Hep C Discussion Forum

Isiscat2011 · Guru

RE: obama care!

longld · Senior Member

Enjoying very much the new ACA standards that raised the coverage items from my previous inadequate insurance - especially the mandatory contraceptive coverage for my 62 yr old wife and myself......aaaagggghhhhhhh!

hrsetrdr · Guru

Isiscat2011 wrote:
Don't like your premiums--blame the insurance industry. Don't like the cost of necessary meds--blame Pharma. But, don't fall into their trap and blame those who are trying to help. That is what the greedy ba*****s want.

Exactly. Without a doubt there are folks for whom the ACA does not "fit"; hopefully adjustments will be forthcoming. I see the ACA as providing more good than bad, eliminating the ability of insurance carriers to deny health benefits due to preexisting conditions being one big plus. Heck, a person can get auto insurance even with "preexisting conditions"(excessive traffic tickets) albeit at an "assigned risk" premium rate.

Tig · Admin

Isiscat2011 · Guru

The primary reason people with individual coverage are seeing increases in premiums now is that their prior insurance policies did not meet the minimum coverage standards under the ACA. In other words they didn't have good insurance plans and insurance companies charge more for for better policies. Some insurance companies canceled plans because they didn't want to provide better coverage.

In the past decade insurance premiums more than doubled (while insurance company profits quadrupled) but coverage did not improve. My premiums increased every year or sometimes more often than that prior to the enactment of the ACA.

85% of Americans who purchased health insurance through the exchange will receive a tax credit or subsidy that will offset increases.

You may pay more for a while but you should have improved coverage and your insurance premiums will not increase just because you get sick as they have in the past. Nor can your policy be canceled. Whether you know it or not the ACA gives you more protection than you ever had before.

Whether you like the ACA or not you are stuck with it so you might as well learn how you can make the most of it. Here is a useful web site: http://www.obamacarefacts.com/

JIme · Guru

hippiechick wrote:
Tig56 wrote:
I learned a long time ago, if there isn't something nice to say, don't say it. With that in mind, all I can say about this is phooey (tough language I know). This legislation ruined my once excellent healthcare policy and has left me unable to find a doctor or practice to handle a long term pre-existing condition. Just because they can't deny coverage of a pre-existing condition, they can however refuse to accept new patients. I saw my family premiums more than double and our copays and deductible skyrocket! It's a cheap and adequate plan for some and an expensive and inadequate plan for others. Far from the answer to everything some are claiming it is...
Tig
Your experience with the Unaffordable Care Act is the same as mine. I am self employed and saw my premiums go from $250 per month to almost $800. This is for myself and my husband. Our policy was cancelled and I lost my doctor. When the country figures out that INSURANCE only benefits insurance companies and spends all these gazillions of dollars on health CARE then we will be taking care of business. No insurance company has ever healed a sick person.
The only people who like Obamacare are the ones who aren't paying for it but make no mistake, it ain't "free".

Same here. Our premiums doubled and our deductible is higher and our Dr's have changed. Business is down 50% this year but I still have to pay the premium until next year. And there's no guarantee that it will go down. We were blindsided by this. Our agent eventually quit and he never warned us about what would happen. We should have checked it our ourselves and not trusted anyone. I'm glad everybody has coverage now, I just wish I knew that I would be paying for it.

mallani · Guru

I agree with Groupergetter.

I'm moving this to General Discussion.

Isiscat2011 · Guru

Groupergetter wrote:
Since this thread could be considered political in nature, might it be best moved to the Off Topic or Rant and Rave sticky? Thanks

Really? Gotta love Americans. Praise Jesus. lol

Isiscat2011 · Guru

hepcinbama wrote:
ok lets get things straight I did not vote for the man but I am defiantly reeping the rewards of the Obama care ! I signed up the first go round an immediately went to the doctor an got diagnosed with hep c my doc put in for solvaldi ribavirin an peg pen the blue cross blue shield went ahead an paid for it the first time an I had a 5 dollar copay the next month blu cross told me I had to use their pharm I got same drugs this time no co pay ! sooooo I urge you get Obama care an get cured I could have never afforded it on my min wage good luck an I hope this helps many !

Just a reminder of how this thread started and of some of the good the ACA is doing for people who work hard but are only paid minimum wage. Without the ACA many Americans would never be diagnosed with HepC, let alone treated for it.

Don't like your premiums--blame the insurance industry. Don't like the cost of necessary meds--blame Pharma. But, don't fall into their trap and blame those who are trying to help. That is what the greedy ba*****s want.

Groupergetter · Guru

Since this thread could be considered political in nature, might it be best moved to the Off Topic or Rant and Rave sticky? Thanks

Tig · Admin

Keith Richards and/or Mick Jagger offering up criticisms about American drug abuse? Now that's funny... As far as Obamacare, in my opinion, it's a trainwreck that has already occurred. Now it's loose on the tracks, don't let it roll over you. Best get out of it's way...

Tig

Isiscat2011 · Guru

Huey wrote:
I don't remember ware ,, but I recall a conversation ware a British individual was speaking of Americans, And what he was saying is Americans are all pill heads, No ware else do the people take so many pills/
Mick Jagger maybe??

Or Keith Richards? smile Many Americans are making the same observations.

The US ingests 80% of all painkillers taken in the world. The top drugs being consumed in the US include narcotics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, sleep aids, and drugs to counteract the effects of obesity (diabetes, high cholesterol, etc). Let's not forget the erectile dysfunction category as those too sell like hotcakes.

Makes you wonder what is going on here. Pharma spends billions advertising quick fixes and we can't wait to get our hands on 'em.

Isiscat2011 · Guru

longid: It isn't an attack on capitalism; it is an attack on runaway greed and power.

The power is concentrated in the hands of the few who have only their own interests at heart. Being "proud Americans" will be our undoing when it leads us to justify corruption in the name of patriotism.

longld · Senior Member

re: research coming out of universities - they are greedy too but ignored by many who attack capitalism - New York Universitywhich pulled in $157 million in research-related income on $210 million in research and development (R&D) expenditurestops the list with a 75% yield. Credit NYUs serious return in great part to smash-hit Remicade, a rheumatoid arthritis drug developed along with Centacor and Johnson & Johnson.

re; some countries with direct price control, profit control, or reference drug pricing appeared to innovate proportionally more than their contribution to the global GDP or prescription drug spending."

You can prove your point with selective measurements but the fact is that many of the ground breaking medical discoveries are coming from the US. China will pass US in GDP in 2018 (do you seriously believe that they will outpace the US in pharma innovation)? We can agree to disagree on why that is true - simply privatize big pharma and test your theory that we will continue to do so. I am a proud American who firmly believes in the free-market system and its power for good - understanding that it has its issues but still results in one of the best systems in the world.

If ACA was to solve the uninsured and provide equal medical treatment to the 35-40 million uninsured, why is it that less than 10 million have been insured (most of these with completely free Medicaid)?

I agree with the medical error issue because we rewarded activity versus results - I am a personal beneficiary of this in having lost my kidneys and been infected with HCV both due to medical care. I also assume that if you could choose the very best medical care in the world, you would travel outside the US due to this issue?

love a debate, I learn much from it and have changed many of my views over the years - just not the principle of a free market which has served America well. lee

Huey · Guru

I don't remember ware ,, but I recall a conversation ware a British individual was speaking of Americans, And what he was saying is Americans are all pill heads, No ware else do the people take so many pills/

Mick Jagger maybe??

-- Edited by Huey on Sunday 10th of August 2014 05:15:43 PM

Isiscat2011 · Guru

longld wrote:
I don't think that the US HC system is the best but it generally provided a high level of care to most people, the issue with the poor could have simply been fixed by expanding medicare without screwing up everyone else's existing plan. In addition, while all of these other countries are touting their superior HC plans, most of the groundbreaking drugs are coming out of the supposed broke US healthcare system.....be careful if the unintended consequences......(writing a book on examples of these)

Preventable medical error is the 3rd leading cause of death in the U.S. It was even before the ACA was enacted. How exactly does that translate to a high level of care to most people, longid?

With respect to the US and new drug innovation please consider that our own government has determined that:

"[T]he United States is important but not disproportionate in its contribution to pharmaceutical innovation. Interestingly, some countries with direct price control, profit control, or reference drug pricing appeared to innovate proportionally more than their contribution to the global GDP or prescription drug spending."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2866602/

Additionally, the majority of U.S. "innovative" drugs do not come from pharma. They originate in universities and biotech companies. The drugs that make it to the shelves make it because of their commercial appeal not their innovative qualities. Most pharma money is spent on marketing not research and development (19 dollars on marketing for every 1 dollar spent on r+d).

http://pipeline.corante.com/archives/2010/11/04/where_drugs_come_from_the_numbers.php

The free market system then inhibits innovation because drugs that have the potential to make the most money will be the ones produced, and often they are no better than what we already had. New drugs can actually be worse; many are eventually recalled after they have done sufficient damage.

Consider also that the US has the 3rd largest population in the world and it is one of the wealthiest countries (top ten). Of course it has the ability to create and produce more drugs, if one is merely looking at quantity, than smaller and poorer countries. Greed, however, is not a necessary component to new drug innovation and it is actually a hindrance. We could accomplish more without it.

Unfortunately, the US does rule in the area of propaganda. We are told that everything good depends on the free market system. The problem is it is no longer a true free market system. It is an out of control greed-fest that is causing a great deal of harm.

longld · Senior Member

I don't think that the US HC system is the best but it generally provided a high level of care to most people, the issue with the poor could have simply been fixed by expanding medicare without screwing up everyone else's existing plan. In addition, while all of these other countries are touting their superior HC plans, most of the groundbreaking drugs are coming out of the supposed broke US healthcare system.....be careful if the unintended consequences......(writing a book on examples of these)

Isiscat2011 · Guru

On the question of what drives US physician job dissatisfaction the answer is not that lawyers are lining up to file frivolous lawsuits against them or even that their malpractice premiums are too high. Not surprisingly, the answer is that they want to provide a higher quality of care for and spend more time with their patients. Here is an interesting article:

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/news/news/2013/2013-10-09-rand-study-physician-satisfaction.page

Hippiechick: Medical malpractice insurance premiums have actually decreased in the past decade while health insurance premiums and health care costs have continued to skyrocket. Here is an article written by a physician entitled "It Ain't the Lawyers: Medical Malpractice Costs Have Been Dropping":

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-belk/medical-malpractice-costs_b_4171189.html

Huey · Guru

Isiscat2011 wrote:
hippiechick wrote:
All of the above issues PLUS the horrendous cost of malpractice insurance. I could probably do a tiny bit of research (except I'm lazy) and find a graph with a direct correlation between the increase of lawyers and the decrease of doctors.
Malpractice insurance premiums, like health care insurance premiums, increase because the insurance industry seeks greater profits.
Doctors are sued more often when the quality of care decreases and the quality of care decreases when the healthcare system is not functioning well.
If you think it is easy to successfully sue a doctor you are mistaken. Not only is it incredibly expensive (and the costs come out of the attorneys' pockets) but the law and juries give doctors wide latitude. That frivolous med-mal lawsuits are the reason for high insurance costs is another myth perpetuated by the insurance company to justify exorbitant premiums.

When I went into the Hospital last week a nurse had a release for me to sign, I Sid " If you all are Doctors, Then why are you doing the lawyers job?"

Isiscat2011 · Guru

hippiechick wrote:
All of the above issues PLUS the horrendous cost of malpractice insurance. I could probably do a tiny bit of research (except I'm lazy) and find a graph with a direct correlation between the increase of lawyers and the decrease of doctors.

Malpractice insurance premiums, like health care insurance premiums, increase because the insurance industry seeks greater profits.

Doctors are sued more often when the quality of care decreases and the quality of care decreases when the healthcare system is not functioning well.

If you think it is easy to successfully sue a doctor you are mistaken. Not only is it incredibly expensive (and the costs come out of the attorneys' pockets) but the law and juries give doctors wide latitude. That frivolous med-mal lawsuits are the reason for high insurance costs is another myth perpetuated by the insurance company to justify exorbitant premiums.

