5 ms·

"And don't tell me the American health care system doesn't get in the way of earning a decent living, as an employer and employee." As a person who has been re

by colmvp 13y ago

"And don't tell me the American health care system doesn't get in the way of earning a decent living, as an employer and employee." As a person who has been rejected for having a pre-existing condition, this statement rings true. I need medicine for a condition I was born with, fuck me right?

kmfrk 13y ago
I know someone who can't get coverage due to her psoriasis. It's like she's an un-person the way she's treated. It was also sad that I as a European wonk knew that pre-existing conditions are covered under Obamacare, and she as an American didn't know. Although I don't know how much it'll help her.
- mathgladiator 13y ago
  > pre-existing conditions are covered under Obamacare As someone with a spouse with a serious life-long "thing": This is why I'm so glad that it's still around. I'm optimistic that once it is in full effect, it will not bring an end to the world so we can pass fuller and better reform.
bdcravens 13y ago
In the US, you have options. I have Cystic Fibrosis. My state offers a "high risk pool" for those denied. Also, as part of the Affordable Care Act, preexisting condition insurance was made available for a very reasonable price (enrollment was closed after a period of time, however). Next year, all limitations for preexisting conditions are eliminated: (except if you already have an individual plan you pay for, you'd have to get a new one): https://www.healthcare.gov/what-if-i-have-a-pre-existing-health-condition/ https://www.healthcare.gov/what-if-i-have-a-pre-existing-hea...
- thomasfoster96 13y ago
  Have you heard much about the Disability Care scheme being rolled out here in Australia?
incision 13y ago
>"I need medicine for a condition I was born with, fuck me right?" More like fuck everybody. Insurance companies claim pre-existing as a matter of course and will demand a letter of necessity just to waste time. Insurance is a well-oiled machine optimized to take your money while using every trick in the book to avoid providing anything in return, particularly when it matters most. I say this as a current customer and prior employee of the industry.
- mathgladiator 13y ago
  > More like fuck everybody. This is very true, but it's one of the reason that kids are such a dice roll. Since we, as a society, are obsessed with "what about the children", then we should by default ensure everyone has insurance from cradle to grave independent of employment.
  - mhurron 13y ago
    No, we as a society only care about children. You're the most precious and wonderful thing until you turn 18, then fuck you and the horse you rode in on.
    - mjn 13y ago
      Both children and the elderly, curiously enough. For a country with a generally weak social safety net, the U.S. actually has a quite generous old-age safety net, via Social Security and Medicare: a quasi-universal pension and close to single-payer health coverage. So if you live long enough you're set! I've found that a bit curious, since I don't see any obvious reason that a 70-year-old with cancer should have a stronger guaranteed right to free health treatment than a 30-year-old or a 50-year-old with cancer.
      - wes-exp 13y ago
        I've found that a bit curious Older people vote and are a simply a constituency that politicians don't mess with. The same logic of "think of the children" can be "think of our seniors" with the added weight that they vote and and are a powerful political lobby.
alberth 13y ago
If you're a US citizen, you can get insurance TODAY even if you have a pre existing condition. https://www.pcip.gov/ https://www.pcip.gov/ I've personally done this. Essentially, if you can show an insurance company has denied you because if a pre existing condition and/or your current employer doesn't offer insurance or your unemployed - US government will personally grant you insurance. Best of luck.

by colmvp 13y ago

kmfrk 13y ago

I know someone who can't get coverage due to her psoriasis. It's like she's an un-person the way she's treated. It was also sad that I as a European wonk knew that pre-existing conditions are covered under Obamacare, and she as an American didn't know. Although I don't know how much it'll help her.

mathgladiator 13y ago
> pre-existing conditions are covered under Obamacare As someone with a spouse with a serious life-long "thing": This is why I'm so glad that it's still around. I'm optimistic that once it is in full effect, it will not bring an end to the world so we can pass fuller and better reform.

bdcravens 13y ago

In the US, you have options. I have Cystic Fibrosis. My state offers a "high risk pool" for those denied. Also, as part of the Affordable Care Act, preexisting condition insurance was made available for a very reasonable price (enrollment was closed after a period of time, however). Next year, all limitations for preexisting conditions are eliminated: (except if you already have an individual plan you pay for, you'd have to get a new one): https://www.healthcare.gov/what-if-i-have-a-pre-existing-health-condition/ https://www.healthcare.gov/what-if-i-have-a-pre-existing-hea...

thomasfoster96 13y ago
Have you heard much about the Disability Care scheme being rolled out here in Australia?

incision 13y ago

>"I need medicine for a condition I was born with, fuck me right?" More like fuck everybody. Insurance companies claim pre-existing as a matter of course and will demand a letter of necessity just to waste time. Insurance is a well-oiled machine optimized to take your money while using every trick in the book to avoid providing anything in return, particularly when it matters most. I say this as a current customer and prior employee of the industry.

mathgladiator 13y ago
> More like fuck everybody. This is very true, but it's one of the reason that kids are such a dice roll. Since we, as a society, are obsessed with "what about the children", then we should by default ensure everyone has insurance from cradle to grave independent of employment.
- mhurron 13y ago
  No, we as a society only care about children. You're the most precious and wonderful thing until you turn 18, then fuck you and the horse you rode in on.
  - mjn 13y ago
    Both children and the elderly, curiously enough. For a country with a generally weak social safety net, the U.S. actually has a quite generous old-age safety net, via Social Security and Medicare: a quasi-universal pension and close to single-payer health coverage. So if you live long enough you're set! I've found that a bit curious, since I don't see any obvious reason that a 70-year-old with cancer should have a stronger guaranteed right to free health treatment than a 30-year-old or a 50-year-old with cancer.
    - wes-exp 13y ago
      I've found that a bit curious Older people vote and are a simply a constituency that politicians don't mess with. The same logic of "think of the children" can be "think of our seniors" with the added weight that they vote and and are a powerful political lobby.

alberth 13y ago

If you're a US citizen, you can get insurance TODAY even if you have a pre existing condition. https://www.pcip.gov/ https://www.pcip.gov/ I've personally done this. Essentially, if you can show an insurance company has denied you because if a pre existing condition and/or your current employer doesn't offer insurance or your unemployed - US government will personally grant you insurance. Best of luck.