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Early bedtime?
Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 3/24/2017 10:38 AM, Keyser Soze wrote: On 3/24/17 10:35 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote: On 3/24/2017 10:15 AM, Keyser Soze wrote: On 3/24/17 10:03 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote: On 3/24/2017 9:44 AM, Keyser Soze wrote: On 3/24/17 7:51 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote: On 3/23/2017 2:23 PM, wrote: On Thu, 23 Mar 2017 10:42:59 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote: 11:39 AMKeyser Soze - show quoted text - I'm sure Fretwell will be delighted to serve as your medical advisor, and at no co$t either, except perhaps your life. .... Can't be much worse than the people who get payed well to perform unnecessary procedures. In just about any other context, Harry would be complaining about the "pay for service" model of American health care. It is amazing how he can work both sides of the table so well but I guess it is natural for a person who pimps government unions. A few months ago (at the recommendation of a couple of veteran friends) I applied for health care services through the VA. I haven't had a primary care physician for a while (he unfortunately died at a young age of leukemia) so I was basically starting from scratch. Turns out *all* vets are eligible for health care through the VA as long as they served at least 24 months and have an honorable discharge. There is a means test of sorts but some forms of income are not considered, nor are your bank accounts and your income only contributes to the determination of what priority classification you are eligible for. There are 8 classifications, 1 being the highest, 8 the lowest. You could be a multi billionaire but if you are an honorably discharged vet, you will still qualify, although probably in the lowest (8) priority classification. So, the VA sent me a letter welcoming me and sent a booklet that is personalized for what types of services, hospitalization, checkups, tests, etc. that I am eligible for. In total, I have better coverage by far than I had under the Blue Cross policy that we used to pay $1,400 a month for. I even have coverage for nursing home expenses and/or full time home nursing services if the day ever comes that I need them. The VA assigned a primary care physician in a VA clinic that is about 5 miles from my house. I've had three appointments so far, including full blood work, colon-rectal cancer tests and other tests to establish a baseline. The doc spent over an hour with me at the first appointment getting background data, etc. BTW ... related to a recent thread here ... one of the questions was if I had guns in the house and, if so, are they secure. Anyway, the only thing wrong with me is slightly elevated blood pressure. Doc said it's not "horrible" but prescribed some meds to get it a bit lower. I don't like taking meds and I know that once I get more physically active once the cold and snow stops my BP will drop but in the meantime I'll take the meds. My only out of pocket cost is an $8 co-payment for a 90 day supply of the pills. If I need to be hospitalized for some reason there is a $97 per day co-payment for the first 21 days. After that, there is no payments by me. No co-payments for doc visits, checkups, tests, etc. The VA is totally independent from Medicare and the VA does not charge Medicare for services. I am seriously thinking about dropping Part B and it's cost and dropping the gap insurance policy I have for Part B through Tufts. I don't need them if I use the VA for health care which will save me about $350 a month. Bottom line is: The VA isn't a health insurance program. It's a health care program. The Boston area VA (which governs the facilities I use) is the highest rated VA health car are in the nation. So far, I have been very impressed. So, shifting the burden is ok for a Republican, even a wealthy one. Figures. Using benefits that the government says I earned is "shifting the burden" in your eyes? I figured this would **** you off. No, it just illustrates something else that is wrong with our health care system. If you suffered a serious battle injury or debilitating injury while in the service, I see nothing wrong with providing you with good healthcare at no cost for the recovery, even a lifelong recovery, for that problem or problems. Why should the VA pay for treatment of your HBP, especially since any sort of means test would indicate you can afford to buy private health insurance or pay for a private doctor without any difficulty. Truthfully, I always thought you had to have a major service related disability or be a retired "lifer" in order to qualify for VA health care. Apparently for many years that was true. However the policy changed when the VA/TriCare system was reorganized many years ago. The VA now encourages vets to apply. There *is* a means test however I still qualify for certain health care services, more so than I expected. I had a minor, service related injury however I don't think it factored into what category I was placed because it is not a disability in any way. I had two reasons to post about this. One was to let other vets know who may not realize that they are eligible. The second reason was because I knew it would **** you off. It doesn't "**** me off." It just points out yet another inequity in our health care system. I agree that our health care system sucks. I've been fortunate to have been very healthy over the years and have not needed any extensive health care services. However, I realized something was really screwed up when I had a routine stress test done a few years ago and the hospital charged the insurance company $14,000. Made me start thinking about it. Hey, you have always been a proponent of "free health care" for everyone, managed by the federal government, much like the socialist European countries you so admire. I am just trying to make your wish come true. :-) I favor a modified single payer system, not free health care. My nuclear stress test a few years ago was $4700. -- Posted with my iPhone 7+. |
Early bedtime?
