Look who thinks the ACA is unaffordable

[ryoung57]

I was always under the presumption that hosptical costs were so high since there are so many people that receive care and cannot pay they have to jack up the prices to cover their expenses.

Who do you think is responsible for the laws that say people can't be turned away when the hospital knows they have no chance of being paid?

I don't remember details, but based on stuff you have posted in the past, isn't it possible you would be dead without those laws?

Indigent patients do cost the hospital but it's not the money pit that it's made out to be. Plus there is generally an outlet for that, whether it be a shittier hospital across town or government funded community health center.

No matter how you look at it, there is an insane amount of money to be made in the healthcare industry. If there wasn't, there wouldn't be so much growth. Just look at your local hospital - chances are it's either brand new or has had some sort of major renovation or addition in the last 10 years. That wasn't paid for by pennies from heaven.

 

[In Your Corner]

I don't remember details, but based on stuff you have posted in the past, isn't it possible you would be dead without those laws?

Probably not, since I had insurance at that time, it just didn't pay enough.
However, I also own a house, so the hospital has something to slap a lien on owing to the documents they make you sign before treatment.
Plus, its one thing to perform emergency care and another to provide standard care. They shouldn't have to waste resources on people who walk in with colds or diarrhea.
If I walk into the emergency room, its because I require care for a serious condition. The last time I went, my wife was pissed because I wouldn't let her call an ambulance after waiting way too long to go there.

 

[Shyster d'Oil]

Probably not, since I had insurance at that time, it just didn't pay enough.
However, I also own a house, so the hospital has something to slap a lien on owing to the documents they make you sign before treatment.
Plus, its one thing to perform emergency care and another to provide standard care. They shouldn't have to waste resources on people who walk in with colds or diarrhea.
If I walk into the emergency room, its because I require care for a serious condition. The last time I went, my wife was pissed because I wouldn't let her call an ambulance after waiting way too long to go there.

You don't have health insurance now?? Dude!!??!! You are not getting any younger.

 

[In Your Corner]

Indigent patients do cost the hospital but it's not the money pit that it's made out to be. Plus there is generally an outlet for that, whether it be a shittier hospital across town or government funded community health center.

No matter how you look at it, there is an insane amount of money to be made in the healthcare industry. If there wasn't, there wouldn't be so much growth. Just look at your local hospital - chances are it's either brand new or has had some sort of major renovation or addition in the last 10 years. That wasn't paid for by pennies from heaven.

Try factoring Medicare into the equation.
Other people with private insurance pay more because Medicare pays less.
I'm on Medicare now and I can't believe how small my out-of-pocket costs are. I used to haggle with my doctor over which blood tests he wanted done were necessary. He'd think nothing of writing an order for $600 in blood tests, and then I'd remind him I was uninsured and he'd cross off $400 worth of tests because they "weren't really necessary, they'd just be nice to have".
Now, I don't give a shit, blood tests don't cost me a dime. I don't mind going down for blood tests, there's a bunch of cute girls working there.

 

[DuncR6]

Now, I don't give a shit, blood tests don't cost me a dime. I don't mind going down for blood tests, there's a bunch of cute girls working there.

Hey I'm here for my AIDS test....what's your name baby?

 

[Shyster d'Oil]

Try factoring Medicare into the equation.
Other people with private insurance pay more because Medicare pays less.
I'm on Medicare now and I can't believe how small my out-of-pocket costs are. I used to haggle with my doctor over which blood tests he wanted done were necessary. He'd think nothing of writing an order for $600 in blood tests, and then I'd remind him I was uninsured and he'd cross off $400 worth of tests because they "weren't really necessary, they'd just be nice to have".
Now, I don't give a shit, blood tests don't cost me a dime. I don't mind going down for blood tests, there's a bunch of cute girls working there.

Are you really over 65?? I mean you look old, but I figured you were just the high mileage type.

 

[HPPT]

I'm on Medicare now and I can't believe how small my out-of-pocket costs are.

Is this a good thing or bad thing?

 

[ryoung57]

Try factoring Medicare into the equation.
Other people with private insurance pay more because Medicare pays less.
I'm on Medicare now and I can't believe how small my out-of-pocket costs are. I used to haggle with my doctor over which blood tests he wanted done were necessary. He'd think nothing of writing an order for $600 in blood tests, and then I'd remind him I was uninsured and he'd cross off $400 worth of tests because they "weren't really necessary, they'd just be nice to have".
Now, I don't give a shit, blood tests don't cost me a dime. I don't mind going down for blood tests, there's a bunch of cute girls working there.

That's a major part of the problem. Everyone pays different amounts and virtually nobody pays any attention to it. They just make their $35 copay and go about their merry business.

 

[ronaldo9]

Medicaid is for the poor, medicare is for the elderly... unless he's a dual eligibile..

