Land of opportunity...
Jul 26th 2008, 9:34 pm
#826
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: NW Chicago suburbs
Posts: 11,253
Re: Land of opportunity...
In fairness, it's 20% of a lower amount - as Medicare has lower reimbursement rates than private pay or private insurance. But for something like you mention, I doubt that would matter too much.
Medicaid (for the basically destitute) might not - I don't know.
But Medicare is the govt run medical part of the "disability insurance" that you pay into - and if you end up using it, you will certainly have a deductible.
It's better for hospitalization btw.
Last edited by Tracym; Jul 26th 2008 at 9:41 pm.
Jul 26th 2008, 10:08 pm
#827
Professional Drama Queen
Joined: Dec 2007
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 1,061
Re: Land of opportunity...
Your situation as stated above is everybodies worse nightmare of the system out there. It's the ultimate test of anyone, in any country but to face the cost of stuff out there on top of the everyday must be beyond daunting.
Offering sympathies somehow seems entirely inadequate. This arguement used to make my blood boil just on principle, it still does to a point, I can only imagine what hearing it is like for you.
Offering sympathies somehow seems entirely inadequate. This arguement used to make my blood boil just on principle, it still does to a point, I can only imagine what hearing it is like for you.
Yes I (we) are tired of trying to keep those plates spinning BUT spin them we will, for as long as possible I've told him next time I'm marrying for money not love, preferably a texan with a LARGE oil well 
(j/k)
Jul 26th 2008, 10:20 pm
#828
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: NW Chicago suburbs
Posts: 11,253
Re: Land of opportunity...
Well it's certainly been a 'challenge' - and the old adage 'what doesn't kill us makes us stronger' certainly wasn't coined by someone who had had dealings with the US health care system Yes I (we) are tired of trying to keep those plates spinning BUT spin them we will, for as long as possible I've told him next time I'm marrying for money not love, preferably a texan with a LARGE oil well (j/k)
Yes I (we) are tired of trying to keep those plates spinning BUT spin them we will, for as long as possible I've told him next time I'm marrying for money not love, preferably a texan with a LARGE oil well (j/k)
Jul 26th 2008, 10:23 pm
#829
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: Land of opportunity...
Thank you for your kind words - unfortunately it is a situation we have to deal with day and day out. That being said we are both fighters and giving up is not an option. Sometimes though the pressure does get a bit much as does reading some of the comments about the 'virtues' of the US health care provision. Our ( and more so his) experience is not one I would wish on my worst enemy.
My apologies if I took you out of context - I just skimmed your post and responded.
I would just like to add that I can fully accept that there are things beyond our reach in this life BUT adequate, equitable and affordable health care SHOULDN'T be one of them. Health care is NOT 'optional', an added luxury, it's a fundamental human right ESPECIALLY in a country with an advanced economy. It's a crucial determinate between who lives and who dies. That such a 'decision' should in any way be based upon economic factors is imo morally reprehensible. Sure we can discuss the pros and cons of different ways of servicing that need BUT we must have as our premise that NEED comes before COST. If we can agree on that then we are at least heading in the right direction.
My apologies if I took you out of context - I just skimmed your post and responded.
I would just like to add that I can fully accept that there are things beyond our reach in this life BUT adequate, equitable and affordable health care SHOULDN'T be one of them. Health care is NOT 'optional', an added luxury, it's a fundamental human right ESPECIALLY in a country with an advanced economy. It's a crucial determinate between who lives and who dies. That such a 'decision' should in any way be based upon economic factors is imo morally reprehensible. Sure we can discuss the pros and cons of different ways of servicing that need BUT we must have as our premise that NEED comes before COST. If we can agree on that then we are at least heading in the right direction.
Yes there should be a better system, I've never said there shouldn't. We currently have to ante up $2200 deductible per person should we need a doctor or medicine. Its a very frightening prospect.
Jul 26th 2008, 10:26 pm
#830
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: Land of opportunity...
Lisa, I think you are wrong on this one. Medicare is for those who are permanently disabled - and it most certainly does have a co-pay. For everyone, as far as I know.
Medicaid (for the basically destitute) might not - I don't know.
But Medicare is the govt run medical part of the "disability insurance" that you pay into - and if you end up using it, you will certainly have a deductible.
It's better for hospitalization btw.
No problem
Jul 26th 2008, 10:28 pm
#831
Banned
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 826
Re: Land of opportunity...
I don't know who has sung the virtues of American health care - certainly not me. I do know that I have disabled relatives who are permanently disabled and pay nothing for their medical care. By saying my circumstances have been different it doesn't mean I I care less about yours.
Yes there should be a better system, I've never said there shouldn't. We currently have to ante up $2200 deductible per person should we need a doctor or medicine. Its a very frightening prospect.
Yes there should be a better system, I've never said there shouldn't. We currently have to ante up $2200 deductible per person should we need a doctor or medicine. Its a very frightening prospect.
Jul 26th 2008, 10:30 pm
#832
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: NW Chicago suburbs
Posts: 11,253
Re: Land of opportunity...
Medicare has a better deductible for hospitalization than it does for outpatient. Outpatient deductible is always 20% as far as I know.
Medi-cal - isn't that just for California?
I think most ppl would have Medicare or Medicaid, as those are national. Medicaid might not have deductibles, but you'd have to be destitute to get it.
Permanently disabled folks on Medicare pay their 20% deductible for outpatient care. Drug plans are complicated, I haven't a clue. But there certainly is a cost. Actually, I believe that there is a cost for the Medicare itself ($80 per month or so) that is subtracted from the disability income that they get as well.
Jul 26th 2008, 10:32 pm
#833
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: Land of opportunity...
Why is this so difficult to comprehend? Those who are in employment, not pregnant and not suffering from a chronic condition, DO pay a co-payment. The rest don't.
This is a simple, non-bureaucratic system. Anything else would require lots of complicated means-testing, which would increase administrative costs.
The government sets a budget for the NHS and adjusts taxes accordingly. This may be an oversimplification, but it sure beats the complicated US system.
Were you aware that over a THIRD of healthcare costs in the US is for administration? I.e. paperpushers, billing, coding, disputing, paying..... blablabla..........
This is a simple, non-bureaucratic system. Anything else would require lots of complicated means-testing, which would increase administrative costs.
The government sets a budget for the NHS and adjusts taxes accordingly. This may be an oversimplification, but it sure beats the complicated US system.
Were you aware that over a THIRD of healthcare costs in the US is for administration? I.e. paperpushers, billing, coding, disputing, paying..... blablabla..........
Jul 26th 2008, 10:33 pm
#834
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,397
Re: Land of opportunity...
Sorry, I was unclear.
Medicare has a better deductible for hospitalization than it does for outpatient. Outpatient deductible is always 20% as far as I know.
Medi-cal - isn't that just for California?
I think most ppl would have Medicare or Medicaid, as those are national. Medicaid might not have deductibles, but you'd have to be destitute to get it.
Permanently disabled folks on Medicare pay their 20% deductible for outpatient care. Drug plans are complicated, I haven't a clue. But there certainly is a cost. Actually, I believe that there is a cost for the Medicare itself ($80 per month or so) that is subtracted from the disability income that they get as well.
Medicare has a better deductible for hospitalization than it does for outpatient. Outpatient deductible is always 20% as far as I know.
Medi-cal - isn't that just for California?
I think most ppl would have Medicare or Medicaid, as those are national. Medicaid might not have deductibles, but you'd have to be destitute to get it.
Permanently disabled folks on Medicare pay their 20% deductible for outpatient care. Drug plans are complicated, I haven't a clue. But there certainly is a cost. Actually, I believe that there is a cost for the Medicare itself ($80 per month or so) that is subtracted from the disability income that they get as well.
Jul 26th 2008, 10:33 pm
#835
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: Land of opportunity...
Sorry, I was unclear.
Medicare has a better deductible for hospitalization than it does for outpatient. Outpatient deductible is always 20% as far as I know.
Medi-cal - isn't that just for California?
I think most ppl would have Medicare or Medicaid, as those are national. Medicaid might not have deductibles, but you'd have to be destitute to get it.
Permanently disabled folks on Medicare pay their 20% deductible for outpatient care. Drug plans are complicated, I haven't a clue. But there certainly is a cost. Actually, I believe that there is a cost for the Medicare itself ($80 per month or so) that is subtracted from the disability income that they get as well.
Medicare has a better deductible for hospitalization than it does for outpatient. Outpatient deductible is always 20% as far as I know.
Medi-cal - isn't that just for California?
I think most ppl would have Medicare or Medicaid, as those are national. Medicaid might not have deductibles, but you'd have to be destitute to get it.
Permanently disabled folks on Medicare pay their 20% deductible for outpatient care. Drug plans are complicated, I haven't a clue. But there certainly is a cost. Actually, I believe that there is a cost for the Medicare itself ($80 per month or so) that is subtracted from the disability income that they get as well.
Jul 26th 2008, 10:33 pm
#836
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 35,082
Re: Land of opportunity...
Chaos I tell you!
Jul 26th 2008, 10:41 pm
#839
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: NW Chicago suburbs
Posts: 11,253
Re: Land of opportunity...
Yep.
And this is our sterling example of our govt. run health care program. I am a frequent critic.
Retired folks who have paid into the system sufficiently also get social security and Medicare. Same deal. Most of them that can manage it buy private insurance to supplement the Medicare (i.e. pay the deductibles). Drug plans, I don't know at the moment, but I suspect there is still significant cost for many seniors.
And this is our sterling example of our govt. run health care program. I am a frequent critic.
Retired folks who have paid into the system sufficiently also get social security and Medicare. Same deal. Most of them that can manage it buy private insurance to supplement the Medicare (i.e. pay the deductibles). Drug plans, I don't know at the moment, but I suspect there is still significant cost for many seniors.
Jul 26th 2008, 10:43 pm
#840
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,397
Re: Land of opportunity...
I may be mistaken, but doesn't France have a better health care system? Sorry, just bits and pieces I picked up when I lived in the UK - and certainly through television programs and not first hand. But don't their citizens have to supplement their medical programs out of pocket? Certainly the cash strapped NHS (who send some of their surgical patients over there) might have to take a look at that system..... Increasing taxes and even getting money from council tax might not be enough.
Lots and lots of the population are exepmt from the co-pay element of the system though, and you can bet your bottom dollar that disabled people are included in that.