On Thursday I finished listening to John Grisham’s novel, The Appeal.” What a lame ending—it was as if Grisham tired of writing and just ended the book with so many loose ends! YUCK!! I’ve got another of his books on the iPod, we will see if he does a better job.
And Rick, you’ve never heard of a Health Savings Account because you are blessed to have that Canadian health care!! A HSA is an account in which you can place an IRS specified amount of money, yearly, in my case $3000 this year, which can be used to pay medical related expenses such as doctor’s visits, medications, etc. The money you place in a HSA is tax free. You cannot use this money to pay your health insurance premiums. These HSA accounts are available to people in the US with high deductible health insurance policies—my deductible is $6000 per year.
Yep, I have to pay $5950 out of pocket before the insurance company pays. Michael receives Medicare coverage but still must pay for a supplemental policy to cover what Medicare doesn’t. Most insurance policies—since the much maligned Obamacare—offer a preventative benefit with no limit. For the first time in eighteen years (the time I’ve not been employed by a hospital with medical insurance provided) I’ve received some benefit from money I’ve paid to an insurance company. My yearly exams such as mammograms and physical are now paid in full. Do I think Obamacare is a good thing—probably not!
Did I open a can of worms?? I hope so, it has been rather boring around here lately! I might have to stop anonymous comments again!!
Can you believe we went to Billings again—remember it is a 200 mile round trip! Maybe I should forbid Michael to surf Craigslist!! We needed some type of floor covering for the enclosed trailer we are taking south this winter—when we install the longarm, I needed something to cover the floor so quilts would not get dirty. Michael noticed a new, never been installed 12’x35’ piece of carpet for sale on Craigslist—$125. But boy was it ever ugly! No matter—it’s just something to cover the floor—the piece is so big we may install the rest of it in the quilt studio! I could wear sunglasses while quilting??
If the Habitat for Humanity guys had not been at the house where we bought the carpet, I’m not sure we could have loaded it!! Heavy, heavy stuff—these guys were picking up used kitchen cabinets—the people are doing an extensive remodel. The homeowners were going to install this carpet in their sun room but changed their mind—they had purchased it at Habitat for Humanity. The Habitat guys had two big pieces of pipe which we were able to put in the ends of the roll for leverage—with the help of the homeowner and those guys we were able to get the roll in the truck. Here’s how we unloaded it--
A beautiful day—just perfect weather!
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Not to open a can of worms, Janna, but you've really confused me here if I'm reading you right. You say:
ReplyDelete"Most insurance policies—since the much maligned Obamacare—offer a preventative benefit with no limit. For the first time in eighteen years (the time I’ve not been employed by a hospital with medical insurance provided) I’ve received some benefit from money I’ve paid to an insurance company. My yearly exams such as mammograms and physical are now paid in full. Do I think Obamacare is a good thing—probably not!"
You say, I think, that for the first time in 18 years you are benefiting from the money you pay for health insurance; now, your yearly exams are covered in full; and since Obamacare, most inusrance companines now offer a preventative benefit with now limit.
To me, that seems to be "all good things". So, why when it comes to Obamacare do you come to the conclusion "probably not"!! That kind of puzzles me a bit.
There are parts of Obamacare I like(the preventative benefit)--in this conservative neck of the woods I live in that is REALLY sticking my neck out just waiting to have it chopped! The healthcare legislation turned into a huge, giant mess authored in large part by our illustrious senator from Montana Max Baucus. There is so much mis-information out there--the far right would have you believe in "death squads" determining who lives or dies, waiting months for medical care, etc. For me personally, the death squad idea is too far fetched to be believed, we all ready wait months to see a specialist (first hand knowledge here)--what's the difference??? And if you ask anyone receiving Medicare in the US, be they liberal or conservative if they like Medicare--very few would say "no."
DeleteWe feel we are taxed quite heavily here in the US, our fear is Obamacare will increase those taxes by exorbitant amounts. Can our country afford government run healthcare--no one knows.
When Obama proposed the health care for everyone the people that were most oposed to it were the HMOs that wouldn't have there hands so deep in your pocket. You are looking at what the Republicans did to water the bill down before they would pass it. If the bill had passed the way it was writen you'd have more money in your pocket with no additional cost for Michael.
ReplyDelete"If the bill had passed the way it was written you'd have more money in your pocket with no additional cost for Michael."
DeleteJust a little difference of opinion here Rick & Kathy--the money has to come from somewhere to pay for this, our government is broke and out of control--no one gets something for nothing. We feel our taxes will rise significantly to pay for this Obamacare.
