Wasn't Obamacare supposed to fix all the problems?

[sy2502]

Just got this communication from my Allergy doctor:

NOTICE: CHANGES OF CLINIC OPERATIONS***
***This notice does not affect most of you who are already on the Direct-pay plans.
Medical system is changing and medical practices all over US are struggling to adjust to the new system of Obamacare.
Insurances raised out-of-pocket payments for patients, and at the same time unacceptably restricted coverage and reimbursement policy. Beginning last year, many procedures and treatments necessary for the comprehensive allergy and immunology care are excluded from coverage or transferred to patient’s responsibility.
We have tried to re-negotiate these medical policies, but our attempts have not lead to any progress. Dr **** is an active speaker and advocate at national and international professional
organizations – she spoke as a patient’s rights advocate many times but... she was not heard. It is our conclusion that we are unable to provide level of care Dr *** deems necessary while in contract with most insurances.
Beginning on June 17th 2016 we will become Out-of-Network Provider for ALL patients covered with insurance plans issued by United Healthcare, Cigna and Aetna. All fees for all services will be set by Allergy and Immunology clinic and will be due at the time of service.

Thanks Obama!

[IH8RICE]

From what I see, like any shady salesman, Obama forced this "tax" upon everyone and led everyone to believe it would be cheaper overall and that everyone would have healthcare. Low and behold there are more sick people coming out of the woodwork and more healthy people willing to pay the penalty rather than get on the program. This is what happens when you force something on a mass of people and you don't do your homework. This was destined to fail from the start. Im afraid all this is going to do is force them to up taxes or the penalty or both. People who wanted this are going to be furious over the next few years unless this "tax" is reformed.

[bodyhard]

People on welfare, SSI/SSD love Obama care....

[ajdahlheimer]

United Healthcare is actually pulling off the Exchange I believe. So will not even be offering Obamacare products/plans any longer......

[ajdahlheimer]

People on welfare, SSI/SSD love Obama care....

Indirectly perhaps. Those individuals take advantage of the expansion of medicare/medicaid which was a result of Obamacare. But even the decision to accept the expansion was up to each state. The expansion removed certain controls that were in place such as the asset-test, in order to get on programs like medicaid (i.e. state paid/free healthcare)

People on SSI/SSD or welfare wouldn't actually use traditional Obamacare plans/products though.....

[bustasinclair]

We had a client who qualified for the premium tax credit while purchasing from the exchange for him and his wife and five kids. The guy made $175,000 on a w-2, but he had a prior year net operating loss from a business interest he was invested in and effectively made his taxable income zero. Zero taxable income = subsidized healthcare under the ACA.

This legislation was slapped together so quickly and without thought, that people making loads of money are getting tax credits who don't deserve them. This is our fifth wealthy client who has slipped through the cracks on this issue.

[sy2502]

People on welfare, SSI/SSD love Obama care....

Well I don't know about that, because if more doctors start asking for the full payment at the time of the visit, I don't know how many people on welfare can do that.

[bodyhard]

Well I don't know about that, because if more doctors start asking for the full payment at the time of the visit, I don't know how many people on welfare can do that.

Not trying to knock my family in anyway, but I had 9 brothers and 7 sisters, out of the group the only ones who worked all their lives are, me (been working for 36 years), my brother Robert (RIP) my brother Ric and my sister Nilda. All my other siblings are on welfare, SSi and or SSD and all of them are doing very well under Obama care, in fact none of them would give it up for the world.

So I might be wrong, but seeing how they get everything for free, I would have to assume everyone else on welfare/ssi/ssd fares the same.

[ajdahlheimer]

Well I don't know about that, because if more doctors start asking for the full payment at the time of the visit, I don't know how many people on welfare can do that.

That doesn't matter if you are on a program like Medicaid though (everything is already free), which the person may qualify for now due to the Obamacare expansion of it.....so BH is correct IMO.

I'm a systems analyst for a large healthcare company. Not an expert on the program by any means, but now a decent amount.......

