Costs are keeping patients from care

[janet118]

Source: Boston Globe

Copayments rise as families struggle

By Kay Lazar, Globe Staff | June 21, 2009

People with robust health insurance are putting off doctors’ appointments and skimping on prescriptions because they can’t afford the increasing costs of copayments and deductibles, according to managers of patient-assistance hot lines in Massachusetts.

Not that long ago, such dilemmas were typically faced by lower-income families, often on publicly subsidized insurance. But with many consumers struggling to pay rising healthcare costs amid today’s shrinking family budgets, these tough choices are becoming commonplace - even among families with employer-provided health insurance, consumer advocates say.

“Our medical debt resolution program is hearing repeatedly that copayments are a problem,’’ said Mark Rukavina, executive director of the Boston-based Access Project, a nonprofit organization that helps consumers with healthcare issues.

“Previously it was the uninsured,’’ Rukavina said. “Now we are seeing people with insurance, but they are struggling to pay their bills.’’

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/06/21/costs_are_keeping_patients_from_care?mode=PF

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For anyone even considering using the so-called Massachusetts plan - you have been warned. It is a patchwork plan that leaves lots of people paying more and without adequate coverage. In short, it sucks.

[sandnsea]

1. We have it in Oregon too

Medicaid, SCHIP, and subsidized health insurance. We don't have a mandate, but I can see with Mass that they wouldn't come to the conclusion that they needed more funding to cover everybody here either. If you have no health coverage, subsidized insurance is better than nothing. It's ironic how all these problems are now a "crisis" because it's happening to middle income folks. When it happens to poor folks, it's their own fault and they just need to get a better job.

[pattmarty]

2. This is a brilliant discovery? Take a poll of EVERY city/town in the USA...................

..................today where the median income is less than 80K and you will find this A LOT. So let's go, the latest poll I saw here today shows 73?% favor a "public option" in the healthcare fix.

[Puppyjive]

3. The Oregon Health Plan

My sister was on the Oregon health plan, and she received better health care than I did with insurance. The problem with the plan is that only low income people are on it. If you make a certain income, you insurance is cancelled. I would much rather pay the State of Oregon $500 a month for family coverage, than I would for private insurance. We pay $500.00 a month for my husband and child. I couldn't get coverage because I have pre existing conditions. People like us are underinsured, yet we are paying a premium. The Oregon Health plan could really beef up it's funding if it were open to all.

[janet118]

6. Smells like the Massachusetts plan n/t

[rocktivity]

4. Candidate for this year's "You Call This NEWS?" award

The "To Figure This Out, You Had To Do A Freaking STUDY?" division.

:eyes:
rocktivity

[janet118]

5. The "news" is that anti-single payer lobbyists . . .

and Democratic "moderates" are pointing toward Massachusetts as a "model" for a national plan, including our own Senator John Kerry who should really know better. I agree that a study was not needed for anyone with simple common sense and minimal math skills to figure out that the plan isn't working; but with all the insurance-funded studies and spin proclaiming how great the Massachusetts plan, that includes letting insurance companies continue their evil ways unimpeded, is, it was a surprise to see this as the top headline in the Globe today.