https://www.google.com/amp/s/abcnews.go.com/amp/Health/coronavirus-test-medical-bills/story?id=69923162/First came the coronavirus test. Then came the medical bills
“I was under the assumption that all that would be covered.”/
Knock and beat them up while they are on the ground.
These folks/private insurance companies and med facilities are vicious. Many citizens are probably in similar boat and unable to afford payments for covid19 screenings /treatments. I suspect many family will get medical Bill's after their love one have passed
Comments
I think thisbcalls for a General Strike approach. No one pay any bills associated with the virus
Put them All in dispute and force the government to waive them.
Fuck them.
And so it goes
Peace and Flatten the Curve
Rono
Here is an uplifting story about a 104 year old resident there who beat it.
https://washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/04/03/veteran-survived-coronavirus/
https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/preventionthroughhealthcare/healthdepartments/services.htm
Both traditionally and under the McCarran-Ferguson Act, regulation of insurers, including rates, coverage, etc. has been left to the states.
Utilizing this regulatory power, NYS declared that: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-new-directive-requiring-new-york-insurers-waive-cost-sharing
Why damn a whole country? Why them? They may be communists (but check with the every day people first) and they may be liars (few saints on this side of the pond as well) but what exactly do they have to do with insurers in this country raping folks with the medical costs they throw at them? In my opinion your anger is misdirected.
It allows (but doesn't seem to require) testing of the uninsured via Medicaid - the federal government would pick up 100% of the cost. At least if I'm reading this correctly.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6201
The eight senators voting against it were: Blackburn (R-TN), Inhofe (R-OK), Johnson (R-WI), Lankford (R-OK), Lee (R-UT), Paul (R-KY), Sasse (R-NE), Scott (R-SC). Two senators didn't vote: Gardner (R-CO), Scott (R-FL)
Forty Republican representatives opposed the bill; nine Democrats and seventeen Republicans in the House didn't vote.
While virtually any law can be challenged, I have my doubts whether the insurance companies would dare put up a fight. The publicity would kill them.
https://jacksonlewis.com/publication/new-employer-obligations-under-slightly-revised-families-first-coronavirus-act-hr-6201
Summary (From WHO International)
• A pneumonia of unknown cause detected in Wuhan, China was first reported to the WHO Country Office in China on 31 December 2019.
• WHO is working 24/7 to analyse data, provide advice, coordinate with partners, help countries prepare, increase supplies and manage expert networks.
• The outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020.
Source: Rolling updates on coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
The Guardian begs to differ (The Guardian does note that they are unable to verify the Post report.)
Washington State Department of Health First case of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States.
With respect to the costs to the American public in dealing with their health care providers you might find this article from the Australian bench of the NY Times of interest.
"The American system of private health insurance, with varying coverage and sometimes high premiums, deductibles or co-payments, is a stark contrast to the public systems in places like New Zealand, Australia and Britain, where government-subsidized access to doctors and many services is universal.
Some expats say their health insurance options in the United States are so poor that they have instead used travel insurance as their primary coverage. Others, like Ms. Inglis, have only the most basic level of health coverage in New York, but back home, that is not a consideration."
They Made New Lives in the U.S. The Coronavirus Sent Them Fleeing.
A problem is that this also violated NYS's rule #2 above - that ER visits for testing must be free. The NY announcement was on March 2nd, and where he went was "a hospital emergency room ... where he lives in upstate New York."
The article faults the [CPT] coding by the hospital (i.e. representing the visit as for something other than testing).
Fortunately, the NYS Attorney General's office has a fantastic Health Care Bureau whose function is to "safeguard[] the rights of health care consumers statewide through investigation of and enforcement actions against insurers, providers, drug companies and other individuals and entities that engage in fraudulent, misleading, deceptive, or illegal practices in the health care market." Highly competent, efficient, and trained to work with the ordinary person effectively as a patient advocate.
"In addition, the Bureau advocates for legislation and policy initiatives to enhance the rights of health care consumers and their ability to access quality, affordable care in New York State."
https://ag.ny.gov/bureau/health-care-bureau
In Texas tests are free but you need to be screen before getting a code to be cleared. Test centers are also limited. It's much harder than getting 'cholesterol screenings' for sure.
I don't like to travel outside a thread subject, but this has already been moved along here.
