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Post by dave on Jul 18, 2013 13:57:22 GMT -5
www.windsweptpress.com/images/logo NYTimes.jpg[/img] Speaking Out for Health Care Act, Obama Says Millions Will Get RebatesBy MARK LANDLER July 18, 2013 WASHINGTON — President Obama, slipping back into his episodic role as a vigorous campaigner for his new health care act, said Thursday that thanks to the law, more than 8.5 million Americans are getting rebates this summer from their insurance providers. Mr. Obama was flanked by families who have benefited from a provision in the law, which requires health insurers to spend at least 80 percent of the revenue from premiums on medical care rather than on administrative costs. Insurers who fail to meet that benchmark must reimburse customers, a process that began in 2012. “Last year, millions of Americans opened letters from their insurance companies, but instead of the usual dread that comes with getting a bill, they were pleasantly surprised with a check,” Mr. Obama said in a midday ceremony at the White House. In New York, state insurance regulators said they had approved rates for 2014 that were an average of at least 50 percent lower than those now available. Administration officials attribute much of that decline to online purchasing exchanges, set up by the law, which they say encourage more competition among insurance providers. Continue at: www.nytimes.com/2013/07/19/us/politics/speaking-out-for-health-care-act-obama-says-millions-will-get-rebates.html?_r=0My rates, based in New York State, are going up. If anyone's rate is being lowered, please post to let us know.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2013 14:28:25 GMT -5
I always get rebates which I can't figure. The government gives me money in the form of Social Security. I spend their money on health care for my primary coverage( which is actually on the books paid for by New York State--they think they are fooling people) and they given me money to pay for my secondary coverage which is Medicaid. After I use their money in any particular month if I have any Medical appointments and don't use that set amount then I get a rebate. SO I pay for coverage then get a rebate. I wonder if Obama Care will work like this or will they just cut out the middle man and give me free health care. None of this makes any sense to me but I go along for the ride.
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Post by denise on Jul 18, 2013 14:57:31 GMT -5
This comes from the New York Health Exchange website. Here is a copy of Gov Cuomo's press release dated yesterday. www.governor.ny.gov/press/07172013-health-benefit-exchangeAt the bottom of the press release is a link to the rates. View rates here: www.governor.ny.gov/assets/documents/Approved2014HealthInsuranceRates.pdfI didn't see anything overly affordable. There are several levels of coverage, so one is able to get the "absolute emergency" policy, which is the bottom of the barrel, hope & pray nothing happens to you policy. It will boil down to what sort of coverage to you think is sufficient for yourself. How much can you afford to pay? Do you want to give all of your personal information to the IRS in order for them to determine you qualify for some sort of reduction or rebate? I will be interested in looking at the actual coverage on each plan/level of coverage.
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Post by dave on Jul 18, 2013 15:56:17 GMT -5
Thanks for posting, Denise. I don't see anything very affordable either. And I can't find my insurer, not exactly. I have Empire, but not an HMO. I was told by the former employer through whom I have my health care to expect a modest increase, so I suppose that's good news. And I'm Medicare too, of course, so I don't know how that affects things.
But the statement in the NY Times above that NY officials said on average premiums were 50% lower does not appear to be borne out in the rate sheet. And I re-read that sentence very carefully. They did NOT say the INCREASE was 50 percent lower. They said the RATE was that much lower.
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Post by dave on Jul 18, 2013 16:43:37 GMT -5
Alan, figuring out what the heck the government is doing could take more time that it's worth. If it can't be changed, I guess it is what it is.
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Post by denise on Jul 18, 2013 19:25:44 GMT -5
I have an Aetna PPO that I pay appx $600 a month for myself & husband. Deductible is $2400 out of network, $1200 in network.
Employer also offers HSA option, cheaper premium but $5000 deductible.
Employer is dropping option of PPO in 2014.
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Post by dave on Jul 18, 2013 20:22:37 GMT -5
Umm, yeah, not cheap.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2013 3:47:53 GMT -5
I saw one rate sheet & the premium for a "platinum" policy {whatever that means}was about $980/month for family coverage. How is that "affordable"? Course to people like Cuomo $980/month for health ins. is nothing.
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Post by denise on Jul 19, 2013 7:24:08 GMT -5
It's scary. Especially since we don't know at this point what these insurance plans are going to cover or not cover.
I truly believe that good health insurance and medical care is over on 12/31/13, which is why I'm having a surgery that I've been putting off for years next month. Getting it in while I can.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2013 10:11:23 GMT -5
If trying to figure out what your premium will be you have to know what sudsidies the government will give you I guess based on your income. I think New York is saying that those saving 50% include the subsidies. YNN just mentioned that while it may not be a 50% savings you will see some decrease in your premium. ANd of course the level of care is important. So if your young and healthy and single with not a lot to loose then the lowest health care level is cheaper: in this version the ambulance will pick you up but your nearest hospital with your level of care is an Animal Hospital but you get to choose the Doctor.
