I received notice that my BC/BS premium

[lillypaddle]

will increase to $650.00 a month in October. That's with a $5,000 deductible. I'm 62, and Medicare is eons away - I have just been diagnosed with high blood pressure, and I also have high cholesterol. Yes, I've modified my diet, but in order to have my prescriptions refilled, I need to have blood work done every three months. Without the "insurance rate," there's no way I can afford to have the lab work done.

I can choose a cheaper policy that's about $450/month, but that means a $10,000 deductible. Are you kidding me????

I've worked my entire life. I know that there are others who are facing even more dire circumstances, yet I feel so abandoned, somehow. I feel like my only option is to just let the insurance go (not much choice to do otherwise) and let the cards fall where they may.

I'm not looking for sympathy, but somehow I thought the recent "health care/insurance reform" would make things better. I guess not. What to do? Any suggestions?

[Winterblues]

1. Same thing happened to my wife and she had to just give it up

Now she has zero insurance and still three years away from Medicare..Priced completely out of the market. Can't afford to live in this once great country any more. If she gets sick she will just have to die I guess because there is nothing either of us can do. I have zero insurance either although I am a veteran..

[uponit7771]

9. Has you or your wife tried a local CHC? (link inside)

http://www.nachc.org/

[lillypaddle]

15. that sucks

for you, for me, and for millions of others. And yet, wingnut heads are exploding all over the place because two people who love each other may choose to marry.

Something's really fucked up here.

[bergie321]

53. If you get sick

Just rob a bank. If you get away with it you can pay for your health care. If you don't, you get free socialized medicine in prison.

[wildflower]

2. Can you qualify for the new high-risk pool?

My understanding is that it offers subsidies if you can't afford it. Other DUers here will probably have better info on this.

[lillypaddle]

10. I don't know

I guess I better get busy and do some research.

[Luminous Animal]

13. Only those who have been denied coverage and have been without insurance

for 6 months can qualify.

[DailyGrind51]

30. You are correct, proof of denial of coverage must precede admisson to a HRP!

These pools are not cheap, either.

[leveymg]

33. Premiums in the High-risk pools can reach $900/ mo.

Not going to help you.

[wildflower]

38. But aren't there subsidies for people who can't afford it?

That was my understanding.

[leveymg]

48. Subsidies don't kick in until 2014 is my understanding. eom

[Greyhound]

51. Kicking the subsidies down the road was a way of saying we got subsidies while

ensuring we never get subsidies.

HIIPPA, a republikun gift, wrapped in blue paper, that will keep giving it to us for years. "We told you so".

[ThomCat]

3. That is exactly what "healthcare reform" is apparetly supposed to be

according to our party. We pay large amounts of money every month for insurance that has deductibles so high that we can never afford to actually use it. :(

It's guaranteed profit for insurance companies without the risk that they'll ever have to provide any kind of actual service for all that money.

The money they shelled out to buy our politicians turns out to have been a wise investment for them. :grr:

[DrDan]

7. and the best part is . . .

you have to sign up.

[woo me with science]

29. I am still enraged that this is the "fix" we were given

and that so many bent over and said "thank you."

[sandyd921]

52. I'm with you.

So-called health insurance reform was nothing more than sleight-of-hand. My fear is that people will increasingly realize this and we'll end up snookered again by the republiCONS. Nice going Blue Dogs. :argh:

[defendandprotect]

76. Hey!! Only other countries can afford health care for everyone ...USA can't---!!!

And what Americans do pay for directly -- is called "entitlements" so they can

screw around with it -- Social Security/Medicare/Unemployment

[Arugula Latte]

4. Ours jumped up a couple hundred dollars a month.

As a result, we're dropping that policy and getting a cheaper one with a big deductible.

[DrDan]

5. I assume you have an HSA - at least save some tax dollars

[lillypaddle]

11. No HSA

I work for a CPA, and he said that with my insurance, this wouldn't really be a benefit for me.

