Health Insurance Premiums Skyrocket

[jference]

proudredneck wrote:

Want to talk about the Democrat President that killed tens of thousands of civilians with two Atomic Bombs ?

Dumb, dumb, dumb response!

[ucantbsrius]

jference wrote:

<quoted text>
Drug companies do not spend much on research and development anymore, however, their profits are huge. It's been like this for years!

The government(taxpayers) and universities do the bulk of it, and there is plenty of research going on in other countries. Canada pays for citizens to participate in new technology. They cover all expenses and cover the patient. They have found that it saves money when patients can take advantage of new technology. Try asking your insurance company if they cover you for that.

[SongBookz]

jference wrote:

<quoted text>
Drug companies do not spend much on research and development anymore, however, their profits are huge. It's been like this for years!

Todays medicines pay for tomorrow's advertisements and CEO salaries.

[jference]

SongBookz wrote:

<quoted text>
Todays medicines pay for tomorrow's advertisements and CEO salaries.

I agree. They do spend more on advertising than on research and development. Some of them have actually moved their headquarters out of the country so they can avoid paying federal taxes. It's interesting how in Mexico you can walk into a drug store and get many medicines without a prescription. I was in Cancun one year and had a sinus infection. I went to their pharmacy, told the pharmacist what was wrong and I got my antibiotics without having to go to a doctor and pay my $50 for him to tell me what I knew was wrong. Many elderly people here in Michigan go to Canada to get their prescriptions filled. Same medicine, just a lot cheaper than here in the U. S.

[CBearFL]

Something interesting to ponder...

Yesterday I got a bill from a hospital from where I had need an emergency procedure. I had gone to the ER, was admitted to the hospital until an OR room opened up (about 4 hours,) had the minor surgery and was released afterwards.
My bill from the hospital was over $6,000. I called their billing department, because it appeared that my insurance had not paid on this bill. They confirmed that yes, after the bill went out United Healthcare had paid.
UH paid a little over $4,000, so figuring I still owed another $2,000 or so. I asked for the new total. Surprise, surprise my bill had been readjusted and I only owed $200.
Now, that is great for me, but what does that mean for anyone who had needed this procedure that didn't have insurance? They would have to pay over $6,000, when UH and myself only paid over $4,000, why the $2,000 difference? Why is one procedure more expensive for those without insurance, isn't it the same procedure?
Something has gone totally rotten with our health care system. Since when has it been okay to charge different amounts for the same service to different people? That's just wrong!

[Wake up]

It's called PPO! But here another series,John-boy had a CVA went to the ER,spent 20 days in the ICU total bill $125,000, but had medicaid,How much do you think the hospital rec'd from medicaid??Any answers?

CBearFL wrote:

Something interesting to ponder...
Yesterday I got a bill from a hospital from where I had need an emergency procedure. I had gone to the ER, was admitted to the hospital until an OR room opened up (about 4 hours,) had the minor surgery and was released afterwards.
My bill from the hospital was over $6,000. I called their billing department, because it appeared that my insurance had not paid on this bill. They confirmed that yes, after the bill went out United Healthcare had paid.
UH paid a little over $4,000, so figuring I still owed another $2,000 or so. I asked for the new total. Surprise, surprise my bill had been readjusted and I only owed $200.
Now, that is great for me, but what does that mean for anyone who had needed this procedure that didn't have insurance? They would have to pay over $6,000, when UH and myself only paid over $4,000, why the $2,000 difference? Why is one procedure more expensive for those without insurance, isn't it the same procedure?
Something has gone totally rotten with our health care system. Since when has it been okay to charge different amounts for the same service to different people? That's just wrong!

[Char]

I have concluded the healthcare system specifically the insurance premiums resulting in my going broke one paper cut at a time with no end in sight. I am taking my life back and cancelling my policy and let the chips fall where they may. Enough is enough!

Congress is investigating the oil companies for profiteering well why not the greed of the health insurance and credit card companies. Is there anyone out there for the working person?

[ucantbsrius]

Char wrote:

I have concluded the healthcare system specifically the insurance premiums resulting in my going broke one paper cut at a time with no end in sight. I am taking my life back and cancelling my policy and let the chips fall where they may. Enough is enough!
Congress is investigating the oil companies for profiteering well why not the greed of the health insurance and credit card companies. Is there anyone out there for the working person?

They are in the "socialist" countries.

