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Author Topic:   Healthcare In The USA
purpledawn
Member (Idle past 3458 days)
Posts: 4453
From: Indiana
Joined: 04-25-2004


Message 31 of 72 (519584)
08-15-2009 7:53 AM
Reply to: Message 24 by onifre
08-14-2009 7:40 PM


Media Issue
quote:
If the corporate mainstream media is responsible for the disinformation, then I think the big question is why? Why are they leading the campaign of misinforming the public?
That's what I've been wondering. I've read the H.R. 3200 that's online and I don't understand why the media is bringing to light stuff that has nothing to do with the bill or at least show the evidence from the bill that the statement is false.
When they show town halls, they show the ruckus, but they don't always show the answers to even legitimate questions. I want to hear the questions and the answers.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 24 by onifre, posted 08-14-2009 7:40 PM onifre has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 32 by onifre, posted 08-15-2009 1:55 PM purpledawn has replied

  
purpledawn
Member (Idle past 3458 days)
Posts: 4453
From: Indiana
Joined: 04-25-2004


Message 35 of 72 (519701)
08-16-2009 12:42 PM
Reply to: Message 32 by onifre
08-15-2009 1:55 PM


Big Pharma
On June 22, President Obama said he'd reached agreement with big drug companies to cut the price of medicine by $80 billion. He extended his gratitude to Big Pharma for the deal that would, "reduce the punishing inflation in health care costs."
Makes one wonder how binding those "agreements" are. If they don't follow though, what can the government do?
Last night the President spoke in CO and said the Public Plan was a not-for-profit insurance and would not be subsidized by taxpayers. Since there are not-for-profit insurance plans available, I'm not sure how the government without subsidizing could get a better price. He did say that the Public Plan was not free.
Even our representatives in Washington pay about $260 a month for health care and that's with their employer (taxpayers) covering 75% of the cost. H.R. 3200 doesn't make it clear what monthly payments would be for the individual.
I'm curious if they will force doctors to accept all insurances. Right now some doctors won't take Medicare or Medicaid. They may be part of one of the incentive packages. Hard to tell.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 32 by onifre, posted 08-15-2009 1:55 PM onifre has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 36 by Taz, posted 08-16-2009 6:07 PM purpledawn has replied

  
purpledawn
Member (Idle past 3458 days)
Posts: 4453
From: Indiana
Joined: 04-25-2004


Message 37 of 72 (519751)
08-16-2009 9:08 PM
Reply to: Message 36 by Taz
08-16-2009 6:07 PM


Re: Big Pharma
quote:
Why make a statement that is true all the time?
I guess we're even, I don't understand your issue with the statement given that I was curious if they will force doctors to accept all insurances. If it is true all the time, what is the problem and why is it worth mentioning? Is it wrong to not assume I know everything about insurance past and present and only speak of what I do know in the moment?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 36 by Taz, posted 08-16-2009 6:07 PM Taz has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 38 by Taz, posted 08-17-2009 12:18 AM purpledawn has replied

  
purpledawn
Member (Idle past 3458 days)
Posts: 4453
From: Indiana
Joined: 04-25-2004


Message 39 of 72 (519778)
08-17-2009 6:44 AM
Reply to: Message 38 by Taz
08-17-2009 12:18 AM


Re: Big Pharma
quote:
I didn't have a problem with the forcing doctors to accept all insurances thing. I had a problem with you specifically saying some doctors don't accept medicare and medicaid. It's like dropping Obama's middle name right in the middle of a conversation.
There's been a lot of disinformation flying around, especially from your side of the fence. I'm sure you'd understand that naturally I'd be suspicious of subtle messages such as yours.
Why? It's a true statement, whether it is all encompassing or not.
This is how useless battles start. I have no idea how Medicare or Medicaid were accepted since inception. Because I take care of my mother's health and finances, I only know current dealings. There is nothing wrong with avoiding what I don't know for sure.
As far as Message 35, my thoughts were on the government run public plan and questions that were asked in the town hall mentioned that brought up Medicare. It brought up the thought that if the Public Plan doesn't reimburse doctors much better than Medicare, how is it going to help if doctors can refuse to accept it the same way they do Medicare. I can't tell if it will or not by reading H.R. 3200. Private insurance wasn't on my mind, but that would also fall under the issues of doctors accepting and refusing insurance.
I'm sorry if my statement wasn't specific enough or all encompassing enough for you, but I still don't understand the problem with it or why it makes anyone suspect misinformation or why that puts me on any specific side of the issue.
If there is a statement in one of the health plans that will require doctors to accept all insurances, then point me to it. I'm trying to understand this issue and quibbling about an unimportant phrase doesn't help understanding.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 38 by Taz, posted 08-17-2009 12:18 AM Taz has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 40 by Taz, posted 08-17-2009 3:54 PM purpledawn has replied

  
purpledawn
Member (Idle past 3458 days)
Posts: 4453
From: Indiana
Joined: 04-25-2004


