Sunday, November 29, 2015
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Friday, November 27, 2015
Patrick Watson: Obamacare Collapsing Ahead of Schedule
Patrick Watson: Obamacare Collapsing Ahead of Schedule
Medicare for All single payer universal medical coverage for all
citizens is the only way we can save enough money to do what is right.
Profit should NOT be in our health care and insurance companies are an
experiment in health care that has failed miserably. I don't want
insurance execs making millions by denying me access to health care. I
don't want my coverage / access to health care dependent upon where I
work - it should not be job related. Hospitals should be put on a
budget and not have all that detailed billing for every little thing
they do or give you. Hospitals should be treated like public utilities
like electric companies in terms of what they can do and how much they
charge. Our country has the worst health care outcomes of all
developed nations and it has by far the most costly health care system
in the world. You can not change that by continuing to treat health
care as a commodity and me as a consumer. My local fire department and
police department and road and bridge department are not considered as
providing a commodity and I am not their consumer. Same needs to happen
for health care. And, I am not saying I want all my health care
providers to work for the government.
If you believe health care
should be denied to those you believe to be unworthy for whatever your
personal reasons may be, you are the problem. Our country needs to
change its view of health care to be considered as a right, not as a
privilege
Medicare for All single payer universal medical coverage for all
citizens is the only way we can save enough money to do what is right.
Profit should NOT be in our health care and insurance companies are an
experiment in health care that has failed miserably. I don't want
insurance execs making millions by denying me access to health care. I
don't want my coverage / access to health care dependent upon where I
work - it should not be job related. Hospitals should be put on a
budget and not have all that detailed billing for every little thing
they do or give you. Hospitals should be treated like public utilities
like electric companies in terms of what they can do and how much they
charge. Our country has the worst health care outcomes of all
developed nations and it has by far the most costly health care system
in the world. You can not change that by continuing to treat health
care as a commodity and me as a consumer. My local fire department and
police department and road and bridge department are not considered as
providing a commodity and I am not their consumer. Same needs to happen
for health care. And, I am not saying I want all my health care
providers to work for the government.
If you believe health care
should be denied to those you believe to be unworthy for whatever your
personal reasons may be, you are the problem. Our country needs to
change its view of health care to be considered as a right, not as a
privilege
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Monday, November 23, 2015
Sunday, November 22, 2015
Saturday, November 21, 2015
Medicare hopes bundled payments will lead to better care, lower costs
Medicare hopes bundled payments will lead to better care, lower costs
hope this is a move toward putting hospitals on a budget as how they get reimbursed.
hope this is a move toward putting hospitals on a budget as how they get reimbursed.
Friday, November 20, 2015
Obamacare's Fate May Rest on Patience of Insurers Aetna, Anthem - Bloomberg Business
Obamacare's Fate May Rest on Patience of Insurers Aetna, Anthem - Bloomberg Business
Yet another money based view. What this points out to me is just how consolidated the insurance companies have become and are becoming. We are close to a "for-profit" single payer system now. We need a Medicare for All system without the profit motive. Health care is a right, not a commodity. I am a patient, not a consumer shopping around.
Get ready for that TOO BIG TO FAIL crap applied to health insurance companies.
Yet another money based view. What this points out to me is just how consolidated the insurance companies have become and are becoming. We are close to a "for-profit" single payer system now. We need a Medicare for All system without the profit motive. Health care is a right, not a commodity. I am a patient, not a consumer shopping around.
Get ready for that TOO BIG TO FAIL crap applied to health insurance companies.
UnitedHealth Warning Creates Huge Spillover, With Big Implications Ahead - UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) - 24/7 Wall St.
UnitedHealth Warning Creates Huge Spillover, With Big Implications Ahead - UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) - 24/7 Wall St.
We really need to get the for-profit insurance companies out of our health care. So much of the recent hype in the news has been about profits and shareholders and NOT about health care quality or access.
More on this: http://www.cnbc.com/2015/11/19/big-bad-day-for-obamacare-as-unitedhealth-considers-exit.html
We really need to get the for-profit insurance companies out of our health care. So much of the recent hype in the news has been about profits and shareholders and NOT about health care quality or access.
More on this: http://www.cnbc.com/2015/11/19/big-bad-day-for-obamacare-as-unitedhealth-considers-exit.html
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Many Say High Deductibles Make Their Health Law Insurance All but Useless - The New York Times
Many Say High Deductibles Make Their Health Law Insurance All but Useless - The New York Times
Comment by Don McCanne
The deductibles are
out of control. The anecdotes in the full article (link above)
demonstrate that many people find that their insurance is “all but
useless” simply because they cannot afford to pay the deductibles.
Anecdotes do not constitute a scientifically valid study, but they
certainly do tell us what is happening to individuals out in the real
world.
out of control. The anecdotes in the full article (link above)
demonstrate that many people find that their insurance is “all but
useless” simply because they cannot afford to pay the deductibles.