On Fri, 24 Mar 2017 10:55:40 -0400, Keyser Söze
wrote: Mr. Luddite wrote: On 3/24/2017 10:38 AM, Keyser Soze wrote: On 3/24/17 10:35 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote: On 3/24/2017 10:15 AM, Keyser Soze wrote: On 3/24/17 10:03 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote: On 3/24/2017 9:44 AM, Keyser Soze wrote: On 3/24/17 7:51 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote: On 3/23/2017 2:23 PM, wrote: On Thu, 23 Mar 2017 10:42:59 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote: 11:39 AMKeyser Soze - show quoted text - I'm sure Fretwell will be delighted to serve as your medical advisor, and at no co$t either, except perhaps your life. .... Can't be much worse than the people who get payed well to perform unnecessary procedures. In just about any other context, Harry would be complaining about the "pay for service" model of American health care. It is amazing how he can work both sides of the table so well but I guess it is natural for a person who pimps government unions. A few months ago (at the recommendation of a couple of veteran friends) I applied for health care services through the VA. I haven't had a primary care physician for a while (he unfortunately died at a young age of leukemia) so I was basically starting from scratch. Turns out *all* vets are eligible for health care through the VA as long as they served at least 24 months and have an honorable discharge. There is a means test of sorts but some forms of income are not considered, nor are your bank accounts and your income only contributes to the determination of what priority classification you are eligible for. There are 8 classifications, 1 being the highest, 8 the lowest. You could be a multi billionaire but if you are an honorably discharged vet, you will still qualify, although probably in the lowest (8) priority classification. So, the VA sent me a letter welcoming me and sent a booklet that is personalized for what types of services, hospitalization, checkups, tests, etc. that I am eligible for. In total, I have better coverage by far than I had under the Blue Cross policy that we used to pay $1,400 a month for. I even have coverage for nursing home expenses and/or full time home nursing services if the day ever comes that I need them. The VA assigned a primary care physician in a VA clinic that is about 5 miles from my house. I've had three appointments so far, including full blood work, colon-rectal cancer tests and other tests to establish a baseline. The doc spent over an hour with me at the first appointment getting background data, etc. BTW ... related to a recent thread here ... one of the questions was if I had guns in the house and, if so, are they secure. Anyway, the only thing wrong with me is slightly elevated blood pressure. Doc said it's not "horrible" but prescribed some meds to get it a bit lower. I don't like taking meds and I know that once I get more physically active once the cold and snow stops my BP will drop but in the meantime I'll take the meds. My only out of pocket cost is an $8 co-payment for a 90 day supply of the pills. If I need to be hospitalized for some reason there is a $97 per day co-payment for the first 21 days. After that, there is no payments by me. No co-payments for doc visits, checkups, tests, etc. The VA is totally independent from Medicare and the VA does not charge Medicare for services. I am seriously thinking about dropping Part B and it's cost and dropping the gap insurance policy I have for Part B through Tufts. I don't need them if I use the VA for health care which will save me about $350 a month. Bottom line is: The VA isn't a health insurance program. It's a health care program. The Boston area VA (which governs the facilities I use) is the highest rated VA health car are in the nation. So far, I have been very impressed. So, shifting the burden is ok for a Republican, even a wealthy one. Figures. Using benefits that the government says I earned is "shifting the burden" in your eyes? I figured this would **** you off. No, it just illustrates something else that is wrong with our health care system. If you suffered a serious battle injury or debilitating injury while in the service, I see nothing wrong with providing you with good healthcare at no cost for the recovery, even a lifelong recovery, for that problem or problems. Why should the VA pay for treatment of your HBP, especially since any sort of means test would indicate you can afford to buy private health insurance or pay for a private doctor without any difficulty. Truthfully, I always thought you had to have a major service related disability or be a retired "lifer" in order to qualify for VA health care. Apparently for many years that was true. However the policy changed when the VA/TriCare system was reorganized many years ago. The VA now encourages vets to apply. There *is* a means test however I still qualify for certain health care services, more so than I expected. I had a minor, service related injury however I don't think it factored into what