Cruising and the Affordable Care Act.

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by letsgetsailing3

If you want to actually help people's health care, encourage them to eat right and exercise. I propose that this would save more lives, and make their health care less expensive.

Agreed! Our regular dr, who we've had for over 20 years, monitors weight and diet and gives us sh*t when we stray or the blood pressure spikes. It's the difference between HEALTHcare and just running to emerg when you're sick.

If it wasn't for Canada's single-payer system, many people couldn't go regularly, and alot of disease wouldn't get caught early. It's far cheaper to treat disease early than to hold off til there's a crisis.

Anyway, we're going off topic.

[letsgetsailing3]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

What's your problem with insurance? You pay in when you're able but not usually needing, you will be drawing later when your health needs will be high but you 're no longer working.

I see a big difference between catastrophic insurance, health maintenance, and paying a fixed fee for all health care needs. It's the latter that I take issue with, because in my opinion, it's that bit that makes health care really, really expensive in terms of resources.

The idea that institutionalized health care is an unlimited supply isn't a correct one.

[SV THIRD DAY]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

For a businessman, you don't seem to know how insurance works.

nope....don't understand it all all...and someone like yourself not even under the boot of the ACA does and can lecture me about it, whch I have been affected by it first hand? Thanks...I better go tell my insurance plane that a smart Canadian told me they didn't cancel me, they can't raise my cost more than 3X and that they MUST see my wife for a OBGYN appt in town and not 2/5hrs away...ha ha ha. Isn't it great to see how some folks describe reality vs what it really is?

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

Hey Rich - I get it, there are gaps and price-jumps for some such as yourself, which doesn't seem fair. .

So suck it up...pay over 3x for worse coverage, hey some eggs have to be broken to make a omlet right? Here's the dirty little secrete Amigo. MOST Americans will now pay MORE for their Health Insurance not because they needed to, but because politicians wanted POWER over our llives. The ACA is already dead...but when the employer mandate goes into affect and the rest get a taste of what I and millions of other's have tasted my friend...there will be a shortage of pitchforks.

[Lake-Effect]

Whew. touchy.

Originally Posted by SV THIRD DAY

MOST Americans will now pay MORE for their Health Insurance not because they needed to, but because politicians wanted POWER over our lives. The ACA is already dead...but when the employer mandate goes into affect and the rest get a taste of what I and millions of other's have tasted my friend...there will be a shortage of pitchforks.

Your health insurance costs so much because the US system of healthcare insurance is BROKEN (ACA or not). Fix it, regulate it, or bypass the insurers with single-payer, and costs will drop.

Canada Day is coming up. In a recent poll of things Canadians are proud of, our universal, single-payer healthcare topped the list. What does that tell you about single-payer universal healthcare? (or are we just 35 million idiots?)

Americans should wake up to the practicality and efficiency of universal health coverage (even if you don't buy the morality of universal coverage), as practiced in just about every other advanced nation. But you haven't, so you have the ACA. Which, I agree, sucks in comparison. What is the Rich Boren plan for improving healthcare in the US, in place of the ACA?

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by letsgetsailing3

I see a big difference between catastrophic insurance, health maintenance, and paying a fixed fee for all health care needs. It's the latter that I take issue with, because in my opinion, it's that bit that makes health care really, really expensive in terms of resources.

If you look at most countries who have some form of universal health coverage, either public or through regulation of private suppliers, the per-capita cost is almost always lower than that in the US, for the same or better outcome.

Like with an engine, your health is better (and per-capita health expenditures are less) when you get regular inspections and maintenance, than when you do nothing til something malfunctions.

(I'm annoying Rich. I should stop. )

[sailorboy1]

What is the point of talking about Canada on a thread about the ACA? Why would a Canadian even have started reading it other that to derail the topic?

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

What is the point of talking about Canada on a thread about the ACA? Why would a Canadian even have started reading it other that to derail the topic?

