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When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

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Re: When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

#141

Post by bhupy »

_jal wrote: post #63
bhupy wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Risk pools in other countries work pretty well, and their populations are Denmark’s population is that of Wisconsin. The least populated state (Wyoming) would have a larger risk pool than Iceland, which seems to be doing fine.

Sure. For that matter, some bigger corporations in the US choose to run their own. But it is just math - bigger pools have more resources over a larger population, and so are better positioned to survive shocks.

You’re not really refuting my point...by that logic the entire world should have one big shared risk pool, it’s just math!

My point is that you can have adequate risk pools at a lower administrative level (the states), while not having to deal with having to build up political will among a large, heterogenous polity.

Re: When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

#142

Post by dev_dull »

hestipod wrote: post #121
dunnevens wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I live in Kansas. We currently have a Democratic governor who is quite progressive by this state's standards. She's in her job because the voters rejected another 4 years of Brownback-style austerity. Brownback ended his term with ~21 percent approval. Currently, the state still doesn't have the ACA Medicaid expansion, but we're very close to having enough votes in the legislature. I'm cautiously optimistic about nex…

Medicaid as it exists denies a lot of people for various reasons. It has poor coverage and providers aren't obligated to take it so many do not. Simply closing the AHCA/Medicaid gap in the red states who refused to do so years ago isn't going to change much overall and is quite a hollow "victory" for those states.

I read back some of your history. I hope the dark clouds break in your life and you get some much needed warm rays of hope. It’s sad what happens to people in this country stuck in the kafkaesque twilight of our medical system. And then to be rejected by friends and family...

“Why have you made me your target? Have I become a burden to you?”

Re: When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

#143

Post by JamesBarney »

ars wrote: post #130
mars4rp wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know people in HN hate to talk about politics, but this is a political problem. People, please vote for medicare for all candidates, it might not affect your life now, but you don't know what the future holds for you.

> please vote for medicare for all No thank you. I've helped people with medicare and it's the worst health insurance I've ever encountered, with insane rules and brain-twisting billing practices. I have absolutely no desire to inflict this on the entire country. When you are promoting medicare - have you actually tried it? Are you speaking from a position of knowledge? I have, it's terrible. But worst of all it does…

Most people in the country disagree. And you politicians know this, which is why no politician would ever suggest removing Medicare.

Re: When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

#144

Post by alkonaut »

snagglegaggle wrote: post #57
77pt77 wrote: post #34

> Judges don’t need a law degree in Kansas, or many other states, to preside over cases like these You can't make this up!

I think this is completely fine. You'd rather be ruled by a credentialed class that could have opinions completely divorced from reality? The law is supposed to be human and obvious. Any case that "requires" a JD and ten years experience is likely full of trash.

The answer to the first question is yes. I’d like my court cases to be decided by someone with legal training just like I’d like my surgery to be done by someone with training.

Re: When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

#145

Post by ars »

JamesBarney wrote: post #143
ars wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> please vote for medicare for all No thank you. I've helped people with medicare and it's the worst health insurance I've ever encountered, with insane rules and brain-twisting billing practices. I have absolutely no desire to inflict this on the entire country. When you are promoting medicare - have you actually tried it? Are you speaking from a position of knowledge? I have, it's terrible. But worst of all it does…

Most people in the country disagree. And you politicians know this, which is why no politician would ever suggest removing Medicare.

No one smart uses Medicare, instead they use Medicare advantage, which is private health insurance funded by the government.

This is the part people don't understand when they promote Medicare for all - it's a really really bad plan, that people don't use unless they have no choice.

This should be the death nail in these proposals, except the people proposing it typically don't even realize the difference.

Medicare for all is a horrible idea.

Government funded private health insurance for all is a good idea.

Re: When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

#146

Post by alkonaut »

giancarlostoro wrote: post #42
77pt77 wrote: post #34

> Judges don’t need a law degree in Kansas, or many other states, to preside over cases like these You can't make this up!

I honestly dont find that an awful thing. There are places like small towns where people probably dont go to fancy schools to get fancy degrees. Are they going to be left without judges?

Yes I mean since Jimmy the mechanic does all the surgeries I don’t see why one of the miners can’t be judge. /s

Re: When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

#147

Post by anovikov »

It keeps striking me. Really have no idea how this crap could be happening. Is that a consequence of democracy? But none of the other rich and democratic countries has any of that shit. Here is Cyprus we have same life expectancy as in the U.S. (ok 3 months shorter) and the healthcare is paid for by a tax of 2.65% of income (but it is charged on any and all income including those kinds of it exempt from any other taxes, except there is a cap of taxable income of 180,000 EUR per person per year). On top of that there are purely symbolical charges (say a doctor visit is usually 1 euro) probably only to keep track of these visits. Seems to be enough. And no it's not Soviet-style healthcare, and doctors are not poor - they all drive new BMWs, have good houses and stuff, and appear to be doing just as well as their American colleagues. What's going on there in the U.S. people?!

Re: When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

#148

Post by Animats »

lotsofpulp wrote: post #75
privateSFacct wrote: post #66

A quick suggestion. If things are really this dire sign up for platinum coverage under a total in-network HMO like Kaiser. Platinum 90 0/10 as an example. If you have serious medical costs these plans are MAJORLY subsidized because they don't discriminate on pre-existing conditions. You CANNOT go out of network.

No health insurance can deny insurance coverage for pre existing conditions since ACA was passed.

No. No US health insurance sold via the ACA marketplace can deny coverage for pre-existing conditions. There are new "short term" insurance policies which are not ACA compliant, and do not cover pre-existing conditions.

[1] https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2019/short-term-plans-...

Re: When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

#149

Post by novalis78 »

wdn wrote: post #99
mars4rp wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know people in HN hate to talk about politics, but this is a political problem. People, please vote for medicare for all candidates, it might not affect your life now, but you don't know what the future holds for you.

Medicare for all is not a solution. The solution is make health insurance act like insurance. Health service provider needs to post their price like all services and products. They need to compete for our business.

Completely agree. the main problem is not insurance, but healthcare cost. regulatory capture and lobbying lead to ballooning administrative costs and corruption on all levels. The Surgery Center of Oklahoma cannot be mentioned enough as a shining example how things should be done.

Re: When Medical Debt Collectors Decide Who Gets Arrested

#150

Post by novalis78 »

journalctl wrote: post #101
wdn wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Medicare for all is not a solution. The solution is make health insurance act like insurance. Health service provider needs to post their price like all services and products. They need to compete for our business.

Stop with this free market nonsense. This is healthcare, this is real lives. It’s not the same as choosing which burger joint to patronize, it’s life and death.

The problem with avoiding market solutions to your problem is that many other areas of life could also make that argument "cell phones are needed to call the police, it's a matter of life and death, they should be free". "Houses keep people warm, they should not cost anything" etc. Reign in the cost of healthcare by allowing actual (cross state) competition and eliminate laws that give incumbents a free check. They should have to fight for your business as transparently and as hard as your tech company.
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