I have medical insurance. I'm slowly going broke.

[LuckyCharms]

$573 yesterday. Boom. Just like that. Bill comes in the mail.

$39.00

$7.13

Prescription steroid ointment denied. $71.00 out of pocket because I have to have it.

I average 3 Hydrocodone pills a week for when I can no longer bear the back pain. I ration them, and have done so for years. I wait until I am screaming with pain. Oh sorry, we don't cover opiates. I pay out of pocket.

No, you can't take the only GERD medication that works for you. Here, take this inferior cheap ass drug instead. Oh, we know your doctor told us in 5 appeals that it doesn't work well for you. Take it anyway.

Sorry, we don't pay anything toward that drug. You must pay out of pocket per our medical review team here at ""XXX health company".

$20 co-pay.

Sorry, that drug is outside of our normal formulary. $70 co-pay.

$15 co-pay.

Drip drip drip.

It will take awhile, but this will bankrupt me unless something changes.

[CurtEastPoint]

1. Killing us slowly. These companies are a cancer, no pun intended. Their only service is to stock-

holders. Period.

Destroy them.

[iluvtennis]

39. +++ agree. Greed rules the medical insurance and pharmaceutical companies. nt

[Delmette2.0]

65. Try anything you think might help to stay ahead of the pain

I learned to start taking OTC pain killers when I got my warning that a migraine was coming on. I never eliminated all the pain but it easier to tolerate.

[DownriverDem]

45. For GERD try

CBD oil or gummies. It works for me.

[JudyM]

60. For the pain, too!

[True Blue American]

78. Just called a friend who has GERD.

Asked her Son what it is. After we found out she said she would just get a joint and smoke it.

A lot of people use it for Arthritis.

[ret5hd]

2. They want you to take what is now known as "The Epstein Option".

Can't you just be a good citizen and protect our corporate profits?

[packman]

3. It will come to the point

Where some Americans will have to move to Canada or Europe to receive medical care.

[Disaffected]

12. I don't know about Europe but

don't expect to get admitted to Canada just because you need medical care.

[flying_wahini]

57. Well if you have travelers insurance on a trip to Canada and fall and break a hip

It won’t cost you one thin dime to see Dr’s and have surgery if necessary.

My sister lives there and is a naturalized citizen.

[Disaffected]

74. Not an expert but

I don't think that is correct. If you are not a Canadian citizen or a "permanent resident", you pay the going treatment rate (which, as it happens, is often far lower that in the US) and then are reimbursed by your insurance company according to the terms of the policy (or something to that effect). Your sister doesn't pay a dime because she is Canadian.

BTW, if a Canadian is injured/falls sick in the US and is without travel insurance, he/she will be reimbursed by the gov't for the amount it would cost to provide the same treatment in a Canadian hospital (IIRC). That's why Canadians in that situation often beat it on back to Canada ASAP if follow up treatment is needed.

[Soph0571]

25. I am thankful everyday for the NHS

[throwthe_shoe]

55. rand paul went to canada for his hernia surgery....

imagine that a republican politician going to canada...

[wolfie001]

112. He's an insufferable piece of Kentucky horseshit! nt

[amywalk]

148. We should blast this from the heavens whenever he walks into a room.

Don’t the Republicans believe American healthcare is the best in the world? Why did he go to Canada if that’s the truth?

[NewEnglandAutumn]

58. I have looked into it

It is almost impossible to move to a country with real insurance when you are already ill. If anyone knows how to do it please let me know. My spouse has cancer and has never been in remission; chemo slows it down but it is expensive. I have expensive health issues as well. It is crazy.

[Laffy Kat]

4. I work for an "HMO." I see it all day long.

And patients complain about it and then vote for the GOP.

[shockey80]

6. The same thing is happening to me.

I have good coverage and I am getting bills for things I could never predict. The system has become unmanageable. The good news is, as the system continues to get worse the American people will become more open to a single payer system.

We need one healthcare plan for all. Simplify the system and the costs will come down and it will be easier to manage.

[Laffy Kat]

17. I do advocate for that to patient/members who complain about the system.

I'm probably going to get myself fired because it's a no-no.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

32. I still imagine way back when HMOs where invented. It was

probably a room full of Republican powers-that-be brainstorming on how to make more money. The question posed was, "What does every human being need, and how can we capitalize on that to profit?"

Someone answered "well everyone has to go to a doctor?" And someone else said, " let's create a new thing that stresses health and prevention. Make is sound fantastic. So fantastic they won't even know what hit them until we have milked them dry."

[pecosbob]

49. Didn't Nixon get together with Edgar Kaiser from Kaiser Permanente and dream up this scam?

"All the incentives are toward less medical care, because—the less care they give them, the more money they make." - Mr. Erlichman quoting Edgar Kaiser to President Nixon on February 17, 1971

I think it actually took Reagan to close all the Public Health Hospitals in the eighties and put all the institutionalized on the street and jump-started our homeless crisis.

[former9thward]

68. Nixon signed the law in 1973 creating HMOs.

The law was proposed and passed by a Democratic congress. There are public hospitals all over the country. Reagan would not have the power to close them even if he wanted to. Mental health institutions were locally run. Not by the federal government. Most of them were closed by local and county government to save money.

[True Blue American]

79. State run.

Last edited Sun Aug 18, 2019, 05:15 PM - Edit history (1)

We had them closed duting Reagan’s term now Trump is complaining about them being closed. Guess he does not know who was responsible.

[former9thward]

87. No one since has had the power to re-open them?

Reagan has been gone from CA since 1974 and the U.S. since 1988. A long time for both.

[True Blue American]

89. No will

But I did hear that one Judge in Florida is ending more people to clinics instead of jail forcing them to reopen a Clinic. Of course that is more for addicts than the mentally ill. But that is a start.

[stuffmatters]

95. Yes, it happened (famously) under Reagan yet Trump claims it was "in the 60's & 70's"

[Grins]

90. YES! And it's on the Nixon tapes.

You can even Google it!

[onecaliberal]

5. Exactly. This is why I'm sick to death of people saying oh we love our insurance.

The people who say that have never gotten seriously sick or have to live with chronic illness. My family is right there with you.

[Ohiogal]

8. Bingo, onecaliberal.

[Ferrets are Cool]

18. +1

[emmaverybo]

96. I say it. I have been seriously ill. It depends on the plan and how good a deal your employer or

your retirement benefits are giving you. Some group plans are excellent and have low premiums.
If you think you will get every drug you need or want, every procedure, every test free on M4All, even after you pay higher taxes, you are kidding yourself. Not how it works in Europe. Not how it works with HMO’s or the VA.

Sympathize greatly with OP. But it simply is not true that all who have employer and/or retirement
provided plans get a bad deal or that any single payer system will not have restrictions. Right now, under NHS, for instance, hip surgery is considered elective. Cancer treatment start waiting time has been extended to up to four months, worst case, and two to three months common. There is great disparity in care according to service area.

Many have employer provided as a back up and also pay out of pocket.

But back to the U.S., there is a reason some of us like our plans and want to keep them. That does not mean we don’t want to shore up Medicare and Medicaid, make Obamacare affordable, and in fact, provide healthcare to all.

I worked for low pay, but my Medicare fee is reimbursed to my pension, and I pay zero premium for my supplemental PPO plan, which, with Medicare provides 100 percent coverage. My drugs are about two to 15 dollars per prescription. My mom paid 261.00 per month for Medicare plus Kaiser
in retirement and less while working. My plan can be used out of state and abroad. It is not platinum.
I am not unusual.

