I went through what my husband paid for HI with BCBS for the last 12 years

[Arianrhod]

^Thank you for sharing all of that. I've got some horror stories of my own (friends and relatives), but I'm not willing to share them here. IMO, almost everybody does have stories about incompetent medical professionals. Whether they're incompetent because they're lazy or simply uninformed is the question, but both can have a disastrous effect on patient outcomes.

Agree with what you say about the national websites improving and expanding. One of the (probably the) biggest is Medscape, and one of their main goals is to provide continuing education online for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, etc.

(All of these folks are supposed to get continuing education every few years, but many, particularly in rural areas, weren't able to travel to onsite programs. Being able to learn online, and have their learning reinforced, is helping them stay updated.)

I also found some smaller universities have put a lot of biological information online. I think that is great to but other universities may bitch about it.

Maybe it will motivate the others to step up their game.

It reminds me of how a lot of the smaller biotech companies are buying "orphan molecules" from Big Pharma companies too lazy to develop them (more money in Viagra, dontcha know) and turning them into miracles:

Vertex Pharmaceuticals - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There's also (at least where I live) a trend toward integrative medicine - using conventional Western medicine in tandem with Chinese medicine, herbs, alternative treatments such as acupuncture, etc.

I'm not a medical professional, but in my view, if it works, you go with it.

 

[RodISHI]

^Thank you for sharing all of that. I've got some horror stories of my own (friends and relatives), but I'm not willing to share them here. IMO, almost everybody does have stories about incompetent medical professionals. Whether they're incompetent because they're lazy or simply uninformed is the question, but both can have a disastrous effect on patient outcomes.

Agree with what you say about the national websites improving and expanding. One of the (probably the) biggest is Medscape, and one of their main goals is to provide continuing education online for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, etc.

(All of these folks are supposed to get continuing education every few years, but many, particularly in rural areas, weren't able to travel to onsite programs. Being able to learn online, and have their learning reinforced, is helping them stay updated.)

I also found some smaller universities have put a lot of biological information online. I think that is great to but other universities may bitch about it.

Maybe it will motivate the others to step up their game.

It reminds me of how a lot of the smaller biotech companies are buying "orphan molecules" from Big Pharma companies too lazy to develop them (more money in Viagra, dontcha know) and turning them into miracles:

Vertex Pharmaceuticals - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There's also (at least where I live) a trend toward integrative medicine - using conventional Western medicine in tandem with Chinese medicine, herbs, alternative treatments such as acupuncture, etc.

I'm not a medical professional, but in my view, if it works, you go with it.

I found this one last week. Great info in one article on bone mending and some positive results for kidney repair. The more we learn the better we can help others in our own circles. Institute for Traditional Medicine | ITM | Portland, OR

 

[Conservative65]

Yes it was cheaper in 2002, but ever since it has gone up 100 (give or take a few bucks either way) a month, that is 1200 a year.

I would call and they would say he is a year older (it was always a pleasant birthday gift for him, from BCBS)

Nothing has changed, I signed him up on the Health care. gov site in 2015 (just in case he should have a terrible accident or illness and would need a subsidy) and in 2016 his premium is 100 more a month.

Yes he is getting older, but the only medical condition he has had since 2002 is glaucoma, and uses a eye drop once a day, no meds , no medical condition , no reason for increases, except age.

I would cringe if he should get a dx of cancer, not be able to pay premiums (about 1000 a month) and he would not be able to change insurance due to a pre existing condition. (He is self employed)

That is why I think the ACA is good, everyone pays the same for each policy, and gets a break due to income .

Smokers pay more which is discrimination, they do not ask weight or if one smokes pot, or drinks, but only if one smokes.

"That is why I think the ACA is good, everyone pays the same for each policy, and gets a break due to income."

That's why I think it is bad. If one person is going to get the same as someone else, they should pay the same. A poor person's policy shouldn't be cheaper if they're getting the same policy/coverage as someone who happens to make more. Too much fucking socialism.

So a smoker, someone that chooses to do something that has been proven to cause many health problems, shouldn't pay more? Bullshit.

 

[Conservative65]

Yes. Insurance isn't free. BCBS is no exception. To keep from "cringing" should your husband get a dx of cancer and can't pay the premium, you might try what many adults do- put some money into savings for such emergencies.

We have money in savings and he has a disability policy , but that Is no the point. The point is, many people do not, and can't afford a HSA or a savings account for a time like the above. What about them. What about a 40 year old who has say diabetes , through no fault of his own?? Before he could not change jobs or ins carriers for fear of not getting ins he could afford.

Also the point is his ins went up the same with on and not on the ACA.

