Preexisting Conditions Common in United States

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Pre-existing conditions? Maybe because of the privacy law (HIPA) is preventing the gov't from keeping an accurate number. I lost my group medical coverage when I lost my job 2 years ago. I am ill due to no fault of my own. I have asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, and because of these two debiltating diseases and the medications that I have to take for them, gave me diabetes. BTW, I am still unemployed, I had COBRA coverage, but my former employer wasn't eligible for the COBRA subsidy, so I had to cancel COBRA because half my monthly unemployment benefits would go for the COBRA premium, and I wouldn't be able to afford the medications or even go to the doctor. Luckily in Minnesota, there is a pool of people with pre-existing conditions who can get coverage from one insurance company. However, their rates went up in August. The rheumatoid arthritis is not going to go away and it's severe enough that I must continue to take very expensive drugs to remain able to taek care of myself. I cannot get cheaper insurance, as at least one company said they would not pay for pre-existing conditions for the first 18 months!
This seriously has to change. I hope the Obama administration can go forward with this healthcare reform.

Becky of MN 5:42PM January 31, 2011

Also - economies of scale reduce the costs of healthcare per person. Medicare costs less than private care even now. People overseas spend half what we pay for medications and doctors because all use the services, and the government negotiates the prices down for all.
The model you propose is very concerned with the well-being of the insurer. I propose that we be more concerned with the sick and aging. Maybe the insurance companies would quit running the hundreds of ads that cost $$$ millions - and we could afford our healthcare. maybe there would be one less fish tank in the lobby of the hospital, but one more person could get treatment. Maybe a cardiologist could earn $500,000/year instead of $2.5 million, and a few more women could afford screening for breast cancer.
We all hav similar risks of coming down with a serious illness. The scam of pricing health insurance until it no longer offers better health is criminal. Try taking a flat of strawberries into the hospital when cash was short like we used to when I was a kid....it is all BIG BUSINESS, and we are getting "the business".
Mike of MA - you are simply describing Medicare. I agree - medicare should be available for all. It is paid for by individuals already through payroll deductions, so it is not a tax burden....to anyone.
It's sad to hear others try to justify cutting off people. Wait until it happens to you..... Wait until your child cannot be treated because he has a pre-existing condition, and the only insurance available is the cost of your house payment.

DeeToo of SC 4:43PM January 31, 2011

Not allowing rate changes for pre-existing conditions kind of defeats the purpose of insurance. Insurance exists to transfer the risks and associated costs of care from the individual to the insurance company. Insurance needs to be priced according to the probability of an associated cost occuring, higher risk = higher cost, otherwise the insurance company has no incentive to exist. This healthcare plan would be much better served by specifying a set amount of care for a set price (preferably paid through tax) and allowing private, appropriately priced insurance to fill in the gaps.

Mike of MA 2:39PM January 31, 2011