Nearly 9 in 10 US adults now have health insurance

[church mouse guy]

Obama lied. Obama lied and said that you could keep your doctor. Obama lied and said that you could keep your plan. Obama is a liar. Obamacare is nothing more than an IRS tax.

 

[Crabtownboy]

You know I've never been to a doctor or a doctor's office that didn't do that. Lawyers and dentists do the same. Most hospitals will work with you too.

I just think that they realized that most people don't just have lump sums of money laying around to pay for doctor's bills. So they figured, it's better to have streams of income with regular payments coming in than to have NO income because folks couldn't pay the lump sums.

You are right. Almost any creditor will negotiate payments. That is only good business. It is better to spread out payments and get a little at a time than to end up getting nothing at all.

Negotiating is one of the first suggestions of any good financial planner or person helping a person with deep debt.

 

[Bro. Curtis]

Good to see you admit this will put people in deep debt.
I suppose once the problem becomes obvious to even the zero-heads the call will be changed to greedy health care/insurance companies.

 

[targus]

You are right. Almost any creditor will negotiate payments. That is only good business. It is better to spread out payments and get a little at a time than to end up getting nothing at all.

Negotiating is one of the first suggestions of any good financial planner or person helping a person with deep debt.

This may be true when you get behind in your credit card payments...

But it flies in the face of reality when it comes to doctors offices, dentists, hospitals and just about any other healthcare provider.

The first thing that you are asked is for your insurance information and who will be responsible for any part not covered by insurance.

Never is one asked, "Which installment plan do you prefer?"

Look around virtually every medical office and you are sure to see a sign that says "Payment due when services rendered."

This glib attitude that anyone can just walk into a doctors office and receive healthcare without insurance or cash is hard hearted disregard for those suffering under the burden of Obamacare and unable to meet the ridiculously high deductibles foisted on the unsuspecting poor.

 

[Zaac]

This may be true when you get behind in your credit card payments...

But it flies in the face of reality when it comes to doctors offices, dentists, hospitals and just about any other healthcare provider.

That might be true in your neck of the woods, but it apparently ain't so everywhere else where folks aren't rolling in money. :laugh:

The first thing that you are asked is for your insurance information and who will be responsible for any part not covered by insurance.

Never is one asked, "Which installment plan do you prefer?"

Depends on where you go.

Look around virtually every medical office and you are sure to see a sign that says "Payment due when services rendered."

"Or we will gladly bill you for an additional fee".
I see those all the time in addition to your sign. Dentists and doctors and lawyers advertise all the time that they have payment plans.

Gosh when I got braces as a kid, everybody's parents was on a "payment plan". Even the parents who could afford it, were on a payment plan.

This glib attitude that anyone can just walk into a doctors office and receive healthcare without insurance or cash is hard hearted disregard for those suffering under the burden of Obamacare and unable to meet the ridiculously high deductibles foisted on the unsuspecting poor.

You just don't want it to be true because it helps your anti-Obamacare narrative. :laugh:

 

[targus]

Still making things up I see.

 

[Zaac]

Still making things up I see.

Still equating your limited reality as the basis of all truth, I see.

 

[sag38]

So far, except for my cardiologist, the doctor and the hospital wanted the deductible paid up front. No deductible=no service unless it is an emergency. That is the reality. Now, they will discuss payment plans with you but guess what? It involves paying interest. What good is having insurance if you can't afford the deductible and if you set up a payment plan it involves usury? And, what happens next year when you have a medical issue and you haven't yet paid off last year's deductible? Only an idiot would think this is a good thing.

 

[InTheLight]

So far, except for my cardiologist, the doctor and the hospital wanted the deductible paid up front. No deductible=no service unless it is an emergency. That is the reality. Now, they will discuss payment plans with you but guess what? It involves paying interest. What good is having insurance if you can't afford the deductible and if you set up a payment plan it involves usury? And, what happens next year when you have a medical issue and you haven't yet paid off last year's deductible? Only an idiot would think this is a good thing.

If I go to a doctor, hospital, clinic, ER, urgent care, etc. I pay nothing up front, unless there is a co-pay ($35). I get an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) about 3 weeks later detailing the amount the insurance company pays and what I'm responsible to pay. About a week after the EOB arrives I get an invoice. Years ago, I got a bill for $1,800 for a echocardiogram ultrasonic stress test and I couldn't pay it all in one shot. We agreed to $600 payments over 3 months. There was no interest charged.

I've never heard of going to the doctor's office and they demand payment for services before they see you. Maybe that's the difference between Minnesota, a leader in health care, and other states.

 

[Sapper Woody]

Still making things up I see.

Targus, I am 100% anti-Obamacare. But, in this case, you are wrong. I have had medical bills in 3 states, and in all three locations my up front cost was put on a payment plan.



The problem is, $6000 is $6000, whether you pay it up front or over 24-36 months. If it takes you over a year to pay, then it rolls around and you build it up again. Meaning you are now becoming even more dependant upon the state.

 

[Zaac]

If I go to a doctor, hospital, clinic, ER, urgent care, etc. I pay nothing up front, unless there is a co-pay ($35). I get an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) about 3 weeks later detailing the amount the insurance company pays and what I'm responsible to pay. About a week after the EOB arrives I get an invoice. Years ago, I got a bill for $1,800 for a echocardiogram ultrasonic stress test and I couldn't pay it all in one shot. We agreed to $600 payments over 3 months. There was no interest charged.

