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bearishgurl
Participant[quote=scaredyclassic]Sounds like a pretty good case for the SEAL.
No alcohol test.
No driving.
Sleeping in parked car.
National hero.[/quote]I would agree with you, scaredy. Except I’ve seen these “sleeping the car” DUI defenses go south if the vehicle’s motor was running and/or the hood was hot and there was only ONE person in the vehicle … as was the case here.
I don’t blame him for refusing to submit to a sobriety test. In doing so, they booked him in jail and he bailed out and it can all be sorted out later.
His defense hinges on how long the convenience store clerk says he spent out there sleeping. The longer, the better for him, methinks.
I still think he can hire the very best defense lawyer in the state and “get this taken care of as quietly as possible” without ever setting foot in a courtroom, since it is a “first conviction” matter. And that’s probably what he’ll do. He’ll have letters of commendation up the wazoo in sheet protectors in a thick binder for the court’s perusal. I predict it will be dismissed but not after possibly another hefty fine of maybe ~$1200 for the “Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Fund” in MT (or something like that).
ParticipantBack to your “branding theory,” NSR … the vast majority of chemo drugs are still “brand name” only and exorbitant in price. I notice there are a lot of Big Pharma commercials during primetime shows after 9 pm (such as ABC 20/20) which are targeted to boomers. A lot of these advertised drugs are just discretionary, imho. I’m probably going to catch flak for saying this but there are a lot of “Lyrica” and seritonin reuptake inhibitors (mood elevators) commercials during these time slots as well. One would think it is common to want to take all this stuff … even in combination with other drugs.
“Tell your doctor what other drugs you are taking,” and, “ask your doctor if XYZ is right for you.”
These long commercials are essentially telling viewers to ask their doctors about those drugs and request to try them because of a TV commercial they saw!
Why would someone want to get on more drugs instead of explore other (non-pharmaceutical) ways to address their chronic pain??
Participant[quote=spdrun]I wonder how many of those dipathetics are fats who’d stand to lose 100 lbs or so.[/quote]Let’s not go there, spdrun. Suffice to say that there are many, many more of them now than in generations past. All due to smartphones, ipads and texting while munching. Most parents today are too afraid to let their kids play outside with the neighbors so they hang around inside playing video games and munching in their spare time :=0
Participant[quote=no_such_reality]This is an interesting study synopsis. http://cclponline.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Identifying-the-causes-of-rising-health-care-costs_DOC-4.10.13.pdf
Basically utilization doesn’t drive cost increases. Branding is and provider market leverage.
That intuitively makes sense when you think about something like prostrate cancers and the all the ads for proton treatment at named place xyz. Regular therapy is expensive at $18k average. Proton runs $38k average.
Care to guess were the demand is?
Diabetes is expensive too, average $80k lifetime charges for someone in their 50s when diagnosed. Add in the percentage of population with diabetes from ’97 to 2013 went from 2.5% to 7.5% and we have a formula for disaster.[/quote]Uh, yeah. The demand is with the boomers but I believe that Gen Y and even children are starting to become susceptible to diabetes. I can’t believe how big a lot of the middle-schoolers are around me!
Cancer treatment in pill form is now about $5-10K month, infusions are $20K and up per month. The newer biologic and “targeted therapies” could run as high as $40-70K month. Unfortunately, chemo does not even work in so many cases and instead shortens the life of the patient and destroys the quality of what little life they have left.
The above expense doesn’t even take into account the cost of surgery before chemo, which could run $20 – $100K. OR the cost of the cancer coming back after a period of remission.
Cancer is probably the most expensive disease because many forms of it are so virulent, hard to eradicate and stubbornly return after a remission.
Prostate cancer is slow-growing so the patient has more time to plan how they want to be treated or in most cases, watch it and wait to be treated for it at a later date.
I’ll look at the report from CO that you provided. CO has thin air which can cause enlargement of the heart in sucseptible longtime inhabitants, especially those who live at the higher elevations.
