Brilliant Republican Healthcare Solution: Don’t Take Children With Broken Bones To The ER

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Originally posted by: IndyBoilerman
Agnes, who pays the great majority of the bill when you go to the emergency room? Unless your last name is "The Insurance Company", then someone else is paying the bill.

One of the greatest problems with Liberalism is that when no fee is charged for a service, Liberals believe that this service costs nothing. Agnes, in fact, strongly made this point when writing "I'm trying to figure out how I have spent other folks' money." I assure you, Agnes, that when people unnecessarily go to the emergency room, it's a great waste of someone's money. In your case, it's your wasting your company's money, as premiums are tied to user expenses.

And the next time the union negotiates a new labor contract, these expenses will be considered by the company. Pissing away your company's money at the emergency room decreases the likelihood of your Cadillac insurance plan being so luxurious in the future.

As I accurately stated, it's easy to some someone else's money.



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Originally posted by: agnes
Huh?!? I, nor any family member, have ever done any of your accusations. My husband and I have worked very hard in our 50 years of marriage and have excellent insurance - on par with your so-called "Cadillac" plan.

My only point was that this thread explains why our family doctor's schedule is often delayed. (I might add that she has been our family doctor for many years. She allows us to call or text her with any issue - at any time, at no charge - and she gives advice, calls in Rx, etc. I've always figured that was a great way to save time and money.)

Upon reflection, I will admit to having gone to $35 co-pay Urgent Care once for several stitches needed after a kitchen injury on a Saturday afternoon. Afterwards I did see my $5 co-pay family doctor for removal of the stitches. But I will consider removing them myself next time to save more money.

I'm still trying to figure out how I spend others folks' money.



What are you talking about boiler?
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Originally posted by: billryan
At least boils has come to the realization that talking in the third person made him sound even stupider. Progress.
Now if we can help him address the subject matter, we just might end up with a useful participant.
Keep hope alive


...says the guy who 90% of the time says absolutely nothing then tops it with an insult. What a joke.
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Originally posted by: jphelan


My Bronze plan with $6000+ out of pocket cost per year costs nearly $19,000 per year for my wife (58) and me (57). In 2017, I will be paying $732 per month, and my former employer is kicking in ~$850 per month.

This is a Bronze plan, the cheapest I could get. So much for "affordable health care".


In Arizona the prices basically doubled. 2 years ago I paid $314 a month. In 2016 it was $463. Best thing available this year was $902.

This may not apply to you, but it may be of help to others.

There seems to be a rule that if you make too much for subsidies, (over 400% of poverty), but the lowest cost policy would exceed 8.16% of your income you can get an exemption. I wrote "seems to be" because it's very difficult to find information on this. Here's one place I found it;

https://www.healthinsurance.org/blog/2016/10/14/escaping-the-crush-of-premium-increases/

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Here’s how it works: If the lowest-cost Bronze plan you could get in the exchange would cost more than 8.16 percent of your household income in 2017, you’re exempt from the ACA penalty – even if you remain uninsured. You can claim the exemption through the exchange based on your projected income, or you can claim it when you file your tax return, based on your actual income.


I'm not sure how that applies to a situation where a former employer is paying part of the cost. But from the research I've done I believe there was a court case regarding this which determined that if you are eligible for subsidies, the rule doesn't apply.

If you are exempt you don't get penalized of course, but it also opens the door to being able to obtain "catastrophic" policies. These policies are significantly less expensive, (50% less and even more), but when you figure out deductibles and coverage amounts the out of pocket cost isn't all that much different from the ACA bronze plans.

Who knows what will come in 2018, but anyone who is facing a huge percentage of their income going to health care might want to dig and see if this exemption might apply.
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Originally posted by: billryan
Is the $200,000 a lifetime cap?
My Mothers bill for an angioplasty and follow up was $168,000 in 2008. I've seen million dollar caps but never one as low as $200,000. That's like betting you won't have a heart attack or stroke.


$200K per year....


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Originally posted by: EllenMonster
57? I've always had you pegged for much older, dear.

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Originally posted by: jphelan
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Originally posted by: jphelan
People who pay a significant part of the bill will forgo the Emergency Room unless it is really an emergency. Urgent care is a suitable substitute in many cases and Medicaid should be accepted at urgent care facilities. Medicaid participants need to have "skin in the game". Maybe co-pays should be withheld from any tax refunds / credits for Medicaid participants? People only make economically wise decisions when there are economic consequences.


My Bronze plan with $6000+ out of pocket cost per year costs nearly $19,000 per year for my wife (58) and me (57). In 2017, I will be paying $732 per month, and my former employer is kicking in ~$850 per month.

This is a Bronze plan, the cheapest I could get. So much for "affordable health care". And I have never had to pay my deductible "up front" before receiving treatment when visiting my doctor or the ER. With Urgent Care, they may try to bill you up front, but only for the part of the bill which insurance will not cover. The minute clinics in WalMart, Target, and CVS are also good options for cheap, immediate care.....when people have skin in the game.

