IMHO it is an abomination

[GreatLakesGramma]

Agreed: actually getting in and solving the problems is the solution. Unfortunately, politics gets in the way.

Exactly.

[GoLions]

Thank God for the health message!

[Woody]

If that is all you are counting on ...

I hope you don't ride in a car or go outside of your house.

Accidents DO happen.

[Jeannieb43]

Originally Posted By: Dottie

My husband has always had insurance. Now he is FORCED to take "medicare" for his primary, and another company for secondary. His insurance has paid for several hospitalizations for me, as well as heart surgery, and multiple types of medications. We happen to like it, and will keep it if and when he retires. He (at almost 70)is planning to work until he can't any more, or until forced to retire by the fiscal policies of our government.

By the way, now that we have change, how many of us have any hope (other than the Saviour)??

Medicare is my secondary and it really works out nice.

When I signed up for Medicare benefits I was told that Medicare is never a secondary insurance; it's always the primary. So I'm puzzled, Redwood, how it works a different way for you.

[i'm guessing it's because your primary insurance is the SDA Conference health plan, and you never even report it to Medicare unless it's a large amount. Right?]

[GreatLakesGramma]

Truer words were never spoken, Redwood. There are other things too. Like if you got bitten by a rabid bat. The health message won't help you with that.

[Woody]

Originally Posted By: Redwood

Medicare is my secondary and it really works out nice. [/quote']

When I signed up for Medicare benefits I was told that Medicare is never a secondary insurance; it's always the primary. So I'm puzzled, Redwood, how it works a different way for you.

[i'm guessing it's because your primary insurance is the SDA Conference health plan, and you never even report it to Medicare unless it's a large amount. Right?]

The SDA plan is primary and Medicare picks up all the rest that the SDA plan doesn't. Usually about 20% I think. Medicare always gets billed for the remainder no matter how small.

Yes, I am unusual. Of course ... I always am. There are only certain conditions that Medicare can be secondary. I forget them all. But I do qualify. As I recall .... if your spouse has you covered under their plan ... then you are allowed to have Medicare as secondary under some circumstances. Sorry. I forget all the rules.

[nuff sed]

I am certainly confused about how SDA plan is Primary in your case.

As soon as I reached age 65 the denomination arbitrarily informed me that Medicare was now my primary insurance and that anything Medicare would not accept they would not either. In some cases it has caused me grief because I have attempted to go on a couple programs designed to "build up" my health rather than "repair" it... Medicare wouldn't cover it so GC wouldn't either. In some cases it was a program that the GC had approved when they were my only insurance carrier but afterwards it was a "NO NO".

[Bravus]

http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2009/03/09/healthcare/

[phkrause]

pk

[there buster]

Salon article mistaken.

Actually we look at all those issues.

Three reasons for higher healthcare costs. One is bookkeeping. Most countries don't factor in the cost of their buildings, because they're government buildings. American hospitals are private, and own and maintain their own facilities. Second, as is repeatedly demonstrated, we have the latest equipment in most of our hospitals, thus a Canadian woman went to tiny Billings, MT to get immediately what was unavailable in Canada. Third, ridiculous jury awards for punitive damages. But trial lawyers--like John Edwards, who made millions on phony cerebral palsy lawsuits-- own a large part of the Democrat party.

Infant mortality has two causes. First, we save an inordinate number of premies, but that's a high-risk group, so we lose a lot, too. Both types of cases are very expensive.

Longevity in a nation of 300 million+ has many, many factors.

In short, comparing apples to pommes de terre.

[Woody]

I am certainly confused about how SDA plan is Primary in your case.

As soon as I reached age 65 the denomination arbitrarily informed me that Medicare was now my primary insurance and that anything Medicare would not accept they would not either. In some cases it has caused me grief because I have attempted to go on a couple programs designed to "build up" my health rather than "repair" it... Medicare wouldn't cover it so GC wouldn't either. In some cases it was a program that the GC had approved when they were my only insurance carrier but afterwards it was a "NO NO".