I'm not going to jump into this fray. You'll just have to continue to be bored with my comment. I haven't read a Grisham novel in awhile because I had trouble just getting into his last couple of books. Hope the new one is a good read for you.
ReplyDeleteWhat--no guts??? I may have to put a lid on this can of worms before this is over! :)
DeleteYou're right - no guts. Really, I don't like conflict - you know that middle child syndrome. I'm very lucky. I retired from the Feds so we have pretty good insurance but it is getting so expensive I'm not sure what's going to happen for us either.
DeleteI will jump in..I am a bit confused?
ReplyDeleteyou can put $3000 in an account tax free but only use it for medical costs, correct?
your deductible is almost $6000 a year..
if you don't mind my asking your monthly premium cost is?
so is the problem the deductible, the monthly premium or is or is it the fact that the high taxes will become higher?..
yes, we are fortunate to be living in BC..sure we only pay about $50 a month for full medical and dental..yes we do have to wait for specialists and such..the family doctor situation is terrible..there are many what they call 'orphans'..those without a regular doctor..and these people just go to a walk in clinic..working in the medical field I know of two family doctors who either retired or gave up their practises and there was no GP's that wanted to take over the already established patient load..
so in my opinion our health care system could do with some help but it seems that the USA system has some issues too?
My monthly premium for $6000 deductible insurance is $250 per month and goes up substantially every year. That's another issue with Obamacare--the government will force us to have insurance but that said insurance will be so costly we will not be able to do anything BUT pay our insurance premiums. There are so many things wrong with the healthcare system in the US--I worked in the healthcare system all my career--and I'm not sure it is fixable certainly not this way with the current Obamacare.
Delete$250 does not seem that bad in the grand scheme of things but if it goes up substantially every year as you get older or sicker that in itself is not a good thing..
Deleteso with Obomacare? Americans will be forced to pay for the government insurance and not have a choice?..what happens to those who cannot afford it?..no medical care?
I just read Rick's reply..I think I understand now or do I?
DeleteJanna, you keep saying that Obamacare will force you to buy insurance when that provision clearly applies only to those who do not have any health insurance. Obamacare will require those without health insurance to purchase it for sure but you will be allowed to keep your existing insurance. Do you not agree that this is correct?
DeleteHmmm...... I think Americans now have the health care system they want and the one they deserve. Thank all gods, past and present, that I am a Canadian.
ReplyDeleteRick, I'm not sure I understand your comment--why do we deserve this mess?? These two Americans certainly didn't want these current healthcare laws--yes, I am reaping one benefit (the preventative care) but I would gladly give it up for a system that was workable. We've paid our own medical costs out of pocket for eighteen years--I had a hysterectomy--at that time we had a $10,000 per person deductible health insurance--because I received a discount from hospital and doctor (I used to work there) our insurance company paid none of the cost. We were lucky when Michael was so ill in 2010--very ill--his Medicare coverage kicked in just in time, we still ended up paying about $5000 out of pocket before the coverage started. Our health is generally good and this has been our saving grace. I do not feel one should be bankrupt because they can't pay medical bills.
DeleteObamacare is absolutely a REQUIREMENT that we PURCHASE insurance--many parts of the law do not start taking effect until 2013 and 2014. As the law is written at this present time and as we understand it--health insurance is NOT being provided by the government with the exception of Medicare--we will HAVE to purchase it and at what cost??
We live in an area where the pay scale for average workers is poor--many of our younger friends and neighbors work two jobs, healthcare is out of their reach.
No, I don't think we "deserve" this healthcare system.
And to ANONYMOUS with all the capital letters--if you can't play nice, go play somewhere else.
From what I've read about Obamacare, the law states that individuals will be required to buy health insurance ONLY in cases where they currently have none. Individuals with existing health insurance policies, like you, can continue with those plans or shop for new ones from other private insurers in the State's Health Care Exchange. Nothing changes for you other than you now have better coverage as you've outlined.
DeleteWhat I've never understood about many Americans re healthcare is why they so vigorously oppose Obamacare, incorrectly calling it socialized medicine, while gladly jumping on Medicare (if Obamacare is socialism then Medicare definitely is) at the first opportunity so as to not be bankrupted by health care costs in retirement.
My comment about Americans having the health care system they want is a simple one - the U.S. is the only one of the G20 nations who do not provide affordable healthcare (i.e. universal healthcare) for their citizens (this even includes Mexico). If Americans truly wanted to change this then they would be DEMANDING and INSISTING that BOTH parties do something. From what I can see one party is demanding the complete repeal of Obamacare while offering nothing to replace it. So, even if that were successful, which is highly unlikely, that would simply put things back the way they were a few years ago which is what precipitated all the grief in the first place.
