Today in Trump's 1st term as President

[Keith B]

Alright folks, if you can't discuss things civilly, then the topic will be locked. This is the only warning.

[LucasMcCain]

Hey guys! Anybody know anything about what has happened today in Trump's new term as President? If you do, post it here, where we talk about what has happened today in Trump's new term as President. Inquiring minds want to know.

[bblhd672]

Trump meeting with German PM Merkel today:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/03 ... paign.html

[dale blanker]

My take: Go without healthcare. If you get sick, go to a doctor and pay as you go. It'll be wayyyyyyyy less expensive overall. If you must go into the hospital, those charges can be negotiated immensely.

This philosophy isn't for those with current, dreadful disease or conditions, just those who're relatively healthy.

Hmm, good luck with that...

A few weeks ago I did a routine visit with my doctor and was awarded an A+ for physical health (for an 80+ year old). I have always been very healthy as an avid bicyclist, never had any serious illness. A few days after the doctor visit I found myself with severe congestion and 103 degree temperature. In a phone call to the doctor my wife received instructions that I should visit the ER immediately. I ended up spending most of the afternoon at the ER, getting blood, urine, nasal, and other tests including ekg, and 3 bags of water IV. Finally, the conclusion came that I had type A flu and was prescribed Tamiflu (for the wife too, to help prevent her getting the flu). Next year I'll definitely get a free flu shot.

Sorry for all the detail, so now I'll get to the point: The hospital charged $8869.00, Aetna paid $297.34, and I was charged $75. Glad I had Medicare Advantage with Aetna. The problem and expense could have been had by a much younger healthy individual so health insurance seems wise to me. (I recall paying over $4000 for company insurance 22 years ago when I retired.)

Side note: I have the feeling that our health care system tends to overdue it and hence our cost is the highest in the world. Ok, I'm not a doctor but I felt that my flu could have been determined much more simply and I suspect if my medical history were taken into account some of my treatments could have been avoided.

Another side note: After a nice day of sailing we were restoring the boat to trailer home when I fell over the lifeline, about 7 feet to the pavement. (The problem was caused by my careless cleating of a winched trailer line when lowering the mast and then my attempt to keep it from crashing on the stern rail.) That was 3 weeks ago (I did visit the doctor - no broken bones and no fee was paid) and I'm still a little sore but getting better every day. My point once again is that no matter how healthy you think you are, stuff happens and having insurance is recommended. I'm finally done!

[Jusme]

Hey guys! Anybody know anything about what has happened today in Trump's new term as President? If you do, post it here, where we talk about what has happened today in Trump's new term as President. Inquiring minds want to know.

I saw as I passed by a TV that he was meeting with a veterans group today. Been extremely busy here today so I haven't had time to get details.

[bblhd672]

Hey guys! Anybody know anything about what has happened today in Trump's new term as President? If you do, post it here, where we talk about what has happened today in Trump's new term as President. Inquiring minds want to know.

I saw as I passed by a TV that he was meeting with a veterans group today. Been extremely busy here today so I haven't had time to get details.

White House directs all VA's to hang President Trump portrait
http://cbs12.com/news/local/white-house ... p-portrait

Take that swamp dwellers.

[Jusme]

Hey guys! Anybody know anything about what has happened today in Trump's new term as President? If you do, post it here, where we talk about what has happened today in Trump's new term as President. Inquiring minds want to know.

I saw as I passed by a TV that he was meeting with a veterans group today. Been extremely busy here today so I haven't had time to get details.

White House directs all VA's to hang President Trump portrait
http://cbs12.com/news/local/white-house ... p-portrait

Take that swamp dwellers.

Yeah I doubt that was all that was discussed. Trump has been very vocal during the campaign, as well as since taking office, about fixing the VA issues, so I'm sure there were much more important issues addressed.
I have a very simple solution to the VA issues. Once someone is honorably discharged, they are issued a card like a credit card. It will have the soldier's name and serial number on it. It will say something to the effect of.
Dear Doctor, hospital, clinic, pharmacy, or any other health care provider: the bearer of this card, is an American hero, he/she is entitled to full treatment, prescriptions, or any other medical/ psychological care, and will not be subjected to any costs associated with these.
The providers who want to practice in this country will be bound by law to accept these terms or they will lose their license to practice. If they try to jack up prices above what is the normal costs, they will never be able to practice in this country again, and will face Federal jail time.

Anyone have an issue with this suggestion?

[tbrown]

Yeah I doubt that was all that was discussed. Trump has been very vocal during the campaign, as well as since taking office, about fixing the VA issues, so I'm sure there were much more important issues addressed.
I have a very simple solution to the VA issues. Once someone is honorably discharged, they are issued a card like a credit card. It will have the soldier's name and serial number on it. It will say something to the effect of.
Dear Doctor, hospital, clinic, pharmacy, or any other health care provider: the bearer of this card, is an American hero, he/she is entitled to full treatment, prescriptions, or any other medical/ psychological care, and will not be subjected to any costs associated with these.
The providers who want to practice in this country will be bound by law to accept these terms or they will lose their license to practice. If they try to jack up prices above what is the normal costs, they will never be able to practice in this country again, and will face Federal jail time.

Anyone have an issue with this suggestion?