It had apparently already derailed onto a general rant on ACA, and by implication, universal healthcare, so it seemed fair game.

Server's down, I'm bored at work, that's the problem, actually. Tomorrow I'm racing, you won't hear a peep from me, honest.

[SV THIRD DAY]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

Whew. touchy.

Oh not at all...I just have this kneejerk need to call BS when I see it...call it a personality trait flaw if you will. It's also irritating to hear someone with no first hand real life knowladge of what they are talking about lecture me about why I should do this, support that, pay for this, be happy to pay 3X more.

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

Your health insurance costs so much because the US system of healthcare insurance is BROKEN (ACA or not). Fix it, regulate it, or bypass the insurers with single-payer, and costs will drop. ?

More political talk and talking point Lake...I'm working with facts on the ground. My health insurance "costs so much" now NOT because the system is broke but because the ACA is broken. My fabulous plan for a family of 4 was ruled Illegal by the ACA and the result was my cost went from $395/mo up to $1300. That's not a talking point or political point, it is the cold hard truth that you can't spin.

It's also political hacks that always suck health care disscussion down a rat hole that eventually get the valuable thread shut down. We are NOT talking about general population health care Lake...we are talking about what works for CRUISERS. We don't give a Rats Ass how Canadians love their system, why, because it is Irrelevent for Cruisers! What we care about on a Cruisers Forum is how CRUISERS like their system and what works for them. If you want to have a political heath care ACA debate do it somewhere else please, this simply isnt the place and it's always the same folks that can't resist to scew up a valuable thread about health care for crusiers to get on their soap box..Canada this...EU that...bla bla bla. 80% of Americans were happy with their health care before the ACA, you can't get 80% to agree that the Moon Landing was real but we can't go a few pages in a thread without the Political BS starting. We would like to talk about health care for Cruisers and not the general population which is totally different. Political talking points are about as worthless as a screen door on a submarine while out cruising and trying to figure out the important issue of Health Care.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

It had apparently already derailed onto a general rant on ACA, and by implication, universal healthcare, so it seemed fair game.

Server's down, I'm bored at work, that's the problem, actually. Tomorrow I'm racing, you won't hear a peep from me, honest.

Well lets more on then please as the topic is very important to some of us.

So for the US boaters; who has an ACA policy?
Is it of use?
What state/where did you get it?
What's is costing with/without the subsidy?
Does it provide any coverage out of the state you got it?
Does it provide any coverage out of the country (because I don't think it does but don't know)?

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by SV THIRD DAY

Oh not at all...I just have this kneejerk need to call BS when I see it...call it a personality trait flaw if you will. It's also irritating to hear someone with no first hand real life knowladge of what they are talking about lecture me about why I should do this, support that, pay for this, be happy to pay 3X more.



More political talk and talking point Lake...I'm working with facts on the ground. My health insurance "costs so much" now NOT because the system is broke but because the ACA is broken. My fabulous plan for a family of 4 was ruled Illegal by the ACA and the result was my cost went from $395/mo up to $1300. That's not a talking point or political point, it is the cold hard truth that you can't spin.

It's also political hacks that always suck health care disscussion down a rat hole that eventually get the valuable thread shut down. We are NOT talking about general population health care Lake...we are talking about what works for CRUISERS. We don't give a Rats Ass how Canadians love their system, why, because it is Irrelevent for Cruisers! What we care about on a Cruisers Forum is how CRUISERS like their system and what works for them. If you want to have a political heath care ACA debate do it somewhere else please, this simply isnt the place and it's always the same folks that can't resist to scew up a valuable thread about health care for crusiers to get on their soap box..Canada this...EU that...bla bla bla. 80% of Americans were happy with their health care before the ACA, you can't get 80% to agree that the Moon Landing was real but we can't go a few pages in a thread without the Political BS starting. We would like to talk about health care for Cruisers and not the general population which is totally different. Political talking points are about as worthless as a screen door on a submarine while out cruising and trying to figure out the important issue of Health Care.

