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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Re: Daria and CS
All of this reminds me of something I don't think we shared here, but is related. The OK governor just signed an emergency rule* making birth not a qualifying event to add someone to your individual insurance plan. So, if you have a baby, you can wait until the next open season and have them covered on the following plan year. So basically any infant that needs medical care is out of pocket and let's hope that kid doesn't develop a pre-existing condition during that time, or he/she is SOL for the rest of his/her life. The governor blamed obamacare and said we had to lure insurance companies back to our state somehow.
*emergency rule here meant that it was drafted by the insurance commissioner and signed by the governor. The state legislature can theoretically repeal during the next legislative session.
OMG, WHAT?!! That is completely fuccking insane. I would seriously consider divorcing my H to get a qualifying event. I would definitely ask my job to fire me and hire me back.
Baby Boxer is coming! 5.23.12
www.focushunting.com
I posted it on my Facebook a couple of weeks ago with a link to an article if you really want to share it.
WTF? Do you ever wonder if between Congress and the states we're seeing some sort of deep game to ensure that insurance is so fvcked that universal care is entirely necessary? I know they're not, but it makes about as much sense as leaving an entire generation exposed like that. Jeebus.
Also, in Oregon every group insurance plan I've had will cover pre-existing after 6 months. Is this not the case in other states or is it that individual plans don't have to cover pre-existing that's the problem? (I have no idea what individual coverage is mandated here.) I know for group plans, pregnancy was (still is?) not allowed to be considered pre-existing and basic maternal services is mandated, plans can't refuse to offer maternal or make you pay for it separate. ::humps Commie state::
"The meek shall inherit the earth" isn't about children. It's about deer. We're all going to get messed the fuckup by a bunch of cloned super-deer.- samfish2bcrab
Sometimes I wonder if scientists have never seen a sci-fi movie before. "Oh yes, let's create a super species of deer. NOTHING COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG." I wonder if State Farm offers a Zombie Deer Attack policy. -CaliopeSpidrman
My jaw dropped, Wendy. That's horrifying. Both my kids ended up in the NICU, one for a day and one for four. Four days in a NICU is a lot of money.
A bunch of the individual plans I applied for (and was denied coverage from) didn't cover pregnancy in any form. It was fine with me because I wasn't planning on getting pregnant, and if we had an accidental pregnancy I would have then been eligible for state coverage (but only while pregnant), but it seemed completely bizarre to me that that's something that could be left out.
I have never heard of the six months no longer pre-existing thing, so I think that may be a state thing.
Possibly a dumb question, but I do feel strongly that this emergency rule is wrong and needs to be repealed. What can I actually do, beyond a strongly worded letter to my local congressman? I'm not sure how to get involved. Also, I know my job prohibits any political fundraising, so I'm not really clear what that means for involvement with groups that do raise funds.
Letters to the editor. If any get published, forward them to any offices you think will might be able to do something. I know our Congress people can't take letters from non-constituents, but our state reps don't have the same restrictions, so you might try to contact anyone you think is likely to mount a challenge.
In lobbying training we were told that email is the least effective, because it's so easy and they get so many. Physical letters were better, telephone calls even more, and the best is if you make an appointment and come in person. Show up at any public hearings, wear a button or a t-shirt even if you don't get to speak.
And really, you have to get insurers "back to the state"? Was there some sort of mass exodus nobody heard about? One of the things I hate about politics is the way politicians make outlandish claims and 78% of the time are never made to back it up.
"The meek shall inherit the earth" isn't about children. It's about deer. We're all going to get messed the fuckup by a bunch of cloned super-deer.- samfish2bcrab
Sometimes I wonder if scientists have never seen a sci-fi movie before. "Oh yes, let's create a super species of deer. NOTHING COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG." I wonder if State Farm offers a Zombie Deer Attack policy. -CaliopeSpidrman
"That chick wins at Penises, for sure." -- Fenton
This makes me want to move to Oregon. In GA pre-existing conditions never ever have to be covered again. There are only two private insurance plans that even offer an option for maternity coverage, and if you get the option it will still cost about 20K for a normal delivery, and it requires you to have the policy for a full year before you get pregnant. bullsh!t.
