CPAPtalk.com

JohnBFisher wrote:

pratzert wrote:

2flamingos wrote:Still waiting on supplies. Insurance has received the claim from DME, but I have not received the supplies. Hopefully they will be in the mail today. If not......

it is crazy how difficult everyone makes healthcare!

Unfortunately.. it's only going to get worse when Obama-Care kicks into full gear.

Really?

You mean you don't like the fact that the new law:

• Forbids insurance companies from discriminating against you due to a "pre-existing condition". Remember, your CPAP indicates you could have serious health issues - diabetes, heart issues, possibility of stroke. So, let's drop the law and let them exclude you from any coverage.
  *** In my State it was already prohibited to discriminate due to pre-exisiting conditions.***
• Forbids insurance companies from dropping you from coverage the moment you get sick. Let's say the worst happens and you develop heart issues as a result of your obstructive sleep apnea. So you insurance company will not be able to say "Sorry, it's a pre-existing condition". Nor can they say "Sorry, you no longer fit the type of patient we want to cover".
  *** See above statement.*** ***The panels who will dole out Healthcare can and will say "We have spent enough on you already... next patient please. They may not exclude you due to pre-existing conditsion, they will exclude due to an EXISTING condition. They will have final authority to decide if the benefits will outweigh the costs. So YES... they will say exactly "Sorry, you no longer fit the type of patient we want to cover".***
• Requires insurance companies to justify unreasonable insurance rate hikes. And yes, the federal government has challenged several rate hikes already. Due to the new law, many insurance companies have kept their rate hikes on the reasonable side for the first time in a couple decades.
  *** The Health insurance companies in MY State are regulated by the State and have always had to justify rate hikes.
  Unfortunately, they always seem to get most of them, and there will be even MORE collusion now that the Fed. Govt
  has their fingers into the mix.***
• Requires insurance companies to allow you to continue to cover your children until they are really out on their own. How many families have been ruined because their children were in college, had some serious health issue, but were unable to have insurance.
  ***Socialist idea... paid for by the working class. Who do you think PAYS for this ? I don't know of ANY families who have been "ruined" by their 25 year old child not having health insurance. Perhaps some have, but the percentage has to be
  so small that it never makes it into the news. Both of my "adult" children are full time students AND have jobs and their OWN insurance. They are not a burden on Society and take pride in paying their own way.***
• Provide a tax benefit for small businesses that offer health insurance. Most people work for small to medium sized businesses. Too many of them could not afford to offer insurance. So, we have a country where people might work two or more jobs but be unable to afford their own insurance. This allows more of those companies to offer healthcare.

***Tax Break... really ? They force businesses to pay several Thousands of dollars per year to cover employees who were
but then give them a $100 tax break. Must be some sort of "New Math".***

What? You don't mind those things? So, what do you not like about the new healthcare law?
*** I don't like Socialism, and having to pay for other people Laziness. I don't like how Obama Care will limit access to specialists and health providers in general. The emphasis will be on Social clinics, not on advanced care. I don't like Death panels who will decide who is worthy of medical treatment and who is not. I don't like picking up the tab for the welfare status quo all of the time. Ya... it has worked so well in other parts of the world hasn't it ?***

Oh, maybe you just don't like that the current president is Obama! I suspect you would defend it fiercely if the current president was McCain.
***I don't care who is President... if they are the type of President who rams new laws which bankrupt our Country like the current President, I won't care for them either. But by throwing out such a comment, you have shown your hand that you are one of the Blind Obama supporters who would follow him off the edge of a cliff like a lemming. Why must it always be some sort of political divide ? I don't hate Obama just some of his ideas and methods.***

Might I suggest that you take a moment, do your civic duty and THINK and RESEARCH. Do not just parrot either side in this debate.
*** May I suggest the same to you.***

To answer the requirement for a new RX every year ... I looked and looked and did not see any requirement for a new prescription each year from any government agency. I certainly did not need a new prescription when I reordered my mask and tubing supplies this past week. And my prescription is several years old at this point.

[Edited to correct some spelling and grammar errors ... some might still exist - or be intentional ... yup! that's my story and I'm sticking with it! ]

Perrybucsdad wrote:Okay, lets not get into a political pi$$ing match as nobody will win. I think we all agree that health insurance reform needs to happen, but disagree on how that has to happen.

