Why We Need a Medicare Buy-in

ah, yes...let's take something that's not as good, and make more people participate in it.

Hint: Government programs are not as good as private ones.

 

Already been tried. It's a non-starter.

It's simply unsustainable.

 

We already have a buy-in, but it isn't optional. It is ripped out of each and every paycheck in America already.

 

I'll tell you what is working for me.
I have no insurance.....
Nadda.... nope.... nothing......

When I go to the doctor or specialist, I'm upfront... roughly $1000/month SS and no other public assistance...... will you take cash and do you have a special plan or program for self pay folks like me?

So far.... most do or can refer me to an office or clinic which does.

Many are willing to accept as payment what medicare would have paid them if I had that. For example, a recent bill would have been $220.00/ uncomplicated office visit.... but medicare would have allowed $136.00 so that's what I paid. If I could afford insurance it would be far more costly than that.... It saves them costly time on filing.... and for me it's a reduction of the fees they would have charged. And they get their money then and there with no wait. If I had insurance..... the company would negotiate a discount on the fees, then have either a predetermined co-pay for me OR a percentage left for me to pay. But, I dare say, if I had insurance.... I'd be paying much more for the insurance and still have major out of pocket expenses to pay before ceilings would be reached and insurance would kick in to pay.
And if I were eligible for medicare/ medicaid... chances are their insurance would take what little discretionary spending I have (cough cough) and I"d still have charges.

I don't necessarily recommend going w/o insurance if one can find some they can afford. I don't have catastrophic coverage nor out of pocket affordability should such come up.
BEWARE of one program being advertised in media with a toll free number as though it is low cost or 'affordable' health insurance: I called to check.... and found that for a fee of about $50-70/month (and they could not make definitive statements regarding ....what I would call 'the biggie'..... promised hospitalization admission and treatment, if necessary,) I could have 'medical' insurance. Asked about how it works and what do they cover? "Oh we cover everything. We can reduce YOUR COST from anywhere from 40-70%." but I couldn't get them to nail any specifics. -----------Thanks but no thanks. What it amounts to..... they are price negotiators, and for a fee are working 'on your behalf' to get the doctors to discount their fee..... that IS what they are charging you for. The same information I have to give to both and discount negotiator and my doctors..... I can give just to my doctor and see for myself what the doctor and I can work out and save that $50 -$70 a month(which I reallly don't have) to give to someone else' for a service of hot air.

OH!... And while I have the soap box......
My feelings regarding AARP......... they ought to be PAYING SENIORS to take their magazine to recompense the cost of trash to dispose of all their junk materials. They've been soliciting my dead husband for going on 15 years now. They are already paid to market insurance products by the companies which use them...... and then they charge you a membership for joining and you must join to buy 'their' insurance. Then they go to Congress and are consulted by commitees to represent 'seniors' on issues which may not reflect the values of their membership........ but it certainly may make them look good and reflect the values of their marketing and those of the insurance companies.

 

Windcatcher, if it's at all possible for you, I strongly suggest some sort of catastrophic coverage.

At some point, you are very likely to need it. And if you don't have it, you will likely face a financial collapse.

 

I'm on my widows SS and not yet of age for whatever to kick in. How would you suggest that I get insurance on $1000/month to live on?

Thank you, however, for your concern and compassion.

For years (20+) I worked a job.... probably for less wages than most would have... and was content, trusted God, and was thankful for the benefits. Later I was tossed out like a rag doll .... when I reached that general range of 'increased' liability to the company as the result of age, seniority and grandfathering in of prior vacation benefits before company drew up new limitations, and a build up of unused sick time..... which I think was over 600 hours. I'm still content and trust God, having lost my health insurance.... when Cobra ran out. I'll cross or wont cross..... whatever bridges I come to dependant on how God leads. If I had the means.... I'd take care of this responsibility.

As for financial devastation..... We're all a beathe away from such disasters.... if the right thing should hit. I have no homeowner's insurance for two reasons..... When Erin hit and did damage, I ran into delays with the company settling in 2004....had lost coverage and had additional hurricane damage by Dennis in 2005 before all the damage of 2004 could be completely repaired ...... and, was unemployed, fighting a cancer diagnosis, and without completed hurricane repairs..... was ineligible for even a state negotiated policy.... which I couldn't afford anyway as it'd probably be between $1500-$2000/year.

I've made my choice years ago to live in the country. Here I know more neighbors and friends within 2 miles than most people would know in one city block of apartments---even though we seldom see each other or call on each other.

In a sense..... I've tried so hard to 'do the right thing' all my life by contentment and living within my wages, buying a home, keeping life, health, homeowners, and auto insurance..... and came to a point where I felt I had lost it all when my job failed, then I failed at an attempt to jump start a new career, then storms, insurance delays, and cancer...... and finally..... one reaches a point where they feel they've practically have lost it all...... and then one realizes "FINALLY I'M FREE!"

-----What little I thought I had, kept me bound by fears that I might lose it if I did not 'find' a way to secure it. The trouble with that thought..... there is never an adequate plan which will cover all bases to insure against loss and the real security we seek can only be found spiritually.... We can be saved and we can have the assurance that God will not forsake us. Anything else.... all those things which we can't take with us in death.... can always be lost by events in this life.

