tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post2327609613852784500..comments2024-03-19T01:52:00.810-05:00Comments on Althouse: Did a 24-year-old Cincinnati man die of a toothache because he didn't have health insurance?Ann Althousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01630636239933008807noreply@blogger.comBlogger146125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-80231251466155560942013-08-01T15:51:51.731-05:002013-08-01T15:51:51.731-05:00I live here in Cincinnati, the so called free Clin...I live here in Cincinnati, the so called free Clinics are usually only for homeless only. A center to help working poor with health care and a other things has opened, and the repubs here fought tooth and nail to stop it.<br />We do have some health dept clinics and for 20 dollars or less he could have perhaps got the tooth pulled and his meds prorated in that 20 bucks. <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12213739695179762097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-53579374450362740112012-12-04T23:36:09.042-06:002012-12-04T23:36:09.042-06:00I just went to the endodontist for an infected too...I just went to the endodontist for an infected tooth. He prescribed 30 capsules (10 days) worth of antibiotics.<br /><br />Cost? $5.20.<br /><br />Someone please tell me that anyone in America could not afford this....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-44790887853017420142012-04-24T04:05:39.220-05:002012-04-24T04:05:39.220-05:00There a number of home remedies, which are readily...There a number of home remedies, which are readily available to stop toothache pain. We need not look far, just into our cupboards and discover that toothache pain remedy is easy to create. When dental attention is not available, these essential oils offer immediate and effective cure for toothache pain.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.evitalhealth.com/UltraMeal_RICE_Natural_Vanilla.html" rel="nofollow">UltraMeal RICE Natural Vanilla</a>kaneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04767722783117979542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-69371725236330813392011-09-05T16:41:53.518-05:002011-09-05T16:41:53.518-05:00And where do they get the $80 figure? Fred's t...<i>And where do they get the $80 figure? Fred's teeth and bail bonds? What reputable dentist charges $80?</i><br /><br />I charge $75. <br /><br />What does what you charge have to do with being "reputable"? <br /><br />Maybe you need to look for a better dentist.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11958928454654836065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-57921993472160492932011-09-05T13:08:09.492-05:002011-09-05T13:08:09.492-05:00Quaisimodo, who pays for this "free" cov...Quaisimodo, who pays for this "free" coverage of which you speak?Peter Hohhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06916196998855947137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-89869801065533183642011-09-05T08:45:45.201-05:002011-09-05T08:45:45.201-05:00In Cincinnati, all he had to do was walk into Univ...In Cincinnati, all he had to do was walk into University Hospital ER, and he would have gotten first rate medical care with or without insurance ... The oral surgery clinic is in the Holmes Hospital "annex" right next door and it serves the indigent for free or for what they can afford. In other words he was, in effect, fully insured without bankrupting the country.Quasimodohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06975543902013031816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-58039681577960459892011-09-05T08:37:35.047-05:002011-09-05T08:37:35.047-05:00And as I found out, what happens in one state does...<i>And as I found out, what happens in one state doesn't happen in another state, so you may have good luck with insurance simply by living in a different state.</i><br /><br />No. Citizens in some states make wise choices and don't elect idiot libtards to positions where they can drive insurers out of the market or lard up remaining policies with so many mandatory coverages so as to render individual policies unaffordable.<br /><br />Luck, dipshit, has nothing to do with it.<br /><br />WV:nessess. It IS nessess!!! You don't tell ME what's nessess!!! I tell YOU what's nessess!!!Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16517956537865658903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-52167398342804415002011-09-05T08:19:39.341-05:002011-09-05T08:19:39.341-05:00The last anti-biotic prescription I had cost $165....The last anti-biotic prescription I had cost $165. I can't remember what it was called. Not every anti-biotic is cheap.<br /><br />Still it seems pretty clear this guy made a choice to get high rather than buy his anti-biotic as prescribed. There's not a lot anyone can do about that sort of thing.DaveWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07384839000387921199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-18993842181371300922011-09-05T06:57:21.822-05:002011-09-05T06:57:21.822-05:00And where do they get the $80 figure? Fred's t...And where do they get the $80 figure? Fred's teeth and bail bonds? What reputable dentist charges $80? Granted my guy is pricey and doesn't accept hardly any insurance, but then my insurance doesn't cover dental anyway.jamboreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10072654852275348264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-13718953964656437622011-09-05T06:55:09.719-05:002011-09-05T06:55:09.719-05:00Costco fills dental Rxs for $4-8. You don't ev...Costco fills dental Rxs for $4-8. You don't even have to be a member.jamboreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10072654852275348264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-77805029247240966702011-09-04T22:39:49.504-05:002011-09-04T22:39:49.504-05:00Yes, it is wrong to demagogue this case. Just like...Yes, it is wrong to demagogue this case. Just like it was wrong to demagogue on "death panels." <br /><br />Or is it only wrong when liberals do it?Peter Hohhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06916196998855947137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-20308110534780165552011-09-04T22:11:53.573-05:002011-09-04T22:11:53.573-05:00I found that it was cheaper to put dental expenses...<i>I found that it was cheaper to put dental expenses on a low interest credit card than pay for dental coverage.</i><br /><br /><a href="http://www.carecredit.com/howcarecreditworks.html" rel="nofollow"> Care Credit </a> <br /><br />Interest free for 6 month or for larger bills 12 months. Jumps up if you miss a payment or go further than the no interest limit -- but it can buy time.<br /><br />I paid for a crown using it.JALhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15503869597362866878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-67927919417667398432011-09-04T21:04:45.489-05:002011-09-04T21:04:45.489-05:00The insurance I found is called healthyNY which is...The insurance I found is called healthyNY which is a program offered by a lot of different insurance companies. It's an HMO, which sucks, but it seems relatively affordable.<br />But I think it's relatively new as I didn't locate it earlier in my search and it wouldn't be my first choice. Once I start my next assignment and work a few months I'm going to switch to the insurance offered by the freelancers union as it seems better.jr565https://www.blogger.com/profile/07630491937904835553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-79109077023008708982011-09-04T20:34:17.184-05:002011-09-04T20:34:17.184-05:00AprilApple,
There is no such thing as "free&...AprilApple,<br /><br /><i>There is no such thing as "free" health care. And if you think health care is expensive now - wait until we have the French system.</i><br /><br />Oh, but the French system also features homeopathy, so it's GOT to be better. <br /><br />BTW - speaking of homeopathy, I've got a new <a href="http://www.themachoresponse.com/crackMC/wordpress/?p=5443" rel="nofollow">Glenn Reynolds-based post</a> up.<br /><br />The man's brilliant, as are we all,...The Crack Emceehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08366101526773588864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-24513407609660066672011-09-04T19:46:53.184-05:002011-09-04T19:46:53.184-05:00jr565,
If you feel ok about it, tell me what insu...jr565,<br /><br />If you feel ok about it, tell me what insurance you went with (not your employer's insurance). I'm guessing by a typo that I think you made that we live in the same region.HThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11164697644251374452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-40164572470675106772011-09-04T19:23:18.590-05:002011-09-04T19:23:18.590-05:00Chip S. said...
