Medical Care...What Insurance company to Use.

barrumundi says on Aug 13, 2009, 18:14:

Thanks for the feedback Rikito.

http://poorbuthappy.com/yourthing/post/uploading-photos-for-dummies/

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Aji1 says on Aug 14, 2009, 05:38:

Sounds a bit like the Colombian health/insurance system is in reality, not so different from what we have in the US. Was that an export i wonder :))

That cancellation policy is very troubling for the reasons you stated. Just waiting to drop the hammer on you when you need it most, and after paying in for years with good health, nojoda!. Thanks for sharing.

I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

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Rikito says on Aug 14, 2009, 06:03:

It is a lot different than the US. In Colombia I have not found one company that accepts pre-existing conditions. In the US, if you are employed by a company that provides medical insurance it will include pre-existing conditions. Colombia has the EPS or Obligatory insurance...the U.S. does not. The Colombia insurance is very socialized and similar to what Obamcare is trying to put in place. With Colombia insurance you go to the medical clinic first, they assign you to a doctor, (in some cases you are allowed to keep the same doctor for 2 years). This doctor evaluates you and either treats you or sends you to a specialist. If you have to see a specialist you are in deep do if you think you will be seen by the doctor right away. It usually takes weeks, months and in rare case more than a year to see a doctor. In Colombia, if you need to get a prescription for a controlled medicine...oh boy! I am in such a case right now. The medication I need is a controlled substance, I fill out a form, anyone who is involved in treating me fills out a form, the hospital of department I live in does a criminal background check, some government run bureaucracy then reviews the request and determines if I really need the drug or if I can use something else. What pisses me off is that this can take 1 to 2 months before I am approved. But, my problem is now, it is real, I am in constant critical pain so I end doing something that might be wrong or illegal in some respects to control or eliminate the pain.

I asked my older neighbor about the cancellation thing...he is a 70 year old Swiss/Austrian retired guy. He has ColSanitas insurance and is not too concerned about cancellation because he still has EPS. ColSanitas told him that they do not cancel anyone’s policy. I asked him if this was a policy, law, or an opinion. changed) He was not sure.

I am just trying to get as much info as possible to make an educated decision. I am still on the fence after last night's discussion. I don't want to 75 years old and very sick with my box of 'depends' running out again and be a burden on my wife. I would just as soon find a way to take some hemlock tea. My biggest problem is the expense of the U.S. plans and the uncertainty of Obamacare. Regardless of what happens with Obamacare...something will change in the Healthcare industry that will move the US close to socialized medicine. Unless both Pelosi and Reid are not allowed to use the federal plans. Of course that would be un-American.

...and so it goes

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poco says on Aug 14, 2009, 07:16:

Quote: It is a lot different than the US. In Colombia I have not found one company that accepts pre-existing conditions. In the US, if you are employed by a company that provides medical insurance it will include pre-existing conditions.
(I'm adding: FOR NO ADDITIONAL COST)
===========================


I wondered how long it would be before someone on TV said,, I HAVE NO PROBLEM GETTING INSURANCE FOR PREEXISTING CONDITIONS !!!! Funny,, see it on PBH,, yet to hear it said about the new medical (it will suck) plan for the U.S.

I can just hear someone say,, REALLY ??? How is that? Answer,,, I WORK for a company,, ha,, that probably doesn't count. Work,, for a company,, that has a group policy,, that YOU PAY for,, ha,, WE'RE giving it to you for FREE,, just vote for me,,

SUCKS

BTW: I've always worked for a company or a was a member of a professional group that offers group insurance. 40 years ago companies would say,, WE HAVE insurance,, Ha,, better to pay the insurance,, rather than have the company furnish it.

Colombian Chickens are crowing about the new President of the U.S. who will assure that From each according to their ability to each according to their need.

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aztec says on Aug 14, 2009, 07:19:

Sounds as if you already have one on the best policies. How much of your policy does your employer pay? Why change?

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poco says on Aug 14, 2009, 07:44:

Quote: I would just as soon find a way to take some hemlock tea
======================================
With any luck,, the NEW socialized insurance plan will PAY for help AND give you the TEA for FREE !!!!
TEA for FREE,, I'm a poet and didn't know it.

Well,, that would be your choice,,, or,, if it's bad enough,, well,, gee,, they just NEVER cover all the details in the laws,,

I do have Colombian insurance,,, I use a certain company because they are affiliated with a nearby hospital.
but
As nice as the doctors are in Colombia,, PLUS,, like you say,, pre-existing,, problem. The "dependents" are OK,, so,, I'll just stay with the U.S. system for anything major,, that is,, until it turns to shit,, like Canada and G.B.,,, then,, Colombia,, TEA is probably cheaper anyway.

Colombian Chickens are crowing about the new President of the U.S. who will assure that From each according to their ability to each according to their need.

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Aji1 says on Aug 14, 2009, 07:52:

Well, here in the USA, my wife gets her insurance through her job. They (the insurance company) placed a rider on her insurance because of a pre-existing. They will not cover the pre-existing condition or any expense related to it.

My main comment regarding insurance similarities between the USA and Colombia is that there are always cracks one can slip through, and that they tend to make it a confusing affair to figure out which way to go. I predict the pre-existing condition issue will continue to grow in Colombia and become a bigger issue as time goes along. Health insurance sucks. I just want care when I need it and not risk loosing everything to get it. It will be 25 years before I have to worry about this in retirement, but good to keep abreast.

I am not in favor of socialized medicine, but it is extremely short sighted of a culture, people, and society, to allow a families mulit generation growth and advancement to be set back just because of an ill time health issue. I also know first hand just how hard it is to deal with insurance if you are self employed. I am sure we all know plenty of people that feel trapped in their job, or would work self employed, but are stuck only because of health insurance coverage. If only the health insurance and care issue was addressed fully and not linked to being an employee! What little I do know though is if the government is actually running it, it will be an overpriced clusterfuck. Ok, I will step off my soap box now.

