How to Protect Yourself From Obamacare

[MyDogHunts]

The lack of having the safety net of health insurance did not stop us back in the day of great things just as the lack of having any insurance stopped us until the history of insurance came into being.  Oh, can't sail across that ocean without insurance, now it is down to dental, eye, finger, whatever.  Do insurance companies make money?  Absolutely, yes.  Should healthcare be a product of a profit endeavor?  Well, it is in this country and what with the drugs and such it is in most countries.  By the way, if I remember right, slaving paid 25% of profits in insurance.

Obama and most everyone recognize that there is an inherent need for people to pay for their health care.  ELSE: others pay for it.  And with a profit driven market, it can cost a lot.

I'd like to see everyone under a certain age get free health care.  What age:  I ASK YOU?  35?

Then after that, limited health care, say to $100,000 or until you are 55.

Then after that, very limited health care and the option to go to an island where drugs and self-induced euthanasia are legal.

We really are monkeys with money and guns.  We can imagine a paradise that would never exist.

[guido911]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=616058848454248&set=a.401034789956656.90394.389658314427637&type=1&theater

[Red Arrow]

I'd like to see everyone under a certain age get free health care.  What age:  I ASK YOU?  35?

Then after that, limited health care, say to $100,000 or until you are 55.

Then after that, very limited health care and the option to go to an island where drugs and self-induced euthanasia are legal.

You must be a fan of the movie "Logan's Run".
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074812/

[guido911]

Because the present health care system costs too much and not everybody can afford it or insurance.  But lets just leave it there.  Everything is good for you now so that means its good for everybody else.  Don't change anything.  Got it

In honor of Charlie Sheen, I am going to return my "expensive" car I bought recently because, gosh darnit, it ain't right that I can afford it. Same for healthcare, since apparently I can "afford it" because I have insurance--which only "rich" people have--I need to just clam up about how wonderful the healthcare system was in helping my son through a very traumatic injury.

There, feel better? I denounced wealth and privilege because you apparently can't get/have nice things.

[guido911]

Like your doctor? Tough apparently.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/access-shock-a-bigger-problem-for-obama-than-lost-insurance/article/2538548

[Red Arrow]

In honor of Charlie Sheen, I am going to return my "expensive" car I bought recently because, gosh darnit, it ain't right that I can afford it.

You can "return" it to me if you want.  I don't care what CharlieSheen thinks.

[Cats Cats Cats]

In honor of Charlie Sheen, I am going to return my "expensive" car I bought recently because, gosh darnit, it ain't right that I can afford it. Same for healthcare, since apparently I can "afford it" because I have insurance--which only "rich" people have--I need to just clam up about how wonderful the healthcare system was in helping my son through a very traumatic injury.

There, feel better? I denounced wealth and privilege because you apparently can't get/have nice things.

You forgot to mention you were in the military.

Here is the conversation

My child got great healthcare
Yes, everybody should be able to get and afford the same level of care that you got.  Sadly this isn't the case.
You are jealous of my money. You must not have money.

[heironymouspasparagus]

I have no intention of sitting around in a (drug induced?) stupor taking whatever happens to me.  I believe I can positively affect the events in my life.

Therein lies one little sticking point... hopefully, you won't, but too many people do reach the point where no matter the attitude, they can not positively affect the events in their life.  If you have been able to do that your entire life, you are indeed blessed - way beyond the norm.

[Conan71]

That can be horrific. For today, I saw up close and personal my 8 year old tough out a nasty looking injury, get it surgically repaired, and back home in hours. Hats off to St. Francis and Oklahoma Surgical Hospital.

We had the misfortune of testing out the ER at St. John BA yesterday.  MC ended up with a 3" or so de-gloving just below the elbow during a bike race not quite a mile from the ER.  First rate care from start to finish.  Fortunately, they were able to put her back together only under local and just a little bit of morphine with 42 stitches.  She's doing great and tending the pain with nothing more than ibuprofen.  I on the other hand am still sort of a wreck after seeing my wife's arm like that. 

Main point is, I never once sensed that her care was prioritized due our ability to pay or not pay and that is never the main consideration for an ER doc.  It takes a pretty special kind of person to work in the ER.  My hat is off to those of you who have done time there or as an EMT.

[heironymouspasparagus]

We had the misfortune of testing out the ER at St. John BA yesterday.  MC ended up with a 3" or so de-gloving just below the elbow during a bike race not quite a mile from the ER.  First rate care from start to finish.  Fortunately, they were able to put her back together only under local and just a little bit of morphine with 42 stitches.  She's doing great and tending the pain with nothing more than ibuprofen.  I on the other hand am still sort of a wreck after seeing my wife's arm like that. 

Main point is, I never once sensed that her care was prioritized due our ability to pay or not pay and that is never the main consideration for an ER doc.  It takes a pretty special kind of person to work in the ER.  My hat is off to those of you who have done time there or as an EMT.

Sorry to hear that!  Give her my (our?) best wishes!   Really is distressing, isn't it?

BA has come through very nicely several times for the family.  And right now, they never seem to be extremely busy.  Late night Friday and Saturday's seem to be busy times in ER, and all the times we have been there, only 2 or 3 people were ahead of us, worst case.  Most times none or only one other.

