Re: Buy healthcare insurance or pay government fine!

[Guest guest]

Yes this is our lovely state. I do believe that everyone needs the health

insurance, but to have fines..no...especially for those that can't afford the

insurance in the first place. Where does this leave these people? Darlene

cpliquidsoap <cpliquidsoap@...> wrote: If

you live in Massachusetts, you could pay over $1800 per year in

fines if you don't have healthcare insurance. And that's because

former Gov. Mitt Romney cares about you.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8TSLG1O0.htm

" The cost of not having health insurance in Massachusetts is going

up.

When the new year begins Tuesday, most residents who remain

uninsured will face monthly fines that could total as much as $912

for individuals and $1,824 for couples by the end of 2008, according

to penalty guidelines unveiled by the Department of Revenue on

Monday. "

-Stuart

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

We desperately need a national healthcare program. What is happening

to people without health insurance or with inadequate health insurance

is criminal. Quality healthcare should not be tied to one's job, it

should be available to everyone.

I don't think health insurance companies are doing a good job. They

take 1/3 of every healthcare dollar to feed their 'administrative

costs'.

We have healthcare rationing NOW. Sure, if you are rich, you can

afford the very best care in the world. But if you don't have

insurance you have to pay sometimes many times what insured people

pay. The poor and desperate are subsidizing people with insurance.

Millions of Americans can't afford even basic healthcare. Millions of

Americans who theoretically 'have insurance' can't afford medications

they need.

What would you suggest to improve this situation?

On Jan 2, 2008 4:00 PM, cpliquidsoap <cpliquidsoap@...> wrote:

> If you live in Massachusetts, you could pay over $1800 per year in

> fines if you don't have healthcare insurance. And that's because

> former Gov. Mitt Romney cares about you.

>

> http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8TSLG1O0.htm

>

> " The cost of not having health insurance in Massachusetts is going

> up.

>

> When the new year begins Tuesday, most residents who remain

> uninsured will face monthly fines that could total as much as $912

> for individuals and $1,824 for couples by the end of 2008, according

> to penalty guidelines unveiled by the Department of Revenue on

> Monday. "

>

> -Stuart

[Guest guest]

Yea, and their answer in MASS. is to punish those who don't purchase

it.

Too bad. It is such a simple idea. Just allow those who don't have

healthcare to purchase care directly from the hospitals or doctors

at the same rate insurance companies get.

That would be a good start.

-Stuart

> We desperately need a national healthcare program. What is

happening

> to people without health insurance or with inadequate health

insurance

> is criminal. Quality healthcare should not be tied to one's job, it

> should be available to everyone.

>

> I don't think health insurance companies are doing a good job. They

> take 1/3 of every healthcare dollar to feed their 'administrative

> costs'.

>

> We have healthcare rationing NOW. Sure, if you are rich, you can

> afford the very best care in the world. But if you don't have

> insurance you have to pay sometimes many times what insured people

> pay. The poor and desperate are subsidizing people with insurance.

>

> Millions of Americans can't afford even basic healthcare.

Millions of

> Americans who theoretically 'have insurance' can't afford

medications

> they need.

>

> What would you suggest to improve this situation?

>

[Guest guest]

Providers are required by law to charge everyone the same price for a

service. Insurance companies get around this law by negotiating a

discount with each provider. If you want a lower rate you have to

negotiate before the service is provided in most cases. So on your

way to the hospital in an ambulance you need to talk to your provider

and negotiate a lower rate. I'm kidding but they are not. As a

former federal auditor with the DHHS/OIG/OA a large percentage of the

cost can be attributed to administrative costs. They have to pay

their CEOs millions of course. I believe we need a redistribution of

wealth in this country and it will happen through taxes on the

wealthy and corporations. Tell me again why Exxon retired their last

CEO Lee with nearly $400 million but is currently appealing a

$4 billion punitive damages court ordered payment to Alaskan

fishermen. How can this be fair?

Sharon Hanson

> Too bad. It is such a simple idea. Just allow those who don't have

> healthcare to purchase care directly from the hospitals or doctors

> at the same rate insurance companies get.

>

> That would be a good start.

>

> -Stuart

>

>

>> > take 1/3 of every healthcare dollar to feed their 'administrative

> > costs'.

