I have been for fifteen years. It is called chronic renal failure. When first diagnosed it was a bi yearly visit and blood tests to monitor the progression of the disease. All well within the deductible amounts of 1500.00 per year of the insurance coverage I had at the time. I actually spent more for the portion of cost for group insurance (250.00.month) over that time than I spent on healthcare treatment. Then the supposedly affordable care act in 2009/2010 and the insurance company we had insurance with at work dropped us because of the mandated coverage costs and the company I worked for did not have enough employees to allow them to offer coverage to us under the terms of the act. There was a new insurance company that was contracted and my share of the coverage went to 850.00 per month. Not exactly affordable . And my last attempt to get insurance on my own the cost was over 1800 a month. So I was forced to go without. Once I lost all insurance coverage I found out if the doctors offices and the blood testing labs did not have to fight with the insurance companies they accepted up front payment at one third of what I was paying when I had insurance. The worst problem I faced was an emergency admittance and two week stay in the hospital and the bills for that. But I would still be paying off the quoted 10,000 dollar deductible amount plus the twenty percent of anything above the deductible from the least expensive insurance policy I was last given a quote on five years ago.
Oh yes the disease has progressed by now to stage four and I see a specialist every three months and have blood tests done then also. That is in addition to any other visits to the primary care physicians for other medical problems that may crop up. And due to age I am covered now by Medicare. Supposedly paid for by a tax on my salary for forty years.
Way back when I actually bought and paid for my own health insurance the private policy quotes all had pre-existing condition riders on the policy that were in effect for anywhere from six months to one year. Then if no need for treatment of the condition the insurance for the rider period you were covered. Then my boss took over payment and every three years he got a new policy. Funny thing was even after having surgery on one knee under my private policy I was never denied coverage for the pre-existing condition because it had already been covered before by another policy. Usually the reason you were not denied coverage when working for a company and got coverage from or through the company was existing group coverage did not allow pre-existing condition exclusions. Most group coverage policies required covering every employee regardless of health.
Like someone in another post has said the pre-existing coverage denial prevented someone from going without coverage and then signing up for health insurance the day after they have a heart attack or are diagnosed with some other serious disease.
Maybe you and others like you who are not yet eligible for Medicare should check into concierge health health care providers available in your area. We have a few here in the Bakersfield, CA. Dr. Mensink was one of the first. Individual plans for as little as $79/month, far less than the premiums under ACA and no deductible or copay for doctor visits. Also has discounts setup with local labs and pharmacies. Most people will realize considerable savings over current costs for health insurance covered treatment. Direct Primary Care - Dr. Mensink, The Practice
President Trump didn't just take credit for the booming stock market. He outright cheered it to go "up, up, and up."
The Dow Jones industrial average plunged more than 1,100 points Monday as stocks took their worst loss in six and a half years. Two days of steep losses Dow ends wild day down 1,175 points, largest point drop in history
have erased the market's gains from the start of this year and ended a period of record-setting calm for stocks.
But all of a sudden, the stock market that Trump attached himself to is in turmoil, putting the White House in a difficult spot. The Dow plunged 1,175 points on Monday -- its biggest point decline ever -- as investors fret over cracks emerging in the bond market.
After being on cruise control for months, the stock market hit a giant speed bump on Monday, when the Dow Jones industrial average plunged — tumbling more than 1,500 points at one point after sinking 665 points on Friday.
By the close, the Dow had lost around 2,200 points since Jan. 26, closing in on a 10% decline — which would mark the start of an official “correction.”
Yup. Sean Hannity Found A Way To Blame Obama For The Stock Market Drop
The greatest enemy of knowledge isn't ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge. Stephen Hawking
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