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 Elite Fitness Bodybuilding, Anabolics, Diet, Life Extension, Wellness, Supplements, and Training Boards
 Chat & Conversation
 Health Insurance in America
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| Author | Topic: Health Insurance in America | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder 
Posts: 666 |
How does it work there? In Ontario, we have OHIP which is paid for by our employers, but everyone is entitled to in Ontario. If you want special treatment such as private room in hospital you can get extra coverage by your work plan or pay through something like Trillium which is sponsered by the governemnt. Ive heard stories about how places there refuse to treat people with no insurance, blah blah. What happens if youdont have insurance? do they bankrupt you? How much does it cost there?     | ||
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Guru 
Posts: 2460 |
If you don't have insurance and the condition is critical they take them outback of the hospital and let hunters use them for target practice. Sharpens use up for deer killin and the like. Seriously. ------------------ | ||
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Guru
Posts: 2142 |
It is law in the U.S. that a doctor can not refuse treating somebody in need. Now they will bill that person and if that person refueses to pay, it will go on their credit report. I forget what it is called, but I think it is the Doctor's Oath that requires them to treat anybody, insurance or not. | ||
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Guru
Posts: 4076 |
No they save you and you spend the rest of your life paying back inflated charges (like $50 for an aspirin). Medical/Prescription insurance is one of the most frusterating part of my life. They constantly fuck with me, and refuse to pay for shit. I always have to write like 3 letters or so and then like clockwork they pay. They never pay when they are supposed to and only after tons of bitching do they pay. They send you bills and expect payments within 10 days after 2-3 days of issuence, lets see that means I have about 5-6 days to send them a check for shitty service - if I dont they drop your coverage on the spot within 24 hours, I know b/c they fucked up and I was .10 CENTS!! short and the fuckheads were saying I was dropped. Im at my wit ends with GENERAL AMERICAN INSURANCE. GENAM INSURANCE SUCKS ------------------ For a good time click here: Search and Profiles (300Kleens Board) | ||
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Guru
Posts: 4076 |
Its called the hyprocratic oath oddly enough. ------------------ For a good time click here: Search and Profiles (300Kleens Board) | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder
Posts: 666 |
Thats not cool Slopain. My parents used to have a condo in Florida and my dad got really sick and had to get rushed to emergency. THey had supplemental insurance and were billed $900Us for 4 hours in emergency. That wasnt including the actual treatment. Whowza! Doctors must be rich in America. | ||
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Guru
Posts: 2142 |
My insurance paid my specialist a little over $2500.00 U.S. for my broken ankle. I saw the doctor 3 times for a told of 10minutes. However I spent over 2hrs sitting in a little room waiting for his ass. | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder 
Posts: 120 |
Our health system was fine before the Clinton administration. He tried to turn in into a socialist scheme like the one used by our friendly northern neighbor. I work in the field and have to deal with Doctors who have their hands tied with Medicare and government regulations which bring down inefficiency. Health care costs have gone up b/c now that more and more people get "free" health care they make sure that at FIRST sign of sickness (whether it is a common cold or whatever) they rush to doctors office. This bogs docs offices down. What is worse is that Docs lose money everytime a patient comes in with medicare and they make up for it by charging non-medicare people more. Emergency rooms are the same. In an older day people just went to the emergency rooms when they actually had an emergency. Now, with most employers being "directed"(they get better tax breaks) by the government to use HMOs to give workers health insurance, people don't have to pay as much for such services and it screws up the whole system. Doctors used to be heros but now they are becoming slaves. Get real people. NOTHING is free and the government can't make it that way. All the government does is steal from A to give to B - and if there is someone that doesn't think this is stealing (no matter how holy the motive might me) I feel sorry for you. Sorry to rant. | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 120 |
Our health system was fine before the Clinton administration. He tried to turn in into a socialist scheme like the one used by our friendly northern neighbor. I work in the field and have to deal with Doctors who have their hands tied with Medicare and government regulations which bring down inefficiency. Health care costs have gone up b/c now that more and more people get "free" health care they make sure that at FIRST sign of sickness (whether it is a common cold or whatever) they rush to doctors office. This bogs docs offices down. What is worse is that Docs lose money everytime a patient comes in with medicare and they make up for it by charging non-medicare people more. Emergency rooms are the same. In an older day people just went to the emergency rooms when they actually had an emergency. Now, with most employers being "directed"(they get better tax breaks) by the government to use HMOs to give workers health insurance, people don't have to pay as much for such services and it screws up the whole system. Doctors used to be heros but now they are becoming slaves. Get real people. NOTHING is free and the government can't make it that way. All the government does is steal from A to give to B - and if there is someone that doesn't think this is stealing (no matter how holy the motive might me) I feel sorry for you. Sorry to rant. | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder
Posts: 666 |
What is an HMO? I refuse to be upset at your insults to my country Mr. Roarke...I am quite happy with our setup..nothing is perfect...if it was, it wouldnt be run by humans....plus if the American system was perfect before someone wouldnt have felt the need to change it. I was merely asking how one is covered in America. | ||