So, yes, I do believe Americans have the system they want or they would demand every politician DO something not just be AGAINST something to alleviate and fix the problem.
Why do I say I think Americans deserve their current health care systems? Simply because they willingly accept it, that's all.
Maybe I'm wrong but I've never understood what's going on in the U.S. re healthcare. Congressmen and Senators after serving just 5 years get gold-plated government supported health care for life while railing against and demanding that no other U.S. citizen should be entitled to the same type of government supported health care. It's this situation, in particular, the enabling of hypocrisy that leads me to believe that many Americans not only have the system they want but the one they deserve.
However, the U.S. system doesn't really affect me at all so I'm not all that excited about it either way. All I know is that I've had excellent health care all my life for our entire family with zero in out of pocket expenses and I expect that to continue for the rest of our lives too.
Thank you Rick, very well said. Our political system is so screwed up--political races are bought and sold constantly, we vote but does that change one thing, nope! Will we be able to keep our current coverage at our current rate when the entire Obamacare law takes effect--I highly doubt it. We can demand all we want, and believe you me, I did demand--I wrote letter, emails, made phone calls and did it make any difference to Max Baucus--not one iota! Every politician has their favorites--whoever puts the most money into their campaign chest--be it hospital lobbyist, drug and medical supply companies, insurance companies.
DeleteI should just walk away but what the heck this sounds like a good place to wander in and stir the pot. I am not sure I like what I see with Obamacare, as it doesn't really appear to be much like our system. Just a way to force folks to buy healthcare insurance. Our system is much more subtle when it comes to picking our pockets, we pay higher taxes on almost everything and there is a lot of doubt whether or not the Canadian system is sustainable in the its present form. My Dad told me when our Universal Healthcare system was first proposed there was a lot of whining and caterwauling and predictions of horrible consequences but most of those can to nothing. Lots of things could be improved with Canadian healthcare but it, at least for the near term, beats most other systems. Here in our home province of Alberta we pay no premiums at all but I believe that more than 35% of the provincial budget goes to maintain the system. And that number climbs every year.
ReplyDeleteYou hit the nail on the head JB--Obamacare is nothing more than another tax. But on the other hand--you, through your taxes are also purchasing healthcare. The bottom line--we will just have to wait and see what falls out in the wash. The Canadian system's sustainability is in question and Medicare's sustainability is in question--Mike and I surely question the sustainability of Obamacare.
DeleteI'm not touching the medical issues!!! All I want to know is how in the heck did you and Michael get that carpet unloaded.
ReplyDeleteWant to trade premiums? From what I can tell, we are about the same age and I pay 589.00 a month! With a $5000.00 deductible. I have no pre-excisting conditions and I am in good health. I am being, or should I say trying to have an open mind to this Obamacare. The benefit of having my yearly physical paid in full was a blessing. Those costs would have been another months premium out of my pocket.
ReplyDeleteIt was very interesting reading all your comments. Thanks for allowing us to share.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteThen sign your name or your comment gets deleted.
DeleteJust read anonymous comment. Have to agree. So many people do not have the facts on obama's health plan. I don't want a panel of 12 people deciding if I need surgery or not and they do not even have to be drs. Much more but too much to go into.
ReplyDeleteJune Wilson in Dallas,Tx.
June: Please show me where in the new healthcare plan it states specifically in writing--"there will be a panel of 12 people deciding if I need surgery or not...." There is so much misinformation out there it is incredible.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteAre you kidding? Did you not listen to Tom B. news report? Out of all the hundreds of pages of this bill you want to know what page this is on! You must not be keeping up.
ReplyDeleteJune
Hey, June - you live in Dallas, TX right? Can you see the 'Grassy Knoll' from your house? The 'death panels' myth your are referring to has been debunked and discredited as totally untrue so many times that even serious Republican candidates never bring it up for fear of being laughed at.
DeleteFor someone who believes this myth, surely you should be able to point our the actual wording in the Act - just as Janna requested. The real reason you are unable to do so is because it isn't there - nada, zilch, zippo.
Janna, and others, have raised valid concerns and points regarding the implementation of the Affordable Health Care Act and its future impacts. Ridiculous, unsupported conspiracy theories, do nothing to advance the conversation.
I WILL GLADLY SIGN MY NAME &ADDRESS . AGAIN THANK YOU FOR THIS DEBATE. I WILL CONTINUE THIS WITH RICK IF HE COMES BACK THIS WINTER. I WILL BE IN PALM SPRINGS,CA. I WILL PRESENT HIM SOME FACTS IN WRITING. I FEEL THIS WILL HELP HIM UNDERSTAND.
