| Author | Message | ||
     Reepicheep |
Agreed. Progressive or conservative, socially or fiscally, I wish we as a country could at least agree that except in a time of declared global war, we will pay as we go. If progressives want national health care and can get the votes to pass it, then so be it, but it has to be funded by current money, not on the backs of future generations. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
From the USC Title Code about the Bail-out. (A) In general The Secretary shall include in the provisions under paragraph (1) the method for determining the amount each health insurance issuer and group health plan described in paragraph (1)(A) contributing to the reinsurance program under this section is required to contribute under such paragraph for each plan year beginning in the 36-month period beginning January 1, 2014. The contribution amount for any plan year may be based on the percentage of revenue of each issuer and the total costs of providing benefits to enrollees in self-insured plans or on a specified amount per enrollee and may be required to be paid in advance or periodically throughout the plan year. (B) Specific requirements The method under this paragraph shall be designed so that— (i) the contribution amount for each issuer proportionally reflects each issuer’s fully insured commercial book of business for all major medical products and the total value of all fees charged by the issuer and the costs of coverage administered by the issuer as a third party administrator; (ii) the contribution amount can include an additional amount to fund the administrative expenses of the applicable reinsurance entity; (iii) the aggregate contribution amounts for all States shall, based on the best estimates of the NAIC and without regard to amounts described in clause (ii), equal $10,000,000,000 for plan years beginning in 2014, $6,000,000,000 for plan years beginning [2] 2015, and $4,000,000,000 for plan years beginning in 2016; and (iv) in addition to the aggregate contribution amounts under clause (iii), each issuer’s contribution amount for any calendar year under clause (iii) reflects its proportionate share of an additional $2,000,000,000 for 2014, an additional $2,000,000,000 for 2015, and an additional $1,000,000,000 for 2016. Nothing in this subparagraph shall be construed to preclude a State from collecting additional amounts from issuers on a voluntary basis. ..... Is it starting to smell like the derivative factorial toxic asset swaps that killed the housing market yet....? F.I.F.T.Y.S. (it was all there 5 years ago - it is no longer credible to cite ignorance - it is now time to admit culpability) | ||
| Reindog |
Here are constructive ways to defang this monstrosity. There is hope if more of the electorate wakes up to the power grab of the State over the individual. Your continued "permission" to ride motorcycles hang in the balance. How the States Can Stop ObamaCare By Ben Lewis · Jan. 2, 2014 excerpt: First, ban state enforcement of and participation in ObamaCare. Without the support of the states, the ACA is a dead letter. Let's face it, the federal government can't even operate a website. How can they, without the states' help, administer a program of this scale in all 50 states? I think we all know the answer to that question: they can't. Second, reject Medicaid expansion within the states. One of the primary ways that the Democrats planned to pay for ObamaCare was to expand Medicaid at the state level. This was supposed to account for $2 trillion in new entitlement spending in the first 10 years. But 25 states have rejected Medicaid expansion, effectively defunding a quarter of the new spending. Furthermore, this action by the states has made the bill less popular among health care providers who will now be denied the subsidies that they were promised in return for their support. Third, states should protect their residents from the ObamaCare insurance mandate tax. The mandate is truly the most monstrous feature of the health care law because it financially penalizes individuals who either don't want insurance or can't afford it. But the states can take steps to protect their citizens from the mandate through several avenues. States can, for example, create a tax rebate for any resident who incurs a penalty (or tax, whatever the feds prefer to call it) under ObamaCare. While this wouldn't stop the penalty from being assessed at the federal level, it would effectively nullify its impact on the individual citizens of a state. The states can also prohibit city and county clerks and state-chartered banks from enforcing any IRS liens resulting from nonpayment of the ObamaCare tax. Furthermore, states that did not set up a state run ObamaCare exchange can actually block the ObamaCare tax by suspending the licenses of insurance companies that accept the subsidies that come with the law. Since no insurer would risk losing their business by accepting the subsidies, not a single employer in the state could be assessed the employer-mandate taxes that those subsidies trigger. The fourth step is to challenge the IRS's illegal ObamaCare taxes. Thirty-four states have banned the creation of state-run exchanges under the ACA. This is problematic for ObamaCare because the act authorizes subsidies only through state-established exchanges, not exchanges created by the federal government. So, by refusing to create state-based exchanges, those 34 states have effectively defunded one-third of the $2 trillion in entitlement spending. read more: http://patriotpost.us/commentary/22490 | ||
