Hehehe... kinda reminds me of the joke: "What do you call someone who
finishes medical school at the bottom of his class? DOCTOR!" (...and
scholastic standing in and by itself does not necessarily a better
doctor make...)


On 2009-09-21, at 7:56 AM, PATTI ZAPF wrote:

> hmo's have a $0 plan premium monthly cost, the secondary plan has a
> big monthly premium.
> hmo plans include a rx drug benefit, the secondary plans do not.
>
> hmo doctors need lots of traffic, so they can make some money.
> all doctors don't graduate at the top of their class and in many
> cases, hmo doctors can be those doctors who have struggled to
> graduate.
>
> those just turning 65 and decide to enroll in a secondary plan, like
> popular Plan F, will pay over $100 month, more like $130-$150 mo for
> this secondary plan. Each year this secondary premium will increase.
>
> on either plan: hmo, secondary plan, or no secondary plan, you still
> have to pay Medicare part B premium of at least $96.40 month, unless
> you qualify for extra help.
>
> Maybe your sister should go back to original medicare and not buy a
> secondary plan. This switch is only allowed once during the first 12
> months of her hmo enrollment. If she doesn't buy a secondary plan
> (too expensive) after the switch back to original Medicare, she'll
> pay the part B annual deductible of $135 + 20% of doctor visit
> costs., which is usually very small and she gets to see the doctors
> she wants. she would still have the part B $96.40 premium. the
> drawback is she would have the part A deductible of $1064, each time
> she had a hospital stay.
>
> it's hard to determine what the year may bring in medical costs but
> if she doesn't require any hospitalization, she could see any doctor
> accepting medicare and only be responsible for the part b $135
> deductible annually + 20% of the office visit. this has worked out
> well for my husband and several medicare clients i work with.
>
> if she does have a hospital stay, she can work out a monthly payment
> arrangement with the hospital with no finance charges added, but
> payments must be made on time.
>
> it's all a gamble, but with your hands tied in a hmo, because you
> have to use network doctors and hospitals only, she could back to
> original medicare (part a & b) for a year without a supplement plan
> and see how it works out. if it doesn't work well, she can switch
> to a hmo, ppo, or buy a supplement (AARP offers a guarantee issue)
> at open enrollment.
>
> the other draw back is, she would need to buy a rx drug plan. Plan
> costs range from $13mo to $100mo. if she goes to medicare.gov, they
> have a nifty rx drug calculator that compares drug costs and monthly
> plan premiums, with all the plans available in your state.
>
> call medicare at 1-800-medicare for help with their website and
> adding your medications, unless you live in Texas, then call me and
> i will help you. 1-800-510-6097.
> Have ready your drug names, amount you take, and how often you take
> them.
> If you live in Texas, you can fax me your list and we'll calculate
> your drug costs for 2010 plans, after October 15, when new plans
> come out. fax me@ 972-771-8455.
>
> the Medicare rx drug calulator shows when you get in the donut hole,
> what your monthly costs are, and a way to budget. if her income is
> below around $12,000 year she can qualify for assistance, thru
> social security.
>
> i know some of the rx drug plans offer FREE generics. check out
> your current rx drug plan and see if this is available. Humana's
> Medicare Advantage hmo and ppo plans do offer free generics, thru
> their mail order service Right Source. Aetna's do too. Humana and
> Aetna have their own drug calculator's that are easy to use on their
> websites.
>
> I wish the USA would allow all generics, like entacapone for
> COMTAN', which we buy in Canada now, during the donut hole.
>
> patti cg
>
> On Sep 20, 2009, at 3:45 PM, rayilynlee wrote:
>
>> Alison is advocating for HR 676 and her email to me explains how
>> PWP, especially young-onset PWP, are impacted by our present health
>> care system.
>>
>> We need HR 676 Medicare for All because we are no longer a tribal
>> or farming community where sick people are hopefully taken care of
>> by the private sector or kindness of neighbors.
>>
>> I do not wish to offend anyone, but don't you think this is
>> important enough for us to talk about? If you are not affected,
>> just delete.
>>
>> Ray
>>
>> Rayilyn Brown
>> Director AZNPF
>> Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation
>> [log in to unmask]
>>
>>
>> From: [log in to unmask]
>> Sent: Sunday, September 20, 2009 9:46 AM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: PARKINSON'S AND HEALTH CARE REFORM in Washington
>>
>>
>> Hi Ray,
>>
>> If you have to get an email to me quickly, my computer is usually
>> open to [log in to unmask] . Otherwise, the [log in to unmask]
>> is best. My AOL account bounces emails back with anything over
>> 1,000 emails. I'm often at the limit at the [log in to unmask]
>> address.