ReplyDeleteJOHN MARTIN- DENVER,COLORADO
Geez.........I hope you don't go and put all those facts in CAPTIAL letters because it's sure hard on the eyes. By the way, John, I have no clue who you are even though you seem to know me.
DeleteJanna, I think u should leave all the comments on. It's a healthy debate. As long as they are using cuss words. lol
ReplyDeleteKaren Delong
YES RICK, WE WILL MEET IN PERSON SOON. HAVING VERY BAD VISION THE CAPITAL LETTERS HELP, AND MEDICARE HAS BEEN MY HELP, MY HOPE FOR A BETTER LIFE. SO YES I FEEL WE HAVE HAD A WONDERFUL HEALTH PLAN AND HOPE IT CAN BE SAVED, BUT OBAMA CARE IS NOT THE ANSWER.
ReplyDeleteJOHN MARTIN
Karen again, meant to say--NOT using cuss words. lol
ReplyDeleteThanks Karen, I knew what you meant, the comments I deleted were from anonymous posters who didn't sign their names--I have an ongoing thing about those! The other comment was Rick's--I don't want this discussion to become a he said, she said battle. It's my blog.
DeleteRick, this is not the death panel myth I 'm talking about. There will be a panel to decide our personal health issues. All the Dr's are against this. It's all over the news. Not something made up. So whats up with you? Get a life.
ReplyDeleteJune in Dallas, Tx.
June, since you don't seem to know the name of the panel or how many members it actually contains, let me help you out.
DeleteSince you seem to agree the ridiculous 'death panel' hysteria is a myth then you must be referring to the 15 member Independent Payment Advisory Board. (IPAB).
The Affordable Care Act clearly prohibits the board from recommending actions that would “include any recommendation to ration care, raise revenues or Medicare beneficiary premiums, increase cost-sharing, restrict benefits, or alter eligibility,”. This has been researched and verified by the Congressional Research Office.
There are over 60,000 surgeries each day in the U.S. where patients have to undergo complete anesthesia. Are you telling me that you think a 15 member board can make 60,000 decisions a day each and every day for 365 days a year? That is just how ridiculous this argument about the panels is.
Now, now June--this is a friendly discussion. Seems to me some of the Canadian's on this forum have taken more time and trouble to research our new healthcare laws than we US citizens.
DeleteAnd while we are trying to straighten Rick out, there is only One GOD.
ReplyDeleteJames Moore in Hope, Arkansas
James--you aren't too far from where I grew up and where all my family still lives.
Delete:))
ReplyDeleteI love it Al--you are just jealous you aren't in the snake pit this time!
DeleteUntil - and unless - your political parties can push the lobbyists aside and begin to legislate intelligently for the people they claim to represent, there is little likelihood that any solid and cost effective health care system will ever evolve. What is drastically sad is the 30 + million Americans who have no health care! That is unconscionable in a modern and civilized society.
ReplyDeleteThere are solutions but money talks and the insurance companies throw all their financial weight to preventing your country from attaining a really good health care system. A really decent national health care system would put the insurance companies out of business. Lobbyists control your government and aspiring politicians quickly forget their mandate because the lobbyists quickly grease their jean pockets.
Health care is such a complex issue, mired in mis-truths and political verbiage. It's not about the people; it's about the insurance companies, medical practitioners and politicians who fail to lobby for their constituents. Party politics has eroded good governance.
From where I sit - north of the 49th parallel - I do not envy your health care situation and can only hope that sanity could prevail soon to prevent further erosion of your health care services.
I am truly thankful for our Canadian medical system. Even with its flaws, it's centuries ahead of your system.
very well stated Rene!!..good for you!!
DeleteThank you very much Rene--very well said and our thoughts exactly. Canada is looking better and better.
ReplyDeleteRene much more articulately than I managed to state my opinion, but nevertheless we would be proud to have you and Mike as neighbours and new immigrants.
DeleteSo, Janna, how did the Bear Pit experience feel? Having been there several times myself, I know it can be a bit overwhelming but you did a great job of feeding the bears. Thanks for an interesting and lively afternoon (ha, ha)!!
ReplyDeleteJanna, they just think they know what they're talking about. 12 panel, 15 panel-- it's still a bad idea. And wouldn't you hate to have to live in Canada just to get their insurance. I would rather look at my "Grassy Knoll" from my house as Rick said. lol
ReplyDeleteGood evening, I will sign off now.
June in Dallas.
Thank you all so much for your comments and discussion, I've enjoyed it tremendously!