[ajdahlheimer]

So I might be wrong, but seeing how they get everything for free, I would have to assume everyone else on welfare/ssi/ssd fares the same.

Your assumption is correct. And prior to Medicaid's expansion (which was part of Obamacare), your siblings on welfare may very well NOT have qualified for the program before.

[so-tex]

brb, just cancelled my insurance, ran out on the freeway and let a Mercedes run over my leg.
What do I win?

[Iceman1800]

That doesn't matter if you are on a program like Medicaid though (everything is already free), which the person may qualify for now due to the Obamacare expansion of it.....so BH is correct IMO.

I'm a systems analyst for a large healthcare company. Not an expert on the program by any means, but now a decent amount.......

One of the biggest development issues with the Affordable Care act was Obama didn't include companies like yours in the discussion. There were no professionals from the health insurance industry involved at all in how to make health care affordable.

[BankWalker]

Though some did benefit from the ACA, more families were hurt by it. Millions of hard working people had their hours cut back. Millions have seen their premiums increase a great deal. It was/is horrible legislation.

[ajdahlheimer]

One of the biggest development issues with the Affordable Care act was Obama didn't include companies like yours in the discussion. There were no professionals from the health insurance industry involved at all in how to make health care affordable.

Correct

Though some did benefit from the ACA, more families were hurt by it. Millions of hard working people had their hours cut back. Millions have seen their premiums increase a great deal. It was/is horrible legislation.

Also correct.

[Mark1T]

Not to mention some major insurance companies have or are about to bail.

[Jtbny]

And this is one of the frustrating things about this years election for me. HC wants to continue this mess. On the other side Trump. FUK!!

[sy2502]

That doesn't matter if you are on a program like Medicaid though (everything is already free), which the person may qualify for now due to the Obamacare expansion of it.....so BH is correct IMO.

I'm a systems analyst for a large healthcare company. Not an expert on the program by any means, but now a decent amount.......

Thank you! I don't know too much about those programs, so thank you for the info.

[Jbizzlechizzle]

The entire health care system is a fraud and it was a fraud before ACA. If you want to argue that it's worse after ACA, I'm ok with that, but let's not pretend it was in a good place prior to ACA. There's no incentive to cure people, only to manage their symptoms and this is all about the almighty dollar. This needs to be fixed before the healthcare situation improves. I won't hold my breath...

[bustasinclair]

The entire health care system is a fraud and it was a fraud before ACA. If you want to argue that it's worse after ACA, I'm ok with that, but let's not pretend it was in a good place prior to ACA. There's no incentive to cure people, only to manage their symptoms and this is all about the almighty dollar. This needs to be fixed before the healthcare situation improves. I won't hold my breath...

^^QFT

I've been saying the same thing about the US healthcare system for years. I don't have all the answers obviously, but something doesn't feel right about people profiting from others' illnesses.

[sy2502]

The entire health care system is a fraud and it was a fraud before ACA. If you want to argue that it's worse after ACA, I'm ok with that, but let's not pretend it was in a good place prior to ACA. There's no incentive to cure people, only to manage their symptoms and this is all about the almighty dollar. This needs to be fixed before the healthcare situation improves. I won't hold my breath...

Totally agree with you, the previous system needed some change. But ACA is like curing an ingrown toenail by amputating the foot.

[JustLost]

Totally agree with you, the previous system needed some change. But ACA is like curing an ingrown toenail by amputating the foot.

Sort of like every time the federal government sets out to solve a problem.

[Mark1T]

According to Mr. Obama, there is nothing wrong and the Republicans have lost their minds.

K.

[anonymous]

Your assumption is correct. And prior to Medicaid's expansion (which was part of Obamacare), your siblings on welfare may very well NOT have qualified for the program before.

My neighbors lifetime welfare leech aunt loves it, although she gets upset that it won't cover her 'smoke' and hopes that Bernie will extend it to make sure her 'glaucoma' is properly treated.

