Healthcare insurance and retirement - again!

[rodi]

I looked at it too, and if you are a disabled vet, you can get it. 100% free. I got out of the service in 1982, and was labeled with a 10% disability in November of 2013. 31 years later.

The only reason I looked into getting VA healthcare is so I could get a veteran's ID card, so that I could get 10% off at Home Depot and Lowes. I initially did not even consider I was disabled. The application was successful, and it got me my Home Depot discount and free healthcare. Plus a small monthly tax-free stipend.

If you worked in any type of noise environment in the service, see your county Veterans Affairs office. I have mentioned this to several people, and they all got 10% disability and VA care.

Your experience is quite different from my father's and my father-in-laws.

My father in law was a purple heart WWII vet. He had gangrene so bad on his feet (from walking in semi-freezing mud in the battle of the bulge) that they almost amputated both feet. Fortunately they were able to save the feet but he had permanent nerve damage. He was classified as 20% disabled. The VA provided an umbrella of insurance - but they billed his medicare then his secondary insurance (federal retiree BCBS) for anything not specific to his VA noted disability. VA did not cover him 100%.

My father was a radar tech in the AF during the Korean conflict. Like you - hearing damage from working on/maintaining equipment on the airstrip. He didn't have tinnitus - but did have significant hearing damage directly associated with his service. The VA provided him, 100%, with hearing aides, periodic hearing tests, etc... but nothing more than that. He had to have regular medical insurance to cover everything else.

Perhaps it's the different era's they served... WWII and Korean conflict. But those are my family's experience - which sound quite different than yours.

(Neither got disability pension, either.)

I'm happy for you for gaining the benefits you did - but they seem out of the norm.

 

[youbet]

It has been going on for a long time. Can you cite a single case where anyone complained to the FDA about a Canadian purchased drug? The much more likely explanation is that drug companies would rather sell the drug here for $100 than via Canada for $10.

Look it up yourself travelover. I doubt there have been many or any at the walk-up purchase retail level. I'm not as sure about Internet sales. But the FDA still needed to say "don't do it, we're not checking those drugs" so that folks clearly understood they were on their own (as they should be). No effort has been made to enforce a ban on USA citizens buying drugs in Canada. The USA gov't just made it clear they aren't responsible in the only way they could.


If a Canadian retailer did alter a drug (likely dilute it to increase profit) being sold to USA citizens via the Internet, I'd be OK that the USA do nothing about it even if harm is caused. Folks know they are on their own and can take care of themselves. What's your opinion?



You stated a 10 : 1 price differentiation between purchasing drugs in Canada vs. purchasing them here. Even in the case where I purchased a drug that was generic in Canada and still prescription in the USA, the price differential was not that great. Can you give an example or two?

 

[pb4uski]

"As of September 2016, 19 states had not expanded their programs. Medicaid eligibility for adults in states that did not expand their programs is quite limited: the median income limit for parents in 2016 is just 44% of poverty, or an annual income of $8,870 a year for a family of three, and in nearly all states not expanding, childless adults remain ineligible."
Source:
The Coverage Gap: Uninsured Poor Adults in States that Do Not Expand Medicaid | The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

The ACA also did away with asset tests (in states with expanded Medicaid):
"Essentially, the Medicaid expansion under the ACA will broaden Medicaid eligibility for low-income, non-elderly adults without regard to assets."
Bye-Bye Medicaid Asset Test* | The Incidental Economist

Then some mechanism would need to be put in place to allow individuals to continue coverage if they live in states that did not expand Medicaid... my original point is that some sort of continuous coverage test could be used to allow the individual mandate, which is despised by many, to be eliminated.

Some men see things as they are, and ask why. I dream of things that never were, and ask why not.

 

[travelover]

Why not let Walgreens import the drugs to resell? If Walgreens does not do diligence and resell counterfeit drugs, they get their ass sued by the customers. For their effort, Walgreens would know how much more to charge to make it worthwhile.

Or better yet, why not Walgreens located in Canada? Fill the prescription via the Internet and deliver the drugs via the mail. No shady characters involved.

 

[eta2020]

Then some mechanism would need to be put in place to allow individuals to continue coverage if they live in states that did not expand Medicaid... my original point is that some sort of continuous coverage test could be used to allow the individual mandate, which is despised by many, to be eliminated.

But why not just provide universal coverage? Germany does it for more then 100 years.

 

[AllDone]

I buy my only drug in Canada. One month supply here is $195 (not covered by my insurance because the covered version is unavailable due to a manufacturing problem), but I can buy six months from Canada for $230 including shipping and exchange fee. The Canadian drug is made in the same damn factory in the San Fernando Valley and it is obviously not a counterfeit.

 

[NW-Bound]

Or better yet, why not Walgreens located in Canada? Fill the prescription via the Internet and deliver the drugs via the mail. No shady characters involved.