ReplyDeleteHere's an example of how flawed Obamacare really is--I have a very good friend, Kathy--she and I started a little boutique in Big Timber fifteen or so years ago. I got out after a couple years, retail wasn't for me but the store is still going strong. Kathy was diagnosed with a rare auto immune disease affecting her ability to walk or stand forcing her to sell the store. Because of Obamacare she was able to get health insurance for a pre-existing condition--GREAT. But oh, wait, it is going to cost this woman who has no way of earning an income $600 per month!!! She has almost gone through all her proceeds from selling the store. Kathy has supported herself since she was 14 years old--she was a waitress until we opened the store--she has always paid her bills and supported herself--she is not a dead beat but her wages through the years didn't afford much saving, only getting by. She has since been declared disabled and gets a disability payment each month, in April of 2013 she will go on Medicare as a result of her disability. Obamacare didn't fix anything.
This has been a very interesting discussion. Sorry I missed out while it was active, but maybe it's just as well. I am one of the uninsured in this country. I HAVE medical care, I just DON'T have health insurance because I can't afford it. My DH gets his through work for a very affordable premium, but try to add me and it goes up to over $600 a month--more than my take-home pay or almost 35% of his. Since I have a couple pre-existing conditons I can't get reasonably priced private insurance that will cover those...so why bother. I could apply, be turned down by a couple companies & then go through the state pool...$427 a mo. for my age group, with the promise that it will go up, plus deductibles and co-pays. The only winners in this whole scenario are the insurance companies. All I can say is that no law can make me buy something I can't afford...the penalty is much cheaper and I just hope I can hold out until Medicare in something like 4 1/2 years. Also, I understand that there is no provision in Obamacare for actually collecting the penalty unless you have an Income Tax refund coming and they can deduct it from that. We never get a refund...so no problem!
ReplyDeleteI have one comment for Rick, if he is still following this - I copied this from his statement above
ReplyDelete"incorrectly calling it socialized medicine, while gladly jumping on Medicare (if Obamacare is socialism then Medicare definitely is) at the first opportunity so as to not be bankrupted by health care costs in retirement."
We pay for Medicare through payroll deduction while we are working and if someone is still employed after they start collecting SS or medicare - they still pay into the system through payroll deduction. Those that are on Medicare - pay a monthly premium.
I know that Medicare is screwed up and providers are robbing the system, but how do you take it away from those that paid into it all their working lives. Medicare would work if they would figure out a way not to let the providers rob them blind. I am not on Medicare or SS, I am only 55 but I do pay for my own health insurance.
A little late to the party, but; Here are the facts:
ReplyDelete(1) Obamacare cost about $1 trillion dollars over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Democrats raised roughly half of that money through new taxes, and the other half was “raised” from cuts in Medicare.
(2) If they had cut Social Security, Democrats would not have been able to apply that revenue to Obamacare because money that comes from Social Security actually belongs to the Social Security Trust Fund. When the federal government uses it for other purposes, it is actually borrowing the money, to be paid back with interest at a later date. The exact same is true of Medicare; the catch is that the rules of CBO budgeting allowed the Democrats to count it as an offset to the new spending. So, Obamacare looked deficit neutral on paper, when in fact half of it was paid for with borrowed money.
(3) The $500 billion in cuts to Medicare do not amount to cuts in benefits to patients, at least nominally. However, government accountants believe that is what effectively will happen. Obamacare imposes efficiency requirements on doctors and hospitals that, over time, will be virtually impossible to maintain. Richard Foster, the government’s chief accountant for Medicare, estimates that 15 percent of all hospitals will fall into the red because of these cuts. Thus, seniors will have the same benefits on paper – but, much like those in the Medicaid program, they will find it difficult to find a doctor or hospital willing to provide the service.
In fact a lot of Doctors have already stopped taking medicare as their payments are less and less....It will get worse...
Personally we should send a Seal team to Ottawa and steal the Master Canadian Healthcare Plan and bring it back to Washington and use it. I am surprised no one else has thought of this it's so simple.Sam & Donna.
ReplyDeleteThat might work Sam, but I actually think if you sent a note, they would email it to you. But be cautioned our system is not perfect, just better. Besides those Seal guys will be a lot less effective if they comply with the Canadian Firearm laws.
DeleteKnow what you mean about Canadian Firearms laws,quite a few ears ago when I was still on the police force. I made a trip across the border in Windsor Ont. The Canadian Customs Lady saw my Fraternal Order of Police decal and asked if I was a police officer, when I told her yes, She said "Well I hope you left your toys at Home' I assured her I did, and she waved me through. Sam..
DeleteNow I really have a headache...perhaps I should call my doctor..
ReplyDelete