[DrDan]

20. huh? And why is that? I don't understand that at all.

Aren't you paying your bills with after-tax dollars? With a high-deductible policy (yours seems to qualify - my deductible is $2300 and I qualify), seems you should be able to start an HSA and pay your bills through that and get a tax refund on those medical expenses.

[lillypaddle]

25. Well ...

I'm one of the lucky ones - my boss has been paying my insurance up to now, but he's struggling, and I know there is no way he will pay the new premium. Maybe part of it. But other than my ankle surgery a year & a half ago, and about $800 a year in prescriptions & co-pays, I haven't had any medical expenses to speak of. That's why it's ridiculous that my premiums are going to be so high.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

55. I looked into getting an HSA, and there were several problems

1. An HSA costs MORE in premiums per month than a conventional policy

2. In addition to premiums, you have to put aside $200 a month. In essence, you're just prepaying your deductible. The tax saving doesn't balance out the hardship of coming up with an extra $200 a month if your income is variable (as mine is). I remember a NY Times article that said that most people with HSA's had not made the expected contributions.

3. HSA's work ONLY with certain designated HSA policies. If you have a conventional policy with a high deductible, you can't start a qualified HSA unless you get one of these special policies. I asked my insurance co. about doing this, and they said I would have to reapply from scratch, even though they have all my medical records from the past 16 years. Someone with experience in the insurance industry told that they were hoping I would make a mistake on my application so they could deny me.

Like most Republican ideas, HSA's sound good--until you look at the details and the real-life ramifications--unless you're fairly affluent. They're good for rich people who want yet another tax shelter.

[DrDan]

60. wrong

an HSA is completely separate from the policy. It is a savings account where the medical payments are made.

I have insurance through my employer. I set up an HSA through my bank - completely separate from my insurance. There is NO premium for an HSA. The amount of the contribution is up to you - up to a max.

You put money into the HSA - the savings account. The money is used to make medical payments - whether insurance-related or not. I can pay for over-the-counter medications with HSA money.

At the end of the year - I get a statement as to how much I contributed - and therefore, what my tax deduction is.

" 1. An HSA costs MORE in premiums per month than a conventional policy" - there is no premium for an HSA. You set up an account and contribute as much as you like up to a maximum.

"2. In addition to premiums, you have to put aside $200 a month. In essence, you're just prepaying your deductible." Yes - you prepay your deductible - but with pre-tax dollars. That is the point - you save the tax. But in addition, other medical expenses can be paid with the account - like over-the-counter medications. And again - no premium for an HSA.

"3. HSA's work ONLY with certain designated HSA policies. If you have a conventional policy with a high deductible, . . ." - Yes - your policy has to qualify - that is, it has to be a high-deductible. My family deductible is $2300 and qualifies.

These are good plans - and you need not be "rich".

Saving money is good for everyone. You need not be "republican" to subscribe to that philosophy.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

61. That is NOT what either of my banks told me

They could set up a savings account for me, but it would not count as an HSA unless I had a specially designated HSA account.

Besides, at my age, I could afford only a $5000 deductible policy, and the maximum allowed for an HSA is lower than that.

Any old high-deductible policy doesn't count. I just checked on the larger bank's website. My deductible was TOO high.

[DrDan]

62. here are the 2008 HSA rules directly from Treasury

"For 2008, in order to qualify to open an HSA, your HDHP minimum deductible must be at least $1,100 (self-only coverage) or $2,200 (family coverage). The annual out-of-pocket (including deductibles and co-pays) for 2008 cannot exceed $5,600 (self-only coverage) or $11,200 (family coverage). HDHPs can have first dollar coverage (no deductible) for preventive care and apply higher out-of-pocket limits (and copays & coinsurance) for non-network services."

http://www.ustreas.gov/offices/public-affairs/hsa/faq_basics.shtml

Those have changed for 2010 to $5,950.

Seems like your $5000 policy should be covered. Do you have co-pays that raise that to in-excess of $5950?