[Gaspar]

We had the misfortune of testing out the ER at St. John BA yesterday.  MC ended up with a 3" or so de-gloving just below the elbow during a bike race not quite a mile from the ER.  First rate care from start to finish.  Fortunately, they were able to put her back together only under local and just a little bit of morphine with 42 stitches.  She's doing great and tending the pain with nothing more than ibuprofen.  I on the other hand am still sort of a wreck after seeing my wife's arm like that. 

Main point is, I never once sensed that her care was prioritized due our ability to pay or not pay and that is never the main consideration for an ER doc.  It takes a pretty special kind of person to work in the ER.  My hat is off to those of you who have done time there or as an EMT.

Ouch!  Give her my and Megan's condolences.  The only time we usually saw de-glovings was when a tight wedding ring got caught on something.  Typically always started the same way. . ."Jim, hold my beer". . .**250lb man then attempts to swing from tree-branch**.

Hopefully you weren't holding MC's beer?

Nothing ever phased me much working in the trauma center . . .except. . .the procedure used to remove an infected, or damaged toenail.

I have never fainted in my life.  I have had my arm up to the elbow in a person's chest, and seen things you could not imagine, but still to this day the thought of tearing off a toenail makes me go green!  I must stop typing now.

[RecycleMichael]

Fortunately, they were able to put her back together only under local and just a little bit of morphine with 42 stitches.  She's doing great and tending the pain with nothing more than ibuprofen. 

I would take advantage of the situation. I would re-arrange the furniture, buy a bigger TV, and fill the bar with expensive Bourbon. Then I would say that it was all her idea while she was drugged.

[Cats Cats Cats]

We had the misfortune of testing out the ER at St. John BA yesterday.  MC ended up with a 3" or so de-gloving just below the elbow during a bike race not quite a mile from the ER.  First rate care from start to finish.  Fortunately, they were able to put her back together only under local and just a little bit of morphine with 42 stitches.  She's doing great and tending the pain with nothing more than ibuprofen.  I on the other hand am still sort of a wreck after seeing my wife's arm like that. 

Main point is, I never once sensed that her care was prioritized due our ability to pay or not pay and that is never the main consideration for an ER doc.  It takes a pretty special kind of person to work in the ER.  My hat is off to those of you who have done time there or as an EMT.

de-gloving is probably the worst sounding thing you can have happen.  I think its probably way worse than it sounds too.

[Gaspar]

The lack of having the safety net of health insurance did not stop us back in the day of great things just as the lack of having any insurance stopped us until the history of insurance came into being.  Oh, can't sail across that ocean without insurance, now it is down to dental, eye, finger, whatever.  Do insurance companies make money?  Absolutely, yes.  Should healthcare be a product of a profit endeavor?  Well, it is in this country and what with the drugs and such it is in most countries.  By the way, if I remember right, slaving paid 25% of profits in insurance.

Obama and most everyone recognize that there is an inherent need for people to pay for their health care.  ELSE: others pay for it.  And with a profit driven market, it can cost a lot.

I'd like to see everyone under a certain age get free health care.  What age:  I ASK YOU?  35?

Then after that, limited health care, say to $100,000 or until you are 55.

Then after that, very limited health care and the option to go to an island where drugs and self-induced euthanasia are legal.

We really are monkeys with money and guns.  We can imagine a paradise that would never exist.

Beware what you ask for.  When you remove profit from any market, you remove the primary motivation behind innovation and invention.  There is no such thing as free.

Profit is not what created the monster we call health insurance, as that those margins are relatively thin compared with other markets.  What gave birth to the monster was collusion and all of the remoria's that come with it, as well as liability associated with perceived tort.. 

Back in the day, the doctor sent a copy of the bill to the insurance company and received a check.  If the doctor prescribed the wrong thing and you got worse, you went back and he would try something different.  There were only three parties involved and only a few people to pay or get paid.  

Today the patient has to be in-network (employer/state/Insurance company collusion), and the procedure must be coded by a medical coding specialist and meet the requirements set for treatment by the insurance company and commission in that state (state/insurance company collusion).  Any medication prescribed must be listed on the clinic or hospital approved formulary, as well as the approved formulary for the insurance company for the specified employer plan in that state, and in some cases approved prior to reimbursement (government/corporate/pharma/clinical/insurance company collusion).  X-rays and lab tests and many procedures can no longer be performed or interpreted in-office, and are restricted by the insurance company to age limit (chest, abdominal), risk pool, or pre-approval (pharma/clinical/insurance company collusion). When the patient arrives at the pharmacy the prescribed treatment must again be reviewed and approvals obtained.  The patient must also choose an approved pharmacy (pharma/clinical/insurance/retail collusion).  Today, your trip to the doctor means thousands of extra people are involved in paying and being paid, and they each take their share.

Physicians are no longer the sole providers.  Your employer, the state and the insurance company (as well as hundreds of extra bureaucracies)  share this position.  The state hates competition.  Employers hate cost. Insurance companies hate risk.  Together they build bureaucracy, because bureaucracy limits competition, spreads out cost, and mitigates direct risk. 

Unfortunately bureaucracy is never sustainable because its only purpose is to grow itself, and its only enemy is competition.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Nothing ever phased me much working in the trauma center . . .except. . .the procedure used to remove an infected, or damaged toenail.

I have never fainted in my life.  I have had my arm up to the elbow in a person's chest, and seen things you could not imagine, but still to this day the thought of tearing off a toenail makes me go green!  I must stop typing now.

How about when you drop something on a toenail or thumbnail and have to drill through the nail to relieve the pressure?  Dremel is your friend!!