New Medical Plan For Seniors

[quicksilverdon]

Originally Posted by cdynaco

We have to break the entrenched mindset of the millionaires in Congress that keep increasing their standard of living at taxpayers doom.

But many of them didn't enter Congress as millionares....

We agree on a lot - I just see a public option as a way to force competition - there is zero regulation now and insurance companies are raking it in.

I cannot remember the last merger that was denied - the conglomerates just keep getting bigger and bigger in industry after industry.

We bailed out the banks - again (remember the "savings and loan" mess?) - and they used a lot of the money to buy up others.

[Ratdaddy]

Originally Posted by quicksilverdon

The laundry called - your white sheets are ready for pickup.

The post was done in jest to only our President, no others. I Apologize for ofending any persons or cultures. Photo/post has been removed.....

[cdynaco]

Originally Posted by quicksilverdon

We agree on a lot - I just see a public option as a way to force competition - there is zero regulation now and insurance companies are raking it in.

Well we both agree that forced competition is needed. But that could be attained by breaking up the ins monopoly - no exceptions. Yet it would still provide private companies that earn profits and pay taxes. And that would avoid layers of new bureaucracy from non tax paying Agencies. And as you know, once gov gets a foot in the door... which is the main reason I am opposed to a public option because I know what's next. (btw I think it should be illegal for ins cos to deny 'pre-existing conditions'. The whole concept of insurance is 'spreading the risk' - not cherry picking.)

Oregon has had a public option (paid by taxpayers) for awhile and recently passed expansion to cover the bulk of uninsured children (paid for by tax on insurers and medical facilities with the OK in the law to pass it on to policy holders - me). While that has helped lower income folks get coverage, it has done nothing to increase competition or deter the steady, hefty increases in my Medi-gap premiums each year.

In addition to breaking the ins cos' century old monopoly, gov could also change behavior with tax policy. What if medical ins was tax deductible like your mortgage interest & property taxes are? That would provide a financial incentive for deadbeats to get coverage (vs the proposed jail time if you don't buy it from the totalitarian government). Look what that has done to spur legitimate home ownership (ignoring the recent sub-prime farce) and all the parts of the economy that are involved? No new Admin Agencies needed.

You mentioned your wife usually has to resubmit claims. Well here's how Social Security Disability works: I have learned through my own experience and that of many others, that most all will receive an automatic denial - twice (which used to take about a year 10 yrs back, now much longer). The second denial is of your appeal and supposedly handled by someone other than denied you the first time. That's BS because they're all in the same office.
Then you get to wait about 18 mos to finally get before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). When the ALJ heard why I was twice denied and sat before him, he shook his head, took my testimony, reviewed the law, and approved my disability with specifics of the law that applied to my several injuries and it applied retroactive.
Now thankfully my health plan had its own disability that should have paid 24 mos. since I lost my job due to the injuries. UNUM started paying right away and required me to apply for SSDI (because they would get reimbursed if I qualify). However, 8 mos in they stopped paying, I had to hire an attorney, they settled for what they should have paid me in 24 mos (less $3k attorney fees). A year or so later UNUM was fined $100 million for pulling this stunt on a routine basis. Naturally I didn't get any of that - it went to a State Agency.
So it took 30 mos of no income (less the 8 mos I received from UNUM) to set the Agency straight and I got to enjoy going from a substantial well paying career to living at the poverty line.

I thought 30 mos. was a long time, but litte did I know what was coming next. Within just 2 years of having an ALJ confirm my disability and qualifying for SSDI/Medicare, I received notice that I was up for a 'routine review'. My arse! Reviews allow you to keep your benefits while they have you fill out more forms and see their doctor. However, some slug I never met got a burr in her saddle blanket and cancelled my benefits. Emergency paperwork and benefit appeals did nothing - they didn't even respond. Next I learn the doctor visit is a hoax. Its so the investigative amateurs can locate you and follow you around town with a video cam. They build their 'case' on hearsay and bogus information alleging all the while that I lied on my forms (although they never bothered to read my several forms on file, which later blew up in their face). Yes Admin Agencies treat you as guilty while you have to prove your innocence in contrast to my Constitutional rights. During one discussion I was so frustrated I demanded a jury trial to force them to prove their false allegations. The Dep Dir of the office yelled "you don't get a jury trial!" in contrast to my State and Federal Constitutional rights. (Oregon Const states your "right to a jury trial shall be inviolate". Ha!) I wrote my Congressman and Senator and all they could do was get information that I already had (my attorney sent my my entire foot high file). They were powerless to talk to an investigator, restore emergency benefits, OR FORCE THE MORONS TO SIMPLY READ ALL MY SUBMITTED FORMS AND TRANSCRIPTS FROM THE HEARING WITH THE FIRST ALJ TO SEE THAT I WAS ACCURATE AND HONEST FROM DAY ONE!
There were so many games along the way there isn't time for me to write it out. It was hard enough keeping my attorney up to speed on their convoluted false allegations.
This went on for 4 1/2 YEARS with NO INCOME! Finally I got my second Hearing before an ALJ and benefits were restored although I was out thousands for attorneys and my own investigators. It is hard for me to write this without swearing but I guarantee my blood pressure is spiking! LOL

10 years of being disabled, 7 of them in Appeal. And they treated me as if I wanted to throw away my good paying stable career in which I was very good at so I could be reduced to the poverty line at 43 and be victimized by arrogant bureaucrats. Right. I love my Country... but I FEAR my government!

So if I get a routine denial from Obama/Pelosi/Reid's healthcare scam, am I going to wait 2 1/2 or 4 1/2 years to be reimbursed (less my attorney fees that will surely be necessary) for a medical emergency?? Or will they have me stand in line as guilty while I prove my innocence to one of their 100 new Agencies???


PS: if you think my 4 1/2 year wait for an ALJ was an exception to the normal process, go to the SSDI website and read the letters by commissioners (current and previous back to 2003) to Congress about their extreme backlog, admitting that 'some have even died waiting for their Appeal Hearing'. One of my letters to my Senator included the SSA's schematic/timeline for applying and appeals. It was 17 pages long! Admin Agencies hard at work to justify their existence.

[edsidders]

Just recieved papers from my wife's insurance co. For 8K$ yearly deductable for 80% medical coverage without drug coverage my cost will go from $675 a month to just under $900 a month ..Pre existing condition CHOLESTEROL MEDICINE..