If so - this is a good deal. I have saved several thousand dollars for each year I have had one.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

63. Yes, I do

My copays were 20% AFTER the deductibles were met up to a maximum out-of-pocket of $10,000.

I have a highly variable income as a self-employed person. Feast or famine. I know what I can afford in an AVERAGE month, though. The premiums for the policies that qualified were too high for me to consider. (I'm over 50.)

Anyway, I dropped my insurance because I went through a full year where I was struggling to pay even the premiums for the policy I mentioned above. The last straw was when I had to spend six months paying off the treatment for my broken elbow because I didn't meet my deductible. If I had put my insurance premiums in a savings account over the years, I could have made the payment easily.

By the way, the tax breaks for an HSA do no good if you can't afford to fund the account in addition to the policy, and the premiums for self-employed health insurance are tax-deductible anyway. I'll lose that tax deduction, but the extra income per month has been a blessing.

With a name like DrDan, you may have no idea what life is like for some of the rest of us these days.

[DrDan]

64. that's not fair . . . your last comment is insulting

I have had a positive experience the past few years with my HSA. If I can save a fellow-DUer some bucks, then I will surely do so.

As to funding the account - if an HSA-holder pays ANY medical expenses, then those expenses can be routed through the HSA. That is all the funding amounts to. And those contributions could be made to the account as the payments are made (put the payment money in the account - pay the bill from the account - get a tax break for the amount of the contribution). I find it to be flexible and money-saving and not at all "republican" in its process. I am sorry you cannot qualify - but I understand. I truly feel sorry for those that have to make these tough decisions. There is not a stronger supporter of single-payer on this site. It is absolutely criminal that any of our citizens go without healthcare.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

67. Sorry if I misread you, but

there are ConservaDems on this site whose attitudes are hard to distinguish from those of Republicans.

Obviously you are not in that category.

[Abq_Sarah]

77. I am by no means rich

But a high deductible policy was thousands cheaper for me than a traditional policy. That savings included putting the max amount into a savings account.

You need to find a new insurance company. They were not serving your best interest.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

79. I HAD a high deductible policy and I still couldn't afford CARE

That's what can happen when you pass the age of 50. Premiums skyrocket, and pretty soon, you've raised your deductible to the point where you NEVER see any benefit from your policy.

I can save money on my own, thank you, and it will be easier and cheaper when I'm not having automatic deductions (the only payment method the company would accept) taken out of my bank account whether I can afford them that month of not.

I am now recovering from a period of slow business, and I can really use those hundreds of dollars. It feels really GOOD not to be giving money to the bloated, greedy, crooked insurance companies when I need it worse.

By the way, the three companies that sell individual policies in the Twin Cities are so similar that it's not worth switching from one to the other.

[DrDan]

21. here are the HSA rules . . .

http://www.ustreas.gov/offices/public-affairs/hsa/faq_basics.shtml

[lillypaddle]

26. Thanks for posting

It doesn't appear I qualify, based on the amount of my insurance premiums alone.

[DCBob]

6. try Kaiser Permanente.. they seem more reasonable..

I got an individual policy for $250/month, $5000 deductible, 20% coinsurance, $20 copay. I also have high BP problem. Good luck. Its a problem, for sure, for many who are out of work or self-employed like me.

[begin_within]

17. Kaiser has very poor standards of health care, in my opinion.

My Mom was on Kaiser a long time, and it was very poor, then switched over to SCAN, which was much better, but they raised their prices and now she's on regular Medicare (she also has Tricare). My opinion of Kaiser is pretty low after taking her there for many years. They try to cut corners as much as possible, the doctors change constantly, and they simply have too many members for the facilities they have. One night in particular when my Mom was in severe abdominal pain they made us wait in a hallway for almost 3 hours, and it turned out to be a kidney stone. Kaiser is really bottom-of-the-barrel health care, if you ask me. The fact that they are both an insurer and provider makes for a built-in conflict of interest as well.