Man Rich, you might want to look in the mirror on this. You have called for pitch forks and called anyone who got a deal out of ACA a wealth fare sucking wealth distribution evil consumer on this thread. (OK, I made up some of the adjectives). Earlier you were going to list the company that offers low-cost, out of country insurance. I'd like to see which one and see their rates and exclusions. You ended up on the short end of insurance costs and you are obviously mad. Thousands of others ended on the better end. As far as wealth redistribution -- that's just rhetoric . Insurance is transfer from those that don't need to those that do. In health insurance the healthy pay for the sick. In boat insurance the accidentless pay for the those with accidents. If you don't like that and think you should stand on your own -- fine, don't have insurance and pay out of pocket.

Prior to the ACA some had a good deal based on the government enforced rules (who could provide health care, who could dispense medicine, when a hospital could be built, who could provide health insurance and what minimums they had to supply, who got a tax deduction for offering employee health insurance). All government regulated, just as they are now -- just a few more rules that don't necessarily favor white rich guys in Washington.

[SV THIRD DAY]

Originally Posted by Paul L

just a few more rules that don't necessarily favor white rich guys in Washington.

So now it's ok to make Racists Comments in a Cruiser Health Care discussion??
Whew...I guess that Racism is alive and well even in 2014...disapointing to find it in the Cruising Community, however.

[sailorboy1]

sad that an important topic like health care always turns into a political rant

[SV THIRD DAY]

To get this Health Insurance for Cruisers topic back on track, I just spoke to my wife (a PA-C praticing Pediactrics) to ask her what plan we had while cruising. Being in the Medical field, she handled all of that and she gave me these names. She also sensed why I was asking and forcefully told me to get off the internet chat rooms and get back to work on the Teak varnish...****...she knows me TOO well!

We had several different plans during the 4 yrs based on price/benefits that we wanted. They all cost about the same for us $1200-$1800/Yr for our family of 4 with a $10K deductable.

1st was IMG
Travel Insurance, Travel Health Insurance, International Travel Insurance – IMG Insurance

2nd was Assurance
Overview

I mentioned it earlier, but you have to change your thinking about health CARE and health INSHRANCE. Once you get out of the USA, Health Care is CHEAP and Good Quality, so you don't need the typical Dr office visits covered...not at $60 for a Specialist and Skin carner burn off. Get out of the thinking that you want no out of pocket costs because those are cheap and easy. You want Catastropic Care and then just pay for the Dr visits out of pocket. Once you get out of the $10 co-pay thinking you can see how affordable health insurance is when out side the USA.

Story time:
I go in to the Dermotologist with my wife because she is sure she needs a little skin cancer burned off her arm. He does it for $60US and on the way out his door asks if there is anything else we needed. I told him that I needed to make an appointment to come back and look at something on my leg. He says, shoot, let me look at it now. He agrees that it needs to come off and boom...freezes it with liquid nitrogen. I had alteady payed him the $600 Pesos for Lori's visit so as I reach for my wallet he says no, no need. The $600 Pesos for your Wife's visit took care or that, it was just a little more liquid nitrogen. Have a good day. Cost in the USA would have been Thousands and countless paperwork forms. How many forms did we fill out? ZERO.

[letsgetsailing3]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

If you look at most countries who have some form of universal health coverage, either public or through regulation of private suppliers, the per-capita cost is almost always lower than that in the US, for the same or better outcome.

Yes, but part of the "cost" of that is generally limited service (or long wait times for some services), which we are unaccustomed to in the U.S.

[Captain Bill]

Originally Posted by letsgetsailing3

Yes, but part of the "cost" of that is generally limited service (or long wait times for some services), which we are unaccustomed to in the U.S.

I just tried to get an appointment with a dermatologist. They can give me an appointment in October. It's good I don't have to wait here in the US.