No-Bama Care ?????

[parttimer]

I think Obama Care as everyone is calling it, not only removed the pre-existing condition condition issue, but also removed the max amount paid out per person limit. On the flip side, my uncle, who never wanted health care but was made go get it, was diagnosed with bladder and prostate cancer. Sure glad he had insurance to pay for the multiple surgeries and chemo......

[Ronkh]

maybe it just needs a new owner and mechanics / painter .. the old ones just gave up trying ...

like my plumber .. i dont fix toilets I only replace them

Just like o care........ Too much crap in it......

[Lonnie]

Here are three things that NEED to happen to reduce the cost of medication:
1) Longer patents times (7 years instead of 4) on drugs to allow developers to recoup their investment cost without "generic manufacturers" cutting into those profits.
2) No more advertising via mass media. Back to the days of drug reps working directly with the doctors. NOT the patient saying "I saw this ad on TV" and telling the doctor , "thats what I need for my condition/disease". Do you know how much money is allocated to marketing and who pays for that? (the end user)
3) Limit liability suits by end users against drug/medical manufacturers. Do you know how much money is allocated for legal suits and who pays for that ? (Ditto again) (Hey, I did not say it would be popular or even acceptable!)

Guess which medicine is THE most profitable for drug manufacturers? Male anti-impotence drugs (Viagra, Cealis, etc) REALLY??!! We cannot find a cure for cancer, BUT we have found a way for 60 year-old males to reproduce like their still 30-something. Just saying..... I think sometimes our medical priorities are "misaligned" to the natural progression of life and responsibilities to society in general.

Heres another thought on medication:
The ever-increasing rate of diabetes is well established. 100 years ago, the percentage of people with diabetes was much lower. WHY? Because insulin has allowed diabetes genes to be passed on to successive generations. 100 years ago, those same people would have died before reproducing. Insulin does not cure diabetes; it allows those with it to live on, and pass on that genetic disease to the next generation. So, it is the medication for the disease that is actually causing an increase in the disease. Now if you are one of those unfortunate individuals who has this disease (or are genetically prone to it as I am) insulin or related diabetes medication is/are THE reason why you can live a life as you do and you will disagree on my observation/opinion. Just remember why doctors ask, "Does anyone in your family have this-or-that disease?"

[nickclark08]

Here are three things that NEED to happen to reduce the cost of medication:
1) Longer patents times (7 years instead of 4) on drugs to allow developers to recoup their investment cost without "generic manufacturers" cutting into those profits.
2) No more advertising via mass media. Back to the days of drug reps working directly with the doctors. NOT the patient saying "I saw this ad on TV" and telling the doctor , "thats what I need for my condition/disease". Do you know how much money is allocated to marketing and who pays for that? (the end user)
3) Limit liability suits by end users against drug/medical manufacturers. Do you know how much money is allocated for legal suits and who pays for that ? (Ditto again) (Hey, I did not say it would be popular or even acceptable!)

Guess which medicine is THE most profitable for drug manufacturers? Male anti-impotence drugs (Viagra, Cealis, etc) REALLY??!! We cannot find a cure for cancer, BUT we have found a way for 60 year-old males to reproduce like their still 30-something. Just saying..... I think sometimes our medical priorities are "misaligned" to the natural progression of life and responsibilities to society in general.

Heres another thought on medication:
The ever-increasing rate of diabetes is well established. 100 years ago, the percentage of people with diabetes was much lower. WHY? Because insulin has allowed diabetes genes to be passed on to successive generations. 100 years ago, those same people would have died before reproducing. Insulin does not cure diabetes; it allows those with it to live on, and pass on that genetic disease to the next generation. So, it is the medication for the disease that is actually causing an increase in the disease. Now if you are one of those unfortunate individuals who has this disease (or are genetically prone to it as I am) insulin or related diabetes medication is/are THE reason why you can live a life as you do and you will disagree on my observation/opinion. Just remember why doctors ask, "Does anyone in your family have this-or-that disease?"