Makes me proud to be an American that I can help carry people like her through these troubled times with a small gift of 5 months worth of my income every year.

[sy2502]

Sort of like every time the federal government sets out to solve a problem.

Man don't even get me started...

My mother-in-law lives in Britain, you know the fabled NHS that Libs so admire... Well she is in her 70s and needs a heart valve replacement. This was several months ago. She still hasn't had one. Because they tell her "call in 4 weeks to see if we can set up an appointment for you", she calls, and they say "sorry, no openings, call in 6 weeks", etc etc. Basically because of her age, she's at the end of the queue, anyone younger than her gets priority. So now my husband is losing his mind because he's scared she's going to die before she gets the surgery. Isn't public health care wonderful?

[DuracellBunny]

Man don't even get me started...

My mother-in-law lives in Britain, you know the fabled NHS that Libs so admire... Well she is in her 70s and needs a heart valve replacement. This was several months ago. She still hasn't had one. Because they tell her "call in 4 weeks to see if we can set up an appointment for you", she calls, and they say "sorry, no openings, call in 6 weeks", etc etc. Basically because of her age, she's at the end of the queue, anyone younger than her gets priority. So now my husband is losing his mind because he's scared she's going to die before she gets the surgery. Isn't public health care wonderful?

This is where many people misunderstand the NHS. The UK has private healthcare, which you can pay for yourself or get included with the benefits from any halfway decent job (all of my employees have it). Private healthcare is comparable to the US. If you don't want to, or can't, pay for private healthcare, you get the NHS.

Re your MIL, that sounds about right. When resources are limited, they do a cost/benefit analysis around quality of life and put you higher up the list if they think you will get the most benefit.

[so-tex]

And this is one of the frustrating things about this years election for me. HC wants to continue this mess. On the other side Trump. FUK!!

I'm with you John.
They both SUCK!

[sy2502]

This is where many people misunderstand the NHS. The UK has private healthcare, which you can pay for yourself or get included with the benefits from any halfway decent job (all of my employees have it). Private healthcare is comparable to the US. If you don't want to, or can't, pay for private healthcare, you get the NHS.

Re your MIL, that sounds about right. When resources are limited, they do a cost/benefit analysis around quality of life and put you higher up the list if they think you will get the most benefit.

Yes. Many Libs think that "coverage" and "care" are the same thing. They are not. The government can give you all sorts of coverage, which will do you precisely jack squat if you don't get the care.

In other news, Italy which also has public healthcare is worried that the new super expensive drugs for Hep C, cancer, AIDS etc will bankrupt their already broke system so they are buying only a little bit. So the only way you can get them is if you are, basically about to die. But, you may say, I have money, I will buy them privately. And you are in for a surprise because the government passed a law, yes a law, that forbids doctors from prescribing these drugs to anyone who doesn't fit the criteria (about to die). So you just don't get a prescription, period.

[DuracellBunny]

Yes. Many Libs think that "coverage" and "care" are the same thing. They are not. The government can give you all sorts of coverage, which will do you precisely jack squat if you don't get the care.

In other news, Italy which also has public healthcare is worried that the new super expensive drugs for Hep C, cancer, AIDS etc will bankrupt their already broke system so they are buying only a little bit. So the only way you can get them is if you are, basically about to die. But, you may say, I have money, I will buy them privately. And you are in for a surprise because the government passed a law, yes a law, that forbids doctors from prescribing these drugs to anyone who doesn't fit the criteria (about to die). So you just don't get a prescription, period.

We'll soon see lots of Italians coming to the UK for these drugs then.

[Brackneyc]

I have seen the word "free"used many times. How kind of doctors and hospitals to do things for free. fcking awesome.

[Mark1T]

I have seen the word "free"used many times. How kind of doctors and hospitals to do things for free. fcking awesome.

The Bernies don't care if the doctors and hospitals don't get paid. They assume that there is plenty of money to go around.

So, what's the problem, Bracky?