[Junkie Brewster]

83. I can't speak to your mom's experience, but Kaiser has been very good to us

My husband is suffering from a terrible case of Ulcerative Colitis. Kaiser has been wonderful with his medications, referrals to non-Kaiser physicians, and hospitalizations. I don't know what we would have done without Kaiser. They've also been very helpful to me- I developed a case of vertigo last spring. They paid for multiple MRIs, a second opinion from a non-Kaiser doctor, and on-going therapy to resolve the issue. Kaiser has been wonderful to us.

[uponit7771]

8. Are you anywhere near a local CHC? (link inside). I'd also like to know how HCR was supposed to keep

...your rates from going up?

TIA

CHC link, could save a lot of money especially if you're on a fixed income.

http://www.nachc.org/

[lillypaddle]

12. had never heard of CHC

until you brought it up. As I said, I guess I better get going on doing some research. Right now I'm kind of in a state of shock.

[SoCalDem]

14. They want you to drop it. They have had their fill of you and people like you

You know..the people who might actually use their coverage. they only want the healthy young folks who might occasionally sprain an ankle or get the flu.

The last "clients" they want are the ones over 50 who are years away from Medicare, but who may have health issues that need some tending, so they jack up your rates so much that you are forced to gamble.. Either way you lose....and either way they win:(

Sadly, your options are few:

quit your job, impoverish yourself and hope that medicaid will help you

pay them what they ask and impoverish yourself, add to your stress, and still pay through the nose every time you use their "coverage".

[lillypaddle]

16. yep, I'm afraid you're right

I guess it's time to do some "estate planning" - :nopity:

[Hissyspit]

24. Health Insurance Cos. Idea of Good Customer:

Lots of money coming in to them. Almost none or none going out.

[mike_c]

18. stop complaining, citizen-- this is Change You Can Believe In....

:sarcasm:

[SammyWinstonJack]

39. heheheeee...

:evilgrin:

[lillypaddle]

19. All of a sudden

I have an urge for a bloody broiled steak, a side of fries, and a double shot of tequila. Damn, I don't want to drop dead after eating a spinach fucking salad, ya know? Get while the gettings good ... go out in style and it won't even cost me anywhere near $650.

My tongue is only SLIGHTLY in my cheek. :toast:

But that would be a selfish thing to do, I suppose. Tempting, though ...

[glinda]

22. That is scary! I have BCBS and after they raised it so many times I finally got a $5000

deductible one because we could not afford the one I had. I am deathly afraid what will happen to me.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

56. I HAD a $5000 from Health Partners, and when my business temporarily

went back (roughly summer 2009 to spring 2010), I found that paying insurance premiums prevented me from getting actual CARE. In addition, I was approaching one of those milestone birthdays, and I knew from looking at the company's charts that I was in for a major increase simply due to age on top of the two-digit annual increase that they have always thrown in "just because."

I decided at that point that insurance was a protection racket. I'm not afraid of bankruptcy. Like many self-employed people, I've already been through it, and while it's not pleasant, it's not the end of the world.

[quinnox]

23. My Providence health insurance deductible is going to double

I have the most expensive plan in terms of monthly premium for individuals available because I wanted to spend the least cash out of pocket. Well, I got notified that they are eliminating my plan, and changing it to the next lower plan. Which means my deductible goes from 500 dollars to 1000 dollars and the max out of pocket yearly amount goes from $2,500 to $4000.

And all this happens while the premium raises from 346 to 362 dollars a month.

This sucks, and I bet mine is one of the more benign in terms of horror stories around. I have heard of rates being jacked up by 20% and higher.

Thanks Obama and Democrats, yea you did a great thing with he so called Health Insurance reform, yea right.

[Mimosa]

27. In the same leaking boat here.

Lillypaddle, we're in the same leaky boat.

My self-employed partner and I pay $895 a month for BC/BS $10,000 annual deductible 70/30 policy with $1,000 calender year deductible for prescriptions.

