s/o Why is your universal healthcare a love?

[BakersDozen]

The health care law provides that now health insurance companies must spend at 80% of premium dollars for health care.

Can insurance companies not just skyrocket their premium rate yet again because of this? They will not willingly give up $ to meet the 80% rate for health care alone so in order to continue making their profits and meeting other costs, they could simply jack up the premium rates again. Am I wrong?

[nmoira]

 

Can insurance companies not just skyrocket their premium rate yet again because of this? They will not willingly give up $ to meet the 80% rate for health care alone so in order to continue making their profits and meeting other costs, they could simply jack up the premium rates again. Am I wrong?

Not without a proportional rise in medical expenditures. It's medical expenditures as a percentage of premiums that's the magic number for the MLR.

[QueenCat]

To add to your list: I'm saddened and disgusted every time I see a collection jar at a local store, or read about a benefit so little Johnny Local can get cancer treatment. No one should have to depend on a barbecue benefit at the local park for life saving procedures. That's beyond sad.

 

Those jars upset me in so many ways. The only good thing about them is that shows families that their community cares about them.

[sewingmama]

:iagree:

the health cover in Australia is really really great. If you are sick, you go to the dr. end of problem there is no thinking can I afford it.

 

This is only true if you have a health care card. If you don't qualify for one you pay up front. Our medical clinic charges an upfront fee of $60 to see the doctor -if you don't have it they won't let you see one. Last week I broke my toe but I didn't go to the doctor - I didn't have the $60 and the $150 to do the x-ray. So I strapped it up and got on with it.

 

Right now I need a refill prescription from my doctor - I'm missing out on required medication becaue I can't afford to see the doctor till payday.:glare:

The doctor once perscribed me some medication that was so crazily expensive that I just went without -again if you don't have a healthcard card you pay full price for medications. When I had to get an MRI it cost me $500 -when I had to get ultrasounds for my pregnancies they cost $200.

 

So UHC is great in Australia IF you are a low income earner. If you are stuggling middle class you are left paying for for a lot of things.:glare: Don't get me wrong though -I'd still rather be here where the procedures are cheaper then the US - but still - I don't always have money lying around to pay for emergencies - even if it is a couple hundred comapred to a couple of thousand. I HAVE been denied treatment because of lack of money -so yes it does happen -even in Australia.

 

I had a neighbour who had cancer -she had to pay for treatment herself -chemo was not free. She ended up having to take a large loan from the bank (not easy to get -who is going to loan money to a potentially dying person). Now, instead of resting properly after her treatments she has to go straight back to work to pay off the loan. She is terrified her cancer will come back because she will basically get no treatment if it does - she cannot get another loan and again - chemo is not free. This was in NT so I am not sure if it is state dependent -again she did not have a healthcare card either.

 

I'm a little jaded on the subject of free medical care in Australia -where I sit -although much cheaper then the USA - it is not free. There have been plenty of times I have had to make the decision about whether I can afford the doctor or not. I've not gone because I had to feed the kids and then got pneumonia for my efforts :glare:

 

 

Also, how do UHC countries deal with druggies who use the ER to get their fix?

 

Doctors are pretty well trained to spot the drug users. Drugs are not given out haphazardly just because you want them. You can't just go ask for them. Drugs are not offered unless you really, really need them. I can't tell you how hard it is to get antibiotics out of my doctor -I usually have to visit him 2-3 times before he agrees it is not "just a virus" and he will prescribe them for me. Sometimes I think they do it just so they can get more money out of me having to come back for multiple visits :glare:

 

 

As for what a doctor earns in Australia -well my local ones are just regular GP's and they all have luxery cars and live in the inner city. I imagine the specialists would do a lot better then them.;)

[sgilli3]

This is only true if you have a health care card. If you don't qualify for one you pay up front. Our medical clinic charges an upfront fee of $60 to see the doctor -if you don't have it they won't let you see one. Last week I broke my toe but I didn't go to the doctor - I didn't have the $60 and the $150 to do the x-ray. So I strapped it up and got on with it.

 

Right now I need a refill prescription from my doctor - I'm missing out on required medication becaue I can't afford to see the doctor till payday.:glare:

The doctor once perscribed me some medication that was so crazily expensive that I just went without -again if you don't have a healthcard card you pay full price for medications. When I had to get an MRI it cost me $500 -when I had to get ultrasounds for my pregnancies they cost $200.

 

So UHC is great in Australia IF you are a low income earner. If you are stuggling middle class you are left paying for for a lot of things.:glare: Don't get me wrong though -I'd still rather be here where the procedures are cheaper then the US - but still - I don't always have money lying around to pay for emergencies - even if it is a couple hundred comapred to a couple of thousand. I HAVE been denied treatment because of lack of money -so yes it does happen -even in Australia.

 

I had a neighbour who had cancer -she had to pay for treatment herself -chemo was not free. She ended up having to take a large loan from the bank (not easy to get -who is going to loan money to a potentially dying person). Now, instead of resting properly after her treatments she has to go straight back to work to pay off the loan. She is terrified her cancer will come back because she will basically get no treatment if it does - she cannot get another loan and again - chemo is not free. This was in NT so I am not sure if it is state dependent -again she did not have a healthcare card either.

 

I'm a little jaded on the subject of free medical care in Australia -where I sit -although much cheaper then the USA - it is not free. There have been plenty of times I have had to make the decision about whether I can afford the doctor or not. I've not gone because I had to feed the kids and then got pneumonia for my efforts :glare:

 

 

 

 

Doctors are pretty well trained to spot the drug users. Drugs are not given out haphazardly just because you want them. You can't just go ask for them. Drugs are not offered unless you really, really need them. I can't tell you how hard it is to get antibiotics out of my doctor -I usually have to visit him 2-3 times before he agrees it is not "just a virus" and he will prescribe them for me. Sometimes I think they do it just so they can get more money out of me having to come back for multiple visits :glare:

 

 

As for what a doctor earns in Australia -well my local ones are just regular GP's and they all have luxery cars and live in the inner city. I imagine the specialists would do a lot better then them.;)

 

Im in country Vic- went to Drs yesterday- it is $30 a visit-I think it is about $15 back from Medicare.

Rang, got an appointment straight away (not with my Dr though as he was working in neighbouring towns nursing home)

Saw a Dr. Got referral for xray ( 2 hyperextended thumbs during a netball game on Mon night...ouch)

Went into next town ( 20 mins) to the hospital.

Waited 2 mins in waiting room,had xrays,-free ( local hospital bulk bills all xrays)

Edited July 18, 2012 by sgilli3

[Melissa in Australia]

sewingmama you have mentioned that cancer story before. the only thingcan suggest was that maybe the she was going to a private practice for treatment. I know many people who have had treatment for Cancer, many different types, and it was all completely covered, and they were not on health care cards.

 

In the town I live in, x-rays are bulk billed. I the town 100 km away where they have ultrasounds and MRI scans, they bulk bill.

 

for people who don't have a healthcare card your medication is capped with the PBS http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/medicare/pbs-safety-net

 

to refill of a prescription, you just have to ring the Dr. and they will refill an ongoing prescription for a $7 fee.