Medical Cost Sharing is another lower-cost option is you don't want need more than $200K coverage or want an abortion / viagra.



Thank you Ellen --- I always had you pegged with a large adams apple.
The Republican strategy du jour is to go back to the train wreck we had in 2007 ...and then...uh...hopefully come up with something better at a date to be named later. Nobody has a clue what the "something better" is - and I guess that's not a problem.

Maybe its a good thing to back to the train wreck. Let the public be reminded of a society that allows insurance companies to rescind plans from cancer patients. And let seniors pay full price for drugs again. And let college students get thrown off their parents' plans. And let 10 million Medicaid participants rot in the street. And let 10 billion dollars of annual Medicare fraud go undetected. And for all the people bitching about premium hikes....let the inflation rate go back to the levels of pre-Obamacare too. For all of Obamacare's shortcomings - it did, in fact, address these very important areas. But if Republicans want to start at square one then lets do it.

Whatever the GOP will pass they are going to own. We have several years of statistics from the ACA to compare it to. If Trump-Care covers fewer people, has fewer protections, and doesn't reduce costs then .... well you can guess the fallout. They better think of "something better" quick. I don't think the peanut gallery was ready to govern...but they don't have a choice now. Good luck.
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Originally posted by: pjstroh
The Republican strategy du jour is to go back to the train wreck we had in 2007 ...and then...uh...hopefully come up with something better at a date to be named later. Nobody has a clue what the "something better" is - and I guess that's not a problem.

Maybe its a good thing to back to the train wreck. Let the public be reminded of a society that allows insurance companies to rescind plans from cancer patients. And let seniors pay full price for drugs again. And let college students get thrown off their parents' plans. And let 10 million Medicaid participants rot in the street. And let 10 billion dollars of annual Medicare fraud go undetected. And for all the people bitching about premium hikes....let the inflation rate go back to the levels of pre-Obamacare too. For all of Obamacare's shortcomings - it did, in fact, address these very important areas. But if Republicans want to start at square one then lets do it.

Whatever the GOP will pass they are going to own. We have several years of statistics from the ACA to compare it to. If Trump-Care covers fewer people, has fewer protections, and doesn't reduce costs then .... well you can guess the fallout. They better think of "something better" quick. I don't think the peanut gallery was ready to govern...but they don't have a choice now. Good luck.


You don't know what is going to happen that will change a system that has had implementation stalled and the terms changed since it was first passed. It still hasn't all been implemented. Øbama has obstructed his own legacy legislation since it was first passed. Does he claim to own it all? (no) Does he claim to own the changes made and the lies told? (no) Does he really claim to own any of the reality of it? (no)

He disowns every flaw. He disowns every lie. He owns the small minds who have had their lips stuck on his butt for 8 years. That's you PJ. Show us your Preparation H Øbama lip balm again...

PJ appears concerned that Democrats may have to pay their own way again.


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Originally posted by: pjstroh
The Republican strategy du jour is to go back to the train wreck we had in 2007 ...and then...uh...hopefully come up with something better at a date to be named later. Nobody has a clue what the "something better" is - and I guess that's not a problem.

Maybe its a good thing to back to the train wreck. Let the public be reminded of a society that allows insurance companies to rescind plans from cancer patients. And let seniors pay full price for drugs again. And let college students get thrown off their parents' plans. And let 10 million Medicaid participants rot in the street. And let 10 billion dollars of annual Medicare fraud go undetected. And for all the people bitching about premium hikes....let the inflation rate go back to the levels of pre-Obamacare too. For all of Obamacare's shortcomings - it did, in fact, address these very important areas. But if Republicans want to start at square one then lets do it.

Whatever the GOP will pass they are going to own. We have several years of statistics from the ACA to compare it to. If Trump-Care covers fewer people, has fewer protections, and doesn't reduce costs then .... well you can guess the fallout. They better think of "something better" quick. I don't think the peanut gallery was ready to govern...but they don't have a choice now. Good luck.


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Originally posted by: IndyBoilerman
PJ appears concerned that Democrats may have to pay their own way again.



Adding 80 billion to the annual deficit is the cost of repealing Obamacare....and you don't seem concerned about that. Nor do Republicans ...yet.

Crying about Obamacare is not a healthcare replacement. That's going to become apparent to everyone very soon
As I've said all along, government should not be in the business of giving people money, giving people insurance, or giving people food stamps, etc.. Able bodied adults should be responsible to taking care of themselves.

If I had my way, the deficit would be gone.


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Originally posted by: pjstroh
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Originally posted by: IndyBoilerman
PJ appears concerned that Democrats may have to pay their own way again.



Adding 80 billion to the annual deficit is the cost of repealing Obamacare....and you don't seem concerned about that. Nor do Republicans ...yet.

Crying about Obamacare is not a healthcare replacement. That's going to become apparent to everyone very soon


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