Posted on 12/01/2010 8:42:13 AM PST by SeekAndFind
In these kinds of cases I think the government ends up paying for the care anyway — through Medicaid, for example. And the rest of us already pay a premium to help cover the guy in the next bed who has no insurance and whose bills the hospital is going to eat (i.e., get you and me to pay for).
I seriously doubt it happens often that someone just flat out gets turned down for medical care because they cannot pay. Maybe for a certain medicine or procedure, but not all care for a condition.
Somehow we are ALL paying for this now, either through increased premiums, taxes or both. So this is the last thing that needs attention. It is not a crisis and the GOP should focus on repeal of Obamacare from first to last.
In these kinds of cases I think the government ends up paying for the care anyway — through Medicaid, for example. And the rest of us already pay a premium to help cover the guy in the next bed who has no insurance and whose bills the hospital is going to eat (i.e., get you and me to pay for).
I seriously doubt it happens often that someone just flat out gets turned down for medical care because they cannot pay. Maybe for a certain medicine or procedure, but not all care for a condition.
Somehow we are ALL paying for this now, either through increased premiums, taxes or both. So this is the last thing that needs attention. It is not a crisis and the GOP should focus on repeal of Obamacare from first to last.
Here is what I was trying to say. Your insurance premiums are already high because of the uninsured with Pre-Ex. These people are still going to the hospital..but they are not paying the bill. In my state the hospitals only collect 9 cents on every dollar from these people. In 2008 for every dollar ($1.00) in actual services, the hospital has to bill private insurance $1.77 to make up for all the uninsured.
Get them on the insurance. At least they will be paying some premium to ofsset the cost.
The second point,and this goes along with my above point, I was trying to make is preventive care works. These people with pre-ex w/o insurance are not being doctored until the condition get's worse or they have a stroke..when it get's very expensive. Get them seeing their doc a few times a year and get on some maintence drugs to stabilize their condition.
Not all pre-ex are end of life stuff. Most are very mundane conditions.
France's medical cost were going out of sight. 4 years ago they started a vast preventive system and their HC cost have gone done over 20%.
The problem in the US is we don't practice preventive care but retro care.
As far as I knew, people could always find a policy if they had a pre-existing condition, it was just that it would cost a lot more and maybe have some waiting periods. I don’t see why that isn’t a solution.
If I have a need for expensive medical care, even paying a much higher premium will quickly end up cheaper than the total bill.
I don’t see why the Republicans don’t get it that we need to work toward letting the market work.
What you are saying, it seems, is that there really is not much of a problem, much less a crisis, with pre-existing conditions so far as the insurance industry and individuals are concerned.
I’m sick of the Rat-induced hysteria about healthcare.
I think the entire subject should be dropped immediately, while our government focuses on the economy and the deficet.
Tweet him at @EricCantor .
Good thing about tweets is that they are public. A congresscritter can’t hide, or hide from, the sentiment he is receiving from others.
The problem is those state high risk pools fill very fast. The ones in my state are filled by March/April..they only allow in so many people per year (a small amount). The 2nd is the cost. In my state it is $1800 per month for a single and $6000 for a family. SRS who can really afford that?? Yes they get filled but the vast majority of people cannot afford those premiums.
Here is a guys comment from a thread yesterday:
The state ‘high risk’ pool ( I take cholesterol drug and that alone puts me in high risk) has a very long ‘wait list.’ Neighbor’s daughter is 25 and gets once-a-year cold sore on lip and SHE was rejected outright for her own policy ). CA is a TOUGH state to deal with, unless one is a vagrant or welfare queen — they get fabulous healthcare.
177 posted on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 3:32:06 PM by CaliforniaCon [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 164 | View Replies | Report Abuse]
10 years ago I could write 6-7 people out of every person who applied. Today it's maybe 2 out of 10. Insurance co's have become very strict on who they accept. On my post above the guy said his neighbor was declined for a cold sore. yes it's getting about that strict.
And like I said above the average person cannot afford the high risk pool insurance.
Everyone is complaining about the cost of HC not just democrats. Rates have been going up on average 10-15% every years for the last 10-12 years. It's killing small business and it is a major problem that needs to be addressed (along wioth the deficit).
In your experience, how does the average person who gets rejected because of a preexisting condition end up in that position? What I mean is how is it, in the majority of cases, they came to be uninsured in the first place?
The people with no money the hospitals right off(can't get blood out of a turnip). The people with money and assets they go after..that is why people with assets have coverage before they get sick.
They lose their job and can't find another or the business they work for goes under. Companies over 20 employees have Cobra for 18 months but small business do not have Cobra but if a company goes out of business all insurance stops. .
Just had a case of a 59 year old guy whose company he worked for went out of business this summer. He has medical conditions and no one will take him-automatic decline. He cannot afford the high risk pool insurance anyway. His wife works but only part time and there is no coverage where she works.
The guy is not lazy, he found and works 3 part time jobs but no one wants to hire a near 60 year old for a full time position with benefits. (I actually have employers tell me they will never hire a person over age 45-50-older people have more injuries, insurance cost more etc.)One of his jobs is at Lowes. They work him from 4:00 am to 8;00 unloading trucks but they will not give anyone more than 20-25 hours per week.
Last time I spoke with him , the wife is trying to find a full time job with benefits.
Yes, It's not the end all. It works but other measures need to be taken as well. Tort reform etc. There are a hundred things why insurance cost is high.
I had a friend who was self-employed and when he went out of business, he was able to get Cobra or something like it through his state.
I hear you about your friend. But if he doesn’t have assets and his income is low, he’s eligible for Medicaid or something like that, isn’t he? If he has assets, then he has to self-insure, basically. Until he qualifies for Medicare.
And are you saying insurance is only available through an employer?
Cobra is only available for a business that is still in business and it has to have more than 20 employees so it must have been something else.
I hear you about your friend. But if he doesn’t have assets and his income is low, he’s eligible for Medicaid or something like that, isn’t he? If he has assets, then he has to self-insure, basically. Until he qualifies for Medicare.
Yes, he is not eligble for medicaid-too many assets
. And are you saying insurance is only available through an employer?
Yes because under individual plans an insurance company can decline coverage for applicants older than 18. His health was bad so he was declined. I actually wrote his wife for coverage because she was fairly healthy. He is currently on pins and needles hoping nothing happens to his health for the worse...and hoping either he or his wife obtains group coverage they can jump onto (health insurance companies have to accept new employees in a group regardless of health status)
Yeah, I think Cantor might decide to distance himself further in the future. Funny how republicans respond more democratically to We the People than self proclaimed ‘democracts’ do.
As upsetting as it may be to have to do so, your friend can use his assets to pay for his medical care, if he needs to. And most hospitals will work with patients for payment on installment plans, and even to write off some of the cost, sometimes.
I don’t see making a national policy of taxpayers buying insurance for people who may not be insured, but who can pay at least some of their medical bills should they occur.
And, yes, medical bills can put someone into bankruptcy. But that, at least, is what bankruptcy is for. This costs society a lot less than socialized medicine does.
Also, is it possible for someone such as him to get at least a policy covering catastrophic loss with a very high deductible?
Right on JAG....you can fight for me any time you want. ;)
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