Social reform/welfare/jobs

[Kimberanne]

I work in Social Services and there are so many areas that logic has been thrown out the window. I work mostly with people who have mental illnesses or other disabilities and many have to watch how much they work so they don't lose their medical benefits. It is really very sad. If they work too much, they won't have the help when they need it. Most company health insurance plans don't cover mental health services or only cover 50%. So, the people I work with really can't afford to go to work full time and become independent. Personally I think there should be a program that would cover them in the event that they need those services and don't have the coverage. An example would be if someone who is on benefits is able to get a job with health insurance then they would be entitled to keep the mental health benefits they have had in the past if they need them. Their private policy would cover first and the govt could cover what ever was left over after that. This would save us a ton of money in the long run, not to mention improve the quality of life for a lot of people.

I also think that there should be more help for single mom's. Many can't go to work full time because they would lose all help and end up being worse off financially. I think that if some one is on benefits they should be allowed to go back to work and their benefits could decrease gradually so that there isn't a change in their income just because they go back to work. Now, if you make $1 too much, you stand to lose ALL your food stamps, child care help, health ins. for your kids, and rent assistance. Also, if a person has a job that offers health insurance they usually don't take it because the premiums are too high. I think that if they are at a certain income level and are on govt insurance already, the govt could step in and pay the premium instead of covering all the services. Again, this would be cheaper for us.

There are SOOOO many things that just make no sense at all.

[justcajun]

Totally agree Kim that so many things make no sense. My Mom worked all her life and is on Medicare now and is very ill. They won't approve her Medicade for her meds but they will send a nurse in that checks her vitals once a week and pay the nursing co. 6000 a mth for it. She don't need her vitials check but help with medicine. It is totally crazy how it is set up.

[troutfarm]

I totally agree with both of you. The way the system is now it is not really serving people or even saving money for the system. It needs to come out of the dark ages. Meds need to be affordable too. People have to choose between groceries and meds and especially old people ~ that is too rude while the drug companies get richer. Canada at least has more reasonable meds which is how it should be.

trout

[justcajun]

My Mom has shingles ( nerve ending damage now) and her lungs are bad she is very ill. It cost us about $800.00 a month or better sometimes. It's a shame. She also has fungus in her lungs. Now get this. Instead of having someone come to her house (Like the nurse above) to give her iv's she had to stay in the hospital for 24 days straight and could spend the day at home on the weekends.. Total cost of hospital stay 47 thousand dollars. It really really really is all mixed up.

love and hugs
marla

[troutfarm]

Seems like a total waste and the patient is not getting their needs met. I worked at a large HMO and the only people being served there were the fat cats at the top of the HMO. The doctors were not making enough money and the HMO was paying most people that worked for them peanuts not to mention they treated all of us like we were under their shoe.

I wonder how many people in the USA even have decent medical coverage? I don't. I even have wealthy friends with really good Blue Cross but when they needed Blue Cross to pay for stuff it was a constant battle.

Store your own canned goods and water cause Dubya does not care if you get thirsty during a hurricane and quake and make sure to stay healthy too because if you get sick you may end up bankrupt and homeless.

The happy thought for the day.

trout

[heart22]

Oh boy oh boy....I could go on for DAYS about this subject LOL
I work and have worked in healthcare for the past 12 yrs. It's an on going battle with no easy resolution really. Speaking from experience as far as assistance goes. Last year when my grandmother when to reapply for her medicaid she over qualified by TWELVE bucks a year. I asked her if she told them they could keep their damn 12 bucks a year in exchange for your coverage. She is on medicare which sucks as we all know..better than nothing at all mind you but doesnt pay for so many things...such as the important things MEDICATION. My grandmother just recently lost her prescription coverage through medicaid about a month ago. Her medication montly is probably about $500.00..hello the woman is on social security for the love of all that is good in holy...where in the hell do they expect people in the situation to come up with this kind of money for medication??? Fortunately for her, I can get a few of her medications from my office, saving her some money and she can get some from her cardiologist to get by..the woman is 90 yrs old for cryin out loud and is in better health than her children. Its just plain WRONG.
And what really gets me....and please, I don't mean to sound heartless here because I'm not...the state of TN just did all this Tenncare reform and blah blah blah..cutting off thousands of people and this morning I heard on the radio that the refugees that come to TN from New Orleans or whatever, if they choose to stay here , they will be eligible to sign up for Tenncare benefits. Now I'm sorry , my 90 yr old grandmother can't get her prescription coverage due to the "cuts" and has lived here her entire life but they're going to let people that are coming from another state enroll??

trout...glad you touched on Blue Cross...personally I HATE blue cross..just because of my professional dealings with them. BCBS of TN had I forgot how many MILLIONS in surplus so you know what they did??? Built em a nice new office building in Chattanooga...lovely huh? HOw do they do this you ask ...I can answer that very easily for you. They increase premiums every 6 months on those that are self insured AND they have this nice little clause called "pre-existing" they throw in there...so if you had SYMPTOMS...no you didnt see the doc or anything remotely close but you just happened to mention you had the symptoms for x amt of time..they deny your claim and you are held responsible for the bill....you pay out more and they keep decreasing their reimbursements.

It's all just one big messed up ordeal. I love working in healthcare and for the longest time prior to working where I saw what comes in money wise, i was like the majority that thought docs have it made w/ the money...well I'm here to tell ya...they're not...atleast not your family practices..they are getting screwed right and left ...get reimbursed maybe 1/2 of what is charged....it's a joke really. By the time you figure in over head and all that ..they dont' make near what people think they do..

ok off my soap box now...just my two cents worth

Mel