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Post by JP5 on Nov 4, 2013 1:22:33 GMT
My heart goes out to this man....and all the others who are being hurt by Obamacare. This is a must read. If you live in the U.S. you'd better know this....and understand it. God Bless you and others like you, Mr. Sundby. You Also Can't Keep Your Doctor I had great cancer doctors and health insurance.My plan was cancelled. Now I worry how long I'll live. By Edie Littlefield Sundby Nov. 3, 2013 6:37 p.m. ET "Everyone now is clamoring about Affordable Care Act winners and losers. I am one of the losers. My grievance is not political; all my energies are directed to enjoying life and staying alive, and I have no time for politics. For almost seven years I have fought and survived stage-4 gallbladder cancer, with a five-year survival rate of less than 2% after diagnosis. I am a determined fighter and extremely lucky. But this luck may have just run out: My affordable, lifesaving medical insurance policy has been canceled effective Dec. 31. My choice is to get coverage through the government health exchange and lose access to my cancer doctors, or pay much more for insurance outside the exchange (the quotes average 40% to 50% more) for the privilege of starting over with an unfamiliar insurance company and impaired benefits. Countless hours searching for non-exchange plans have uncovered nothing that compares well with my existing coverage. But the greatest source of frustration is Covered California, the state's Affordable Care Act health-insurance exchange and, by some reports, one of the best such exchanges in the country. After four weeks of researching plans on the website, talking directly to government exchange counselors, insurance companies and medical providers, my insurance broker and I are as confused as ever. Time is running out and we still don't have a clue how to best proceed. Two things have been essential in my fight to survive stage-4 cancer. The first are doctors and health teams in California and Texas: at the medical center of the University of California, San Diego, and its Moores Cancer Center; Stanford University's Cancer Institute; and the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. The second element essential to my fight is a United Healthcare PPO (preferred provider organization) health-insurance policy. Since March 2007 United Healthcare has paid $1.2 million to help keep me alive, and it has never once questioned any treatment or procedure recommended by my medical team. The company pays a fair price to the doctors and hospitals, on time, and is responsive to the emergency treatment requirements of late-stage cancer. Its caring people in the claims office have been readily available to talk to me and my providers. But in January, United Healthcare sent me a letter announcing that they were pulling out of the individual California market. The company suggested I look to Covered California starting in October. You would think it would be simple to find a health-exchange plan that allows me, living in San Diego, to continue to see my primary oncologist at Stanford University and my primary care doctors at the University of California, San Diego. Not so. UCSD has agreed to accept only one Covered California plan—a very restrictive Anthem EPO Plan. EPO stands for exclusive provider organization, which means the plan has a small network of doctors and facilities and no out-of-network coverage (as in a preferred-provider organization plan) except for emergencies. Stanford accepts an Anthem PPO plan but it is not available for purchase in San Diego (only Anthem HMO and EPO plans are available in San Diego). So if I go with a health-exchange plan, I must choose between Stanford and UCSD. Stanford has kept me alive—but UCSD has provided emergency and local treatment support during wretched periods of this disease, and it is where my primary-care doctors are. Before the Affordable Care Act, health-insurance policies could not be sold across state lines; now policies sold on the Affordable Care Act exchanges may not be offered across county lines.What happened to the president's promise, "You can keep your health plan"? Or to the promise that "You can keep your doctor"? Thanks to the law, I have been forced to give up a world-class health plan. The exchange would force me to give up a world-class physician.For a cancer patient, medical coverage is a matter of life and death. Take away people's ability to control their medical-coverage choices and they may die. I guess that's a highly effective way to control medical costs. Perhaps that's the point." Ms. Sundby lives in California. online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304527504579171710423780446 |
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Post by snarky on Nov 5, 2013 11:35:43 GMT
