I ALREADY HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE - I CANNOT AFFORD MEDICAL TREATMENT

[mdmc]

I have health insurance through my employer. I cannot utilize my health insurance because the co-payments are too much.
I earn $30k a year in downstate NYS.
So I can choose between housing and medical treatment. I cannot afford both.
This "health insurance reform bill" does nothing to help me. This bill will only cause me to be able to afford less treatment.

Please point out if I missed something.

[chandler2]

1. YOU are 1 out of a 1,000 who understands the difference...

between so-called healthcare and what people actually need: MEDICAL care.

[mdmc]

5. I am glad that you are posting on DU

peace and low stress..

[Lorien]

37. There's more of us than that. We just don't get any air time

Ending the Fairness Doctrine took away our voices.

[Tailormyst]

2. I think that is what supporters of the bill are missing.

If a family of 4 making 54000 gross pay has to pay 9,000 dollars a year for crap insurance with a deductable and big co-pays, where the fuck are they supposed to come up with the additional money to access the coverage they have already been forced to pay for. Even if they take a second job to pay for it, that just means they will get less of a subsidy because their income went up.

[Arkansas Granny]

8. That's what I have been wondering, too. Even with subsidies on the

premiums, most families can't afford the deductibles and out of pocket expenses that are required on most policies that I've looked into for myself.

Having health coverage and receiving health care are not the same thing.

[dana_b]

21. so the subsidies will be for

the premiums only, correct? I was hoping they would help people out with the deductibles too.

[Arkansas Granny]

29. That's my understanding. Someone else may have better info on this.

[RaleighNCDUer]

20. And, just how do they come up with that second job when we have

15% unemployment?

[mdmc]

30. I would need a second job to meet my health care costs

and I am currently fully insured.

[laughingliberal]

38. People are definitely missing this piece of it

The policies most people will buy to satisfy the law will stretch the family budgets to the limit and beyond leaving no resources to, then, access the care when needed. And, what almost nobody is seeing, is that any gains in income you make will just be eaten up by the health insurance costs. Lose your subsidy and your premium goes from 8% or so of your income to 25% and the same out of pocket expenses. How many salary increases (and we all know those flow like milk and honey) will it take before you are back to where you were before you lost your subsidy? You know, having your words fall on deaf ears is frustrating but I guess I just can't stand by and watch a train wreck about to happen without shouting out to the car on the tracks.

[Echo In Light]

3. Uniquely American. Translation = drops to knees and sucks shit straight from ass

[Donnachaidh]

4. but but but -- it's HISTORICAL legislation!

WHY can't you just sit down, STFU, and enjoy the legacy building? Didn't you know insurance companies are your friends? They put out millions of dollars to help elect the representatives that brought YOU this historic legislation! Show some respect and smile at the taxes you'll be paying -- it's for YOUR own good!

:sarcasm:

[truedelphi]

40. And for the good of the children!!

Don't forget the kids!!

[madrchsod]

6. our co-pay went up along with plus increase in payment per month

i`m retired at 62 and cannot get a job that offers any bullshit insurance(such as walmarts) because my wife`s plan will drop me.

there`s no reform when ya can`t afford the co-pays. i know--we are filing wage earners on 12,000 that my wife`s insurance did`t cover.

[Motown_Johnny]

7. Medicaid should cover individuals making up to about 30K a year with the reform

I saw a blurb on MSNBC saying one of the things in the Bill was to expand Medicaid to individuals making up to 29 and change a year.. something like 29,327 but I forget the exact number




I don't know anymore about it than that... I will make a new thread asking if anyone knows more. This could be a good thing if the details don't gut it.

[mdmc]

9. I thought that it would help single individuals making less then $11K

According to your numbers, this bill would help me.

Lets check our numbers.

[kestrel91316]

10. That very thing was one factor in my dropping insurance a few years ago.

The premiums were ungodly, PLUS there was a $5000 or $10,000 deductible, PLUS 20% copay totalling a few thousand more. I just didn't see the point in paying for insurance when I still had to pay out-of-pocket for 100% of my care (I am fundamentally healthy, but did have a temporary cardiac issue that didn't exceed out of pocket).

I think I can maybe afford the cheapest Kaiser plan they sell right now. MAYBE. But with this bill, they will probably jack prices up as much as they can within their limitations, and get rid of cheaper plans. If people are required to carry medical insurance, WHERE IS THE INCENTIVE TO SELL CHEAPER PLANS???

[Delphinus]

44. This is what will

happen to me next year.

I've been covered for two years now through an employer - but I could not afford both the insurance premiums and the deductible and the co-pay. (I'm living on 150% of the poverty level.)

This year I changed from the standard plan (I've not seen a doctor in over 1-1/2 years) to the catastrophic plan ($5,000 deductible) and next year, due to probably another 12% rate increase, will have to drop it all together.

[polpilot]

11. Suggested 1st statement on healthcare for 'next' president: 'Americans will no longer pay TWICE the

rate that other citizens in other countries pay for healthcare. IT WON'T HAPPEN UNDER MY WATCH!'

[mdmc]

13. YES!

[peace13]

12. I hear you!

My son, with a 32K income and health insurance from work had surgery on a hernia last summer. 5K deductible. Go figure. The people who need the best insurance are those who earn the least but you will never convince the 'Haves' of that. Best wishes to you. What you have is insurance against catastrophic injury or disease. I hope that you never have to use it!

[mdmc]

14. thank you .. unfortunately I have been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis

so I am trying hard to keep from being disabled.
However, once I am disabled, I will be able to get medicaid and medical treatment. I just need to go without medical treatment and not die for a little longer...

