Socialised medicine? Already happening.

[pseudobrit]

Just not for everyone:

The percentage of people who get health insurance through employers fell sharply from 2001 to 2003, resulting in 9 million fewer people with employer coverage after accounting for population growth, researchers said Tuesday.

Unemployment and the rising cost of insurance were blamed for the falloff, which saw the percentage of people under 65 who get health insurance through employers go from 67% in 2001 to 63% in 2003. Employer coverage is the main way Americans get insurance...

During the same years, enrollment in government health programs such as Medicaid grew, preventing a significant increase in the uninsured


link (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/usatoday/20040803/bs_usatoday/fewergettinginsurancethroughjobs)

So the only reason more people aren't without health insurance is because enough of them fell into abject poverty to qualify for Medicaid. I'll love to see how the current administration and anti-omni-healthcare types turn this into upbeat analysis. "Just lose your job or get permanently disabled and you'll get your free healthcare!"

Those from the middle class all the way to the edge of the poverty line who work and have families are getting dumped on.

They're forced into ignoring health issues until they become so severe that they must go the ER, after which, if they're not dead, they'll have to go bankrupt to keep the hospital from suing them for the bill they can't afford.

How does this situation benefit society?

[zimv20]

"Just lose your job or get permanently disabled and you'll get your free healthcare!"
is it free, though? i'm insured through a gov't program, and i pay out the nose.

from the article:
with Republicans proposing refundable tax credits as a way of helping the uninsured buy their own coverage. Some critics say such efforts would fall short of helping most uninsured afford health coverage. A tax credit proposed by President Bush (news - web sites) would offer refundable credits of $1,000 to individuals and $3,000 to families.
a thousand bucks? please -- my premiums are $4800/year, plus what i pay out of pocket for visits, medication, etc.

how about running a balanced budget instead? the markets will correct and i'll have a nice portfolio again.

[skunk]

a balanced budget
What's that?

[zimv20]

What's that?
something found in an unbelievable tale which begins with, "once upon a time..."

[skunk]

Ah. Just a fairy tale.

[pseudobrit]

is it free, though? i'm insured through a gov't program, and i pay out the nose.

It's free if you're below the poverty line or disabled.

If you are a productive member of society whose employer doesn't offer insurance or are self-employed and can't afford/find coverage, there's nothing for you.

I imagine your plan is state mandated, no?

[zimv20]

I imagine your plan is state mandated, no?
i'm not sure what you mean.

[pseudobrit]

i'm not sure what you mean.

The state is required to cover you for a fee, no? As in, it's not a federal programme.

[zimv20]

The state is required to cover you for a fee, no? As in, it's not a federal programme.
correct. it's a state of Illnois program designed to provide coverage for the otherwise uninsurable. it's serviced by BC/BS, which, ironically enough, refused me for coverage when i applied under an individual plan.

[pseudobrit]

correct. it's a state of Illnois program designed to provide coverage for the otherwise uninsurable. it's serviced by BC/BS, which, ironically enough, refused me for coverage when i applied under an individual plan.

So in essence, the state doesn't cover you, they're merely forcing BC/BS to cover you and providing the guarantees that any shortfall in the scheme would be covered by the state. So it's a no risk plan for BCBS. It simply benefits the insurer, and encourages them to migrate more people onto the plan.

I had a feeling it was contracted out. I bet they're making a fortune; sounds like an insurance company's wet dream (no risk, all profit, overhead handled by the state).

How do these insurance companies get around HIPAA (one of the most useful laws Clinton ever signed)? That should keep them from DQ'ing you for pre-existing, right?

[zimv20]

So in essence, the state doesn't cover you, they're merely forcing BC/BS to cover you
yes

and providing the guarantees that any shortfall in the scheme would be covered by the state. So it's a no risk plan for BCBS.
on that part, i don't know


How do these insurance companies get around HIPAA (one of the most useful laws Clinton ever signed)? That should keep them from DQ'ing you for pre-existing, right?
i'm not familiar w/ that law. i joined the program in 2000, so it's likely the law was passed by then. i'll have to look into it.

[pseudobrit]

i'm not familiar w/ that law. i joined the program in 2000, so it's likely the law was passed by then. i'll have to look into it.

It was passed in '97. I had an insurer that tried to bark up the pre-existing tree with me to deny a massive hospital bill. I sent them a nastygram via certified mail with proof of prior insurance and told them where to go.

They paid the bill.

It simply states that if you had coverage in the past 90 days, even if you have a pre-existing, a new insurer cannot deny you coverage for it. There may be loopholes for insurance companies though.

[Neserk]

What I found out the hard way:

In order to get health insurance or coverage for life and death emergencies you must have be irresponsible and have a child you can't take care of.

Sorry, that is the biological clock getting angry.

I had emergency surgery 2 years ago w/o any health insurance and couldn't get state or county help because I don't have a child :roll: what does having a child have to do with my need to eat and have a roof over my head? I need those things even w/o a child.

Somedays I get sick of seeing people with 7 children they can't afford when I can't have one.

Is it just me or is there something wrong with this picture?

[skunk]

Somedays I get sick of seeing people with 7 children they can't afford when I can't have one.

Is it just me or is there something wrong with this picture?
A bit of both, I imagine! ;)

[Neserk]

A bit of both, I imagine! ;)


You are right, as usually :p

[kuyu]

Health care costs are ridiculous. My family has BC/BS, however my mom's employer gives every employee the best coverage money can buy. It costs her about $100/month for all three of us. As long as I'm under 25 and a full-time student, I'm covered.

But, so many people aren't so lucky. I wish I had the answer, but I don't. Socialized medicine scares me. Once the politicians own your health, they own your life. Plus, since the gov't doesn't actually have any money except for that they steal from us, we all still pay for health care.

I think the real question is, is health care a privilage or a right???