| Cityxslicker |
South Carolina has already carved out participation. IF other states ensue - it will be very similar to the original construct that led to the first Civil War.... ie Imposition of Federal Capricious economic taxes, tariffs, levies, fines, and toxic financing from AG states vs Ind/Finance States..... (so what have we learned about history ?.... they will call this war racist too) | ||
| Aesquire |
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2532869/Th ey-no-idea-insurance-active-not-At-Virginia-hospit als-Obamacare-confusion-reigns-frustrated-patients -walk-out.html http://washington.cbslocal.com/2014/01/03/doctors- office-spends-2-hours-on-hold-with-health-insurer- for-patients-surgery-authorization/ I'm wondering when some guy or girl will get turned down for a needed operation, and decide to take their Senator with them? I imagine a "They killed me, so I'm killing you" kind of insane movie rant. More likely is some nut killing Obamacare or insurance company workers. Which is wrong, stupid, and immoral. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Even without federal stupidity and interference - the first 3 weeks of new coverage are always chaotic. I have yet to see an exception - across 9 different carriers, across 9 different legacy system 'upgrades' I do not expect it to abate with any fervor until after February. and yes - people still do not understand how a policy works - out of pocket deductible, means you pay that - whether you have coverage or not.... | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Right on Time : Gogol would be proud... or horrified The dead will now be able to vote and enroll in benefits without oversight from independent inspection. http://tinyurl.com/ka3jz86 Watch and Learn Wait and see (notice the caveat that the info will be exempt from FOIA requests.... ie how do you know your dead cousin didn't vote democratic ...... Ah Komrade - trust us!) | ||
| Oldog |
well todate lost free to me health insurance lost state I pay for pool health insurance paid and signed up for commie care at a local trust worthy agency, got a love letter sat saying that they needed more of my money ????????????????????? NC says ONLY BCBS of NC in the market place (presumabley because they are better), no card no payment info and an hour to wait in queue wow anit this just @#$%$ great!  | ||
| Cityxslicker |
There are still independent policies and 'exchanges' that are NOT part of the ObamaCare mess - it is just that you will not get subsidies for these plans... and they are still required to have the same 10 essential benefits that the OCare plans do. Your company could go self funded through a TPA arrangement, and opt out of the exchanges all together - but unless you are an exempted entity *cough campaign contributor *cough to the O administration - you will still have to have the 10 'essentials' for every plan built. .... Remember to vote an idiot out when the time comes (and yes, with the NDAA - I am going to lump a fair share of Repubs into that group too) | ||
| Cityxslicker |
The little lie that they are all avoiding talking about is how much your Medicaid and Medicare deductions are going to go UP because of the increased enrollment in both of those entitlements because 1) the baby boomers are retiring at 1000's per day 2) there is a 4-1 ratio of Medicaid enrollment vs actual 'paying' customer of the exchange architecture. 3) the stagnated number of unemployed / underemployed actually contributing to wage deductions to fund this mess. The anchor now weighs more than the boat;.... let's see how long before it sinks. (I am betting under 5 years) | ||
| Reindog |
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| Cityxslicker |
Good spin and comedy. do not be drinking anything when you read it - it will shoot out your nose at the pure leftsided slant and lies of the thing. SPAM - it's what is for breakfast http://www.healthinsurance.org/blog/2013/12/31/201 4-a-very-good-year-for-health-coverage/#! | ||
| Cityxslicker |
awwww - the joys of ObamaCare 'Access' ! Just had a coworker that is Medicaid pt; that had a scheduled visit with his specialist this morning at 7 - waited until 11 to be told that he couldn't be seen because of clinic volume ..... Affordable - Lie Improved Access - Lie Better Quality - Lie expanded Rx benefits ?.... Nope - Lie again Enjoy the show - it is just getting warmed up. | ||
| Garryb |
Cityxslicker, What country has the best healthcare system? How does it work? How should we get there? | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Of the ones that I studied - Singapore. You have a required personal responsibility for coverage - but it is self funded ie not the governments responsibility. Because of the commercial availability and contracts it is affordable and even transferable investment. Built upon a life insurance/annuity as the gateway into insurance - the life policy functions as the rater for 'universal catastrophic coverage' all cat plans are the same, - there are riders and additional costs for maternity and prescription. IF you use a variable, whole, universal, or indexed policy for the entry policy, then the cash value that policy accumulates is transferable, available for self loans, available for copays and deductibles, and is YOURS, all moneys roll over from year to year based on personal consumption, and the money is not taxed as it was purchased with after tax dollars. In some cases employers have match money in what we would call an HSA savings fund. For routine care - you pay your own way. Most primary care is billed on cash value basis - meaning it is never submitted for reimbursement; and as such the overhead for the clinics is lower America is starting to see this happen with concierge services - that are going cash direct. The IRS / Government - does not belong in health care. Period. I certainly don't want this administration to further meddle in my life. | ||
