what is obamacare anyways

[Vedubin01]

that is true but people with out insurance fighting cancer have options. You can contact the hospital's social workers and apply for hardship. Hospitals get a lot of funding for this circumstance. Also there is Medicaid that will also help those that qualify. There are also a lot of private donation companies that will also help pick up expenses. There are many options and with the power of the internet, its much easier to find these days.

[Morrison]

that is true but people with out insurance fighting cancer have options. You can contact the hospital's social workers and apply for hardship. Hospitals get a lot of funding for this circumstance. Also there is Medicaid that will also help those that qualify. There are also a lot of private donation companies that will also help pick up expenses. There are many options and with the power of the internet, its much easier to find these days.

Those sources certainly help. I'd compare them to a 15 mph tailwind giving you .5 mpg bump in fuel economy.

"Another Harvard study released in May found that in 2007, 65% of personal bankruptcies had involved high medical bills. Most of those people had insurance. But even with insurance, their annual out-of-pocket medical bills averaged over $17,000. Yup, that'll do it."

Taken from: http://http://www.economist.com/blog...surance_bankru

[mrsleeve]

So the new laws will allow you to save some money going forward and have money left over to eat better. That must really burn your ass.

Well at the expense of everyone else, THATS NOT RIGHT

Oh and no, I worked my ass off and taken every opportunity to advance myself and drag my self up by my boot straps to where I make a very comfortable living even having to keep paying those bills. We eat just fine now.

And they are INSANELY expensive. When I worked at State Farm we had a lady get hired on specifically for the insurance she would get.

She took a salary cut for the insurance, she previously had cancer and was paying something like $1000 month for coverage for herself, not including her family.

YOu'll come back with some stuff about priorities and saving money, etc, but on the average salary in this country, 40-50% of your take home pay going to health insurance premiums isn't really affordable.

Been paying 450-675 for the little woman's for the past decade, you do what you have too do till you can do no more.

If you find your self in a position like that then you do what your co worker did and go to a job just for the health care, even if it means you have cut in net pay. Still beats the 1000 a month premium huh.

Those sources certainly help. I'd compare them to a 15 mph tailwind giving you .5 mpg bump in fuel economy.

"Another Harvard study released in May found that in 2007, 65% of personal bankruptcies had involved high medical bills. Most of those people had insurance. But even with insurance, their annual out-of-pocket medical bills averaged over $17,000. Yup, that'll do it."

Well again this boils back down to personal responsibility. If more people carried more than 50 bucks in their checking accouant, and were not in debt up to their eye balls, that 17k would pay off in 5 years @ 6% for 330 a month. Just like a car note, but why file for bankruptcy and walk away from that.

[Morrison]

This might shock you, but some of those people may have been unable to hold a well paying full time job while being treated for whatever serious condition came their way, and perhaps that treatment even lasted for more than one year.

Don't get me wrong, I admire your work ethic and "do whatever needs done" attitude. I'm the same way myself. I also realize I'm not superman, nor do I expect others to be. People can practice Reagan-esque personal responsibility by exercising, eating right, and purchasing health insurance, yet find themselves fucked sideways by a serious health condition in the blink of an eye. Maybe that's just an un-fixable and unfortunate price we pay for freedom to you. I say we stand United.

[mrsleeve]

This is why most jobs have a extended leave of absence, program.

My MIL: had a her valve replaced this spring, was off for 3 months. She saved all her vacation and sick time for 3 years, because she knew it was going to have to be done. Paid the entire time she was off. She traveled to Cleveland from MT for it and had been saving for a long while .......... paid her bills.

My mother: aggressive Brest Cancer out of the blue, WORKED all but 1 month during her treatments, She has shitty HCI though her School District, and she Paid her bills. The time she was off she had her sick time, yes it drained her savings accounts but she would accept no real finical help from any of us.

My Dad: ALS (Lou Gehrig's) Was still running heavy construction jobs, from the seat of his truck, when he could still barley walk with the aid of a cane and the help of a very tight knit and loyal crew. We all helped dad out with that, until he just could not do it anymore and retired. passed in 2001

Grandpa: 1st heart attack, and bypass in the very early 80's and 1st round of Melanoma mid 80's . Paid his bills and was back to work, ASAP. Even when he really should not have been, had a responsibility to his family and finical obligations. Passed of Melanoma in his brain in 2008


Look my family has not been with out its share of severe health issues, as you can see (these are the ones I did/do talk to). Both my self an the little woman were raised to take care your self and your family. You do what you have to do, to make that happen. Your family will be there to help you if you need it with out asking. YOU DONT rely on others to do what you can and should be doing for yourself. Just raised different I guess.

Ummm yeah Freedom is not really "Free" you have to work to keep it and earn it.

[Cliche Guevara]

^

There always have been high risk/guaranteed acceptance Insurance pools for those with pre existing conditions that could not buy standard plans on the individual market. So again your point is moot at best.

That's shit's expensive as hell. Outiside of high risk pools, I'm currently uninsurable because I broke my finger two years ago and had to have surgury to repair it. It's been cleared by every doctor I've seen as 100% healthy but the insurance companies don't care. I'm a broke college student and I can't afford the absurd premiums that come with a high risk pool. I'm currently uninsured waiting for the ACA to go into full effect so I can start buying insurance again.