Regarding your statement about suffering; you need to spend time with the below movie. Watch it at least 2 times. Absorb all of the information. The main subject, of which; caused a great deal of suffering.
If you want an excellent overview of "who do you trust?", you absolutely need to watch the movie, The Post. And while you're at this subject, grab a copy of the book, "The Pentagon Papers". This book is readily available.
SADLY, neither are a work of fiction.
Somehow or another, a lot of people seem to think the US government is on their side and tells them the truth. ARE YOU SHITTING ME?!? Get a grip people.
My 'think like a mountain moment' was around the end of 1968 near Danang when I figured out that Washington was lying to all of us about the war. Growing up a Midwest boy in a Midwest town with a Midwest girl and a Midwest idea of patriotism - being an Eagle Scout and the whole damn nine yards, it was a shock to my system. I had to realign my patriotism to the people instead of Washington.
Washington hasn't been on your side for generations. Sr. Bush lied to us, so we elected Bubba, he lied to us so we elected Jr., he lied to us so we elected Obama and he lied to us so we elected Trump. Everyone one of those miserable SOB's in Washington is bought and paid for by big business lobbyists and they are your ENEMY. I said earlier, that 90% of all politicians are crooked BEFORE they're elected and of the 10% that mean well, 90% are corrupted before their first term is over. They're all treasonous scum.
Look to yourselves, your state and local governments and your universities 'cause there is no one else that really gives a shit.
Oh and before some Trump Foamer goes off on me, I'm 71 and have over 100 years of community and public service, and am presently in my second term as a Republican Township Trustee and I've never taken a GD dime from anyone.
and so it goes,
peace,
rono
Also, the virtue of a democratic republic is that if you think a politician is corrupt and lying, you can vote them out of office and replace them. Yes, they are all tainted by money because that is how our broken system currenly malfunctions. But the answer is not to say they all stink. It's absurd, childish and really dangerous to think so. In fact, one party's wealthiest members want you to think that, and have succeeded in getting its base to think that as well. Try replacing an executive or changing their behavior in the corporate world if you think they're lying and corrupt and you are not a billionaire shareholder. Heck, try replacing an executive or stopping them from collecting immense sums as compensation for destroying a company even if you are a billionaire shareholder.
One person one vote is far superior for eliminating corruption than one share one vote in a "non-binding" election in which the wealthiest have the most shares. There are dedicated public servants in Washington today who are thwarted at every turn, and saying they all stink does not help them.
Your first point doesn't fly because you're assuming that if they were all corrupt they'd be working in unison. While this happens occasionally, most often it's by accident, or due to lobbyist pressure. BOTH parties in Washington are corrupt and have been for decades. Hell, they both outdone each other in fluffing Wall Street. Lobby dollars know no one party.
As to your second point, now you're just being silly. To say that we have free elections at the State or Federal level is idiotic. Ever hear of voter suppression? How about gerrymandering?
We used to have a democracy and a great country. We have shit today and we all know it..
And here's a prescription.
And so it goes
Peace and Flatten the Curve
Rono
Here in Michigan we're working on a couple of these via referendum votes. In 2018 we passed 2 that were key. 1. Allowing absentee ballots for no reason. Geez, they just announced our May primary will be by mail. 2. Creating a commission to redraw all the voting districts to eliminate gerrymandering.
OoohRah Michigan
Now we need transparency on all political ads. We're never going to eliminate the money but can determine who's it is.
And so it goes
Peace and Flatten the Curve
Rono
180 polling places in Milwaukee down to 5. Again- voter suppression.
One person - one vote? Everyone has a right to vote, just not in Wisconsin (and so many other states).
Letters From an American
He said he made the decision to act unilaterally because of dire warnings by the White House over the weekend, when several Trump administration officials predicted that infections would worsen dramatically during the coming week. Mass cancellations by poll workers, and subsequent consolidation of voting sites, also diminished the prospect for safe elections, he said.
“At the end of the day, this is about the people of Wisconsin,” Evers said in an interview . “They frankly don’t care much about Republicans and Democrats fighting. They’re scared. We have the surgeon general saying this is Pearl Harbor. It’s time to act.”
Wisconsin Supreme Court blocks order by governor to stop Tuesday’s elections in state’s latest whipsaw
Love ya, man...............the write with the Jeff Daniels video. I sent that video to many folks when that series aired. A think, think, think.
Best to you and yours,
Catch