[onecaliberal]

101. I work for a school district. Our benefits are pretty good.

My husband had a stroke almost 3 years ago. We left the hospital with a $200,000 bill. Out of network cost. I’m talking about SICKNESS. Cancer patients suffer the same fate and many other chronic illnesses. NO INSURANCE CO. Should have the power to over rule or deny payment for a treatment your medical doctor has ordered. Healthcare should NEVER be for profit. Insurance companies and big pharmaceutical have been allowed to put profit over the lives of people. You might think that’s okay, I DONT!

On edit: just because it doesn’t affect you doesn’t make it right, millions ARE bankrupted by our current system. I am NOT unusual.

[emmaverybo]

106. As I said wanting to keep one's employer provided or retirement benefit plan does not mean one

is not willing to pay higher taxes for a better deal for others or that one endorses insurance abuses. I do not think what you describe is ok. I made it clear in my post that I am for affordable
care for all. How to get there is the question.

Millions are bankrupted and that does not have to be the case. It must not be the case. Much needs to be fixed in our current options. That is where I would like to see the political work happen.

The out of network and therefore out of pocket problem is pervasive. All plans should be under regulations that prevent this abuse.

[DiverDave]

127. And how long

Have you worked for that insurance company?

[emmaverybo]

144. I am merely using my own experience, and that of others like me, to show why some millions might

want to keep their employer-provided plans. That fact does not make a case for insurance companies, certainly is not a defense for terrible practices that lead to people, as in the OP, being struck with catastrophic illness out of network having either to get on a plane (contraindicated with a heart attack or stroke) to get to in network care, or being stuck with hundreds of thousands worth of bills.

There are other practices that insurance companies, unregulated, reap inordinate profits from while they cost millions of Americans financial suffering to the point of bankruptcy, endless debt, and even lives due to inadequate coverage. I do not mean to ignore the problems rife in our current health care situation.

I would argue for choice. I believe there are other options than single payer to get to affordable,
quality care for all, while preserving choice for those who want to stay on their employer and/or
retirement benefits provided plans.

Proponents of single payer can make a case for it. However, that case should factor in the information that of the 180 million people on employer-provided plans, at least half are content with them, and thus resist arguments for M4All, as, similarly, many on Obamacare under ACA have come to like those plans. And Medicaid, though eligibility is too restrictive and it needs expansion, gives other millions excellent coverage which can include access to top specialists and research hospitals, in home care, drug coverage, 100 percent hospitalization, in sum, coverage equal to or better than single payer systems M4All proponents use to support their advocacy.

I also stated a truth: no single payer system will end up approving all drugs, all procedures, all
specialists, all timely screenings, i,e. offer top quality all the time for all.

But what is most important is that we recognize and anticipate arguments opposing single payer in
looking to a 2020 victory. To dismiss these concerns, and the issue of choice, as “Republican Talking Points,”or as waged only by “insurance Company Shills,” may very well cost us the election.

[DiverDave]

146. Sure, sure...

Sell it to someone else
I ain't buyin

[fescuerescue]

153. If 100% of the population hated their insurance company

Then we would have fixed it by now.

If 0% of the population were in their corner, who would be advocating for them? We've been trying to get insurance fixed for 30 years now. Clearly someone other than a few insurance execs are pushing back.

FWIW, I hate my current insurance company, but in the past when my wife was getting Chemo and my daughter was receiving services for various issue too numerous to describe here, I was quite grateful that my insurance company picked up the $800,000 and $300,000 bills.

That doesn't mean we have a good nationwide system, but to believe that there are zero success stories in a nation of 330,000,000 people is biased thinking.

[Ohiogal]

7. I hear you Lucky

More Americans go bankrupt from medical bills than for any other reason.

This is shameful. But that’s what happens when everyone in government insists we have for-profit healthcare.

Im looking for insurance for myself right now and am absolutely appalled at what you pay and how little is covered.

[Traildogbob]

11. Just hang on

Lindsay Graham is saying out load if they re-elect trump and take the house, he will personally destroy Afordable Healh Care Patient Protection regulations. That damn Obama Nightmare that is killing Anericans. Do I need to note here this is sarcasm? But fact.

[Ohiogal]

56. In other words

People who receive government healthcare don’t want anyone else to receive government healthcare.

[Skittles]

92. I think you mean out LOUD

Wait, Lindsay Graham? OK, LOAD is correct.

[Traildogbob]

135. Ha!

[Backseat Driver]

142. When out of work, even ACA policy premiums are often beyond reach

as the subsidies were figured on last year's income numbers and the progressive tax penalties for non-participation at the time. Some things and protections still do need to be tweaked. ACA was doable, however, if one found a new opportunity with the old income quickly; not so much for the older but not-yet-old-enough-for-Medicare worker already serially brutalized before and during the Great Recession and subsisting on very short-lived 1099 "opportunities" that did not offer coverage nor any other benefits but paid more than UEI - welcome breathing room if one didn't spend it all on coverage, co-pays, and medicines until...Niagra Falls...all over again. So then there's the lost house and that "B" word.

Tough enough finding affordable rental housing what with rising costs there (Rule of Thumb - 30% is laughable: of what today or next month?) but we made it through into Medicare and SSI by having "good timing." Even that income needs to be augmented by low(er)-wage employment that has now disappeared twice in layoffs unrelated to performance issues. The concept and question of an "annual income" hasn't technically been answerable for quite a while; barely anything's lasted that long; at our ages, it's the ONLY long-term goal. Get back in the credit card racket for better scores?, hahaha! Even midnight movers cost more than the budget can eek out in a lump sum, so will just manage as is and watch what slowly slips away from what's already a restricted though fairly quality DIY non-owner lifestyle. Can hardly even do automatic bill-pays, because the SSI income isn't on particular dates - doled out on a Wednesday of variable date so late fees. TPTB that includes Lindsay Grahm really do want us dead - we've got other ideas! The f'g moron thinks consumers are rich?

Until something gets worked out that's actually affordable, and notwithstanding vision, dental, and hearing issues that need attention that reflect quality-of-life issues or ER-type situations, guess I'll go without supplementals, doctor visits, and/or pharma "symptom" pills, and other products and services attractive to consumers. No salons or barbers; no trendy tunics, or a trip to the new restaurant; no new electronics/TVs -- underwear and shoes as absolutely needed. I do get bombarded with solicitations for plans during open enrollment seasons. The cash flow just isn't there, and I worry about leaving regular Medicare for Advantage plans. I may kick the bucket earlier but bet I'll be really expensive to maintain if things go south. I will continue to try to forestall that eventuality with good self-care, diet, exercise and the common sense to not do risky activities and to vote Blue. The future is indeed terrifying!

[turbinetree]

9. Sorry, that drug is outside of our normal formulary.

There typical response...................Sorry, that drug is outside of our normal formulary.

A drug formulary is a list of prescription drugs, both generic and brand name, used by practitioners to identify drugs that offer the greatest overall value. A committee of physicians, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists maintain the formulary..................................so they basically get a kick back and they can charge you more........................f***ing for profit insurance companies............................must be nice to play GOD............................

http://www.biabenefit.com/formulary-versus-non-formulary-prescription-drugs/

[keithbvadu2]

13. Part D was written for the drug industry.

Part D was written for the drug industry.

The companies can change their formulary.