Participant[quote=spdrun]
I just like the taste of coffee but for some reason I do not like the taste of decalf. So the “caffeine” must give coffee a certain taste.
Decaf uses some pretty vile solvents to extract the caffeine. Methylene chloride (aka paint stripper) comes to mind. Maybe you’re tasting the toxic residue in the decaf.[/quote]Oh, believe me, the only “decaf” I’ve ever tried was “Taster’s Choice” instant coffee back in the day. It was terrible. Instant coffee also probably had a lot of chemicals in it but I did drink it when I was in college cuz I didn’t have a coffeepot at home.
Participant[quote=FlyerInHi]Drugs and alcohol have a way of screwing with people:
Ex-Navy SEAL who says he killed bin Laden charged with DUI
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/ex-navy-seal-who-says-he-killed-bin-laden-charged-with-dui/ar-BBrwAYp?ocid=spartanntp
[/quote]We need to cut this man a break here. He wasn’t on the road when he was arrested and this was likely his first offense cuz he bailed out on only a $685 cash bond.It’s very likely that he is suffering from PTSD and the smallish town he lives in likely offers little to no Veteran’s services. We need to better take care of our heros like him. He’ll go thru the “First Conviction Program” (or whatever they call it in MT) and hopefully get some (badly needed) help for himself.
Participant[quote=FlyerInHi][quote=bearishgurl][quote=FlyerInHi]What happens if you don’t get 2-4 mugs of coffee daily? . . . [/quote] This has happened when I ran out of coffee and couldn’t get to the store in time (I will only buy SB coffee when it is $6 or less a bag). I drink tea but my energy level usually plummets by about 4:00 – 4:30 pm, when it is usually at its highest :=0[/quote]
BG, 23andme sent me an email about new reports. I just looked quickly… apparently there is a gene that prediicts consumption of caffeine. Looks like I’m less likely to need caffeine.[/quote]
Haha, I’ve never sent away for any reports like that. I already know quite a bit about my (medical) family history and some of it is more than I want to know (although I am grateful for knowing about a couple of things so I can take action to lessen my susceptibility to the illness).I just like the taste of coffee but for some reason I do not like the taste of decalf. So the “caffeine” must give coffee a certain taste. I prefer dark roast coffee and always buy that kind. I ground my own beans for years but in recent years have bought it already ground. I just love it and sometimes drink it at night, as well. It doesn’t affect my sleep patterns.
Participant[quote=flyer]Yes, BG, I am very grateful things worked out the way they did, and wish more people had these options.
The world has changed, and fewer companies offer pensions and health insurance to retirees, and nothing even close to the job security that was once available.
Most employment today is “at will,” which is all to the benefit of the employer, and offers employees very little job/life security.
Even with pensions and healthcare provided, I still believe it’s wise to build other sources of income, if possible. We all have to plan way ahead to make sure we’ve done all we can to prepare for the years when we are 50+.[/quote]In my case, I think everything would have been a lot more predictable had I been able to keep my “grandfathered plan” (Aetna Advantage) who very stringently “medically qualified” me ~12 years ago and priced my premiums accordingly. Since that carrier (and 5 others) left the state at the end of 2013 (in the wake of “obamacare”), it left many thousands of us CA individual policyholders swinging in the wind with little to nothing to choose from except the state exchange. And monthly premiums for a similar-but-worse-in-every-category plan to the HDHP plan I had (current bronze-level plans) now cost over twice as much as I was paying Pre-ACA. Back when I decided to take “deferred retirement,” I didn’t “bank” on the fact that in “retirement,” healthcare premiums would be so high and provider choices would be so thin. I thought I could skate by on my relatively low-cost HDHP plan (which let me have my choice of the top providers in the country) until I was eligible for Medicare and then my new HIR would almost cover my part B and D premiums. I never in a million years thought I would be “lumped in” with the masses (who mostly DIDN’T take care of themselves) and my premiums “age-ranked” with everyone and their brother who mostly couldn’t medically qualify for any healthplan. I resent this because most of these people are where they are healthwise today due to poor choices they made throughout life and I’m now being forced to subsidize their premiums in the form of my now doubled++ premiums and rising :=0
Who would have known 10-15 years ago that it was going to come to this?
