Showing posts with label medical insurance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label medical insurance. Show all posts

PostHeaderIcon Hospital services overstretched by illegal immigrants

11/24/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


Supported by taxpayers to give medical care to Americans and illegal immigrants alike, Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia suffers like other hospitals in the country from budget crunch. Its services have reached breaking point because of high volume of charity patients and dwindling money support.

After decades of humanitarian work spanning more than a hundred years, the hospital which provides dialysis for patients with end-stage renal problems has started cutting down services for lack funds, worrying patients who come regularly without any means to pay for treatment. Approximately $50,000 dollars are needed yearly to keep a patient alive for a year.

In October 4, 2009, the public hospital stopped its outpatient service, putting uncertainty on the survival of its regular clientele, mostly undocumented aliens. They are left to figure their next move to get healthcare right in the US territory or in their homeland.

“With limited exceptions, illegal immigrants are ineligible for public insurance programs like Medicaid and Medicare and often cannot afford private coverage. When major illness strikes, they have few options but to go to emergency rooms, which are required by federal law to treat anyone whose health is deemed in serious jeopardy…

Officials at Grady, which will provide more than $300 million in uncompensated care this year, estimate that as many as a fifth of its uninsured patients are illegal immigrants. Although the numbers are elusive, a national study by the RAND Corporation concluded that illegal immigrants account for about 1.3 percent of public health spending. “---New York Times (11/20/09)

With the economic downturn, America is now experiencing financial difficulty in supporting the health needs of about 10 million illegal immigrants among the 46 million who don’t have medical insurance benefits. When they become covered by the healthcare system, available medical services may not be enough to accommodate them. The deluge of patients can precipitate doctor and nurse shortages, making Pres. Barack Obama’s healthcare reform more contentious.

Because of the huge number of new holders of insurance benefits, elderly Americans, the disabled, and those with rare diseases and needing chronic care may be marginalized as services become scarce or trimmed down --something that is likely to happen when patients flood the system and cost-saving measures are implemented.

It is no surprise then that the public is confused and fearful. Citizens find it hard to digest the almost 1 trillion cost of the proposed healthcare reform bill that awaits deliberation in Capitol Hill after the Thanksgiving holiday. (Photo Credit: Benedicte destrus) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon House passes US healthcare revamp bill

11/08/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


On late Saturday, November 7, 2009, in a vote of 220-215, the house passes the healthcare bill proposed by Democrats that will provide coverage for 96 percent of Americans. It will make healthcare “affordable and accessible” to most Americans at a price of greater than $1 trillion in 10 years. Hailed by Pres. Barack Obama, the bill’s approval is facilitated by excluding funding for abortion (240-194 vote) previously proposed in the bill.

“The Congressional Budget Office estimates that by 2019, the bill would leave about 96% of legal residents with health insurance, up from 83% now. To pay for expanding insurance coverage, the bill calls for hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to Medicare aimed at eliminating its wasteful spending.

It levies a 5.4% tax on the wealthy that targets individuals earning more than $500,000 a year and couples earning more than $1 million a year. All but the smallest employers would be required to provide insurance and pay for most of the premium, or they would face a fine of up to 8% of their payroll.”----Wall Street Journal (11/08/09. Adamy, J; Bendavid, N.)

The Democrats headed by Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) were jubilant. The passage was a victory of Pres. Barack Obama and party members who needed to advance their campaign promise to mend the broken healthcare system, a centerpiece project of the current administration which was left undone by those that preceded it.

Most Republicans voted against the bill and pushed their own proposal of improving healthcare that is far less expensive ---- $61 billion in 10 years. The resistance by the Republicans against the Democrat’s house version arise from many unresolved issues--- i.e. the soaring cost, high tax burden, government interference on doctorr-patient relationship and failure to drive down the budget deficit and come up with tort reform to curb lawsuits and control fraud in the system.

The ambitious healthcare overhaul will need to clear several hurdles before it transforms into law. There will be more debates and uncertainties in the coming weeks to streamline the bill’s stipulations. The senate needs to approve its own bill to reconcile with the house version before Pres. Obama can sign it into law. (Photo Credit: www.techimoto) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Democrats introduce its controversial health reform plan

11/01/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


With about 2,000 voluminous pages detailing the healthcare proposal, the Democrats headed by Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) unveils a healthcare plan that many have found to be difficult to read. To enforce the bill, (introduced at the end of the week,) it is estimated to cost $1.055 trillion, way above from the proposed budget originally thought. The quote doesn’t include the $245 billion needed to halt the decrease in compensation of doctors and healthcare providers. The relaxation of government-funded Medicaid eligibility will increase the charity beneficiaries to 15 million within a 10 year period----raising expenses and taxes further--- making healthcare less affordable.

