The Great Health Insurance Discussion

Morrigoon · 12-31-2013, 11:47 PM

I saw some comments in another thread that were headed in a health insurance-y direction, but rather than comment there, I thought, "Hmm, this topic deserves its own (hopefully lively) thread."

So, health insurance....

Morrigoon · 12-31-2013, 11:51 PM

IMHO, the whole thing's a mess. Health care has long been at a crisis point in this country and something must be done, but the current situation is fraught with problems. Seems to me (and you all know what a big deal this is coming from MY mouth) that the only real solution is single-payer. At least to the extent that the government provide some sort of base-level insurance that keeps people from dying of cancer due to lack of funds/coverage, and perhaps allow some sort of supplemental coverage to be sold.

Ghoulish Delight · 12-31-2013, 11:52 PM

Everyone I know that has tried to take advantage of AFA has greatly benefited from it. To the tune of hundreds of dollars a month and actual coverage.

This has been shared a lot of late but worth sharing again

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSjGouBmo0M

Gn2Dlnd · 01-01-2014, 12:28 PM

The internet has been of no help explaining what "AFA" is in this context, and how it can save me monies.

Ghoulish Delight · 01-01-2014, 12:52 PM

Sorry, that was supposed to be ACA

alphabassettgrrl · 01-03-2014, 04:17 PM

I would have definitely preferred single-payer. Even the public option would have been better than what we got, which is still better than leaving us to the mercies of the insurance companies, which was awful.

Alex · 01-03-2014, 04:39 PM

I'm rich and have decent employer provided health care.

If everybody would just do it like I did this wouldn't be a provide.

innerSpaceman · 01-09-2014, 04:10 PM

I have very decent employer-based standard Anthem/Blue Cross health insurance.

But I wonder if I could get a "better" deal through the ACA on a similar or even identical plan - even though I certainly don't qualify for any subsidies.

I haven't even bothered to find out though. No incentive ... unless I can get my employer to agree to hand me 50%, say, of any savings I get them. I imagine, though, that would be chicken feed.

The ACA is a stop-gap, and I'm surprised to learn it has indeed - apparently - slowed the rate of health insurance cost increases. Of course, if they don't get hit that 7 million mark by March, it's trouble. And if they don't hit it in a year or two, the entire system will collapse.

I kind a hope that happens. We need single-payer for sure. Private insurance for health care is a horrible joke. The hospitals simply make-up the charges they want to charge the privately insured ... and things like a $50 aspirin are barely an exaggeration. Medicare is very stingy, and hospitals don't make money off that - so they literally pull prices out of their asses and charge those to insured patients. And sue people for the bills.

Most hospitals are non-profit ... but that just means they can't take money out of the hugely profitable business. They must instead put it into construction new facilities and paying VAST salaries to the upper echelons of management. It's all a scam and a crime and, because health and lives are at stake, I consider it highly immoral.

I hope the ACA enables more people to afford private insurance. But private insurance is a cancer.

alphabassettgrrl · 01-09-2014, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

I hope the ACA enables more people to afford private insurance. But private insurance is a cancer.

I agree.

12-31-2013, 11:47 PM	#1
Morrigoon I throw stones at houses Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Location: Location Posts: 9,534	The Great Health Insurance Discussion I saw some comments in another thread that were headed in a health insurance-y direction, but rather than comment there, I thought, "Hmm, this topic deserves its own (hopefully lively) thread." So, health insurance.... __________________ http://bash.org/?top "It is useless for sheep to pass a resolution in favor of vegetarianism while wolves remain of a different opinion." -- William Randolph Inge
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12-31-2013, 11:51 PM	#2
Morrigoon I throw stones at houses Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Location: Location Posts: 9,534	IMHO, the whole thing's a mess. Health care has long been at a crisis point in this country and something must be done, but the current situation is fraught with problems. Seems to me (and you all know what a big deal this is coming from MY mouth) that the only real solution is single-payer. At least to the extent that the government provide some sort of base-level insurance that keeps people from dying of cancer due to lack of funds/coverage, and perhaps allow some sort of supplemental coverage to be sold. __________________ http://bash.org/?top "It is useless for sheep to pass a resolution in favor of vegetarianism while wolves remain of a different opinion." -- William Randolph Inge
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12-31-2013, 11:52 PM	#3
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Everyone I know that has tried to take advantage of AFA has greatly benefited from it. To the tune of hundreds of dollars a month and actual coverage. This has been shared a lot of late but worth sharing again http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSjGouBmo0M __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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01-01-2014, 12:28 PM	#4
Gn2Dlnd Parmmadore Jim Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Casita del Queso Posts: 3,810	The internet has been of no help explaining what "AFA" is in this context, and how it can save me monies. __________________ Does anyone still wear a hat?
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01-01-2014, 12:52 PM	#5
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Sorry, that was supposed to be ACA __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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01-03-2014, 04:17 PM	#6
alphabassettgrrl Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,978	I would have definitely preferred single-payer. Even the public option would have been better than what we got, which is still better than leaving us to the mercies of the insurance companies, which was awful. __________________ Why cycling? Anything [sport] that had to do with a ball, I wasn't very good at. -Lance Armstrong
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01-03-2014, 04:39 PM	#7
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	I'm rich and have decent employer provided health care. If everybody would just do it like I did this wouldn't be a provide.
	Submit to Quotes

01-09-2014, 04:10 PM	#8
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	I have very decent employer-based standard Anthem/Blue Cross health insurance. But I wonder if I could get a "better" deal through the ACA on a similar or even identical plan - even though I certainly don't qualify for any subsidies. I haven't even bothered to find out though. No incentive ... unless I can get my employer to agree to hand me 50%, say, of any savings I get them. I imagine, though, that would be chicken feed. The ACA is a stop-gap, and I'm surprised to learn it has indeed - apparently - slowed the rate of health insurance cost increases. Of course, if they don't get hit that 7 million mark by March, it's trouble. And if they don't hit it in a year or two, the entire system will collapse. I kind a hope that happens. We need single-payer for sure. Private insurance for health care is a horrible joke. The hospitals simply make-up the charges they want to charge the privately insured ... and things like a $50 aspirin are barely an exaggeration. Medicare is very stingy, and hospitals don't make money off that - so they literally pull prices out of their asses and charge those to insured patients. And sue people for the bills. Most hospitals are non-profit ... but that just means they can't take money out of the hugely profitable business. They must instead put it into construction new facilities and paying VAST salaries to the upper echelons of management. It's all a scam and a crime and, because health and lives are at stake, I consider it highly immoral. I hope the ACA enables more people to afford private insurance. But private insurance is a cancer.
	Submit to Quotes