If your not familiar with me I am no anti-American nor am I pro-socialism. I think that title is misused by the Media and pundits. People like to use it to describe Canada or Britain etc. neither of those countries are "socialist". The Governments are in charge of a single payer medical system, that is about it. The US has all the same socialist programs other than a single payer medical system.

[CBearFL]

Wake up wrote:

It's called PPO! But here another series,John-boy had a CVA went to the ER,spent 20 days in the ICU total bill $125,000, but had medicaid,How much do you think the hospital rec'd from medicaid??Any answers?<quoted text>

Okay I have to admit, I don't get your post??? Yes, I am on a PPO, but why the difference in price. If an ultrasound is $700 without insurance, shouldn't it be $700 with insurance? Do you go to a salon and get charged a different price for a hair cut if your hair is brown or your hair is blond? What does Medicaid have to do with anything? I mean I'm sure they have their own price schedule. But still... Shouldn't the cost for a procedure be the cost across the board? I mean if we can't have universal health care, can we, at least, have a standard cost for a procedure? Why should people who don't have insurance pay more for a procedure then those who do? Are they not the ones who are most deserving of a price break? Where can I get the listing of what insurance companies will pay for different services? This is BS! If United Healthcare gets a break on cost then so should my neighbor with no insurance. They are far more deserving of that break, are they not?

[CBearFL]

Char wrote:

I have concluded the healthcare system specifically the insurance premiums resulting in my going broke one paper cut at a time with no end in sight. I am taking my life back and canceling my policy and let the chips fall where they may. Enough is enough!
Congress is investigating the oil companies for profiteering well why not the greed of the health insurance and credit card companies. Is there anyone out there for the working person?

Char.. I totally felt the same way... Until I got a bill from a hospital that was itemized as if I didn't have insurance. They would have charged me over $2,000 more if I was uninsured. It's a catch 22 my friend. Pay out exorbitant premiums and get a reduction in cost should you have a medical emergency. OR sock the money away that you would pay in premiums and get charged more should you have an emergency. There's no winning in the current system.
It's all BS. There is no reason Americans should be paying what we are paying for health care. Every other country pays less then us. We have become suckers to the industry. Maybe universal health care is the answer. I think it is... Hey, if every other industrialized nation on the planet can do it, why not the USA?
Until then... don't give up your insurance. Unfortunately... they are offering you lower prices in the case of emergency. That really sucks!

[overthehill]

OK, here's a war story.
Because I have mild hypertension, I see my doctor twice a year for routine checkups. On one of these visits, she suggested that I get the new Shingles vaccine, which is designed to prevent shingles in older people who have had measles. Fine, says I, fire away.
A month later I get a bill for $273.00 for the shingles shot. Since I have medicare, I call to find out why medicare doesn't cover this shot. I am told that it is "experimental" and medicare doesn't cover experimental drugs.
So I call Blue Cross/Blue Shield, my supplemental carrier and they tell me that they don't cover shingles vaccinations because medicare doesn't cover them.?????????
HELLO!!, doesn't Supplemental mean that the insurance should cover items not covered by medicare as a supplement is supposed to?
This is typical of today's health insurance. They raise rates everytime an actuary sees a bump in the road, and then find ways to cut services as many ways as they can.
This is what needs to be fixed before we start to think of universal health care.

[Wake up]

MEDICAID HAS ALOT TO DO WITH IT! MEDICAID DOES NOT PAY THE HOSPITAL FOR WHICH IT NEEDS,SO THE HOSPITAL PASS IN ON TO THOSE THAT CAN! iNSURANCE COMPANY,THE MIDDLE CLASS UNINSURE I DO BELEIVE SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THE HEALTH CARE,AND I BELEIVE IT STARTS WITH SHUTTING DOWN MEDICAID AND PUTTING THAT MONEY TOWARD HEALTH PROBLEM FOR EVERYONE,NOT JUST FOR THOSE WHO IS LOOKING FOR A HAND-OUT! I SEE THE ABUSE IN THE HOSPITALS IN NORTHWEST INDIANA FIRST HAND!!

CBearFL wrote:

<quoted text>
Okay I have to admit, I don't get your post??? Yes, I am on a PPO, but why the difference in price. If an ultrasound is $700 without insurance, shouldn't it be $700 with insurance? Do you go to a salon and get charged a different price for a hair cut if your hair is brown or your hair is blond? What does Medicaid have to do with anything? I mean I'm sure they have their own price schedule. But still... Shouldn't the cost for a procedure be the cost across the board? I mean if we can't have universal health care, can we, at least, have a standard cost for a procedure? Why should people who don't have insurance pay more for a procedure then those who do? Are they not the ones who are most deserving of a price break? Where can I get the listing of what insurance companies will pay for different services? This is BS! If United Healthcare gets a break on cost then so should my neighbor with no insurance. They are far more deserving of that break, are they not?