- John

Lizistired wrote: edit: I don't think you would have to change too many words to have the same discussion about the finance reform bill.

pratzert wrote:... My orignal comment was only meant to indicate that the new health care law is ladden with many layers of rules and regulations in an attempt to control costs, that it will make it that much more difficult to navigate. ... I certainly did not mean to make any political statement. But it was, unfortunately, taken as such. ...

Unfortunately.. it's only going to get worse when Obama-Care kicks into full gear.

... I don't like Death panels who will decide who is worthy of medical treatment and who is not. ...

... I don't like Socialism, and having to pay for other people Laziness. ...

... you have shown your hand that you are one of the Blind Obama supporters who would follow him off the edge of a cliff like a lemming. ...

... I certainly did not mean to make any political statement. But it was, unfortunately, taken as such. ...

JohnBFisher wrote:

pratzert wrote:... My orignal comment was only meant to indicate that the new health care law is ladden with many layers of rules and regulations in an attempt to control costs, that it will make it that much more difficult to navigate. ... I certainly did not mean to make any political statement. But it was, unfortunately, taken as such. ...

I can actually believe you think that was your intent. However, you must remember that intent and delivery are two different things. What do I mean by that?
***You must remember that intent and interpetation are ALSO two different things. I have already clarified my "intention" but you have opted to disregard that clarification and insist on pouncing and attempting to "go in for the kill".***

First of all, the words you decided to use are "loaded". You decided to disparage the new healthcare law by tossing out the phrase "Obama-care" as if it was a curse. Your words were:

Unfortunately.. it's only going to get worse when Obama-Care kicks into full gear.

What does that convey? All the problems we have under healthcare are the fault of Obama. Greed of the insurance agencies has nothing to do with it. A complete lack of realization that we in the US have an out of control healthcare system that often leaves out a lot of very capable working poor. Nope. It's all Obama's fault. THAT is the message that comes across.
***That is YOUR interpretation. You continue to look for an arguement in an attempt to prove your superiority. I have already clairified the intent and meaning of my statement. Most of the people I speak to refer to the new health plan as "Obama Care". Is it that he only wants credit for it if someone agrees with it, but when someone diagrees with the plan he wants to disavow any connection?***

In response, I challenged your thoughts by pointing out advantages that each and everyone of us gain from the legislation. You (appropriately) responded to my points. I have no problem with them - with the exception of such extreme falacies such as "death panels". You stated:

... I don't like Death panels who will decide who is worthy of medical treatment and who is not. ...

You make such statements as if they are factual. Unfortunately, the facts do not back you up on this. And it's not just me stating this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_panel

*** Are you aware that wikipedia is created and written by the common people. Not "experts" and anyone can write anything they want and it goes into wikipedia. If this is where you have been getting your so called "facts" then they are flawed. I'm sorry you feel it necessary to "Challenge" someones "thoughts", but how do you know what my "thoughts" are?***

But let's face it, under our current healthcare system there are death panels - within the insurance companies. Denial of coverage (even for fairly normal procedures) often resulted in death, when it could have been avoided.
***Glad to see you agree with me about the Death panels.***

The shame of this discussion is that it is much more than political. It is quite likely that you identify yourself with the "religious right" or "conservative, evangelical Christians". Yet, you ask:
*** Where did I ever mention religion? I don't and have not, identified myslef with any side, group or pursuasion. You took it upon yourself to pigeon-hole me into whatever "group" you wanted. You are the one who has just interjected Religion into the mix. But since you mentioned it, I can only guess that Obama is not a man of God since he allows people to die just because they have used up their health care "allowance" under his plan. BTW... why do feel "shame" about having a discussion ?***

... I don't like Socialism, and having to pay for other people Laziness. ...

