She's going to die as a result of these changes.
This woman - I am not going to identify her or where she works, but will be happy to supply some information to administration officials if they care - has cancer. She has been undergoing treatment with various different specialists. She's attended Healey's heartwarming session, and did the math. Already in debt, she will simply be unable to afford paying for her treatments next year. So she's already notified doctors that, after this year, she won't be going back. She's stopping all treatment.
And she'll die, barring a miracle
Well, nobody subpoenaed her to work for the County.
It's time that Brown listen to the five members of Council who have already told him to rethink his draconian changes. Instead of government by consultant, this is a government in which he has an obligation to listen to the people's representatives. While I certainly don't think he's cold-hearted enough to wish for anyone's death, that's what happens in the real world when elected officials do not listen.
Updated 10:25 am: Several years ago, an employee needed a double lung transplant. It wasn't covered by County Health insurance at the time. According to BC/BS it was either catastrophic or experimental and they weren't going to cover it. Ciounty Executive Gerald Seyfried ordered BC/BS to pay it anyway. He would have died without the transplant. This employee's medical bills to date must be well over a million dollars. I asked Jerry about this once and he said, "You can't put a dollar amount on a life."
He was defeated by a group who think you can.
55 comments:
What drama!! You forgot to mention all the babies that will perish.
This is perfect for you as you are known as quite a drama queen yourself girlfriend.
Troll Alert!
4:06,
BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
An example of someone who is not a taker. She is working and getting treatment when she could just go out on disability and get help for her medical bills. This is so sad. Everyone who works for the county knows of ways to cut costs. I agree with the corrections officer. Many departments are top heavy. The new administation is just adding to the problem by extra ordinary raises for some, PR firms no other admin. needed, cabinet appointments at higher salaries than those who left, new positions created as a way to give higher ups raises.
Cats and dogs living together! Oh The humanity!
She's stupid for continuing to work for the county and is ultimately responsible for her own health. The ACA guarantees outstanding coverage at affordable cost, according to AFSCME.
This hyperbole helps nobody.
I thought you believed in God? If he wants her to live, she will, if not, she won't, no matter what she does.
While Obama care was a noble idea it failed. Recent studies show it hurt 2x as many as it helped. I think the majority if Americans will agree that changes need to be made. Why are you angry with those you should be supporting to make a change? Is it your fault your health care sucks? Why don't you work to get the law changed?
Wow I remember something like this used against Mit Romney. You should really blame the drug companies for the Chemo drug racket. Those five members of Council need to either put their money where their mouths are or shut up. They can propose a tax increase to pay for the continuation of the current "Cadillac" benefit plan as part of the budget. I doubt they will.
ACA provides top coverage for pre-existing conditions. Her family and friends should step up and get her signed up. They can't be that heartless or incompetent. C'mon people. It's the same with people who choose to go without food and meds because they spent the money paying county taxes. This is the real world. Everybody gets care now. You even get to keep your plans and doctors and meds. This post is ridiculous.
i'm sure there are more people in her postion and it's outrageous, county workers don't deserve this ,in fact since the county is self insured they should have affordable healthcare along with raises after 4 years they earned it ...to all you nay sayers if you wanted to work for the county you should have gone and got yourself a job there, I find it appauling that as human beings anyone would think this is good for anyone ...
john brown is in over his head ,county employees are being treated as his sacrificial lambs!
I thought haters got up early in the morning to spew their joy when others are harmed. 4:06 must be very special. The early bird catches the warm
legalize marijuana. then we'd have medicine not poison for treating disease. Also would have less inmates so then that solves the problem of needing more corrections officers. seems like a great solution to me.
I do not know of a single Oncologist who asks for 100% pre-payment to administer Chemo, Radiation, or any other treatment, even when there is no insurance.
In fact, Oncology Groups at St. Luke's balance bill the insured, after treatment.
Therefore, your suicide by John Brown theory is exactly what we expect from you...a fiction writer.
Brownpants is awful! Always was, and will continue to be.
Sorry folks, bad choice by the voters. My cat would do a better job.
7:31, This is someone's life and is not the place to play your Obama games.
"Therefore, your suicide by John Brown theory is exactly what we expect from you...a fiction writer."