 

[Orvis]

I'm not really thrilled with the healthcare law we got, but I'm under no illusion that its going to effect my current plan or its costs that much either way. The quality of my health care plans started the downhill slide in 2005/6 with the company's I work for went with the trend of going self insured. It had nothing to do who was or was not in office in Washington.

Like it, hate it, or meh, the healthcare law we got was very close to what Richard Nixon, Bob Dole, countless Republicans, a number of GOP think tanks and a governor of Massachusetts, whose name escapes me, all favored.

And if one could knock some sense into the heads of every one of them it would be shown that getting Government completely out of the health care community would be greatly beneficial to all of us. :up:

 

[In Your Corner]

Is this a good thing or bad thing?

Good for me, bad for the country.
Even one of my doctors, who has an Obama bumper sticker, told me she thought Medicare should charge people more money so they wouldn't overuse it.

And no, I'm not 65, I'm on SSDI for now, hopefully not for good.
I'll be 59 in a few weeks.

 

[Mongo]

Interesting article.

But for all the teeth gnashing about the expected costs of the plans in the Exchanges, the only one for which costs have been announced has shocked the pundits by being much more affordable than expected.

Check out the stories on the California insurance exchange rates that were posted a couple of weeks ago.

Not saying those rates are exactly cheap, but they are far less than expected by the pundits, and far cheaper than current individual plans in CA now.

Our rates have gone up. Once we find out what the details of the whole system are we might have to go to uninsured, pay the fine and not have health insurance - because of the increase in fees due to the new laws.

Yeah. That's a great thing.

 

[SGVRider]

The ACA solved a problem that was already fixing itself. Several studies have shown that the rate of growth in healthcare costs had begun to decline around 2000 and was still declining. The free market, as little as it was allowed to work in healthcare, had already done its job. As usual with government, the policy was reactionary, wrong, and worse than the ill it sought to cure. Private healthcare in this country is probably finished, the government will take it over completely as health insurers go belly up or run from the market. Companies like Kaiser that get in bed with the Feds will be the only ones who survive.

 

[Shyster d'Oil]

Good for me, bad for the country.
Even one of my doctors, who has an Obama bumper sticker, told me she thought Medicare should charge people more money so they wouldn't overuse it.

And no, I'm not 65, I'm on SSDI for now, hopefully not for good.
I'll be 59 in a few weeks.

I can't believe that your lips are wrapped so tightly around the Socialist nipple. Your internal conflicts must be monumental.

 

[Orvis]

There might be something catching on in the world of medicine. It seems that there are already a few doctors that are dropping the practice of dealing with insurance companies completely. One article (that I can't frigging find now.) was a Doctor and his partner that has worked out a plan for all their patients where the patient only carries insurance to cover catastrophic events and then pays the doctor a monthly "fee" that covers almost all the costs for visits and minor office procedures.

For patients 44 and under it costs something like 50 per month. Patients 45 and older pays 100 per month. Children costs 10 per month. An example that he gave is a blood test. That costs 3 bucks. It ends up, for the most part, costing less than paying for premiums throughout the year.

Kind of an interesting idea.

 

[Sideshow]

My company had a luch for everyone last week. We all get there to find out it's over our health insurance.

My insurance will go up another $20.00 bucks a week just for me and my $1500.00 deductible will now be $2500.00 .

best part is the rates will be reviewed next just and might go up even more .

 

[flamed03r1]

The only thing that will actually control costs is a single-payer system, but the US isn't ready to accept that at this time.

Please explain how a single payer system is the only thing that will control cost.

And if you think that a single payer system is a good thing, which direction do you predict that quality of care will go? Actually, I would like to know of any positives for a single payer system...

Government IS the problem with the health care the system the way it was and the way it is going.

 

[In Your Corner]

I can't believe that your lips are wrapped so tightly around the Socialist nipple. Your internal conflicts must be monumental.

Since I have been forced to pay the tab, I will drink my share of the beer, even if I would rather we hadn't been made to walk into the bar in the first place.

 

[Shyster d'Oil]

Since I have been forced to pay the tab, I will drink my share of the beer, even if I would rather we hadn't been made to walk into the bar in the first place.

Dude, you worked at Walmart. Your share was burned up like two years ago. But Socialism sure tastes better than the alternative, doesn't it?

 

[In Your Corner]

Please explain how a single payer system is the only thing that will control cost.

And if you think that a single payer system is a good thing, which direction do you predict that quality of care will go? Actually, I would like to know of any positives for a single payer system...

Government IS the problem with the health care the system the way it was and the way it is going.

You have only to look to the results of the grand experiment in Great Britain.
Long waits, less care and boards that decide through averages who is worth giving more expensive care to.
Strangely enough, the unions who supported socialized medicine are going towards additional private policies for their members so they can actually see a doctor when they need one, outside the socialized system.