[turbinetree]

109. Yepper spot on.............................

[pangaia]

133. Then the ads on the walls in the waiting room, in the exam rooms, etc for drugs !!!

Salesmen/women.. no.. almost all men, making the rounds of the doctors' offices trying to sell their shit....

[Marthe48]

10. I'm sorry to hear you have pain

I have been putting turmeric in my meals since last spring. I didn't think it'd do any good, but my kids and my friends said it is effective. I realized in the last few weeks that I can do dishes or vacuum and I don't need to put an ice pack on my back every time. I had heel spurs and foot pain and it has cleared up. So I think the turmeric is doing something.

I think all insurance is a rip-off. I just had to pay house ins. and car ins. I also had to get a new windshield last week. Ohio is one of the states that doesn't mandate free replacement. My ins. paid diddly, but I sure pay a lot for it. Same with the house. I'd rather throw my money in the toilet.

[JudyM]

63. How much turmeric are you using, approx?

[Marthe48]

80. I just put a good dash in

maybe an 1/8 to a 1/4 tsp, almost every day. It seems to be like paprika, adds color, but no strong flavor.

[JudyM]

104. I would've thought it'd take more than that for a noticeable effect. That's great!

[Marthe48]

110. I discounted the comments

My friend said she was having trouble with her shoulder, and she started taking turmeric capsules, and her shoulders stopped hurting. My kids gave me a couple of jars of the condiment, which sat in the cupboard. I would have to use ice after doing dishes, or using the vac, and I was having trouble with my feet. So one day, I thought what the heck, and started using it. I still need an ice pack now and then, but not every time. I didn't think I'd retreat from aging aches and pains, but I feel like I have

[Autumn]

100. I use my water infuser and add turmeric and orange slices to to my water,

and am cooking with it often. It really is remarkable the difference it makes.

[Backseat Driver]

143. Marthe48 and Autumn - Addition of black pepper makes

turmeric more absorbable for better effect.

[Autumn]

145. Good to know. The whole black peppercorns?

[Backseat Driver]

162. Savory and fresh from the kitchen grinder...

I do the bullet-proof coffee - coffee>add turmeric>add a few twists of pepper from the grinder>add a bit of coconut oil>add stevia. There are also capsuled supplements of turmeric that have proprietary blends of ingredients to enhance absorbability. I'm sure that GreenMedInfo and/or other websites can point people in the right direction to using this supplement effectively. https://www.greenmedinfo.com/substance/turmeric

[Autumn]

163. Thanks I'll try that.

[Raine]

122. I'm so glad for you

I'm going to remember tumeric, I love using natural things like that.

[pangaia]

134. A high quality peppermint oil....

maybe.. it helps my occasional arthritis, strained muscles... maybe not strong enough my my Chinese ex- recommended it....

[Faux pas]

14. That is terrible

what insurance do you have?

[jmbar2]

15. This is a good step in fighting back

Making your actual experience public, loud and visible. Everyone needs to do it.

Years ago, when the local Tea Party goons were invading town halls discussing then-proposed Obamacare, I brought name tags that said "I am uninsurable due to preexisting illness". I wore mine in the door, and brought extras - lots of extras. People started asking for them, and pretty soon more than half the room was wearing them.

The goons lost their argument, whatever it was, when faced with a room full of people who were uninsurable. They slithered out of the meeting, one by one, before it ended and they had to face so many uninsurable people. I have no doubt they were paid to be there.

Step forward and HOLLER from the rooftops until you hear the other voices.

Good luck and thanks for speaking up.

[Skidmore]

16. I just paid

about $200 out of pocket this week in co-pays for blood labs for the month since a new combination of pain medication for nerve damage interfered with the blood thinner I take. Last week was another $100 in copays for OT visits x2 per month to prevent another surgery and dangerous complications. Medicine check appointment next Friday and new scripts coming up.

Elderly people will die off quickly. Young people should not sweat it.

[edhopper]

19. Between premiums and out of pocket

I have paid over $10,000 this year. And I only have minor ailments.

My wife got sick in Europe, bronchitis. We went to a private hospital. Dr. visit, tests, x-ray and prescriptions....200 Euros with no insurance.

[Pepsidog]

20. Insurance companies bleed you dry.

[PatrickforO]

21. I'm SO FUCKING TIRED of having crappy, rationed healthcare with

financially crippling copays I could vomit.

THERE IS ONLY ONE REASON WE DON'T HAVE MEDICARE FOR ALL AND THAT IS LOBBY MONEY FROM BIG PHARMA AND HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES.

Let's do what Sheldon Whitehouse says and get the dark money out of DC.

This is bullshit. When people suffer so some fucking corporate greed-heads can make more profits, it is immoral, reprehensible bullshit. When people die because of our stupid capitalist profit-over-people-every-time mentality I want to hit the streets and stop everything until the fucking government finally FINALLY does something that actually HELPS me instead of spending $733 billion on forever wars against brown-skinned people.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh! I hate this shit.

Rant over. I guess. But Lucky, I'm so very sorry for your plight. I have one just like it. All because politicians in DC lack the political courage to do THE RIGHT THING. When we are finally in the majority, that better change.

[iluvtennis]

42. +++ agree.

[JudyM]

114. Ridding DC of conflicts of interests is my #1 voting issue. It's the root of all the evil.

Legislation should be based on the best ideas for the citizenry, not for the donors.

[area51]

22. We desperately need

comprehensive Medicare for All.

-- M4A policy details

-- M4A FAQs

-- Issues with the public option.

No 1st world country should be treating its citizens this way.

[Liberty Belle]

23. Call a local reporter and ask them to report on this.

I'll bet if the insurer got a call from the press, they might at least decide to pay for the GERD medication.

Also complain to your state's insurance comissioner; depending which state you are in, they may actually do something. CA also has a state board of medical quality assurance or something like that.

I had success filing complaints with the state when my insurance co. refused to pay for an ambulance after a car accident. The state made them pay.

[JohnnyRingo]

24. I'm losing an average of $300 a month

I'm on Medicare and have United Healthcare as Part B. I keep hoping the deductibles and co-pays lessen if I stay out of the hospital, but something new comes up with each year. Eventually, my savings will be gone and I can file bankruptcy.

I think the plan is to leave the Baby Boomer generation in financial debt by the time we die, with our savings gone to insurance companies, hospitals, big pharm, and finally let the rest homes hoover up the crumbs.

[True Blue American]

81. One thing I found out this

Week is that it is cheaper to go to a Clinic. In my case Krogers than a Specialist.

For those with hearing loss things are going to really change the first of the year for Adiliologists.

Clinics will have Audiologists because people will be able to buy Hearing Aids across the Counter. The 2/3rds profit will be cut and they are really angry about the law. So many of the elderly are bing gouged to death. Even if you have insurance they gouge for $3000 more.

You can buy a 50 inch TV for less than $500 now. Hearing Aids re the worst ripoff ever, but people need them.

[Uncle Joe]

26. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for sharing LuckyCharms.

[droidamus2]

27. Tell me about it

I will admit my wife and I aren't as bad off as some. My wife had a kidney transplant back in 2013 and is still having problems that result in us having to fully pay our deductible every year since both of us only work part time. Now here's one for you we were both on an health insurance policy that was only costing us $4 a month, great yes? Then I turned 65 and had to go on Medicare which takes $123 dollars out of my social security check and the cost for my wife going to a single person account went up to $76 a month. So me gong on Medicare ends up costing us $193 a month. Along with co-pays and such just this would use up our savings over the next few years unless we keep working the same number of hours or more. I would hope that Bernie's Medicare for All plan gets rid of the premiums on Medicare and of course the premiums, deductibles and co-pays from my wife's account.