@jr565--You can buy health in...Chip S. said...<br /><br /> @jr565--You can buy health insurance directly from an insurance company, and you probably should.<br /><br />____<br /><br />Chip the last time I was without health insurance, about 5 years ago, I called around for rates. I tried to cut to the chase as soon as possible by asking about existing conditions and by asking when they could raise their rates. I was told they could pretty much raise their rates whenever. It seemed more hassle than it was worth, especially if I had to get on the phone after every dr's appt and fight with them. I just didn't hear what I wanted to hear. I didn't want to spend more than 1 hour a week on the phone with an insurance company. So I didn't get insurance. I probably would now - I'll do COBRA for sure. But I was pretty disappointed in hearing that.HThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11164697644251374452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-10780337298799014272011-09-04T17:48:02.933-05:002011-09-04T17:48:02.933-05:00There is no such thing as "free" health ...There is no such thing as "free" health care. And if you think health care is expensive now - wait until we have the French system.Joe Biden, America's Putinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05802605309593881825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-70769659490395750612011-09-04T17:40:33.814-05:002011-09-04T17:40:33.814-05:00These stories are not unique to non-universal heal...These stories are not unique to non-universal health care systems. A free prenatal system was set up and they could not get expectant mothers to show up. The best method for administering TB drugs, even if they are free, is to have a nurse or health care worker watch someone swallow their pills. Otherwise people stop taking them after a while.<br />The US is one of the few countries in history where the poor are obese. And flash mob riots in Britain (of people who are out to get the rich) are organized on cell phone social networking. The irony is staggering. Our perspective is warped. And the solution to all problems, such as this man's dental infection, is that universally effective "government action?"Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02265505397718551776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-62467649691786698862011-09-04T17:24:08.059-05:002011-09-04T17:24:08.059-05:00Christy said...
Isn't this Obama's fault,...<i>Christy said... <br />Isn't this Obama's fault, what with unemployment for young black men going up now to 18%?<br /><br /></i><br /><br />but, but, all those unemployed would earning higher minimum wage that Congress mandated, if only Businesses were willing to pay that rate....The Drill SGThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16394309533144027391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-74263086285463177412011-09-04T17:20:39.490-05:002011-09-04T17:20:39.490-05:00Isn't this Obama's fault, what with unempl...Isn't this Obama's fault, what with unemployment for young black men going up now to 18%?Christyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12623422545436294378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-16711332930559423332011-09-04T15:47:28.850-05:002011-09-04T15:47:28.850-05:00Didntwanttosignupforthiswrote:
@jr565 - Or you can...Didntwanttosignupforthiswrote:<br />@jr565 - Or you can do what my husband has done for the last three years (having been unable to find a job in his field for the last six) - drive a school bus for the local school system. He works 20 hours a week and gets full bennies. The other 20 hours he spends working on his start-up (gave up trying to find work a couple of years ago).<br /><br><br />Until this year I was working full time with bennies, but had to leave due to medical problems, but also due to a family member who got sick. Luckily it's a lot better for both of us now, but I ended up spending a ton of money on medical bills including going through my retirement savings. And to get rehired at my previous company I had to come back as a consultant, with a 33% pay cut and with no benefits (benefits I had to pay for out of pocket as opposed to being provided by my company).<br />My work with my former company ended up being temporary, and since then I've been working on temp/temp to perm assignments, with me being out of work in between assignments. And I'm realizing that there aren't the number of assignments availble, due to the market that therewere a few years ago. Yet in the meantime, I still need to buy insurance. Why should it be so hard for me, as individual in my current situation to do so?jr565https://www.blogger.com/profile/07630491937904835553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-81973685198378304532011-09-04T15:32:52.187-05:002011-09-04T15:32:52.187-05:00Chip S wrote:
Is that you barry shwartz?