Participant[quote=flyer]It’s true that health insurance costs are only predicted to get higher over time as demand increases. It’s estimated that the average couple will need to budget around $240K for healthcare costs alone during retirement (65+) even when they are on Medicare–due to rising premiums and supplemental insurance needs–not to mention the huge costs for healthcare they could incur from age 55-65 should they be unemployed, etc.
Although I’m not yet retired, our pilot’s union negotiated hard for pensions and health insurance for retirees in my age group. Younger pilots are facing an entirely different scenario, so retirement planning on all fronts is definitely a must if you want to enjoy that period of your life.[/quote]Yes, flyer, hurray for your strong pilot’s union (at the time you “retired” or took deferred retirement). Our unions negotiated hard (and rec’d) monthly health insurance reimbursements (HIRs) for us (for those who retired in my “tier”). They range from about $200 to $400 month, depending on years of service. Our Ret Assn pays $393.50 month to a Medicare recipient to assist with their part B and D coverage (or a MC Advantage Plan). HOWEVER, our union did NOT negotiate good prices for the 3 healthplans our retirement assn offers us, forcing the vast majority of us to obtain coverage elsewhere. A UHS Nationwide PPO similar to the one you have would cost me ~$2200 month, and the premium goes up every year! That is ridiculous and I doubt even a handful of retirees in the system have even signed up for it. Those who “retired” after 3/31/02 are not eligible for HIRs. For a few years, the newer tier of retirees were paid a fraction of our HIRs as an “allowance” to use for health premiums (I think around $75 to $115 mo) which were never guaranteed. I believe these allowances have now been discontinued. I could get a Kaiser plan for just under $800 month from my assn but I don’t want it.
flyer, you are fortunate to have gotten the health benefits you did upon “retirement.” Otherwise, you probably wouldn’t have been able to “retire” when you did (or at least “retire” with the same level of security you have today).
ParticipantFive of the six carriers who left the CA individual market at the end of 2013 are just sitting back and chilling while Cigna sticks it’s toe in the water in SD for 2016. They want to see how Cigna’s “experiment” with offering high-deductible, high OOP plans to the masses fares before venturing back in themselves … to “select markets” with a plan or two … or none at all … as the case may be :=0
This (and the horribly incompetent Covered CA in combination with the active “estate-recovery laws” on CA’s books) is why the ACA doesn’t really work … esp for the over-55 set who doesn’t have access to an affordable employer-provided (or a Federal govm’t-provided) healthplan.
My retirement association DOES offer ONE PPO to its members but it costs ~$2200 month … no matter WHAT your age! That’s more than double my monthly pension :=0
ParticipantThe carriers on Covered CA have made Gold and Platinum (esp Platinum) plans very unpalatable for the 55-64 yo set by jacking most of their premiums up $200-$300 month beginning 1/1/16. They are insidiously trying to get this group to “dumb down” their plans to silver and bronze and from my experience, it seems to be working … especially for the planholders still in relatively good physical health.
Hence, we’re not seeing any carriers outside of the exchange offering any individual plans except for Bronze. Because they can no longer pick and choose their planholders, they just don’t want to stick their necks out … for any amount of money :=0
Participant[quote=La Jolla Renter][quote=bearishgurl][quote=no_such_reality] What’s your out of pocket max?[/quote]This is the $64M question, here.[/quote]
My Plan is a Grandfathered old PPO Share Plan. The out of pocket max is $8,850 for both in and out of network. 40 copay office visit, 10 generic prescription, 35 brand name with a 575 deductible.
I called today to see if I could raise the deductible. I can raise it from 2,950 to 8,850 and go from 840 a month to 518 a month. Max out of pocket 8,850.