I think there are two differences here Glad.

I am not 65 yet.

I am under my wife's plan. It is not mine.

[GreatLakesGramma]

And now, Stan, you know why that situation will continue: there is a massive number of Americans that thinks the solution (socialized medicine in some form) is worse than the problem.

There are also a lot of Americans who don't trust the U.S. government to handle anything competently, efficiently, or equitably. Their track record does not inspire confidence.

[Bravus]

Yep. Republicans tell us governments are bad, and prove it when elected.

[Bravus]

And ichabod has managed to wave away all the evidence. Americans will retain their freedom - the freedom to pay twice as much for inferior healthcare results, because they're the one major industralised nation without some form of universal health care.

[GoLions]

Originally Posted By: Bravus

And now, Stan, you know why that situation will continue: there is a massive number of Americans that thinks the solution (socialized medicine in some form) is worse than the problem.

There are also a lot of Americans who don't trust the U.S. government to handle anything competently, efficiently, or equitably. Their track record does not inspire confidence.

I recieved a funny email today that kind of captures this feeling...but it has pictures and I can't seem to post them here.

Did I just say "I know a funny joke, but I can't tell you what it is"? Don't you hate it when people do that?

[GreatLakesGramma]

I am NOT a Republican. God forbid!

[Bravus]

No worries, and I wasn't implying you were, in case that wasn't clear.

[there buster]

Quote:

the evidence

the "evidence" is faulty. I provided counter evidence.

[carolaa]

There are also a lot of Americans who don't trust the U.S. government to handle anything competently, efficiently, or equitably. Their track record does not inspire confidence.

I don't know. When they regulated banks, things seemed to go better. And as far as healthcare, what we're doing now is not working. I was reading today that most people who have health insurance are concerned about their healthcare costs. I think it's time to try something new. Maybe we could try something that other countries are already doing successfully.

[there buster]

Quote:

When they regulated banks, things seemed to go better.

They never stopped regulating banks.

[GreatLakesGramma]

No worries, and I wasn't implying you were, in case that wasn't clear.

OK. Just making sure, as it sounded though you might be referring to my comment about government incompetence.

[Neil D]

They never stopped regulating banks.

Really???? Gee, I wonder what really caused this economic down turn then.......

[GreatLakesGramma]

Carolaa, I wasn't referring to government regulations so much as government services and programs. No one else could run such huge deficits as they do and still stay in business. The only reason the government didn't go bankrupt long ago is that they print the money, with nothing to back it.

I was vehemently opposed to the Clintons' health care plan because it would take away our freedom to choose for ourselves. Everyone would have been required to have the insurance, and it would have been illegal to personally pay for your own health care, thus denying you anything the government agencies decided you didn't need or shouldn't have. God forbid!

My best friend, who has 4 or 5 different autoimmune diseases, including lupus and schleroderma, who uses a cane to walk short distances and a scooter for longer trips, who has days she can't get out of bed, and can't exert herself very much even on her "good" days, was denied disability for 18 1/2 years. Would I want the same people to be in total control of MY health care choices? Not on your life!

Even though I don't believe the government should be in the insurance business, or most of the other things they do, I am not so opposed to President Obama's plan, as he would give us the freedom to choose whether to participate or not. I have serious doubts that it will deliver what everybody thinks it should, at a cost that will not completely bankrupt the nation, but so long as the government is going to spend money like there's no tomorrow anyway, they might as well be spending some of it to actually help people, instead of just throwing it all down the toilet.

[Neil D]

Salon article mistaken.

Actually we look at all those issues.

[there buster]

Quote:

I remember seeing some stats from Sweden, Norway and Canada...They have the same life style as we have and the same high risk premies...thier survival rate is much better...

Sweden about 9.5 million people

Norway about 5 million

Canada about 33 million

US 12 million illegal aliens.