As far as I am concerned, Healthcare NEEDS to include medical, dental, optical and psychiatric care!

[KitchenWitch]

I am in need of new glasses (I need to go get bifocals - because I am of a certain age). Our plan will cover a visit to the ophthalmologist, but no coverage for corrective lenses.

:grr:

[Frosty1]

1. How about hearing aids?

Medicare will pay for a penile implant but not hearing aids?
:shrug:

[KitchenWitch]

4. Holy crap - I did not even think of that! Of course hearing aids should be covered!

:banghead:

[CountAllVotes]

8. Medicare doesn't even pay for an annual exam

much less a hearing aid. It is not all it is cracked up to be. And then there are those nasty little things called "deductibles". You pay those too. And you pay for all sorts of other crap as well. If it doesn't fit into their crappy little guidelines, guess who pays?

:kick:

[SoCalDem]

9. Who needs to hear old people moaning with pleasure?

:P

[Frosty1]

11. Love it

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[slackmaster]

2. In my experience, corrective lens coverage isn't worth the premiums

Unless you have a very minor refractive error.

My "good" eye is about -7.25 with 2.50 of astigmatism, plus I am presbyopic and wear progressive bifocals. So forget about going to Lens Crafters, Pearle Vision, or some other bargain-priced place.

Because I am physically active I require rugged frames and shatter-resistant lens materials.

And because I have a lazy eye (i.e. monocular vision), little niceties like anti-reflective coatings are a must for me.

Bottom line, a complete new pair of glasses runs me in the neighborhood of $700. I've never had available a work-sponsored vision plan that paid out more than a small fraction of what glasses actually cost me.

[flyingfysh]

3. kids have died because of untreated dental problems

Dental problems are not minor, they can be life-threatening. Mummies of ancient Egyptians show that some died because of dental abcesses.

[KitchenWitch]

5. Precisely

When I was being treated for Hodgkins Disease, I was sent by the Radiation Oncologist to a Dentist, because the radiation affected my saliva glands (some of the damage was permanent). I required daily fluoride treatments to save my tooth enamel. This was PART of my cancer treatment, but was not covered because I did not have dental. I paid out of pocket for my fluoride, and the molds (I cannot remember how much - this was 20 years ago). I would have lost all of my teeth if it had not been for the fluoride and insurance simply did not cover it.

Thankfully, the Dentist was willing to take payments, and also gave me the fluoride at his cost, because he was incensed that it was not covered under my medical.

Dr. Larson in Edina, you are one of my heroes.

[CountAllVotes]

6. add long-term care to your list please

it is just as important!

I agree, everyone should be covered 100% for everything from the time they are born until the time they die. This is bullshit! Right now, I pay OVER $12,000++++ a year for crap health insurance, two-bit dental insurance and I have no long-term care. If something goes very wrong, I am SUNK, insurance or not.

:kick:

[KitchenWitch]

7. Added!

:kick:

:hi:

[CountAllVotes]

10. :)

:hi: and thank you!!

:kick:

[catmandu57]

12. I'm wearing 15 year old glasses right now

I can't get an exam and a new pair now, nor do I have any idea if I'll ever get a new pair, I had two pair of bargain glasses that broke at the hinges, when the last pair snapped I got lucky and dug these out of a drawer.
I need bifocals, the only way I can read anything besides a computer screen is to take these off, it's a pain, I just hope my eyes last as long as I do, because I can't see where the next pair is coming from.

[KAT119]

13. Totally Agree!!

[Nimrod2005]

14. Mental Health should really be # 1 priority in whatever policy we put together

Obama has that covered...I think Edwards does too.