Early retirement and health care for boaters

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Inti93

Do you mind sharing who is your provider?

AmBetter, we have a silver plan as it is lot less risk for hardly any extra cost to us

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

For many years I paid far more than the average. For the past few I’ve been less. That tends to be the pattern for people moving from full time work to retirement. Sorry if this offends anyone.

My payments to Medicare increased several times more ($400 plus per month based on total income) than when I was working ($150 per month stopping 16 years ago when I retired and no longer had earned income) upon reaching 65 years of age.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by markpierce

My payments to Medicare increased several times more ($400 plus per month based on total income) than when I was working ($150 per month stopping 16 years ago when I retired and no longer had earned income) upon reaching 65 years of age.

That sucks.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by markpierce

My payments to Medicare increased several times more ($400 plus per month based on total income) than when I was working ($150 per month stopping 16 years ago when I retired and no longer had earned income) upon reaching 65 years of age.

Not sure I understand this, as Medicare insurance costs are not based on income.

[Ex-Calif]

Sailorboy - Yes I have read the whole thread, and yes I have seen your posts.

Not sure why you keep poking me? Have I missed some point you are trying to make?

I am definitely not trying to pick a fight or anything. I did respond to your $22 a month insurance - while I find that amazing, you haven't chosen to tell anyone who is providing this or how anyone else can get it. That certainly would be helpful...

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

So you haven't read the thread or even my responses to you.

I'm retired, 58 and wife is 57, not on Medicare, in the USA, and paying $22/mo. I have "normal" medical coverage, no co-pay at my primary, $5 copay at specialist, prescription coverage, $500/yr deductible for "stufff".

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

you haven't chosen to tell anyone who is providing this or how anyone else can get it. That certainly would be helpful...

I most certainly have, numerous times. So many times that I'm not going to type it or search here for it to post a link again.

[meridian28]

Looks like Ambetter is an Obama care program and has a lot of negative comments from customers. Sailorboy1 are you being subsidized on your plan?

[atlroofman]

Yes we do have great military. And the proximity of your country (or should I say our country ?) to the US military affords you the luxury of not being serious about protecting yourselves. Thus the extra cash for country wide health care ( that ocassionally takes so long to be delivered that Buffalo NY has become a city full of hospitals and doctors affording timely health care to Canadians
because of its proximity to the largest city in Canada, Toronto. ) This is no knock on Canada I am a dual citizen Canada - USA . I just like to consider all points in a conversation. I think catastrophic health insurance is the way to go. Dedictables on the current policys are way to high for any thing else

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by atlroofman

Yes we do have great military. And the proximity of your country (or should I say our country ?) to the US military affords you the luxury of not being serious about protecting yourselves. Thus the extra cash for country wide health care ( that ocassionally takes so long to be delivered that Buffalo NY has become a city full of hospitals and doctors affording timely health care to Canadians
because of its proximity to the largest city in Canada, Toronto. ) This is no knock on Canada I am a dual citizen Canada - USA . I just like to consider all points in a conversation. I think catastrophic health insurance is the way to go. Dedictables on the current policys are way to high for any thing else

This would be a nice argument if it was true. Canada spends less per person and a smaller amount of its GDP per person than the US. So it isn't extra cash, it is closer to being a more efficient spending of available cash.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Paul L

This would be a nice argument if it was true. Canada spends less per person and a smaller amount of its GDP per person than the US. So it isn't extra cash, it is closer to being a more efficient spending of available cash.

Thanks for the correction Paul. Well said. It’s not that we’re spending our military dividend on healthcare. We’re just delivering better healthcare at a cheaper price, compared to the American model.

As for the claim that Buffalo NY is " full of hospitals and doctors affording timely health care to Canadians” … show me the data.

I can tell you this claim has been studied a number of times. I cited some recent research on it. It is a myth. There is no flood of Canadians going to the USA for healthcare. It certainly does happen, but not in any large number.

[cyan]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Thanks for the correction Paul. Well said. It’s not that we’re spending our military dividend on healthcare. We’re just delivering better healthcare at a cheaper price, compared to the American model.

As for the claim that Buffalo NY is " full of hospitals and doctors affording timely health care to Canadians” … show me the data.

I can tell you this claim has been studied a number of times. I cited some recent research on it. It is a myth. There is no flood of Canadians going to the USA for healthcare. It certainly does happen, but not in any large number.