I wish this was a fiction. The reason for this story is to make county administrators aware of what is going on. I have yet to hear from a single one of them. A second reason for the post, which was published without the permission of the employee, is to determine whether there is an alternative. I have yet to hear one.
Oncologists are not charity operations. I had a friend who died bc he could never afford the chemo.
not good! not good at all
County workers deserve better. They deserve ACA. Criticize all you want, but pre-existing conditions are covered, as well as many other services once thought to be luxuries. A law was debated, passed and signed to address exactly this woman's challenge. My neighbor died of breast cancer because she put paying mounting real estate taxes and keeping her home ahead of her own health. This not necessary anymore. Someone who loves the woman in question should get her into an exchange - today. This could be accomplished in half the time it took to write this blog post. Let's stop using th=is soul's condition for political purposes. Help is available to her and those attempting to make political hay should sign her up and get her free, widely available treatment.
This blog post was written to see what options are available, not for your condescending comment.
I personally know someone retiring because of the healthcare issue ,after being in remission for 4 years should a recurrence occour it would be impossible with this heathcare . it's terrible !
county workers do deserve better ! aca helps those who want everything free!
Your attempt to call a 90-10 healthcare plan a "death sentance" is the same rhetoric as the tin hat wearing union members of the EASD who cry poor when the average salary is well over 70K not including benefits. Was this your stance when Angle battled unions for 7 years?
I happen to know of private sector people making very little money who had cancer. Their plans were 80-20 and no one died for a lack of treatment.
Since your gossip links were cut by Brown, your blogging has become even more bizzare and irresponsible, not that that surprises anyone at all.
The above comment was brought to you by Tricia Mezzacappa, who fortunately was rejected by Republicans in her bid for County Council. Unfortunately, this insensitive and uncaring person is a registered nurse, though she thankfully does not last long anywhere.
There you go again. Mezzacappa, Mezzacappa, Mezzacappa....how much space is she renting in your twisted mind?
Not Mezzacappa, just a taxpayer with a clue, and not a tin hat.
You give yourself away. For one thing, there are few people as insensitive as you. For another, you regularly attempt to hijack this blog and LVL with numerous comments under numerous names. But people are wise to you.
If you aren't a county worker.. Then why are you even posting a comment. Shove it..don't care what you think. I am a county worker for 21 plus years. Who are you to say we deserve this???? Get a life and mind your own business. This is our battle...so stay out of it and shut-up
I know I cant afford the county's proposed plan OR President Obama's idea of affordable care!! Under ACA a plan similar to what I already have as a county worker would cost HALF of one paycheck. I am a LPN, I am a widow for nearly 11 years, I have an 18 year old in college 5 hours away from home. I am a homeowner that is going to foreclosure. At this point I'd be better of quitting my job and going on welfare and living in section 8 housing!! I feel sorry for all you idiots out there that have no compassion for your fellow humans. The county will have bigger problems if this plan goes through. All it's going to take is one major accident or illness to wipe people out, they will not be able to pay their mortgages and the properties will go to foreclosure. Which in turn means NO PROPERTY TAXES coming in to the county coffers. Life happens, accidents happen, people get sick, NOBODY PLANS THOSE THINGS. So if your Grandma needs medication or a breathing treatment or her cardiac or pshych meds, get your ass into Gracedale and give her them yourself, or you can just take her home and you care for her 24/7 365
County workers deserve better. They deserve ACA. Criticize all you want, but pre-existing conditions are covered, as well as many other services once thought to be luxuries. A law was debated, passed and signed to address exactly this woman's challenge. My neighbor died of breast cancer because she put paying mounting real estate taxes and keeping her home ahead of her own health. This not necessary anymore. Someone who loves the woman in question should get her into an exchange - today. This could be accomplished in half the time it took to write this blog post. Let's stop using th=is soul's condition for political purposes. Help is available to her and those attempting to make political hay should sign her up and get her free, widely available treatment.
If the county would give her the $10K or whatever her health care plan costs, she could definitely purchase an ACA plan. Will the county do this? I think many of the workers would shop around for better plans but they should not expect less than 100% of the cost of their current healthcare plan returned tax free to their paychecks.