It really sucks. Add in co-pays and the prescriptions and we're paying $13,000 a year for health insurance. We can barely afford to keep it and we're scared to drop it.

I tried to see if we could go elsewhere but preexisting conditions won't permit it. And, no, the health insurance reform act of 2010 only drops pre-existing exclusions (in Sept) for children under 19.

[SmileyRose]

28. There's no way bloodwork 4 times a year exceeds $7800

Find out what the blood work costs and see if you can negotiate the rate BCBS would pay if you start paying cash at the time of service instead of making them have to bill BCBS. Same with the doctor. The medicine is probably on all the $4 a month lists.

All that said, get physical'd but good if you decide to go commando. I don't envy you. I would not want to be looking at 3 years of insurance free at 62. And whether or not it makes FINANCIAL sense, this may be your reason to keep paying the $650 a month. Peace of mind just in case.............

[DailyGrind51]

31. My annual tumor marker screenings don't cost 25% of that amount!

[mwooldri]

54. It all depends on the kind of test.

I see the medical bills that come in, and the EOBs from the insurance company.
What the labs bill the insurance is vastly inflated over the contracted rate - one single blood test was $127 to them, but $12.50 to the insurance company, and that was the amount that was paid.

If a hospital charges you $20 to give you a Tylenol pill (whilst in hospital) I can believe bloodwork 4x a year could be that expensive.

[WinkyDink]

32. I pay over $550, and that's BELONGING to a major group (PA. Retired Educators//PSERS).

[Paper Roses]

34. This stinks and there seems nothing we can do but squawk.

A quick note, there may be a way to beat some of the prescription costs. Check the websites for Walmart, Target Pharmacies( We used Target)). There are blood pressure meds and cholesterol meds in their $4.00 generic offerings. Print it out and bring to your Doc's office. Perhaps he can use one of the $4.00 offerings. Tell him your insurance is miserable. My husband was on both and we got the $4.00 pills. Huge savings. Most generics will do the job.

What a country!!!

[lillypaddle]

46. Good idea!

[nightrain]

58. costco's pharmacy prices are pretty good also, and you don't have to be a member

[rox63]

35. I don't know about the bloodwork

But I get my BP meds through a discount card with a major drugstore chain. Because it's a generic, it costs me $12.99 for a 3-month supply. My crappy insurance doesn't cover prescriptions at all. My meds don't require any bloodwork, just an occasional check in with the doc.

[Lorien]

42. Discount lab tests (including bloodwork):

http://blog.healthcheckusa.com/

https://sttm.mymedlab.com/home

http://www.directlabs.com/testtypes.php#CHPW

[femrap]

36. I feel for you....

I've told my doctor that I don't want any blood tests because if they find something, I can't afford to have it fixed, plus my insurance rates will go up. At first he got rather miffed w/ me. But I explained it to him. Look what I'm paying BC/BS. Plus I've been unemployed for over a year and see only $8/hour jobs out there that offer NO health insurance. Even Ohio Health (Big Med), which he works for, is screwing their employees adding to their premium cost and denying many claims.

Tell your doctor what to write in your file. For example, there is a huge difference between Anxiety and Depression!!!! Be anxious! If your doctor won't be on your side vs. the side of the Insurance Co., get a new doctor....because 'twisting the truth' is the only way we can survive.

TPTB/Bilderbergers want us to give them our last dollar to live and then go off into a corner and die.

Those between the ages of, say 55 to 64, are really getting screwed. That's when the body starts to have its aches and pains....and given the amount of chemicals (if our food, air, water, etc.) we've been exposed to, their effects start to show up in our aging systems.

I just take my vitamins. I try to get some decent exercise. And I try to laugh. I stay away from processed foods as much as possible.