Anecdotes do not constitute a scientifically valid study, but they
certainly do tell us what is happening to individuals out in the real
world.
Insurers needed to keep premiums
affordable in order to maintain a viable market of private plans. They
do that by shifting costs to patients through ever higher deductibles.
This was inevitable through the reform model selected for the misnamed
Patent Protection and Affordable Care Act. Because of the large
deductibles, actual health care is not affordable for individuals with
modest incomes and thus patients do not have the protection that they
need.
affordable in order to maintain a viable market of private plans. They
do that by shifting costs to patients through ever higher deductibles.
This was inevitable through the reform model selected for the misnamed
Patent Protection and Affordable Care Act. Because of the large
deductibles, actual health care is not affordable for individuals with
modest incomes and thus patients do not have the protection that they
need.
The three trillion dollars that we are
already spending on health care is enough to provide all essential
health care services for everyone. With a properly designed financing
system there is no need to erect financial barriers to care since cost
containment can be achieved through patient-friendly policies such as
those of a single payer national health program.
already spending on health care is enough to provide all essential
health care services for everyone. With a properly designed financing
system there is no need to erect financial barriers to care since cost
containment can be achieved through patient-friendly policies such as
those of a single payer national health program.
Without
proper reform, “degradation of health insurance” will progress. People
will face greater financial hardship because of medical bills. People
will suffer more because of forgone health care. People will die.
proper reform, “degradation of health insurance” will progress. People
will face greater financial hardship because of medical bills. People
will suffer more because of forgone health care. People will die.
This isn’t right. We need an improved Medicare that includes everyone.
The Future of Public Health — NEJM
The Future of Public Health — NEJM
Comment by Don McCanne
A century ago life
expectancy was 54. Today it is 79. Public health has played a much
greater role in realizing this gain than has clinical medicine. Although
most health funds are being directed to clinical services, public
health services will need support to continue and to expand the gains
that have been more important to society as a whole.
expectancy was 54. Today it is 79. Public health has played a much
greater role in realizing this gain than has clinical medicine. Although
most health funds are being directed to clinical services, public
health services will need support to continue and to expand the gains
that have been more important to society as a whole.
Government
must remain responsive to the nation’s health needs. Recognizing that,
Congress included in the Affordable Care Act a $15 billion boost in
public health funding. However, that was reduced in 2012 legislation by
$6.25 billion, and then further reduced by sequestration. Public health
appropriations for 2015 are less than half of the $2 billion budgeted.
must remain responsive to the nation’s health needs. Recognizing that,
Congress included in the Affordable Care Act a $15 billion boost in
public health funding. However, that was reduced in 2012 legislation by
$6.25 billion, and then further reduced by sequestration. Public health
appropriations for 2015 are less than half of the $2 billion budgeted.
How
can these reductions be justified? The need for austerity? Not based on
the billions of dollars being fed into the coffers of the wealthiest
amongst us. Less need for government public health services? Not unless
we are willing to accept a surge in preventable disease epidemics and
injuries from public hazards. Can we justify these reductions based on
the ideological principle that the responsibility for health should be
shifted from the government to the individual? Even ideologues can
suffer or die from uncontrolled epidemics, from uncorrected public
hazards, or because of a lack of beneficial interventions that were not
implemented.
can these reductions be justified? The need for austerity? Not based on
the billions of dollars being fed into the coffers of the wealthiest
amongst us. Less need for government public health services? Not unless
we are willing to accept a surge in preventable disease epidemics and
injuries from public hazards. Can we justify these reductions based on
the ideological principle that the responsibility for health should be
shifted from the government to the individual? Even ideologues can
suffer or die from uncontrolled epidemics, from uncorrected public
hazards, or because of a lack of beneficial interventions that were not
implemented.
In addition to these important
public health actions, we would also benefit by adopting a
government-run health care financing system - a single payer national
health program. The failure to act makes our Congress one of the
greatest public health hazards that we face. Electing the right people
to Congress may be the most important single measure that we could take
to maintain and improve the health of our nation.
public health actions, we would also benefit by adopting a
government-run health care financing system - a single payer national
health program. The failure to act makes our Congress one of the
greatest public health hazards that we face. Electing the right people
to Congress may be the most important single measure that we could take
to maintain and improve the health of our nation.
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Assembly approves self-insurance oversight bill | State and Regional News | host.madison.com
Assembly approves self-insurance oversight bill | State and Regional News | host.madison.com
Hard to believe this. Here's the email I sent to my Senator:
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Hard to believe this. Here's the email I sent to my Senator:
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Senator Vinehout
Can
you help me understand what this will really mean. I can't believe the
current leadership in the Legislature and the Governor want to take
business away from private insurance/HMO companies. Are they just going
to shift from buying "insurance" to paying those same companies to do
all the work?
you help me understand what this will really mean. I can't believe the
current leadership in the Legislature and the Governor want to take
business away from private insurance/HMO companies. Are they just going
to shift from buying "insurance" to paying those same companies to do
all the work?
