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j
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Posted 3/16/2009
HI,,, What would you call it when an self employed person takes out health insurance
in fall of 2004 at $258.00 per month and now it is $533.00 per month? Plus there is a $40.00 office co-pay and $1000.00
deductible. As self employed people with no employees there are no breaks or incentives. Also any kind of pre-existing
conditions(riders) go along with the policy and they don't want to revise them even though the policy says they will review
it after having policy for 2 years and there has been no treatment or problems of the so called pre-existing condition.
There needs to be health insurance available to individuals and sole proprietorship businesses so they can
afford to keep insurance and prevent any health situations from worsening. Prevention and working towards correcting
health issues can lesson the actual final bills if caught early than fighting a battle with a full blown disease or injury.
I feel it is unfair as, if one that goes to work for a company or business that provides
health insurance there are no riders put on policies. They get so called group policies. That is not
afforded to individuals.
I know personally prior to taking out this last insurance
policy, I had a terrible policy with a well know company that had high deductibles and ended up with fairly high
premiums so that care was not sought for anything other than the yearly mamograms and paps test, which were routine. This
policy had been in effect for over 15 years with thousands paid out in premiums. Also I know that due to income there
are restrictions, which I feel that all should have access to reasonable care regardless of income or assets. Unfortunately
I will be working the day, April 1st.
No wonder Oklahoma has overweight issues and lots
of smokers, teen births which lead to further health issues-- diabetes, emphysema, cancers, etc. Welfare....
My best wishes for quality health care to come to Oklahoma and make it affordable to all.
Cindy
Sorry so long winded......
j
j
Posted 3/18/2009
I broke my leg in a skiing accident last year. I have health insurance through a small private employer;
due to the cost of teh montly premiums, we have high deductibles adn co-pays. I broke both bondes in my left leg so
the doctor recommended a rod. One night in the hospital was billed at $15,000+ for a broken leg??!!! When all was said
adn done, this accident cost me over $5,000 in medical bills, some of which I am still paying, and that was only because I
begged and pleaded with some carriers to reduce their bills (I was billed $200 for and ICE PACK!). My grievance is not
only with the insurance carriers but the heatlh care providers. I cannot imagine what it would have cost me if I'd had
something "serious!" HELP! I have to work in Tulsa or I would be in OKC on the 1st!
j
j
Posted 3/18/2009
I was injured in an accident while on a field trip. I was teaching Third Grade at
the time. The Workman's Compensation Court has ordered the Insurance company to pay all continued medical expenses.
I had sever nerve damage from the fall. I have been run through the wringer with the Workman's Comp insurance people
and the Court as well. The Insurance company decided that they no longer had to pay my expenses, so after a two year
wait, I appeared in the court again. The judge in this case ORDERED the Insurance Company to pay and said that they
have to pay until HE decides they no longer need to. But after 4 years of back and forth, still nothing! I have
had to pay my own expenses! And of course, I am one of those millions that have no health insurance and can't afford
it on the disability income I am receiving. I finally did get a Pain Specialist to start over with my care and the insurance
company is paying for that but refuses to pay the back medical expenses that I incurred. I was recently informed
that my attorney had retired! If I can't afford to have health insurance, I sure can't afford to hire another
attorney!In the mean time, I hurt my
knee and needed some tests done at the hospital. I was told that since I had no insurance, there would have to be a
down payment of at least $500 before they would do the tests. Since I didn't have it, I still have not had those tests.
I also had a mammogram that showed up "bad" or "suspicious" and will need more tests. Since I still
have no insurance, the Workman's Comp Insurance still refusing to pay past bills, and nothing to pay down, I can't afford
to have any more testing. I am not old enough for Medicare, but too old for anything else. My husband is also
on disability and since we have no dependents, we don't qualify for any other programs. So I sit here and wonder
what is going on? Why can't people like me, who seem to fall through the cracks, find somewhere to go?Thanks for listening,disabledgranny
jj
j
Posted 4/17/2009
I had congestive heart failure in '05.