It sounds like a plan straight out of the Soviet Union.

[Jusme]

Yeah I doubt that was all that was discussed. Trump has been very vocal during the campaign, as well as since taking office, about fixing the VA issues, so I'm sure there were much more important issues addressed.
I have a very simple solution to the VA issues. Once someone is honorably discharged, they are issued a card like a credit card. It will have the soldier's name and serial number on it. It will say something to the effect of.
Dear Doctor, hospital, clinic, pharmacy, or any other health care provider: the bearer of this card, is an American hero, he/she is entitled to full treatment, prescriptions, or any other medical/ psychological care, and will not be subjected to any costs associated with these.
The providers who want to practice in this country will be bound by law to accept these terms or they will lose their license to practice. If they try to jack up prices above what is the normal costs, they will never be able to practice in this country again, and will face Federal jail time.

Anyone have an issue with this suggestion?

It sounds like a plan straight out of the Soviet Union.

You mean that providing free health care to illegal immigrants, those too lazy to work, and anyone who feels they are entitled to health care because the go to the trouble of converting oxygen to carbon dioxide, is ok, but taking care of those who agreed to lay their life on the line to ensure our freedoms, is Socialistic?
Why should they be relegated to only being treated at hospitals, and clinics staffed by VA doctors? Not all veterans live close to those facilities, not to mention, the excessive waste, and the fact that the current system costs 500 times more than it would to give veterans unfettered access to healthcare. We are currently struggling under the burden of taking care of millions of people with our tax dollars who have given not one ounce of benefit to our country.
We could totally eliminate the waste presently incurred by the VA.
Please show me where I am mistaken.

[tbrown]

he/she is entitled to full treatment, prescriptions, or any other medical/ psychological care, and will not be subjected to any costs associated with these.
The providers who want to practice in this country will be bound by law to accept these terms or they will lose their license to practice. If they try to jack up prices above what is the normal costs, they will never be able to practice in this country again, and will face Federal jail time.

That's not freedom. That's not capitalism. That's not Constitutional.

[Jusme]

he/she is entitled to full treatment, prescriptions, or any other medical/ psychological care, and will not be subjected to any costs associated with these.
The providers who want to practice in this country will be bound by law to accept these terms or they will lose their license to practice. If they try to jack up prices above what is the normal costs, they will never be able to practice in this country again, and will face Federal jail time.

That's not freedom. That's not capitalism. That's not Constitutional.

Neither is signing a contract that says you are willing to lay down your life, based on the whims of your commander in chief. But everyone one of the veterans did so.

We are already paying through the nose to take care of veterans, and they are receiving substandard care. The numbers of veterans, don't come close to the number of illegal immigrants we pay to care for.

The administrative costs associated with the VA are astronomical. And yet we have thousands dying each year waiting to get treatment.
I am not a veteran, but I know which side my bread is buttered.

[tbrown]

If a law or government program is not Constitutional, let's get rid of it. That's real reform.

What the Republicans are doing with Obamacare and entitlements is rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

[G26ster]

Jusme: That would require a dramatic change in U.S. Gov't policy. Right now VA healthcare is only free to select individuals such as those with disability >50%, or other conditions laid out by the VA. Otherwise, VA healthcare is "means tested." A veteran pays specific amounts for healthcare and prescriptions based on income. Your plan would make it free to all vets, which I believe is a good thing, but budget wise could break the bank. Dunno.

From the VA home page:

Financial Assessment

A financial assessment is a means of collecting the Veteran’s household income information which is used to determine whether a Veteran is eligible for enrollment and whether or not the Veteran would be required to pay copays for care or prescription medication. VA is required by law to collect this information.

[Jusme]

If a law or government program is not Constitutional, let's get rid of it. That's real reform.

What the Republicans are doing with Obamacare and entitlements is rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

I agree. There should be no mandated, government run, health care system. The problem is we would be closing the barn door after the horses have escaped. That goes for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, or any other FDR socialistic plan. The federal government cannot successfully run a business, examples are the Post Office, the Amtrak train system, or Obamacare.

If government would stay out of business, it would be better, but we are too far down the rabbit hole now.

[Jusme]

Jusme: That would require a dramatic change in U.S. Gov't policy. Right now VA healthcare is only free to select individuals such as those with disability >50%, or other conditions laid out by the VA. Otherwise, VA healthcare is "means tested." A veteran pays specific amounts for healthcare and prescriptions based on income. Your plan would make it free to all vets, which I believe is a good thing, but budget wise could break the bank. Dunno.

From the VA home page:

Financial Assessment

A financial assessment is a means of collecting the Veteran’s household income information which is used to determine whether a Veteran is eligible for enrollment and whether or not the Veteran would be required to pay copays for care or prescription medication. VA is required by law to collect this information.

Look into the cost associated with the current VA system. The majority of the money goes to administrative costs. My plan would only exclude elective surgery, (breast augmentation, nose jobs, etc..)
Why should a veteran, have to make ten trips to a hospital, or clinic, and wait on someone to approve the treatment, or surgery, and then be denied because there was a form that had the wrong box checked?

Most veterans are healthy upon discharge, the costs wouldn't be felt until they have normal issues associated with aging. Those who are unhealthy, are usually created by either combat injuries or PTSD.