see if they could find any loophole to not cover you. They were glad to take your exorbitant payments until they would have to spend some money on you, at which point they'd find a reason not to have to spend that money.

Nurse Rob · Jun 28, 2012

Not to get into the ethical issues of forcing people to get healthcare and only looking at what this does for me personally; I have one question: IS THIS GOOD FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS?

I am going into the nursing field. Would one think that with mandatory insurance would mean a better bottom line for Hospitals? They are now less likely to have hiring freezes because healthcare bills are now being paid for by insurance that would undoubtedly go to collections and not be paid otherwise?

I could be wrong and I am biased, but aside from medicare for all; I do not know of a better way to improve the job market for healthcare workers.

chevyv, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2012

I don't think this will improve jobs for healthcare workers. What will be the reimbursements for care? I know having it and being able to use it are 2 different issues especially with copays.

Wooh, I have to agree. The individual policy he had looked fine, but he couldn't use it for everyday illnesses. Added to that, after that wonderful 3 month period, it went up every single month until he couldn't afford it any longer. It was hundreds of dollars every month for something he couldn't use. I guess peace of mind major medical, but it just wasn't feasible after 6 months.

Nurse Rob · Jun 28, 2012

I don't think this will improve jobs for healthcare workers. What will be the reimbursements for care? I know having it and being able to use it are 2 different issues especially with copays.

I dont understand what you mean? Anything more than $0 is more than what hospitals were getting before. Any reimbursement would be better wouldnt it? My question remains, wouldnt this help job outlook for this field?

The more I read, the idea is premiums would go down because of the quantity of new policies would balance out the reduced premiums.