I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

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miamimike says on Aug 14, 2009, 08:08:

There is quite a difference in the Plans of both countries. Not to forget, why is it that in Colombia both Options co-exist? Colombia has a Public Option and there is a Private option as well and it seems to work. Many PBH posters have Private Insurance in Colombia and from what they have posted here in the last 4 or 5 years I've been here, rarely hear a complaint. Usually its just the opposite, they heap praise on their Health Insurance and the good medical care they have received. I believe it would work well in the US and perhaps would be a good template for the US to adapt in the current healthcare reform debate. . It has been clearly stated on Record in the present debate that if you have private insurance, you can keep it. There are NO mandatory end of Life reviews in the proposal as someone like Palin is blathering on about. These are rumors started by the party of NO. If there are of any these mandatory End of Life reviews(or even proposals), anyone, please file a link to that Proposal for all to see. People need to Read and Educate themselves what is Reality in regards to the True content of the Proposals and what is rumor mongering and Myth,,, As it is now, with US Healthcare, Insurance company Beancounters in many cases determine what Doctor you see, what Meds you can get(Generic vs Name brand). If you are in an HMO, a Gatekeeper Doc(general medicine guy) determines if you can see a Sepcialist. In many cases, this gatekeeping concept isn't a good idea. At least not for the Patient. US Healthcare already is controlled and for many, they aren't happy with a Pointy-Headed Beancounter wielding sharp pencils doing the controlling. I wonder when hundreds of thousands of US Veterans were recently(2004-2007) recatagorized in the VA Medical System and lost their VA Healthcare, where were these same people who are complaining now? Why weren't they sticking up for the Vets for lost their Healthcare? MIA evidently,,,No One should ever think their Health Insurance cannot be cancelled. These Vets, some of had used the VA for decades, probably thought they never could lose their healthcare either. And Bingo, with the stroke of a Pen one day, their were re-catagorized and they were out the door with no healthcare.

Bésame, bésame mucho Como si fuera esta noche La última vez Bésame, bésame mucho Que tengo miedo a perderte Perderte después Bésame, bésame mucho Como si fuera esta noche La última vez Bésame, bésame mucho Que tengo miedo a perderte Perderte de

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poco says on Aug 14, 2009, 11:05:

Quote: Not to forget, why is it that in Colombia both Options co-exist?
========================
Now that is funny,, both systems,, one is a social system. PAYS FOR NO DRUGS !!! (unless they are given while you are admitted to the hospital). Nothing wrong with the hospitals BUT, the normal poor person in the U.S. would BITCH LIKE HELL if they had to use the same Hospital.

The other is private,, yep,, you won't die if you're military, police, teacher,, etc. THEY HAVE SPECIAL insurance. Pays for drugs.

A private good policy,, same,, it will pay for drugs. A private cheapie,, NO DRUGS,, no co-pay,, nothing.

Now that I've seen Colombia,, a public (tax paid insurance) system it's not worth the powder to blow you to hell. I know folks in England,, their system sucks.

but

keep on thinking a single payer system (tax paid) can exist with private insurance,, look at Colombia and see how it works.

Colombian Chickens are crowing about the new President of the U.S. who will assure that From each according to their ability to each according to their need.

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poco says on Aug 14, 2009, 11:37:

Quote: If there are of any these mandatory End of Life reviews(or even proposals), anyone, please file a link to that Proposal for all to see.
============================

OK:
but 6 minutes ago,, it looks like the senate caved,, tickles me to death (death being something I can do on my own).

http://www.newsday.com/gop-backs-away-from-end-of-life-counseling-1.13...

Well,, do you need the EXACT part of the STUPID proposal ? Exact words?

Remember,, this is the same group of clueless folks who bankrupted medicare,, social security and,, OH,, started the 1% income tax,, that would NEVER,, NEVER exceed,, 10%,, yep,, only the rich folks would pay !!!!

There's more but,, I'm hungry,, need to call someone in the administration and find out what I should eat !!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH,, and when I should take a shit.

Colombian Chickens are crowing about the new President of the U.S. who will assure that From each according to their ability to each according to their need.

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Rikito says on Aug 14, 2009, 16:02:

aztec, yes it is a good policy, but it is in the U.S. I pay $360USD for family coverage. I have no employer except for my wife. I need to save money and in Colombia, I can get Medical Insurance for $150-$170USD. Also, I d not trust what Obama is going to do. I am sure of this...he will do something and the middle class will pay.

Aji1, I disagree...stay on your soap box, this is important shit. I know a lot of expats (intelligent ones too) living here with Colombian insurance who are unaware it can be cancelled without explanation. and the same with miamimike. You guys are doing a great service to US Expats in PBH with your excellent comments.

...and so it goes

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aztec says on Aug 16, 2009, 06:54:

Thanks Rikito for the response. I also believe the situation with Obama will make my insurance coverage worse. Nothing I have seen discussed will improve on my outstanding medical coverages.

In fact if some of the proposals get approved I will more than likely be transferred to the Federal Plan. My employer is only waiting for the opportunity for moving all retirees into the Federal mess. The State will save a ton of money.

If that indeed happens I am convinced my wife and I would be better off in Colombia. We have already received medical treatment in Bogota and it was excellent. Of course the bills were paid via private insurance and not by the Colombian State system. With regard to medical coverage, being poor in Colombia would be worse than being poor in the States.

Some of my wife's family are poor. Two members of that family have needed serious medical treatment they could only get from the State. That was an unbelievable nightmare. If anything like this is even remotely similar to what Obama is proposing you and I are headed for major problems.

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