Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage to end 12-31-16

[Lee M-S]

OK, page 2 of the Kaiser letter says
Medigap Policies--<snip> This letter is your proof that you have a special right to buy a Medigap policy <snip>

in later pages, there's more on medigap, including the helpful item:
"If you're under 65, you may not be able to buy a Medigap policy until you're 65."
so if you're on disability, you may be facing some big bills.

it is better to be in panicfreakoutmode now than wait until December...

><(((*< ... ><(("< ... ><('< ... >o>

[Lee M-S]

Medicare covers 80% of what they determine costs should be (less in certain circumstances). The remaining 20% for a major surgery will bankrupt most people.

Plus, even if you buy the Part D drug plan, it only covers a certain dollar amount, then you pay more and more. and more. I got sticker shock last time I tried to fill a prescription; the price was 5 times what it was the last time I filled it.

quote:

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Originally posted by jlgerk

quote:

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Originally posted by imagtek

If you have medicare, you have medical insurance.
Don't waste your money.
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You can't fix Samsara.

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do you have ANY idea what Medicare does and does NOT cover ?

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><(((*< ... ><(("< ... ><('< ... >o>

[punaticbychoice]

Kalakoa @ 8:36:34-
That is a big part of the point. Thank you.
Same to you Chunkster.
I would add, that where ever you are Hawaii or wherever, healthcare and insurance are two different things.
I would take the NHS of Britain or the VERY regulated and controlled private health insurance of Germany over the
"how may we rip you off today for fun and profit" system in the US.

[Lee M-S]

fun fact from Wikipedia:

The term "socialized medicine" was popularized by the public relations firm Whitaker and Baxter working for the American Medical Association in 1947 to disparage President Truman's proposal for a national health care system. It was a label, at the dawn of the cold war, meant to suggest that anybody advocating universal access to health care must be a communist. And the phrase has retained its political power for six decades

><(((*< ... ><(("< ... ><('< ... >o>

[Green]

As i checked costs for senior advantage in several areas in usa where there is kaiser, I see senior advantage plans in several parts of California that actually have 0 monthly payment, also some are very low as $20 a month...other states show similar low rates.

[punaticbychoice]

Green, Lee M-S:
Concur with both of you.
Also, the old saying, "what the market will bear".
Apparently a lot in Hawai'i County.
We have to do better.

[kalakoa]

Also, the old saying, "what the market will bear".

More like "captive audience".

[Chunkster]

Contact your legislators! Russell Ruderman is on the Health and Consumer Protection committee(s) and should be keeny interested in investigating how Kaiser could get away with this. His email is:

senruderman@capitol.hawaii.gov

And also Joy Sanbuenaventura:

repsanbuenaventura@Capitol.hawaii.gov

So far Kaiser seems to be getting a free ride from all the Big Island politicians except Kona's Josh Green. He was quoted in the Honolulu press as very concerned about this issue.

[reni]

I read an article in Forbes Magazine several years ago comparing U.S. Healthcare with other industrialized countries.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/danmunro/201...8151ec1b96.
According to the article, We are the most expensive but far from first in quality, access, efficiency or equality. Other nations ...ensure...... their citizen access to healthcare. This is not a luxury item for those who can and are willing to pay the highest cost in the world,, it is a necessity for all our citizens.

My problem with Kaiser began when I attempted to switch my "gold" policy for their lower cost "tin policy". Their gold policy had escalated so much in cost that I simply chose to let it go for lesser coverage. My experience of being shuffled from one office to the next in my attempt to sort out my incorrect accounting left me furious. It also made me question the efficiency and quality of the rest of their departments. I also became quite uneasy with the one shop concept of provider and insurer rolled into one.
On the topic of investigating Kaiser....who's bigger....who has the political clout?
I don't want them investigated as much as I would like to see our government taking an active role doing something other than fund studies ( reference the latest Tribune article..Clinics plan to expand Not one mention of actual building...just "prepare" to meet, "discussions" on how to "free up money in a 750 k planning grant" so that clinics can include plans for primary care... The euphemistic reporting of this information did not sit well with me and of course all has been "studied" before.




"Dr. Hart Miller, a family physician who is Puna Community’s medical director, said ongoing discussions between his medical center and the state are focused on how to free up money in a $750,000 planning grant so that the clinic can include plans for primary care, urgent care and ancillary services."

[tinkertailor]

We agree Chunkster. Josh suggested that all these politicians receive letters. This state has a reputation of taking care of the Kupunas out of respect, not pricing them out of health insurance so that they die earlier and are not a burden on society.



Senator Josh Green emailed us today expressing his concern about the need for Medicare reform and saying it would be very helpful if we would write to the Insurance commissioner (Gordon Ito, Insurance Division P.O. Box 3614 Honolulu, Hawaii 96811) and contact his colleagues expressing the concerns about this issue as he presses them daily. We will be writing and encourage those of you affected by this Kaiser mess to do so also:

Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health Committee:
Senator Roz Baker (Chair)- senbaker@capitol.hawaii.gov
Senator Michelle Kidani (Vice-Chair)- senkidani@capitol.hawaii.gov
Senator Will Espero- senespero@capitol.hawaii.gov
Senator Les Ihara- senihara@capitol.hawaii.gov
Senator Clarence Nishihara- sennishihara@capitol.hawaii.gov
Senator Russell Ruderman- senruderman@capitol.hawaii.gov
Senator Sam Slom- senslom@capitol.hawaii.gov

Senate President- Sen. Ronald Kouchi- senkouchi@capitol.hawaii.gov
Majority Leader-Sen. J. Kalani Englist- senenglish@capitol.hawaii.gov
Majority Caucus Leader-Sen. Galuteria- sengaluteria@capitol.hawaii.gov
Majority Whip-Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz- sendelacruz@capitol.hawaii.gov

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