Now that we have a national healthcare system in place, a recent study on the quality of healthcare available in the US, state by state. They looked at things like dental care and tooth loss, obesity, death rates, and more.
I am lucky/happy to live in Massachusetts which has many good hospitals and doctors and had a mandated healthcare system for nearly 10 years. I have always thought I have received good health care over the years.
I read through the article and was appalled on some level at the level of health care available in differing states in this day and age. But then I read through the full report (17 page pdf) and was generally impressed with the improvements in the past five years.
So overall, while some parts of the country still do not have access to quality medical care, improvement is visible.
Showing posts with label health care reform. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health care reform. Show all posts
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Some lessons to learn
We can learn some lessons here. In the US we are busy being annoyed with the new healthcare system or happy to use it. But we have it and have to learn to live with it or legislate it into something else.
I did not know this but Germany has a very similar health care system with the same issues - trying to reduce costs. We are busy thinking we are doing something new but we aren't. Except for a few differences, it already exists pretty much.
I am not saying the German system is perfect. But if you read about it, there are some key similarities.
My point is that while we are trying to reinvent the wheel we can learn from others who have already done so.
I did not know this but Germany has a very similar health care system with the same issues - trying to reduce costs. We are busy thinking we are doing something new but we aren't. Except for a few differences, it already exists pretty much.
I am not saying the German system is perfect. But if you read about it, there are some key similarities.
My point is that while we are trying to reinvent the wheel we can learn from others who have already done so.
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Sharing the burden
Recently UPS was criticized for dropping employee health insurance coverage for spouses who are eligible for health insurance through their employers. But that's only 15,000 people. The majority of their drivers and other employees are covered through Teamster's Union benefits so they will not be affected by the change.
A recent article called Employers Play Obamacare Blame Game discusses reactions to the shared costs complaints and how other companies are reacting to the upcoming changes.
The whole point of mandatory health care is to have a healthier population. This requires change. So of course employers are going to start shifting burdens around as much as they can. Companies which have provided the most benefits I am sure will be some of the first to start making changes.
There is a separate requirement, starting in 2018, where employees who offer richer policies will be required to start shifting more of the costs to employees or start paying a penalty.
People are dying or going bankrupt due to lack of medical care or the high costs associated with it. We need to share the burden and can't assume our employers or the government will hand us everything we need. Its part of taking our place in society and being a contributing human being.
There are those, including me, who face health or other issues, who can't contribute as much as others. But that doesn't make them any less of human beings.
If you do not like the current and upcoming changes for whatever reason, then you can do your part by cooperating with the existing legislation and work to find ways to change it.
What this is all called is change. Get over it. Change is needed to make health insurance more affordable and health care more available. Our current system does not work. Insurance companies, not doctors, are making decisions about the health of people.
A recent article called Employers Play Obamacare Blame Game discusses reactions to the shared costs complaints and how other companies are reacting to the upcoming changes.
The whole point of mandatory health care is to have a healthier population. This requires change. So of course employers are going to start shifting burdens around as much as they can. Companies which have provided the most benefits I am sure will be some of the first to start making changes.
There is a separate requirement, starting in 2018, where employees who offer richer policies will be required to start shifting more of the costs to employees or start paying a penalty.
People are dying or going bankrupt due to lack of medical care or the high costs associated with it. We need to share the burden and can't assume our employers or the government will hand us everything we need. Its part of taking our place in society and being a contributing human being.
There are those, including me, who face health or other issues, who can't contribute as much as others. But that doesn't make them any less of human beings.
If you do not like the current and upcoming changes for whatever reason, then you can do your part by cooperating with the existing legislation and work to find ways to change it.
What this is all called is change. Get over it. Change is needed to make health insurance more affordable and health care more available. Our current system does not work. Insurance companies, not doctors, are making decisions about the health of people.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Going without health insurance
One of the biggest arguments with the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare is that some people do not like to do what they are told. I fully support the freedom of choice and if people choose to go with out insurance and pay the annual fine because they want to, why not?
The main goal of the ACA is to make health insurance affordable and accessible for more Americans. I think it will do that. People have not gotten insurance because they were told they had pre-existing conditions, low income, or whatever reason. Now there are options for all.
A recent story listed some people and why they did not want to have health insurance. That is clearly their choice and as the penalties rise in the coming years more of them may change their minds. Also, as people age they have a tendency to develop ailments which need expensive treatments.
I think in the future, there will be care for families with small children and they will grow up with health insurance and expect to continue you having it. I do think there will always be those who choose not to. That is their choice.
Me I will always have health insurance.
The main goal of the ACA is to make health insurance affordable and accessible for more Americans. I think it will do that. People have not gotten insurance because they were told they had pre-existing conditions, low income, or whatever reason. Now there are options for all.
A recent story listed some people and why they did not want to have health insurance. That is clearly their choice and as the penalties rise in the coming years more of them may change their minds. Also, as people age they have a tendency to develop ailments which need expensive treatments.
I think in the future, there will be care for families with small children and they will grow up with health insurance and expect to continue you having it. I do think there will always be those who choose not to. That is their choice.
Me I will always have health insurance.