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Guru
Posts: 3074 |
my daddy is a doctor...he bought me a nice watch for christmas...i don't care about anything else but this nice watch on my wrist... | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 120 |
LOL! Not directed at you at all Kat!! I was just ranting about how I don't like the system in general. I have nothing against Canada, but I do have a problem with their health system as is. Just frustrated at my own government. BTW- HMO=Health Maintence Organization | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder
Posts: 666 |
What does an HMO do? Well Mr. Roarke, in the last 6 years we have had two cancer cases in my immediate family and the treatment recieved was nothing short of phenonmenal. In America, its who you can buy. In Canada, its who you know. Is either system right? I know some really rich people who have recieved crappy care because they don't know the right people. I know normal, middle class citizens like my folks who happened to come across the right people and have been given exceptional care. | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 120 |
HMO is an umbrella organization that doctors sign up with (like Aetna, Nylcare, Kaiser etc) and they "gaurantee" doctors a client base in return for the premium they get from companies who sign up with them. Companies get "tax breaks" by providing health insurance via HMO. The gov sorta wrangles companies by saying "now you don't HAVE to provide insurance to your employess, but we'll make sure you will pay dearly if you don't". That is the underlying message. It distorts supply and demand and free markets. | ||
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Pro Bodybuilder 
Posts: 454 |
it's bunch of bullshit, they are quick to take money out of your paycheck, and really really, i mean really slow to pay the medical bills. they fight you like their lives depend on it and try to find loop holes to avoid payments. | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder
Posts: 666 |
Oh. See, thatis nothing like us. We have a credit card type thingy that the doctors office swipes...we pay no money..nothing changes hands from client/patient to doctor. I agree to the extent that abuse of the system is occuring (my doc always tells me the government isnt losing any money because of me because I only go when theres an issue), however, I also believe that as a civilized society it is not only a priviledge but a right to decent medical care for everyone. My BF makes half the moeny as I do...does that mean because he is less intelligent than me and is not capable of making the same money he should be denied the right to the same medical care as me? And why, just because someone has money should they get better health care? ARe they better people just because they have more money? It boils down to equal treatment not based on finanical status. | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 120 |
Understand your points, but...everything costs money. What is money? A medium of exchange. How do people acquire this "medium of exchange"? TIME and EFFORT Why should I put my time and effort in but not get the payoff? That is why the soviet union collapsed. Their people who did all the work and produced never got anything for it (outside of some who got political favors)and they could do nothing about it. That is exactly what they did..NOTHING...they lost all motivation and creativity and felt hopeless to break thru the system. Once a country says "we should give healthcare to everyone" why not say "we should give food to everyone". Then why not say "we should provide jobs for everyone". Then "we should provide cars for everyone". Then "we should provide housing for everyone". It goes on and on and on. Where does it stop? if it doesn't there is a name for such a system..communism. As Marx said "to each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs" Life isn't fair and nothing is free. You get where you want thru intelligence, creativity, hard work, effort and perseverance and there is only one system that can unleash this in people and that is capitalism. SHOW ME THE MONEY DAMMIT!! | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder
Posts: 666 |
I also agree with your point..I am essentially a capitalist. If I am smarter, more talented then yes, I should get paid more. I do NOT believe in welfare, and I believe if I, by hard work and a miracle DO become successful with my music, then damn right I should be rich. If you have the IQ of a snail, then you get paid like a snail. HOWEVER...work gets you food. no, you arent eating in restaurants, you may be eating kraft dinner alot, but you are eating. Health care erodes that. Will you eat? Or go to the doctor? I do not think anything should be free, I do think certian things should be universal. Health care is one of them. Health knows no financial gain or loss. It is the right of everyone. If you dont want to work, then hey, dont eat. That is common sense. But if one single thing should be universal it is our health.... In all other things I say.. "let the sharks get them" | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 60 |
I'm happy with our Health Care System in Canada. In the 20 years I've lived here, I haven't actually used it a lot (thank God), but I'm happy about it..knowing that if I do break my arm trying to bench 95lbs, its not going to cost me $5000 bucks just to see the doc. But you know what Kat, I think sooner or later, our system will crumple. It can't last that much longer...I mean...give it a nother 10years..max. Too many people taking advantage of it. | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder
Posts: 666 |
...and that's the tragedy of mankind Squish...errr..monkey...the very people the system is set up to help out are the ones who tear it down. Then they'll be crying "boohooo...I make $6.85/hr and can't afford to go to the doctor." Meanwhile, I could certianly afford my own healthcare if neccessary, but as stated before, its the universality of it that makes it special. | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 120 |
Monkey - if you saw how much you actually paid I think you would change your mind. True it may save you $5000 one day eventually, but you do know that you pay yearly premiums whether they are directly out of your paycheck, thru taxes, or thru "what is not seen" - this is the one most people miss...How much more you would keep in your paycheck if not for them grabbing money out to give it to someone else. Politicians, Insurance companies, and people who take advantage of the system are the ones that get hooked up on this deal. People like you- honest and/or never needing to see a doc, get SCREWED! Kat- You are a very compassionate person, but please do not think that I am not. We both want good health care for people just that we ideally want to achieve it in different ways. Ofcourse, however, my way is the correct way!=) | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 289 |