It may be harder for an American to sue a Canadian company. I'd rather sue a brick-and-mortar company here in the US if I get a counterfeit drug.

 

[pb4uski]

But why not just provide universal coverage? Germany does it for more then 100 years.

I would not oppose it... our system is so messed up that something big and radical is needed... however, be it right or wrong it is not politically realistic in the US at this time. IMO it is a waste of time deliberating something that has such a remote chance of being enacted.

 

[NW-Bound]

But why not just provide universal coverage? Germany does it for more then 100 years.

We may come down to that point. However, most countries still have companies selling supplemental insurance.

The state can buy everybody a Pinto. If you'd rather have a Honda or an Audi, you can and have to pay more. I am OK with that.

 

[daylatedollarshort]

I buy my only drug in Canada. One month supply here is $195 (not covered by my insurance because the covered version is unavailable due to a manufacturing problem), but I can buy six months from Canada for $230 including shipping and exchange fee. The Canadian drug is made in the same damn factory in the San Fernando Valley and it is obviously not a counterfeit.

Good to know. I'm not on any medications now but I'm going to file that away for future use.

 

[Senator]

Your experience is quite different from my father's and my father-in-laws.

My father in law was a purple heart WWII vet. He had gangrene so bad on his feet (from walking in semi-freezing mud in the battle of the bulge) that they almost amputated both feet. Fortunately they were able to save the feet but he had permanent nerve damage. He was classified as 20% disabled. The VA provided an umbrella of insurance - but they billed his medicare then his secondary insurance (federal retiree BCBS) for anything not specific to his VA noted disability. VA did not cover him 100%.

My father was a radar tech in the AF during the Korean conflict. Like you - hearing damage from working on/maintaining equipment on the airstrip. He didn't have tinnitus - but did have significant hearing damage directly associated with his service. The VA provided him, 100%, with hearing aides, periodic hearing tests, etc... but nothing more than that. He had to have regular medical insurance to cover everything else.

Perhaps it's the different era's they served... WWII and Korean conflict. But those are my family's experience - which sound quite different than yours.

(Neither got disability pension, either.)

I'm happy for you for gaining the benefits you did - but they seem out of the norm.

If someone is classified as 20% disabled, they should be getting a monthly disability check. And healthcare.

I think at one time the healthcare benefit was indeed different. When I had corporate heath insurance, the VA billed the insurance company and I did not have to pay any deductible or any unpaid amounts.

My benefit is pretty standard if you have at least a disability 10% rating, which is the minimum.

 

[youbet]

It may be harder for an American to sue a Canadian company. I'd rather sue a brick-and-mortar company here in the US if I get a counterfeit drug.

Isn't that defeating the whole intent? By buying from a USA Walgreens, you'd be buying from a company paying USA prices. And the FDA would be on the hook to identify and prosecute the counterfeiters.

I don't take any expensive drugs. They're all generic here and cheap. So, no dog in the fight. But if I needed a $100/day pill that I wasn't insured for here, I'd buy from an international source for $10 (Travelover says it's a 10 : 1 price ratio) and take my chances. You just can't expect big bro to watch over every little detail of your life.


On that same note, I've heard there are some marvelous cancer cures available from street vendors in Tijuana. Naturally the damn FDA want's to prevent us from taking advantage of these medical breakthroughs. I mean..... hey.... ya already have cancer. What's the risk of trying some new meds to cure it?

 

[eta2020]

We may come down to that point. However, most countries still have companies selling supplemental insurance.

The state can buy everybody a Pinto. If you'd rather have a Honda or an Audi, you can and have to pay more. I am OK with that.

Again just because you pay 100 bucks for pill that costs 1 dollar in EU does not mean you are getting "Audi" and they are getting "Pinto"

It means you got scr*wed.

 

[NW-Bound]

You did not read my numerous posts I made earlier.

I think I got an Audi all right, but they charge me the price of a Rolls Royce.

And not using healthcare in other countries, I do not know what they are getting for what they pay.

Maybe they are getting an Audi, which is good for them. But if they pay Pinto price for an Audi, then the real cost is hidden elsewhere.

 

[travelover]

Look it up yourself travelover. I doubt there have been many or any at the walk-up purchase retail level. I'm not as sure about Internet sales. But the FDA still needed to say "don't do it, we're not checking those drugs" so that folks clearly understood they were on their own (as they should be). No effort has been made to enforce a ban on USA citizens buying drugs in Canada. The USA gov't just made it clear they aren't responsible in the only way they could.

But the FDA has repeatedly said it is illegal which is enough to scare some people

If a Canadian retailer did alter a drug (likely dilute it to increase profit) being sold to USA citizens via the Internet, I'd be OK that the USA do nothing about it even if harm is caused. Folks know they are on their own and can take care of themselves. What's your opinion?

The risk is on the consumer.