>>
>>
>> My sister, diagnosed in 1998 at age 44, is on an HMO Medicare
>> Advantage Plan. Our father, in his 80's, was diagnosed with
>> Parkinson's 2 years ago, is on Medicare and a secondary policy.
>> Fran has to get referrals to see a specialist each and every time.
>> The specialists are the doctors that her primary physician refers
>> her to. They are not necessarily the doctors we would choose.
>> Second opinions from another specialist are few and hard to come by
>> as the primary physician does the referrals. HMO Medicare
>> Advantage Plans restrict the hospitals a patient can go to.
>>
>> Physical therapy; Dad can see anyone he chooses. My sister has to
>> go to the physical therapist she is referred to. Often times the
>> physical therapy center they refer to is owned by the Medicare
>> Advantage company.
>>
>> How many Parkinsonians fall into the "donut" hole and either have
>> to rely on the mercy of the drug company to donate medicine or go
>> to Canada to buy it less expensively. The drug companies are doing
>> just fine financially. Pfizer this year was fined $2.3 billion
>> this year for violations involving paying physicians speaking fees
>> for basically "pushing" their drugs. Drug companies consider these
>> fines the cost of doing business. Health insurance and
>> pharmaceutical companies are making a fortune at the expense of
>> people who are fighting for their health.
>>
>> It would be far better for Parkinson's patients if they could see
>> the specialists of their choice who would actually spend some time
>> examining them rather than being bombarded by xrays and MRIs and
>> cat scans by primary care physicians who find it necessary to
>> "cover" themselves so they won't be sued.
>>
>> A Parkinson's patient shouldn't have to fight to see a nutritionist
>> when they are losing weight and bone mass due to Parkinsons and
>> need personalized help by someone trained in the field rather than
>> being handed several pages of photocopied materials on diet, which
>> has happened.
>>
>> H.R. 676 is approximately 27 pages in length. H.R.676 details are
>> on the Thomas.gov website. It lists sponsors, complete legislation
>> and summary of legislation at http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/
>> thomas. I've copied the Summary from the thomas.gov site, below.
>> The entire legislation and sponsors are at the link above.
>>
>>
>> SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF H.R.676
>>
>> HR 676 would institute a single payer health care system by
>> expanding a
>> greatly improved Medicare system to everyone residing in the U. S.
>>
>> HR 676 would cover every person for all necessary medical care
>> including prescription drugs, hospital, surgical, outpatient
>> services, primary and preventive care, emergency services, dental,
>> mental health, home health, physical therapy, rehabilitation
>> (including for substance abuse), vision care, hearing services
>> including hearing aids, chiropractic, durable medical equipment,
>> palliative care, and long term care.
>>
>> HR 676 ends deductibles and co-payments. HR 676 would save
>> hundreds of
>> billions annually by eliminating the high overhead and profits of the
>> private health insurance industry and HMOs.
>>
>> In the current Congress, HR 676 has 86 co-sponsors in addition to
>> Conyers. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has introduced SB 703, a
>> single payer bill in the Senate.
>>
>> HR 676 has been endorsed by 566 union organizations in 49 states
>> including 134 Central Labor Councils and Area Labor Federations and
>> 39 state AFL-CIO's (KY, PA, CT, OH, DE, ND, WA, SC, WY, VT, FL, WI,
>> WV, SD, NC, MO,MN, ME, AR, MD-DC, TX, IA, AZ, TN, OR, GA, OK, KS,
>> CO, IN, AL, CA, AK, MI,MT, NE, NY, NV & MA
>>
>> It is endorsed by the California Nurses and the California Nurses
>> Organizing Committee and by 16,000 physicians in Physicians for a
>> National Health Program (PNHP). It has been endorsed by the United
>> States Conference of Mayors.
>>
>>
>> COPIED FROM THE THOMAS.GOV SITE;
>>
>> H.R.676
>> Title: To provide for comprehensive health insurance coverage for
>> all United States residents, improved health care delivery, and for
>> other purposes.
>> Sponsor: Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14] (introduced 1/26/2009)
>> Cosponsors (86)
>> Latest Major Action: 1/26/2009 Referred to House committee. Status:
>> Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition
>> to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Natural Resources, for a
>> period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
>> for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
>> jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> SUMMARY AS OF:
>> 1/26/2009--Introduced.
