GOP Fears Trump’s War On Pre-Existing Condition Protections Will Backfire Bigly

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Sure it can,  if people get insurance before they become uninsurable.   That is the concept behind the individual mandate - to effectively require that everyone purchase insurance and be part of the risk pool.   The larger the insurance pool, the more resources are available to address care for folks when they get sick.

There is and was lots wrong with ObamaCare.   But the one thing it got right was the individual mandate - ironically, the one pillar of O-Care that's been repealed.   And now, the repeal of the individual mandate coupled with the lack of movement on creating market alternatives to the gold-plated O-Care plans serves to increase the unaffordability problem that encourages free riders.     

We cannot and will not force people supposedly free to do something they do not wish to do.

Those who cannot afford to pay can seek other avenues, which is within the auspices of numerous charities.

[Jazzhead]

We cannot and will not force people supposedly free to do something they do not wish to do.

I know, I know . . . 

But it remains sound policy to create the conditions for a private insurance system to function.  If conservatives consider it unacceptable to our "freedom" to provide tax incentives for the purchase of health insurance,  then perhaps conservatives should get themselves more familiar with a system financed by general tax revenues.   Because that is where we are heading if a private insurance system financed by premiums is unable to address the problem of free riders.   

[Restored]

A terrible disease but 30k a month for the rest of your life is a lot to expect.

That normally only happens when people start dying from taking it. The lawyers get involved. One of mine went from $15 for 60 pills to $6 a pill.

I ordered it from Canada instead.

[Suppressed]

Wow, that's unbelievable!  Reading that explains how big pharma is so rich.  Can't believe that a drug costs that much to make.  Well I guess these people can just go away.  Maybe we can go the way of Europe and start euthanizing people.

All I can say is thank God I didn't go for the overpriced death sentence (for many) Chemo Therapy.  So far I am healthy following stage 3 cancer.  I need to stay that way so I don't need expensive medicine.  What amazes me is the natural things God provides on the earth that are healing.  Fruits, vegetables and plants, even some weeds.

@Chosen Daughter

A lot of people go to a lot of trouble to keep competing therapies out of the way.  For example, a friend with cerebral palsy can get better relief with cannabis than any standard pharmaceutical.   Fortunately, she's in Canada, and she can get oils that work well without getting her high.

[Chosen Daughter]

Sure it can,  if people get insurance before they become uninsurable.   That is the concept behind the individual mandate - to effectively require that everyone purchase insurance and be part of the risk pool.   The larger the insurance pool, the more resources are available to address care for folks when they get sick.

There is and was lots wrong with ObamaCare.   But the one thing it got right was the individual mandate - ironically, the one pillar of O-Care that's been repealed.   And now, the repeal of the individual mandate coupled with the lack of movement on creating market alternatives to the gold-plated O-Care plans serves to increase the unaffordability problem that encourages free riders.     

I know one thing.  Illegals get all their healthcare free.  They can cross the border pregnant walk into a hospital and have a baby for free.  I suggest that we have the country of origin carry the cost of healthcare for all people here illegally.  Mexico has Universal Healthcare for all of its citizens and it should cover them outside the country also.  They are not citizens here.  That's a start on free loaders.  I know when I went to Emergency while I had no insurance it was a $3,000.00 bill of which I paid the entire amount in monthly payments.   

[Chosen Daughter]

@Chosen Daughter

A lot of people go to a lot of trouble to keep competing therapies out of the way.  For example, a friend with cerebral palsy can get better relief with cannabis than any standard pharmaceutical.   Fortunately, she's in Canada, and she can get oils that work well without getting her high.

Absolutely and that is what is wrong with much of these arguments.  Our health care system.  The insurance, the doctors and the drug companies.  If you go to the doctor they prescribe many medicines of which you become dependent.  They are absolutely opposed to natural treatments because it doesn't make them money.  There is plenty of evidence that cannabis oil and many other natural treatments are equally effective.  I think even more so.  And many of the chemical drugs lead to other medical problems.   Just watch the television commercials.

I know someone who's daily medicine is like a pharmacy.  So many drugs.

So  how do we complain about people needing drugs when Drs. are the pushers?  And without people taking these expensive drugs the pharma business would fold.  If you don't like paying for drugs encourage natural treatment.  I saved my insurance company lots of money.

[goodwithagun]

Absolutely and that is what is wrong with much of these arguments.  Our health care system.  The insurance, the doctors and the drug companies.  If you go to the doctor they prescribe many medicines of which you become dependent.  They are absolutely opposed to natural treatments because it doesn't make them money.  There is plenty of evidence that cannabis oil and many other natural treatments are equally effective.  I think even more so.  And many of the chemical drugs lead to other medical problems.   Just watch the television commercials.

I know someone who's daily medicine is like a pharmacy.  So many drugs.

So  how do we complain about people needing drugs when Drs. are the pushers?  And without people taking these expensive drugs the pharma business would fold.  If you don't like paying for drugs encourage natural treatment.  I saved my insurance company lots of money.

Yep. My insurance didn’t pay one penny for all of the fresh fruit and vegetables I juiced as part of my cancer treatment, nor the $350 juicer. They would have covered the chemo and radiation 100% even though my sarcoma was known not to respond to either. To be clear, I’m not demanding insurance cover juicers and food, I’m simply making a point about the wicked web they’re part of.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

I know, I know . . . 