Well put Kelly Higgins. These si- called tax payers with a clue know most county workers cannot afford this healthcare act if it goes through. Some only have one income coming in...others are living paycheck to paycheck. We did give back.. Which is more than I can say for most who work for the county. So for the anonymous comnentors who seem to keep bashing us county workers.. Let me ask you this..what if that was your family member who needed treatment? We take care of residents at Gracedale round the clock..working short, extra shifts and sometimes on our days off to take care of them. You think you can do better? By all means, go ahead. Some of you have no clue. We do deserve better
county workers do deserve better ! aca helps those who want everything free!
"Free" healthcare through the ACA is only available through the expanded Medicaid options or subsidized benefits based on income level. It's not about desiring free healthcare - it's about poverty levels and providing healthcare to those that cannot afford it.
Read up, Gomer.
Central Douchebag, the reason the aforementioned ladies are losing their plans is to pay for what you describe. Money doesn't grow on trees unless you're already on the gummint pension gravy train.
"Let me make this as clear as I possibly can. If you like your plan. You can keep your plan."
President Barack Obama (Politifact Lie Of The Year, 2013)
Look, let's not drag Obama into this. This woman is going to die because Brown cut into her health plan. That has nothing to do with Obama. I find it amazing that not one person from the Brown administration has bothered to try to find out who this employee is. So much for considering the County worker its most valuable asset.
912 am you obviously have no idea what you're talking about because when my father had cancer and was fighting for his life he lost his insurance and was cut off by the doctors and the hospital because he had no insurance and his treatments did not continue till we found an insurance company that would take him. And this was at the tune of 1200 a month out of pocket so if you don't know what you are talking about you should not comment
If we had the Canidan health care system this would be a mute subject. Why is this country the only civilized country that does not have health care for all citizens? Here we are fighting over who should be able to afford care. I don't have it, you should not have it. AHHHH! We should all be able to take care of our families. The if you work hard and play by the rules crap does not work. That dream died along with living wages.
5:52, if you want to tangle with a reader who has identified herself and accepts personal responsibility, I expect you to do the same.
Hopefully people can focus on what the issue is! Brown is putting the cost of the insurance on the worker's back.
This is not about ACA. Even his boy Colin agreed in the human service meeting when a member stated such. This is about the worker in NorCo paying more.
That being said, the amount is not only catastrophic monitarily but also physically. People such as this lady will not be able to afford necessary treatments.
Brown does not have a clue and his holier than you attitude needs to go!
Hopefully County Council will tell Brown trough a "no" vote to the budget that to keep Healthcare the same!
Remember the old TV show, "Happy Days?". There was an episode some years in were Fonzi was riding a surf board and jumped a shark. people knew the show was reaching at that point and soon went off the air. The term "jump the shark" has stuck and to this day it is used when something just gets over the top.
Bernie your impassioned piece is your jump the shark moment.
The ACA ahs nothing to do with this issue. years ago Stoffa stated the county was exempt from the ACA when he was asked if retirees would get the same medical coverage plan as employees as per the law. The county is exempted stated the Admisntration. Now to get more money the county is somehow not exempted. You don't pick and chose. Either the county is excluded or not.
Also as to
ACA. Even if you were to opt into it. If your pay is so low you can get subsidies from the fed That was the entire point of the "affordable" part of the deal. Many of the critics tend to leave that part out of their equations.
The county is self-insured and has a company "administer" the plan. Therefore, the county can make allowances for extenuating circumstances as it has many times in the past.
If we are talking about an 80-20 plan that is not that oppressive. Costs incurr3ed by mid to low paid employees can be written off their taxes.
All this isn't as dramatic a s people dying in the streets but it is actually the facts. No one will die undo this plan unless they want to die or are just too stupid to figure out the details. In such a case why are they working for the county?
Bernie we all know you miss Stoffa and Angle but when it comes to Brown you have officially jumped the shark.
This post has nothing to do with Obama, ACA, Stoffa or Angle. This post has everything go do with an employee who will die bc of health plan cuts being shoved down employee throats in an effort to save money. Pointing out this kind of unfairness is why blogs like mine exist. I always encounter assholes like you who try to minimize what I am saying or marginalize me. You do it anonymously, destroying yourself before you've even started. This is no jump the shark moment. This is the real world that you claim employees are missing.
Get input from any of the radiation oncology department chiefs before you publish this dross. You are usually pretty well informed, but this blog entry is intellectually bankrupt.