I was t...Chip S wrote:<br />Is that you barry shwartz?<br /><br> <br />I was thinking the same thing, actually and chuckling about the similarity. In this case heprobably has a point. Only in one regard, it's actually the opposite problem. Namely, the lack of choice.<br />Just offer me a plan that is semi affordable, that gives me what I need, and doesn't require me to check out 100different websites, call multiple insurance companies to find out that they don't offer individual coverage or temporary insurance in my state. I just want to be able to go to a site or a company, and be able to buy what I want and then apply for said insurance. Done. Instead, I'm wasting my time doing all this work for something that shouldn't Bethesda least bit difficult to purchase. Since, for most of my life I've worked for companies, who I purchased insurance through, I never had to deal with doing it myself. But it's an extremely annoying process. And it shouldn't be, for an individual. If govt isn't going to provide insurance a la Obamacare, and if people who aren't working full time, or working as consultants and have to get their own insurance, then why should it be an almost futile horribly annoying process.jr565https://www.blogger.com/profile/07630491937904835553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-36876320319485316642011-09-04T15:15:28.880-05:002011-09-04T15:15:28.880-05:00BJM wrote:
@jr565
BUT, cobra never sends you bill...BJM wrote:<br />@jr565<br /><br />BUT, cobra never sends you bills<br /><br />What? We received a standard monthly paper billing/statement and payment envelope for the two years we were on COBRA. We signed up for online access and setup auto-pay. Initially, I called the 800 number several times and they were very helpful. <br /><br />btw-COBRA isn't an insurer, they are a federally regulated go-between, they collect premiums for your previous insurers and issue certificates of coverage at the end of the two year term.<br /><br />That is why they cannot reinstate your coverage if you fail to pay. It very clearly states in your initial setup documents and declaration of coverage that they cannot and will not adjudicate coverage terms or reinstate policies for failure to pay.<br /><br />Once you let the 60 day coverage grace period lapse or stop paying and lose COBRA you're looking at waiting periods no matter the carrier/plan<br /><br><br />that wasn't my experience with cora at all. I never received a single invoice from cobra when the bill was due. And I didn't even realize that I had missed a payment. I got a letter from them that I didn't read right away, which basically said my account was unrecognized (which didn't make a lot of sense considering I had paid three months already without issues). And then when I went to <br />Pay The following. Month they said I couldn't because I had missed the last month. I then offered to pay both months at once, and they said no.<br />I then appealed the decision, and they came back and said that because I had missed the one month they were right to terminate the coverage.<br />The only thing I can think of happening was that <br />Because they were taking money out automatically that at one point there wasn't money in the account the day they tried to take it out, but there was a day or later. It happens sometimes, totally inadvertently. But I didn't even realize there was a problem till I went to pay my bill the following month and was told that I couldn't pay the money that was owed, nor the current month and that there was nothing I could do about it. No invoices sent to you, and no way for you to make it right.<br />My doctor ultimately said that while I was going through the appeals I could continue paying the bills and that eventually they might reinstate my insurance (though he didn't mention this until four months after I was already on my new insurance). Only that would mean that for those months I would actually be paying for two insurances. I had just started working through a temp agency, and they had an insurance plan in place. So I went with that insurance instead. Which turned out to be an even bigger mistake, since it was the worst insurance I ever had. One doctor basically said I was paying for the privilege of saying I had insurance. It covered practically nothing, and maxed out after a few months. <br />neither of these are the bones that im picking. I think cobra are complete jerks in how they handle their billing, but if I didn't pay one month, and those are the rules, then those are the rules. I would have hoped that if I did miss a payment they would allow me to make it right especially considering Im not 100% sure why I missed the payment, but since they didn't it was my hope that I could still, as a consultant, get affordable insurance, even without Cobra through my temp agency. It was affordable, only it was useless as insurance.<br /><br />Which THEN made me go out and buy insurance as an individual and not through the company where I worked. And THAT'S where the real problems began. What I expected to be a simple process turned out to be anything but.jr565https://www.blogger.com/profile/07630491937904835553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-88302370340726896742011-09-04T15:09:42.253-05:002011-09-04T15:09:42.253-05:00My insurance didn't cover the last few anti-bi...My insurance didn't cover the last few anti-biotic prescriptions for me and my family for the simple reason that Smith's/Kroger pharmacy charged less for them than my $10 co-pay (for generics--it goes up to $35 per for name brand.)<br /><br />As for pain killers. For my last (and only) tooth infection, Tylenol 3 (codeine) worked fine. I think that was an $8 prescription too.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04450897654318345683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-18624731199134203432011-09-04T14:43:33.425-05:002011-09-04T14:43:33.425-05:00I blame Obama. Here we have this Obamacare and th...I blame Obama. Here we have this Obamacare and this guy is as dead as a doornail.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08258681007386089907noreply@blogger.com