>> United States National Health Care Act or the Expanded and Improved
>> Medicare for All Act - Establishes the United States National
>> Health Care (USNHC) Program to provide all individuals residing in
>> the United States and U.S. territories with free health care that
>> includes all medically necessary care, such as primary care and
>> prevention, prescription drugs, emergency care, long-term care,
>> mental health services, dental services, and vision care.
>> Prohibits an institution from participating unless it is a public
>> or nonprofit institution. Allows nonprofit health maintenance
>> organizations (HMOs) that deliver care in their own facilities to
>> participate.
>> Gives patients the freedom to choose from participating physicians
>> and institutions.
>> Prohibits a private health insurer from selling health insurance
>> coverage that duplicates the benefits provided under this Act.
>> Allows such insurers to sell benefits that are not medically
>> necessary, such as cosmetic surgery benefits.
>> Sets forth methods to pay institutional providers of care and
>> health professionals for services. Prohibits financial incentives
>> between HMOs and physicians based on utilization.
>> Establishes the USNHC Trust Fund to finance the Program with
>> amounts deposited: (1) from existing sources of government revenues
>> for health care; (2) by increasing personal income taxes on the top
>> 5% income earners; (3) by instituting a progressive excise tax on
>> payroll and self-employment income; and (4) by instituting a small
>> tax on stock and bond transactions. Transfers and appropriates to
>> carry out this Act amounts that would have been appropriated for
>> federal public health care programs, including Medicare, Medicaid,
>> and the State Children's Health Insurance Program.
>> Requires the USNHC Program to give first priority in retraining and
>> job placement and USNHC employment transition benefits to
>> individuals whose jobs are eliminated due to reduced administration.
>> Requires creation of a confidential electronic patient record system.
>> Establishes a National Board of Universal Quality and Access to
>> provide advice on quality, access, and affordability.
>> Provides for: (1) the eventual integration of the Indian Health
>> Service into the Program; and (2) evaluation of the continued
>> independence of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health programs.
>>
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Alison Landes
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: rayilynlee <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Cc: [log in to unmask]
>> Sent: Sat, Sep 19, 2009 10:17 pm
>> Subject: Re: PARKINSONS AND HEALTH CARE REFORM in Washington
>>
>>
>> Alison
>>
>> You don't have to convince me. What I need to do is find the parts
>> of HR 676 that would help people with Parkinson's in order to sneak
>> it into the PIEN. I'm all for Medicare for All, but have to find a
>> way to promote HR 676 on PIEN by connecting it with Parkinson's
>> disease. We just came out of a dustup re my comments and others
>> about HR 3200. Some people on the List can't stand controversy
>> even when it affects their health.
>>
>> My letter to legislators should call for support of HR 676, right?
>> mainly because the other legislation does not help PWPs?
>>
>> I'll go back to to the sites you mention and see if I can take a
>> look at HR 676.
>>
>> Ray
>>
>> Rayilyn Brown
>> Director AZNPF
>> Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation
>> [log in to unmask]
>>
>>
>> From: [log in to unmask]
>> Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2009 6:57 PM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Cc: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: PARKINSONS AND HEALTH CARE REFORM in Washington
>>
>>
>> Hi Ray,
>>
>> Thank you for your reply. H.R. 676, the United States National
>> Health Insurance Act, is single--payer, expanded and improved
>> Medicare for All. If you log onto the site www.PassHR676.org ,
>> I've attempted to provide background information, bringing folks up
>> to speed on what has been going on behind the scenes for 3 years
>> that I've been involved.
>>
>> The ABOUT page provides background information and the MULTIMEDIA
>> page has assortment of videos and articles that reveal the truth
>> about our health care crisis. Wendell Potter, a former CIGNA
>> executive, is interviewed by Bill Moyers and has testified before
>> congress about how the health insurance industry is ripping off
>> consumers.
>>
>> The average person on the street does not realize the depth of
>> deception in that mainstream media wants advertising dollars, Wall
>> Street wants return on investment for stockholders and our elected
>> officials reap millions of dollars in campaign contributions.
>> Senator Max Baucus has received over $3million dollars from the
>> health insurance industry.
>>
>> The health insurance and pharmaceutical industries, special
>> interest groups and lobbyists are spending close to $2 million per
>> day to defeat health care reform. Executives who are earning multi-
>> million dollar salaries and billions in stock options want the
>> status quo.