Isiscat2011 · Guru

hippiechick wrote:
Your experience with the Unaffordable Care Act is the same as mine. I am self employed and saw my premiums go from $250 per month to almost $800. This is for myself and my husband. Our policy was cancelled and I lost my doctor. When the country figures out that INSURANCE only benefits insurance companies and spends all these gazillions of dollars on health CARE then we will be taking care of business. No insurance company has ever healed a sick person.
The only people who like Obamacare are the ones who aren't paying for it but make no mistake, it ain't "free".

I have been self employed since the 80s and paid premiums substantially higher than you are paying now PRIOR to the enactment of the ACA. Not only that but after I was diagnosed with HepC I was forced to obtain a "high risk" insurance policy. Again, this was PRIOR to the enactment of the ACA. The ACA has prohibited this type of discrimination. Has it reduced premiums for self employed people? For some it has but for most it has remained about the same or increased premiums.

You are mistaken that the only people who like the ACA are the ones who aren't paying for it. People who believe everyone should have a right to healthcare, regardless of health or income status, also applaud the positive changes the ACA made. The problem is still the same, however, and the problem is unchecked corporate greed. Obama couldn't fix that.

hippiechick · Member

Isiscat2011 wrote:
Brian1412 wrote:
In Florida, it is already a disaster.. you cannot get to a DR ( they are using Walgreens, NP's), but to see a Dr is a long ordeal if you can get in at all. Add the Medicare people and we have a massive shortage of Drs.
Well then, let's just eliminate the "Medicare people" from the healthcare system. :( The "Medicare people" are not the problem.
There is, and has been for some time, a shortage of US docs. One of the glaring consequences of this shortage (and of the desire to reduce costs per patient) is the relaxation of professional requirements for those who are now doing the work of doctors: PAs and NPs. This in turn has reduced the quality of care.
The shortage is due to an increased patient population (increased demand) and not enough people who are willing and able to become doctors (decreased or stagnate supply). Given the cost of an advanced education and the decrease in job satisfaction among docs the shortage of US docs should come as no surprise.

All of the above issues PLUS the horrendous cost of malpractice insurance. I could probably do a tiny bit of research (except I'm lazy) and find a graph with a direct correlation between the increase of lawyers and the decrease of doctors.

Isiscat2011 · Guru

Brian1412 wrote:
In Florida, it is already a disaster.. you cannot get to a DR ( they are using Walgreens, NP's), but to see a Dr is a long ordeal if you can get in at all. Add the Medicare people and we have a massive shortage of Drs.

Well then, let's just eliminate the "Medicare people" from the healthcare system. :( The "Medicare people" are not the problem.

There is, and has been for some time, a shortage of US docs. One of the glaring consequences of this shortage (and of the desire to reduce costs per patient) is the relaxation of professional requirements for those who are now doing the work of doctors: PAs and NPs. This in turn has reduced the quality of care.

The shortage is due to an increased patient population (increased demand) and not enough people who are willing and able to become doctors (decreased or stagnate supply). Given the cost of an advanced education and the decrease in job satisfaction among docs the shortage of US docs should come as no surprise.

Isiscat2011 · Guru

longld wrote:
if you wonder about gov't controlled health care - read who is complaining the most about the cost of specialty drugs like Sovaldi; gov't controlled plans like Medicare and the UK system are a few of the latest. They have both admitted to restricting access due to finances - is this what was in the plan? and I still remember a lot of people laughing about the 'death panels' but we just didn't understand.......

I luv ya, but your belief that the US health care system is superior to all others simply defies all reason. The facts just don't support this belief. You have been very fortunate but I can assure you many other Americans have not been nor will they be. Try to have a little empathy for the ones who have not fared so well in the US healthcare system.

Additionally, the ACA is not to blame. The healthcare system was broken before the ACA was enacted. It has managed to help many uninsured low income people who would otherwise have gone without.

Access to these drugs is restrictive because the drugs (and the US healthcare system in general) has become insanely expensive. The exorbitant costs are the result of unchecked corporate greed and the people who blindly support it.

TomF · Member

And yet, giving an ever increasing portion of our GDP to insurance, medicine, and big pharma is not the answer either. They will not be satisfied until every dollar this country earns goes to healthcare.

Most people who have insurance have no clue how much their doctors and their prescriptions cost. They have no incentive to make sure the bills are accurate. And they have no incentive to use less expensive medicines even when they are just as effective. Insurance is the mechanism that has enabled healthcare costs to mushroom out of control.

