Arthritis Found. Healthcare Reform Statement | Arthritis Information

 

I am in complete disagreement with mandates on what type of insurance policy I carry, and after reading this position statement, I will be looking elsewhere to send a donation this year. I'm right behind you JamineRain. Further, I will be notifying those members of my family who have also contributed in the past.
http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/411588_uninsured_dying.pdf <>I have had RA 32 years.  Years ago an Arthritis Foundation event I attended, had a rheumatologist speak -- the rheumatologist I met that day has been my rheumatologist for 23 years now.  One of the first RA related classes I attended was a self-management class -- sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation.  I have participated in support groups -- sponsored and coordinated by the Arthritis Foundation.  I have participated in arthritis therapy pool classes -- sponsored and coordinated by the Arthritis Foundation.  I have received the Arthritis Today magazine and read about RA, meds I have taken, surgeries I've needed and numerous other helpful topics.  I am a member of the Arthritis Foundation website, which not only is a wealth of resources but also has online support groups, which for someone like myself who is pretty much housebound, has been a God send.  I have made friends there, who have helped me on this journey with RA. I have donated to the Arthritis Foundation in the past and I will continue to donate to the Arthritis Foundation.  It is an organization that has helped millions of people.








Joie2009-08-26 17:31:47[QUOTE=Joie] <>

[/QUOTE] Well said Joy, very well said [QUOTE=Lynn49]http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/411588_uninsured_dying.pdf[/QUOTE]

What does this have to do with outlawing the choice of a high-indemnity insurance plan, or mandating that I must have prescription drug coverage?
I just hope that anyone that needs insurance will get it, whether or not they suffer from one of the many diseases out there. It's a shame to think that a Rheumatoid arthritis sufferer will not receive healthcare.

I know the Arthritis Foundation is a good organization and has dedicated an ample amount of time and money to help those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.

Hopefully everyone can find a middle ground that satisfies everyone's needs.

Mary
mary02009-08-27 09:39:26believe me when I tell you, Mary0... we are all well aware of what rheumatoid arthritis is...   [QUOTE=babs10]...but I'll make my voice heard first..  which I suggest Jas and Shug do as well.[/QUOTE]

Two letters went out this morning voicing my strong opposition to the demand for mandates.

[quote]believe me when I tell you, Mary0... we are all well aware of what rheumatoid arthritis is...[/quote] And, honestly, I wish I knew next to nothing about the disease!
[QUOTE=babs10]

I'm not in agreement with the mandates either.....  I have government dictating enough of my life ......  I won't say I won't contribute to the AF.... but I'll make my voice heard first..  which I suggest Jas and Shug do as well.

[/QUOTE]

I will, as soon as I get a chance this weekend.  There are plenty of charities seeking our donations.  Now that I'm not working, I have to be more selective.  I will probably be concentrating on local charities this year - especially the ones I've involved in, since I can see first-hand how the money is spent.
good for you both!!!  [QUOTE=JasmineRain] [QUOTE=Lynn49]http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/411588_uninsured_dying.pdf[/QUOTE]

What does this have to do with outlawing the choice of a high-indemnity insurance plan, or mandating that I must have prescription drug coverage?
[/QUOTE]

Jas,

I have trouble w/my vision so its hard to read af's pdf document.  Does it say it would outlaw your choice for a high indemnity insurance plan? 

I believe (as far as my one eye can read and make out) that af supports insurance plans have a drug benefit plan, that seems reasonable to me, especially for RAers that use expensive biologics.    What good is health insurance if it doesn't have a drug benefit feature?


[QUOTE=Joie]
   What good is health insurance if it doesn't have a drug benefit feature?

[/QUOTE]

Why should I be forced to have prescription coverage (or any other mandate)?  I think it's for me to decide if I want prescription coverage, vision coverage, dental coverage, coverage for routine checkups, etc.
[QUOTE=JasmineRain] [QUOTE=Joie]
   What good is health insurance if it doesn't have a drug benefit feature?

[/QUOTE]

Why should I be forced to have prescription coverage (or any other mandate)?  I think it's for me to decide if I want prescription coverage, vision coverage, dental coverage, coverage for routine checkups, etc.
[/QUOTE]

I think you wrote in a previous post that you would not donate to AF because it supports mandates, but does it say it would outlaw your choice for a high indemnity insurance plan, which you claimed in a earlier post?  With my vision problem I have difficulty reading, so I may have overlooked that, can you provide the page where that is stated.

The AF health care reform position paper does say this (I can't copy from a pdf document, so had to retype this, so I hope I didn't leave anything out):

<>"AF supports reforming the current system to do the following:  Guarantee comprehensive, essential healthcare benefits for all, and eliminate disparities such as age, health status, genetic predisposition, claims history, financial or employment record. -- Develop a mandatory, uniform "basic benefit" package that provides access to private or public coverage for people with chronic diseases, such as arthritis. -- Require compulsory inclusion of prescription drugs and biologics in the "basic benefit."

