Quote:
Originally Posted by cobra de capell
Actually, that increase is not so bad - drugs can be expensive and if one needs the really expensive ones, one must pay.
Personally, I think that MediCare is a great plan - as long as one can afford supplemental coverage and Part D coverage - if one cannot it can be a difficult financial road in retirement.
The bottomline - maintain a healthy lifestyle from birth the grave and life will be one hell of lot better, financially speaking. If you don't, pay to play kicks in - big time - as it should.
Too many people want to do whatever they want to do through life and expect someone else to step up and pay, especially during the last few years. Only those whe take care of business should benefit fully.
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Perhaps I said it wrong. Last year drugs were $63 per month INCLUDING 1 drug that was $33. of the $63. This year I'm off that drug and no drugs have been added, so if prices stayed at last years level, I would be paying $30.per month, instead I'm paying $111. per month WITHOUT last years expensive drug. That is a 370% increase. How high does it have to be for you to call it bad?
And Medicare supplements are a waste of money. WORST for those that can least afford them.
A silly expenditure for those that can afford them. Insurance is to protect one from a catastrophic loss. No such loss is possible under Medicare WITHOUT a supplemental policy.
Imagine a $800,000.00 hospital bill under Medicare Part A, patients responsibility, $1068.
Coupled with $50,000 in Doctors bill under Medicare Part B. The Medicare approved amount for that $50,000 would be about $15,000. Patients responsibility 20% or $3000.
Total of $4068. of $850,000. $4068 is not a catastrophic loss at any income level. At the lowest level, it would simply be written off. Doctors ROUTINELY write off the 20% patient share. Its too small to try to collect.
How often and how many ever face that kind of expense? Medicare supplement premium at ONLY $100 per month [much lower than one can get in my area] 5 years of good health and $100 per month =$6000.
To give you a better idea, my wife had 2 torso XRays per day for 18 days. The total was in the thousands. After Medicares adjustment, out share of the XRay charges,,,,,,,,,,$9.80. That's NINE DOLLARS AND EIGHTY CENTS.
That is why I say Medicare is terrific, but it could not exist without the support of the , in place, for profit, health care system we now have. Reduce the reimbursement rates of a "public option" to what Medicare pays and the hospital would become a condo and the Doctors would have realtors licenses to sell the condos.
I have another thought for you to ponder. The Congressional Black Caucus says they insist that ANY health care reform bill absolutely MUST have the 'public option.' They are welcome to their position.
What I'm pondering and ask you to ponder as well is, why is their NO Congressional White Caucus? And how much hell would be raised if there was a White Caucus?
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