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Dear Patti, Thank you for your suggestions.? We've printed them out to look at more carefully in case we've overlooked anything.? We've met with representatives from numerous health insurance companies, phoned?many others, spoke with the health insurance department and?volunteers "trained" in?comparing the different plans and how to find the best options under the circumstances.? Insurance plans differ tremendously from state to state and the question remains as to why health insurance must be so incredibly complicated and "stacked" against the people needing health care the most.? Thank you for your offer to assist off line.? I may reach out to you for more information about your perspective on the current system and what is currently being discussed.??If you would take the time to read the "Open letter to Congressman Phil Hare and Senator Richard Durbin; A fundraiser for one does not equal health care for all," your comments and insight would be greatly appreciated in helping move the debate forward in another venue, www.PassHR676.org? focused entirely on health care?reform.? Thank you in advance for visiting?www.PassHR676.org by typing it into the address bar.??You have to log on and register to write a comment, but can write your comments anonymously. Feel free to leave an address for the ListServe so others can find their way back to?an invaluable resource with?tremendous insight from those in the trenches. Thank you. Alison Landes [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: PATTI ZAPF <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Mon, Sep 21, 2009 7:56 am Subject: Re: PARKINSON'S AND HEALTH CARE REFORM 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? >? > ----------------------------------------------------------------------? > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn? >? ? ----------------------------------------------------------------------? To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn