Week 46 Nov. 11-17

Obama Care

I went to a seminar the other day about the affects of the Affordable Healthcare Act (ACA) on Hospital Facilities.  I basically heard from differnt Health Systems that the ACA is going to increase the requirements on healthcare facilities for customer satisfaction, increased building system requirements, and at the same time require them to take a greater volume of patients for less money.  To me, it seems it is basically turning the healthcare industry into to a government run industry.  So basically, your hospitals are going to be run like the airline industry, or the utility industry.  Quality of care can not go anywhere but down and prices rise all as a result of forcing the healthcare industry to provide service without pay.  Their only recourse will be to raise prices on the patients who do pay....or their health insurance companies that do pay.

I think a contributing factor in the state of healthcare cost is the Health Insurance industry itself.  Why do we need health insurance anyway?  It should be for major emergencies, but it weasled its way into the system as being the primary source people pay for all health care.  It was a benefit from employers that people payed, but did see as a cost off their check.  Someone just paid the Dr. Office visit.  It really didn't matter what it cost.  Now that HC insurance is too expensive to provide for a lot of employers, it does matter what it costs to people and the cost is rediculous to begin with. 

So this week, got to experience my first taste of what Obama Care will do for the Train Family.  Drew visited the ER in October.  We thought she broker her wrist.  The visit was 45 minutes.  We got the bill.....$3,700.  Oh, but we only have to pay $1,900...  If nobody gets has to visit the doctor, or gets hurt in my family of 5, I will pay $7,200 a year just for HC.  Total cost per year out of pocket will not exceed $13,200/year. 

The average employer pays about $5,000/year per employee for their portion of health insurance.  Providing this is required by law for full time employees.  The penalty for not providing it????...$2,000.  What do you think is going to happen in the next few years.

Can't wait for Homecare.  That will be when we all pay in $500/ month and the government maintains the upkeep on our home.