[Ilsa]

28. Insurance companies acting like doctors. Should be malpractice.

I know that docs serve on review committees, but they are not always right.

What a gig: make money serving on a review committee but never seeing a patient.

[JCMach1]

29. Moving to a great new job with opportunities, but crappy

Insurance. My Obamacare is great in comparison. Literally, great job will pay less if I take the insurance I will be forced to take.

Choice in insurance? Really?

I am literally considering going no insurance and banking the amount I would have to pay for that insurance. Literally, I will be making less money for taking the good job with crappy insurance if I don't.

[defacto7]

70. If you have a good and stable job and you're relatively young

self insurance is not a bad idea. I did that for some time and came out ahead with auto insurance. Just keep a close eye on your investments when they reach a level where they could be useful. The investment future is hard to gauge.

[JCMach1]

107. I am 53 and relatively healthy and could actually take

The insurance for myself. It's my wife and son that bumps it to insane levels...

And even if I did the deductibles are outrageous.

I am not making much more money at all, it's.about the opportunities. I should be able to keep my ACA. It's total BS

[Metro135]

30. I hear you

I call it the "dribs and drabs," and the invoices keep coming even a year after your procedure. Some of the amounts are so ridiculous you almost have to laugh. I had an eye procedure last month, and just received a bill for $8.93 for some idiotic thing insurance won't cover. $8.93? Really? That's going to bankrupt United HealthCare? And then the following week you're socked with a bill for four or five hundred dollars.

I couldn't even get the exact procedure that my doctor wanted to do, because my insurance company decided "it wasn't necessary." Apparently they know more than my eye doctor.

The living end, however, occurred a couple of years ago. I had an MRI for a shoulder problem. Over a year afterwards I suddenly get a letter from the medical offices where I had it done telling me that I owe $842.00, that I have been notified three times, and if I don't pay immediately they will have to go to a collection agency. I had never received a single invoice before receiving this letter.

In a rage, I called the office and after I described the situation the person I'm speaking to says, "Oh, this happens all the time."

!!!???

THIS WHOLE SYSTEM IS ROTTEN TO THE CORE.

[Ohioboy]

102. Happens all the time?????????????

They know it's happening all the time, but don't fix the problem!!!!???????

[MontanaMama]

31. I know, LC.

I pay $1800 a month for my family of 3 for insurance and still have a $4000 per person deductible...it’s criminal. I don’t know who your insurance company is...but if if it is true insurance and not a self funded plan, your state insurance commissioner can often help with denied claims for meds and procedures that your doctor prescribes. Insurance companies will do about anything to get those complaints off the books. I’ve never filed a complaint that wasn’t successful. I’m sorry...I hate insurance companies. Hate them.

[renate]

41. This advice needs its own thread!

I’ve been lucky with insurance so far myself, but this is good for everyone to know!

[shockey80]

46. Holy shit!

How can you afford that?

[MontanaMama]

51. I can't afford not to.

We are self employed and there are only two companies that offer insurance to individuals in MT so they can charge astronomical premiums. My spouse and I are in our 50’s so we are at the top of the premium table meaning we’re getting closer to being eligible for Medicare and the insurance cabal is squeezing everything they can out of us while they can. We are hostage to them until that happens.

Do not underestimate the power of your state insurance commissions to help secure benefits to which we are all entitled to and are paying for. These offices are usually run by your secretary of state’s departments. Sec of State is is a VERY important elected position for this reason.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

33. The HEALTH INSURANCE industry gets in the way....

between a Doctor and his/her patient.

That is where the problems lie. The outrageous CEO Pay and Stock options, pleasing the Stock Holders, cause Premiums to go up, determines what they will or not pay out, leaving the policy holder deciding if treatment is worth it.

The Health Insurance industry will fight tooth and nail against a Universal plan or a Medicare For All that Americans buy into. The fact that Insurers hate regulations is the reason why we are in this mess. They care about profits for themselves and their stock holders. To hell with the Cancer patient, etc.

[brewens]

40. I have two doctor friends on FB and I asked a question neither replied to. I wondered if all the

pharmaceutical advertising had kind of a reverse placebo effect?

If a patient comes in convinced they know what's wrong with them and they have seen the latest drug for it on TV, I'd think that wouldn't be good if their doctor thought otherwise. If the doc prescribes some other treatment or drug and they think he's wrong and unhappy about it, that can't be good.

I watched a college basketball game in the nearest city on one of our local channels and the advertising was almost all medical. Drugs and this Gamma Knife outfit that treats cancer. I'd think other commercial outfits would be pissed that they hog all that prime advertising. What I feel shouldn't even be allowed advertisement on TV has to drive the price too high for them.

[randr]

34. Same here

Every year my coverage gets worse and my care increases. Still putting out mucho dinero for vitamins and alt medications to supplement my care.
We have coverage through my wife's work and are realizing that we may be better off with just Medicare w/supplemental and just drop the very expensive deduction she pays.

[mgardener]

35. Buy your drugs mail order from Canada

Do your research. It is usually a cheaper, not always. Know the exchange rate
I live 20 miles from Canadian border. Lots of people buy their drugs and pay for health and dental services in Canada
Good luck.

[brewens]

36. I was registering blood donors at a medical insurance company about a year or so

after the ACA passed. The three women that worked in the lobby at their customer service counter (none of whom have jobs anymore) had just been at a Kool-Aid party with their CEO.

I could overhear some of what they were talking about. The main statement that got me was, "people are just going to have to get used to higher deductibles and co-pays." Then they were also talking numbers that were mostly gibberish. They either were getting deficit and debt mixed up, or their CEO was a moron and they were even dumber. He had obviously been trashing Obama and his what they told themselves was out of control spending.

When I heard the deductible bullshit, I wanted to yell, "why? So your boss can take more of our money (my insurance was through them) to build a bigger castle?"

They all lost their jobs when they decided to not have customer service here locally any more. We had many blood drives there and they had people, usually older, come in all the time with questions about their bills or complaints. Now that's something that would normally piss off a lot of Trump worshippers, but they blindly support the people screwing them the most.

[Wiseman32218]

37. I Had "Great Health Insurance"

I had a stroke in February and still have $1000's of dollars of bills coming in!! Looks like filing bankruptcy is my only choice. That will screw my credit rating and financial future!!! We need to fix this crap!

[stopbush]

38. My Medicare starts September 1.

It’s like a 5-year-old anticipating Xmas after Thanksgiving.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

77. Don't expect much help on pharmaceuticals.

Medicare Part D is a Republican scam, thanks for nothing. Medicare isn't allowed to negotiate prices with drug prices, the way private insurance can. Also the way Tricare, VA, every other sane insurance can.

GoodRx.com helps more than my Medicare part D.

If I have to get more expensive drugs, well, I'm only a half hour drive to Canada (not including the wait at customs and immigration, in both directions.)

[sweetroxie]

93. Mexico is also a good place for meds

If you live close by.