Yes. I get the point. And I understand that some people don't have savings. I also understand that obamacare hasn't rescued everyone from all hardship.

It has so, if one can't get ins. they need to go to site and get on a silver share plan where they will get a lower deduct and OOP max, or they will get Medicaid. No matter the income or diagnosis they might have, they can get insurance.

Fabulous. Meanwhile, if obamacare is the answer for everybody, why is your husband still paying premiums to BCBS?

The ACA is not in itself an insurance, its a market place for insurance. Actually I found another insurance for him on the marketplace for this year, much better than BCBS , same price but lower OOP and Deduct and not an HMO.
PS: You have to be signed up on Healthcare.gov, if for instance your situation changes in the year, then you can get a subsidy if needed.

It's a way for those who couldn't afford it to get it through a subsidy forced from someone else.

 

[Penelope]

We have money in savings and he has a disability policy , but that Is no the point. The point is, many people do not, and can't afford a HSA or a savings account for a time like the above. What about them. What about a 40 year old who has say diabetes , through no fault of his own?? Before he could not change jobs or ins carriers for fear of not getting ins he could afford.

Also the point is his ins went up the same with on and not on the ACA.

Yes. I get the point. And I understand that some people don't have savings. I also understand that obamacare hasn't rescued everyone from all hardship.

It has so, if one can't get ins. they need to go to site and get on a silver share plan where they will get a lower deduct and OOP max, or they will get Medicaid. No matter the income or diagnosis they might have, they can get insurance.

Fabulous. Meanwhile, if obamacare is the answer for everybody, why is your husband still paying premiums to BCBS?

The ACA is not in itself an insurance, its a market place for insurance. Actually I found another insurance for him on the marketplace for this year, much better than BCBS , same price but lower OOP and Deduct and not an HMO.
PS: You have to be signed up on Healthcare.gov, if for instance your situation changes in the year, then you can get a subsidy if needed.

It's a way for those who couldn't afford it to get it through a subsidy forced from someone else.

As opposed to what "free".

 

[Penelope]

Yes it was cheaper in 2002, but ever since it has gone up 100 (give or take a few bucks either way) a month, that is 1200 a year.

I would call and they would say he is a year older (it was always a pleasant birthday gift for him, from BCBS)

Nothing has changed, I signed him up on the Health care. gov site in 2015 (just in case he should have a terrible accident or illness and would need a subsidy) and in 2016 his premium is 100 more a month.

Yes he is getting older, but the only medical condition he has had since 2002 is glaucoma, and uses a eye drop once a day, no meds , no medical condition , no reason for increases, except age.

I would cringe if he should get a dx of cancer, not be able to pay premiums (about 1000 a month) and he would not be able to change insurance due to a pre existing condition. (He is self employed)

That is why I think the ACA is good, everyone pays the same for each policy, and gets a break due to income .

Smokers pay more which is discrimination, they do not ask weight or if one smokes pot, or drinks, but only if one smokes.

"That is why I think the ACA is good, everyone pays the same for each policy, and gets a break due to income."

That's why I think it is bad. If one person is going to get the same as someone else, they should pay the same. A poor person's policy shouldn't be cheaper if they're getting the same policy/coverage as someone who happens to make more. Too much fucking socialism.

So a smoker, someone that chooses to do something that has been proven to cause many health problems, shouldn't pay more? Bullshit.

So a lazy 400 lb slacker who lays on the couch should pay less than a smoker. How about an alcoholic or a pot smoker. They are also a huge threat to society as most of them operate a deadly weapon while drinking and smoking pot.

 

[Sun Devil 92]

Yes it was cheaper in 2002, but ever since it has gone up 100 (give or take a few bucks either way) a month, that is 1200 a year.

I would call and they would say he is a year older (it was always a pleasant birthday gift for him, from BCBS)

Nothing has changed, I signed him up on the Health care. gov site in 2015 (just in case he should have a terrible accident or illness and would need a subsidy) and in 2016 his premium is 100 more a month.

Yes he is getting older, but the only medical condition he has had since 2002 is glaucoma, and uses a eye drop once a day, no meds , no medical condition , no reason for increases, except age.

I would cringe if he should get a dx of cancer, not be able to pay premiums (about 1000 a month) and he would not be able to change insurance due to a pre existing condition. (He is self employed)

That is why I think the ACA is good, everyone pays the same for each policy, and gets a break due to income .

Smokers pay more which is discrimination, they do not ask weight or if one smokes pot, or drinks, but only if one smokes.

"That is why I think the ACA is good, everyone pays the same for each policy, and gets a break due to income."

That's why I think it is bad. If one person is going to get the same as someone else, they should pay the same. A poor person's policy shouldn't be cheaper if they're getting the same policy/coverage as someone who happens to make more. Too much fucking socialism.