I know this shit for a fact since thats how we had to buy the little woman's for about the last decade. An its really very good coverage. Oh wait but we are rich because we made the sacrifices and ate top romen, eggs, rice and generic soup for months at time some times to make sure we paid that up every month no matter what.

Yes, because the only possible reason someone wouldn't be able to afford those rates is because they don't make sacrifices. You seem to be under the impression that the only possible way someone couldn't afford health insurance is if they're a lazy sack of shit that just wants to leach of the government. That is not only incredibly insensitive, it is also patently false. There are a multitude of circumstances out of our control that can come together to ass-fuck a hard working, responsible person in ways you cannot imagine. Give this a watch http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontl...damerica/view/

[mrsleeve]

That's shit's expensive as hell. Outiside of high risk pools, I'm currently uninsurable because I broke my finger two years ago and had to have surgury to repair it. It's been cleared by every doctor I've seen as 100% healthy but the insurance companies don't care. I'm a broke college student and I can't afford the absurd premiums that come with a high risk pool. I'm currently uninsured waiting for the ACA to go into full effect so I can start buying insurance again.

Should have been making those cobra payments when you went to college. Besides your a student right, you can go back on your parents till your 26 now student or not.

Yes, because the only possible reason someone wouldn't be able to afford those rates is because they don't make sacrifices. You seem to be under the impression that the only possible way someone couldn't afford health insurance is if they're a lazy sack of shit that just wants to leach of the government. That is not only incredibly insensitive, it is also patently false. There are a multitude of circumstances out of our control that can come together to ass-fuck a hard working, responsible person in ways you cannot imagine. Give this a watch http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontl...damerica/view/

NO I have been poor before, very poor, like I said, I did what I had to do and we went with out for a number of years, while work was scarce and what I could find paid like complete shit, to make sure we were insured, and our savings was not decimated totally .

You assume too much as well. There are way too many out there that can afford to buy a policy maybe not a full boat policy to cover the snifels with a 10 dollar co-pay. But too many prioritize a new car, a I phone. I pad, full cable and shit before that kinda thing. I was raised a little different, where you get the luxuries after you have the basics covered and HCI is a fucking basic.

No, and we have medicaid for that........ No real need for ACA....... Yes your right you can get fucked good, if the perfect storm arises. Thats the kinda thing the ACA should have addressed, the 1 in a 1000 or 1 in 100000 case of circumstance like your link points out, thats not what we got now is it.

[Dozyproductions]

Not being hostile here but what are my "responsible" options for getting health services as an 24 year old epileptic who works and pays for his own? Right now I'm riding on my parents insurance because they both work for universities but both will soon be dropped because of educational cutbacks. Currently I smoke weed to keep my 'symptoms' from popping up but its not very practical when I want to drive with all these cops on everyone's ass in my college town.

[Vedubin01]

Not being hostile here but what are my "responsible" options for getting health services as an 24 year old epileptic who works and pays for his own? Right now I'm riding on my parents insurance because they both work for universities but both will soon be dropped because of educational cutbacks?

Are you self employed?

I was just able to get major medical from AvMed here in Florida with having cancer 11 years ago. I picked up Colonial Life Health Insurance that covered a cancer rider policy that covers anything that is related cancer as well as gap insurance. Kinda like Aflac. My Avmed at the age of 38 is $209 a month and my Colonial Life is $107 a month.

[Dozyproductions]

Are you self employed?

yes as a busser in a nice restaurant where I average around 2k - 3k a month. I'm not in school this quarter because I recently moved back to San Luis Obispo so i needed to work to get some savings prepared but will eventually go back full time for school and work. Mind you my e30 is in its stages where I need to spend some good money to get it back from grenading on me in a year.

[Vedubin01]

I'm currently uninsurable because I broke my finger two years ago and had to have surgury to repair it.

I call Bullshit, post your denial letter!

[Vedubin01]

yes as a busser in a nice restaurant where I average around 2k - 3k a month. I'm not in school this quarter because I recently moved back to San Luis Obispo so i needed to work to get some savings prepared but will eventually go back full time for school and work. Mind you my e30 is in its stages where I need to spend some good money to get it back from grenading on me in a year.

You are self employed working for a restaurant?

[Dozyproductions]

You are self employed working for a restaurant?

Brain fart. No I am not but will be hopefully within the next couple of years. My restaurant does not offer a healthcare option.

[mrsleeve]

I call Bullshit, post your denial letter!

I am sure he has one from a very picky and very cheap plan. Little woman has many because of a very minor hormonal condition that costs very little to manage. Its why we have had to go though the guaranteed acceptance programs for so long. which is not that much more expensive than similar traditionally sourced individual coverage.

Dozy

this ought to help ya out CA guaranteed acceptance program

https://www.healthnet.com/portal/member/selectRegion.do?region=CA&forward=#

[Vedubin01]

Brain fart. No I am not but will be hopefully within the next couple of years. My restaurant does not offer a healthcare option.

Have you applied for health insurance in the last 6 months from a major medical insurance company?

I did this with Blue Cross Blue Shield and they wrote me insurance except for the cancer or anything dealing with my stomach. I found Avmed being a South Florida company gave me a better rate. I then sourced out a policy though Colonial Life that covered what the major did not.