[Ladygrey]

116. Medicare Part D

I have been a nurse for over 40 years & have been working for an HMO in the Home Infusion department for over 20 years. Believe me when I tell you DO NOT DROP PART D! It will cover IV meds you may need for weeks at a time. Example: You get an infection in an artificial joint. This can happen years after the joint is replaced as bacteria introduced after getting a cut or scrape could head right for the artificial joint. If that happens, they will do surgery to pull out the infected joint & replace it with a temporary one. You will need 6 weeks of IV antibiotics. If you are capable of giving the drug yourself you will be taught how to do it & sent home with drugs & supplies. If you do not have Part D you will have to pay the entire cost. Antibiotics are not cheap & then there is the cost of supplies & having a PICC line ( a central IV line) placed. The entire course of therapy could cost $10,000 or more! Your supplemental plan will not cover that cost if you do not have Medicare Part D. If you only need a week or two it could still cost you up to a thousand dollars depending what antibiotic the doctor orders. The only other options would be going to a skilled nursing facility or coming into a clinic every day for the entire course of therapy. This is only practical if you have once a day dosing. Some antibiotics are given 2 or 3 times per day, which makes going in almost impossible, unless you live next door to the clinic. I have had the sad duty to tell people they aren’t covered and what the ‘options’ are. This scenario, or a bunch of others ones could happen to anyone! We need Medicare For All ASAP!

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

125. Not dropping part D

My drug costs are not terrible, and the big savings comes from GoodRx. I keep the cheapest part D I can, because it is more expensive to start part D after skipping it for a while. And the price increase is permanent.

But it could use some serious legislative tweaking.

[llmart]

150. That is very useful information.

Thank you. One of the mistakes some seniors eligible for Medicare make is when they initially go on Medicare at 65, oftentimes they are fairly healthy yet. I know I was. I still am for the most part. I initially went with an Advantage plan from 65-69. I had this plan that because I was always healthy, fit and took no meds, I would wait until I turned the magical age of 70 and then purchase a supplemental. Well, I had my first knee issue at 69 and should have been going to physical therapy three times a week for several weeks. However, my copay for each visit was $40 and that would have been $120 per week. So, I went for two weeks and asked the physical therapist if I could do the exercises at home myself which I did. That year at open enrollment I decided it was time at 69 to sign up for a supplemental plan. Good thing I did because I had my dry macular degeneration turn to wet and each monthly visit with the injection of the drug in the eye would have been close to $3,000! That was each month for a year.

I am so glad I bought the supplemental plan. I guess my point is that like you said, once you get older each day can bring something new you'd never thought you'd have to deal with. I do get a subsidy in my state that helps pay my premium. It's only $35 a month, but every little bit helps. My monthly premium for the supplemental plan is $101.70.

[Bradshaw3]

156. Not true for me

My drug cost is $12 a month. I pay zero for my three drugs. My dog requires a prescription for seizures and I use goodrx. It starts out great but then keeps going up, so that I currently pay almost 70 percent of the retail cost for it.

[UniqueUserName]

43. Is Kratom legal in your state?

It probably is. I think it's illegal in 5 states. Kratom works for back pain. It tastes horrible. I'm not encouraging you to do anything illegal.

I'm sorry about your back pain. I suffer too. My diagnosis is DISH (Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis). Don't get me started on some doctors. They go and read the MayoClinic article because they've never heard of DISH. Then they tell me it's not painful and I am overreacting. It's the common story on the Facebook support group. My last neuro-spine doctor was sympathetic. There's just nothing he can do. He told me, "Yes, It's painful. It will get worse. Don't fall down. It could break you back."

[ooky]

44. Yep. Unfortunately, nearly half of the voters in this country continue listen to corrupt

wealthy people tell them this is great health care so don't worry about that and focus instead on protecting your "right" to own assault weapons. So important.

[StarzGuy]

47. I'm Broke

I took sick back in 2010. I used up all my sick days, still I had a small savings. When I used up all and applied for SSDI it took 9 months to completely suck every last dollar I had. I couldn't even afford my medications. I then applied for state sponsored health insurance. What a joke. I got stuck in the middle of the indian reservation because I had no money for gas to leave. I not only used up what small amount of investments I had, but lost my home in the process. I am not indian so I could not stay in the teacher and staff housing. They kept charging me rent anyway.

I finally got approval for my SSDI thanks to my doctors but I still spent 10 days in the hospital, I was never able to return to work, not by choice. Now I am poor using my SSDI and a small pension to survive without even making it through each month without going to the food bank.

Even with Medicare, which isn't free as I still pay for out of my SSDI and a secondary insurance, which I also pay a monthly fee for now add the never ending out of pocket cost for my medications and some with rather high copays I am constantly broke. NO extra money to do anything. I usually start and end my days sitting in front of my TV watching what ever is on. Not the life I had hoped and worked for 35 years as a teacher.

The news talking heads and the trump administration keep talking about how wonderful and great the economy is. Well, not for people like me. My life continues to stagnate with little or no hope of my economy ever getting better.

[sharedvalues]

48. I'm so sorry.

Call E Warren and tell her your story.
Or Bernie Sanders.
You’re one of many but you can make a small difference by telling their Senate offices your story

[Vinca]

50. The bottom line is that our system is wonderful until you get sick.

[Freedomofspeech]

52. Insurance companies make all of our life or death decisions...

What horrible stories I am hearing here....

[MadDAsHell]

53. The ACA's primary flaw is that it didn't really address out of control rising costs; it just shifted

...who pays for those costs. The "Affordable" part didn't really happen except for those who became Medicaid-eligible and have the entire thing paid for.

And that there is one of the biggest challenges of the current system. We have people either paying through the nose, or people paying nothing, and not really anything in between.

My employer-sponsored plan for my family of 3 costs me $7,400 in premiums and has an $8,000 deductible. The only thing that is covered before hitting the deductible is one free physical each.

So basically we pay over $15,000 out of pocket before the insurance covers a thing. What is "Affordable" about that?

[questionseverything]

85. the first thing that should of happened was controling costs

we find ourselves in the position of paying for those eligible for Medicaid while unable to afford insurance for ourselves


go figure

[marieo1]

54. My story!!!

I have had a similar experience with my insurance company. I was diagnosed with glaucoma 20 years ago or so. My eye doctor sent me to have surgery on both eyes, which I did and I still have to take 1 drop of Timilol and 1 drop of lumigan in each eye every night. If I don't the pressure will go up and I could lose my sight. I had Medica and they covered both perscriptions with a minimal co-pay. Last year, I was forced to go to Humana. For the past several months, I have been in communication with Humana - first they were going to cover the perscriptions and I would be elated and then I would receive a letter from them, saying they wouldn't cover them. It was a continual fight. I finally got my perscription filled for the Lumigan - the only drop that keeps the pressure down. I will have to get it refilled before the end of the year, tho, and hope and pray I will not have to go through the whole scenario again. I don't understand, when a very good Doctor prescribes it for you, it should be the end of the story - not so!! I have found insurance companies call the shots!!!!!! Especially Humana!!

[lettucebe]

59. My husband finally was going to try a statin

but refused to pay the $580+ for one-month supply (he does not have RX insurance). He told the pharmacy he'd rather die.

Seriously, this countries take on medical care is horrific.

[stuffmatters]

98. I sent you mail, lettucebe, re possible OTC statin substitute

[ChiTownDenny]

105. GoodRx.

Google it, type in your medication name, and then compare prices.