category I was placed because it is not a disability in any way. I had two reasons to post about this. One was to let other vets know who may not realize that they are eligible. The second reason was because I knew it would **** you off. It doesn't "**** me off." It just points out yet another inequity in our health care system. I agree that our health care system sucks. I've been fortunate to have been very healthy over the years and have not needed any extensive health care services. However, I realized something was really screwed up when I had a routine stress test done a few years ago and the hospital charged the insurance company $14,000. Made me start thinking about it. Hey, you have always been a proponent of "free health care" for everyone, managed by the federal government, much like the socialist European countries you so admire. I am just trying to make your wish come true. :-) I favor a modified single payer system, not free health care. My nuclear stress test a few years ago was $4700. === Single payer? Well, so much for freedom of choice, apparently not important to you. This country was founded on the principle of individual freedoms and it has served well for over 200 years. Why would you want to muck that up? |
Early bedtime?
On Fri, 24 Mar 2017 09:58:58 -0400, Keyser Soze
wrote: In just about any other context, Harry would be complaining about the "pay for service" model of American health care. Yet another figment of your imagination. Why would I object to fee for service? My bad. I forgot you have a fiscal interest in the fee for service model. Most of your brethren in the "single payer" camp blame fee for service as the cause of higher costs (and they may be right). It incentives unnecessary tests and procedures. They like the UK model where doctors are salaried workers., It's your responsibility to pick the right doctors and other medical providers. Obviously, you didn't. You can only choose from what is available and who your insurance has a contract with. In the case of my wrists they were the highest rated people in town. |
Early bedtime?
9:36 AMKeyser Söze
On 3/24/17 10:28 AM, Tim wrote: On Friday, March 24, 2017 at 8:44:53 AM UTC-5, Keyser Soze wrote: On 3/24/17 7:51 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote: On 3/23/2017 2:23 PM, wrote: On Thu, 23 Mar 2017 10:42:59 -0700 (PDT), Tim - show quoted text - Apparently you don't know what the term means. ...... Apparently I do Harry. I see you "shifting" here almost daily. |
Early bedtime?
wrote:
On Fri, 24 Mar 2017 10:55:40 -0400, Keyser Söze wrote: Mr. Luddite wrote: On 3/24/2017 10:38 AM, Keyser Soze wrote: On 3/24/17 10:35 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote: On 3/24/2017 10:15 AM, Keyser Soze wrote: On 3/24/17 10:03 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote: On 3/24/2017 9:44 AM, Keyser Soze wrote: On 3/24/17 7:51 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote: On 3/23/2017 2:23 PM, wrote: On Thu, 23 Mar 2017 10:42:59 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote: 11:39 AMKeyser Soze - show quoted text - I'm sure Fretwell will be delighted to serve as your medical advisor, and at no co$t either, except perhaps your life. .... Can't be much worse than the people who get payed well to perform unnecessary procedures. In just about any other context, Harry would be complaining about the "pay for service" model of American health care. It is amazing how he can work both sides of the table so well but I guess it is natural for a person who pimps government unions. A few months ago (at the recommendation of a couple of veteran friends) I applied for health care services through the VA. I haven't had a primary care physician for a while (he unfortunately died at a young age of leukemia) so I was basically starting from scratch. Turns out *all* vets are eligible for health care through the VA as long as they served at least 24 months and have an honorable discharge. There is a means test of sorts but some forms of income are not considered, nor are your bank accounts and your income only contributes to the determination of what priority classification you are eligible for. There are 8 classifications, 1 being the highest, 8 the lowest. You could be a multi billionaire but if you are an honorably discharged vet, you will still qualify, although probably in the lowest (8) priority classification. So, the VA sent me a letter welcoming me and sent a booklet that is personalized for what types of services, hospitalization, checkups, tests, etc. that I am eligible for. In total, I have better coverage by far than I had under the Blue Cross policy that we used to pay $1,400 a month for. I even have coverage for nursing home expenses and/or full time home nursing services if the day ever comes that I need them. The VA assigned a primary care physician in a VA clinic that is about 5 miles from my house. I've had three appointments so far, including full blood work, colon-rectal cancer tests and other tests to establish a baseline. The doc spent over an hour with