Let me put on my:tinfoilhat: and show you this:

http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html

Please note the HUGE jump in obesity during the W Administration. WTF is going on? IMHO, there is something in our food system (an enzyme or some new nano-food chemical) that is blocking our 'Feel Full' system in our brains. I say this because I used to eat those Lean Cuisines...and I just felt hungry after I ate one. I was not satisfied in the least.

So everyone gets fat and that has such a detrimental effect on our bodies...diabetes, heart, joint pains, etc.

I'm going to get thin just to piss TPTB off!!!! I'm going to go GLUTEN FREE for a couple of weeks...because I recently read that American Wheat is very, very different from the wheat grown in Europe. And these nano-foods are for real...no need for the 'hat.'

Good luck to you.

[derby378]

37. Same thing happened to me, too...

...except that I get BC/BS through a state pool, so when our premiums went up, we didn't get raises this year. Just a little stipend to help with the increased cost.

And now, thanks to "health care reform," it's illegal to ditch BC/BS, so we're kinda stuck.

[Lorien]

40. I'm 45 and in a similar situation. I finally let the insurance go and have found

less expensive physicians who don't take insurance anyway. I also order all of my own blood tests. I figure that if there's no way for me to afford the deductible then sending them thousands every year that I could spend on health care makes little sense.

[LWolf]

41. Your situation is, unfortunately, much too familiar.

As I've repeatedly pointed out, having insurance doesn't mean getting care. When the premiums are already bankrupting us, who can afford copays and deductibles?

:(

[Lorien]

44. Those who are willfully obtuse on the topic either have plans through their employers

and/ or have never been sick or seriously injured. I'm self employed and have spent over 80k on health insurance over the past 15 years, but I've only ever received $200.00 in coverage. The 10k deductible makes any kind of health care unattainable for those of us who pay our own way.

[LWolf]

45. Yes.

I DO have a plan through my employer, so my premiums aren't as high as some. They are still higher than I can afford, and are slated to go up between 15 and 26% in October; I'll know how much at the end of this month. I also need meds that require blood tests, and I've done without for 18 months because I can't pay for the blood tests.

The whole point was to make it affordable to get health care. Having insurance doesn't mean that actual care is affordable.

:(

[Lorien]

49. See response #42 for affordable blood test options

I've used the first two companies often.

[LWolf]

65. Thanks! nt

[Vinca]

43. In my neck of the woods we call $650 a bargain.

Keeping my fingers crossed I live until February, 2014 so I can get Medicare. Wish my parents had made me a Canadian anchor baby.

[Cleita]

47. I was caught in the same dilemma when I was your age

and the premium was $500 a month then. I don't suggest that you do what I did, but my choice was to save the money and not have insurance until Medicare kicked in when I turned 65. By that time I had a laundry list of ailments that needed taking care of. There was no way I could meet the deductible every year and the insurance only applied a portion of what my medical visits cost to add insult to injury. In other words, I was paying for my own medical care and then giving BC money too, who did nothing but take the money and send statements about where I stood on my deductible. My only other suggestion is to try to see if you qualify for Medicaid.

Things that cause high blood pressure besides diet, is smoking cigarettes and alcohol. I quit smoking and went vegetarian for a few years and my blood pressure dropped to normal. I also invested in a BP monitor and checked my BP regularly until I found the method of keeping it down. However, this won't work if you have an underlying medical condition that is upping your BP. The other thing you can do is write those members of Congress like Max Baucus who wouldn't let the public option or purchase of Medicare to go into the big wet kiss to the insurance industry health care reform bill. They all need to hear from everyone who got thrown under the bus by them over and over again to let them know what big POSs they are.

[lillypaddle]

50. Thanks for the ideas

many of you have given. And the support. I know that many of us - probably MOST of us - are in the same boat. It really, really sucks that we don't have health CARE in this country that regular people can afford!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

57. Take a serious look at your actual medical costs versus what you're paying in premiums

How much would doctor visits to monitor blood pressure cost compared to what you're paying in insurance premiums PLUS deductibles?

