AMERICANS ARE HURTING – “CONGRESS COULD CARE LESS”!
After you read this send me a message and tell me how Congress and three vindictive Senators can take a month off when people are suffering. Our Congress is inhumane to keep the Obamacare debacle alive. I hope the voters remember every Democrat and the maverick RINO’s when they come up for re-election.
At the same time I can’t fathom why some news service does not compile a special report of actual facts of how health care costs are destroying working and retired Americans. If you hear younger Americans tell us seniors they are tired of paying for our Medicare they are not informed.
I will share some personal facts of how healthcare is effecting my retirement. I will also share two examples of the plight of two middle aged Americans, one is from my family regarding the insurance debacle. The sad part of this insurance disaster is that Congress and all government employees are exempt from the Obamacare disaster. They could care less as they have more than adequate insurance that we pay for most of their premiums with our taxes.
I retired nearly 24 years ago with one pension for 27 years service with what is now Lockheed-Martin. This provides us with a staggering $221.47 each month and no benefits. Now take a look at what Medicare provides and costs. We each pay $107.00 each month in premiums deducted from our Social Security, now named a Federal Entitlement. This is means tested and many retirees pay much more as they have higher incomes. We also pay for the first $185 of costs as a deductible or $370 total each year.
For the uninformed, Medicare only pays for 80% of medical costs and unless you are rich or a fool you have to buy a supplemental insurance policy to cover the 20%. This requires a policy just like those on Obamacare that is so-called competitive as the rates in each State are not the same. These premiums increase each year as you grow older regardless of your health. Being blessed with my 87th birthday this month and you reach this advanced age there is no competitive advantage to shop around for better rates as you are just too old. Currently the costs for Norma and I to be covered is $399.29 each month and these costs have increased twice in the past six months but who cares?
Bush #2 gave us old people another entitlement called Medicare part “D” for our drugs. This program is also competitive as you buy an insurance policy that has many options, choices and different premiums to chose from. These policies are so confusing my insurance agent for our Medicare refuses to even sell or recommend which insurance provider to buy from. As Norma takes much less prescription medication she has a policy with lower premiums and has a co-pay for her medication. In my case I have higher premiums and only have co-pay if their is no generic yet. Currently our monthly costs for prescribed drugs and premiums is about $210. In addition we take doctor recommended vitamins, aspirin, fish oil, bacteria for my colon and other assorted over the counter medical items. The Instaflex for my knees alone is $39 a month. This will easily average over $75 each month.
Speaking of my knees that are both bone on bone. My family doctor can inject steroids in my left knee every three months. I have to drive 128 miles to my referred Orthopedic Surgeon who administers three shots in my right knee every six months. Both doctors do not recommend surgery because I am just too old. Medicare pays for the steroid shots in my left knee and the shots injected by the Surgeon every six months. My main reason to include this information is to document why are there three and six month intervals. If I have to have the shots sooner Medicare will not pay for them. They cost $550 and $1800 each cycle. The doctors both told me there is no medical reason for the time periods but some bureaucrat in Washington decided that was what it would be. I do get a steroid shot in my right knee after four months as the series of shots never last six months.
We have no coverage for dentistry work. Just yesterday I paid $210 to have my teeth cleaned and a getting a crown re-cemented in that came off when the hygienist was flossing my old teeth. Our average dental costs are $1500 each year.
Because I do not understand or trust the confusing Federal ograms I still maintain a catastrophic policy I have had for 50 years. It has a $25,000 deductible and cost $636 annually
To save you time our annual costs for healthcare is at least $13,279.00 at this time or $1,106.58 each month. Norma has not been admitted to a hospital since 1965 or 52 years ago. I have not been admitted to a hospital since 2004 or 13 years ago which means nothing for our insurance rates.
I hope those who think Medicare is free and are not government bureaucrats become aware of that planning for those “Golden Years” in advance is difficult.
Our daughter is in business for herself and is required to buy an Obamacare policy or pay a hefty tax penalty. She has not been hospitalized in the past seven years. Her policy premiums are some $800 a month and she has to pay $60 per visit any time she see’s her primary care doctor. She has no dental coverage and her policy has some other restrictions. It has a $6000 deductible clause. If her doctor refers her to a specialists the policy pays nothing until she reaches the $6,000. If the doctor send her to get any testing, X-Rays or lab work the policy pays nothing until the $6,000 deductible is met each year. If a generic drug exists they cost $5.00. If no generic drug exists the co-pay is extremely expensive. Some drugs are not even covered and she pays 100%. In the area she lives there are few choices and they keep disappearing as the insurance companies keep dropping out of the market. To keep her doctor she has been with for 25 years was a nightmare of bureaucratic paperwork.
Can you imagine a government employee and especially a Congressperson screaming if they had a policy like hers or ours. They don’t have to worry as they are the new “Elite” class of Americans. When my grandchildren ask me what field of work to pursue I tell them either “healthcare” or “Government service”. These are the only fields with benefits as Obama killed benefits from most companies and the 40 hours work week. My son works for one of the largest companies in the world that offers no healthcare or retirement benefits to newly hired employees. Anyone who plans to live on Social Security is mindless. Why has this escaped exposure even from Fox News is scary?
I know a friend who works as hard as anyone I know. He is a maintenance worker and has no benefits. His wife also works and they have three small children. If she covers her husband and their children with her insurance she would have zero take home pay. The consequence is he and the three children must use Medicaid care where illegals have priority.
As the media or any well known journalist or commentator or even a well known Blog writer has never attempted to tell the real stories I will publish your story if desired? Maybe just one person in power in Washington might really understand.
I give up on Congress to help as they just play power games. Other matters are understandably important but to just sweep healthcare under the rug is hurting far too many deserving Americans. When two female Senators and John Mc Cain sank the repeal of Obamacare they betrayed their trust. Women I can understand are concerned about abortions and free birth control pill for even those on welfare. McCain who reversed his last vote, just voted no to punish Trump politically. Every pregnant woman who cares for everyone is still being punished because of these three Senators who hate President Trump. A really sad day for America folks when a “has been” Senator killed all hope to fix our healthcare to just stab Trump in the back. They used to call this Treason but Congress persons do not fear or support our laws they can just ignore them. Washington is broken but who cares? I do, do you? Please share this with every American possible.
C Brewer
A Conservative View 