I asked if this qualified as a HSA plan and the guy said it should, to check with a bank. ???
fyi, I am 50. perfect health. (knock on wood)[/quote]Well, I don’t know if any of those two exchange Silver PPOs are HSA compatible. I’m thinking no. For a 50-year old, they are currently $478 mo for BSoC and $505 mo for Anthem Blue Cross, exclusive of any subsidy you might qualify for. If you turn 51 before you sign up (after 10/15/16), then your plan will be priced accordingly. Here’s the Blue Shield of CA Silver PPO matrix for 2016:
It has a $6250 OOP max and a $250 pharmacy deductible with generics $15 each with 0 deductible.
The $64M questions now are: “What is the comparison between the networks of providers you currently have versus the exchange plans networks of providers?” and, “Is my current (grandfathered) plan HSA compatible?”
Of course, we don’t know what Cigna would charge you for their Bronze HSA-compatible plan in SD County but you could find out by contacting them. I feel they would have a comparable or better network of providers than you currently have. AFAIK, they don’t yet offer an off-exchange Silver plan here but may offer one by the time you’re shopping (the last quarter of this year for 2017).
It IS possible, as you said, that your carrier is just trying to dump you without leaving the individual market here. They are doing this by making your plan unpalatable for what they are charging so you will consider leaving it. This is whilst KNOWING you have little choice but the state exchange and 2-3 bronze plans on the open market in your region to choose from :=0
When you reached the magic age of 50, they decided they didn’t want to take a chance on you anymore. It doesn’t matter how great of condition you are in. Their experience with the 50-and-up crowd tells them otherwise.
Unfortunately, our millions of “brethren” (mostly boomers) has ruined it for the rest of us who take care of ourselves and have been “lucky” thus far (knock on wood).
Participant[quote=spdrun]Solution: public insurance. Where most procedures are covered by ONE plan with KNOWN pricing. Makes billing much simpler.
There will still be private plans available for non-routine stuff not covered by the public insurance.[/quote]I wouldn’t have said this two years ago, spd, but I’m leaning more towards the idea of “universal `coverage'” . . . as long as I would be able to buy a supplement to see any provider I wanted to wherever I wanted to or have any treatment I wanted to.
Participant[quote=Escoguy]BG
Thanks for your comments, if you look at the contingent as a portion of active back in early 2013, almost all active were contingent. I’m guessing that the brokers aren’t updating the contingent like they used to. Would be useful to know what portion of “active” really is active, but while one data point isn’t the full story, I’m guessing it could be as much as 50% today which would align more with the spring 2013 data.[/quote]The word “contingent” in the upper LH corner of an online listing from a major MLS aggregator (i.e. “realtor.com” or “Redfin”) also means that the seller’s lender(s) must approve any offers because the seller’s listed price is lower than what they owe on the property. It could also mean that there has been a current offer under consideration by seller’s lender(s) for many weeks/months and the listing agent is accepting backup offers in the likely event that seller’s lender(s) will not accept the current offer they have been considering. Again, the buyer’s agent should always find out from the listing agent if sellers are still accepting offers (or backup offers) on the property before attempting to submit any offers on it. It is also helpful to find out what the offers were that seller and/or their lender(s) have already turned down so their client(s) can decide if they want to place an offer … or not.In other words, today “contingent” usually means the listing is a (wishful) “short sale.” In some SS listings (very few), the listing broker/agent has already received in writing from seller’s lender(s) payoff amounts they will settle for upon sale (based upon a consummated deal within a particular time frame) and the listing is priced accordingly. This situation is rare.
In 2013, there were far more SS listings than there are today … where they now seem to be concentrated in just a handful of zip codes.
Yesterday, I complained here vociferously on why lender(s) aren’t cracking down on their CA deadbeat-homedebtor trustors of non-performing loans and foreclosing on them at this late date.
http://piggington.com/not_house_proud#comment-266463
These lagging “wishful SS listings” and the many residential properties hiding in plain sight with low or non-performing mods on them which are mostly in no condition to sell anywhere near market price need to be foreclosed upon, IMO. I believe this phenomenon is contributing to poor inventory in many CA urban and suburban zip codes as well as running down property values in these areas.
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