Comments on: What Is It Like to be Uninsured? A Reader Responds. http://healthblog.ncpa.org/what-is-it-like-to-be-uninsured-a-reader-responds/ Health Care Policy and Reform Insights | NCPA Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:03:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: robin http://healthblog.ncpa.org/what-is-it-like-to-be-uninsured-a-reader-responds/comment-page-1/#comment-50345 robin Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:47:11 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=7373#comment-50345 Thx for your excellent article. Very informative. It's amazing to me that we as a country can't come up with an acceptable solution when many other countries have. Even relying so much on medication is "interesting" to me. Finding a cure through medication would be helpful, but as you know, a lot could be done by all of us thru proper diet and exercise. Self discipline however can be tough. But if circumstances exist whereby medication is needed, I wanted to possible help some people out there by letting them know about a site that few people know about, but can help greatly in paying less for all their medications, diabetes included. I have known as least 10 people it has helped, some diabetic, some with other prescriptions they get, and hopefully this will help get the word out. The site is www.medpap.ws and tho it's "free," the "catch" is that they want you in their store hoping you will impulse shop and pick up other items while you are there. One of the oldest marketing ploys in the world, but if you can just use the card....enjoy the savings, and don't buy anything else you don't truly need, you will beat the system. There also is a short 1 minute video to explain how it works. It is a good program that saves you money so I hope u take advantage of it. Take care and hopefully great health will be a reality for all of us one day. Thx for your excellent article. Very informative. It’s amazing to me that we as a country can’t come up with an acceptable solution when many other countries have. Even relying so much on medication is “interesting” to me. Finding a cure through medication would be helpful, but as you know, a lot could be done by all of us thru proper diet and
exercise. Self discipline however can be tough. But if circumstances exist whereby medication is needed, I wanted to possible help some people out there by letting them know about a site that few people know about, but can help greatly in paying less for all their medications, diabetes
included. I have known as least 10 people it has helped, some diabetic, some with other prescriptions they get, and hopefully this will help get the word out. The site is http://www.medpap.ws and tho it’s “free,” the “catch” is that they want you in their store hoping you will impulse shop and pick up other items while you are there. One of the oldest marketing ploys in the world, but if you can just use the card….enjoy the savings, and don’t buy anything else you don’t truly need, you will beat the system.
There also is a short 1 minute video to explain how it works. It is a good program that
saves you money so I hope u take advantage of it. Take care and hopefully great health
will be a reality for all of us one day.

]]> By: James Lansberry http://healthblog.ncpa.org/what-is-it-like-to-be-uninsured-a-reader-responds/comment-page-1/#comment-50298 James Lansberry Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:35:53 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=7373#comment-50298 You can contact me directly if you have questions about Samaritan Ministries (jlansberry smchcn net). I agree that it is not for everyone, but it is one patient centered model that works well for people of faith. Our members are engaged in the costs while having help with large needs, and they get to make their own choices about what services to pursue. HSAs are another patient centered model that I'd love to see expanded. Until we find reform efforts that move the patient back into the center of the picture instead of the third party we'll never bend the cost curve back down and the quality curve will never bend up. Thanks for sharing this, John. You can find Samaritan on line at www.samaritanministries.org. I always appreciate your blog taking on the issues. James Lansberry Vice President Samaritan Ministries You can contact me directly if you have questions about Samaritan Ministries (jlansberry smchcn net). I agree that it is not for everyone, but it is one patient centered model that works well for people of faith. Our members are engaged in the costs while having help with large needs, and they get to make their own choices about what services to pursue.

HSAs are another patient centered model that I’d love to see expanded.

Until we find reform efforts that move the patient back into the center of the picture instead of the third party we’ll never bend the cost curve back down and the quality curve will never bend up.

Thanks for sharing this, John. You can find Samaritan on line at http://www.samaritanministries.org. I always appreciate your blog taking on the issues.