Sounds good in theory, until one realizes that Adult onset diabetes is the most common, and typically does not manifest until upper 30s/ lower 40s. Most people have reproduced by this point.....

My mom is Type 1, had me at 25, diagnosed mid-thirties.

[davidc]

I read somewhere it costs almost 1 billion to get a new drug through fda and a few years.

I get whats called cluster headaches..... (google em, or you tube em) There has been a device that has been testing for over 3 years with the fda. Nothing yet. It is made in USA, has been approved in numerous countries. I was going to run up to Canada and get one, but now all the Drs on the list for the item say "not accepting new patients"

On a little different take on medical coverage hikes it that when someone else pays, people tend to not car or not care as much. If the private market were to take over prices would drop. EX = Lasik

Wow, I started getting those a few years ago. They are the most painful thing I have ever had. I have had broken bones and I have had my share of injuries over the years. The closest pain of the cluster that I can think of is a brain freeze. As for our affordable health care my deductible went from 250.00 to 2000.00. The great United Health care prescription part known as Optum RX will only allow 3 pills a month for the Cluster Head aches. I appealed the decision and told them of the unbearable pain and it is the only time I contemplate suicide. They do not care even though I told them a 40 cal bullet in my Glock would give relief from the pain. I have found a RX on line that will fill the prescription for what ever the Doctor writes the prescription for at a descent price. Other than that problem I am paying for insurance but cannot afford to get all the things wrong with me fixed as I am paying for other people to have insurance. Sounds real fair to me.

Dave

[Ronkh]

Wow, I started getting those a few years ago. They are the most painful thing I have ever had. I have had broken bones and I have had my share of injuries over the years. The closest pain of the cluster that I can think of is a brain freeze. As for our affordable health care my deductible went from 250.00 to 2000.00. The great United Health care prescription part known as Optum RX will only allow 3 pills a month for the Cluster Head aches. I appealed the decision and told them of the unbearable pain and it is the only time I contemplate suicide. They do not care even though I told them a 40 cal bullet in my Glock would give relief from the pain. I have found a RX on line that will fill the prescription for what ever the Doctor writes the prescription for at a descent price. Other than that problem I am paying for insurance but cannot afford to get all the things wrong with me fixed as I am paying for other people to have insurance. Sounds real fair to me.

Dave

My heart goes out to you..... I am a chronic cluster head. No breaks. 3-5 in 24 hr period. I get the same run around from express scripts. They give me on box of sumatriptian nasal spry (6 pcs) a month. They raised my co pay for that to 75.00. I buy the rest as well as sumatriptian pills from Costco.

You may want to look into Costco for pills. Yeah they take a long time to work (if its going to work, for me it works about 60% of the time). But Costco gets about 35.00 for 18 pills.

I looked into Canadian pharm for the nasal sprays. CVS and Costco about 300.00 for 6 pcs. 6 pcs = 3 days for those who dont know.

[davidc]

My heart goes out to you..... I am a chronic cluster head. No breaks. 3-5 in 24 hr period. I get the same run around from express scripts. They give me on box of sumatriptian nasal spry (6 pcs) a month. They raised my co pay for that to 75.00. I buy the rest as well as sumatriptian pills from Costco.

You may want to look into Costco for pills. Yeah they take a long time to work (if its going to work, for me it works about 60% of the time). But Costco gets about 35.00 for 18 pills.

I looked into Canadian pharm for the nasal sprays. CVS and Costco about 300.00 for 6 pcs. 6 pcs = 3 days for those who dont know.

PM sent

Dave

[Bunky]

The ever-increasing rate of diabetes is well established. 100 years ago, the percentage of people with diabetes was much lower.

I had read an article that the American Indians suffer the highest percentage and it was attributed to their diet changing so fast - almost no sugar to high sugar -- food, alcohol, etc.