I am taking Solvaldi / Oysio. Fortunately for me, my health insurance (and therefore, the company I work for) is picking up the 150K cost of the 12 week treatment. But I have to wonder how these medicines would be priced if health insurance did not exist. I am guessing it would be a small fraction of the current price.

My personal opinion is that Obamacare took a huge step in the wrong direction. We should be outlawing all health insurance instead of mandating it.

-- Edited by TomF on Friday 8th of August 2014 09:28:43 PM

longld · Senior Member

if you wonder about gov't controlled health care - read who is complaining the most about the cost of specialty drugs like Sovaldi; gov't controlled plans like Medicare and the UK system are a few of the latest. They have both admitted to restricting access due to finances - is this what was in the plan? and I still remember a lot of people laughing about the 'death panels' but we just didn't understand.......

Brian1412 · Guru

In Florida, it is already a disaster.. you cannot get to a DR ( they are using Walgreens, NP's), but to see a Dr is a long ordeal if you can get in at all. Add the Medicare people and we have a massive shortage of Drs.

Cant see how this "law" helps those who need help. Quite the opposite is happening . It is only going to get worse ... People won't wait 40 seconds for a Hamburger at McDonalds, how do we think they will react when they cant get treatment for cancer, or Hep C ?

quite frankly, all the ACA did was give the insurance industry financial incentive and protection to insurance companies... while allowing them to keep increasing the Premiums

Huey · Guru

Your Welcome.

We are all in this together Keep your stick on the Ice. 'Red Green Show"

hippiechick · Member

Tig56 wrote:
I learned a long time ago, if there isn't something nice to say, don't say it. With that in mind, all I can say about this is phooey (tough language I know). This legislation ruined my once excellent healthcare policy and has left me unable to find a doctor or practice to handle a long term pre-existing condition. Just because they can't deny coverage of a pre-existing condition, they can however refuse to accept new patients. I saw my family premiums more than double and our copays and deductible skyrocket! It's a cheap and adequate plan for some and an expensive and inadequate plan for others. Far from the answer to everything some are claiming it is...
Tig

Your experience with the Unaffordable Care Act is the same as mine. I am self employed and saw my premiums go from $250 per month to almost $800. This is for myself and my husband. Our policy was cancelled and I lost my doctor. When the country figures out that INSURANCE only benefits insurance companies and spends all these gazillions of dollars on health CARE then we will be taking care of business. No insurance company has ever healed a sick person.

The only people who like Obamacare are the ones who aren't paying for it but make no mistake, it ain't "free".

hepcinbama · Member

wow lots of hurt there an lots of pain as well tig im very sorry I certainly was not using this wonderful site for a political agenda my only reason for posting was so that others could get healed or cured .I hope that me posting it could help someone !

Marypetrecz · Senior Member

Agreed isiscat....healthcare is a touchie subject....this forem is not a political site...but all that said....my belief is care for everyone, everywhere.....no exceptions....after being sick as long as I have been....not only hep c but cancer also....not to mention the broken bones, lol...it's just the right thing,....it shouldn't be political....it's being human.

Isiscat2011 · Guru

Marypetrecz wrote:
I think as long as we can heal...it should be done...

Well said. That should be the bottom line, period.

Isiscat2011 · Guru

The primary beneficiaries of the Affordable Care Act have been people with low incomes. While providing health care to this segment of the population is absolutely a positive the ACA doesn't adequately address the needs of a large segment of the remainder of the population.

The fact is only the very wealthy can afford to pay out-of-pocket for the out of control health care costs of chronic or catastrophic illnesses. People who are in between the very wealthy and the low income are often getting the worst of things.

I don't blame Obama for this state of affairs, however. Quality health care for everyone has never been viewed as a priority in this country; health care has historically been treated similar to every other for-profit business endeavor in the free market economy in the US.