| Sifo |
Cityxslicker, What country has the best healthcare system? How does it work? How should we get there? Best? How do you define best? It's a very complicated question. It's complicated further by the fact that ALL countries systems benefit from advances in medicine, regardless of where those advances are developed. Right now, most of the advancements are coming from the US. That drives our cost higher in ways that many countries just don't participate in. Many other things drive our costs higher in ways that other countries don't deal with to, such as litigation. It's even more complicated by disparate outcomes that may be based on the population of people and not quality of care. I do have to wonder, when the US stops innovation, will there be anyone to pick up the torch? That fact that Canada, just as an example demands to get medication from US suppliers below the actual cost is simply insane. Things like that just further put a thumb on the scale in unfair ways. The simple reality is that the US has excellent care with excellent access to that care. There are some holes in the system, but ObamaDontCare has actually made those holes bigger, even if it has slightly shifted who falls into the holes. It's also done NOTHING that controls cost, but has MANY things that will keep increasing cost for years to come. It's obvious to any objective observer that ObamaDontCare is NOT the way to get there. I would be interested in what country you think has the best system though. How did they get there? Probably on the backs of other innovators. | ||
| Hootowl |
And here it comes, the thing that the utter failure of Obamacare was designed to clear the way for, the single payer system. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/01/07/vermont -backs-controversial-single-payer-system-for-healt h-care-overhaul-but/ | ||
| Aesquire |
Full implementation of Vermont’s single-payer plan could be held up for another three years, at least. In order for Green Mountain Care to fully launch in 2017, the health care exchange would have to get approval from the federal government to use federal money to fund the state program. I don't think that's true at all. The Emperor could simply decree it so. Just as he has delayed the painful parts of Obamacare until after the next election. Repeatedly. After all, the plan was to get this. "Single Payer" aka Taxpaid medicine, aka Socialized medicine, aka those who bribe Barry get rich. According to this Administration's memos, they plan for about 200 million more folk to lose their insurance right after the next election. ( 193 million ) then they will be forced to buy a new policy for 200-500% more. How much did the Insurance industry bribe Barry? | ||
| Garryb |
I did read this, but in general jibes with City's analysis. Thanks City http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/29/most-effi cient-healthcare_n_3825477.html | ||
| Sifo |
Garryb, From your link...
Kind of ties in with my comments about "best", which is what you asked. The huffpost article you linked discusses "efficiency". As I pointed out, efficiency is easily gained by not being a leader in healthcare. It's a very important distinction. | ||
| Court |
There are between 5 and 10 million folks who now, as a direct result of this social experiment driven into the ditch, have NO health care insurance. I suspect they are far less concerned with "best or worst" than they are simply getting insurance. Unbelievable how the the American populace have allowed a gang of neighooodies from Chicago to screw this thing up. | ||
| Blake |
Cancer and heart disease are the two leading diseases killing people in the West. Compare their treatment 5-year failure rates (% of patients who die within 5 years) among western nations. Based on that pragmatic real-world metric, America's quality of health care ranks right at the top. For instance, within the first five years of diagnosis, the death rates of patients with cancer or heart disease in Britain is about double that of America. Which medical system would you prefer? This means of comparing quality of health care is unique in that it eliminates the effects of varying demographics and the varying general physical fitness and nutritional health of populations. America has one of the least physically fit populations, so is one of the least healthy populations. That however says NOTHING about the quality of our medical system; it just shows the dim state of our nutrition and physical fitness. That's another issue. | ||
| Garryb |