Baby Boxer is coming! 5.23.12
www.focushunting.com
Another conservative (or moderate these days - thanks Texas) chiming in. Drive-by though - gotta run.
Really just some thoughts on healthcare. It seems to me there are very distinct problems within our (broken) healthcare system. I don't feel like the system in this country can be fixed via one solution. For example:
1) Health care access: an awful lot of people in this country simply don't have access to the care they need. They might be eligible and enrolled in a government system....but that doesn't do you much good if you can't find or get to a doctor or provider. This always jumps out at me when I see articles on free clinics - the solid majority of the people who receive care are already enrolled in medicare but clearly are not even getting the most basic routine/preventative care. Relative to the whole population, this group is probably not all that big....but dammit, let's focus on that safety net and get creative. Loan forgiveness plans for newly graduated doctors who move to underserved communities? Other incentives for minimum number of years in these areas? Subsidize clinics? Something? Is this already done?
2) Existing state/government plans aren't all that great either. We have a friend, sort of funny we met her because we found her stray pooch (fb friends remember Leroy??) - my God I feel for this woman. Sparing the details, but pertaining to this issue: I nudged her to get onto the state health plan, which she did and it was going great - she and her son REALLY needed this help. But then, she went and did something really bad....she got a part-time job! Can you believe she did that? harhar. And then this series of events happened:
= Diagnosed with ovarian cancer
= Started treatment
= In that same month, notified that she had been DROPPED from state plan, because - brace yourself - her income was too high. She made $150 a week, by the way.
= Went 3-4 months with zero treatment of her cancer. None. Or I think she scored some vicodin somehow, that's it. During this time, argued with the state HHS and tried to appeal.
= Ended up in hospital last month; fortunately ct scan showed no spread of the cancer, but she needs a fuckking hysterectomy or something. Her luck is going to run out.
= State trying to say "tough shiit" you missed appeal deadline....which was one of the days she was in the hospital. She complained sufficiently to get an extension.
= Lost her job for being in hospital; fortunately they gave it back to her after the holidays.
Fix the systems that are already in place to help people like her who so easily slip thru the cracks. All fine and good to add to the rolls, but this absurdity isn't going to get better if you double (or whatever) the number of people being supported. And I know it happens all the time, all over the country.
3) Fraud/waste: I know this is a big one but I don't know enough to talk specifically about it. But our state run systems need to be cleaned up.
4) On the other end of the spectrum are people like us. Get out your hankies and violins. Ha! But really: we pay exorbitant premiums, it's crazy....and for the most part, we still pay out of pocket for all of our care. I realize this is something we can manage, but it's still not right. Sometimes I think "why can't I just go to the doctor, get a bill and pay it? why am I dealing with this stupid insurance company?" I truly don't know the answer here and it's not exactly top priority compared to the above. But how can we take that portion of the population that has more resources and create a system that makes more sense for them, too? Catastrophic policies plus out of pocket for routine care and prescriptions? I don't know.
5) Health care company benefits statements are the spawn of the devil. No one understands those. No one.
ETA: Above makes it sound like I'm calling vicodin a "treatment" for cancer - obviously not, just a little tongue in cheek there.
ETAA: And lest I sound like a big a-hole who did nothing for my friend above, she failed to tell me about her cancer dx or the health insurance issue....over those couple months she asked for help with an er visit for her pooch, but didn't tell me anything else. I kind of wanted to kick her ass when we went to visit her for Christmas and she filled me in! And actually she probably wouldn't have told me except that I could tell something was up and that she was sick and nudged her til she fessed up.
ETAAA: ok I am a bonehead. I meant to refer to medicaid up there. I'm sure some are on medicare as well, but largely I mean low and no income people on medicaid programs. Doy.
So am I going to just keep replying to myself until Little Einsteins is over? Is someone going to reply? Hullo?
