Originally Posted by mountanddo

Not sure I understand how co-pays are a rip off? To whom? The insured? I would much rather have a plan where I had to pay a co-pay of $25-35 then my 80/20 plan. My urgent care visit cost me over $300 vs. if I had a co-pay it would of cost me $25. I'd rather pay a premium and have co-pays. Also, the insurer can't charge you more later. They have contracts where if they accept the insurance they have agreed to cap the charge at a certain price and have to write off the excess.

If you pay insurance for something, you shouldn't then have to pay an extra charge on top every time you use the service. Is that how motor insurance works there? Or home contents insurance?

Why don't they just even out the average amount for co-pay each year, add it to the total paid for insurance, and then cover without extra payment?

We need to fix our insurance and medical problems from the bottom up. Americas safety nets end up costing so much money because of fraud and waste. Our government can't run anything because instead of fixing the problems we add to them more. I am all for great medical coverage for everyone but this is not the way to do it. We need to fix the programs in place before we give the IRS power to control more through taxes and penalties. Socialized medicine is a scary thought here because we see how our government runs things. Go to your local VA hospital and talk to some vets about how it is run than tell me that is the direction we should be going in......it is horrible how they are treated. There medical benefits suck and the government doesn't do anything to fix the system that is broken.They don't get the care they need. If you actually do some research you will see how nasty there medical is and how they are treated that is how America runs socialized medicine provided by the government. I don't want that type of medical coverage. We are a huge country so the comparison to smaller countries isn't really going to help. We need more localized solutions at the state levels because once it goes to the federal government there is no accountability.

I pay no deductible..

I pay a total of 310 a mth for full coverage medical/hospital, 8 bucks for any perscriptions, have a 27 dollar a mth for dental with a co pay of half of dental cost unless preventative like cleaning. Glass's if needed" glad I do not need yet" I would pay for not covered. Also can go to any Dr or hospital I want.

Originally Posted by sunray's wench

If you pay insurance for something, you shouldn't then have to pay an extra charge on top every time you use the service. Is that how motor insurance works there? Or home contents insurance?

Why don't they just even out the average amount for co-pay each year, add it to the total paid for insurance, and then cover without extra payment?

Well, you do have a deductible for car insurance and home/renters insurance but those types of insurance are replacing something you are insuring. It certainly would be nice to pay an insurance premium and not have to pay anything additional. If they evened it out I'd be paying for people that have lots of medical issues and would pay an horrendous fee up front.

Originally Posted by Selly

The reason I am not on board with this bill is because by requiring everyone to buy health insurance, Obama basically gave the health insurance a whopping big gift. There are some things that capitalism will never succeed at. If health care is for profit the goal changes from keeping citizens healthy to how much money these companies can make.

This! If he was socializing medicine he wouldn't be giving the insurance companies this gift!

Originally Posted by AmberLeigh

We need to fix our insurance and medical problems from the bottom up. Americas safety nets end up costing so much money because of fraud and waste. Our government can't run anything because instead of fixing the problems we add to them more. I am all for great medical coverage for everyone but this is not the way to do it. We need to fix the programs in place before we give the IRS power to control more through taxes and penalties. Socialized medicine is a scary thought here because we see how our government runs things. Go to your local VA hospital and talk to some vets about how it is run than tell me that is the direction we should be going in......it is horrible how they are treated. There medical benefits suck and the government doesn't do anything to fix the system that is broken.They don't get the care they need. If you actually do some research you will see how nasty there medical is and how they are treated that is how America runs socialized medicine provided by the government. I don't want that type of medical coverage. We are a huge country so the comparison to smaller countries isn't really going to help. We need more localized solutions at the state levels because once it goes to the federal government there is no accountability.

There already is no accountability just like your stated, we need to fix that before big Gov takes the wheel then it will be worse for all everyone will end up on medicaid.

I am already paying in my tax base for the medicaid system, by payroll deductions.
Sin tax on foods like soda etc, smokers sin tax related to health issues
I pay extra for uninsured drivers, I pay for if anyone is killed in a car accident not just for the property but medical incurred also.

The VA is Gov run already, so is medicare and medicaid, the difference is I paid all my life for medicaid" too not just for medicare my personal coverage at retirement.

So, if it is all equaled out" will I no longer have to still" pay into the above for medical coverage for others???

Originally Posted by mountanddo

Well, you do have a deductible for car insurance and home/renters insurance but those types of insurance are replacing something you are insuring. It certainly would be nice to pay an insurance premium and not have to pay anything additional. If they evened it out I'd be paying for people that have lots of medical issues and would pay an horrendous fee up front.

I cannot answer her directly she has me on ignore, lol but we "do not" have to carry a deductible on car or home insurance, we would just pay a higher premium. No law forces us to have a deductible we have choices even "a window" at what if any deductible is wanted a window" as to what we agree to set it at. To keep premiums down. If a ded it is for each occurance on auto and home.

Health insurance is based one deductible for the year if used/needed only not for each occurrance (if we want one or pay a higher premium), not by each occurance at least mine was not. Many different plan's and options to pick from on all insurance coverages to meet ones needs and income level.

Poor depend on medicaid for medical, many poor cannot even afford a car let alone insurance, plates, state inspections and maintence to begin with, so they usually use public transportation and live near it.

Originally Posted by peanut2

First and foremost before any healthcare plans, I want to know why in the hospital a .80 cent box of kleenex becomes a $28.00 charge. This is an elephant in the room no one talks about and where is that money going???

This is a good example of the way that it is. And, they get away with it because most people have no where else to go. Also, individuals have no chance in negotiating prices against these corporate medical giants. Under the Obama plan, I believe that patient advocates will be able to negotiate lower prices because they will represent the millions of people who use the health care system. I think that we need to give it a chance to work. Because, the way things are now, the pricing is out of control and "we the people" have no means to tackle them without uniting under a national health plan.

Originally Posted by mountanddo

If they evened it out I'd be paying for people that have lots of medical issues and would pay an horrendous fee up front.

But you are already paying for other people in that way. It's basic economics, but when you are starting a company (and insurance companies are no different) you work out what the thing will actually cost you, then divide that by the conservative estimate of potential customers, add on 20% and that's what you charge. I know they all say "we'll work out a plan that's right for you, based on your circumstance" but they only do that within their own pre-set peremeters.

So yes your payments would be higher, but overall you'd probably end up paying less because you wouldn't be hit with an ever-increasing co-pay, and they might also be able to cover more things under your premium. It amazes me what often isn't covered in American health insurance policies.