[CBearFL]

Wake up wrote:

MEDICAID HAS ALOT TO DO WITH IT! MEDICAID DOES NOT PAY THE HOSPITAL FOR WHICH IT NEEDS,SO THE HOSPITAL PASS IN ON TO THOSE THAT CAN! iNSURANCE COMPANY,THE MIDDLE CLASS UNINSURE I DO BELEIVE SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THE HEALTH CARE,AND I BELEIVE IT STARTS WITH SHUTTING DOWN MEDICAID AND PUTTING THAT MONEY TOWARD HEALTH PROBLEM FOR EVERYONE,NOT JUST FOR THOSE WHO IS LOOKING FOR A HAND-OUT! I SEE THE ABUSE IN THE HOSPITALS IN NORTHWEST INDIANA FIRST HAND!!<quoted text>

Ooohhh...okay now I get you :-)

Yes, I think there's abuse at every level. It's sad though to know that people with out insurance pay the most. I mean it doesn't make since. If a family can't afford $600 a month in insurance premiums, what makes the hospitals think they can afford a HUGE bill for services. I still think that there should be a standard charge for care. And it doesn't matter if it's an insurance company or Medicaid, or just an individual, everyone should pay the same.
Our health care system is just broken and it will take a lot to fix it. Till then I'm taking my vitamins, exercising, and staying away from the hospital :-)

[Among you soon]

Char wrote:

I have concluded the healthcare system specifically the insurance premiums resulting in my going broke one paper cut at a time with no end in sight. I am taking my life back and cancelling my policy and let the chips fall where they may. Enough is enough!
Congress is investigating the oil companies for profiteering well why not the greed of the health insurance and credit card companies. Is there anyone out there for the working person?

Before we go there, lets be clear here. As everyone knows, America is the "fattest" major country on the planet. So what? Well, fat means many health problems, so health csts soar. Fat is a personal choice, so if more people chose not to be fat, our health costs would go down. Next, everybody here in the USA wants to live ot be 100 and look and feel like 20 while doing it. Again, another personal choice, but one that causes our overal health costs to soar yet again, So folks, get a grip. Choose notto be fat and it is OK to get old and die. Guess what, that is the way tings are and if we choose this, our health costs will go down, plain and simple!

[Char]

Among you soon wrote:

<quoted text>
Before we go there, lets be clear here. As everyone knows, America is the "fattest" major country on the planet. So what? Well, fat means many health problems, so health csts soar. Fat is a personal choice, so if more people chose not to be fat, our health costs would go down. Next, everybody here in the USA wants to live ot be 100 and look and feel like 20 while doing it. Again, another personal choice, but one that causes our overal health costs to soar yet again, So folks, get a grip. Choose notto be fat and it is OK to get old and die. Guess what, that is the way tings are and if we choose this, our health costs will go down, plain and simple!

There are many things that are driving up healthcare costs and life style choices is one of them but the healthcare situation in the US has gone way beyond the impact of life style choices. Just to name a few...lawsuits; insurance companies with top heavy overpay executives; hospital administators who are spineless and overpay letting insurance companies mandating what, when and who gets treated; FDA over control of drug and medical devices companies in the US and then purchasing from foreign drugs companies who are not under FDA compliance and pocketing the difference as profits; finanical structure that allow items to be added to the hospital bills years down the road, yes this happened to me and your only recourse is to sue, go to collection or pay; surgeries fails due to 'facility induced conditions'(we are probably paying for some airhead to come up with such fancy phases as well)and you have to sue for hospitals to fit their mistakes or pay for the surgery again which insurance will not pay; rising your premium for use your policy that you have paid for is the all time classic; I will stop because I will be here all day. I did not want Universal healthcare because everything our federal government touchs results in orders of magnitude worst.

Thanks for listening to my rants!!

[Char]

CBearFL wrote:

<quoted text>
Char.. I totally felt the same way... Until I got a bill from a hospital that was itemized as if I didn't have insurance. They would have charged me over $2,000 more if I was uninsured. It's a catch 22 my friend. Pay out exorbitant premiums and get a reduction in cost should you have a medical emergency. OR sock the money away that you would pay in premiums and get charged more should you have an emergency. There's no winning in the current system.
It's all BS. There is no reason Americans should be paying what we are paying for health care. Every other country pays less then us. We have become suckers to the industry. Maybe universal health care is the answer. I think it is... Hey, if every other industrialized nation on the planet can do it, why not the USA?
Until then... don't give up your insurance. Unfortunately... they are offering you lower prices in the case of emergency. That really sucks!