> >

> > But if you don't have

> > insurance you have to pay sometimes many times what insured people

> > pay. The poor and desperate are subsidizing people with insurance.

> >

> > Millions of Americans can't afford even basic healthcare.

> Millions of

> > Americans who theoretically 'have insurance' can't afford

> medications

> > they need.

> >

> > What would you suggest to improve this situation?

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Too bad our gov doesn't have a program to use our buying power to

negotiate better prices on our behalf.

That doesn't cost them anything but some admin fees.

-Stuart

> Providers are required by law to charge everyone the same price

for a

> service. Insurance companies get around this law by negotiating a

> discount with each provider. If you want a lower rate you have to

> negotiate before the service is provided in most cases. So on your

> way to the hospital in an ambulance you need to talk to your

provider

> and negotiate a lower rate. I'm kidding but they are not. As a

> former federal auditor with the DHHS/OIG/OA a large percentage of

the

> cost can be attributed to administrative costs. They have to pay

> their CEOs millions of course. I believe we need a redistribution

of

> wealth in this country and it will happen through taxes on the

> wealthy and corporations. Tell me again why Exxon retired their

last

> CEO Lee with nearly $400 million but is currently

appealing a

> $4 billion punitive damages court ordered payment to Alaskan

> fishermen. How can this be fair?

>

>

>

> Sharon Hanson

>

>

>

>

>

> > Too bad. It is such a simple idea. Just allow those who don't

have

> > healthcare to purchase care directly from the hospitals or

doctors

> > at the same rate insurance companies get.

> >

> > That would be a good start.

> >

> > -Stuart

> >

> >

> >> > take 1/3 of every healthcare dollar to feed

their 'administrative

> > > costs'.

> > >

> > > But if you don't have

> > > insurance you have to pay sometimes many times what insured

people

> > > pay. The poor and desperate are subsidizing people with

insurance.

> > >

> > > Millions of Americans can't afford even basic healthcare.

> > Millions of

> > > Americans who theoretically 'have insurance' can't afford

> > medications

> > > they need.

> > >

> > > What would you suggest to improve this situation?

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Sharon,

have you seen " The Story of Stuff " ?

PLEASE see this free online film..

http://www.storyofstuff.com/index.html

Its about how we simply can't go on in denial like this.

On Jan 3, 2008 6:59 PM, Sharon <shha2002@...> wrote:

> Providers are required by law to charge everyone the same price for a

> service. Insurance companies get around this law by negotiating a

> discount with each provider. If you want a lower rate you have to

> negotiate before the service is provided in most cases. So on your

> way to the hospital in an ambulance you need to talk to your provider

> and negotiate a lower rate. I'm kidding but they are not. As a

> former federal auditor with the DHHS/OIG/OA a large percentage of the

> cost can be attributed to administrative costs. They have to pay

> their CEOs millions of course. I believe we need a redistribution of

> wealth in this country and it will happen through taxes on the

> wealthy and corporations. Tell me again why Exxon retired their last

> CEO Lee with nearly $400 million but is currently appealing a

> $4 billion punitive damages court ordered payment to Alaskan

> fishermen. How can this be fair?

>

> Sharon Hanson

>

[Guest guest]

Yes I have and why do you ask as it relates to this post?

I am a green person and do believe in conserving the environment but

why do you bring this up here?

I think all of the health care system needs to be revamped. It's a

disgrace that many of the best treatments are suppressed.

Sharon

> > Providers are required by law to charge everyone the same price

for a

> > service. Insurance companies get around this law by negotiating a

> > discount with each provider. If you want a lower rate you have to

> > negotiate before the service is provided in most cases. So on

your

> > way to the hospital in an ambulance you need to talk to your

provider

> > and negotiate a lower rate. I'm kidding but they are not. As a

> > former federal auditor with the DHHS/OIG/OA a large percentage

of the

> > cost can be attributed to administrative costs. They have to pay

> > their CEOs millions of course. I believe we need a

redistribution of

> > wealth in this country and it will happen through taxes on the

> > wealthy and corporations. Tell me again why Exxon retired their

last

> > CEO Lee with nearly $400 million but is currently

appealing a

> > $4 billion punitive damages court ordered payment to Alaskan

> > fishermen. How can this be fair?

> >

> > Sharon Hanson

> >

>