The Insanity Of Medical Costs

[Jstpssng]

we have a levy her in Aus,

How much is the Medicare levy?
Taxpayers, who earn over $26,668/year, pay a Medicare Levy of 2% of their taxable income. If you were earning $50,000/year, then $1,000 of your taxable income would go towards financing Medicare.

The Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) is an additional tax between 1% and 1.5% of your income and kicks in once you're earning more than $90,000 a year. For every day that you haven't had hospital cover, you'll pay the tax man more. That's at least $75 a month extra in taxes.

I pay a bit less than that, about 1.4% of my income ever week goes to Medicare. After a certain age (65) I will qualify for it, but reading some of the comments here it appears that I still need to keep paying for it.
I also could qualify for Medicaid (?) if I wanted to become a drunk, druggie, or otherwise useless part of society. A woman can qualify by becoming a baby factory, pumping out kids with a different sperm donor every time.

 

[Sigarms]

This was an interesting read in this mornings paper...

Winston-Salem surgeon who wants to offer low-cost services wins round in legal battle | Columnists | journalnow.com

 

[ruffdog]

My wife has her eyes checked once a year. Her last check-up had a (2) by the coding and the price doubled. We called and asked why and they said she has 2 eyes so we get charged twice. We have now switched from that hospital/clinic to a different one.

 

[MarkF48]

I have Social Security, but, I have an Advantage Plan,, which is ZERO cost to me for the plan

Doctor visits in 2019 are $5,,, next year, (2020) doctor visits are ZERO,, no cost at all,,,

Emergency room visits are $50,, all inclusive,, I have used it twice, my doctor said they did over $10,000 in tests because I had chest pains,, zero cost to me,

Meds, two prescriptions are free,, one costs $13 per month,,

I think my health costs are lower than what my grandmother paid in 1968,,,

An explanation of how the 'Zero cost' advantage plans are 'Free'.....
Is Medicare Advantage Free? $ Cost Explained - Humana

Without either a Medicare Advantage Plan or a Medicare Supplement Plan that private insurers provide, having Medicare by itself could be quite costly for a retiree. I have a Supplement plan which cost wise works out cheaper (mostly pays 100%, no co-pays, no deductibles) than the Advantage plan I previous had and I don't have to be in a network with specific doctors and hospitals. Fortunately the employer I retired from picks up most all the cost for both myself and my wife.
As a retiree with good medical coverage with a combination of Medicare and a Supplement plan, I have a fear that it could get really screwed up if 'Medicare for All' ever comes to happen and private insurance companies can no longer provide the additional coverage to offset costs that Medicare doesn't pay.

 

[Jstpssng]

This was an interesting read in this mornings paper...

Winston-Salem surgeon who wants to offer low-cost services wins round in legal battle | Columnists | journalnow.com

This is a route I'm considering; Doctors Who Don'''t Take Insurance, Cash Only

I don't think that it would work well with my current employer provided coverage, but for somebody with a high deductible it could be worth it.
I

 

[Ken]

AND, I forgot to mention,, transportation to and from doctor visits are included, ZERO cost,,
I am close to 20 miles each way to the doctor,, we called, yep, free,,

I do not use it because I do other things when I have gone that far,,
I doubt that the free ride would stop at Tractor Supply for 20 minutes?

This sounds like a Veteran program or VA payment. A neighbor used this and was paid to travel and return home also the Pharmacy was minimum. of course, his Dementia was a problem on when to make the drive for him.

 

[CADplans]

This sounds like a Veteran program or VA payment. A neighbor used this and was paid to travel and return home also the Pharmacy was minimum. of course, his Dementia was a problem on when to make the drive for him.

NOPE, it is Advantage Plan,,
I am a veteran, but, they told me I needed to have no home,,, etc,, to be able to use the VA hospital, and I never went back,,

If Medicare and the Advantage Plan fail to help me,, I would then look into the VA hospital,,,

The transportation will be a new benefit for the year 2020,, it is not in place and operating,,, yet,,

There MUST be a LOT of plans going to this transportation thing,,
we have seen a BUNCH of transport companies starting up in the Roanoke area,,

They do not have bus type vehicles,, they have cars and little SUV sized machines,, so far,,

 

[ruffdog]

That is better than calling an ambulance to go to a appointment. We had a local person doing that which was costing a bundle!

 

[TBone]

I had to be airlifted to a major hospital 3 months ago due to a medical emergency. The ride lasted 26 minutes. The helicopter company billed the insurance company $64, 248. The insurance company only allowed $8,000.

Now THAT'S what bothers me. I have always been lucky and blessed enough to have insurance. When I get my EOB's after a medical procedure it lists the charge ($3000 for example). Then it lists the amount allowed. That figure is practically always way less. The insurance company may only "allow" $600 for the $3000 procedure. Good for me and good for my insurance company. However, the poor sucker that has no insurance gets stuck with the full amount, no matter how inflated it may be. Should everybody have some kind of medical insurance? That's a question better discussed in the Friendly Politics forum.

 

[ruffdog]

Should everybody have some kind of medical insurance? That's a question better discussed in the Friendly Politics forum.

Making this important issue political deters from the real issue at hand, protecting us from financial destruction because of a emergency or accident. As soon as it becomes political, now you have half for and half against ANY solution to the high costs of health care. All the while the people getting rich on healthcare are laughing all the way to the bank. Healthcare should be resolved by many people from all levels of life and should be nonpartisan in nature. Yes, I have a dream......:drink: