Lets help BannerJohn out!

[swaneejuggalo]

This is a great idea i'm going to see what i can do..

[number1cop]

This is just my second post but John sounds like a great guy. Sent him what I could through paypal.

[Fbomb]

John sounds like a great guy.

Takes one to know one...That's mighty great of you, especially being new around here.

[PaintedDesigns]

I hope I am not too late to help out too!

[BannerJohn]

I just wanted to say thanks again to all of you who have helped me out. My medical bills were almost $170,000 with no insurance. Thankfully, most of the people were willing to work with me,and some even gave me a 50% discount. Of course that still left a lot to pay. But I am slowly but surely getting things taken care of,and everything helps. I have always said there are a great bunch of people here and now I have proof of it.

[NukleoN]

Wow John. Glad you made it through but it's a crying shame how bad our medical insurance system is in the U.S. Without getting too political here, it's one of the reasons I support a solid Universal health-care plan for the U.S. It'll happen, it's just a matter of when and how smoothly it will go. I just read a book on this subject called 'The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care ' by T.R. Reid and lemme tell you, it's a real eye opener. Every developed country in the world which has Universal coverage does it better and for WAY cheaper than America. America spends 17% of its gross domestic product on healthcare and still leaves nearly 50 million people without *any* coverage at all, and yet offers a form of socialized medicine for vets and a Canadian-style system for the elderly. Even the word 'medicare' was coined by Tommy Douglas, the Canadian hero who implemented universal coverage for Canadians.

At least you had some coverage, even with all the red tape which comes from 'for profit' insurance companies which is an inherent conflict of interest. In Germany, they keep private insurance their whole lives...the difference is that their some 200-odd insurance companies are not for profit, but still compete vigorously to get the government-funds guaranteed for the base plan, and there are other plans to cover procedures not covered under the base plan. The key being that as long as people pay their premiums, there's no charge for claims like you would have made with the issues you've had recently. Going broke due to unforseen medical issues is a shame.

Glad you're ok tho, and I hope you can manage the bills.

I just wanted to say thanks again to all of you who have helped me out. My medical bills were almost $170,000 with no insurance. Thankfully, most of the people were willing to work with me,and some even gave me a 50% discount. Of course that still left a lot to pay. But I am slowly but surely getting things taken care of,and everything helps. I have always said there are a great bunch of people here and now I have proof of it.

[BannerJohn]

Wow John. Glad you made it through but it's a crying shame how bad our medical insurance system is in the U.S. Without getting too political here, it's one of the reasons I support a solid Universal health-care plan for the U.S. It'll happen, it's just a matter of when and how smoothly it will go. I just read a book on this subject called 'The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care ' by T.R. Reid and lemme tell you, it's a real eye opener. Every developed country in the world which has Universal coverage does it better and for WAY cheaper than America. America spends 17% of its gross domestic product on healthcare and still leaves nearly 50 million people without *any* coverage at all, and yet offers a form of socialized medicine for vets and a Canadian-style system for the elderly. Even the word 'medicare' was coined by Tommy Douglas, the Canadian hero who implemented universal coverage for Canadians.

At least you had some coverage, even with all the red tape which comes from 'for profit' insurance companies which is an inherent conflict of interest. In Germany, they keep private insurance their whole lives...the difference is that their some 200-odd insurance companies are not for profit, but still compete vigorously to get the government-funds guaranteed for the base plan, and there are other plans to cover procedures not covered under the base plan. The key being that as long as people pay their premiums, there's no charge for claims like you would have made with the issues you've had recently. Going broke due to unforseen medical issues is a shame.

Glad you're ok tho, and I hope you can manage the bills.

I just wanted to say thanks again to all of you who have helped me out. My medical bills were almost $170,000 with no insurance. Thankfully, most of the people were willing to work with me,and some even gave me a 50% discount. Of course that still left a lot to pay. But I am slowly but surely getting things taken care of,and everything helps. I have always said there are a great bunch of people here and now I have proof of it.

I agree 100%...having experienced the full force of the medical/insurance establishment profit machine.

I would add a few things:

Any country that considers the health of it's citizens a matter for profit (and huge profits) is not a civilized country.

and..anyone who has good insurance really doesn't have a dog in this fight..they have their piece of the pie and they don't really have the understanding to form an opinion on those of us who don't. Unless they have been there,nobody does.

Consider this...those of you who have parents still living who are older...they have worked hard all their lives..if they are lucky they might have a few hundred K put back.UNless they have medicare or insurance..one good hospital stay could wipe that out. Period. 10 days for me was $177,000.00 5 days for my mom was $78,000. And that is your inheritance. Think about that.
AND to add insult to injury...if a parent ends up in a nursing home, and the medicare (which pays for 120 days) runs out, and they go on medicaid...after they die, the state will come after their estate to recoup their costs (this is a federal mandate) and take their house and everything else they owned. Again, your inheritance.
No civilized country in the world fails to take care of their sick and elderly like ours does..and it's a shame considering how they tax us at every turn.

Medicare suppliment insurance is a joke...it pays well, but premimums are way beyond the average older person. My mom's premium is $300 a MONTH. You young folks think medicare pays it all? Well, guess again. It doesn't pay for a LOT of things.Doctor visits, tests...etc. The supplimental insuarnce is provided by private insurance companies..who make a hefty profit. As a result, they can (and often do) make decisions about what they will pay and what they won't. THOSE are your 'so called' death panels that the republicans have said we will get under national health care. Just more lies designed to keep the rich rich and the poor poor.

Nobody is immune...anyone can have a major illness at any time. Think about it. As health care costs rise, those of you who have employer provided benifits may suddenly find them gone..and you will be in the same boat as the 50 million of us with no insurance. When people go to the emergency room or hospital and can't pay..who DO you think pays? YOU do, if you have insurance..and the rates go up.

That's all I have to say. Anyone with half a brain knows that the problem is there and is getting worse every day. Only the well-insured,and those who have stock in insurance companies and medical provider corporations, will be against health care reform....excepting those who are stipid enough to listen to the insurance comapny lies and the republican lies designed to keep the insurance companies happy(and wealthy)

[Dakotagrafx]

Just got back from the Doctor and 10 pills would have been over 270.00 without insurance . . .Thats rediculous

[BannerJohn]

yeah I was just talking about this with Jenny. The government places NO restrictions on pricing,and gives the drug companies 16 or 17 years exclusive to manufacture the drugs. Essentially, a license to steal.

[Calculated Grafix]

I know all about this......7 years of dealing with a daughter with Cystic Fibrosis...............basically it's put our family in financial stress.  Sarah met her medical maximum when she was 3, at that time she was listed as uninsurable.  Since, We have been on State insurance.  Let's be honest here, State insurance doesn't cover a whole lot.........She's sick enough where my wife quit her job to take care of her, as the cost of an "in-house" nurse was more than either of us made in a month supplimented with the insurance.  So now, one income, approximately 3k to 4k in medications per month, constant medical care from my wife and now we find out she needs a Lung Transplant, she's reached that stage.....at 7!   Here's the best part.....we noticed our auto and home insurance kept increasing.......How do you ask???  Insurance Companies are now allowed to use your credit status to base your premiums on.   It's bad enough that we are going to have to sell our house before it gets forclosed, but talk about kicking you while your down......They hit you harder, make you jump through hoops.....have we some stories.............and what shall we expect for the transplant........Is this a country that takes care of it's people? not only do they not but they let others extort you also......

[BannerJohn]

I know all about this......7 years of dealing with a daughter with Cystic Fibrosis...............basically it's put our family in financial stress.  Sarah met her medical maximum when she was 3, at that time she was listed as uninsurable.  Since, We have been on State insurance.  Let's be honest here, State insurance doesn't cover a whole lot.........She's sick enough where my wife quit her job to take care of her, as the cost of an "in-house" nurse was more than either of us made in a month supplimented with the insurance.  So now, one income, approximately 3k to 4k in medications per month, constant medical care from my wife and now we find out she needs a Lung Transplant, she's reached that stage.....at 7!   Here's the best part.....we noticed our auto and home insurance kept increasing.......How do you ask???  Insurance Companies are now allowed to use your credit status to base your premiums on.   It's bad enough that we are going to have to sell our house before it gets forclosed, but talk about kicking you while your down......They hit you harder, make you jump through hoops.....have we some stories.............and what shall we expect for the transplant........Is this a country that takes care of it's people? not only do they not but they let others extort you also......

and there are still people who say we don't need health care reform.

[Dakotagrafx]

The largest cause of bankruptcy in the us is medical bills!

[rjfox]

True John- many of those people have the money to pay for medical expenses.  

[Dakotagrafx]

and the congressmen that vote on it defiantly don't need it.  I was watching a comedy show not long ago (I thing it was robin Williams) who suggested that the people in congress should wear coats with the names of who has sponsored ( er donated) to their campaigns kkind like nascar drivers!.  That way you know why they voted the way they do

[Calculated Grafix]

Not only do we need Medical Reform but the whole campain contributions needs reform, what ever happened to the line in their oath about representation "For The People"?  It's always about Money and who has the most.  "thou who has the most shall get served first"

And where are these Programs that are supposed to help people in need???  Seems like the only people that qualify are the people who know how to take advantage of the system to their advantage......More Reform???