Nah, there is a ton data pointing the other way. This should not be embarrassing, as the US hospitals are marketing for these Canadian dollars. I think it provides a good-natured back and forth at anchor, but comes across unnecessarily testy on a message board, IMO.

It seems that Canadians are not even the subject of this thread, as their health care concerns don't appear to be any different for "early" retirement. Thus, this is more of an American problem where non-US folks seem to be happily pointing out why the US system is so bad- it's a never ending debate, but it doesn't address the original point of the thread.(a US concern) In person, we can laugh about this stuff, methinks...

https://globalnews.ca/news/2442850/n...lthcare-waits/
https://www.kaleidahealth.org/canada/

[atlroofman]

I did not think I was testy, was my first post anywhere. Certianly do not want to come of as some of the mean souls I see posting.
Canada delivering better health care at a lower price?
What accounts for the constant flow over the border for care. I see this with my own eyes and have family in the field. It is not a knock just an observation. Its the just the choice that Canada has made. Not good or bad just different.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by cyan

Nah, there is a ton data pointing the other way. This should not be embarrassing, as the US hospitals are marketing for these Canadian dollars. I think it provides a good-natured back and forth at anchor, but comes across unnecessarily testy on a message board, IMO.

It seems that Canadians are not even the subject of this thread, as their health care concerns don't appear to be any different for "early" retirement. Thus, this is more of an American problem where non-US folks seem to be happily pointing out why the US system is so bad- it's a never ending debate, but it doesn't address the original point of the thread.(a US concern) In person, we can laugh about this stuff, methinks...

https://globalnews.ca/news/2442850/n...lthcare-waits/
https://www.kaleidahealth.org/canada/

Well if I take the numbers in your first article about the number of Canadians seeking health care outside the country, it is a tiny percentage. 52,000 out of 36,000,000. ie 0.14%. Or 99.86% getting their service from the Canadian system.

Here's an article stating 1.4 million US go out of the country for medical care. That's 0.5%.
https://www.google.com.au/amp/www.th...ould-You%3famp

[Hoosierdoc]

Originally Posted by Paul L

They must have seen you coming, as I get mine for about a third of that. So far the coverage has been very good. Better and cheaper than my previous private policy.

You’re saying Medicare is cheaper than your prior policy. Are you talking pre-Obamacare or post obamacare? My private policy premium doubled and my deductible doubled overnight with Obamacare in place. And I received nothing for it.

As was posted up thread, now people use tricks to report a low income to receive massive subsidies on their insurance while they choose to live a retired life on a Sailboat or wherever. I have seen dental schools that encourage students to go on welfare during training. I took loans to pay for my food and health care while in school.

Did you old one have a 20% copay and did you pay into it for 40 years before actually using it?

Medicare is prepaid junk and also welfare in a way. The more you made, the more you paid in. Then when you need it, your premium is higher because you made more. And if you died early, your estate receives nothing for your prepayments. And there are no guaranteed benefits and then can be changed at any time. And when you need it they still recommend a backup policy?

Who in their right mind would voluntarily spend 3% of their lifetime earnings on something like that?

Medicare is a bankrupt scam. It’s so sad when people are sick and finally realize it.

[Hoosierdoc]

Your article about medical tourism from the US proves our point that government involvement in healthcare is crippling it with high prices. People are not going to single payer places for procedures, they are going for a cash based procedure often paid for by their insurance company. And often it’s a US company with US physicians, but practicing outside the bounds of absurd regulation and CMS mandates. I don’t think you understand the reason behind US citizens going elsewhere for care. I read an article that showed 42% of medical tourism to costs rica is for dentistry. Hah.

Of course most Canadians don’t go to the US for care. They can’t Afford it. Do you have demographics on those who do however? I bet it’s not the teachers and cab drivers of Canada. They just have to sit and wait their turn in line like good serfs.

Originally Posted by Paul L

Well if I take the numbers in your first article about the number of Canadians seeking health care outside the country, it is a tiny percentage. 52,000 out of 36,000,000. ie 0.14%. Or 99.86% getting their service from the Canadian system.

Here's an article stating 1.4 million US go out of the country for medical care. That's 0.5%.
https://www.google.com.au/amp/www.th...ould-You%3famp