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Some lessons to learn
We can learn some lessons here. In the US we are busy being annoyed with the new healthcare system or happy to use it. But we have it and have to learn to live with it or legislate it into something else.
I did not know this but Germany has a very similar health care system with the same issues - trying to reduce costs. We are busy thinking we are doing something new but we aren't. Except for a few differences, it already exists pretty much.
I am not saying the German system is perfect. But if you read about it, there are some key similarities.
My point is that while we are trying to reinvent the wheel we can learn from others who have already done so.
I did not know this but Germany has a very similar health care system with the same issues - trying to reduce costs. We are busy thinking we are doing something new but we aren't. Except for a few differences, it already exists pretty much.
I am not saying the German system is perfect. But if you read about it, there are some key similarities.
My point is that while we are trying to reinvent the wheel we can learn from others who have already done so.
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
How good is your health care?
Now that we have a national healthcare system in place, a recent study on the quality of healthcare available in the US, state by state. They looked at things like dental care and tooth loss, obesity, death rates, and more.
I am lucky/happy to live in Massachusetts which has many good hospitals and doctors and had a mandated healthcare system for nearly 10 years. I have always thought I have received good health care over the years.
I read through the article and was appalled on some level at the level of health care available in differing states in this day and age. But then I read through the full report (17 page pdf) and was generally impressed with the improvements in the past five years.
So overall, while some parts of the country still do not have access to quality medical care, improvement is visible.
I am lucky/happy to live in Massachusetts which has many good hospitals and doctors and had a mandated healthcare system for nearly 10 years. I have always thought I have received good health care over the years.
I read through the article and was appalled on some level at the level of health care available in differing states in this day and age. But then I read through the full report (17 page pdf) and was generally impressed with the improvements in the past five years.
So overall, while some parts of the country still do not have access to quality medical care, improvement is visible.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Deciphering the new health care plans
Finally after years of bickering, litigation, threats, name calling, elections, fear of change, and all sorts of nastiness, we are finally at the point where Americans should be able to sign up for the new health care plans. For the icing on the cake, the morons engineers who put the site together obviously did not do their jobs and few can sign up.
Once the first sign ups occurred, we hear all about the stories of how bad the new plans are. One woman in California went on TV to complain about her new plan. She has to pay more and doesn't like her new coverage. Here's the real story. She currently has a catastrophic plan through Anthem where she pays $293/month which entitles her to a $5000 deductible, limits her out of pocket to $8500, and a $40 copay for each of the two doctor appointments she is allowed each year. Everything else is all out of pocket. The new Affordable Care Act considers this an nonconforming plan.
She was quoted a new plan for $478/month. Which she didn't like. But the real story is that is way more than she will pay. Due to her income she is eligible to discounts. She could get a discounted plan for $333/month which has a $2000 deductible, $6350 out of pocket maximum, and as many doctor appointments as she wants with copays of $45 for primary care and $65 for specialists. At her age, 60, I think this would probably be a good fit but if its still if its more than she wants to pay there is another lower cost plan available for $194/month which allows as many doctor visits as she wants and a $5000 deductible and a $6350 out of pocket maximum.
Finally her income fluctuates and currently she would be eligible for subsidies to help pay the premiums.
If I was her I would go for one of the two plans where I can go to the doctor as many times as I need. Being limited to two covered visits per year works if you are a healthy 20 something.
A little more research might have discovered these options for her.
And a little less bias in the media might have made these options more visible.
On the other side of the coin is the story of the woman who found a plan for a premium of $1.11 per month. Yes that is one dollar and eleven cents each month.
Now that would be a pretty damn good deal. Did I say she used to pay $509 each month?
Once the first sign ups occurred, we hear all about the stories of how bad the new plans are. One woman in California went on TV to complain about her new plan. She has to pay more and doesn't like her new coverage. Here's the real story. She currently has a catastrophic plan through Anthem where she pays $293/month which entitles her to a $5000 deductible, limits her out of pocket to $8500, and a $40 copay for each of the two doctor appointments she is allowed each year. Everything else is all out of pocket. The new Affordable Care Act considers this an nonconforming plan.
She was quoted a new plan for $478/month. Which she didn't like. But the real story is that is way more than she will pay. Due to her income she is eligible to discounts. She could get a discounted plan for $333/month which has a $2000 deductible, $6350 out of pocket maximum, and as many doctor appointments as she wants with copays of $45 for primary care and $65 for specialists. At her age, 60, I think this would probably be a good fit but if its still if its more than she wants to pay there is another lower cost plan available for $194/month which allows as many doctor visits as she wants and a $5000 deductible and a $6350 out of pocket maximum.
Finally her income fluctuates and currently she would be eligible for subsidies to help pay the premiums.
If I was her I would go for one of the two plans where I can go to the doctor as many times as I need. Being limited to two covered visits per year works if you are a healthy 20 something.
A little more research might have discovered these options for her.
And a little less bias in the media might have made these options more visible.
On the other side of the coin is the story of the woman who found a plan for a premium of $1.11 per month. Yes that is one dollar and eleven cents each month.
Now that would be a pretty damn good deal. Did I say she used to pay $509 each month?
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