>>
>> Young onset patients with Parkinson's and others under the age of
>> 65 were essentially forced onto HMO Medicare Advantage Plans by the
>> last administration attempting to privatize Medicare. The only way
>> to get access to Medicare Part D for prescription drugs was to get
>> onto HMO Medicare Advantage Plan if you didn't have a secondary
>> policy and had a pre-existing condition precluding your getting
>> access to a secondary policy.
>>
>> HMO Medicare Advantage Plans were paid an extra 14% above what was
>> paid to regular Medicare. Where Medicare has a 3% administrative
>> overhead, private insurers have close to 30% overhead. Watch some
>> of the videos. Listen to the videos with Congressman Anthony
>> Weiner (D-NY) or Eric Massa (D-NY) or Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
>>
>> Congressman Phil Hare, who is in former Lane Evan's seat in
>> Illinois, is a co-sponsor of H.R. 676. Lane Evans was a sponsor of
>> H.R. 676. We are fighting a huge uphill battle because the grass
>> roots, has limited resources in comparison to corporate America.
>>
>> What is really needed is a total, comprehensive overhaul of our
>> campaign finance system. There is a link to that on the ACTION
>> page. I think the site is www.change-congress.org .
>>
>> Do you know that Senator Max Baucus had a total of 13 doctors,
>> nurses and patient advocates arrested when they attempted to voice
>> their objection to the fact that he was leaving single-payer health
>> care off the table. Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-IL) has been
>> sponsoring this same bill since 2003. There are now 86 co-sponsors
>> signed on. Congressman Anthony Weiner submitted an amendment to
>> substitute the language of H.R. 676 (single-payer) for H.R.3200.
>> Nancy Pelosi and Waxman asked him to hold off on the vote in the
>> session right before the August recess in exchange for floor vote
>> in the full House of Representatives in September. Then all hell
>> broke lose with the Tea Party Patriots and the Town Hall Meetings
>> in August.
>>
>> Mainstream Media, especially Fox, covered the Tea Party Express ad
>> nauseum. They have a super expensive luxury coach bus with 12
>> sleeping berths driving cross country. Mad As Hell Doctors, www.MadAsHellDoctors.com
>> , are driving cross country in a group owned recreational vehicle,
>> stoppingin 27 cities nationwide. It has not been covered yet on
>> Mainstream Media. They are supporting single-payer health care.
>>
>> If you know anyone in Illinois, their comments on the website www.PassHR676.org
>> in reference to the OPEN LETTER to Rep. Phil Hare and Sen. Dick
>> Durbin would be very helpful. It talks about the $100,000
>> collection they are taking up for their friend and former
>> colleague, Lane Evans, who has Parkinson's and Lewy Body Dementia.
>> His expenses in the assisted living facility are beyond his reach.
>> H.R. 676 would help with these costs for all Americans and we
>> wouldn't have 47 million uninsured. Our representatives cannot
>> take up collections for themselves and not own up to the fact that
>> they are selling out the people who elected them to office.
>>
>> All single-payer means is that funds would be paid to the
>> government and they would in turn pay the doctors and medical
>> providers. We would get rid of all insurance companies. They are
>> unnecessary. They put profits before people, making profits by
>> denying care. Wendell Potter was an executive with Cigna for 18
>> years. He knows full well what went on but it didn't even register
>> with him until he saw what was going on with REMOTE ACCESS MEDICAL
>> one weekend when visiting his parents in Tennessee.
>>
>> Look for that video on the MULTIMEDIA page as well. It's all
>> there. It's really quite simple. We don't need health insurance
>> companies. We need Medicare for All. We would save $400 billion
>> annually with H.R. 676.
>>
>> Congressman Anthony Weiner is finally having success getting the
>> Congressional Budget Office to score H.R. 676. Senator Edward
>> Kennedy, Senator Paul Wellstone both wanted all Americans to have
>> access to health care. There's even a video on the site where
>> Barack Obama says "If we were starting from scratch, single-payer
>> would be the way to go." There are too many of our representatives
>> raking in millions of dollars in campaign contributions from the
>> health insurance and pharmaceutical companies.
>>
>> Listen to Senator Bernie Sanders video on the MULTIMEDIA page.
>> It's been a racket. Medicare should be able to negotiate for
>> better prices on drugs. It's possible to buy drugs from Canada for
>> half of what they charge in the U.S. Did you see the Michael Moore
>> movie, SICKO? If not, rent it. Wendell Potter says Michael Moore
>> was right. The insurance companies did what they could to spin it
>> to make it sound like he was wrong.
