Obamacare = early retirement anyone?

[propellanttech]

Originally Posted by minaret

This is one of the most classic examples of right wing corporate propaganda out there. Whenever I see someone mention it I know they are a victim of corporate media spin. The original case, the most propagandized example of a "frivolous lawsuit", has been repeated many times. The woman in the first case suffered third degree burns to a substantial (and important) portion of her body. Many others have as well. And then they were attacked in the media for "frivolous" lawsuits. Tell me, would you sue if this was your elderly mother? Tell the truth now...


AN OLD POSTING I ALWAYS WANTED TO HAVE REFERENCED « Newnan Pratlaw's Posts On Hot Legal Topics

Just answer me these questions.

Were the occupants in a car?

Did the occupants order coffee?

This is simple. You can claim what you want, but pointing the finger at someone else because of self stupidity........

This is not media spin. Americans are great at pointing fingers at someone else, but not so good at accepting responsibility for their own stupid actions.

James L

[Boatguy30]

If you live in a large military area I think the VA is good. In Jacksoville everyone seems happy with the VA, of course most people in the same income bracket nearby have no or poor quality insurance. In maybe the NE where a lot of people have good private insurance, the VA doesn't seem so good.

[osirissail]

Another development under PPACA - this NY Times news story: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/he...nutrition&_r=0

Seems that the mandated "exchanges" will make available to the general public a version of the medical coverage available previously only to "government employees." From the article:
"Under the Affordable Care Act, at least one of the nationwide plans must be offered by a nonprofit entity. Insurance experts see an obvious candidate for that role: the Government Employees Health Association, a nonprofit group that covers more than 900,000 federal employees, retirees and dependents, making it the second-largest plan for federal workers, after the Blue Cross and Blue Shield program."

[Boatguy30]

One other thought as Florida is still refusing to participate.

IF somehow the govenor continues to refuse and manages to get re elected in 2014; anyone "living" in Florida while cruising will have to buy insurance sans subsidy. that is because you can only get the subsidy if your state voluntarily sets up exchanges.

I personally assume it will be sorted out as Gov Scott is representative of private insurance and the big hospitals all want the expansion to go forward. with all the retired folks the private insurance interests will lose in FL and the hospitals will get there money. which I believe is in the best interest of cruisers.

I'm also willing to relocate somewhere else in the SE should the need arise.

[Ziggy]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

In maybe the NE where a lot of people have good private insurance, the VA doesn't seem so good.

I believe people are mostly satisfied with VA health services in New England.

[tookish1]

The NY Times article is very interesting. If the non profit government health insurance plan becomes available to everyone it could (ironically) provide real pricing competition. More research will be needed - for instance does the government paid portion of the premium also apply for non-government employees that join?
I had not heard about the plan at all, so thanks for keeping the information flowing!

[eliems]

Health Care premiums combined for my wife and I are $130/month. I have needed serious med attention twice in the last five years and both times I give the system top marks for looking after me!

I can not understand why the debate down south so often points to Canada as a what not to do system, I think our system does very well in providing universal health care at excellent quality and reasonable wait times.

When I broke my ankle it was in a cast within an hour, got the steel plate implanted two days later. Total cost to recover less than $100 for crutches and Air-cast. In researching broken Fibs I came across a young woman in California writing about her predicament ... no coverage and a bad break that requires ortho-surgery. $700 to put it in a cast and $40K for the surgery. She didn't have that kind of money and so the break was setting with splinters and misaligned bones, incredible pain and no one to help! WTF!

That said our demographics are going to stretch budgets in the years to come as the Baby Boomers move through old age.

[Greenhand]

Originally Posted by eliems

Health Care premiums combined for my wife and I are $130/month. I have needed serious med attention twice in the last five years and both times I give the system top marks for looking after me!

I can not understand why the debate down south so often points to Canada as a what not to do system, I think our system does very well in providing universal health care at excellent quality and reasonable wait times.

When I broke my ankle it was in a cast within an hour, got the steel plate implanted two days later. Total cost to recover less than $100 for crutches and Air-cast. In researching broken Fibs I came across a young woman in California writing about her predicament ... no coverage and a bad break that requires ortho-surgery. $700 to put it in a cast and $40K for the surgery. She didn't have that kind of money and so the break was setting with splinters and misaligned bones, incredible pain and no one to help! WTF!

