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JAM, I understand when you say " I only wish he had put *quality of life* on par with *the fight against death*". Because of the way he presented his comment, I was tempted to stop listening to Oblermann after 10 minutes... But, I kept on and watched the whole 45 minutes or so...
It's hard to believe those sad stories, but I know they are true... I have a very dear friend whose son had to be followed by a psychologist... After a few months, their insurance decided they did not covered the clinic where the boy was going anymore... Consequence: the boy had to start all over with another psychologist... you can imagine the damages...
Coming from a place where universal medicare coverage has been initiated in 1970, it's hard to understand such a thing as "pre-existing conditions"... Even insurances provided from your employer cannot refuse to insure you because of any of those...
I know that personaly, I cannot stand pain... and, the most horrible thing about sickness is pain... Pain relief is so basic... "Medicare for everybody" is so basic...
Medicare here is paid by employers, a certain percentage of the salaries they pay. If they offer insurances to their employees, the premium is lessened...
Here, we also have a government medication program... so you will not see anything like "maxing out your yearly coverage" as well...
Medication insurance is different. It is paid by the covered individuals. It is compulsory, unless you have such an insurance at work. The maximum premium is just about 600$ per year. The premium depends on your income and some lower income people do not have to pay anything. Then, you have to pay up to a certain amount every month you need to fill a prescription. The maximum for an adult under 65 is about 80$. But, even if your prescription is higher than that, you do not necessarily pay that much... Again, depending on your income, it can be less or nothing at all... Of course, medication is free for children 18 and under and students up to 25...
In case you have time and feel like seeing how it works here, just check on the link below. It will give pretty much all the details on how both Medicare and prescription insurances work here...
Well, as you said, this is a very complex thing... Hopefully, soon, you guys will have universal coverage..
Liz
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: Let me assure you >>> Most polls show that an overwhelming majority of Americans are in favor of a public option to compete with private insurance.
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: There is a noisy minority opposed to the public option -fed lies and *talking points* from conservative media and from political action committees, as Renee said, from insurance companies that have LOTS & LOTS & LOTS of money to spend protecting the money.
: There are also partisans (and worse) that just want the Obama Administration to FAIL – pure & simple.
: This is big and there are lots of details to work through. Progress is being made…. It’s just a messy process. < This is me in an optimistic mood, of course. I can get really discouraged sometimes.
: So, I listen to the voices of sanity out there…
: From last night, a Special Comment ending with a way to participate in a demonstration… I only wish he had put *quality of life* on par with *the fight against death*.