But it remains sound policy to create the conditions for a private insurance system to function.  If conservatives consider it unacceptable to our "freedom" to provide tax incentives for the purchase of health insurance,  then perhaps conservatives should get themselves more familiar with a system financed by general tax revenues.   Because that is where we are heading if a private insurance system financed by premiums is unable to address the problem of free riders.   

You deliberately avoided my comment on the escape hatch using charitable resources.  That alternative has been in place for as long as our country has existed, and is one of our strengths.

And here is some more info on charitable giving.
Charitable giving in US tops $400 billion for first time
https://apnews.com/84a9d91f4ff749398dd634dc10ff5938

[Chosen Daughter]

Yep. My insurance didn’t pay one penny for all of the fresh fruit and vegetables I juiced as part of my cancer treatment, nor the $350 juicer. They would have covered the chemo and radiation 100% even though my sarcoma was known not to respond to either. To be clear, I’m not demanding insurance cover juicers and food, I’m simply making a point about the wicked web they’re part of.

I always feel like we share so much.  Thank you for posting.  I am so glad you are well!

Same with me.  They haven't paid for my fruits and vegetables.   My tea, cannabis oil, Graviola, Boswellia, Apricot seeds..........etc.  And I have come to really enjoy my juicing.  Imagine how much to install the port and take the chemo!

[goodwithagun]

I always feel like we share so much.  Thank you for posting.  I am so glad you are well!

Same with me.  They haven't paid for my fruits and vegetables.   My tea, cannabis oil, Graviola, Boswellia, Apricot seeds..........etc.  And I have come to really enjoy my juicing.  Imagine how much to install the port and take the chemo!

<3 you, too!

[Chosen Daughter]

<3 you, too!

 

[Smokin Joe]

@Free Vulcan
Its not really their development costs.   Most pharma companies spend more on marketing then on development.

The biggest spender, Johnson & Johnson, shelled out $17.5 billion on sales and marketing in 2013, compared with $8.2 billion for R&D. In the top 10, only Roche spent more on R&D than on sales and marketing. Most of this marketing money is directed at the physicians who do the prescribing, rather than consumers.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-28212223

It sure seems like every other TV commercial is to sell some drug. Just ask your doctor...

All that airtime can't be cheap.

[Chosen Daughter]

@Chosen Daughter
The amount of money raked in by Pharma is staggering.  Billions of dollars each year.   There is a HUGE financial incentive to treat people as maintenance rather then as a cure. 

There are tough life or death decisions to be made when it comes to healthcare but I don't think the govt should be paying 30k a month for one persons drugs for the next 30 years.    If there was real competition on pharma then maybe prices would come down.

I know in one case a doctor prescribed a new medicine for my wife, $3k a month.  Insurance refused to pay and in researching it the medicine was simply two over the counter meds that had been combined.  So $20 later we had the same thing over the counter.  The pharmacist told me the $3k was due to govt regulations that force price controls on pharma.   They have a fancy algorithm and by making this seldom used drug really expensive it helped them with the other more commonly used drugs.

I am glad that you were able to find that. $3K is a lot of money.  I don't know why they prescribe medicine that insurance doesn't cover.  My husband had a health issue also and was prescribed medicine.  He did his research and found natural stuff that did the same things as the prescription drugs.  He started eating healthy and taking some of the supplements while taking the prescription drug.  He was able to wean himself off the drugs and use natural supplements and things as simple as Apple Cider vinegar.  There is a wealth of information on the internet.  He is doing well now and no prescription drugs.

[libertybele]

Absolutely and that is what is wrong with much of these arguments.  Our health care system.  The insurance, the doctors and the drug companies.  If you go to the doctor they prescribe many medicines of which you become dependent.  They are absolutely opposed to natural treatments because it doesn't make them money.  There is plenty of evidence that cannabis oil and many other natural treatments are equally effective.  I think even more so.  And many of the chemical drugs lead to other medical problems.   Just watch the television commercials.

I know someone who's daily medicine is like a pharmacy.  So many drugs.

So  how do we complain about people needing drugs when Drs. are the pushers?  And without people taking these expensive drugs the pharma business would fold.  If you don't like paying for drugs encourage natural treatment.  I saved my insurance company lots of money.

You are correct, doctors and pharmaceutical companies are making a bundle. I ran across a friend at my medical facility that I hadn't seen in awhile.  She literally had a shoe box full of medications with her and was bringing them all in because her doctor couldn't determine which meds were causing her side affects.  I was alarmed when her husband told me that she had more meds at home!!  Really??  She had been diagnosed incorrectly with fibromyalgia several years before and they still can't find out what is wrong. My hunch is she's suffering from being on too many meds that are negatively interacting with each other. 

[Chosen Daughter]

You are correct, doctors and pharmaceutical companies are making a bundle. I ran across a friend at my medical facility that I hadn't seen in awhile.  She literally had a shoe box full of medications with her and was bringing them all in because her doctor couldn't determine which meds were causing her side affects.  I was alarmed when her husband told me that she had more meds at home!!  Really??  She had been diagnosed incorrectly with fibromyalgia several years before and they still can't find out what is wrong. My hunch is she's suffering from being on too many meds that are negatively interacting with each other.

I bet you are right.  Sad.  I know someone like that also.