My heart goes out to this man....and all the others who are being hurt by Obamacare. This is a must read. If you live in the U.S. you'd better know this....and understand it. God Bless you and others like you, Mr. Sundby. You Also Can't Keep Your Doctor I had great cancer doctors and health insurance.My plan was cancelled. Now I worry how long I'll live. By Edie Littlefield Sundby Nov. 3, 2013 6:37 p.m. ET "Everyone now is clamoring about Affordable Care Act winners and losers. I am one of the losers. My grievance is not political; all my energies are directed to enjoying life and staying alive, and I have no time for politics. For almost seven years I have fought and survived stage-4 gallbladder cancer, with a five-year survival rate of less than 2% after diagnosis. I am a determined fighter and extremely lucky. But this luck may have just run out: My affordable, lifesaving medical insurance policy has been canceled effective Dec. 31. My choice is to get coverage through the government health exchange and lose access to my cancer doctors, or pay much more for insurance outside the exchange (the quotes average 40% to 50% more) for the privilege of starting over with an unfamiliar insurance company and impaired benefits. Countless hours searching for non-exchange plans have uncovered nothing that compares well with my existing coverage. But the greatest source of frustration is Covered California, the state's Affordable Care Act health-insurance exchange and, by some reports, one of the best such exchanges in the country. After four weeks of researching plans on the website, talking directly to government exchange counselors, insurance companies and medical providers, my insurance broker and I are as confused as ever. Time is running out and we still don't have a clue how to best proceed. Two things have been essential in my fight to survive stage-4 cancer. The first are doctors and health teams in California and Texas: at the medical center of the University of California, San Diego, and its Moores Cancer Center; Stanford University's Cancer Institute; and the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. The second element essential to my fight is a United Healthcare PPO (preferred provider organization) health-insurance policy. Since March 2007 United Healthcare has paid $1.2 million to help keep me alive, and it has never once questioned any treatment or procedure recommended by my medical team. The company pays a fair price to the doctors and hospitals, on time, and is responsive to the emergency treatment requirements of late-stage cancer. Its caring people in the claims office have been readily available to talk to me and my providers. But in January, United Healthcare sent me a letter announcing that they were pulling out of the individual California market. The company suggested I look to Covered California starting in October. You would think it would be simple to find a health-exchange plan that allows me, living in San Diego, to continue to see my primary oncologist at Stanford University and my primary care doctors at the University of California, San Diego. Not so. UCSD has agreed to accept only one Covered California plan—a very restrictive Anthem EPO Plan. EPO stands for exclusive provider organization, which means the plan has a small network of doctors and facilities and no out-of-network coverage (as in a preferred-provider organization plan) except for emergencies. Stanford accepts an Anthem PPO plan but it is not available for purchase in San Diego (only Anthem HMO and EPO plans are available in San Diego). So if I go with a health-exchange plan, I must choose between Stanford and UCSD. Stanford has kept me alive—but UCSD has provided emergency and local treatment support during wretched periods of this disease, and it is where my primary-care doctors are. Before the Affordable Care Act, health-insurance policies could not be sold across state lines; now policies sold on the Affordable Care Act exchanges may not be offered across county lines.What happened to the president's promise, "You can keep your health plan"? Or to the promise that "You can keep your doctor"? Thanks to the law, I have been forced to give up a world-class health plan. The exchange would force me to give up a world-class physician.For a cancer patient, medical coverage is a matter of life and death. Take away people's ability to control their medical-coverage choices and they may die. I guess that's a highly effective way to control medical costs. Perhaps that's the point." Ms. Sundby lives in California. online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304527504579171710423780446 did you even read that article b4 posting it or were you in such a hurry to post an anti-obamacare thread that you threw it on the forum wall & hope it stuck? |
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Post by ShivaTD on Nov 5, 2013 13:32:52 GMT
Another ironic fact is that this person had health insurance and because of early detection of the cancer is a survivor. Many cancers are curable if detected early but those without health insurance and that can't really afford to see a doctor often go without routine medical screenings for cancer that results in early detection that would save their lives.
