Re: Re: Question! / Universal health care

[Guest guest]

I'm with Humana, Inc. Social Security pays directly to Humana the Medicare Part B. My out-of-pocket premium is $31.00, but the real cost is that plus the Part B. Still, it is the lowest policy price I have found. There three or four plans from which to choose to match your needs, and prescription drugs are included. My plan is the lowest because for now, I have very little need for medical services.

I had Humana a few years back when I was living in Texas. I went back to Humana when they started selling in Maine two or three years ago. There address is Humana, Inc., PO Box 14161. Lexington, KY 40512-4161. Telephone .

Jack79/IPF - UIP/dx06/05 Maine

Re: Question! / Universal health care

I'm posting this as an informational repIy to Jack's comments about health care coverage for all, and don't intend for it to be an invitation for a political discussion. I'm sure that some people currently without coverage would become covered under a universal health plan, but as many unhappy Canadians have found, and Canada is often referred to as an example for the US, we would be waiting more than 4 months, on average, to see a specialist, the category of providers which seems to dominate the posts for this group. Even the father of the Canadian system is now saying it's not financially viable. Massachusetts' example is already over budget, and they can't get thousands to even sign up, and their answer is to threaten financial penalties. And with Medicare as our only national example, other posts have reflected how cutting provider's pay is one of the only ways they know how to

deal with financial shortfalls, taking money away from Medicare Advantage (private Medicare plans that have shown to do a better job than our government with the same money) to stave off cutting providers reimbusements. ..which are already near 50% of regular physician charges...and the reason why many docs don't participate in Medicare.

Have you ever had to deal with any of the 20 or so doctors or 40 or so clinicians, including nurses, in the entire Medicare system? ( From a former senior official at Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.) United Healthcare alone employs 600 or so doctors, and 12,000 clinicians. In other words, be careful what we wish for.

Dale Snellbaker

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