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Re: Chiropractors benefit is back

sci22 — Fri, 08 May 2009 12:28:37 -0400

Hopefully the amendment will be changed back to the way it was before so this problem can be fixed.

Re: Chiropractors benefit is back

Isaac136 — Fri, 08 May 2009 12:19:17 -0400

Then it should die.

Re: Chiropractors benefit is back

sci22 — Fri, 08 May 2009 12:12:25 -0400

Unfortunately an amendment was added to this bill on Thursday that changed the limit of the co-pay to the same as the state health plan which was $55 and removed the language that would have allowed it to be the same as primary care physician (usually $25-30). The $55 chiropractic / physical therapist co-pay in the state plan was better than the original $70 proposed but still too high for most people to afford. We all realize the state plan still needs a massive overhaul so this may have not been a good template to work a bill amendment from.

So where it stands now with this amendment the chiropractic co-pay will remain high and individuals that elect to utilize this care will continue to pay for virtually 100% of their "health benefit".

The entire purpose of this bill was to set the co-pay to a reasonable amount that people can afford.

Many feel the high co-pay tactic is simply a way for insurers to discourage their insured from using a benefit. BCBS noted that it would cost them 20 million dollars. Even if that number was true we all know they have plenty of profit margin to pay for it.

If this bill passes as is, it is yet another win for insurers and loss for chiropractic and physical therapy patients.

Re: Chiropractors benefit is back

Isaac136 — Fri, 08 May 2009 08:52:24 -0400

We need this benefit. This is about affordable health care. With the care of a chiropractor I am back on the job almost immediately -- without having to fill an expensive prescription -- whereas if I turn to more conventional medicine, I'm out for days and can accomplish nothing because of the painkillers.

Re: Chiropractors benefit is back

sci22 — Fri, 08 May 2009 08:36:35 -0400

I for one am glad to see co-pays will be set to a reasonable fee for chiropractic care. What most don't realize is that co-pays have gone so high($50-$60) for chiro care that the amount is almost the same as the visit. That means that chiropractic patients are asked to pick up almost all of the cost of the visit and the insurer pays virtually nothing. We must keep in mind that chiropractic is a different type of specialty. Whereas a visit to a cardiology specialist may require one or two visits that may cost over thousands of dollars in testing a chiropractic patient may require five or six visits that cost fifty or sixty dollars a visit. In these poor economic times who should we be more concerned about, high profiting insurance companies or people that need health care to be affordable?

Re: Chiropractors benefit is back

tboard47 — Thu, 07 May 2009 20:44:34 -0400

terrible and in these poor economic times

bad timing vote NO

Re: Perdue on uninsured kids

johnmayer76 — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:46:51 -0400

Are you uninsured in America? You should check out the website http://UninsuredAmerica.blogspot.com - John Mayer, California

Great Work

PoliticalJunkie — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:01:16 -0500

Dale Folwell needs to be applauded for his nonpartisan 'get it done' philosophy. Serving in a powerless minority he still finds ways to make government work better then sells the solutions to members of both parties.

He is quite a legislator, the Republican Party needs more like him.

Re: State Health plan could see hike

beachbum474 — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 10:21:54 -0500

It isn't just "...a health care premium increase of anything less than 15 percent,...", as much as it is an increase in a healthcare premium AND no salary increase to help off-set the added expense. Do not forget that on average state employee's earn much less salary then their private sector counterparts. The exchange for a lower salary is suppose to be job security and health benefits. The health benefits have been and continue to be slowly eradicated and now the job security is also going away. There isn't much incentive left for a young college educated professional to remain in government service. What price will the tax payers be willing to pay to have their social services provided to/for them when there is no one competent enough left in state government service?

Re: State health plan needs $1.2b by 2011

alaskan1 — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:23:20 -0500

Get Tom Daschle to fix it. Yes he can! Bev, call Tom.

Re: Hagan change to SCHIP bill withdrawn

greenswamp — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 11:43:03 -0500

You have the choice between a Saturn and Hummer don't you? There's no freedom lost here. Decide whether you want to smoke or not. I am sympathetic to smokers and know it's hard to quit. And I also wish they would tax alcohol more because I believe it is more harmful than tobacco. But I have to pay a high insurance premium to make up for the hugely costly treatments for chronic emphysema, liver disease, and lung cancer. People who have to have this treatment cannot pay enough premium to make it worthwhile for insurance companies, so I, who am not a smoker and non-drinker have to make up the difference. Or worse yet the government picks up the tab with my tax money to pay for it for the non-insured. Is that fair? Probably Hagan did not make a politically popular decision, but she made a stand and will take responsibility for it. That is a welcome change.

Re: Hagan change to SCHIP bill withdrawn

mickiep — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 09:59:42 -0500

The tobacco industry in NC, as an example, was once a major employer and source of income for many until the Democrats demonized it in the name of Public Health. Individual choice no longer means anything in this Republic and its erosion is rampant. The Democrats continuiously and systematically burden one group for the benefit of another with their redistribution programs. It won't stop at the final demise of the Tobacco industry or any other as there are plenty of industries to demonize and tax. Democrats are experts at social engineering using taxation as a means of behaviour modification and wealth redistribution. So when the time comes that we all pay 70% of our income in taxes, we need not worry about having or losing a job, because we can all just join the Kay Hagan/Obama Socialist club and have all our needs fulfilled.

Re: Hagan change to SCHIP bill withdrawn

JoCoCruiser — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 06:41:21 -0500

So we have someone that feels the need to vote how she perceives the popular vote to be ..... Make is proud!

Re: Hagan change to SCHIP bill withdrawn

tangoz — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 01:34:16 -0500

What has happened to responsibility for one's self and their own family. Why do I as a taxpayer have to pay for someone elses inability to raise their own children?
The Democratic party's policies and intentional efforts have created this dependent class. Let them pay the bill. Soon they will take all of my earnings from me and make me dependent on them to get a pittance of it back. Socialiam at it's best, or should I say at it's worst.

Re: Hagan change to SCHIP bill withdrawn

ThoughtCrimes — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 20:43:17 -0500

HA! That's reallllly sticking to her guns, eh? Oh well. It'll be nice to have another socialist govt program that doesn't work!