This is a huge factor in the fact that a lack of insurance results in an estimated 45,000 unnecessary deaths every year in the United States. Now 45,000 isn't a very large percentage of the US population and many ignore it because of this fact but if you're one of those 45,000 or a family member of friend of one of those that will die unnecessarily if "Obamacare" was repealed it would be a huge concern. Repealing "Obamacare" no matter how bad it might be simply can't be justified when the death toll is considered. 45,000/yr is greater than the entire KIA death toll (not entire death toll) for the entire Vietnam War.
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Post by ShivaTD on Nov 5, 2013 13:40:10 GMT
Another interesting fact. This is about the California Health Insurance Exchange and not the National Health Insurance Exchange. The complaint isn't against "Obamacare" but instead how the State of California set up it's own Health Insurance Exchange. If there is a complaint it would go to the California Health Commissioner that I believe is ultimately in charge of the California Health Insurance Exchange.
In short this is a State issue and not a Federal issue. "Obamacare" didn't create the "coverage" problem being addressed. The State of California created the "coverage" problem.
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Post by snarky on Nov 5, 2013 18:58:12 GMT
MY sister had insurance AND MYU sister had stage 4 ovarian cancer. she had surgery & chemo... but the chemo the ins pd for required her to go get tubes stuck in her arm at a facility rather than get better drugs she could have taken at home. less stress for her but more expensive for big healthcorp. guess which way they decided? her quality of life diminished but hey--- that meant that the ins co didn't hafta spend 80-85% of her premium on her.... yaaaaaaaaaaaa.................................................... that's the status quo.
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Post by ShivaTD on Nov 5, 2013 19:08:40 GMT
MY sister had insurance AND MYU sister had stage 4 ovarian cancer. she had surgery & chemo... but the chemo the ins pd for required her to go get tubes stuck in her arm at a facility rather than get better drugs she could have taken at home. less stress for her but more expensive for big healthcorp. guess which way they decided? her quality of life diminished but hey--- that meant that the ins co didn't hafta spend 80-85% of her premium on her.... yaaaaaaaaaaaa.................................................... that's the status quo.
Health insurance problems have no real meaning to the tens of millions of people that didn't have and couldn't afford health insurance.
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Post by snarky on Nov 5, 2013 22:24:31 GMT
Health insurance problems have no real meaning to the tens of millions of people that didn't have and couldn't afford health insurance.
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9, bingo. |
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Post by JP5 on Nov 5, 2013 23:27:43 GMT
My heart goes out to this man....and all the others who are being hurt by Obamacare. This is a must read. If you live in the U.S. you'd better know this....and understand it. God Bless you and others like you, Mr. Sundby. You Also Can't Keep Your Doctor I had great cancer doctors and health insurance.My plan was cancelled. Now I worry how long I'll live. By Edie Littlefield Sundby Nov. 3, 2013 6:37 p.m. ET "Everyone now is clamoring about Affordable Care Act winners and losers. I am one of the losers. My grievance is not political; all my energies are directed to enjoying life and staying alive, and I have no time for politics. For almost seven years I have fought and survived stage-4 gallbladder cancer, with a five-year survival rate of less than 2% after diagnosis. I am a determined fighter and extremely lucky. But this luck may have just run out: My affordable, lifesaving medical insurance policy has been canceled effective Dec. 31. My choice is to get coverage through the government health exchange and lose access to my cancer doctors, or pay much more for insurance outside the exchange (the quotes average 40% to 50% more) for the privilege of starting over with an unfamiliar insurance company and impaired benefits. Countless hours searching for non-exchange plans have uncovered nothing that compares well with my existing coverage. But the greatest source of frustration is Covered California, the state's Affordable Care Act health-insurance exchange and, by some reports, one of the best such exchanges in the country. After four weeks of researching plans on the website, talking directly to government exchange counselors, insurance companies and medical providers, my insurance broker and I are as confused as ever. Time is running out and we still don't have a clue how to best proceed. Two things have been essential in my fight to survive stage-4 cancer. The first are doctors and health teams in California and Texas: at the medical center of the University of California, San Diego, and its Moores Cancer Center; Stanford