Rushed before the general public could understand the bill, the text of the legislation isn’t readily accessible for the public to read. In the bill, the proposed government-run “public option” has been retained with some room for doctors to negotiate their fees instead of being imposed upon by government.

On bill's unveiling at the west front of the Capitol Building, only attendees listed among the welcomed guests have been permitted to attend. The contrarians who oppose the proposal have been kept out of being part of the audience. Given a quick thumbs-up by Pres. Barack Obama, the legislation remains enigmatically deceitful and infuriating as before.

Republicans who question the bill insist it is too expensive with confusing hidden expenses which befuddle the legislators and public as well. Proponents of the bill however insist it will make available medical insurance to 96% of Americans with a net price tag of $900 billion when those who refuse to avail of the insurances are penalized. According to those who designed the proposed legislation, the cash generated from such penalty will be used to lower down the expenses of healthcare.

To further control cost of medical care, the proposal calls for drastic cuts of about $460 billion on government-run Medicare programs---- raising accusations that eventually, healthcare services will be rationed--- giving the government to much power to intrude on the lives of private citizens.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is unsure if the actual expenses quoted to underwrite the proposed healthcare revamp will be greater than what the democrats tell the public. The numbers are preliminary, but the likelihood is high that the cash requirements to enforce the bill will be high. There are suggestions that the belt-tightening proposal in this bill won’t bring down expenses as promised.

Eighty five (85%) of Americans are satisfied with the current health system, but they fear of losing what they believe is the best healthcare system of the world. Though most of them agree that a change to cut down the astronomical rise in medical cost which could bankrupt the system, they are not ready to give away the choices of doctors and the promptness of medical care delivery they enjoy. The current proposal failed to address tort reform and Medicare fraud which jack up expenses further.

In the proposed revamp, cost-cutting will include drastic cessation of certain Medicare services including programs for the prevention of diseases. Slashing the Medicare budget raises the lingering suspicion that healthcare will be rationed at the expense of the elderly, disabled and chronically ill. Approval of certain diagnostic tests, procedures, and treatments may be harder to get under this plan.

In spite of assurances to the contrary, the public, doctors and the rest of the medical community are not fully convinced. An income tax increase to be imposed on rich Americans is expected to generate $570 billion to help lower medical expenses thus approximating the 10 year spending projected in the budget. Whether this will materialize is the subject of disagreement and continuing debate.

Opponents of the bill believe that these grandiose projections and questionable assumptions are not realistic. They do not augur well for success since lack of trust, poor management, corruption, and failure in many government enterprises are worse as before. (Photo Credit: gnotalex) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Healthcare reform loses support from the elderly, chronically ill, and the disabled

8/12/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


As lawmakers went on their August recess, Americans from all sides of the political aisle had started debating on the merits of Pres. Barack Obama’s ambitious healthcare reform. Even though only a few legislators read the more than 1,000 pages of proposal to overhaul the medical insurance system whose budget constitutes a 6th of our economy, the administration had been rushing and pushing for changes that had been met with growing opposition.

The senior citizens, elderly, the handicapped and disabled are for a universal health care that is cheap. But they are up in arms against what they perceived to be a threat to their health and lives. Even with more than a trillion budget (contrary to Obama’s campaign promise that healthcare will be kept inexpensive,) the specter of rationing of services, prolonged waiting times in doctor’s offices, denial of certain medical tests and treatments, the weakening of America’s leadership in medical science, and the discrimination of the severely ill and those with disabilities are real issues that spark shouting matches in town meetings all over the country.



My Personal Experience

As a disabled with an unrelenting chronic medical condition, I have serious concerns about Obama’s healthcare proposal. Even with the current system, cost-cutting has already started. Presently, I am due for chemotherapy in New York, but my nurse told me, we have to hold-off because Medicare, our government insurance system, has not approved the treatment. In short, I am being denied access to a live-saving medical intervention. The disapproval is directly linked with cost-cutting and I need to appeal to justify my treatmen. Obviously, the denial is intrusive to medical wisdom and interferes with my doctor’s trained judgment. The delay in treatment it causes can surely jeopardize my health. So if this is happening to me now, how much more when the Obama’s proposal takes effect?