me at the first appointment getting background data, etc. BTW ... related to a recent thread here ... one of the questions was if I had guns in the house and, if so, are they secure. Anyway, the only thing wrong with me is slightly elevated blood pressure. Doc said it's not "horrible" but prescribed some meds to get it a bit lower. I don't like taking meds and I know that once I get more physically active once the cold and snow stops my BP will drop but in the meantime I'll take the meds. My only out of pocket cost is an $8 co-payment for a 90 day supply of the pills. If I need to be hospitalized for some reason there is a $97 per day co-payment for the first 21 days. After that, there is no payments by me. No co-payments for doc visits, checkups, tests, etc. The VA is totally independent from Medicare and the VA does not charge Medicare for services. I am seriously thinking about dropping Part B and it's cost and dropping the gap insurance policy I have for Part B through Tufts. I don't need them if I use the VA for health care which will save me about $350 a month. Bottom line is: The VA isn't a health insurance program. It's a health care program. The Boston area VA (which governs the facilities I use) is the highest rated VA health car are in the nation. So far, I have been very impressed. So, shifting the burden is ok for a Republican, even a wealthy one. Figures. Using benefits that the government says I earned is "shifting the burden" in your eyes? I figured this would **** you off. No, it just illustrates something else that is wrong with our health care system. If you suffered a serious battle injury or debilitating injury while in the service, I see nothing wrong with providing you with good healthcare at no cost for the recovery, even a lifelong recovery, for that problem or problems. Why should the VA pay for treatment of your HBP, especially since any sort of means test would indicate you can afford to buy private health insurance or pay for a private doctor without any difficulty. Truthfully, I always thought you had to have a major service related disability or be a retired "lifer" in order to qualify for VA health care. Apparently for many years that was true. However the policy changed when the VA/TriCare system was reorganized many years ago. The VA now encourages vets to apply. There *is* a means test however I still qualify for certain health care services, more so than I expected. I had a minor, service related injury however I don't think it factored into what category I was placed because it is not a disability in any way. I had two reasons to post about this. One was to let other vets know who may not realize that they are eligible. The second reason was because I knew it would **** you off. It doesn't "**** me off." It just points out yet another inequity in our health care system. I agree that our health care system sucks. I've been fortunate to have been very healthy over the years and have not needed any extensive health care services. However, I realized something was really screwed up when I had a routine stress test done a few years ago and the hospital charged the insurance company $14,000. Made me start thinking about it. Hey, you have always been a proponent of "free health care" for everyone, managed by the federal government, much like the socialist European countries you so admire. I am just trying to make your wish come true. :-) I favor a modified single payer system, not free health care. My nuclear stress test a few years ago was $4700. === Single payer? Well, so much for freedom of choice, apparently not important to you. This country was founded on the principle of individual freedoms and it has served well for over 200 years. Why would you want to muck that up? Medicare is single payer and there is plenty of choice. -- Posted with my iPhone 7+. |
Early bedtime?
On Fri, 24 Mar 2017 10:35:08 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote: Truthfully, I always thought you had to have a major service related disability or be a retired "lifer" in order to qualify for VA health care. Apparently for many years that was true. However the policy changed when the VA/TriCare system was reorganized many years ago. The VA now encourages vets to apply. This is just an example of government empire building. Bureaucrats keep score by how much they can expand their patch. The bigger your budget, the more money you can make because you swing a bigger political stick. I tend to agree with Harry on this. Traditionally these benefits were for people who were impacted by their service, either from injury or simply that fact that this was their career and it is part of their pension benefit. It is getting ridiculous at a time when the government is drowning in debt and most of this is entitlements, we need to look a little harder at who we are giving the money to. Now I hear they are talking about expanding VA benefits to bad paper discharges. The second reason was because I knew it would **** you off. I guess that makes it all worthwhile ;-) |
Early bedtime?
