shAARP Talk: Observations from AARP

47 million Americans without health insurance is a small percentage of the under insured Americans in this country. In recent years I have been offered a number of Health Insurance Policies from different employers I have had as a truck driver. The one I remember the best had a $5000.00 deductable per incident with a 20% accross the board "co-pay" on everything including a $23.00 a week "co-pay" for the policy. With this type of coverage, we may as well send our premiums to wall street and let them distribute them among the shareholders, administrators, and lawyers. Also, I have been fighting with an insurance company for 2 years trying to have knee surgery performed, I finally went to a VA Hospital who has informed me that the entire knee joint will now have to be replaced.

AS WITH MOST THINGS, COMPETITION WILL DRIVE DOWN PRICES. WE HAVE THE LAWS AND SHOULD ENFORCE THEM TO REGULATE PATENTS AND PHARMACEUTICALS. HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT MANY DOCTORS ARE LISTED IN ALL THE SURROUNDING HOSPITALS. WE SHOULD LIMIT THEM TO TWO HOSPITALS.AS IT IS NOW, THEY DO NOT COMPETE. ALL HOSPITALS SHOULD HAVE MANDATORY SERVICES THAY HAVE TO PROVIDE, SUCH AS MATERNITY. WE SHOULD EXPAND THE MEDICAL SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE MORE TRAINED STAFF. THE AMA IS DELIBERATELY RESTRICTING THE NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT CAN ATTEND MEDICAL SCHOOLS, TO OUR DETRIMENT. I WENT TO THAILAND FOR CATARACT SURGERY AND THE EXPERIENCE WAS EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD. THE TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS ARE IN PLACE TO GET US TO SUPERIOR MEDICAL HELP. IN MY CASE, WE SAVED ABOUT $30000. WE SPENT LESS TIME IN THE AIRPLANE THAN WE WOULD HAVE SPENT IN WAITING ROOMS IN US MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENTS. EMAIL ME FOR PARTICULARS. I HAVE THE RECEIPTS.

The Medicare drug plan is the epitome of under-insurance and must be changed. Instead of being a windfall to the insurance and drug industries, as it is now, the "donut hole" must be removed and Medicare must be allowed to negotiate with the drug companies like the Veterans Administration does.
Either a government run plan must be added or the government must regulate insurance and pharmaceutical company profits on these "benefits"
The VA can buy most drugs for less than 50% of what we are charged on the Medicare drug plan and the "donut hole" makes it impossible for those who have to live with Social Security as their only income to afford drugs many of us need to keep us alive and healthy as possible. For many of us it becomes a choice between the drugs we need or food and shelter once we enter the 'Donut Hole" category which in my particular case happens only four months into the year. I can never reach the final stage where coverage is begun again as I have to stop buying almost all of the prescriptions I need - so I never reach the final out of pocket category, but I must continue paying premiums to the insurance company anyway - even when I am receiving no benefits.

AARP must lead a campaign to address this issue which hurts the lowest income among us. It is the only organization with a membership large enough to get the attention of Congress and the president.

I know AARP benefits from the plan as it is as they help sell their own branded medical plans through an insurance company, but it is time they put the benefit of their membership first before their profit in this situation.

I don't want the government controlling my health. All democrats want government health care. Republicans DON'T they are looking for a better way to control costs.

You need to watch this video:

http://www.freemarketcure.com/brainsurgery.php