Obama accuses doctors of "cutting off peoples feet for cash"

[GaryC 7]

Ok, Fox news is complete stupidity. Since when is stating a fact that reimbursement is ####### for primary care and much better for procedures some evil thing. THere is no insinuation that doctors are amputating people for cash. It is a fact that I can make much more by cutting the guys foot off and doing other procedures than by providing primary care for diabetes and weight management. I can also do less paperwork which equals more time for me which equals seeing more patients/doing more procedures which equals more money. He's stating that reimbursement is messed up in this country and that there needs to be a swing towards preventative medicine. Please God let that happen so I can actually make some money in a few years

Some people have selective comprehension. It seems to go with selective outrage and selective memory.

It is exactly what he said and to interpret it any other way is selective on your part. Watch it again. What is the prurpose of stating that doctors that do preventitive care get paid less and doctors that cut peoples feet off when they don't get preventitive care get paid more? It is to insinuate that doctors are slacking on preventitive care to get paid more. There is no other reason for putting those two statements together. You just don't want to admit it.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Ok, Fox news is complete stupidity. Since when is stating a fact that reimbursement is ####### for primary care and much better for procedures some evil thing. THere is no insinuation that doctors are amputating people for cash. It is a fact that I can make much more by cutting the guys foot off and doing other procedures than by providing primary care for diabetes and weight management. I can also do less paperwork which equals more time for me which equals seeing more patients/doing more procedures which equals more money. He's stating that reimbursement is messed up in this country and that there needs to be a swing towards preventative medicine. Please God let that happen so I can actually make some money in a few years

Some people have selective comprehension. It seems to go with selective outrage and selective memory.

It is exactly what he said and to interpret it any other way is selective on your part. Watch it again. What is the prurpose of stating that doctors that do preventitive care get paid less and doctors that cut peoples feet off when they don't get preventitive care get paid more? It is to insinuate that doctors are slacking on preventitive care to get paid more. There is no other reason for putting those two statements together. You just don't want to admit it.

Whatever floats your boat, Gary....yours and that lunatic, Glen Beck that is.

[GabiandVi 34]

That's not the point Gary - the point is that the present health care system does not have the maintenance of good health as a primary goal. An insurance driven health service is never going to achieve best health for all because there is no incentive to achieve the goal of best health. The consequences of not having best health as the main goal are far ranging, just look around you. Oh, we can argue until the cows come home as to who is responsible for this and that, but really, health care should be about preventing illness, and treating illness as early as possible but that is quite patently not what happens now.

I don't think this is true. It is much less expensive for insurance companies to keep their subscribers healthy rather than pay for treatment of unhealthy subscribers. My insurance company pays us to have screenings for diabetes and high blood pressure. They also allow co-payless well-checks every year, including mamos and paps for women.

[HAL 9000 96]

Sounds good. What insurer is this and what are your premiums/deductibles like?

[GabiandVi 34]

Sounds good. What insurer is this and what are your premiums/deductibles like?

It's Blue Cross Blue Sheild. Our premiums depend on whether we have the standard or the buy up plan. The standard is around $250/month for parent and children. Oh, wait, that might be per paycheck. We get 22 paychecks a year. I can't remember exactly because it is pre-tax. The deductibles for that plan are $500 a person, up to $1500 per family. And the co-pay is $25 for preferred and $50 for out of preferred, I think. Prescriptions are handled by a separate company and I think the deductible is $100 per person and then $10 or $15 for generic, but $25 for name brand. I have to get breathing treatments for my daughter and they don't make a generic for that. The buy-up plan has higher premiums but lower deductibles and co-pays. There was a difference of about $1000 per year. I took the risk that I would not reach my out of pocket, so I'm paying a lower premium. At this next enrollment period, I'll upgrade to the buy-up.

The screenings and incentives are not handled by BCBS, but it's part of our plan. I don't really know how it works. I just get the email reminders to get the screening by such and such a date to get my $50.

[HAL 9000 96]

Very nice. I had BCBS with similar HMO terms, although most of the paperwork was done by BCBS. Not too bad of a plan if you didn't expect to get really sick.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Back in the early 90's, I had BC/BS of Arizona thanks to my union (UFCW local 99). There were little or no premiums that I remember and it was a PPO. My ex and I both worked under the same union for awhile, so we had double coverage and everything was completely covered, including the normal $10 co-pay for office visits. Long gone are those days for most workers.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Sounds good. What insurer is this and what are your premiums/deductibles like?

It's Blue Cross Blue Sheild. Our premiums depend on whether we have the standard or the buy up plan. The standard is around $250/month for parent and children. Oh, wait, that might be per paycheck. We get 22 paychecks a year. I can't remember exactly because it is pre-tax. The deductibles for that plan are $500 a person, up to $1500 per family. And the co-pay is $25 for preferred and $50 for out of preferred, I think. Prescriptions are handled by a separate company and I think the deductible is $100 per person and then $10 or $15 for generic, but $25 for name brand. I have to get breathing treatments for my daughter and they don't make a generic for that. The buy-up plan has higher premiums but lower deductibles and co-pays. There was a difference of about $1000 per year. I took the risk that I would not reach my out of pocket, so I'm paying a lower premium. At this next enrollment period, I'll upgrade to the buy-up.

The screenings and incentives are not handled by BCBS, but it's part of our plan. I don't really know how it works. I just get the email reminders to get the screening by such and such a date to get my $50.

If it is an employer sponsored plan - which would appear to be the case - factor into the premium cost the fact that, on average, there's a 70/30 split with the employer shouldering 70% of your premiums and the employee taking care of 30%. Hence, your plan would seem to cost somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,500.00/month and still leave you with a 1,500.00 deductible, various co-pays, and very likely a 90/10 split after that. Do the math - is this really a good deal?