Marypetrecz · Senior Member

I think there good and bad in the policy. Kids are covered until 25, but normal costs have sky rocketed....they can't get rid of me because I'm sick....but they won't take certain insurances,,,,or are not accepting new clients,,,

I am a north east liberal....I don't like any of it....I think as long as we can heal...it should be done...and I'm a fan of single payer.....no one should have to jump through hoops...and yes, it'll show up with higher taxes,...but it's the only way to cover everyone....no one should ever be denied the healthcare they need,,,,JMHO

Tig · Admin

I learned a long time ago, if there isn't something nice to say, don't say it. With that in mind, all I can say about this is phooey (tough language I know). This legislation ruined my once excellent healthcare policy and has left me unable to find a doctor or practice to handle a long term pre-existing condition. Just because they can't deny coverage of a pre-existing condition, they can however refuse to accept new patients. I saw my family premiums more than double and our copays and deductible skyrocket! It's a cheap and adequate plan for some and an expensive and inadequate plan for others. Far from the answer to everything some are claiming it is...

Tig

Matt Chris · Guru

Hey Bama

Thanks for sharing the letter, I 'm not politically minded but I certainly can appreciate the thoughts contained in this paragraph

This law has always been about freeing Americans from the fear that one illness or injury could cost you everything it took a lifetime to build. We have more to do to get there, and I am going to keep fighting every day to make sure this law works for everyone

matt

hepcinbama · Member

hey huey thank you for voting for him I just wrote a email to him at the white house thanking him an two days later I received a letter back from him it was very cool. here it is .

Thank you for writing, and for your service and sacrifice. I am encouraged when I hear about people who have benefitted from the Affordable Care Act, and your message reminds me why I fought so hard for it in the first place.

This law has always been about freeing Americans from the fear that one illness or injury could cost you everything it took a lifetime to build. We have more to do to get there, and I am going to keep fighting every day to make sure this law works for everyone.

Again, thank you for your thoughtful emailyour story pushes me to ensure every American knows the peace of mind that comes with quality, affordable health care.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama how cool is that? I am feeling a little better made it thru Friday night darts club with not a lot of pain from the shot just two days of sleep I get out of breath very easy .gave blood yesterday an they gave me a thing for my stool to check it for blood ,talked to nurse an they have this very cool thing were you keep up with your records I sent her a email request an she is going to send me back all my records but she just got back from vacation an was overloaded yesterday so im not going to pressure her I should get it any day soon as soon as I do I will post it all an I know everyone here will help me make heads or tails of it !huey you have been a bright light for me in a dark place an I thank you!

Huey · Guru

Isiscat2011 wrote:
Hi Bama:
I voted for him and was hoping against hope he could straighten out some of this country's health care industry problems. Wish he could have done more with the Affordable Care Act but he was blocked at every turn.
I am truly glad for what he was able to accomplish. Many people will be helped. That is a wonderful thing.
How are you feeling? Is your low iron/anemia issue all sorted out?

I didn't vote for a mam... I voted for a party,,, I think if more did that, did not split the vote between congress and senate things would not be so dysfunctional.

Big Pharma know that most of the people that might need this cure were poor, Obama care may have had a role in Gliead going forward with Sovaldi and may be partially responsible for the timing of it's release. furious

Isiscat2011 · Guru

Hi Bama:

I voted for him and was hoping against hope he could straighten out some of this country's health care industry problems. Wish he could have done more with the Affordable Care Act but he was blocked at every turn.

I am truly glad for what he was able to accomplish. Many people will be helped. That is a wonderful thing.

How are you feeling? Is your low iron/anemia issue all sorted out?

Matt Chris · Guru

Hey Myke

Congrats on you progress with the Meds. and BCBS.

Its a great sign that your insurance was supporting you and speedy in its coverage.

Hope all goes well

matt

hepcinbama · Member

thank you I hope many others take advantage of this opportunity !

Dee Dee · Senior Member

That is absolutely fantastic news ! Congrats !

hepcinbama · Member

ok lets get things straight I did not vote for the man but I am defiantly reeping the rewards of the Obama care ! I signed up the first go round an immediately went to the doctor an got diagnosed with hep c my doc put in for solvaldi ribavirin an peg pen the blue cross blue shield went ahead an paid for it the first time an I had a 5 dollar copay the next month blu cross told me I had to use their pharm I got same drugs this time no co pay ! sooooo I urge you get Obama care an get cured I could have never afforded it on my min wage good luck an I hope this helps many !

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