On Fri, 24 Mar 2017 10:55:40 -0400, Keyser Söze
wrote: I had a routine stress test done a few years ago and the hospital charged the insurance company $14,000. Made me start thinking about it. My nuclear stress test a few years ago was $4700. I guess this was a more involved test than what I got. They just had me hooked up to an EKG and had me go up and down a little step box, right there in the office with the little blonde girl who works for doc running the machine. It was just part of a wellness physical. It was essentially the same as the one I did at Georgetown in 1961-2 when they thought I had a heart murmur. (I was in a study) I wish I had the tape from my test at 13 to compare to me at 70. |
Early bedtime?
On 3/24/17 12:57 PM, justan wrote:
Keyser Soze Wrote in message: On 3/24/17 10:28 AM, Tim wrote: On Friday, March 24, 2017 at 8:44:53 AM UTC-5, Keyser Soze wrote: On 3/24/17 7:51 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote: On 3/23/2017 2:23 PM, wrote: On Thu, 23 Mar 2017 10:42:59 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote: 11:39 AMKeyser Soze - show quoted text - I'm sure Fretwell will be delighted to serve as your medical advisor, and at no co$t either, except perhaps your life. .... Can't be much worse than the people who get payed well to perform unnecessary procedures. In just about any other context, Harry would be complaining about the "pay for service" model of American health care. It is amazing how he can work both sides of the table so well but I guess it is natural for a person who pimps government unions. A few months ago (at the recommendation of a couple of veteran friends) I applied for health care services through the VA. I haven't had a primary care physician for a while (he unfortunately died at a young age of leukemia) so I was basically starting from scratch. Turns out *all* vets are eligible for health care through the VA as long as they served at least 24 months and have an honorable discharge. There is a means test of sorts but some forms of income are not considered, nor are your bank accounts and your income only contributes to the determination of what priority classification you are eligible for. There are 8 classifications, 1 being the highest, 8 the lowest. You could be a multi billionaire but if you are an honorably discharged vet, you will still qualify, although probably in the lowest (8) priority classification. So, the VA sent me a letter welcoming me and sent a booklet that is personalized for what types of services, hospitalization, checkups, tests, etc. that I am eligible for. In total, I have better coverage by far than I had under the Blue Cross policy that we used to pay $1,400 a month for. I even have coverage for nursing home expenses and/or full time home nursing services if the day ever comes that I need them. The VA assigned a primary care physician in a VA clinic that is about 5 miles from my house. I've had three appointments so far, including full blood work, colon-rectal cancer tests and other tests to establish a baseline. The doc spent over an hour with me at the first appointment getting background data, etc. BTW ... related to a recent thread here ... one of the questions was if I had guns in the house and, if so, are they secure. Anyway, the only thing wrong with me is slightly elevated blood pressure. Doc said it's not "horrible" but prescribed some meds to get it a bit lower. I don't like taking meds and I know that once I get more physically active once the cold and snow stops my BP will drop but in the meantime I'll take the meds. My only out of pocket cost is an $8 co-payment for a 90 day supply of the pills. If I need to be hospitalized for some reason there is a $97 per day co-payment for the first 21 days. After that, there is no payments by me. No co-payments for doc visits, checkups, tests, etc. The VA is totally independent from Medicare and the VA does not charge Medicare for services. I am seriously thinking about dropping Part B and it's cost and dropping the gap insurance policy I have for Part B through Tufts. I don't need them if I use the VA for health care which will save me about $350 a month. Bottom line is: The VA isn't a health insurance program. It's a health care program. The Boston area VA (which governs the facilities I use) is the highest rated VA health car are in the nation. So far, I have been very impressed. So, shifting the burden is ok for a Republican, even a wealthy one. Figures. Don't be cynical Harry. Nobody shifted anything and you know it. Apparently you don't know what the term means. The burden of taking care of veterans is a privlege real Americans are happy to bear. Want to talk about draft dodgers and tax evaders? I fully support taking care of vets who suffered injuries or illnesses that were service-related. |
Early bedtime?
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