[empedocles]

61. Go Canadien certified pharmacies

[unblock]

62. the law needs to change to get the incentives right. here's a suggestion:

the problem is the insurance companies have a lot of incentives to not pay out properly on claims.
1) at the barest minimum, they earn interest on funds while they delay payment to you;
2) you might tire of fighting and drop the claim, or it might not be large enough to bother with, or you might need help from your doctor battling your insurance company and they might not see your issue as a priority;
3) not to be morbid, but you might die before the issue is resolved, and your heirs are very unlikely to carry on the fight against the insurance company, if they even know about the issues;
4) if you get insurance at work, which most people do, then the vast majority of claims are for people who are not making the decision as to which insurance company to go with, so they don't really care about you, only the top executive; and
5) as a matter of human nature and modern sales/marketing, the upfront illusion of coverage is always more complete and solid than the moldy swiss cheese crud you get later, after they've already collected your premiums.


my suggestion is that the law needs to change to better align the insurance companies' incentives with the patients.

first and simplest, they need to pay interest at a reasonable market rate back to the date of claim for any delay for any reason. this goes for any form of insurance, not just health insurance. i was in a car crash and it took 3 years to collect. why should they have earned all that interest during those 3 years when they chose to delay the case?

second, there needs to be far more aggressive oversight than whatever we have now. i know we've got something in place, but it's not well publicized and doesn't seem to kick in until the insurance company has already delayed things a long time. they shouldn't be able to mess with actual health care. a patient shouldn't have to go without properly prescribed medication or worry about paying out of pocket until the issue is resolved many months or even a few years later. that is vastly at odds with any reasonable concept of "health care" or even "health insurance".

i'd suggest a board dominated by patient advocates and medical professional. insurance companies should have a say, but they should not have anything close to the ability to manipulate the situation.

most important, resolution must be timely and there needs to be meaningful penalties for non-compliance or habitual anti-patient behavior. insurance companies love to put up hurdles for minimal or little reason. if the board tells them to knock it off and they persist, they need to be smacked down with enough of a fine to get them to stop that crap.


i think we already have such a thing on paper (except for the timeliness aspect) but it seems to me to not be working well enough, and certainly not fast enough. it needs much improvement.

[NoMoreRepugs]

64. Having to overcome the Oil n Gas n Health n Pharma

n Corporate Farming n Too Big Too Fail Financial Institutions n Private Prisons n The NRA n the Evangelicals n the Racists n Charter Schools n most of Corporate America makes our attempt to defeat the Rethuglicons n the Orange Menace a tad more difficult in 2020.

[usaf-vet]

66. Millions of us are in the same boat. We did what our country and communities asked of us...BUT...

...here we are today. Trying to survive until our time comes.

For my wife and we did what was asked of us.
We graduated from high school while working in after school jobs.
My first paying job was at 14. My wife helped on the family farm.
In 1965 I enlisted in the military spent 4 years and left with an honorable discharge.
In 1965 my wife went to college. And received her BS in 1971.
We got married. My wife worked while I went to college on the GI bill. I earn my BS in Biology in 1973.
Our son was born in 1973.
We adopted 3 homeless kids.
I got elected to the local school board and help foster through the building of a new elementary school in 1991.
We worked every day and raised the kids.
We both paid taxes and SS with our first jobs through our last jobs at retirement in 2010. 1960-2010 (50 years)
Two of our kids served in the military. Met spouses. Got married and had kids.
Our oldest got a college degree and moved back to our region to get married and they are active in their communities.
None of us have ever been in trouble with the law.
We managed to save a little money and now live in the same house for 40 years.
We are retired and on fixed incomes. We are on Medicare and SS.
But each month our expenses climb and we have to tap into our savings.
WE BOTH HAVE VOTED IN EVERY ELECTION SINCE OUR 18th BIRTHDAYS.

Yet we continue to see the rich get richer and our savings dwindle.

[Backseat Driver]

91. Your story is much like ours as far as thinking

one was doing what was asked - serving one's country; getting educations; working hard to create family "balance" and partnership with the diverse communities in which we lived; raising "good" kids; using sound financial planning in anticipation of short and long-term life events. Will be wed 49 years to only one spouse in November; is that not an accomplishment? We had all the recommended insurances, retirement savings, an "average" valued home with equity but relatively not much other debt. Who would ever imagine the decades of serial unemployment financial miseries we've endured unrelated to ANY performance issues - after all, we were knowledgeable and invested in the advancement of technology. Now, it's nearly all gone, almost to the single penny from payday to payday. Then, combined as we were with physical/mental medical issues of loved ones and ourselves, one well-qualified counselor (holder of a PhD - so perhaps an intellectual elite?) actually said that type of a story revealed our hubris -- our "entitlement" to think we had actually accomplished anything at all.

More than a decade later, now, to top things off, we're even lumped into that oh-so-subtle embedded "white privilege." In this, YEMV, but I'll not apologize for my painstaking self-examination into just who I was created and nurtured to be at heart and holdjng to the truth of all beings having worth. Just not too sure about the value of those that have sold their souls for wealth and power.

As I increase in my journey down what has become the American style of undignified decline, I've come to a determination to be as expensive a senior as I can be considering that the complex PTSD, born from stress, anxiety, and the depression of lost dreams, will most likely take me, sooner than later, and relish each day I am able to be in communication with fellow human beings, strangers, really, my family, and the natural beauty as remains of my planet until my soul's energy is transformed.

[usaf-vet]

94. What date in November?

Ours is the 25th. To quote you: Will be wed 49 years to only one spouse in November; is that not an accomplishment?

Married on Thanksgiving holiday break from college. My wife had to be back to classes early the next week.

November 25, 1970.

[Backseat Driver]

97. Our date is Nov 21

It was the day of The Game - OSU/Mich and the guys dressed at home while watching the WIN! Then it was "get me to the church on time." Our November was always packed with celebrations: DH's B-day, Brother's B-day, Daughter's B-day, Thanksgiving, DH's parents anniversary; we were broke and caked-out long before Christmas, hahaha.

[usaf-vet]

115. Same for us lots of November birthdays etc. So you have us by 4 days.

[LoveMyCali]

67. Right there with you

I was treated for breast cancer last year and the debt started building despite being insured. Now this year it's piling on even faster because many things are now considered diagnostic instead of preventative leaving me with more and more debt.

[Desert grandma]

69. I understand.

I've been on Medicare for 6 years and thus far it has been great. I have a supplemental that doesn't increase every time you have a birthday. With Plan G everything Medicare covers at 80 % the supplement covers at 20%, except for the first $183. (Part B deductible). I love that I am not restricted to a "network" as is the case in many insurance plans. I could even go to the MAYO Clinic, and it would be covered. The issue for so many others that I know, is the medications. I do not take any costly medications, but for those that do, it can be a huge issue. Any of the newer drugs are almost NEVER on any company's formulary. It is those pharmaceutical companies that drive costs higher for everyone. Corporate greed is very evident in insurance and medication costs. A public option and the ability to negotiate drug prices would have made such a difference. My husband gets his care at the VA and his care keeps improving while private insurance keeps escalating the cost with worse outcomes, it seems to me.

[LibDemAlways]

141. Medicare takes $134 out of my paltry SS check.

United Health Care supplement bills me $234 monthly. (I live in California. This is the cheapest plan in my area.) My prescription plan takes another $34.00 and pays for nothing. Granted, Medicare and supplemental will keep me from bankruptcy, but they are far from free. And my one health issue at the moment, a drooping eyelid that needs repair, isn't covered at all. The specialist I saw wants $2700. May as well be $27,000. Can't squeeze blood from a turnip.

[Eliot Rosewater]

152. $234, something is wrong...I suggest researching this again.

I think that is too high for one person.

[Demovictory9]

71. ..

[Joe941]

72. As a fellow back pain sufferer I know your pain...

I'm 6 months post back surgery and am still in a world of pain.

