Ok Trekkers, Don't Forget To Sign Up For Mandatory Obamacare Oct 1st

[IndyJones]

Re: Ok Trekkers, Don't Forget To Sign Up For Mandatory Obamacare Oct 1

I thought as much, after all some within this thread seem to be advocating a free-market form of Health coverage (as it would be better than what the US has and be better tthan Universal Health Care), which to me would mean that the individual goes out and buys the best coverage they can afford or the coverage they think they'll need.

So part of the overall health rating for the US would include those people who use that method. So for example the argument that you can't compare because iit isn't free market isn't exactly true. You can compare because even in countries like the UK which has UHC you can buy Private Medical Care.

I'm a relatively healthy 32 year old guy. I'm a doctor, eat well, exercise, and have had high cholesterol since I was a child (thanks paternal ancestors!), and I have been unable to buy health insurance for any price. God knows I've tried. I've no problem paying for insurance or my current care and meds, but this law has made it possible for me to actually receive health insurance. And I no longer have to worry about an accident wrecking me financially. That's huge. I'm so very happy for it.

 

[nightwind1]

Re: Ok Trekkers, Don't Forget To Sign Up For Mandatory Obamacare Oct 1

I have a question for my US cousins, can I purchase private medical insurance in the US and pay for it myself (no employer contribution)?

Of course.

But normally, you pay out the ass for it, and they could deny coverage for almost any reason they want.

At least until ACA.

 

[cooleddie74]

Re: Ok Trekkers, Don't Forget To Sign Up For Mandatory Obamacare Oct 1

^
And that's one of the reasons I can't be more glad that the Affordable Care Act is now the law of the land, flaws and all. The road for people with health problems is going to get at least a little smoother at least when it comes to paying for their care and no longer worrying about bankrupting themselves and their families to pay for that care.

America just evolved a little more, and it's a little more that actually matters.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

Re: Ok Trekkers, Don't Forget To Sign Up For Mandatory Obamacare Oct 1

I'm a relatively healthy 32 year old guy. I'm a doctor, eat well, exercise, and have had high cholesterol since I was a child (thanks paternal ancestors!), and I have been unable to buy health insurance for any price. God knows I've tried. I've no problem paying for insurance or my current care and meds, but this law has made it possible for me to actually receive health insurance. And I no longer have to worry about an accident wrecking me financially. That's huge. I'm so very happy for it.

^
And that's one of the reasons I can't be more glad that the Affordable Care Act is now the law of the land, flaws and all. The road for people with health problems is going to get at least a little smoother at least when it comes to paying for their care and no longer worrying about bankrupting themselves and their families to pay for that care.

America just evolved a little more, and it's a little more that actually matters.

Nicely said, both of you.

 

[MacLeod]

Re: Ok Trekkers, Don't Forget To Sign Up For Mandatory Obamacare Oct 1

And of course like any law passed it can be ammended to fix initial flaws (if it has any) when it was first passed.

No system of health care provision is perfect, just that some are fairer than others.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Re: Ok Trekkers, Don't Forget To Sign Up For Mandatory Obamacare Oct 1

Prohibiting denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions (something my company has never done, by the way-- but we're a non-profit) is one of the most important aspects of reform. It will not only save a lot of money, but will save many lives-- which means everybody should be in favor of it even if it costs money. The other great thing about reform is that it allows dependents to stay on their parents' policy until they turn 26, even if they don't live with them. That's going to mean a lot to many people, especially in the current economic climate.

Unfortunately, there are still a lot of grandfathered and ASC-type policies that are exempt from these mandates.

 

[MacLeod]

Re: Ok Trekkers, Don't Forget To Sign Up For Mandatory Obamacare Oct 1

Surely saving lifes is a good thing.

Now the PPACA might have it's flaws as I said early no system is perfect, but surely the best way to win an argument against PPACA is not so much as to attack the PPACA but come up with a rational well thought out better alternative, that you can use to persuade others.

It's one thing to say a free-market model (as has been mentioned in this thread )would be better, but I've yet to see any real outline of how it would work.

Does everyone have to have it?

Who foots the bill for those that don't have it (yet can afford it)?

Would workers expect more pay if they lost a benefit such as employer provided Health Care?

What there be some sort of regulatory body to ensure people where treated fairly and not ripped of by companies?

How would costs be lowered as companies seek to maximise profits?

Where is the evidence to say it would save more lives than something like the PPACA?