I think we have some excellent doctors and facilities here. I was just curious what kind of healthcare system Cityx thought would work best for us. He does seem well read on healthcare systems. I agree with court in that I think there are definitely people interested in getting insurance for themselves and their families as any major accident or illness will take you out financially without it. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Health care is a service/product/consumer item - that given proper information, and a discerning customer - they will, can, and have shown to shop for the deal that works best for them. There is NO National solution to this mess - NOR should there be. What works for me - may not, and probably will not work for someone else. (I don't have kids, I don't have chronic health issues -and I HATE doctors almost as much as I loathe politicians) However the basic concepts of accepting risk for premium payment (the core element of INSURANCE) will provide the best service for the dollar spent. The politicians LOVE to point out how 'efficient' Medicare is - and that it has an operating overhead of just 3%... what they FAIL to tell you is that Medicare BLEEDS red with fraud to the tune of BILLIONS because of the way that they rubberstamp claims - and their 'pay and chase' idiocy. I got my ride - out, doing the clearance paperwork now - spring I am done. And I will blow this thing up from over the horizon (who says the training in ordinance from military isn't a transferable skill) | ||
| Aesquire |
Most of the problems with America's Health systems are because of the socialized parts. A big chunk comes from the lawyers, and the idea that you can sue for a jillion dollars for petty stuff. ( and the reverse, you can get butchers who seemingly can't get fired..... ) Malpractice insurance is a big chunk of any medical bill. We have excellent doctors, create & define state of the art in medicine, and the outcomes for serious illness are outstanding. Walk into a Dr's office with chest pains in America, and you may have a stent installed and be home in time for the game. ( unlike some countries held up as shining examples of socialized medicine where you go on a waiting list, and die ) That too has a downside. New stuff is expensive. The pocket CT scanner your doc uses to make sure your knee doesn't need surgery costs more than a Lexus. Drugs take a Billion Dollars ( no kidding ) to pass the FDA. PETA protesters free your mutant ebola infected lab rats. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-253 5740/Its-medicine-Jim-not-know-Scientists-build-St ar-Trek-style-tricorder-scans-signs-disease.html Mostly it's a massive, complex, system for govt. reimbursement to get paid that makes medicine expensive. There's an army of folk who come up with codes that you have to use to fill out the incredible paperwork. You pay for that army. You pay for the folk who have to enter the codes, and the folk who read the codes and put them in another computer, and you pay for the entire industry that is devoted to making booklets and guides, give seminars and training...... for the codes. Because the army of guys who write them don't write decent manuals on how to use them. I'm all for some type of aid for the less fortunate. If that was the goal of Obamacare, the money spent on ads for Obamacare would have paid for every one of the "19 million" or so that "don't have health insurance" to be on Medicaid, free to them. ( you'd pay for it, but you are paying for the ads anyway. Wouldn't it be nicer to have your tax dollars help actual people, instead of going to companies that bribed this administration? ) Of course, the above is an oversimplification. We also have high health costs because we eat bacon bowls & fritos and play Gears of War instead of frisbee. | ||
| Aesquire |
http://pjmedia.com/blog/single-payer-chaos/ | ||
| Swampy |
I'm not saying but I heard the Mexico has very affordable health care, Like I said, I don't know I will never go there to find out but I had a friend (now deceased) who was diagnosed with cancer after moving to Mexico to avoid a sueR (a jackass who sues you because he can) When he snuck back he was telling me about how affordable his health care, perscriptions and cancer treatments were. He told me all of the stories were not true about crappy doctors and treatments, so I don't know I am just offering it up, hopefully someone will chime in on this? | ||
| Court |
The shame is that we have so much talent . . the ability to do so much and to provide amazing health care and our ability is impeded by, as noted above, legal, lawyers, red tape and the government "trying to help". I've recently been working with some folks at The Rockefeller University (their lab won a Noble Prize for the work in 2011) and have been treated to a taste of how much intellectual firepower there is in the United States. I feel very sorry for the millions of folks who had health insurance a month ago and . . . directly as the result of Obamacare . . are now left uninsured. Standby for the largest class action suit in history . . . yep, lawyers again. | ||
| Oldog |
Standby for the largest class action suit in history . . . yep, lawyers again. That could be a blessing if the courts decide that all of the feds machinations don't pass their sniff test I am sad to hear the bad mouthing of the legal profession. from My own experience there is no substitute for a good lawyer, granted my divorce is a prime example of the systems abuse by unscrupulous persons..... funny thing is the professional associations will in time weed out the hacks in both cases. } | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Mexico is about to become THE spot for US health care. John Hopkins has spent 5 years building and integrating a class care facility in Merida And with the number of American Doctors leaving the industry - I have no doubt that they will have no problem attracting US Physicians to the life of sun, surf, and direct cash reimbursements. |