University's Cancer Institute; and the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. The second element essential to my fight is a United Healthcare PPO (preferred provider organization) health-insurance policy. Since March 2007 United Healthcare has paid $1.2 million to help keep me alive, and it has never once questioned any treatment or procedure recommended by my medical team. The company pays a fair price to the doctors and hospitals, on time, and is responsive to the emergency treatment requirements of late-stage cancer. Its caring people in the claims office have been readily available to talk to me and my providers. But in January, United Healthcare sent me a letter announcing that they were pulling out of the individual California market. The company suggested I look to Covered California starting in October. You would think it would be simple to find a health-exchange plan that allows me, living in San Diego, to continue to see my primary oncologist at Stanford University and my primary care doctors at the University of California, San Diego. Not so. UCSD has agreed to accept only one Covered California plan—a very restrictive Anthem EPO Plan. EPO stands for exclusive provider organization, which means the plan has a small network of doctors and facilities and no out-of-network coverage (as in a preferred-provider organization plan) except for emergencies. Stanford accepts an Anthem PPO plan but it is not available for purchase in San Diego (only Anthem HMO and EPO plans are available in San Diego). So if I go with a health-exchange plan, I must choose between Stanford and UCSD. Stanford has kept me alive—but UCSD has provided emergency and local treatment support during wretched periods of this disease, and it is where my primary-care doctors are. Before the Affordable Care Act, health-insurance policies could not be sold across state lines; now policies sold on the Affordable Care Act exchanges may not be offered across county lines.What happened to the president's promise, "You can keep your health plan"? Or to the promise that "You can keep your doctor"? Thanks to the law, I have been forced to give up a world-class health plan. The exchange would force me to give up a world-class physician.For a cancer patient, medical coverage is a matter of life and death. Take away people's ability to control their medical-coverage choices and they may die. I guess that's a highly effective way to control medical costs. Perhaps that's the point." Ms. Sundby lives in California. online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304527504579171710423780446 did you even read that article b4 posting it or were you in such a hurry to post an anti-obamacare thread that you threw it on the forum wall & hope it stuck?
OH YEAH.....I see it now. You were addressing the OH SO IMPORTANT POINT THAT I SAID "MR." INSTEAD OF "MRS." WOW.....that changed EVERYTHING, now, didn't it? 
Well, that's understandable. After all, what Obama/Obamacare supporter wants to address the actual meat of the article?
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Post by ShivaTD on Nov 6, 2013 2:28:53 GMT
Once again I have to ask what the hell do the problems with private health insurance (that have always existed) have to do with roughly 30-40 million Americans that couldn't afford medical services or health insurance?
"Obamacare" did not set out to fix all of the problems with private health insurance or Medicaid but instead set out to provide private health insurance or Medicaid for the tens of millions that had no insurance coverage, private or public, at all. With all of the problems we can cite related to private health insurance and Medicaid a person is still better off with either private health insurance or Medicaid than they would be without either.
Conservatives are trying to establish that because private health insurance and Medicaid have problems that tens of millions of Americans are better off without either of them and that is not a valid argument.
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Post by snarky on Nov 6, 2013 13:50:06 GMT
did you even read that article b4 posting it or were you in such a hurry to post an anti-obamacare thread that you threw it on the forum wall & hope it stuck?
OH YEAH.....I see it now. You were addressing the OH SO IMPORTANT POINT THAT I SAID "MR." INSTEAD OF "MRS." WOW.....that changed EVERYTHING, now, didn't it?
Well, that's understandable. After all, what Obama/Obamacare supporter wants to address the actual meat of the article?
& yet again... went ignored by y-o-u because i would CONclude... you had nothing left in your bag of tricks.BUT hey... i'll even give you the bennie of the doubt that you <ahem> didn't see it on the forum. but here... here it is now. oopsie  worldpf.com/thread/688/facts-cancer-survivors-read |
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Post by ShivaTD on Nov 6, 2013 18:21:15 GMT
There are now and have always been problems with private insurance. "Obamacare" never attempted to fix all of the problems with private insurance and many of those bled over into "Obamacare" because it didn't address them.
