All Forum Posts by: Carole M.

I would be interested in joining a club in my general area just north of Chicago.

Dr. Tierney, This law should have been started years go. Everyone needs access to healthcare and everyone has a right to an opinion.

Bill Gulley, Thank you for starting this thread...it has been so informative. The new law is a start, it will need modifications as time go on and I can see physician practices hiring new doctors as needed. The Family Practice I go to has at least 12 physicians on staff at present and they ask patients for assessments of the visit with the physician. I can see more of this and then they will know where to improve.

We all need to take responsibility for our own healthcare and this law is the start. Having knowledge of Medicare, Med Supp and Part D, I think that we may see some plans such as the following, but again this is my opinion:

Insurers will have a Plan, A, B,C,D etc. Each plan will have the same coverages, however, the insurers "underwriting rules" may vary. Therefore, Plan A under Insurer A may cost $, whereas Plan A under another Insurer costs would be different. Plan B will have difference coverages etc. I can see these plans and coverages being from "bare bones or catastrophic coverages" to very comprehensive and you will get what you pay for. I can also see health insurers vying for the business and thus cost containment, thus the competition will bring prices down.

At present time, having spoken with Blue Rx on Part D, the costs there are determined by contracts between the insurer, Medicare and the Retailer. If I go to CVS for my prescription drugs, I may pay my copay and/or deductible for the drug at say $. If I decided to switch to Walgreens as a retailer, the costs for that same drug will be different because of the contract between the mfr, insurer and retailer.

I can see people comparing costs and this in itself will create competition. These are just my opinions on what I have expereienced with Medicare/Med Supp and Part D.

Dr. Dennis, I wonder if Dr. Mehmet Oz a famed Cardiologist would agree with you on National TV! Also, even though I have never been in the military I have immediate family members who have and the VA Hospital @ Walter Reed is one of the best hospitals in the Nation with top doctors.

No one knows when they will need health insurance...and you hope that nothing major catastrophe happens. It is good planning to plan for the major expenses, just as you plan for your retirement. Without this planning you may not have a retirement. Anyway, I know people (young and Old) who have been in terrible accidents that have crippled them for life. There are those then that when they have blood work done, they are told to see an Oncologist or Neurolgist for something major. It is just good planning to plan to take care of your healthcare needs in case you need real major medical care.

Recently, CNN or Fox did a commenatary on other Nations who had to make the same decisions as the USA on making sure ALL CITIZENS had access to healthcare. I wish this would be shown again because it was an "eye opener". Many of the Nations went with Single Payer Systems, some went with Multiple Payer Systems, but the end result for the better of the various Nations. This is needed in this country...it is a shame for anyone not to have access to healthcare...one never knows when one will cross the "line of uninsurabiltiy" and then be dependent on healthcare to save our lives. This could be an "accident, disease etc" over which we have no control, but it should give "peace of mind". Let's give this a chance and then complain as there are ways to change laws.

Under the Bush Admin., Congress passed the Medicare Part D Drug Program. If you don't join when first eligible you get a penalty and that penalty goes back to the date you first became eligible and then you are charged an extra amount.

I support the new law.

I paid $1000.00 for my job posted above for a 1300 sq ft apt.

I refinished a 1300 sq ft apt. I found a reputable contractor who sublet the job and took an 85 year old floor with gum etc and made it into a beautiful natural wood floor with sanding etc and coats of poly. When I rented it out the tenants loved the beautiful wood floors and put their own area rugs down in all rooms. Doing his is also more hygenic and less costly in the long run. Carpets get stained and have to be pulled up every so often.