You stated a 10 : 1 price differentiation between purchasing drugs in Canada vs. purchasing them here. Even in the case where I purchased a drug that was generic in Canada and still prescription in the USA, the price differential was not that great. Can you give an example or two?

Look it up yourself - it varies. I just used the ten to one as an example to make a point. But the savings are enough to feed an entire industry of Canadian drug importers.

 

[eta2020]

You did not read my numerous posts I made earlier.

I think I got an Audi all right, but they charge me the price of a Rolls Royce.

And not using healthcare in other countries, I do not know what they are getting for what they pay.

I am with you and I agree

You payed 250k and got 50k of service.

 

[NW-Bound]

On the other hand, I do not believe people can get $50K worth of service for paying $25K.

Other countries have higher tax burden than the US. The cost of living is so much higher. No Audi for Pinto price either.

Many Canadians make fun of the healthcare cost in the US, but see no irony in themselves going to the US to shop, or to go to Mexico to retire. It all costs you one way or the other, or it costs someone else. We all do not want to be that "someone else".

 

[youbet]

But the FDA has repeatedly said it is illegal which is enough to scare some people

Ahhhh....... BS. You might be scared. I wasn't and am not. If a few other folks are, they're the same folks who are afraid to drive 36 mph in a 35 mph zone because "the sign says 35 mph."

In our country today, no laws are absolute and different people expect different consequences, or no consequences, from breaking them. As a tax payer, I'd rather have the FDA say "don't do it" (but then make no effort to enforce) and be exempt from responsibility if something does go wrong than condone it and open tax payers up to any potential liability.

Exporting drugs to Canada at low prices and either importing them back again or selling them direct retail to USA citizens just doesn't pass my common sense test on how to solve our cost of drugs problem. We need to find a way where commodity drugs sell for the same amount anyplace in the world (just like oil or wheat) and patent drugs sell at negotiated prices where the USA is at an advantage, not disadvantage compared to international customers.

 

[Texas Proud]

Some folks are determined to get this thread closed down. A shame, really.

There are three branches of government. Nothing that is law right now will/can change unless at least two of those branches (hundreds of people) agree, and maybe the SCOTUS, too. This won't be one person's job to fix (just as it took a lot of politicians to design this thing we have now).

I know feelings are raw right now. Well, we've all been on the receiving end of similar disappointments.

From what I hear on TV, they can do some reconciliation parts on funding with only a simple vote... IOW, no way to stop it... this is not a repeal...

 

[NW-Bound]

We need to find a way where commodity drugs sell for the same amount anyplace in the world (just like oil or wheat) and patent drugs sell at negotiated prices where the USA is at an advantage, not disadvantage compared to international customers.

+1

That just makes too much sense to happen. No can do!

 

[eta2020]

On the other hand, I do not believe people can get $50K worth of service for paying $25K.

Other countries have higher tax burden than the US. The cost of living is so much higher. No Audi for Pinto price either.

Yea I kinda feel it is way better to live in US when one is in productive age because of low tax rate and huge differences between upper and lower income people. (Provided you are up there on pay scale) It enables us to be able to FIRE.

I am not sure it is the case after one FIREs. It may be be. It may not be. I truly am not able to compute it out.

BTW I agree on tax burden, but cost of living probably not. (Unless you insist living on London or Paris)

 

[NW-Bound]

You kept bringing up Germany. At megacorp, I knew two American engineers who worked in Germany. They came back to the US, saying they could not save any money there. But then, why would they have to? They've got good healthcare.

 

[eta2020]

You kept bringing up Germany. At megacorp, I knew two American engineers who worked in Germany. They came back to the US, saying they could not save any money there. But then, why would they have to? They've got good healthcare.

And that I agree on. Read my previous post.

 

[travelover]

........... We need to find a way where commodity drugs sell for the same amount anyplace in the world (just like oil or wheat) and patent drugs sell at negotiated prices where the USA is at an advantage, not disadvantage compared to international customers.

Wouldn't that be great. But with the consumer bent over and greased up, drug companies have no incentive to agree to such an arrangement. They are making a fortune on the US market and will do whatever is necessary to keep the high profits rolling.

 

[youbet]

Wouldn't that be great. But with the consumer bent over and greased up, drug companies have no incentive to agree to such an arrangement. They are making a fortune on the US market and will do whatever is necessary to keep the high profits rolling.

Just to be clear...... I'm not suggesting that the drug companies make less money. I do want them to have plenty to do research since drug development in the past few decades has been nothing short of amazing. They could no doubt get by with a bit less profit, but my intention would not be to have them become commodity manufacturers working on razor thin margins either. Someplace in the middle where profit would still be able to fund extensive R and D and return to investors.

I'm looking for all citizens of the world to pay their share as determined in a competitive marketplace without regard to their ability to pay. There is absolutely no need for the USA to subsidize any other country on drug costs. And, of course, the other way around as well.