[philly_bob]

73. Me too.

Medical bankruptcy most probable outcome of American middle class today.

[Ms. Toad]

75. From a practical perspective -

As the parent of a child with $200,000 in billed expenses every year.

Enlist the aid of your doctor.

First - a qualifying plan cannot just refuse to cover opiates. Your doctor may need to justify it to them - but they can't just refuse to cover them. Beyond that, hydrocodone is pretty darn cheap - unless you're buying it on the street. ($25 for 120 pills.)

Many insurance companies have step plans. You have to try the inferior cheap ass drug - but - if it doesn't work, your doctor documents and then you can access the more expensive one. Even if there isn't a step plan, most plans allow your doctor to document why you the inferior cheap ass drug does not work for you (e.g. my spouse cannot take most nasal allergy sprays because they destroyed her nasal passages - her doctor documented it & now she gets the one tha tworks.

Same for "that drug" - but your doctor will need to make the case. My daughter is on an extremely expensive biologic ($20,000 every 8 weeks). It's not on her formulary. But her doctor was able to make the case that (1) the alternative increases her risk for cancer - and she's already at increased risk for more than a half dozen cancers and (2) the particular drug is being tested in a trial for a second illness she has - and while that is experimental, it adds to her case.

Any drugs that aren't ultimately covered - use a service like goodrx.com to find the cheapest place to buy them.

YOu shouldn't have to - and it's not fun - but there are practical ways to delay bankruptcy. I've never ultimately been denied a medical procedure or drug that I appealed (for anyone in my family )- and with $200,000 in billed expenses you can probably imagine that there have been quite a few denials.

[Cousin Dupree]

76. For those who say medical insurance companies don't tell your doctor how to practice,

think again. And those “experienced medical professionals” who you talk to when you call, aren’t.
Until they stop making health care a commodity, we’re all losing.

[Bettie]

83. We hear all the time

"well, we could do x, but the insurance companies don't like to cover that".

[cbdo2007]

138. The AMA and tons of other angles are to blame also.

Unfortunately, they are all getting kickbacks from somewhere. I used to work at a health insurance company and for all the bad they do, there are tons of people there tackling fraud and other things as well that is getting pushed by the AMA and the drug companies. Unfortunately for the patients, especially those with conditions that vary from the norm, it's difficult for both sides to figure out what is best to help them.

[Cousin Dupree]

140. I case managed patients with a fairly rare and devastating disease. Had to get very expensive

treatment authorized for them by insurance companies. I don’t have much respect for the way they do business. And don’t even try to get off-label use authorized. We had patients in the ICU and their insurance cos. were slow-walking authorizations and in some instances denying treatment because of cost. It wasn’t difficult at all to figure out what was best for the patients. What was difficult was getting insurance to quit trying to practice medicine and stop focusing on $$.

[Leith]

82. My neighbor's husband died a year ago June

The widow is retired from the insurance company. Their own insurance company.

Every couple of days for months, she received at least one new bill from them, and they contained the most confusing (lack of) information and downright wrong items listed. Not only did she lose her husband over his chronic illnesses and prolonged and early death (early 60s), she was stressing over the thousands of dollars they said she still owed.

My neighbor had been in a professional position and was on first name basis with most of the mid to high level management still working with the company. She knew not only who to call, but their direct lines as well. They were working on her behalf to get things sorted out.

Still, it took most of the past year to get everything sorted, what was owed, why stuff was being billed to her when it was obviously covered, stupid crap like that. She has a post grad degree in health management, so she knows the lingo.

It makes me wonder what will happen to the rest of us when an insider like her is royally screwed over.

Best of luck to you. We need health care, not bills from for-profit vultures like insurance companies.

[Skittles]

84. it is legalized extortion

it is sickening

[Hortensis]

88. Vote for Democrats who will allow everyone to sign up for the ACA

and make that what it was meant to be if the people in their "wisdom" hadn't given the Republican leadership the power to stop us.

Oh, and of course, we've been there ourselves. For years until my husband qualified for Medicare and me for the ACA. At that time I had to cut my working hours down to qualify for the ACA marketplace, but I worked hard part time and made up for most of what was lost. Increasingly inadequate workplace coverage (predatory employer had employees over a barrel and kept passing on the costs) was leaving more bills uncovered than what I gave up in income.

[KentuckyWoman]

103. ACA is insurance not medical care

It is "something" to help bridge the gap I agree. But it is a horrid solution. We can do better.

[Recursion]

123. Medicare is insurance not medical care (nt)

[KentuckyWoman]

147. Yes.

However, the Medicare for all plan being forwarded means access to all necessary medical care with no costs beyond the taxes.

I don't think it will happen but it would mean everyone would have access to medical care.

As far as ACA... some plans are pretty good. Others aren't worth a diddly. I just don't want us to stop at "coverage.

Also. While Medicare insured do often struggle with the drug costs, very few avoid the doctor because of cost.

Once the drug costs are addressed, Medicare as an insurance product will be far superior a solution than most ACA plans.

[Recursion]

158. Does it?

Medicare for all plan being forwarded means access to all necessary medical care with no costs beyond the taxes.

Does it?

I've yet to see anybody put forward a plan that specifies:

1) providers must accept it

2) providers cannot charge a balance above the Medicare rate to the patient

[KentuckyWoman]

159. There are 2 candidates at the top pushing this idea.

But any mention of those candidates by name would be a discussion for the primaries board.

[Recursion]

160. Neither of their plans answer those two questions, though

No Democrat has ever been willing to say they will *require* providers to accept it and not allow balance billing.

[Ohioboy]

99. Insurance companies control our healthcare. They are the real "death panels".

Insurance companies also work to keep provider costs up by selectively denying coverage and only paying a percentage of what is billed. The system they have created sucks!

[patphil]

108. You never hear of a pharmaceutical company going bankrupt.

[sigpooie]

111. Why do none of your complaints include the cost of doctors and specialists

They, not the insurance companies that are to blame. You can not grow at 20 to 30% inflation while the rest of the world is at 5%. And this has been true for 40 plus years now..time to let the doctor pay for some of this problem.
And no i dont think we need insurance if prices are adjusted for all to pay a living rate, then most of you would be paying something you could afford. Those treatments would only be a 1000 instead of 20000 if medicine had not taken the leaps in cost.
So lets pick on both, not just the insurance guys which mostly work for owners who are doctors and specialists at those insurance companies.

[totodeinhere]

113. Have you investigated whether there might be some way for you to get better coverage?

Have you talked to a social worker about trying to find better coverage for yourself?

God bless you and good luck.

[sigpooie]

117. Why do none of your complaints include the cost of doctors and specialists

They, not the insurance companies that are to blame. You can not grow at 20 to 30% inflation while the rest of the world is at 5%. And this has been true for 40 plus years now..time to let the doctor pay for some of this problem.
And no i dont think we need insurance if prices are adjusted for all to pay a living rate, then most of you would be paying something you could afford. Those treatments would only be a 1000 instead of 20000 if medicine had not taken the leaps in cost.
So lets pick on both, not just the insurance guys which mostly work for owners who are doctors and specialists at those insurance companies.

[Gumboot]

118. I called my insurance company yesterday...

... to arrange another year of so-called 'coverage'. Not that it covers a whole lot... Even with a $0 PCP, I still get bills from every single doctor visit.

So to try to save myself some money, I got rid of a few areas of coverage, removed my ex-wife from the policy, and still the monthly premium went up.

I asked the guy on the other end of the line why that was, and there was only silence.

W T F ?

