To American Members

[Debater Slayer]

I'd like to send my best thoughts to American members here regarding the recent changes to health insurance in the U.S. I hope all Americans here can keep their insurance intact or find a suitable replacement or, if they don't already have good insurance, can get sufficient insurance.

This thread is not meant to show pity; I intend it as a show of well-wishes and solidarity, especially since insufficient and fundamentally flawed health insurance is par for the course in a country like mine.

Cheers.

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

Wait, ****; did it pass the Senate?

 

[Nakosis]

I'd like to send my best thoughts to American members here regarding the recent changes to health insurance in the U.S. I hope all Americans here can keep their insurance intact or find a suitable replacement or, if they don't already have good insurance, can get sufficient insurance.

This thread is not meant to show pity; I intend it as a show of well-wishes and solidarity, especially since insufficient and fundamentally flawed health insurance is par for the course in a country like mine.

Cheers.

What's really hard to find out is where all the money is going. Politicians blame the insurance companies, insurance companies blame Big Pharma. Big Pharma blames the politicians.

To fix the problem you need to identify the problem. No one seems capable of doing that.

 

[Altfish]

Well, I hope all the poor Americans remain healthy. Otherwise you are ill and bankrupt too.

Thank goodness I live in the UK

 

[Akivah]

Well, I hope all the poor Americans remain healthy. Otherwise you are ill and bankrupt too.

Thank goodness I live in the UK

Well as @Nakosis said, that's part of the problem. Why are our Medical costs so high? I recently had a battery of blood tests and I received an itemized billing. The test ranged in price from $200-$800. How can a blood test cost $800?

 

[David1967]

Wait, s**t; did it pass the Senate?

No. It will likely be months before it does. I am hoping (though not very optimistically) that it will actually be beneficial to the average working person. I'm not holding my breath though.

 

[David1967]

Well as @Nakosis said, that's part of the problem. Why are our Medical costs so high? I recently had a battery of blood tests and I received an itemized billing. The test ranged in price from $200-$800. How can a blood test cost $800?

The short answer? Because they can. Sadly.

 

[David1967]

What's really hard to find out is where all the money is going. Politicians blame the insurance companies, insurance companies blame Big Pharma. Big Pharma blames the politicians.

To fix the problem you need to identify the problem. No one seems capable of doing that.

I think you just did. "Big Pharma", and "politicians".

 

[sayak83]

What's really hard to find out is where all the money is going. Politicians blame the insurance companies, insurance companies blame Big Pharma. Big Pharma blames the politicians.

To fix the problem you need to identify the problem. No one seems capable of doing that.

Capable but unwilling. Lots of money to make...

 

[sun rise]

Well as @Nakosis said, that's part of the problem. Why are our Medical costs so high? I recently had a battery of blood tests and I received an itemized billing. The test ranged in price from $200-$800. How can a blood test cost $800?

Because the system is rigged and fights back against any reasonable system with reasonable profits. Look who is getting rich of the current system and much will become clear.

 

[sun rise]

Another note - I'm a fan of Joe Flower who writes extensively on the cost of health care. For example Healthcare Economics: Why this stuff doesn't work the way you think it does — and how to fix it - Joe Flower Healthcare Futurist

But getting the fanatics who believe in political scripture and won't listen to anything not in their holy right-wing "bibles" is the problem.

 

[Altfish]

Well as @Nakosis said, that's part of the problem. Why are our Medical costs so high? I recently had a battery of blood tests and I received an itemized billing. The test ranged in price from $200-$800. How can a blood test cost $800?

Prices are in the open market, it's called capitalism.

 

[pearl]

Prices are in the open market, it's called capitalism.

The pharmaceuticals and for profit hospitals are accountable to their share holders. Its not for nothing that Trumpcare had to be passed before tax reform, where does one think the money to support tax breaks is coming from?

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Hopefully, if it does pass, it will reduce my premiums. Since Obamacare took effect, mine, through my employer, have doubled, with higher deductibles and maximums. I guess somebody has to pay for all the people who weren't insured before. Although, making over $200 a month less now doesn't really seem fair, as I make a middle-class salary.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

Hopefully, if it does pass, it will reduce my premiums. Since Obamacare took effect, mine, through my employer, have doubled, with higher deductibles and maximums. I guess somebody has to pay for all the people who weren't insured before. Although, making over $200 a month less now doesn't really seem fair, as I make a middle-class salary.

I doubt it will go down. There's nobody telling the insurances to. They'll continue to try and make as much profit as will be allowed. If anything, it'll go up, because Obamacare didn't let them adjust premiums for everything from allergies to pregnancy.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I doubt it will go down. There's nobody telling the insurances to. They'll continue to try and make as much profit as will be allowed. If anything, it'll go up, because Obamacare didn't let them adjust premiums for everything from allergies to pregnancy.

Yeah, I have no idea. Apparently, nobody else knows what the actual results are going to be before they enact these things either. I have no idea how bureaucracies stay afloat at all. I guess primarily through inertia and, generally, a lack of direct action. The less such organizations do, like the government, the better.

I suspect my policy won't increase, but it probably won't decrease either. Then again, it might if we can get back to a more market-driven approach, and not having a system where middle-class people are paying for impoverished people's insurance. Trust me, we can't afford it.

 

[sun rise]

Prices are in the open market, it's called capitalism.

It's actually not capitalism where there is real price competition. I don't get an estimate for a car repair for $100,000 unless you have insurance then it's $100 and every thing is charged separately so replacing a tire is priced as "driving the car into the lift", "moving the bars into place, raising the car, removing the hub cap, unscrewing the tire, removing the tire etc. That's how health car now doesn't work.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Hopefully, if it does pass, it will reduce my premiums. Since Obamacare took effect, mine, through my employer, have doubled, with higher deductibles and maximums. I guess somebody has to pay for all the people who weren't insured before. Although, making over $200 a month less now doesn't really seem fair, as I make a middle-class salary.

Don't forget deductibles. Before insurance would even cover me. I had to pony over 7 grand.

Can't wait for changes. Hopefully better off than now.

 

[Stevicus]

I'd like to send my best thoughts to American members here regarding the recent changes to health insurance in the U.S. I hope all Americans here can keep their insurance intact or find a suitable replacement or, if they don't already have good insurance, can get sufficient insurance.

This thread is not meant to show pity; I intend it as a show of well-wishes and solidarity, especially since insufficient and fundamentally flawed health insurance is par for the course in a country like mine.

Cheers.

Around here, everyone is celebrating Cinco De Mayo. It's not an American holiday, but as long as there's an excuse to drink beer and party, who cares?

But we Americans are healthy. We never get sick, so we don't need no stinkin' healthcare.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Don't forget deductibles. Before insurance would even cover me. I had to pony over 7 grand.

Can't wait for changes. Hopefully better off than now.

I had low premiums and zero deductibles on a PPO for years before Obamacare. Now, I have double premiums, deductibles, and an HMO. I don't even have the option for zero deductibles on a PPO now, at any price - and I have good insurance through my employer.