[coyote]

15. It´s really amazing....

even if you have insurance, you still cannot use ith with these ungodly deductibles.

I have sociliazed health care in germany...and it´s 582€/month. I think that is alot. However, it does not matter if you are single or a family...it´s the same price. On the other side however, with this price there are no co-pays, deductibles, etc. Plus I can use any doctor out there.

Just to clarify the 582€/month....if you are employed, your employer pays 50%. If you are self-employed...you pay the whole ticket (582€)

The US is totally fucked up. It´s all about the buck and corporations....and it's incredibly sad.

[mdmc]

16. It is insane

As I posted above - I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. Eventually this disease will disable me.
It could be treated - if I could afford to utilize my health insurance for medical treatment. But I cannot afford the treatment that has been recommended.
So eventually I will be disabled by this illness. Then I will be eligible for universal health care and will be able to receive treatment. If it doesn't kill me.

Basically I need to become disabled in order to receive the health care that would keep me from being disabled.

[TCJ70]

24. 582 Euros is about $872...

...and that covers your entire family?

[coyote]

25. Yes that covers the entire family

....that is also the maximum you can pay for the insurance. The insurance is the same price if I was single or if I had 20 kids....it does not matter.

However, for example, if my wife was working (she is not)....she would also pay for insurance too. So theoretically, I would be paying 582€ plus she would be paying 582€ if she was working.

The amount you pay into health insurance is based on a percentage of your income...it is currently set at 14.9% of your income up to maximum to the max 582€/month.

[anarch]

17. I think there are a great many of us in this situation

that seems to be what the insurance industry is set up to create...the insurance companies make more money if people don't actually ever go to the doctor, but just send them money every week. At least this required 85% medical loss ratio or whatever it's called might theoretically help out this situation in general, but I think for most of us it's not going to mean a whole lot. Except sympathy from a whole lot of other people who will now be in the same boat, rather than just unable to afford to go to the doctor because they're uninsured.

It's real interesting too, when you have an emergency or any kind of hospital stay, and then you're suddenly in horrible debt even though you were fully insured. Yay.

[mdmc]

18. I could use my insurance and go into bankruptcy

yet still be "fully insured"..

[My Good Babushka]

19. We used to have insurance

that we couldn't afford to use. Now we have no insurance at all. I managed to get my gynie exam for $61.00 at a community health center with sliding scale fees. I have had colds and allergies resolved there for $25 an office visit. Maybe with the community health center expansion people will leave expensive, useless insurance plans and public, community health centers will naturally expand.
I thought there was going to be a prescribed list of coverage that insurance companies would have to abide by, is that in the bill? Like you couldn't get charged an outrageous deductible for routine tests and treatments?

[mdmc]

22. This bill is all about outrageous co-payments

imho..

[My Good Babushka]

32. The House language states-

* Every American who receives coverage through the exchange will
have a plan that includes standardized, comprehensive and quality health
care benefits.
* It would end increases in premiums or denials of care based on
pre-existing conditions, age, race or gender.
* The proposal would also eliminate co-pays for preventative care,
cap out-of-pocket expenses and guarantee catastrophic coverage that
protects every American from bankruptcy.

I don't know if that is the way it still is in the Senate bill or not... I lost track :(

[mdmc]

34. thanks.. I appreciate the reply

I won't be going through the exchange.
I am not being denied "coverage" - I cant afford my current coverage. If I could afford it, I would not have a problem.
The last point might help me - like ya said - gotta wait and see what is in the bill.

Peace and low stress..

[saracat]

23. Absolutely right on.When the WH struck the hands off deal with Big pharma

HCR was destined to benefit no one except the ins. cos and Big pharma. I have repeatedly asked what good is insurance if you can't pay for percriptions or do as the physician percribes, and that sif you can afford the coopay!

[mdmc]

26. thank you for the reply

peace and low stress..

[leftstreet]

27. Why are you so greedy? Why do you need housing AND medical care?

It's Christmas! Why can't you consider the needs of the Insurance/Pharma industry?

:hi:

[mdmc]

28. Lets not be shelfish

:)

[liberal_at_heart]

31. That's the problem my family has as well

Even the public option doesn't address this problem because those with insurance can not utilize the public option.

[robertpaulsen]

33. Whoever unrecs this needs to be visited by three spirits in a few days.

No, you haven't missed anything. That's more than I can say for some politicians who need a serious awakening.

[hfojvt]

35. What are your co-pays and what treatments are you seeking?

Also where is downstate New York?

I thought Upstate New York meant - New York outside of NYC metro area. Does it just mean north of I-90? Is Binghamton downstate?

Also, my $13,000 hospital bill was reduced to $400 for me because of my insurance. Are you saying that you could not pay $400 even over the next six months? I find that hard to understand. Or is it just that your insurance is not nearly as good as mine.

[Lorien]

36. Me too. The 12k deductible is a hurdle that stands between me and any

medical care at all.

[debbierlus]

39. kick

[Kitty Herder]

41. That's the crux of the problem.

Health insurance =/= health care.

[madokie]

42. looking back

I guess the best thing I've done concerning healthcare was enlist in the navy all those years ago

[pecwae]

43. That the the point so many

have been trying to make here in the face of being labeled 'haters'.

Insurance is not health care. In too many cases people have insurance which can only be hoarded for a life threatening emergency, maybe. The insurance, as in your case, does nothing to provide health care.

I'm sorry for you and all others in this predicament.

[earth mom]

45. Enron on steroids. That's what we are looking at here people. We are all totally screwed.

Unless we're rich that is.

:grr:

[dugaresa]

46. i hear ya

i have paid out a fortune in copays this year and dread the upcoming year

[pleah]

47. K&R