>>>* BEFORE in our health care system, should someone become injured or ill, and go to a hospital, they WOULD be treated.

That is the law, and that law still stands. Now would the standard of care, like perhaps a limb badly injured or lost be reattached? Perhaps not, but life saving measures, illness, etc, would and have been treated.

Of course, they might attach your home for the bill, but nothing has changed there, they STILL can and will. Only those who had nothing to pay with did not have to pay.

That has not changed, either.

With the ACA, the only difference is WHO will pay, and it will NOT be everyone. Those who have nothing will still pay nothing, adding in Government's involvement has the one effect it always does have.

It will cost more. You will receive less benefit.

I have read the bill, although I haven't read the 30,000 pages of additions, (which is growing).

I will say this. In my opinion, this is a BAD bill! it is not only BAD, it will have some disastrous effects.

My other opinion is that....the effects are....deliberate.

My personal final analysis is this. The ACA has nothing to do with health care, it has nothing to do with insurance.

It has to do with...REVENUE!!!....*EB

I sure wish more people would figure that out Ted, namely your last statement. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Have a friend here who's the chief financial officer for our local hospital- says they crunched the numbers to see what compliance would look like; it's ugly.

Ain't no doctor going to work for free, basically. Already ran my plugged nickels up the chain. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />

Good to see you out here! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />

And I was getting the feeling that I was the only one reading the fine print.

Ted, I am in full agreement with your assessment. Further, the structure is set so that the younger will pay substantially more for health insurance. However, there is no "incentive" for them to purchase insurance. Yeah, there is the IRS penalty which appears to be less than one month of premium.

Now, couple that with the government subsidies many are reportedly entitled too, the major question come about -- Who is paying for the government subsidies??

Affordable Care Act (aka ObamaCare) is not affordable nor is it practibly.

>>>*In my case, it is Medicare, since I am right at 70 now.

We were TOLD that Medicare would NOT be affected, yet the truth is that one does not pull $500 million (yes, with an "M") out of the already strapped system and not have an effect.

We find providers sending out bills with the tag "Total patient responsibility" like the one I just got for $357.00.

Yes, a lot of folks will simply pay those, not understanding that one phone call to the provider gets that paid and instantly. Just trying is all that is, folks.

My cardiologist, not one but TWO of them that wwere trying to figure out my crazy blood pressure concerns? They got paid $123.00 for a 90 minute office visit?

I charge just about that rate to work on someone's cylinder head, and have to if I plan on paying the overhead and feeding myself.

The reason for that weird bill I got is Medicare pays a small percentage, and it is scheduled to be reduced further. Trying a few direct bills actually gets some of them paid, which increases revenue. If they get a complaint, they just void the bill as an error and go back to Medicare. (Yea, that looks to be a scam to me, but it is happening.)

My own Doctor mentioned when asked that he was not sure how much longer they would be able to serve Medicare patients, since upwards of 90% of them are a loss service. Those of us who DO have the Medi-gap coverage will still be thus far, the rest? Not very likely.

So we are forced to purchase insurance to pay what insurance does not pay, just to assure access to medical?

When/if that happens, what is left? Why, that "single payer" system we all have heard of. With few Doctors willing to even accept THAT?

Yea, I see a problem. This is just one series of gripes, I have a lot more of them....*EB

I am in the same position as you -- I just turned 65.

Yes, I am eligible for Medicare; which contrary to the news media is NOT free. I have to maintain a "gap" insurance as Medicare does not cover that much. So, my health insurance increased by almost 40%. With that, I cannot live without working...

While my monthly costs have increased, it is yet to be determined how my overall cost per visit and medication will be affected. My "gap" insurance is due to renew in January. There is no information available to describe cost and coverage changes.

That is strange (well, not really) in that in past years (over 30) health insurance companies have begun sending plan selection info in September to allow adequate time to review the offerings and prices prior to the December selection date.

Health care crisis is manufactured and the health care industry has been plunged into total chaos.

>>>*Another interesting thing that just cropped up. Before the ACA, should a person suffer a major illness or injury, with no insurance their assets, such as a home, bank accounts etc, were subject to being taken to cover the bill.

Through legal actions of course, but nontheless, that happened. It happened to a good friend, his $8000 hospital bill cost him his family home, inherited from his parents and owned by the family for generations. Worth over $200K, how much did my friend receive from the sale?

Not one dime, it sold at auction and there were all of those "fees, back interest, management and legal costs." Yes, they took his home and forced him out, taking a $200K home to pay an $8000.00 bill!

Now some would say, just borrow the money. OK. Try that sometime when in this situation, no job, no income, ongoing illness? Nope, just a paid for house, an asset.



NOW, under Obamacare (AKA the "Affordable Care Act") that won't happen through the legal system, it will be the IRS that shows up to attach your bank account, paycheck, home, anything of value.

The idea of course is to force the public to pay the bill. Will the result be any better? Check on how the IRS operates and find your answer. Yes, in this situation,the ACA IS a tax, it is only a fee when it meets some OTHER legal requirement, this according to the US Supreme Court!!

You have a bank account? THEY have that info. A home? THEY have that info. Your personal information, such as the much discussed Social Security number? THEY have that info!

Already that information IS being shared, with no real efforts that I can see to protect it.

The real goal of this act appears to be exactly what I suspected, so many people were not paying any taxes that this is one way to make sure they do, and using the IRS means they have total control over everything we own, at any time they wish to use that information.

This bill is far bigger than just who pays for health care, at least in MHO and for the dab that is worth..It is..REVENUE!!...*EB

Far bigger, YES.

I tripped toa clause within the Affordable Care Act the deals with firearms. Ok, I do not have the exact line nor text handy, but it appears that your doctor is required to ask if you own firearms.

And, you answer could easily be means to flag you as an individual that is not allowed to own a firearm.

ACA is a gross over reach that has little to do with health care.