James Lansberry
Vice President
Samaritan Ministries

]]> By: Devon Herrick http://healthblog.ncpa.org/what-is-it-like-to-be-uninsured-a-reader-responds/comment-page-1/#comment-50295 Devon Herrick Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:17:40 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=7373#comment-50295 Many doctors and patients assume the only way to access medical care is with an insurance card. An insurance card may be the size of a debit card, but it does not work the same. When third-parties pay are responsible for medical bills, they make the rules and impose restrictions on usage. Furthermore, patients mistakenly assume it doesn’t really matter that insurers pay their bills. But when patients pay medical bills indirectly (funneling their health care dollars through insurers), providers cease acting like competitors and patients cease acting like consumers. A competitive market would drive all manner of innovations, efficiencies and conveniences that are absent from our medical marketplace. Many doctors and patients assume the only way to access medical care is with an insurance card. An insurance card may be the size of a debit card, but it does not work the same. When third-parties pay are responsible for medical bills, they make the rules and impose restrictions on usage. Furthermore, patients mistakenly assume it doesn’t really matter that insurers pay their bills. But when patients pay medical bills indirectly (funneling their health care dollars through insurers), providers cease acting like competitors and patients cease acting like consumers. A competitive market would drive all manner of innovations, efficiencies and conveniences that are absent from our medical marketplace.

]]> By: Insurance or Coverage | The Loudest Cricket http://healthblog.ncpa.org/what-is-it-like-to-be-uninsured-a-reader-responds/comment-page-1/#comment-50292 Insurance or Coverage | The Loudest Cricket Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:35:38 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=7373#comment-50292 [...] letter from a woman whose family is not in a health care plan but has insurance to cover major medical issues.  Instead of paying a health care provider for coverage, they [...] [...] letter from a woman whose family is not in a health care plan but has insurance to cover major medical issues.  Instead of paying a health care provider for coverage, they [...]

]]> By: Maguire http://healthblog.ncpa.org/what-is-it-like-to-be-uninsured-a-reader-responds/comment-page-1/#comment-50275 Maguire Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:09:25 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=7373#comment-50275 This is exactly the kind of system and change we need in this nation. As of now it is self serving and corrupted with political pocket stuffing. It is is no wonder the World Health Organization ranked the US as #37 in health care. http://www.ourblook.com/component/option,com_sectionex/Itemid,200076/id,8/view,category/#catid107 To get the government to treat a universal plan, like this co-op that you speak of, would be the most ideal system structure for all Americans who fall between middle and lower income. This is exactly the kind of system and change we need in this nation. As of now it is self serving and corrupted with political pocket stuffing. It is is no wonder the World Health Organization ranked the US as #37 in health care. http://www.ourblook.com/component/option,com_sectionex/Itemid,200076/id,8/view,category/#catid107
To get the government to treat a universal plan, like this co-op that you speak of, would be the most ideal system structure for all Americans who fall between middle and lower income.

]]> By: Tom H. http://healthblog.ncpa.org/what-is-it-like-to-be-uninsured-a-reader-responds/comment-page-1/#comment-50266 Tom H. Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:29:35 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=7373#comment-50266 All anyone really needs is catastrophic coverage. The rest of medical expenses can be paid out of current income and savings. All anyone really needs is catastrophic coverage. The rest of medical expenses can be paid out of current income and savings.

]]> By: Vicki http://healthblog.ncpa.org/what-is-it-like-to-be-uninsured-a-reader-responds/comment-page-1/#comment-50264 Vicki Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:19:08 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=7373#comment-50264 I've read about Samaritan Ministries before. It sounds attractive, but I'm not sure it would work for most people. I’ve read about Samaritan Ministries before. It sounds attractive, but I’m not sure it would work for most people.

]]> By: Bruce http://healthblog.ncpa.org/what-is-it-like-to-be-uninsured-a-reader-responds/comment-page-1/#comment-50262 Bruce Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:16:10 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=7373#comment-50262 Interesting. I hope a lot of people read this. Interesting. I hope a lot of people read this.

]]>