I've never heard of going to the doctor's office and they demand payment for services before they see you. Maybe that's the difference between Minnesota, a leader in health care, and other states.

I haven't experienced that in Georgia either. The only reason they even ask for insurance information is so that they can run it and see what your co-pay will be. If there is no insurance, they ask you how would you like to pay for it and will generally discuss a payment plan if you need one, after you've been treated and going through the check-out procedure.

 

[Revmitchell]

Targus, I am 100% anti-Obamacare. But, in this case, you are wrong. I have had medical bills in 3 states, and in all three locations my up front cost was put on a payment plan.

So have I, three states, and in not one of them was I provided needed medical services unless I could pay my deductible up front unless it was an emergency. Not one single time.

 

[Sapper Woody]

So have I, three states, and in not one of them was I provided needed medical services unless I could pay my deductible up front unless it was an emergency. Not one single time.

Well, all we have on either side is experiential anecdotes. So, this is something we will not eye to eye on.

 

[annsni]

I don't know. We have had insurance all along and each year the insurance has gotten more and more costly. Now it's exorbitant and we've had to switch to a very limited insurance. Almost all of our doctors are on it except my gynecologist and my daughter's surgeon. My gyn is no big deal - I see him once a year and this year I just paid the $125 office visit for my annual check-up but it makes me nervous to not have my daughter's surgeon on the plan. We paid out of pocket for her to see him as well and fortunately all is good.

I've also noticed something new. We have a co-pay for our insurance of $15 for our GP and $35 for specialists. I'm also now getting additional bills for additional co-pays for all lab work including even influenza and strep tests which were always included in the doctor's visit. But it seems now those bills are counted separately according to the health insurance so going to the doctor with strep now costs $15 for the visit, $35 for the strep test and then another however much the antibiotics cost. I'm definitely not happy with this.

 

[Alcott]

Have the other 10 percent paid their fines?

""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

 

[Zaac]

I don't know. We have had insurance all along and each year the insurance has gotten more and more costly. Now it's exorbitant and we've had to switch to a very limited insurance. Almost all of our doctors are on it except my gynecologist and my daughter's surgeon. My gyn is no big deal - I see him once a year and this year I just paid the $125 office visit for my annual check-up but it makes me nervous to not have my daughter's surgeon on the plan. We paid out of pocket for her to see him as well and fortunately all is good.

I've also noticed something new. We have a co-pay for our insurance of $15 for our GP and $35 for specialists. I'm also now getting additional bills for additional co-pays for all lab work including even influenza and strep tests which were always included in the doctor's visit. But it seems now those bills are counted separately according to the health insurance so going to the doctor with strep now costs $15 for the visit, $35 for the strep test and then another however much the antibiotics cost. I'm definitely not happy with this.

Mine hasn't changed. $10 co-pay and everything else( Lab work for blood, etc, )is still included.

 

[sag38]

If I go to a doctor, hospital, clinic, ER, urgent care, etc. I pay nothing up front, unless there is a co-pay ($35). I get an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) about 3 weeks later detailing the amount the insurance company pays and what I'm responsible to pay. About a week after the EOB arrives I get an invoice. Years ago, I got a bill for $1,800 for a echocardiogram ultrasonic stress test and I couldn't pay it all in one shot. We agreed to $600 payments over 3 months. There was no interest charged.

I've never heard of going to the doctor's office and they demand payment for services before they see you. Maybe that's the difference between Minnesota, a leader in health care, and other states.

I am not talking about a doctor's visit and routine procedures done there. But, for surgery most want their money up front or there is no surgery. It has nothing to do with what state you live in. That's just the way it is. It is unconscionable how you folks can defend these super high deductibles and act as if folks are suddenly better off because big sugar daddy Obama made it possible. I don't know about the rest of you but big daddy lied. I did not get to keep my insurance plan. I got stuck with Obama's lie and his crappy insurance plan that he says was best for me.

 

[InTheLight]

It is unconscionable how you folks can defend these super high deductibles and act as if folks are suddenly better off because big sugar daddy Obama made it possible.

The question is (as per the OP): Are people better off with health insurance, even with high deductibles, or is it better to go without insurance?

Obama didn't make it possible to have health insurance. Anybody could have bought it prior to ObamaCare being passed.

I don't know about the rest of you but big daddy lied. I did not get to keep my insurance plan. I got stuck with Obama's lie and his crappy insurance plan that he says was best for me.

I didn't get to keep my crappy plan. There are choices. In Minnesota they have a state exchange, with plenty of deductible/copay/coverage options. Still, I went on my wife's workplace plan. The choice is not ObamaCare or nothing. You can always buy insurance directly from an insurance company.

 

[sag38]

For most it is Obama Care or nothing. Try getting insurance outside of the exchange and you will really pay through the wazoo because even those plans have to meet the requirements of Obama Care. I was forced into the exchange. Otherwise I would have just paid the penalty and gone without. I could not afford insurance outside of the exchange.

 

[carpro]

I've never heard of going to the doctor's office and they demand payment for services before they see you. Maybe that's the difference between Minnesota, a leader in health care, and other states.

Signs are posted everywhere.

I haven't been to a doctor's office in years that didn't have that sign posted.

Never tried to get past the sign without paying. Maybe it's posted as a joke.

Hospitals have no such sign posted. Instead they have one posted in ERs that you will receive care without consideration for payment. Those were posted years before anyone ever heard of obamacare.

But try to be admitted without going through the ER and it's a different story. They either want payment up front or a signed and agreed upon payment plan, usually with a down payment. Or , of course, proof of insurance.