I was in Enid, Oklahoma and had to go to the emergency room. I later had a couple of trips to the Tahlequah emergency
room for several tests and a surgery to remove a tumor in Hillcrest in Tulsa. Since I am a diabetic, I was not
able to get affordable health insurance. My medical bills for that year were $56,000. Since I could not afford
regular insurance, we purchased several small policies from Americal Teachers Insurance. Cancer, heart, accident, intensive
care, etc.
to make a long story short, this insurance company paid less than $2500 of my bills. Then the hospitals, since I was, in effect, uninsured, socked it to me on the bills. The insurance companies and the government pay about 1/4 of what an uninsured individual does.
I do have to say that Hillcrest in Tulsa, did reduce their bills to an affordable rate. I have paid them off. But the other 2 hospitals, Tahlequah City and Integress Bass in Enid refused to reduce their bills by one penny. I will be paying them monthly until I am 85!
How about equal treatment to insured and uninsured? Personally, I would like to take the insurance companies completely out of the equation. If we do not have to support these fat cats that DECIDE who gets what treatment, everyone would be better off. The money that they keep could go straight to our health care professionals and hospitals and health care would become affordable.
One of our local doctors has gone to a "cash-only" basis because the insurance companies are a year behind in paying her. Do you blame her?
to make a long story short, this insurance company paid less than $2500 of my bills. Then the hospitals, since I was, in effect, uninsured, socked it to me on the bills. The insurance companies and the government pay about 1/4 of what an uninsured individual does.
I do have to say that Hillcrest in Tulsa, did reduce their bills to an affordable rate. I have paid them off. But the other 2 hospitals, Tahlequah City and Integress Bass in Enid refused to reduce their bills by one penny. I will be paying them monthly until I am 85!
How about equal treatment to insured and uninsured? Personally, I would like to take the insurance companies completely out of the equation. If we do not have to support these fat cats that DECIDE who gets what treatment, everyone would be better off. The money that they keep could go straight to our health care professionals and hospitals and health care would become affordable.
One of our local doctors has gone to a "cash-only" basis because the insurance companies are a year behind in paying her. Do you blame her?
j
j
Posted 4/19/2009
Last month I went to the Edmond Regional Hospital Emergency Room for chest
pain. Fortunately, the pain was not related to a heart attack. I received the bill in the mail only to be
shocked at the cost for this three hour emergency room visit. The emergency room visit was just under $2,500 and I haven't
even received the other ancillary costs. I do have Bluecross Blueshield health insurance so the costs I will have to
pay will be around $500.00.
But what comes to mind is how would a person working for minimum wage be expected to pay such a large ER bill. They couldn't or if they did, it would significantly impact their disposable income. Most likely reducing the amout available for groceries and other true necessities. The hospital wouldn't wait for the money and then they would be turned over to a collection agency. Situations like this are all to numerous to count. And what about those people that know they can't afford to go to the doctor and sit at home and suffer in one way or another. America has got to do a better job of keeping citizens healthier!
But what comes to mind is how would a person working for minimum wage be expected to pay such a large ER bill. They couldn't or if they did, it would significantly impact their disposable income. Most likely reducing the amout available for groceries and other true necessities. The hospital wouldn't wait for the money and then they would be turned over to a collection agency. Situations like this are all to numerous to count. And what about those people that know they can't afford to go to the doctor and sit at home and suffer in one way or another. America has got to do a better job of keeping citizens healthier!
Posted 7/08/2009
Insurance (mafia): 911 called: (city, 911 operator, EMSA dispatch operator covered), ambulance dispatched: (ambulance, EMSA, EMS personnel-covered) arrival: contractor fell from ladder: home owner, contractor, contractors business-covered…more insurance. Hospital ER: hospital, at least three persons before RN sees patient- covered, RN & DR- covered, medication given (drug manufacture, sales distribution-covered) x-ray, ct, transport personnel, the machines, the beds, every item touched by persons, all have to have insurance paid on them……..so far over 20 insurances paid…..biggest mafia in the history of the world. CUT OUT THE WASTE? HA! $10,000 dollars later “sir you have sprained your ankle. Take these Tylenol and rest your leg.”
Edward RN
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