What is the cause of your blood pressure problems? Heredity? Smoking? Overweight? Side affect of another medication? Stress from financial problems or other problems? Is your doctor just giving you meds or is s/he looking at your whole lifestyle?

Reread the posts by Lorien and Cleita.

I decided to gamble because I have no health problems that can't be self-managed. I am gambling the uncertainty of future health problems versus the certainty that continuing with high-deductible insurance would cripple me financially.

When the mandate goes into effect, I will fortunately have only a short time till I'm eligible for Medicare. I plan to either pay the fine or be living/working in some other country by 2014.

[nightrain]

59. knr. It's damn disgusting all the way around!

Consider using a nurse practitioner and the exercise/dietary/stress reduction interventions you can do. Costco's pharmacy is reasonable.

And where the hell are the BOGers? Crickets. Figures....

[lillypaddle]

66. Where are all the BOGers?

Well, I dunno about everyone else, but here I am. :hi:

[nightrain]

68. and the remainder? they're MIA huh? too embarassed about the fail of

health insurance "reform"?? your situation is a prime example of the fail Obama has created.

[lillypaddle]

70. Actually, Obama didn't "create" my situation

It's been that way always, except as I've aged and had certain health issues, cost has gone up. Unfortunately, the health care "reform" didn't improve my situation. My hope is that, down the line, my kid, and his kids, will have the benefit of what is HOPEFULLY an evolving process.

[nightrain]

72. that's the point. "Reform" didn't help! Only created more duplication, multiple

layers of programs/services--a nightmare for we practitioners, and increased paperwork, rather than ACTUALLY PROVIDING FOR CARE!

[lillypaddle]

80. What exactly is your position as a health care provider?

And under which paperwork are you now buried, thanks to our President?

[nightrain]

73. that's the point. "Reform" didn't help! Only created more duplication, multiple

layers of programs/services--a nightmare for we practitioners, and increased paperwork, rather than ACTUALLY PROVIDING FOR CARE!

[juajen]

69. What's a BOGer? NT

[lillypaddle]

71. I believe it is a reference

to the "Barack Obama Group" on DU.

[defendandprotect]

75. There's a "do you like Obama" thread up . . .

so presume they're around --

[nightrain]

78. sure, BOGers are around, but cricketly about the extreme shortcomings of

health insurance reform. How would they justify/rationalize these horrendous errors (or intentions?)?? They'd have to support the corporations, tough sell to most progressives. Thanks.

[depakid]

81. Many will deny the reality of the situation vociferously when confronted with facts like these

or peer reviewed studies that draw on them.

[defendandprotect]

84. They were trying to "rationalize" Obama's "Stupak attack" on abortion under the new plan!!

The thing is FEAR . . . they really can't rationalize anything --

but they are many of them very frightened --

Others do actually support the corporation notion of rule -- and Obama's

support for it, I'm afraid -- the DLC-corporate wing!!

[defendandprotect]

74. It is terrible -- greedy insurance companies protected by government . . .

Meanwhile, keep in mind that animal/dairy products are a chief cause of

cholesterol problems -- eat plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits and garlic --

raw, when possible!

Raw celery is a great addition to meals . . . celery and garlic hummus snacks.

Diced celery sprinkled over salads. Celery in summer salads -- w/diced peppers/potatoes/

cucumber. Celery and natural peanut butter -- i.e., only ground peanuts, nothing else added.



When you eat breads, try to make it whole grain breads w/o preservatives --

And also try to put some organic foods into your menus -- at least organic carrots

and broccoli.



Also keep in mind that with many of the prescription drugs the side effects

only further damage your health --


Try visiting a health food store -- or check the internet re Apple Cider Vinegar/Mothers.

[inna]

82. I'm so sorry. Something is tragically wrong with this country, the American people

deserve better than this. Every single industrialized country except the US provides the RIGHT to healthcare to all of its citizens.

When are we going to join the rest of the civilized world? This is just barbarism.