[GabiandVi 34]

Sounds good. What insurer is this and what are your premiums/deductibles like?

It's Blue Cross Blue Sheild. Our premiums depend on whether we have the standard or the buy up plan. The standard is around $250/month for parent and children. Oh, wait, that might be per paycheck. We get 22 paychecks a year. I can't remember exactly because it is pre-tax. The deductibles for that plan are $500 a person, up to $1500 per family. And the co-pay is $25 for preferred and $50 for out of preferred, I think. Prescriptions are handled by a separate company and I think the deductible is $100 per person and then $10 or $15 for generic, but $25 for name brand. I have to get breathing treatments for my daughter and they don't make a generic for that. The buy-up plan has higher premiums but lower deductibles and co-pays. There was a difference of about $1000 per year. I took the risk that I would not reach my out of pocket, so I'm paying a lower premium. At this next enrollment period, I'll upgrade to the buy-up.

The screenings and incentives are not handled by BCBS, but it's part of our plan. I don't really know how it works. I just get the email reminders to get the screening by such and such a date to get my $50.

If it is an employer sponsored plan - which would appear to be the case - factor into the premium cost the fact that, on average, there's a 70/30 split with the employer shouldering 70% of your premiums and the employee taking care of 30%. Hence, your plan would seem to cost somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,500.00/month and still leave you with a 1,500.00 deductible, various co-pays, and very likely a 90/10 split after that. Do the math - is this really a good deal?

yes

[William33 110]

My employer offers Cigna (and BC/BS - 2 levels), which has a very good plan at $420. per month pre-tax. For that, you get access to doctors with a $15 co-pay, hospital admission $50 (no limit), specialists @ $20, prescriptions range from $3-$5. Zero deductible across the board!

Although health-care is excellent in the US (despite waiting times), the costs to the patient are often times, overwhelming.

Ultimately, your employer decides what you will pay, given the negotiations in the background on premium distribution, overall benefits, deductibles and your final cost.

If you pay big bucks above the premium, your benefits package may not be all that great with your particular employer.....

[HAL 9000 96]

True that William. It is really sad nevertheless how some folks judge the health of a health insurance plan by how the upper crust of insured can absorb exorbitant out of pocket and debited expenses. If this were the case we wouldn't have any problems with people being bankrupted by illnesses.

[rebeccajo 14]

Sounds good. What insurer is this and what are your premiums/deductibles like?

It's Blue Cross Blue Sheild. Our premiums depend on whether we have the standard or the buy up plan. The standard is around $250/month for parent and children. Oh, wait, that might be per paycheck. We get 22 paychecks a year. I can't remember exactly because it is pre-tax. The deductibles for that plan are $500 a person, up to $1500 per family. And the co-pay is $25 for preferred and $50 for out of preferred, I think. Prescriptions are handled by a separate company and I think the deductible is $100 per person and then $10 or $15 for generic, but $25 for name brand. I have to get breathing treatments for my daughter and they don't make a generic for that. The buy-up plan has higher premiums but lower deductibles and co-pays. There was a difference of about $1000 per year. I took the risk that I would not reach my out of pocket, so I'm paying a lower premium. At this next enrollment period, I'll upgrade to the buy-up.

The screenings and incentives are not handled by BCBS, but it's part of our plan. I don't really know how it works. I just get the email reminders to get the screening by such and such a date to get my $50.

If it is an employer sponsored plan - which would appear to be the case - factor into the premium cost the fact that, on average, there's a 70/30 split with the employer shouldering 70% of your premiums and the employee taking care of 30%. Hence, your plan would seem to cost somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,500.00/month and still leave you with a 1,500.00 deductible, various co-pays, and very likely a 90/10 split after that. Do the math - is this really a good deal?

yes

You have a deductible for your prescription plan?

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

For all you wantin inexpensive healthcare. It even covers pre-exsisting conditions. Only 2 bucks a day!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Sounds good. What insurer is this and what are your premiums/deductibles like?

It's Blue Cross Blue Sheild. Our premiums depend on whether we have the standard or the buy up plan. The standard is around $250/month for parent and children. Oh, wait, that might be per paycheck. We get 22 paychecks a year. I can't remember exactly because it is pre-tax. The deductibles for that plan are $500 a person, up to $1500 per family. And the co-pay is $25 for preferred and $50 for out of preferred, I think. Prescriptions are handled by a separate company and I think the deductible is $100 per person and then $10 or $15 for generic, but $25 for name brand. I have to get breathing treatments for my daughter and they don't make a generic for that. The buy-up plan has higher premiums but lower deductibles and co-pays. There was a difference of about $1000 per year. I took the risk that I would not reach my out of pocket, so I'm paying a lower premium. At this next enrollment period, I'll upgrade to the buy-up.

The screenings and incentives are not handled by BCBS, but it's part of our plan. I don't really know how it works. I just get the email reminders to get the screening by such and such a date to get my $50.

If it is an employer sponsored plan - which would appear to be the case - factor into the premium cost the fact that, on average, there's a 70/30 split with the employer shouldering 70% of your premiums and the employee taking care of 30%. Hence, your plan would seem to cost somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,500.00/month and still leave you with a 1,500.00 deductible, various co-pays, and very likely a 90/10 split after that. Do the math - is this really a good deal?

yes

Really? Roughly $18,000 a year for the coverage you describe is a good deal? Wow.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Why are some of you using the premise that government can fix this? Where does this premise come from?