I have been malpracticed 5 times now. I will not take it anymore. The next Dr. who does this will become a victim. I don't care one bit about his/her ass. Fuck these people anyway. If I ever get screwed again, they will be treating themselves IF | ||
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Pro Bodybuilder
Posts: 560 |
Medical Insurance is the US is in pretty shitty condition. About $0.20 of every health care dollar goes to the insurance companies. With all the different companies with their different protocols is is confusing and inefficient. Fee for service would be ideal, but would mean abandoning the hippocratic oath and not treating people who can't afford care. I'm no socialist, but if we can't do fee for service we should have socialized health care. All the scary talk about socialized medicine is a bunch of crap promoted by massive corporations and people (often rightly) afraid of giving the government more powers to misuse. This is one (rare) instance of where the government should step in and regulate. I take pride in making damn sure insurance companies will reimburse my clients. Peace! ------------------ | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 58 |
To be a doctor, one has to go through approx. 8 years of schooling and that schooling cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, a doctor has to be sure that what he is spending to get that degree will pay himself back. The last thing this country wants is to have a shortage of doctors like we have of nurses. Some nurses are getting over 50 dollars a hour because they are in such high demand. We need to keep this field a high paying field that keeps attracking competent people and to assure that we are striving toward cures of disease and preventive medication. It will get worse before it gets better. | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder
Posts: 666 |
That is assuming they are in it for the money and not humanity. Fact is, some of the best doctors in the world (if you are going by 1st in class and competency) are in the Congo, the Rainforest, the third world countries helping people who have zero access to medical care. Yes, a lot of docs are in it for the money. But if my doctor is worrying more about his Mercedes than me, then IVe got some issues with that. | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 58 |
These guys in the rain forest are usually already rich or Almost all of them write some kind of book to get recignition in that way. Im not saying that their are not any out their that just want to help people. My wife is a physical therapist and the reason she got into the field was to help kids, but I have been to a few dinner parties with some of her classmates and all I remember is almost all of these people talking about how much money they can look forward to making. | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 120 |
It's just like when an athelete signs on as a free agent with another team and they always ask him "was it the money"? How many times have you heard "yes"? Almost never, they usually say it is b/c of the opportunity or the fans or the coach or some other BS. It is always about the money- yes even for docs- whether they admit it or not. Off topic: Eric Lindros - Canadian national icon, didn't want to play for a Canadian team out of the draft b/c of money. Gretzky - same thing. Pretty soon there will be very few canadian teams left b/c of stringent income tax burden posed by your gov. Good job Canada! Invent the great game of hockey and then give it to us b/c even hockey teams and players don't play for "free". | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder
Posts: 666 |
LOL...I wouldnt exactly call Lindros a National icon here...more like a laughing stock...complete loser on and off the ice..his whole family are considered to have plague-like symptoms. I'm not saying we have the greatest tax system. We do have better roads though. I can say that as a fact..Ive driven on American roads..how do you people keep your cars together? | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 120 |
ESPECIALLY THE ROADS IN DC!!!! I would prefer the gov doesn't provide roads personally - in my ideal free market world. I agree - Lindros is a big homo, I figured he was still cool in Canada. | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder
Posts: 666 |
Who would then? Who would pay for them? Yes, we pay higher taxes, but we also have a better school system (thats not personal opinion...just stats), better roads, better highway maintenance, better snow removal. I have no issues paying taxes if they re put to good use and are for the betterment of the community. The pockets of government officials is not the betterment of the community....we do need changes. Dont worry Mr Roarke...in 10 or 15 years I'll be Prime Minister. Scary, eh? | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 120 |
Very scary!!!=) The government doesn't provide food in either of our countries or housing (well for the most part), but somehow most of us live in houses and have enuff meals to keep us alive. Adam Smith called the the "invisible hand" of the market. Businessmen who work for their own selfish interest provide a neccisary service to the people. Paraphrase from "The Wealth of Nations" "It is not because of benevolence that the butcher puts meat on the brewers table, but rather personal self-interest" It can be done better if gov isn't involved. We have horrible roads, mad highway traffic, and horrible public transportion here in America. Guess who runs all these functions. You got it..the government. In Russia people had to wait hours in line to get food, here in our countries if people have to wait 5 minutes at a checkout line they are unlucky. Key - businessmen know how to supply customers better than bureaucrats. | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 58 |
You just cant compare us with canada, the us blows canada out of the water, hell the us blows every freaken country out of the water. We run the world whether you want to admit it or not. No offense though, that is just the truth! |
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posted December 28, 2000 12:46 PM