>>
>> Look at the video and article about T.R. Reid who did the
>> documentary for PBS Frontline, "Sick Around the World." They asked
>> him to do "Sick Around America." When he saw how they edited it,
>> he was furious as even PBS Frontline altered his message. He
>> refused to have them use his name and he walked out.
>>
>> Again, the ABOUT page on www.PassHR676.org explains the
>> background. The MULTIMEDIA page has lots of videos and articles,
>> many of which one would not readily see on mainstream media. The
>> issue has been confused. First they tried to pass the "Public
>> Option" now they're moving to "Co-Ops." Both of these are destined
>> to fail. We need Single-Payer. The powers that be, of course,
>> like things the way they are.
>>
>> Single-payer health care, expanded and improved Medicare for All,
>> everybody in, nobody out. It is NOT socialized medicine. You can
>> see any doctor or go to any hospital you want.
>>
>> Thanks for your assistance. Let me know if you want more
>> clarification.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Alison Landes
>> www.PassHR676.org
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: rayilynlee <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Sent: Sat, Sep 19, 2009 3:00 pm
>> Subject: Re: PARKINSONS AND HEALTH CARE REFORM in Washington
>>
>>
>> Alison
>>
>> I will be glad to help you and "push" this on PIEN, but I'm
>> confused as to what HR 676 is - single payer plan? campaign
>> finance reform? I favor both but can't begin to attack this until
>> I know what I'm talking about. Alison, a way has to be found to
>> reduce the size of the letter, even I couldn't digest it all.
>> What I got from it was that there has been an effort to raise
>> money for Lane Evans, but the million+ other Parkies don't have $
>> to defray economic disaster. But my question is why do we want HR
>> 676? Is it a single payer plan or a campaign finance reform
>> bill? I'm pretty skilled at getting to the point when I know what
>> it is, so let me hear from you.
>>
>> Ray
>>
>> Rayilyn Brown
>> Director AZNPF
>> Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation
>> [log in to unmask]
>>
>>
>> From: [log in to unmask]
>> Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2009 9:11 AM
>> To: [log in to unmask] ; [log in to unmask] ;
>> [log in to unmask] ; [log in to unmask] ; [log in to unmask] ; [log in to unmask]
>> ; [log in to unmask]
>> Cc: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: PARKINSONS AND HEALTH CARE REFORM in Washington
>>
>>
>> Hello Fellow Advocates,
>>
>> As some of you know, my sister was diagnosed with Parkinson's in
>> 1998 at age 44. I started Take Charge! Cure Parkinson's in 1999.
>> There is a short bio about what I've been working on since that
>> time on the blog www.PassHR676.org . It is one of the earlier
>> entries.
>>
>> Your input would be most welcome, particularly in regards to the
>> entry titled "Open Letter to Representative Phil Hare (D-IL) and
>> Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), fundraising for 'one' does not equal
>> health care for all. If you would spend a few minutes looking
>> around the site, full information about what is going on behind the
>> scenes in this debate has been difficult to come by, as you will see.
>>
>> Please do take the time to register at www.PassHR676.org and leave
>> a comment there for Congressman Phil Hare and Senator Dick
>> Durbin. This is very important in order for us to advance our
>> position and to be heard. Congressman Phil Hare and former
>> Congressman Lane Evans are both supporters of H.R. 676.
>>
>> If you LOG ON, you can post your comment on the site. Congressman
>> Phil Hare and Senator Richard Durbin have received the letter at
>> their office. I've left word that we've invited people in Illinois
>> and nationwide to register their comments regarding health care
>> reform and how patients with Parkinson's are impacted, young onset
>> patients in particular.
>>
>> If not 65, young onset patients would, in most instances, have to
>> rely on HMO Medicare Advantage Plans, rather than Medicare, as they
>> would be unable to get a secondary policy for Medicare Part D due
>> to a "pre-existing" condition.
>>
>> The ABOUT section at the website explains the background of the
>> reform effort and the MULTIMEDIA has myriad videos and articles
>> that reveal more of what is going on behind the scenes.
>>
>> The overriding issue is that the U.S.A. desperately needs campaign
>> finance reform in order to serve the people instead of special
>> interest groups.
>>
>> I've sent a copy of this to the ListServe.
>>
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Alison Landes
>> Founder & Editor
>> www.PassHR676.org
>> Executive Board Member
>> Floridians for Health Care
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
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>>
>
>
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