That said our demographics are going to stretch budgets in the years to come as the Baby Boomers move through old age.

Anti national healthcare advocates find a parallel story in Canada/ England/ Sweden and tout that as proof that the system doesn't work. We can't talk about the system through anecdotes, but I haven't seen much international data on these issues.

I have to make an appointment six weeks in advance to get an annual physical, but what are the average times? What are they in other countries? Are they different for urgent cases? Etc.

[osirissail]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

One other thought as Florida is still refusing to participate.

IF somehow the govenor continues to refuse and manages to get re elected in 2014; anyone "living" in Florida while cruising will have to buy insurance sans subsidy. that is because you can only get the subsidy if your state voluntarily sets up exchanges. . . .

There are many States that have not opted to set up "their own" insurance exchanges mostly for political reasons.

But, according to what I have read about PPACA, in circumstances where a State does not want to set up "their own" insurance exchange, the federal government will set up and operate the insurance exchange instead. So anybody, in this case of Florida - will still be able to access the "exchange" to shop for medical coverage. It is only administratively that the Fed's not the State will be doing the paperwork. Unless, someting has changed in the last month or so. . .

[Greenhand]

Originally Posted by osirissail

There are many States that have not opted to set up "their own" insurance exchanges mostly for political reasons.

But, according to what I have read about PPACA, in circumstances where a State does not want to set up "their own" insurance exchange, the federal government will set up and operate the insurance exchange instead. So anybody, in this case of Florida - will still be able to access the "exchange" to shop for medical coverage. It is only administratively that the Fed's not the State will be doing the paperwork. Unless, someting has changed in the last month or so. . .

This is still accurate. I find this ironic - in protest of the federal government, these states are handing exchanges over to the federal government instead of setting them up themselves.

While there are many articles out there bemoaning the prohibitive cost of exchanges, I can't seem to find information about what those costs might be.

[MarkSF]

Originally Posted by tookish1

The NY Times article is very interesting. If the non profit government health insurance plan becomes available to everyone it could (ironically) provide real pricing competition. More research will be needed - for instance does the government paid portion of the premium also apply for non-government employees that join?
I had not heard about the plan at all, so thanks for keeping the information flowing!

I really don't see how that is ironic.

[xymotic]

Originally Posted by MarkSF

I really don't see how that is ironic.

Because Obamacare is the end of the American way of life and a commie plot agains capitalism that will bankrupt our children. It's be ironic if the socialists lowered costs. just guessing.

[DumnMad]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

In New Zealand, they have no civil litigation for damages as another poster implies. This does save cost, but in practice encourages others to act carelessly. Unless you are found to be CRIMINALLY liable, you can harm others to a great extent and simply say "I'm sorry" and that's it.

Not true. ACC, the government agency that handles the scheme focuses heavily on accident prevention and comes down on the careless and reckless especially employers who are repeat offenders. Avoiding the inter-personal legal blame game has the great benefit of allowing everyone to get on with the job of getting harmed person back on their feet. Not saying the scheme is faultless but at least revenge through litigation is not viable under ACC.

[JBWrites]

Oh dear God! Can we please take this political tripe elsewhere? Sailing is my religion, my love and my whole-hearted passion and after, what? 24 pages of replies and two years of political attack ads I HAVE HAD ENOUGH! If you guys don't shut up I'm going to splash all of you and kick you off the dock!

[Christerart]

Originally Posted by JBWrites

Oh dear God! Can we please take this political tripe elsewhere? Sailing is my religion, my love and my whole-hearted passion and after, what? 24 pages of replies and two years of political attack ads I HAVE HAD ENOUGH! If you guys don't shut up I'm going to splash all of you and kick you off the dock!

Wow - the OP said he's grateful for the information he's gotten in this thread - and so has others.

I do not understand why it is so hard to stay *off* a thread you don't like to read.

And why the hostility and anger? So far this thread has been informative, respectful (mostly) and clearly of use to some.

All you have to do is *not* read the thread. As they say over here (coined in a very popular commercial campaign): "Simples!"