Obamacare, or, I might be up a creek w/o a paddle

[gimmethesimplelife]

One way I see to keep Medicaid costs down and quality reasonable? And I get that my idea is not going to happen.....it just isn't. I would have no problem with folks being sent to the safer border towns in Mexico for health care - especially for expensive procedures. My experience has been the quality of health care I have received in Mexico at border hospitals, at least in Mexicali, surpasses the quality I have received in the US those few periods of time in my life when I held private employer based insurance. Lots and lots of money could be saved doing this but it will never happen. There will be some not completely unfounded safety concerns, and it would be a public admission to the world that the US system doesn't work and the US is not going to make such a statement, not even to keep costs reasonable and line with what is possible and feasible. Rob

[iris lilies]

Actually can a person actually quit their job that has employer healthcare and sign up for the ACA or medicaid? I heard they couldn't but have never seen it written anywhere.

Why wouldn't someone who is unemplyed be able to signup for ACA mandated health insurance? It's required.

Maybe I am missing your question entirely.

[iris lilies]

One way I see to keep Medicaid costs down and quality reasonable? And I get that my idea is not going to happen.....it just isn't. I would have no problem with folks being sent to the safer border towns in Mexico for health care - especially for expensive procedures. My experience has been the quality of health care I have received in Mexico at border hospitals, at least in Mexicali, surpasses the quality I have received in the US those few periods of time in my life when I held private employer based insurance. Lots and lots of money could be saved doing this but it will never happen. There will be some not completely unfounded safety concerns, and it would be a public admission to the world that the US system doesn't work and the US is not going to make such a statement, not even to keep costs reasonable and line with what is possible and feasible. Rob

How about requiring that just those who receive health insurance with heavy subsidies,say, 50% and more are required to travel to Mexico for their care. What say you about that?

[gimmethesimplelife]

How about requiring that just those who receive health insurance with heavy subsidies,say, 50% and more are required to travel to Mexico for their care. What say you about that?

Personally I'm OK with this. I have experienced high quality health care in Mexico that cost much less than it does on our side of the border. I can only imagine what kind of uproar there would be if this were actually put into practice, at least at first, due to the common American perceptions of Mexico, which are not 100% inaccurate. Like with anything else, you have to do the research and find the loopholes in the system. In this case, where is the quality cheap and high, combined with where is fairly safe to be about town in daylight? At the moment, Mexicali has all this to offer. I also understand that that could change though.....Of course there are cartels in Mexicali, they just have not had their turf challenged, so there is no reason there for the gore one now associates with most of the country. Another safe place is Tecate, not too far from San Diego, and also Los Algodones - but in Los Algodones you are limited to basic primary care doctors - for any procedures, they are just going to refer you to Mexicali. Rob

[iris lily]

I do agree with you completely on that point. Have you seen the UK version of Breaking Bad? The doctor in the comic says what kind of barbaric society would allow medical care to hinge on a person's wealth? The vast majority of the developed world views health care as basic human right.

I'm not sure what a cartoon character's musings prove. But I actually like the NHS model in the UK, the British are so civilized and sensible. NHS exists for the average Joe and then Harley Street physicians will serve those who don't want to stand shoulder to shoulder with the hoi poi. I, personally, would be content with NHS most likely. I'm a little less enamored of the Canadian system where there IS no opportunity for private treatment, well, unless you jump the border to the U.S.

The premise of Breaking Bad (U.S. Original) is that Walter White cannot afford, with his public employee health insurance, the state of the art treatment that his doctor recomends. I found that, and the latter version with Federal employee and brother-in-law Hank, preposterous. As if these public employees dhon't have insurance that's the best.

[gimmethesimplelife]

I'm not sure what a cartoon character's musings prove. But I actually like the NHS model in the UK, the British are so civilized and sensible. NHS exists for the average Joe and then Harley Street physicians will serve those who don't want to stand shoulder to shoulder with the hoi poi. I, personally, would be content with NHS most likely. I'm a little less enamored of the Canadian system where there IS no opportunity for private treatment, well, unless you jump the border to the U.S.

The premise of Breaking Bad (U.S. Original) is that Walter White cannot afford, with his public employee health insurance, the state of the art treatment that his doctor recomends. I found that, and the latter version with Federal employee and brother-in-law Hank, preposterous. As if these public employees dhon't have insurance that's the best.

