Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Preventive care: It's free, except when it's not (Obamacare BS alert)
AP/Yahoo ^ | 12/28/11

Posted on 12/28/2011 2:46:28 AM PST by markomalley

Bill Dunphy thought his colonoscopy would be free.

His insurance company told him it would be covered 100 percent, with no copayment from him and no charge against his deductible. The nation's 1-year-old health law requires most insurance plans to cover all costs for preventive care including colon cancer screening. So Dunphy had the procedure in April.

Then the bill arrived: $1,100.

Dunphy, a 61-year-old Phoenix small business owner, angrily paid it out of his own pocket because of what some prevention advocates call a loophole. His doctor removed two noncancerous polyps during the colonoscopy. So while Dunphy was sedated, his preventive screening turned into a diagnostic procedure. That allowed his insurance company to bill him.

(Excerpt) Read more at old.news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Government
KEYWORDS: healthcare; obamacare
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-22 next last
Got some news for Mr Dunphy: nothing is free.


1 posted on 12/28/2011 2:46:35 AM PST by markomalley
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: markomalley

he should have sent the bill to Pelosi........


2 posted on 12/28/2011 2:54:36 AM PST by Doogle (((USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated)))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Doogle

LOL - because surely Pelosi would be happy to practice some of that “sharing the wealth” thing with the peons.


3 posted on 12/28/2011 4:01:11 AM PST by Josa
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Not that anyone in FR would give a flying monkey...but the VEBA (UAW retiree health care) does this, too, in spades. It’s what Obama care will do.

Some of the little gifts hidden in that “book” no one bothered to read.


4 posted on 12/28/2011 4:20:09 AM PST by madison10
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: madison10
Not that anyone in FR would give a flying monkey...but the VEBA (UAW retiree health care) does this, too, in spades. It’s what Obama care will do.

The point is that nothing is free. Sure, something might be covered at 100%, but that doesn't mean it's free. It just means that premiums rise (or taxes go up in the case of government provided healthcare).

If the government mandated that some procedure was to be truly "free" (as in the provider may not bill an insurance company or the government), that procedure would no longer be offered by virtually any provider.

5 posted on 12/28/2011 4:27:06 AM PST by markomalley (Nothing emboldens the wicked so greatly as the lack of courage on the part of the good-Pope Leo XIII)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: markomalley; ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas; stephenjohnbanker; DoughtyOne; rabscuttle385; mkjessup; ...
RE :”His insurance company told him it would be covered 100 percent, with no copayment from him and no charge against his deductible. The nation's 1-year-old health law requires most insurance plans to cover all costs for preventive care including colon cancer screening. So Dunphy had the procedure in April.
Then the bill arrived: $1,100.
Dunphy, a 61-year-old Phoenix small business owner, angrily paid it out of his own pocket because of what some prevention advocates call a loophole. His doctor removed two noncancerous polyps during the colonoscopy. So while Dunphy was sedated, his preventive screening turned into a diagnostic procedure. That allowed his insurance company to bill him.
Like many Americans, Dunphy has a high-deductible insurance plan. He hadn't spent his deductible yet. So, on top of his $400 monthly premium, he had to pay the bill.

This will be fixed in 2014 when the full Obama-care goes into effect and outlaws his 'high deductible' plan and his insurance premiums triple to $1200. He is one of the Americans that Obama and Democrats called free riders.

On the bright side he will pay nothing for Breast Cancer Xrays that women need that he is forced to pay for in his premiums as well as women's reproductive health related tests.

6 posted on 12/28/2011 4:33:14 AM PST by sickoflibs (You MUST support the lesser of two RINOs or we all die!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Doogle

The exact same thing happened to me a couple of months ago.
I pay over $450 a month in insurance, and thank God, I am healthy—never using it. I was talked into the “free” screening. A “benign tiny polyp was removed” (their words) when I was “out” (wow, that was good stuff...)and my part of the procedure went from my $30 copay to over $1,000. Alas.


7 posted on 12/28/2011 5:04:37 AM PST by fatfertile
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

It makes no sense at all that a colonoscopy is “preventive care.” A colonoscopy doesn’t prevent anything, except a good night’s sleep and a pleasant day afterward: it is solely a diagnostic procedure. Either the view shows nothing, or it shows something that requires medical action, such as polyps or a tumor.


8 posted on 12/28/2011 5:05:59 AM PST by Tax-chick (Two women in one house ... and one of 'em a redhead!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Typical AP. Excoriate an insurance industry for charging $1,000. Say nothing about Obama upping the country’s deficit by 4 trillion (or about $11k for every man, woman, and child).


9 posted on 12/28/2011 5:10:03 AM PST by 6SJ7 (Meh.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tax-chick

Removing polyps, on the other hand, is “preventive” in the true sense, because the polyps do not go on to become cancerous tumors. All my close family members over age 40 have had polyps removed (except my brother, who won’t get a colonoscopy). None of us has yet developed colon cancer, and my mother is in her 70s and my aunt in her 80s.


10 posted on 12/28/2011 5:12:08 AM PST by Tax-chick (Two women in one house ... and one of 'em a redhead!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Tax-chick
It makes no sense at all that a colonoscopy is “preventive care.” A colonoscopy doesn’t prevent anything, except a good night’s sleep and a pleasant day afterward: it is solely a diagnostic procedure. Either the view shows nothing, or it shows something that requires medical action, such as polyps or a tumor.

I'm cool with calling colonoscopies in asymptomatic patients "preventative". But if they find something and remove it, that's something else.

11 posted on 12/28/2011 5:15:28 AM PST by Mr. Bird
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Bird
I'm cool with calling colonoscopies in asymptomatic patients "preventative".

That's fine, but it's still inaccurate. A colonoscopy is looking for something wrong. That's diagnosis, by definition, even if it diagnoses nothing wrong at the present time.

A high-fiber diet is "preventative" for colon cancer, to some extent. Quitting smoking and getting more exercise are "preventative," reducing the risk of many types of cancer. Colonoscopies, x-rays, and other "Is there a cancer?" procedures are diagnostic.

12 posted on 12/28/2011 5:21:40 AM PST by Tax-chick (Two women in one house ... and one of 'em a redhead!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: sickoflibs
On the brighter side, women wont be covered for breast cancer screening until after they are 40 ... based on obamacare experts opinions that early screening is unnecessary

and probably won't be covered for women over 70 because after all, isn't it just time to take a pain pill?

13 posted on 12/28/2011 6:21:07 AM PST by silverleaf (common sense is not so common- voltaire)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Most of us KNEW we were being sold a bill of goods. Some are late to the party, but at least they’re getting it now.


14 posted on 12/28/2011 6:21:23 AM PST by randita (If you supported Palin, there's no way you can support Newt. They don't agree on much.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

The entire article keeps complaining that something that is supposed to be “free” is not being paid for by the insurance companies. How these “journalists” sleep at night baffles me. Hint: if your complaint is that another party is not funding the services you consume, then you are admitting the service is not free and you admitting that your desire is for Atlas to carry your weight.


15 posted on 12/28/2011 6:48:38 AM PST by CSM (Keeper of the "Dave Ramsey Fan" ping list. FReepmail me if you want your beeber stuned.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Lemme see if I understand this right: A colonoscopy is “free” only for those who didn’t need one in the first place? Or in other words, it’s preventive of nothing?


16 posted on 12/28/2011 7:04:44 AM PST by Wombat Ark
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Don’t blame obamacare. This has been part of my preventative care package long before obamacare.


17 posted on 12/28/2011 8:31:48 AM PST by stylin19a (obama - "FREDO" smart)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sickoflibs

forunately for me, the myriad of gubmint entities has priced me out of all ‘health’ coverage for several yrs now...i aint got a plan to lose...


18 posted on 12/28/2011 9:31:34 AM PST by Gilbo_3 (Gov is not reason; not eloquent; its force.Like fire,a dangerous servant & master. George Washington)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; ...

Thanks sickoflibs.


19 posted on 12/28/2011 8:52:58 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Merry Christmas, Happy New Year! May 2013 be even Happier!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: fatfertile
I just had one of those dozies and I was not out...I heard every word they said and felt a lot of cramping that was quite severe....I hope I don't get dinged on my insurance because they bx one area....

apparently, there is a fentanyl shortage...one of the two drugs usually used in scopes...and I was on the short end of the stick so to speak with the inferior drug....

20 posted on 12/28/2011 9:31:52 PM PST by cherry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-22 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson