Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2016 14:12:43 GMT -8
I'm not sure which is worse in this country: the mafia or the healthcare-insurance industry. Neither. The worst is . . . Looks like someone missed grammar class when comparative and superlative adjectives were discussed. Quick review:
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RumiDude
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Marmota olympus
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Post by RumiDude on Apr 6, 2016 14:28:22 GMT -8
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Post by hikerjer on Apr 6, 2016 15:25:49 GMT -8
We need a government sponsored medical system. It will work. Seems like we have a President that tried to do that, with some success.
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johnnyray
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Argle-Bargle, Jiggery-Pokery, and Applesauce
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Post by johnnyray on Apr 6, 2016 15:28:19 GMT -8
Gabby said: Why does this seem like something EVERYONE could agree on and get behind (govt. ueniversal healthcare) --- but, then...nada.
$$$$$
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gabby
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Post by gabby on Apr 6, 2016 15:39:38 GMT -8
I was watching one of the candidates (Sanders?) making a speech about some relative problem or other (my memory is failing), and he/she suggested that what we needed to do was "set up an independent board" to control the situation. My mind immediately moved to the situation in Texas, where almost all regulation is "controlled" by one board or the other - all of whom are stuffed with industry shills in short time, so the upshot is "no movement at all" in the direction of reform - ever.
What's the solution here?
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greno
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Post by greno on Apr 6, 2016 16:04:02 GMT -8
I blame the lawyers, but healthcare costs are out of line on a lot of things.... and super glue burns like hell, but works!
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Post by Sleeping Bag Man! on Apr 6, 2016 17:06:58 GMT -8
$45K + for a kidney stone here, including $15K out of pocket because there was an ER visit + failed procedure in December (all of deductible for year 1), and then the successful procedure a month later (all of deductible for year 2). 62% of bankruptcies are caused by medical bills, and of those 72% had some form of medical insurance. This isn't about politics or economics or medicine. This is about the disease of our souls, where we have no moral compunction about extracting anything we can from our fellow human beings, neighbors, and citizens. It's about the real god we worship: money A Bitter Pill: Why Medical Bills Are Killing Us
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leafwalker
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peace on earth and good will toward all - om shanti
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Post by leafwalker on Apr 6, 2016 17:19:31 GMT -8
Bull. Should be on political post or somewhere else. I agree with your, but this is not the place. Then AGAIN, IF YOU WANT PROTECTION FROM SOMETHING REAL BIG YOU NEED THE INSURANCE.
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Roger
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Post by Roger on Apr 6, 2016 17:46:47 GMT -8
For us seniors on Medicare the government determines the payment for a given procedure. By accepting Medicare the doc, hospital etc. accepts Medicare's payment. They really do not have an option as most seniors can not afford to self pay. For example I had a MRI last year the charge was $1550 and the payment was about $210.
Our health care system is terrible broken and all of us our the victims.
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Apr 6, 2016 19:03:30 GMT -8
The numbers I see here are pretty similar to the one major brush I had with the health care system. It definitely needs fixing.
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RumiDude
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Marmota olympus
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Post by RumiDude on Apr 6, 2016 23:46:25 GMT -8
I offer up another video from Healthcare Triage. There is some really good information in it and stuff to chew on. One take-a-way: if you wanna live a long time, it helps to have a lot of money. It's obviously not a guarantee, but money sure helps.
Rumi
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Post by tallgrass on Apr 8, 2016 18:07:19 GMT -8
The entire health system from medical care to insurance to ambulance fees is very, very broken in this county. Of course, it will extremely difficult to fix since they have such a strangle hold on the government and regulators. Next time you get a bill from the hospital, try to find someone who can explain it to you. Almost impossible to. This boggles my mind and makes me laugh every time. Forever get bills & "explanation of benefits' statements and they are filled with "Medical miscellaneous charges". I was in a car accident a few years ago and sunk almost $70,000 American dollars into my left hand. After one surgery I had a $10,000 "miscellaneous charge" $10,000! Misc charges should be that extra pain pill or second sandwich, not the price of a decent used car. After a few phone calls (and lots of hold time), it appears it was a 'billing error' and was actually $10. Any type of of medical bill beyond typical office visits, I'll call and request a specific itemized bill. It's amazing at how many of those charges just kinda disappear.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Apr 8, 2016 19:37:33 GMT -8
Any type of of medical bill beyond typical office visits, I'll call and request a specific itemized bill. It's amazing at how many of those charges just kinda disappear. Good advice.
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Post by Lonewolf on Apr 9, 2016 4:03:19 GMT -8
I have insurance through work and have a regular doctor. Due to a particular circumstance, I also use the VA. Even though my medical is supposed to be 100% free as a veteran, I get bigger bills from the VA than I do from the other policy.
I have a torn rotator cuff and my share for the company insurance was only about $200, with all deductibles and copay.
Edit: The torn cuff is just the exams and other checks to confirm it. I haven't had the surgery yet and may not with a 4 month downtime.
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panatomicx
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Less noise and more green
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Post by panatomicx on Apr 9, 2016 15:32:39 GMT -8
I think part of the reason that this totally irrational system developed was the use of "cost shifting". This is where the docs and hospitals charge the heck out of private insurance companies to make up for all the free care that is provided. ER's have to accept all comers, regardless of ability to pay, and hospital based docs have to care for them. Of course this was much more palatable when folks had good insurance with low or no deductibles, and people didn't see (or care) about charges they didn't have to pay. At this point I have come to believe that single payer is probably the simplest, most fair, and rational paradigm.
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