I don't have a problem with the government developing a "basic benefit" package that private and public plans must offer.  The whole point of having health insurance is if one should become sick they would have access to health care without having to lose their home or go bankrupt.  Whats the point of having some junk health insurance plan that doesn't cover you when you get sick or injured?  Currently, there are many underinsured, whose plans high deductibles, copays,out of pocket expenses, and limited, restrictive coverage, benefits, force them to go without the medical care or prescriptions they need.  

As far as mandating a basic drug benefit, you argue you want to be able to choose whether or not you want a drug benefit, but as someone with RA, would you consider a health insurance plan that did not provide a drug benefit?

[QUOTE=Joie] [QUOTE=JasmineRain] [QUOTE=Joie]
   What good is health insurance if it doesn't have a drug benefit feature?

[/QUOTE]

Why should I be forced to have prescription coverage (or any other mandate)?  I think it's for me to decide if I want prescription coverage, vision coverage, dental coverage, coverage for routine checkups, etc.
[/QUOTE]

I think you wrote in a previous post that you would not donate to AF because it has mandates, but does it say it would outlaw your choice for a high indemnity insurance plan, which you claimed in a earlier post?  With my vision problem I have difficulty reading, so I may have overlooked that, can you provide the page where that is stated.

The AF health care reform position paper does say this (I can't copy from a pdf document, so had to retype this, so I hope I didn't leave anything out):

<>"AF supports reforming the current system to do the following:  Guarantee comprehensive, essential healthcare benefits for all, and eliminate disparities such as age, health status, genetic predisposition, claims history, financial or employment record. -- Develop a mandatory, uniform "basic benefit" package that provides access to private or public coverage for people with chronic diseases, such as arthritis. -- Require compulsory inclusion of prescription drugs and biologics in the "basic benefit."

I don't have a problem with the government establishing a "basic benefit" package.  The whole point of having health insurance is if one should become sick they would have access to health care without having to lose their home or go bankrupt.  Whats the point of having some junk health insurance plan that doesn't cover you when you get sick or injured?  Currently, there are many underinsured, whose plans high deductibles, copays,out of pocket expenses, and limited, restrictive coverage, benefits, force them to go without the medical care or prescriptions they need.  

As far as mandating a basic drug benefit, you argue you want to be able to choose whether or not you want a drug benefit, but as someone with RA, would you consider a health insurance plan that did not provide a drug benefit?

I think the Arthritis Foundation, like any organization of it's type tries to best represent it's members.  They can't possibly please everyone.  But on an issue that is of such an enormous impact on it's members and those it represents, they absolutely must take a stand.  Access to necessary medical care and treatments is an enormous issue for arthritis patients.  [QUOTE=Hillhoney] Access to necessary medical care and treatments is an enormous issue for arthritis patients. Jas, I may have missed an earlier post by you. I was not aware that you had quit your job. Is your RA progressing? I hope you are doing ok. [QUOTE=lorster]Jas, I may have missed an earlier post by you. I was not aware that you had quit your job. Is your RA progressing? I hope you are doing ok.[/QUOTE]

Last fall, I attempted to quit my job, because (a) we didn't need the money and (b) I was exhausted from trying to "do it all."  My boss then asked me to stay on part-time for a while, which I did for about 6 months.  By March of this year, I finally handed over all my responsibilities to various co-workers and was able to "retire." Foundation efforts center on the three-fold mission of the organization: research, prevention and quality of life. In 2007, the Foundation provided nearly million in grants to more than 200 researchers to help find cures, preventions or better treatments for arthritis. Over its 60-year history, the Arthritis Foundation’s 0 million investment to more than 2,200 researchers has resulted in major treatment advances for most arthritis diseases.

The Arthritis Foundation also provides a large number of community-based services nationwide to make life with arthritis easier, including:

• Self-help courses
• Water and land-based exercise classes
• Instructional videotapes
• Public forums
• A wide variety of free educational brochures and booklets
• The national, bimonthly consumer magazine Arthritis Today
• Continuing education courses and publications for health professionals

to local and national governments on behalf of the 46 million Americans with arthritis and chronic joint symptoms. Their successes include the federal establishment of a national institute for arthritis among the National Institutes of Health, increased federal funding for arthritis research and state funding for arthritis medications. An Arthritis Foundation telephone and e-mail information service answers questions from nearly 150,000 people per year.

. . . the Arthritis Foundation was the genesis of today's arthritis research programs and has nurtured its growth in both the private and public sectors. Since 1948, the Foundation has spent more than 0 million to support some 2,200 scientists and physicians in arthritis research . . .

In recent years, the Arthritis Foundation has continued to speak for the millions of Americans with arthritis. Two key examples of these successful efforts were the revision of Social Security Administration rules on children's disability benefits and the support of the Health Insurance Portability Act. In addition, over a recent five-year period, the Arthritis Foundation helped triple funding for NIAMS.

Throughout its 50-plus year history, the Arthritis Foundation has experienced steady growth and has made great strides in the treatment of the many forms of arthritis. The Foundation has been a tremendous sponsor of research . . . .


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