I worry for those who don’t know how to deal with the complexity of the current medical system. I'm apprehensive for us who'd be dictated by new rules that may shut-down apt treatment for the severely sick. The healthcare change will serve best if one is not sick, but when someone contracts a difficult health problem, the nightmare begins. From my experience, the sick is practically alone to negotiate the system in order to survive.

I was denied coverage of claims for certain medicines before and I had to dig deep into my pocket to pay for them. Scrimping on my budget, I had to buy additional medical insurances to supplement my coverage. Putting up medical claims is confusing and takes a lot of effort. Too much cost-cutting can lead to morbidities and deaths.



Questions Demanding Answers

Forty six (46) million people without insurance will be added in the system when Obama’s healthcare reform gets approved. How will America pay for them except from taxpayer’s money? In a socialistic bent, why will certain sectors of society pay more in favor of others? Why is personal responsibility not emphasized among us---giving priority to pay for one’s medical insurance, discouraging fraud, supporting medical tort reforms among others?

Do we have enough doctors and nurses who will take care of the newly insured? How can Obama assure there will be no lines in the ER and doctor's offices? On what basis will the sick be denied or approved of their diagnostics and treatments?

Who has the moral authority to select which patients deserve medical care over the other? Are the lives of the elderly any less important than the young as suggested by some of Obama’s radical healthcare planners?

How can the public trust Capitol Hill’s health experts when they demonstrate partisanship, show sharp adherence to their brand of morality and social agenda? Why is accountability in their decisions lacking?

Sen. Nancy Pelosi (California-Democrat) in criticizing those who oppose the healthcare plan immediately labeled them as “nazis” and "unAmerican." In her maturity, why can’t she engage in a rational, free and honest debate on the issues that will affect the people for generations?

Why do some administration officials like Obama and Pelosi rush the public to decide on the proposal just like the wishy-washy approval of the $787 financial bailouts of banks, housing and auto industries without the public’s understanding? These are some questions that aren’t satisfactorily answered by the administration who promised wild things during the past election.

As a result, in August 11, 2009, the Rasmussen poll has showed a precipitous drop in Obama’s approval---51 disapproved (with 37% strongly against) and 49 (with 30% strongly against) approved. This is expected to worsen as the real intent of his healthcare revamp is fully revealed to the public. In the meantime, the gnashing of the teeth is getting louder in limbo. (Photo Credits: Ben Heine; flikr Nurse; barack obama) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Legislation stalled: Americans question Obama's healthcare overhaul plan

7/24/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


The attempt of Pres. Barack Obama to hasten the approval of his universal health care plan met significant opposition when Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced the floor will take up the contentious matter after the August recess. At the earliest, the legislation will be voted, in September 2009 to allow time for legislators and citizens to think.

“Obama envisions legislation that would, for the first time, require all Americans to be insured. A new government insurance program would compete with private insurers, and insurance companies would be barred from excluding people with pre-existing conditions. The goals are to hold down costs and extend coverage to most of the 50 million uninsured. The price tag: $1 trillion-plus over a decade.”----AP (07/24/09, Werner, E.)



But a growing number of citizens and leaders from both sides of the political aisle are questioning the huge price tag of healthcare overhaul plan----exactly the reason why USA is pushing for a change. Many are resentful, appalled and worried that the reform will lead to rationing of medical services as 47 uninsured will be included. The danger of overtaxing the system is there---leaving doctors, nurses and caregivers overworked, underpaid, and unable to deliver the quality of care America expects.

Taxes which Obama promised to keep low, are likely to rise astronomically to subsidize at least 10 million illegal aliens who will crowd the system. The elderly and disabled may suffer denial or delays of service as the government wants to give the young and socially productive the priority in health services.

Through government machinations planned by a few supposed medical experts, many tests, procedures and treatments are in danger of being denied from the seriously sick, chronically ill, and those who suffer from rare diseases. This practice has begun even in the current system and is expected to be greater when the Obama plan takes effect.