Instead of giving me your anonymous wisdom and critique, how about providing some to the worker with cancer? If you are sayiong she can get free treatment, please provide the name and address of the outfits she should approach. Otherwise, it is your comment that is dross.
Anon 7:50 you are so right. Great post! O'Hare you are way over the top with this "alleged" employee's plight. She sounds like she is very confused over her own medical coverage and what she is entitled to and not.
You are of no help to her. Yu are using this "true' story as just another attack on John Brown. You really do miss the days of Stoffa don't you?
The scenario you paint is impossible for a county employee. She should speak to her insurance carrier directly. You should stop the drama. You did the same thing against employees during the Gracedale debate.
This is not impossible because it has happened. You just don't like the truth when it is uncomfortable.
If it happened it is because the employee let it happen. Not part of the county plan. Either a fake story or a very misinformed or slow person.
If it is not part of the County plan, why has no one from the Brown administration made any effort to find out who this employee is? Look, you don't know what you're talking about and are just carrying water for Brown, whether he is right or wrong.
It is also not a "fake" story. I leave that to anonymous people like you, who don't take responsibility for your words.
So you know quest diagnostics wants a credit card to take yoy blood and coordinated health now wants one too. Soon the hospitals will as well and if you dont have your deductable or coinsurance or credit card you will NOT be treated. This is not a joke, it is true and soon will be common practice everywhere.
Sad. I couldn't help but think of the Palin comment oft repeated by Republicans... just change Obama to Brown: "The America I know and love is not the one in which my parents...will have to stand in front of Obama's 'death panel' so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their 'level of productivity to society,' whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil."
The sad reality is that private insurance is a business, and as such keeps an ultimate eye on the bottom line. LONG before "ObamaCare" as my own father was dying of cancer, he saw how his company/insurance was trying to get him off the rolls. Simply a cold "business" decision. He successfully beat it long enough to die. However, it is indeed a dilemma that needs resolved whether we ultimately stay with regulated "private" insurance or evolve into a universal single-payer health insurance.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the worker.
The real issue that many are overlooking is that the proposed changes appear to be double-dipping cost cuts:
1) Increasing coinsurance; and
2) Limiting coverage
The fact that a cancer patient is at her wits end should come as no shock to anyone. It's hard to fight cancer AND red tape at the same time.
And while some state that no one can deny you care may be true, what family member wants to burden their family with financial ruin as well as medical collection agencies, perhaps even after her demise.
It's no way to live, AND, for the record, multi-million dollar claims are NOT entirely funded by the County. There is no doubt a specific or aggregate attachment point where actual insurance reimburses the benefit fund.
Seriously - how dumb do you think we are? Ask HR what the attachment point is for large claims.
I am more concerned with the high stop-loss coinsurance limits AND reduced coverage employees will be asked to pay.
And yes, I'm quite sure the County health plan administrators hope I die as well.
One less claim to pay!
God, I hope that's not true.
Central Douchebag, the reason the aforementioned ladies are losing their plans is to pay for what you describe. Money doesn't grow on trees unless you're already on the gummint pension gravy train.
Who's losing a plan? Brown isn't slashing their plans because of ACA. He's slashing their plans to balance the budget without a tax increase.
This is all basic stuff, Gomer. Sometimes. speaking to a tea partier is like talking to a fourth grader.
Ovem Lupo Commitere, well said.
Bernie... I personally thank you for uncovering facts in relation to not just our healthcare, but some of the "shady things" JB appears to be up to... ultimately hurting everyone in the county, not just the county employees.
I've said my piece in meetings and public forums and refuse to be baited by the pathetic, heartless, anonymous commentators on here... I read through all the comments and the negative ones are just downright horrible and inhuman. God forbid ANYTHING happen to any of you or your family... I guess God will sort it out. And people wonder why I help animals instead of people... we could learn so much from them about love, compassion and simple caring.
As county employees... we are NOT RICH. We are NOT numbers. We have families, student loans, bills and healthcare issues that are now of greater concern and stress with these impending changes... negative Nancies, if you don't have anything of substance to say, anything nice, or even have a heart, don't comment. Save us all your negative dribble.
"You just don't like the truth when it is uncomfortable."
WOW!! Is that the pot calling the kettle black!
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