I'm sure If I put my mind to it I could come up with some more questions.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Re: Ok Trekkers, Don't Forget To Sign Up For Mandatory Obamacare Oct 1

Ultimately, any system that approaches the problem from the patient side of the equation is just a band-aid. The bottom line is the bottom line: Health care is too expensive. The cost of caregiver services has to be brought under control-- then insurance costs would not be an issue.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

Re: Ok Trekkers, Don't Forget To Sign Up For Mandatory Obamacare Oct 1

This is ll bullshit. A good friend of mine has a pre-existing condition and lives under the poverty level. He spoke with someone at healthcare.gov. He was told that as a person living under the poverty level and receiving medicare that he was not permitted by the ACA to purchase Gap or Dental insurance in the marketplace. He hads to purchase dnetal from outside obama care the old fashioned and expensive way. He'd only qualify if he purchased all of his insurance from ACA which he cannot afford.,

 

[iguana_tonante]

Re: Ok Trekkers, Don't Forget To Sign Up For Mandatory Obamacare Oct 1

I agree. Your post is definitively bullshit.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Re: Ok Trekkers, Don't Forget To Sign Up For Mandatory Obamacare Oct 1

This is ll bullshit. A good friend of mine has a pre-existing condition and lives under the poverty level. He spoke with someone at healthcare.gov. He was told that as a person living under the poverty level and receiving medicare that he was not permitted by the ACA to purchase Gap or Dental insurance in the marketplace. He hads to purchase dnetal from outside obama care the old fashioned and expensive way. He'd only qualify if he purchased all of his insurance from ACA which he cannot afford.

So, your friend who has a preexisting condition that would have prevented them from being covered by insurance before now can not be denied private health insurance coverage if they ever seek it thanks to Obamacare.

They also have Medicare to cover them. How do you feel about Medicare, FSM? You know, government-sponsored single-payer health care? BTW, are you still collecting that heating oil subsidy from the state despite hating government handouts for anyone but yourself? Typical "I got mine, screw everyone else" attitude.

But still, because of some anecdotal technicality regarding dental insurance which they didn't have before anyway, which frankly you are not a reliable or unbiased source of information on, and which I'm quite sure there are probably several solutions to if you actually looked instead of crying "the sky is falling!," you've declared that the ACA as a whole is "bullshit." Do you ever think this stuff through before you start typing? Seriously, take ten seconds and consider how this is going to make you look before you start furiously pounding the keyboard in anger.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

Re: Ok Trekkers, Don't Forget To Sign Up For Mandatory Obamacare Oct 1

They also have Medicare to cover them since they are below the poverty line.

I agree with your post. However, you seem to be confusing Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare is for seniors and disabled people, regardless of income. Medicaid is for low income people.

 

[cooleddie74]

Re: Ok Trekkers, Don't Forget To Sign Up For Mandatory Obamacare Oct 1

"This mess was created by the Republicans for one purpose, and they lost. People in my district are calling in for Obamacare -- affordable health care -- in large numbers. These guys have lost, and they can't figure out how to admit it... So we sit here until they figure out they fuckin' lost."

Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), quoted by Slate.

 

[IndyJones]

Re: Ok Trekkers, Don't Forget To Sign Up For Mandatory Obamacare Oct 1

They also have Medicare to cover them since they are below the poverty line.

I agree with your post. However, you seem to be confusing Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare is for seniors and disabled people, regardless of income. Medicaid is for low income people.

Yup, though Locutus was responding to FSM's post where he specifically said Medicare.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Re: Ok Trekkers, Don't Forget To Sign Up For Mandatory Obamacare Oct 1

Yeah, I just got mixed up on the name. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Yanks]

Re: Ok Trekkers, Don't Forget To Sign Up For Mandatory Obamacare Oct 1

This keeps being bandied around, but I have yet to see any proof of that. The "invisible hand" is more like a religion than an economic theory.

Are there state boundaries for auto insurance?

A better question would be: is auto insurance compulsory?

Only as a condition of driving...

 

[Gov Kodos]

Re: Ok Trekkers, Don't Forget To Sign Up For Mandatory Obamacare Oct 1

If you like that it's fine, but the free market, if allowed to be free, will lower cost and make insurance affordable to all.

This keeps being bandied around, but I have yet to see any proof of that. The "invisible hand" is more like a religion than an economic theory.

No one wants a free market, ever. What has happened where markets were unregulated was monopolies that controlled the market and the consumer was stuck with whatever crap was given to them. No one wants the 19th century again except those who can afford it.

 

[cooleddie74]

Re: Ok Trekkers, Don't Forget To Sign Up For Mandatory Obamacare Oct 1

No one wants the 19th century again except those who can afford it.

In short: well-to-do and downright rich conservatives and libertarians.

When a person understands that, they understand what motivates much of modern libertarianism and the hard Right in general.

 

[Australis]

Re: Ok Trekkers, Don't Forget To Sign Up For Mandatory Obamacare Oct 1

Free markets? It starts fine, with a bunch of little companies competing on price and service, and the customers benefit. But after a while one little buys out another and another, until there are only a couple of big companies who then collude on price (because that's in their interest) and the the customer is royally screwed!

I've never seen a free market that drove down prices in the long run. You can keep 'em.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Re: Ok Trekkers, Don't Forget To Sign Up For Mandatory Obamacare Oct 1

A free market, competition and choices are great. But you can't have that without regulation. Otherwise you get monopolies and indentured servitude and all that-- which is what happens when the Right Wing gets its way (not to mention the devastating economic collapses). And medical care is not just another industry-- perhaps health insurers should be required to be non-profit, like my company.