Something I find interesting about border Mexican health care - and you may find interesting too, IL - is that it is not all Americans going to Mexicali/Hermosillo/Tecate for health care - you will find Canadians in the mix too, who are unhappy with the waits for care and the quality is high and the prices are so amazingly low in these places for care - it's almost foolish in a way not to go for them. And remember, the prices that look so incredibly low to us - Mexicans pay even less - we pay more as the market will gratefully bear it. So they are grateful for us coming down as they are making good money on us, and we come out way ahead, too. It's win/win for most people. But I digress - my points was that yep some folks flee socialized medicine in Canada and opt for Mexico for health care, and I would agree this may say something about socialized medicine in Canada. Rob

[flowerseverywhere]

As do I. Since the age of 12. This is one of the few stances I hold where I will not negotiate. As I have stated before, to me it's not my health care tab, or your health care tab, but OUR health care tab, as I see this as affecting the collective good of society. Rob

. But it really isn't our health care tab if you work hard for a good wage and pay high taxes as opposed too someone who works casually, gets free or subsidized health care, food stamps, free school lunch etc. As I have said before, growing up in foster care teaches you a lot. In another time or country I might have been a beggar or prostitute. I lucked out. The people who thought society owed them had a heck of a hard time. People who are thankful for everything they receive and work hard to contribute to society are whom I admire. I could have spent my life depending on social services I am proud to have pulled myself out of poverty. Safety nets are in place to give us a hand up when we are down. No one owes you anything in life. The ACA erases some of the problems, such as pre existing conditions. But somewhere people will be paying, either through premiums or taxes.

[gimmethesimplelife]

. But it really isn't our health care tab if you work hard for a good wage and pay high taxes as opposed too someone who works casually, gets free or subsidized health care, food stamps, free school lunch etc. As I have said before, growing up in foster care teaches you a lot. In another time or country I might have been a beggar or prostitute. I lucked out. The people who thought society owed them had a heck of a hard time. People who are thankful for everything they receive and work hard to contribute to society are whom I admire. I could have spent my life depending on social services I am proud to have pulled myself out of poverty. Safety nets are in place to give us a hand up when we are down. No one owes you anything in life. The ACA erases some of the problems, such as pre existing conditions. But somewhere people will be paying, either through premiums or taxes.

And I don't disagree with you. My goal is to not spend much of my life on expanded Medicaid. I have started the enrollment process to go back to school full time here at Phoenix College - it is a local community college - to get a certificate in web development and design. My hope is to become self employed at some point and to no longer qualify for Medicaid and get my insurance from the exchanges - or who knows - maybe even not qualify for subsidies there at some point? We'll see. But I'm not considering expanded Medicaid a long term lifestyle, just insurance to bridge me until I can establish better income. Rob

PS Came back to add I still do see it as our tab.....this has not changed for me. But I also see it as my duty to better my lot in life so that my taxes can subsidize the next person in my current situation. This is what I mean by our tab. I don't mean a long term lifestyle of freebies - though OTOH were I in Western Europe, I would have much different views on this. I have had to take my thinking and alter it a little so that it has a chance to work somehow in this country. Rob

[try2bfrugal]

I'm not sure what a cartoon character's musings prove. But I actually like the NHS model in the UK, the British are so civilized and sensible. NHS exists for the average Joe and then Harley Street physicians will serve those who don't want to stand shoulder to shoulder with the hoi poi. I, personally, would be content with NHS most likely. I'm a little less enamored of the Canadian system where there IS no opportunity for private treatment, well, unless you jump the border to the U.S.

The premise of Breaking Bad (U.S. Original) is that Walter White cannot afford, with his public employee health insurance, the state of the art treatment that his doctor recomends. I found that, and the latter version with Federal employee and brother-in-law Hank, preposterous. As if these public employees dhon't have insurance that's the best.

The teachers in the public school district our kids went to do not have employer provided health insurance. None at all.

The cartoon is significant because it exemplifies the attitude difference in providing health care to all. People receiving tax payer funded government care aren't consider freeloaders in the UK. Everyone gets free health care regardless of ability to pay.

We know many people who rely on the UK public health care system, and their treatment overall seems very good. Few have ever had private insurance. They are generally very happy with their health care. They get free health care whether they are working or not, CEO or janitor. It is all tax payer funded. The last time WHO ranked health care systems by country, the UK was ranked 18th and the US 38th (for much higher cost).

[sweetana3]

No system is "perfect" with immediately accessible unlimited care for any and all issues.

Canadians or Americans who don't want to "wait" will always be able to secure whatever they want if they have enough money. UK//EU residents do the same thing.

I prefer to accept a system that is more accessible to all. I have friends of all ages in the UK and their care is generally excellent. They do have geographic differences but so do we (which will probably not change). Care in rural Mississippi is far different than care in a city with nine major hospitals and a medical school.