This is exactly what we can expect from nationalized health care

[dan foster]

Free health care isn't the goal.  Health Care with zero profit incentives to all the insurance companies, providers and pharmaceuticals should be the goal.  When the huge fortunes are removed from the equation, health care will be affordable, for all.

[LOsborne]

I'm just jumping in here....I have not read what has been posted recently...

Well, maybe you should. You see, the problem we are facing is that most working people wait when they have a health problem. They wait for it to go away -- or to develop into an emergency condition. Wellness visits to family doctors are uncommon. Consequently, these people are not diagnosed until emergency intervention is required to save their health or their lives. Emergency intervention is expensive. But so is a routine doctor visit. Without Medicare, Medicaid or VA benefits, how many regular folks can blow $175 bucks to see a doctor -- before he prescribes medication or schedules a therapy? Stop looking at extraordinary conditions, and start thinking about tummy aches that turn into appendicitis, or sore throats that turn into strep. The people most at risk for heart disease, or cancer, or emphysema are already receiving some kind of government subsidized care -- Medicare or Medicaid. It's ordinary working folks on a budget that delay routine care, preferring to take an aspirin and hope, rather than blowing the family's dream of a long weekend at the lake. Y'all take great glee in talking about stem cell transplants and heart valve replacements under nationalized medicine. As the state of medical financing stands in this country right now! a feller of 45 facing one of these catastrophic medical conditions would have the choice of resigning himself to bankrupting his family, or to dying. There has to be a better solution than allowing the insurance industry to grow fat on the misery of the rest of us.

[Sandy Eggo]

Retirees are offered a choice of;

TRICARE Standard (no cost) which covers about 80% of everything and can be used as a supplement to a primary insurance or can be supplemented with inexpensive secondary for no out of pocket, except a $4 copay on prescriptions until a family max is reached, then free.
This one was great until the Republicans (Warner, VA) required employers to stop offering the supplements to TRICARE for free to employees (much cheaper than employee sponsored primary care) because the big insurance companies were losing customers.

TRICARE Prime which has an annual fee, but no out of pocket and covers 100%.  No need for a supplement or for it to be used as one.

Only drawback to these; required to convert to Medicare at the proper age.  VA hospitals are there for all retirees and service connected/combat wounded veterans.  It can be used as a Tertiary for service disabled vets.

Thanks for the info. Do you know if military personnel who discharge rather than retire are able to opt to continue their benefits?

TRICARE sounds like a great plan, but having had some experience with a few VA hospitals during the care process of family members, I think the care there could be better. If I'm understanding correctly TRICARE gives a veteran the option to use the VA Hospitals or medical care of their choice. That's a good thing.

[dan foster]

I don't believe a non-retiring member of the military can continue TRICARE.  Health care for life is part of the retirement package.  As to the details on TRICARE and choice of VA, I am not certain.  I have service connected disabilities, so I only know for certain what my options are.  I waited over a year to get an appointment at the VA clinic, locally, and the quality of service was sub-par.  So, I wouldn't recommend them, either, although there are many great people working the programs, it is a pretty good example of what a poorly funded gov't program would be like.  I think not-for-profit coverage is what we need (so you go where you want), with all the profit removed from the providers (but they still compete for your business) and pharmaceuticals (where there is an incentive to help people instead of inventing phony illnesses and keeping people sick).   

[Exterminator]

Could get mighty interesting around here if I do the same huh?   

Everybody wants to be like me.   

[me]

Everybody wants to be like me.   

That's a scary thought.....

[Exterminator]

That's a scary thought.....

I don't think you have anything to worry about.

[me]

I don't think you have anything to worry about.

Thank goodness....

[Exterminator]

Thank goodness....

You'd have to be younger, better looking and a whole hell of a lot smarter.   

[me]

You'd have to be younger, better looking and a whole hell of a lot smarter.   

That is a matter of opinion.  The big difference I can tell is the equipment....

[pariann]

LOL!!!!!!!

[me]

I passed the health clinic yesterday and the lot was full as usual and it dawned on me that should this nationalized health care bill get passed that will become the norm for all health care.   

[pariann]

It shouldn't be surprising. People who need health care are not going out to get it, because they just can't afford it. Especially if they don't have any health insurance, and don't qualify for medicaid.  Even the Healthy Indiana Plan has stipulations on who can get it.   If you've been on any insurance within 6 months, you don't yet qualify.

I haven't been to the doctor in 7 years, not since itty bitty was born. I've never had a mammogram, I don't get yearly pap smears done....etc., because I can't afford it. I've managed to get to the dentist a couple of times, at that clinic you mentioned, because it only costs me $35 to be seen, but I've not had any of the work done I need, just gotten prescriptions for antibiotics for abcesses.   My eyes are failing miserably, and I can't afford new glasses, but I can afford that office visit ($25), at the clinic, the only thing is, they only do eye exams once a month.

[me]

There are organizations that will help with all of that you just need to know where to look.  The health fair they have at the mall every year has a lot of info available.