Fitty, I'm pretty sure worrying about the social safety net puts you to the left of the Republican platform and a good chunk of the Dems.
I hope your friend gets the help she needs soon.
I know you worry about corruption and waste (for good reason! it happens!), but personally I feel like the insurance companies add nothing to healthcare and just skim their take off the top. It's like corruption by default because adds nothing. Even "managed care" tends to be a bust because of the situation Noisy was describing where 4 people for every doctor have to be paid to get things that should be covered authorized and paid for, not to mention another 4 or so at the insurance company doing the same exact thing. I know CYA over-prescribing and over-testing happens, but to the tune of 8 people for every doctor? Not to mention all the claims denied with horrifying health consequences. How is that an effective or efficient gateway for access? (Not that you're arguing for these things.)
I dunno, I see real problems with single payer too. I worry in the current political climate, we'll see a politicizing of what is covered and not. (See the thread from the other day about NT testing and how it's only for dirty aborters.) I don't want to be left with less covered than I have now. I just don't see how the current system, even with fixes can control costs and keep basic services for everyone.
Also, when do you get here? I want to see your shining smile again.
"The meek shall inherit the earth" isn't about children. It's about deer. We're all going to get messed the fuckup by a bunch of cloned super-deer.- samfish2bcrab
Sometimes I wonder if scientists have never seen a sci-fi movie before. "Oh yes, let's create a super species of deer. NOTHING COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG." I wonder if State Farm offers a Zombie Deer Attack policy. -CaliopeSpidrman
Oh shitt, well if it wasn't clear - I don't have pretty much anything positive to say about health insurance providers (at least today's iteration of them). I don't know where that lands me politically. We're a family of means, and WE have a vague sense (not so vague sense?) of being bent over by our health insurance plan. It's insane and it's a mess and it doesn't really work for anyone. Some people just have the ability to get by despite that.
Seriously, though. You feel that Republicans in general and even lots of Dems do not care about repairing the safety net for health care? Not just do they disagree about how to do it, but they don't care? I realize I'm much more detached from current events/day to day policy and legislation than I was pre-Matt, but do you lots of you guys feel this way?
We will be up there in a couple of weeks for a whirlwind of house stuff, and then Matt and I are flying up for good (like MOVING) the first weekend of March. Hurrah!!!!
ETA: I re-read my first post - #4 was intended to be a rail against insurance companies, if that wasn't clear.
Sorry, I was trying to join in, not imply you were repping for the insurance co. Although as a moderate, I assumed (wrongly?) that you were for the status quo with some fixes. From where I'm sitting, I'm wondering if it can actually be fixed or if it's less "broken" and more just an unworkable system to begin with. I'd love to hear thoughts on this from well, anyone to the right of me (that'd be everyone here, I think?). I swear I'm open to changing my mind!
I think the rank and file Repubs or Dems, by and large (exceptions for Tea Partiers)* do care about the safety net. I think the people setting the political agenda could give a rip. Instead of doing something about our crumbling infrastructure, vanishing middle class, mortgage crisis, et al they're bailing out the banks (which hasn't really resulted in less foreclosures) and forcing cuts to programs needed more than ever so we pay down the national debt. It's insane and sickening. I don't think the household budget analogies hold up well, but if we're going with that, it's like losing your job, not having enough food for your kids, you can't make rent, but you're saving all your pennies to pay off your lowest interest credit card first. Priorities!
*I don't know how to categorize libertarians, because every libertarian I've met cares about the safety net, yet as a political philosophy libertarianism is opposed to having a safety net. Sorry, libertarians, but it just makes me throw up my hands.
"The meek shall inherit the earth" isn't about children. It's about deer. We're all going to get messed the fuckup by a bunch of cloned super-deer.- samfish2bcrab
Sometimes I wonder if scientists have never seen a sci-fi movie before. "Oh yes, let's create a super species of deer. NOTHING COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG." I wonder if State Farm offers a Zombie Deer Attack policy. -CaliopeSpidrman