It is appropriate to do what one can to remain safe and keep their health, and then to provide for their security such as ownership, savings, insurance, preparations for the future which may include retirement funds and investments, life insurance, diasater preparedness.

But, the thing is...... no matter what is done.... there is always something that can go astray.
So what is one left to do?

Keep the faith..... the faith which they should have started with when they gave their life to Jesus Christ trusting him for salvation and received the promise of everlasting life.... that our citizenship isn't here.... we're so-journers..... we give too much of our time to secure those things which are so easily destroyed and are either distracted in or give so little of our time to those things which really cost little but will last.

 

Lord keep her and provide for her in all areas and I am sure she would be careful to give you the glory. In Jesus Name Amen

 

Thank you RevMitchell.
God is good and faithful to me...... more than I deserve.
It has taken me a while to realize the balance in all of this, but God has been gracious and patient and ever loving in his discipline through these events. Though I am still learning..... I have come through some processes which included doubts, fear, depression and discouragement..... and God has risen me above these things to realize how temporary everything is and how much we give our energies to those things which the world and our economy and our 'common sense' and our indoctrinations ...... and our advisors have told us are important...... and so much is based upon our security needs and desire for self preservation and protection against loss.... but we err by locking God out of the plans we think will help us. Some of this preparation is good stewardship and appropriate. But one can get so caught up in these things that he/she looses sight of who is our real provider.....

Everything that is good...... if it is good ........comes from God. If he uses man to help each other as an instrument of delivering another in a temporal crisis.... it still comes from God's grace and tender mercies and He deserves the praise always. And if we suffer..... it is not because God hates us.... but because this whole world is existing both under a judgement for sin and is being preserved from destruction by God's mercy. Everything which happens to a Christian is to develop us and train us and bring us through that transformation and santification whereby Christ is formed in us...... and we are established more firmly in Him.

I listen to a particular radio station which is heavily involved in delivering dissenting opinions from 'experts' and has much caller participation. Frequently much of caller's questions and opinions expressed by callers and some of the interviews concern preparations for various real or imagined disasters..... from natural occurring to economic to pandemics to even those of terrorism/ war/ nuclear senarios. Needless to say..... much of it concerns with preparedness recommmendations such as being armed and storing ammo against crime and anarchy, to storing food supplies for months for disaster provisions, to buying gold and silver to preserve one's wealth... and alternative health practices. However, none of these provisions can cover every possibility or be defeated.... and none of these will flow from here to eternity.

........ My own experience is a striking contrast through which I'm learning that the Bible is ever so true and relevant........ everything we have is a provision from God. My own failure in times past had been to attempt my own plans for future security according to the wisdom of the world and such programs and advice ........ as those represented on this radio station...... without first consulting God and including him in directing me as to what I should do and following the direction he gives instead of following the directions or expectations of others.

The times do change and the circumstances do change.... but God is ever faithful. Advice from our well meaning elders .....like my dad..... come from lessons which he learned in a different time and economy and when the government was less controlling and the work place more stable and benevolent in its concerns for the employee and there was a mutual respect between management and employee regarding longevity, loyalty, work ethics........ and the corporations were run by Americans financing and employing Americans and producing products to sell to Americans and upheld by values ....at least overtly ...... which were considered to be consistent with American quality and values. But the error is..... the times do change... economy changes...... the values and ethics change...... people change.. but God doesn't change. The bench marks which were the standards of personal responsibility and security of yesteryear..... have changed and become unstable...... but security in God's ability to provide and reliance on Him and finding that he is faithful has not changed and will not changed. Faith in Jesus is an anchor which is something we can count on now and is eternal.

We have in more recent years experienced a shaking up of those measures which we counted as being stable: It is too easy to feel overwhelmed by events and to complain as we find our predicaments shaken..... instead of latching into what we still have left and rejoicing that God is both merciful and gracious..... and supplies all our needs if we trust him. These tests we have experienced thus far may be most minor compared to what we could face and what some are already facing in some parts of the world. I used to agree..... and may do so today when acting on 'automatic' that "man makes plans and God laughs" .......... but, in reality, I believe man makes plans ......which excludes God ........ and God loves so much he broke his heart (figuraltively speaking) on the cross in the life of His only Son to draw us back into His plan..... and we neglect to follow through by completely trusting in his providence..... both spiritually and temporally.

Like others, I do what I can to prepare for the unexpected: But in reality..... there is nothing that one can do to cover all possibilities. In recent years, I've felt my energies so much lessened.... but I'm hoping God will continue to sustain or revitalize and use me at some point in time to encourage and minister to others of his mercy and grace. God is ever so good..... and, in looking back through the times in my life where I thought myself so miserable.... I realize now ......how extrordinarily gracious and good God was to me and was present even then and a refuge which I did not fully appreciate at the time. Like the poem of the footprints..... he's carried me.

As I live with fewer of the securities which I heretofore thought necessary to enjoy life..... I find I was bound by trusting in those bags with holes, in the money which was cankered, in the grains which get destroyed by vermin, in the shelter which a storm can destroy, in a body which is frail and made of clay and doomed to return to the earth of which it is made. But I am so wonderfully blest: God is my shelter..... if one gets destroyed.... he will provide. If my health fails.... my life eternally is promised...... and, if he wills, I trust he will provide for my healing. I've never gone hungry because he failed to provide. I've never gone thirsty because there was no water to drink. Been cold before...but not so much without provision for covering and warmth. Been lonely but never so alone that he took the Comforter from me. Been depressed but not so much that the despair was greater than that knowledge that He was present and his presence would outsurvive the false oppressions of feelings and emotions and carry me through and restore. God is so good...... And he is good and delivers encouragement to me also through prayerful warriors such as yourself.

I do so pray that God will raise up in all of us that faith, the faith, the faith which puts in each of us the reality of his providence and trust in his everlasting arms...... not just for the saving of our soul..... but also in reliance, and joyful praise for the gifts he has given us in this life...... and start breaking free ....in as much as we are able..... from trusting these temporary things which we think will protect us in the present or for the future .......and start depending more on him than we do on the instruments of man's own security.

If I were a man with dependents, the breadwinner of the home, or had dependents of my own.... I might be more concerned...... and my lessons might lead in a different way...... I don't judge anyone. But one thing I know..... we may try our own solutions to the 'what ifs' of the future.... regarding health, home, life, work, retirement, disaster preparedness, etc...... but, if God doesn't bless it or is not first in our trust and dependence..... man cannot save himself nor protect himself from all possible events....... AND IT IS FUTILE AND DOOMED TO FAILURE IN THE MOST GIANGANTIC PROPORTIONS TO THINK THAT GOVERNMENTS CAN.

I believe, in fact, that when a nation's people make such demands of government, and those who should stand on the promises of God..... start standing on the promises of man..... the believers who snub God for these man-made plans are inviting disasterous consequences. We have left our walk of faith which was the witness to the world.... in exchange for the world's answer and have dimmed the light of witness and testimony which might have brought others to Christ through our own exercise of faith and confidence and ministry of love in Him.

Thank you, RevMitchell, and God continue to bless and prosper you in your witness and strengthen your voice and expand and use you to influence others and fight the good fight in Christ Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, amen.

 

As long as you are interested in buying a ticket for a ride on a sinking ship...

I could sell you passage on the Titanic for a really good price.

 

No, we need to abolish Medicare and get the goverment out of the health insurance racket altogether.

 

I'm sure you're not talking to me..
I know what happened to the Titanic...... Besides, I can't afford a ticket.... and don't want a ride if I could! :laugh:

 

Good thinking.

Paul3144 on the other hand seems eager to go down with U.S.S. Medicare and all other hands on board.

 

If it is a voluntary buy-in program then it would not be taking away. Medicare is certainly better than no insurance. If you do not believe me try going with no insurance.

Tell that to the people that private insurance companies will not insure or to people who cannot afford private insurance.

Should we privitize the military?
How about the agriculture department that has kept food cheap in America?
If we privitrized the National Parks they would all be Disneylands or worse.

You over generalize with your statement.

 

He's trying to dispute and learn. Some of it will have to come through experience.

We must pray for those who are young. They are the products of the socializing of the schools, and the globalization of the media and entertainment industry, and the occultic influences of the new age movements and the magical thinking which is promoted in such books as Harry Potter, The Lion and the Wardrobe, and attacks on the Biblical report by such things as evolutionary theories, global warming, reverencing the earth and the creatures, and heresies promoted in books like The Shack and The Davinci Code. For this group, it may be easy to say 'I believe'......easier than to become firmly extablished in the faith...... as for many of the young, they have become accustomed to making their decisions and choices based upon feelings in contrast to committments of true faith.

I thank God I can sing with all the saints " I know in whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I've committed unto Him against that day." And with the Psalmist "I've never seen the righteous forsaken or his seed begging for bread."..... nevertheless, I'm not too proud to beg, if and when that should become my lot.... and will rejoice in God's mercy and grace. The apostle Paul gave testimony that he knew how to be abased and how to abound but in whatever state he found himself in .......to be content. Now that's the faith I want. That is real freedom!

 

Paul, you have my prayers.... and I do not consider you a heretic.

In the style of prose by which I was taught to write, each paragraph reflects a peculiar subject of address which may flow from others preceeding or to others which follow.... or can stand alone. The first directly references you. The second references the special difficulties which, imho, impact the youth of today (a generalization not aimed at you) and the third my own confession, conviction and hope.

God bless!

 

Thank you.

No, actually, my ignorant friend, it does not.

Under "my plan", they would no longer need the government to take care of them, but could easily do it themselves.

They would receive the same care they receive now (actually, they'd receive far better care because they'd no longer be at the mercy of government bureaucrats and gatekeepers), just at a greatly reduced price.

But your silly liberal attempts to discredit the notion of indiviual liberties and limited government with the old "you just want to kill old people and starve children" nonsense is duly noted.

Unfortunately, that's one of the reasons I can no longer vote Republican.