Oct-29-2017 11:48 AM
Nov-05-2017 11:39 AM
pawatt wrote:Exactly. It costs you nothing, zero, zilch, nada while in the hospital. What costs in varying amounts are the costs when out of the hospital - depending on the coverage(s) you buy.
Medicare is the best insurance we have ever had. We were paying $1650.00 a month before we were old enough to qualify.
Nov-05-2017 11:35 AM
ipeltier wrote:We have Medicaid for the aged without assets. Everyone in the United States receives free healthcare, provided they have no assets - regardless their age. No one goes without healthcare here. Contrary to your misled beliefs.
As a Canadian, I am lucky to receive good medical care without any direct cost to my family. Yes, we pay higher taxes, but our nation's philosophy is that access to good education and health care should be a basic right for all citizens. The cost of your medical insurance premiums and deductibles astounds me. But unless the middleman of high profit insurance companies is eliminated, your system will not be fixed. Are you aware that the USA is the only western nation without universal health care coverage? Your "Medicare" for seniors is basically the system we have for all residents in Canada--with no deductibles. I know "socialism" is a nasty word in your country, but how is unbridled capitalism in the health care system serving the best interests of your citizens. We watch the ongoing debate on fixing Anerican health care in your political arena, with all the permutations, combinations, eliminations presented by all the special interest groups, but nothing ever gets fixed. Your citizens deserve better.
Nov-05-2017 07:19 AM
vjstangelo wrote:Good plan. Once you hit 65 the health problems start, and it just gets worse, depending on how you took care of yourself the last 40 years.
Go for it, don’t wait to full time until 65. You will not be able to get those 10 years back. I plan for on leaving my job at 56 while I still have my health and hit the road.
Nov-05-2017 03:23 AM
Nov-05-2017 01:54 AM
vjstangelo wrote:
Go for it, don’t wait to full time until 65. You will not be able to get those 10 years back. I plan for on leaving my job at 56 while I still have my health and hit the road.
The stress I am under at my current job will surely do me in if I keep at it till 65, and most others agree. So many in their 50’s say WTF and hit the road.
Nov-04-2017 08:03 PM
Nov-04-2017 11:17 AM
ipeltier wrote:Our nation's philosophy is 'something for nothing.' And with these proposed tax cuts, it's ' let them eat cake.'
As a Canadian, I am lucky to receive good medical care without any direct cost to my family. Yes, we pay higher taxes, but our nation's philosophy is that access to good education and health care should be a basic right for all citizens.
Nov-04-2017 11:01 AM
Big Katuna wrote:My gripe is Medicare pays about 15 cents on the dollar for the rack rate billing.
Single payer (think Medicare) can work as it mostly eliminates greedy costly insurance companies and it controls costs as now you have a large group that can dictate what the greedy medical industry will be paid.
And providers will line up like they do for Medicare.
The present system is broken.
Nov-04-2017 10:06 AM
Nov-04-2017 09:20 AM
FunnyCamper wrote:Be aware of the pitfalls. First, they require you to adhere to their self defined Christian Standards. I know one requirement is no tobacco or alcohol consumption. I don't know how they enforce such rules. But it sure would be a kick in the crotch if you had a serious, expensive condition and they decided not to cover you because they searched your Facebook page and found a photo of you at a backyard barbeque holding a Bud Light. They also have a somewhat nebulous requirement you always adhere to "Christian Values" Again, probably not an issue you if need broken arm set, but might be a big issue if you need a heart/lung transplant. If you were overweight, could they deny coverage because you obviously committed the sin of "Gluttony"? No one would ever buy a real insurance policy that had such fuzzy restrictions, just saying.
One thing I am researching right now is the Christian Healthcare ministries that are out there. They are approved as insurance and one incurs no penalty from the govt. Just kinda that radical change in how one pays for their bills and I just need more research etc but I see prems are way more affordable in this scenario. Another avenue to explore for us right now.
Nov-04-2017 07:51 AM
Nov-03-2017 10:49 PM
Nov-02-2017 06:53 AM
winnietrey wrote:
There is a small minority( relatively speaking) Like Big Kanuna, us and some others that have posted. To be part of this special group you must be.
1) old, but not old enough for Medicare.
2) Not have insurance through an employer
3) make to much for any government help
4) but not enough to be "rich"
As a part of this lucky group, our premiums for lousy coverage are now about 20% plus of our household income.
Because we are a small minority, no one cares much. But if the average American,
was paying those kinds of rates, for what is basically catastrophic coverage, and not some Cadillac plan. I would bet things would change pretty quick in my opinion.
Nov-02-2017 02:54 AM