What is this really going to mean in terms of who is paid to do what for employee covereage?
And, if this really is "Under
self-insurance, the state would pay benefits directly instead of buying
insurance from 18 HMOs.", then why isn't it a good idea for WI to do so
for ALL publiclly funded health care programs?
self-insurance, the state would pay benefits directly instead of buying
insurance from 18 HMOs.", then why isn't it a good idea for WI to do so
for ALL publiclly funded health care programs?
Again, I find it hard to believe this is REALLY a move to have "the state would pay benefits directly".
Please help me understand what this Self Insurance Oversight Bill really will do.
Monday, November 16, 2015
Saturday, November 14, 2015
Saturday, November 7, 2015
Why You Might Be Choosing the Wrong Obamacare Plan | The Fiscal Times
Why You Might Be Choosing the Wrong Obamacare Plan | The Fiscal Times
$ up front for premiums versus $ later via tax subsidies....Maybe folks don't trust the government....maybe we need a simpler way to make it affordable.
$ up front for premiums versus $ later via tax subsidies....Maybe folks don't trust the government....maybe we need a simpler way to make it affordable.
Thursday, November 5, 2015
PNHP: This is why we need single-payer – Medicare for all
http://singlepayerhealthcarenow.com/2015/09/20/pnhp-this-is-why-we-need-single-payer-medicare-for-all/?GD_NONCE=8d7a0dd105
Open Enrollment - note from Grassroots North Shore in Milwaukee
It's healthcare
enrollment season again. Remember: everyone is required to carry
health insurance or pay a special tax surcharge. If you're covered by
your employer, you probably know what to do. If you're over 65,
Medicare is likely to be your primary health insurance plan. The
budget deal President Obama signed yesterday finally determined what
premiums for Medicare in 2016 will be. Here's the account from Forbes
(but you should receive some kind of official notification from the
government in the near future):
The Part B
payment for all those who’ll turn 65 next year and join the
program, as well as some upper-income people (incomes over $85,000 or
$170,000 for married couples filing jointly) and poor people whose
premiums are paid by state governments, ... will increase 15% to $123
a month ($120 plus a $3 surcharge).... Higher-income beneficiaries
will likely owe premiums of $168 to $384 plus the surcharge....
Similar, the
annual Part B deductible — the amount in doctor bills you have to
pay each year before full coverage begins — will increase to $167,
from $147 this year. This will avoid the planned deductible boost to
$223.
For most
Medicare beneficiaries, the Part B premium in 2016 will be unchanged,
at $104.90 a month, and the deductible will stay at $147.
If you aren't
covered through your workplace or by Medicare, you will shop in the
individual market (that's Obamacare). To make sure you're getting the
best possible deal, don't just stick with the plan you bought for
2015. It will pay for you to look at the competing plans in your
area.
You can search by
zip code to see what plans, companies, prices and more are available
in your county. You don't need to log in or create a username and
password; just provide an age and estimate annual income to see what
is available.
For coverage that
begins on Jan 1, 2016, you will need to be enrolled by December 15,
but you can sign up until Jan 31, 2016 — as long as you don't mind
risking exposure for the first couple of months in 2016. Just don't
slip on any ice or throw your back out shoveling snow before your
coverage takes effect!
In terms of
competition among plans and pricing, there's some good news and some
bad. Some areas of WI have new insurance options; others have lost
some plans. And while insurance premiums generally have not
skyrocketed, they are still very expensive. Wisconsin has been one of
the most expensive states in the nation for health insurance, and
even a 4% increase means a large dollar amount.
What is most
concerning are the deductibles and out of pocket costs. Citizen
Action's comparison of major metro areas of the state show that for
the most commonly available plan, deductibles increased 40% on
average. More and more insurance companies are pushing more of the
burden on consumers. And both Walker's Insurance Commissioner and the
State Legislature seem to have no desire to fight for more affordable
coverage for you and me.
Important Topics to
Remember:
Open Enrollment
starts on November 1st and goes until January 31st
Insurance
companies are pushing more and more of the cost of healthcare onto
consumers, meaning hundreds even thousands more in costs when someone
gets sick or injured.
The Walker
Administration has made no effort to challenge these higher prices
and costs for consumers. The state needs to act to challenge these
insurance companies and guarantee quality affordable healthcare!
Other states are
not seeing the same rise in deductibles that we are, and if Wisconsin
doesn't act we will fall behind. Wisconsin is already one of the most
expensive state in the country for health insurance.
It is important,
even if you are currently covered, to go back and compare new
options. There are new options, new plans, new rates and different
tax credits. Be sure to visit Healthcare.gov
today!
If you or someone
you know needs assistance navigating the Obamacare landscape,
Grassroots North Shore has prepared a document :
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
The hidden risk of high-deductible health plans
The hidden risk of high-deductible health plans
"...they’re just skipping the care they need altogether"
"...they’re just skipping the care they need altogether"
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