Doctors often complain of being slowed by insurance disapprovals and delays to the detriment of their patients' health. Reimbursements of claim from medical services have been cut or denied on top of over-regulation. People have suddenly realize the creeping interference of government in their lives.

So therefore, it is easy to understand why enough time must be given for study and deliberation before a decision is made. There are reasons to doubt Obama and his contentious plan. As it is, his proposal for reform doesn't fly with the people he wants to serve (53% disapproved vs. 46 approved as one recent poll shows.)(Photo Credit: Reuters/ US Health Politics/ Reed, J; AP/ Burke, LV) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon MDs plan to quit & its potential impact when 46 million uninsured Americans get their medical coverage

11/20/2008 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post
Before Pres. Barack Obama can assume office and work on his promised universal health care for Americans, primary care physicians in the United States are saying they are overworked.

Almost half of them plan to cut back on their practices or quit seeing patients. They are lobbying for rational reimbursements in their insurance claims particularly on Medicare and Medicaid patients.

In the survey by the Physician’s Foundation, 90% percent of doctors complain they devote too much time in paper work rather than take care of patients. Frustrated by the work environment, 60% of those surveyed is not recommending medicine as a career. Reuters (11/17/08, Fox, M; Wilson, C)

Experts say that there’ll be an increase in number of those who’ll need health care services. A rise of work load required for the aging Americans and the newly insured plus the upward climb in cost of treatment and medicines are likely to lead to a rationed medical care that Americans haven’t been used to.

Under the plan of Obama, 46 million uninsured will gain access to medical services. If not handled correctly, these may mean more triage of patients in the emergency rooms, longer lines in the doctor’s offices, greater cuts on tests, denials on procedures, and slowing of getting consultation appointments and treatments. The current health care isn’t ready to absorb the volume of work, much worse, if doctors scale down their practices or retire early from their jobs. (Photo Credits: by Julie70; Allsus)=0=

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PostHeaderIcon The legal immigration limbo & why playing by the rules is important

11/03/2008 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


Mexican illegal immigrants in the United States range between 12 to 21 million. The problem is huge, but illegal immigration has taken a back seat away from the more important issues like the economy, homeland security and abortion.

The Republican and Democratic presidential candidates don’t focus on the immigration problem partly because they need the votes of immigrant-citizens. Both candidates have legalization plans for the gate-crashers of America whose number has become “unmanageable.” Obama has more perks for illegal aliens than McCain.

Against the wish of 75% of Americans, the country concedes that it can’t rationally keep the illegal aliens out. Many believe mass deportation isn’t a realistic option. In varying degrees, many politicians have become cozy with the illegal aliens mainly for their numbers and their votes (capacity to change the outcome of an election,) not because it is right thing to do.

In this backdrop people worldwide are waiting for their immigration papers to be adjudicated. Among them are those who have expected patiently for decades. They are frustrated with the extremely long wait. There are those who lose eligibility forcing them to change plans. Aging-out, marriage or death are among the reasons why others are unable to come. Some find ways to arrive illegally.

Abiding with the US immigration laws, those who apply for legal immigration obviously play by the rules. They deserve to be rewarded for siding with the law. Yet, in the waiting line, they are pushed aside.

Lacking fairness, their applications are decided slower than those of illegal aliens already in USA. Overstaying aliens enjoy the benefits of being in America way ahead of the legal applicants; they get higher priority in adjusting visa status.

Such injustice and disregard of standard rules are clearly illustrated in the visa delay shown in the November 2008 US visa bulletin issued by the USCIS. The waiting times to get an immigrant visa number from the Philippines under the 3rd and 4th preference family-based category is 17 years (05/08/91) and 22 years (03/22/86) respectively. They don't include the 6 months to 1 year time to iron out the requirements of immigration. That’s incredibly long time, but true!

Filipinos are distressed. With huge backlogs in various categories, the visas intended for them are allotted to legalize aliens who are already in USA. The sluggishness of the immigration process gives more incentive for people to slip unlawfully into the country's backdoor.

Think how polarizing these fixes are. It scares many law-abiding citizens when rules are tailored to suit a group at a disadvantage of another. Not only does the immigration service (INS) reward lawbreakers, they clearly frustrate the purpose of the legal family reunification enshrined in the immigration law.

