What a Surprise

[swampgator]

Cincinnati,

Don't worry about the guy who has cancer. He'll qualify for a taxpayer program known as Medicare and Medicaid. If he is well, then that is a different situation. My sister worked as a waitress for almost 30 years. Developed RA, couldn't work, had no insurance and then qualified for Medicare. She gets what she wants.

I'm really sorry for your job loss. I can understand with the high prices of things these, common workers underpaid and can't afford to buy much more than make a basic living, it's easy for business owners to have to fold. And, that hurts all the employees and their families. Hoping you are doing well and will be successful in the near future.

[jimsjinx]

I am a woodworker by trade. I was a Firefighter/paramedic, serving the city I lived in. I am 56 years old. I don't have retirement pay coming in that amounts to much. I CANNOT afford medical insurance. Period. I pay cash when I go to the doctor or the ER. I get no breaks in costs of procedures, even though I pay in cash. I pay taxes like everyone else. I contribute to my community still. My wifes SS check is barely enough to pay the mortgage. I earn what I can running my repair shop every day. I work alone. I have learned not to believe anything I hear from Washington. I vote, but I doubt it really matters anymore. You all have seen America rebell against the health care deal, but Washington did it anyway. No vote, no choice. Now I ask you, how in the hell am I gonna be able to pony up my 2500 dollar fine for not having healthcare? I never get money back from the IRS, so how do they intend on collecting the fine? I'm almost afraid to ask, really. I am disgusted with our state of the Unoin, and frankly all but disenfranchised from it all. Just leave me the hell alone so I can feed my family, and keep the wolves at bay. I ask nothing from the government, and I used to work for a city government! I am a firm believer that those of us with tools, machinery, and knwledge of a trade, will be the ones to survive all this doom and gloom. People will want things "fixed" alot more, now they cannot afford to buy new. Yep, tools and knowledge will get food on the table, no matter what, as long as you treat customers like you WANT them. There, I said it! Flame suit on and ready. Jim (jimsjinx)

[moose]

AMEN Jim! I give you a standing ovation as will most others in this forum. Well said!

[allmond2002]

I figure you hit the nail on the head. (Pun intended)

[jcraigie]

I am a woodworker by trade. I was a Firefighter/paramedic, serving the city I lived in. I am 56 years old. I don't have retirement pay coming in that amounts to much. I CANNOT afford medical insurance. Period. I pay cash when I go to the doctor or the ER. I get no breaks in costs of procedures, even though I pay in cash. I pay taxes like everyone else. I contribute to my community still. My wifes SS check is barely enough to pay the mortgage. I earn what I can running my repair shop every day. I work alone. I have learned not to believe anything I hear from Washington. I vote, but I doubt it really matters anymore. You all have seen America rebell against the health care deal, but Washington did it anyway. No vote, no choice. Now I ask you, how in the hell am I gonna be able to pony up my 2500 dollar fine for not having healthcare? I never get money back from the IRS, so how do they intend on collecting the fine? I'm almost afraid to ask, really. I am disgusted with our state of the Unoin, and frankly all but disenfranchised from it all. Just leave me the hell alone so I can feed my family, and keep the wolves at bay. I ask nothing from the government, and I used to work for a city government! I am a firm believer that those of us with tools, machinery, and knwledge of a trade, will be the ones to survive all this doom and gloom. People will want things "fixed" alot more, now they cannot afford to buy new. Yep, tools and knowledge will get food on the table, no matter what, as long as you treat customers like you WANT them. There, I said it! Flame suit on and ready. Jim (jimsjinx)

Jim,

I'm 40, my family and I are in good health, I have a job I like that pays what I consider fair and I have health insurance that I copay for, and I have extra money left every payday after putting away for retirement and savings, so I know for a fact I am in much better shape than most and I absolutly agree with you.

[curiousgeorge]

Jim,
I'll tell you how they will collect the fine from you... There is a provision in the Obamacare law that allows the federal government to access anyone's bank account at any time and make deductions. If you have an account they have you.

[swampgator]

You said it right, Jim. As a retired DOD employee building Navy/Marine aircraft for 35 years, that's what is happening to us. When I signed on, no choice given about having health insurance or life insurance. Then in the 1980's for the first time, we were forced to pay Medicare taxes. We didn't qualify for Medicare services until age 65 if we had paid into the system for 20 years. I kept my end of the contract, now they don't have to. It's not about politics to me, it's about honor your written word and quit changing the rules.

My point was to see how other government retirees, military or civilian, are being treated with all this. There is much more to talk about how we were screwed in the 1980's. But, won't go there. If you wish to PM me about that, I'll look forward to it.

[jimsjinx]

PM sent, SwampGator! Thanks for your support, and thanks to the mods for allowing us to be Americans and talk freely and politely. This "politically correct" crap is alot of why we are in the shape we are. Thanks again to the mods. jimsjinx

[pennview]

Steve, are you aware that at 65 you're eligible for Medicare Part A for free because you've paid into Medicare for all those years? That covers stays in the hospital and you sign up at the local Social Security office. You're also eligible for Part B and Part D that cover other medical expenses and prescription drugs respectively, but you have to pay for that coverage. If you sign up for Part A, perhaps your costs for federal retirement health insurance would decrease somewhat.

Unfortunately, the provision of the Affordable Care Act/Obama Care to cut $500 billion from Medicare over 10 years, if implemented, likely will make it increasingly difficult to find doctors willing to accept Medicare patients. Congress already knows that seniors will suffer by cutting payments to doctors serving Medicare patients because they annually postpone those legislated cuts to doctor's pay that they approved a few years back.

[dusty]

Steve, are you aware that at 65 you're eligible for Medicare Part A for free because you've paid into Medicare for all those years? That covers stays in the hospital and you sign up at the local Social Security office. You're also eligible for Part B and Part D that cover other medical expenses and prescription drugs respectively, but you have to pay for that coverage. If you sign up for Part A, perhaps your costs for federal retirement health insurance would decrease somewhat.

Unfortunately, the provision of the Affordable Care Act/Obama Care to cut $500 billion from Medicare over 10 years, if implemented, likely will make it increasingly difficult to find doctors willing to accept Medicare patients. Congress already knows that seniors will suffer by cutting payments to doctors serving Medicare patients because they annually postpone those legislated cuts to doctor's pay that they approved a few years back.

It sounds good but Medicare Part A contains a rather significant list of care items that Part A does not authorize at all. Furthermore, even for the authorized coverage, Medicare typically pays up to 80% of the cost. Supplemental insurance coverage is advised.

Bottom line: Medicare Part A does not pay it all. There will still be medical bills. In addition to that, prescription medications are not covered nor are over-the-counter meds.

I consider myself rather fortunate. I have been to the operating room with follow-on recovery and physical therapy six times in the last seven years and I have not yet been bankrupted by the associated costs. I even had a six months stay in an assisted living (nursing home) facility. In fact, my out of pocket has been less than $10 grand.

Steve, is it your employer (in the 80s) or the Government that you believe treated you unfairly. The Social Security Act of 1965 was the true beginning of this topic. But then maybe you are talking about the Medicare Secondary Payer Act of 1980 (signed by President Johnson I believe).

I believe that we (the working class American citizen) did not really get screwed until something called Omaba Care was "pushed" through Congress in 2010. It wasn't just that alone that scares me. What really scares me is that Congress and the President have the ability to do something like this. It certainly is not Government by the People.