Message 41 of 72 (519830)
08-17-2009 4:39 PM
Reply to: Message 40 by Taz
08-17-2009 3:54 PM


Re: Big Pharma
quote:
Please understand that some of us might interpret this as your way of dissing public health care option.
Why?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 40 by Taz, posted 08-17-2009 3:54 PM Taz has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 43 by Taz, posted 08-17-2009 10:04 PM purpledawn has replied

  
purpledawn
Member (Idle past 3458 days)
Posts: 4453
From: Indiana
Joined: 04-25-2004


Message 46 of 72 (519890)
08-18-2009 5:49 AM
Reply to: Message 44 by Taz
08-17-2009 10:05 PM


Countryside
quote:
The side that lives out in the countryside.
What's that got to do with the price of eggs?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 44 by Taz, posted 08-17-2009 10:05 PM Taz has not replied

  
purpledawn
Member (Idle past 3458 days)
Posts: 4453
From: Indiana
Joined: 04-25-2004


Message 47 of 72 (519892)
08-18-2009 7:05 AM
Reply to: Message 43 by Taz
08-17-2009 10:04 PM


Re: Big Pharma
So now you know that my use of the statement is not the same as using the President's full name in a conversation.
My thoughts were sparked by a specific question in the CO town hall where the President was asked about reimbursements to doctors. Private insurance reimburses at about 80% and Medicare at about 50% according to the questioner. The President said the Public Plan wouldn't be as low as Medicare, but he didn't say it would be at the same level as private insurance. I think there's a formula written in the plan.
So knowing that Medicare and Medicaid are refused due to low reimbursements, I see the same problem for any new plan that does the same without there being a change in the way health providers accept insurance.
Some doctors won't accept private insurance from insurance companies that are problematic. They make it too difficult for doctors to get paid. They automatically reject every claim, refuse to pay, argue about the services rendered, etc. That would be another issue of insurance reform. Insurance companies need to pay in a timely fashion and not play games. Our insurance company quibbles over wording on the bill. The medical codes are standardized and should be accepted as such. Invariably we are caught in the middle.
There needs to be some way that insurance companies can be held accountable for not doing what the are paid to do.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 43 by Taz, posted 08-17-2009 10:04 PM Taz has not replied

  
purpledawn
Member (Idle past 3458 days)
Posts: 4453
From: Indiana
Joined: 04-25-2004


Message 50 of 72 (519913)
08-18-2009 12:02 PM
Reply to: Message 48 by Peg
08-18-2009 7:30 AM


Medicare Tax
In the United States Medicare Tax is taken out of everyone's pay and matched by the employer (there may be exceptions, but I don't know them).
Payroll Taxes
The Medicare tax rate is 2.9% for the employee and the employer. You will withhold 1.45% of an employee's wages and pay a matching amount for Medicare tax. There is no wage base for the Medicare portion of the FICA tax. Both the employer and the employee continue to pay Medicare tax, no matter how much is earned.
Medicare is for those 65 and older.
Medicaid is jointly funded by the states and federal government and is designed for low income families.
The Medicaid program was created in 1965 by Congress as Title XIX of the Social Security Act. Medicaid, or medical assistance, is administered by state Medicaid agencies within broad parameters established by federal regulations. Medicaid is a health program designed primarily to help certain categories of low-income individuals with few financial resources.
My mother has never had any trouble with Medicare. She has had trouble with health providers telling her that something is covered by Medicare and afterwards finding out that it isn't and having to pay out of pocket.
People can also carry private insurance, as well as Medicare, but Medicare is the primary provider. Medicare can be a secondary provider, but I'm not familiar with how it works.

"Peshat is what I say and derash is what you say." --Nehama Leibowitz

This message is a reply to:
 Message 48 by Peg, posted 08-18-2009 7:30 AM Peg has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 53 by Peg, posted 08-18-2009 8:10 PM purpledawn has not replied

  
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