The expedient decision favoring illegal aliens has been justified on humanitarian grounds, but UCIS/INS rarely gives this to those who have waited 20 years to become an immigrant. This is another area where the US tradition of fairness and compassion is wearing away. Americans have reasons to be worried of foreigners coming to USA who don't respect its laws. (Photo Credits: BHowdy; www.hedgerley.net; wanderingangel)



US STATE DEPARTMENT VISA BULLETIN, NOVEMBER 2008

FAMILY CATEGORIES PRIORITY DATES
--------Worldwide---China (PRC)---India-------Mexico-----Philippines
1st-----05-01-02--- 05-01-02--- 05-01-02--- 09-15-92---05-01-93
2A----- 02-08-04--- 02-08-04--- 02-08-04--- 07-15-01---02-08-04
2B----- 01-15-00--- 01-15-00--- 01-15-00--- 04-22-92---06-15-97
3rd-----07-01-00--- 07-01-00--- 07-01-00--- 09-15-92---05-08-91
4th-----11-15-97--- 06-08-97--- 07-22-97--- 01-22-95---03-22-86

EMPLOYMENT CATEGORIES PRIORITIY DATES
---------Worldwide---China (PRC)---India----Mexico----Philippines
1st--------Current---Current-------Current----Current---Current
2nd------- Current---06-01-04----06-01-03---Current---Current
3rd--------05-01-05---02-01-02---10-01-01---09-01-02---05-01-05
Unskilled---01-15-03---01-15-03---01-15-03---01-15-03---01-15-03
4th--------- Current------Current-----Current----Current----Current
Religious----UA---------UA-----------UA----------UA---------UA (unavailable)

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PostHeaderIcon The ageing population & the challenges ahead

9/13/2008 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post
After rising four-fold in 2006, the number of 100-year olds in Japan rose again from 28,395 to 36,276 (21.8%) at the end of September 2008. This increasing trend of centenarians, 86% of which are women, is a worldwide reflection of longer life expectancy attributable to improvements in health care, diet, exercise, and lifestyle. To date, the world’s known oldest person is Edna Parker, 115 years old who lives inn a nursing home in Indiana, USA.

274,000 American Centenarians by Year 2025

“The number of centenarians -- people who are 100 years or older -- in the United States has grown 60% since 1990, to about 61,000 people, and will continue to increase in coming decades, according to the Census Bureau. In another 10 years, the number will more than double to over 130,000 people, and it's expected to double yet again to 274,000 in 2025.”---Healthy Aging Center (WebMD)

WHO STATISTICS

Number of Doctors per Capita by Countries

Countries/ Doctor Nos./ (Doctor numbers per 1000 )
Europe (Advanced countries)
Belgium 46,268 (4.49)
Denmark 15,653 (2.93)
Finland 16,446 (3.16)
France 203,487 (3.37)
Germany 277,885 (3.37)
Ireland 11,141 (2.79)
Italy 241,000 (4.2)
Netherlands 50,854 (3.15)
Norway 14,200 (3.13)
Sweden 29,122 (3.28)
UK 133,641 (2.3)

North America
USA 730,801 (2.56)
Canada 66,583 (2.14)

Oceania-Asia PacificAustralia 47,875 (2.47)
NZ 9,027 (2.37)
Japan 251,889 (1.98)
S Korea 75,045 (1.57)
Malaysia 16,146 (0.7)
Philippines 44,287 (0.58)
NB: the doctor figures from different countries may be from different years- as reported to WHO. (Source: nofearSingapore.blogspot.com/02/20/07)



The decrease of birthrates in many industrialized countries and rising longevity, worry economic planners who foresee greater strain in health care and the social security system (SSS.) Demographers observe that more people marry late, want few or no children, and more are likely to devote greater time for their careers, finances, and preferred lifestyles. With expanding elderly population, more people will need doctor services and greater health care in the future.

The above is also true in the United States with the graying of the baby boomers and the rise of retirees. With a per capita expenditure of $5,711 (followed by France with $3,048,) there are about 46 million Americans without medical insurance coverage. Of these, about 11 million are illegal aliens, 15 million are eligible for state-sponsored Medicaid, but don’t apply, 15 million adults with children eligible for free insurance and 10 million childless adults. The number of medically uninsured Americans is about half the total population of the Philippines, a country also trying to fix its healthcare system.(Photo Credit: Koroko1; highschoolphotojournalist/bythekevichang)=0=



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