What if you paid insurance rates based upon BMI?

[jrock645]

Dont even get me started on the diabetes thing. Type 2 could practically be eliminated, without drugs, by a shift in diet. The science is all there, the drug companies are pying to keep people from seeing it. Why? Because the drug conpanies dont make money by people not being diabetic anymore...

[House of Wax]

One of my grandfathers when he was alive would get those cluster headaches.....those things are no joke

[House of Wax]

Largest insurance provider in the nation bailing on ACA in 22 states.....

UnitedHealthcare Bails Out of Obamacare: What Does It Mean?

[Swanicyouth]

Obama care is a joke. Its expensive and the coverage is notoriously bad. If you have it for your Rxs - you cant come to my pharmacy cause we dont take it.

Im prolly going to take a lot of heat for this - but the people have the healthcare system now they deserve. The mess we are in with crazy high prices for medical treatment and medications is directly related to peoples overwhelming desire to to pay nothing for something.

If you send a guy to school for 7 years and call him a lawyer - some how its acceptable for him to charge several hundred dollars for an hour or so of his time. Send a guy to school for 8 years and call him a doctor - now for some reason, people think its their God given right they should be able to see him for $10.

So what happens? Third parties and managed care stepped in during the 1980s. They were going to "manage" healthcare costs. Everyone wanted to sign up, they wanted $5 Rxs / Dr visits opposed to $20 Rxs / visits.

They thought it was the smart thing to do, like these private companies somehow had their best interest at heart. Like somehow the goal of these companies wasnt to suck huge profits out of the healthcare system.

Drs were getting screwed - and insurance companies and lawyers were getting rich. But, nobody cared. They just wanted $5 copays. Taking the actual cost out of the hands of the consumer allowed drug companies to run wild with their prices as well.

No we are where we are today. Premiums are high, copays are high, deductibles are high - and the actual cost of brand name medication is through the roof.

Yet people still want to rely on a "third party" or government agency to "manage" their healthcare costs.

Stuff wasnt this crazy when you simply paid the doctor, hospital, or pharmacy yourself out of your pocket. If a new drug came out and the price was crazy - nobody would get it. Therefore, there little incentive to market meds people couldnt afford; or just randomly set drugs at a crazy high price point simply because its "new".

As long as we have Obama Care, Hilary Care, or any type of managed care (private or federal), actual costs for treatment will continue to rise and the quality of care will continue to drop. Insurance companies and lawyers will find more ways to suck the healthcare system dry.

[Ronkh]

Obama care is a joke. Its expensive and the coverage is notoriously bad. If you have it for your Rxs - you cant come to my pharmacy cause we dont take it.

Im prolly going to take a lot of heat for this - but the people have the healthcare system now they deserve. The mess we are in with crazy high prices for medical treatment and medications is directly related to peoples overwhelming desire to to pay nothing for something.

If you send a guy to school for 7 years and call him a lawyer - some how its acceptable for him to charge several hundred dollars for an hour or so of his time. Send a guy to school for 8 years and call him a doctor - now for some reason, people think its their God given right they should be able to see him for $10.

So what happens? Third parties and managed care stepped in during the 1980s. They were going to "manage" healthcare costs. Everyone wanted to sign up, they wanted $5 Rxs / Dr visits opposed to $20 Rxs / visits.

They thought it was the smart thing to do, like these private companies somehow had their best interest at heart. Like somehow the goal of these companies wasnt to suck huge profits out of the healthcare system.

Drs were getting screwed - and insurance companies and lawyers were getting rich. But, nobody cared. They just wanted $5 copays. Taking the actual cost out of the hands of the consumer allowed drug companies to run wild with their prices as well.

No we are where we are today. Premiums are high, copays are high, deductibles are high - and the actual cost of brand name medication is through the roof.

Yet people still want to rely on a "third party" or government agency to "manage" their healthcare costs.