The one thing I know historically is that Republicans are actually pretty good at addressing problems with private insurance as they have made many suggestions and proposals related to improving private insurance in the past. So why aren't Republicans addressing these problems with private insurance that exist with "Obamacare" today is the question for me. Republicans much better at addressing these problems with private insurance than the Democrats IMHO but apparently believe that the lesser qualified Democrats should deal with it. That's sort of stupid.
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Post by JP5 on Nov 6, 2013 23:21:36 GMT
There are now and have always been problems with private insurance. "Obamacare" never attempted to fix all of the problems with private insurance and many of those bled over into "Obamacare" because it didn't address them.
The one thing I know historically is that Republicans are actually pretty good at addressing problems with private insurance as they have made many suggestions and proposals related to improving private insurance in the past. So why aren't Republicans addressing these problems with private insurance that exist with "Obamacare" today is the question for me. Republicans much better at addressing these problems with private insurance than the Democrats IMHO but apparently believe that the lesser qualified Democrats should deal with it. That's sort of stupid.
BTW, did you happen to listen today to DEMOCRAT Senator Max Baucus, who wrote the bill? He's the guy who has since called it a train wreck. IF he believes there's anything at all good about it......you couldn't tell.....because he thinks it's been badly managed by this administration.
And IMHO, that's indicative of just how poorly it will be run by the federal government.....and I think Baucus now realize that fact.
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Post by ShivaTD on Nov 7, 2013 10:52:41 GMT
Because Republicans aren't going to buy in to a law that was ill-conceived and was nothing more than a badly written piece of legislation.
BTW, did you happen to listen today to DEMOCRAT Senator Max Baucus, who wrote the bill? He's the guy who has since called it a train wreck. IF he believes there's anything at all good about it......you couldn't tell.....because he thinks it's been badly managed by this administration.
And IMHO, that's indicative of just how poorly it will be run by the federal government.....and I think Baucus now realize that fact.
Yes, I'll also agree that it was a badly written piece of legislation but would also condemn Republicans that, it 2009, never offered any proposals that would have ensured quality health care to the tens of millions of Americans that had no insurance and couldn't afford health care services. The Republicans made some proposals in 2009 but not a single one of the would have ensured that the all of the "uninsured" in America would all receive quality health care.
The problem was tens of millions of Americans that weren't receiving health care that all too often lead to death and the Republicans made no proposals that would have resolved the problem. This problem was identified as early as 1948 by Congress and the Republicans, for over 60 years, fundamentally refused to address the problem. At any time between 1948 and 2009 the Republicans could have proposed a legislative solution to the problem and never did. In 2009 I watched the discussions in Congress and not one Republican proposal would have fixed the problem or really even addressed the problem. Tort reform did not address the problem. Insurance being sold across state lines did not address the problem.
Name one Republican proposal ever that addressed the problem of tens of millions of Americans that couldn't afford health care or insurance and that were going without necessary health care services.
I was reading this morning that in Dallas County TX alone that 28% of the residents, more than 670,000 residents, don't have insurance and can't afford health care. Not even the State of Texas addressed this problem within their own state and Dallas County TX alone has almost as many uninsured as the entire State of Washington. |
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Post by smartmouthwoman on Nov 7, 2013 17:29:34 GMT
We also have one of the top County Hospitals in the country where indigent people receive free medical care.
Which reminds me... will my property taxes that help finance that hospital go down now that Obamacare is giving poor folks free insurance?
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Post by snarky on Nov 7, 2013 17:41:28 GMT
We also have one of the top County Hospitals in the country where indigent people receive free medical care. Which reminds me... will my property taxes that help finance that hospital go down now that Obamacare is giving poor folks free insurance? prop taxes never go down,, but perhaps if perry took the increased expanded medicaid $$$ that was offered- maybe your taxes wouldn't go up... but alas you won't get to know that for at least a couple years & who knows- the next gov might have the more christian way of thinking & 'take care of the least of these' 'eh? a lot of talk comes outa texas, not so much the walk. |
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