So a smoker, someone that chooses to do something that has been proven to cause many health problems, shouldn't pay more? Bullshit.

So a lazy 400 lb slacker who lays on the couch should pay less than a smoker. How about an alcoholic or a pot smoker. They are also a huge threat to society as most of them operate a deadly weapon while drinking and smoking pot.

I think we should whack overweight people with more premiums.

Heart bypass....
Hip replacements.
Knee replacements....

If you want government directed insurance...then there should be a government directed database. And if you've been fat for three years...you'll see your premiums skyrocket.

 

[irosie91]

Yes it was cheaper in 2002, but ever since it has gone up 100 (give or take a few bucks either way) a month, that is 1200 a year.

I would call and they would say he is a year older (it was always a pleasant birthday gift for him, from BCBS)

Nothing has changed, I signed him up on the Health care. gov site in 2015 (just in case he should have a terrible accident or illness and would need a subsidy) and in 2016 his premium is 100 more a month.

Yes he is getting older, but the only medical condition he has had since 2002 is glaucoma, and uses a eye drop once a day, no meds , no medical condition , no reason for increases, except age.

I would cringe if he should get a dx of cancer, not be able to pay premiums (about 1000 a month) and he would not be able to change insurance due to a pre existing condition. (He is self employed)

That is why I think the ACA is good, everyone pays the same for each policy, and gets a break due to income .

Smokers pay more which is discrimination, they do not ask weight or if one smokes pot, or drinks, but only if one smokes.

"That is why I think the ACA is good, everyone pays the same for each policy, and gets a break due to income."

That's why I think it is bad. If one person is going to get the same as someone else, they should pay the same. A poor person's policy shouldn't be cheaper if they're getting the same policy/coverage as someone who happens to make more. Too much fucking socialism.

So a smoker, someone that chooses to do something that has been proven to cause many health problems, shouldn't pay more? Bullshit.

So a lazy 400 lb slacker who lays on the couch should pay less than a smoker. How about an alcoholic or a pot smoker. They are also a huge threat to society as most of them operate a deadly weapon while drinking and smoking pot.

I think we should whack overweight people with more premiums.

Heart bypass....
Hip replacements.
Knee replacements....

If you want government directed insurance...then there should be a government directed database. And if you've been fat for three years...you'll see your premiums skyrocket.

lots of persons of normal weight end up with the one or more of the procedures
you describe. I am left handed----lefties tend to have more ACCIDENTAL
injuries than do the ELITE right handed people------need I pay more?

 

[Sun Devil 92]

Yes it was cheaper in 2002, but ever since it has gone up 100 (give or take a few bucks either way) a month, that is 1200 a year.

I would call and they would say he is a year older (it was always a pleasant birthday gift for him, from BCBS)

Nothing has changed, I signed him up on the Health care. gov site in 2015 (just in case he should have a terrible accident or illness and would need a subsidy) and in 2016 his premium is 100 more a month.

Yes he is getting older, but the only medical condition he has had since 2002 is glaucoma, and uses a eye drop once a day, no meds , no medical condition , no reason for increases, except age.

I would cringe if he should get a dx of cancer, not be able to pay premiums (about 1000 a month) and he would not be able to change insurance due to a pre existing condition. (He is self employed)

That is why I think the ACA is good, everyone pays the same for each policy, and gets a break due to income .

Smokers pay more which is discrimination, they do not ask weight or if one smokes pot, or drinks, but only if one smokes.

"That is why I think the ACA is good, everyone pays the same for each policy, and gets a break due to income."

That's why I think it is bad. If one person is going to get the same as someone else, they should pay the same. A poor person's policy shouldn't be cheaper if they're getting the same policy/coverage as someone who happens to make more. Too much fucking socialism.

So a smoker, someone that chooses to do something that has been proven to cause many health problems, shouldn't pay more? Bullshit.

So a lazy 400 lb slacker who lays on the couch should pay less than a smoker. How about an alcoholic or a pot smoker. They are also a huge threat to society as most of them operate a deadly weapon while drinking and smoking pot.

I think we should whack overweight people with more premiums.

Heart bypass....
Hip replacements.
Knee replacements....

If you want government directed insurance...then there should be a government directed database. And if you've been fat for three years...you'll see your premiums skyrocket.

lots of persons of normal weight end up with the one or more of the procedures
you describe. I am left handed----lefties tend to have more ACCIDENTAL
injuries than do the ELITE right handed people------need I pay more?

Do you have a say in being left handed ?

Do you have a say in being fat (and spare me the 1% who might have a real issue) ?

Do you have a say in smoking ?