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Post by dave on Jul 19, 2013 12:59:32 GMT -5
If trying to figure out what your premium will be you have to know what sudsidies the government will give you I guess based on your income. I think New York is saying that those saving 50% include the subsidies. YNN just mentioned that while it may not be a 50% savings you will see some decrease in your premium. ANd of course the level of care is important. So if your young and healthy and single with not a lot to loose then the lowest health care level is cheaper: in this version the ambulance will pick you up but your nearest hospital with your level of care is an Animal Hospital but you get to choose the Doctor. Maybe a better plan than taking you to the Bow Wow Clinic would be to give the patient an ambulance ride half way to the hospital and drop him off at a public bus stop. Certainly the city could help out here with stretchers placed in a reserved area in the back of the bus. The only problem would be keeping the regular bus crowd from lying down on the stretchers.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2013 15:44:10 GMT -5
If trying to figure out what your premium will be you have to know what sudsidies the government will give you I guess based on your income. I think New York is saying that those saving 50% include the subsidies. YNN just mentioned that while it may not be a 50% savings you will see some decrease in your premium. ANd of course the level of care is important. So if your young and healthy and single with not a lot to loose then the lowest health care level is cheaper: in this version the ambulance will pick you up but your nearest hospital with your level of care is an Animal Hospital but you get to choose the Doctor. Maybe a better plan than taking you to the Bow Wow Clinic would be to give the patient an ambulance ride half way to the hospital and drop him off at a public bus stop. Certainly the city could help out here with stretchers placed in a reserved area in the back of the bus. The only problem would be keeping the regular bus crowd from lying down on the stretchers. Speaking of Bus Stops. The Bus Company here replaced all the Bus Stop shelters with new seating. They had a single bench type seating whereby at least four regular sized people could sit or two people with added girth. The new seating has divider bars and reduced seating to three regular sized people. Those with wider girth have to stand which has many yelling discrimination. The reason for the change: to many local bums and alcoholics sleeping in the older seating during the evening( and some day) runs. The Buses wouldn't pick them up. How ever the Buses are now have wheel chair seating in the front and can hold two chairs one on each side. Not sure what happens if three wheeled chair riders are waiting for the same Bus.
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Post by Clipper on Jul 19, 2013 18:35:38 GMT -5
I would assume that the driver would call for one of those call a bus wheel chair minibuses to come and pick up the third rider.
I might note that when I drove for Central NY Coach Lines, we had wheel chair lifts on our Syracuse line buses. I used the lift a grand total of twice and it was for a lady in Canastota both times. She would take the bus to doctor's appointments in Syracuse and have a wheel chair van meet her at the Greyhound terminal to take her the rest of the way to her appointment. She always called the office a day or so ahead of time to insure that they put a bus with a lift on that particular run, seeing as how all the coaches were not so equipped. Sadly, not many wheel chair bound folks want to endure the hassles of being loaded and unloaded from a regular city or intercity bus.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2013 9:47:32 GMT -5
I would assume that the driver would call for one of those call a bus wheel chair minibuses to come and pick up the third rider. I might note that when I drove for Central NY Coach Lines, we had wheel chair lifts on our Syracuse line buses. I used the lift a grand total of twice and it was for a lady in Canastota both times. She would take the bus to doctor's appointments in Syracuse and have a wheel chair van meet her at the Greyhound terminal to take her the rest of the way to her appointment. She always called the office a day or so ahead of time to insure that they put a bus with a lift on that particular run, seeing as how all the coaches were not so equipped. Sadly, not many wheel chair bound folks want to endure the hassles of being loaded and unloaded from a regular city or intercity bus. We have all new buses now that have thermostatically controlled heating and air conditioning and air purification system that constantly cycles and cleans the air. The window's are all tinted and they no longer open like in the old buses. Buses now are all equiped with a new chair lift. The lift opens upward from the floor and then drops down slowly till it reaches the ground level. The person in the automated skooter or chair just driives into the bus turns around and the driver then locks then in place. Room for two chairs. We also have the Dial a Bus service for people who have a letter from their Doctor stating that they are disabled. That one picks you up at home brings you to your destination and returns to pick you up and drive you right to your home. Oh and the seats in the Bus are all padded for comfort. These Buses are low to the ground so you feel every bump in the road and in Utica there are MANY BUMPS IN THE ROAD.
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Post by Clipper on Jul 20, 2013 12:17:30 GMT -5
Padded seats? That is good. The buses in service as late as the 70's had upholstered seats. I imagine that the fiberglass seats were an effort to prevent vandals from cutting the upholstery with pocket knives.
The combination of hard fiberglass seats and Utica's potholes, Centro should probably give each passenger a Preparation H suppository as they leave the bus. Two if the person buys a transfer.
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