Let's face facts. We live in a society where we do encourage others to work and support themselves. I have no problem with that. However, whenever we are faced with those who are the Least, the Lost, or the Lonely ... we tend to blame their situation on them. Sometimes that is no doubt true. But there is no reason why we should not try to help others.
***I agree we should try to help others, but not to the point it downgrades the individuals lifestyle to drastically that their own family suffers. The Obama Social state has us in a downward spiral that continues to take money out of the workking class my pockets and put in someones elses without bounds, and the working class family suffers for it."***

You say "I don't like ... to pay for other people Laziness.". Yet if we truly are a "Christian Nation", then we should take to heart the lessons of the Christian scripture. You will note that the very first question in the Bible is "Am I my brother's keeper?"
***
You mentioned Religion... well "God helps those who help themselves. I may be my Brothers Keeper, but I should not be forced to be everyones keeper."***

The rest of the Bible is an elaborate, but effective answer to that very question.
***I hope you don't plan to start to espouse all of the Bibles teachings into this exchange. To discuss Politics is out of place on the forum, but to continue to attempt to interject Religious teachings is way off topic. Obama doesn't spout Christian scripture, as he was associated with the Muslim religion.***

So, perhaps you don't like the idea of a government assuming the responsibility to help others in trouble. Yet, instead of unemotionally expressing that concern, you lash out an try to vilify me:
***I have not vilified anyone, I have only produced counter-points to flawed "facts" harvested from an unreliabe internet depository. You have again tried to put words in my mouth to antagonize me and feed the flames of a political argument.***

... you have shown your hand that you are one of the Blind Obama supporters who would follow him off the edge of a cliff like a lemming. ...

Then you have the gall to say:

... I certainly did not mean to make any political statement. But it was, unfortunately, taken as such. ...

No, I call you on this. You denigrate others and assume you have the right to belittle them. You are without fault. Others are the villain. I do call you on this.
***It was your knee-jerk reaction to my statement which apparently caused you to lash out at me angirly and cast aspersions
upon my charactor. It was not I who turned this into a Political and Religious debate. I did not denigrate anyone. The political parties on both sides of the aisle refer to the National Health mandate as "Obama-Care".***

I also agree this is neither the place nor the forum for this type of discussion. However, I will call someone when I feel they have jumped out of bounds.

2flamingos wrote:OK boys and girls - I really had no idea that this thread had a possibility of going where it has gone, and I apologize to any and all innocent bystanders (myself included) for the direction it has taken. I really don't care whose requirement it is (IF it is even a requirement), as I said in one of my earlier posts - it is stupid! It's not as if OSA is just going to up and go away one day..... well, ok, maybe if I die in my sleep because I stopped breathing because I can't get my supplies.

Let's not play the blame game.

2flamingos wrote:OK boys and girls - I really had no idea that this thread had a possibility of going where it has gone, and I apologize to any and all innocent bystanders (myself included) for the direction it has taken. I really don't care whose requirement it is (IF it is even a requirement), as I said in one of my earlier posts - it is stupid! It's not as if OSA is just going to up and go away one day..... well, ok, maybe if I die in my sleep because I stopped breathing because I can't get my supplies.

Let's not play the blame game.

WearyOne wrote:... Certainly isn't your fault. One person made a comment that could have been taken a certain way, and instead of ignoring it, another person jumped on that bandwagon. I have definite opinions on this and other non-cpap-related issues, but I learned a year or so ago that I needed to stay out of those discussions. ...

WearyOne wrote:... I started reading this thread because I was concerned that I would need a new prescription once a year just to get my oral cushion and nose pillows ...

WearyOne wrote:... Kinda wish someone from there [cpap.com] would chime in here ...

pratzert wrote:... Obama doesn't spout Christian scripture, as he was associated with the Muslim religion. ...

JohnBFisher wrote:To the forum and to the original poster, I apologize if I diverted this topic from its original intent.

Unfortunately, the post that hacked me off essentially left the impression that things would *obviously* get a lot worse. Obvious is not the case. I also tend to stay out of these things, but I find my own health struggles difficult enough that I find this type of post offensive. It only confuses those of us trying to wend our way through various insurance and healthcare systems.

WearyOne wrote:... I started reading this thread because I was concerned that I would need a new prescription once a year just to get my oral cushion and nose pillows ...

That was why I read this one in the first place.

WearyOne wrote:... Kinda wish someone from there [cpap.com] would chime in here ...

I will attempt to communicate with cpap.com out of stream and see if they have a response. I know that my DME did not require a new prescription when I placed an order during the past month.

2flamingos wrote:... But rx for cpap supplies? Diabetic Supplies? give me a break. It's not as if I enjoy pricking my finger. or being connected to a hose pushing air up my nose while I sleep. But it's a necessary part of life for me. So why is someone - and everyone says it's not them but the other entity - have to make it so difficult? ...