Thanks for listening to my rants but I am fighting back. This is not longer about money it is about principle. This industry is all about legalized lying and stealing, I will not advance their cause. I have disability coverage, worker comp and car insurance with medical coverage. That will have to do for now. Again thanks for listening.

[Among you soon]

Char wrote:

<quoted text>
There are many things that are driving up healthcare costs and life style choices is one of them but the healthcare situation in the US has gone way beyond the impact of life style choices. Just to name a few...lawsuits; insurance companies with top heavy overpay executives; hospital administators who are spineless and overpay letting insurance companies mandating what, when and who gets treated; FDA over control of drug and medical devices companies in the US and then purchasing from foreign drugs companies who are not under FDA compliance and pocketing the difference as profits; finanical structure that allow items to be added to the hospital bills years down the road, yes this happened to me and your only recourse is to sue, go to collection or pay; surgeries fails due to 'facility induced conditions'(we are probably paying for some airhead to come up with such fancy phases as well)and you have to sue for hospitals to fit their mistakes or pay for the surgery again which insurance will not pay; rising your premium for use your policy that you have paid for is the all time classic; I will stop because I will be here all day. I did not want Universal healthcare because everything our federal government touchs results in orders of magnitude worst.
Thanks for listening to my rants!!

Yes, but lets not forget that most of the lawsuits come from peoples choices to look like their 20 at 60 and to have pounds of flesh cut off their bodies, instead of eating and exercising. Then their are the law suits form those folks who feel that doctors and hostitals should have saved their 80-year old parents, despite them having several-lif threatening illnesses. Then there are the money-grubbiung lawyers, well between life choices and lawyers, thats 60%-70% of the cost, right there!

[Mr_Bill]

CBearFL wrote:

<quoted text>
Char.. I totally felt the same way... Until I got a bill from a hospital that was itemized as if I didn't have insurance. They would have charged me over $2,000 more if I was uninsured. It's a catch 22 my friend. Pay out exorbitant premiums and get a reduction in cost should you have a medical emergency. OR sock the money away that you would pay in premiums and get charged more should you have an emergency. There's no winning in the current system.
It's all BS. There is no reason Americans should be paying what we are paying for health care. Every other country pays less then us. We have become suckers to the industry. Maybe universal health care is the answer. I think it is... Hey, if every other industrialized nation on the planet can do it, why not the USA?
Until then... don't give up your insurance. Unfortunately... they are offering you lower prices in the case of emergency. That really sucks!

We already have universal care.

The extra $2,000 they tried to charge you is to pay for services to the uninsured, or undeer-insured.
Here are pur choices:

We pay, or we pay.

A regulated universal program would force all to pay, and the ultimate cost for those who noy pay (have insurance) would go down.

This is what Mrs. Clinton has advocated. Do you think it is just a coincedence that corporate America, including the popular media, are foursquare against her?

[Among you soon]

Mr_Bill wrote:

<quoted text>
We already have universal care.
The extra $2,000 they tried to charge you is to pay for services to the uninsured, or undeer-insured.
Here are pur choices:
We pay, or we pay.
A regulated universal program would force all to pay, and the ultimate cost for those who noy pay (have insurance) would go down.
This is what Mrs. Clinton has advocated. Do you think it is just a coincedence that corporate America, including the popular media, are foursquare against her?

Good points! IN addition, most lawyers are also against this as this is where they rape the public. If we had UHC, then the poor lawyers wold have to work harder to find other ways of raping us!

[Char]

Among you soon wrote:

<quoted text>
Yes, but lets not forget that most of the lawsuits come from peoples choices to look like their 20 at 60 and to have pounds of flesh cut off their bodies, instead of eating and exercising. Then their are the law suits form those folks who feel that doctors and hostitals should have saved their 80-year old parents, despite them having several-lif threatening illnesses. Then there are the money-grubbiung lawyers, well between life choices and lawyers, thats 60%-70% of the cost, right there!

I also agree about all the lawsuits due to poor people choice but you left one hugely expensive lawsuits that continue day in a day out...illegals suing when states refuse to pay for their healthcare. OBAMA is for everyone living in the US, whether legal or illegal to be covered by universal health insurance. We cannot afford are own coverage. This world has gone nuts!