Stuff wasnt this crazy when you simply paid the doctor, hospital, or pharmacy yourself out of your pocket. If a new drug came out and the price was crazy - nobody would get it. Therefore, there little incentive to market meds people couldnt afford; or just randomly set drugs at a crazy high price point simply because its "new".

As long as we have Obama Care, Hilary Care, or any type of managed care (private or federal), actual costs for treatment will continue to rise and the quality of care will continue to drop. Insurance companies and lawyers will find more ways to suck the healthcare system dry.

When I was growing up, health insurance was for catastrophic care. If you went to the dr, you paid for the dr., shots etc....

[House of Wax]

Obama care is a joke. Its expensive and the coverage is notoriously bad. If you have it for your Rxs - you cant come to my pharmacy cause we dont take it.

Im prolly going to take a lot of heat for this - but the people have the healthcare system now they deserve. The mess we are in with crazy high prices for medical treatment and medications is directly related to peoples overwhelming desire to to pay nothing for something.

If you send a guy to school for 7 years and call him a lawyer - some how its acceptable for him to charge several hundred dollars for an hour or so of his time. Send a guy to school for 8 years and call him a doctor - now for some reason, people think its their God given right they should be able to see him for $10.

So what happens? Third parties and managed care stepped in during the 1980s. They were going to "manage" healthcare costs. Everyone wanted to sign up, they wanted $5 Rxs / Dr visits opposed to $20 Rxs / visits.

They thought it was the smart thing to do, like these private companies somehow had their best interest at heart. Like somehow the goal of these companies wasnt to suck huge profits out of the healthcare system.

Drs were getting screwed - and insurance companies and lawyers were getting rich. But, nobody cared. They just wanted $5 copays. Taking the actual cost out of the hands of the consumer allowed drug companies to run wild with their prices as well.

No we are where we are today. Premiums are high, copays are high, deductibles are high - and the actual cost of brand name medication is through the roof.

Yet people still want to rely on a "third party" or government agency to "manage" their healthcare costs.

Stuff wasnt this crazy when you simply paid the doctor, hospital, or pharmacy yourself out of your pocket. If a new drug came out and the price was crazy - nobody would get it. Therefore, there little incentive to market meds people couldnt afford; or just randomly set drugs at a crazy high price point simply because its "new".

As long as we have Obama Care, Hilary Care, or any type of managed care (private or federal), actual costs for treatment will continue to rise and the quality of care will continue to drop. Insurance companies and lawyers will find more ways to suck the healthcare system dry.

This is a great post and leads to a follow up question....how can it be fixed? The cat is out of the bag as far as prices go. Theyre never gonna go down. I dont think anybody has any realistic solution.

And lets be honest.....theres powerful players with boat loads of money at stake that dont want things to change, so they arent going to change

[kevincwelch]

Nice post, Swanicyouth.

You hit a lot of the salient points, and the most significant point is that there is no longer any direct provider-consumer market relationship. Participants in healthcare dont have any financial stake in healthcare, because they pay $10 for expert care and $5 for top of the line drugs. What most lack is personal responsibility: a drug will fix my diabetes; a surgery will fix my weight problem/smoking problem.

One good thing did come out of Obamacare: exclusions based on prior illnesses. However, even that has its faults. I certainly wouldnt want to insure a morbidly obese smoker with diabetes with recurrent angina who needs bypass as well as lung reduction surgery and two knee replacements.

Alas, were not dealing with a health care "access" problem; were dealing with a health care "over-utilization" problem.

Doctors are reduced to yes men who give patients what they want so theyll come back. They prescribe not what they think is best but what the insurance company dictates. No, we dont really decide who gets surgery; we only operate on people who are "cleared" by their insurance companies. We spend hours every day dictating, entering in data into electronic records and talking to undereducated insurance reps on the phone while were forced to see patients every 15 minutes with a smile, hot coffee and beautiful ambient music -- because satisfaction surveys and "likelihood to recommend" trump actual care.

BS.