[rwsanders]

119. Have you tried physical therapy?

We can't fix everything, but many times severe back pain comes from the muscles not the back. Muscles are big babies and scream louder than anything else.
Some things to consider if you seek PT:
Have you ever had a fall on your low back? I've treated patients with misaligned Sacroiliac joints from injuries up to 40 years old!
Have the PT look at your posture, are you standing with an anterior pelvic tilt? Will cause anterior instability at the L5/S1 joint
How are your arches in your feet? they can cause the anterior pelvic tilt.
Do you have a leg length discrepancy? I had a guy that was twisted in a pretzel because of this.
Do you walk correctly? Any of the above plus gluteal weakness can cause this
Do you have knee problems causing you to be bent over?
95% of my patients have one of the above with severe back pain.

[keithbvadu2]

120. Elderly Bankruptcy Is On The Rise -- Here's Why

Elderly Bankruptcy Is On The Rise -- Here's Why

https://www.forbes.com/sites/teresaghilarducci/2019/08/15/elderly-bankruptcy-why/#7c7e91a14f51

Aug 15, 2019, 04:19pm

Bankruptcy in the United States has undergone a rapid “graying” over the past few decades. In 1991, elders made up 2% of the bankruptcy relief claims; now the share is 12%.

Lots of medical involved.

[KPN]

121. Sorry to hear that, but not surprised. I've heard it from

others as well as complaints about the cost of insurance premiums in the first place.

I have been on Medicare for 3+ years now and couldn’t be happier. Aside from my $139/month Part B premium and supplemental insurance, I pay very little out of pocket. Total it costs me about $4500 a year ... and that’s basically it.

Medicare for All is a great concept. How it’s funded is the only issue as far as i’m concerned ... and that’s not all that difficult if people are paying for MFA as opposed to private health insurance premiums. No other “system” has the ability of a single payer system like MFA to control health care costs in our capitalist system.

[BigmanPigman]

124. I am in the same boat.

I just got a bill for $91 for anesthesia from a colonoscapy from last DEC! I also got a letter from CA's new governor saying I may be eligible to save more on health costs depending on my income. I have tax subsidies with the ACA since I make very little (disability retirement) and it doesn't go far with the high cost of living in CA. I am calling tomorrow to see if I make little enough to qualify for lower insurance costs since the state's cut off line for a person's income has changed recently. I hope I qualify since over 25% of my skimpy income goes for health care (I have two diseases now). I haven't eaten out , bought clothes,gotten a haircut, gone to any entertainment.. gone to a movie, forget going on a trip, in many, many years.

[ck4829]

126. That's the point of our "healthcare system", reduces your body to a commodity

[bucolic_frolic]

128. Medical bankruptcy

I'm no lawyer, and laws may vary state to state, but when a relative faced these issues, I told him - get the medical care you need and deal with the costs later. Seems to me I read there was a way to protect oneself and one's other assets from medical costs in bankruptcy. It was a little different from conventional bankruptcy. House, car, retirement assets were all off the table. He ultimately didn't go that route, but it might be something to explore.

[negoldie]

129. Third largest payee of medical bills

https://www.gofundme.com/y4d8hs

[DFW]

130. I "have" Blue Cross and live in Germany. In other words, I have no coverage at all.

Well, almost, anyway. They do cover a few routine annual checkups I have in the USA (minus co-pay). On the other hand, they cover nothing incurred overseas, even if it costs a third of what it costs in he USA. Plus, I had some $8000 in emergency dental work done while I was in the States in April. I got all of $999 reimbursed for that.

I was lucky enough to be able to handle it from savings I had in the USA from before I moved to Germany (due to pre-existing conditions, the Germans wanted €2500 a MONTH from me for health insurance--danke, but nein, danke). I can't imagine what normal mortals do in the USA any more.

[democratisphere]

131. The American Criminal Enterprise Healthcare System is the most corrupt

collection of institutions on Earth. That it is allowed to exist is absolutely insane.

[McCamy Taylor]

132. This is a common insurance ploy designed to get you to switch to another plan.

When insurers can not cherry pick the healthy and deny insurance to the sick, they find sneaky ways to get the sick to choose other insurers. Like refusing to cover the drugs that sick people use or having monstrous copayments or few "sick" specialists like oncologists and nephrologists on their plans.

The "other" insurers of choice for private plans are Medicare and Medicaid. If you get sick enough you become disabled and qualify for Medicare. If you get poor enough, you get Medicaid. That way the government is left footing the bills

[liberal N proud]

136. This is the plan of the oligarchs running this country

They will have us all dirt poor before it's over.

[cbdo2007]

137. Dems don't have any better plans to fix any of these issues...

Medicare for all or public option or whatever else they come up with will still have plenty of things they deny for tons of reasons.

Instead, they need to be targeting doctors, hospitals, and the drug companies to get them all to bring prices down.

[Hoyt]

157. Lots of truth in that. Even if you cut out the insurance companies, the savings is not going to be

enough to make people dance.

If lucky, you might go from $1000 a month for insurance to $900. But, that will likely be offset by the campaign promises that there will no longer be deductibles, copays, coninsurance, we're going to have dental, vision, etc., covered, and more. That is going to cost us through taxes or monthly premiums. The good side, is poor folks -- and I mean really poor -- will get much needed help.

Unless the actual cost of medical delivery is controlled, it won't help much.

And, while drug costs get all the blame (and deserve a lot of blame), drugs aren't even 10% of our national healthcare costs.

Finally, and we can work on this later after getting a good system in, we -- patients -- are going to have to be reasonable in what is covered, perhaps how somethings are delivered, etc.

I can tell you from experience, if there is little control over what a physician orders, everyone of them will put an MRI, or similar technology or service, in their office to get paid for stuff they refer out now because there are some controls on when one can order those tests with Medicare. A lot of doctors recommend, or just provide, too many services if it's reimbursable. If they profit off the test, the cost goes up quickly. And, we've come to accept some of this.

And, don't get me started on all physicians know best. They don't, and their recommendations are often based on whether they can make money from it.

Even with all the issues, we need to make sure everyone has coverage as quickly as possible. I don't care whether it's Medicare-for-All, the system we have now with a Public Option, or putting everyone who doesn't have insurance on Medicaid or Medicare or something similar that actually pays without deductibles. Then, we need a long-term plan to put us on a path to a viable health care system that works for all of us, even if some -- or even most -- don't get gripe-free care.

[cbdo2007]

161. yep, agree with everything you are saying here

[Lars39]

139. Negotiate!

[Doremus]

149. Try changing up your diet.

For Gerd. Save some $$ and tell them to stick their Rx.

[Eliot Rosewater]

151. Silly liberals thinking healthcare matters. dont you know the only thing that matters

is HISTORICAL tax cuts for the rich!




If anybody thinks we dont need single payer, they are WRONG!

I dont CARE if you have to give up some platinum plan you have with your employer, we need to be ALL IN TOGETHER on this.


(Shouldn't have to add the sarcasm tag but I am popular with certain folks around here who...neve rmind)


The very thought that we allow FOR PROFIT company to be able to be BETWEEN us and our doctor or hospital is INSANE, and most hospitals have to be nationalized.

[myohmy2]

154. "... this will bankrupt me unless something changes."

...that's the idea...

...time for BIG change...

...time for Medicare For All and put these bastards under control or out of business...

...how much more does America have to endure?

...Americans are suffering and dying...

...republicans and their sympathizers ...

[BeckyDem]

155. Medicare for All