Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Now+that+I+know+I+am+not+going+to+have+to+pay+for+health+care+for+a+bunch+of+free+loading+parasites+next+year%2C+I+was+thinking+about+taking+the+extra+tax+dollars+and+buying+one+of+those++Pro++Exotics+Desert+ghosts...thanks+for+the+snake+money+and+the+return+to+sanity+Massachusetts%21+How+much+are+they+going+for+these+days...I+got+around+%24750+to+spend+after+I+fix+my+truck.+Thats+should+be+good+if+I+search+a+bit.

Whats up with that..

They are "deserts" not desert ghost. They are $2500-$3000

Your correct. I have seen several crosses, this is what confused me. They are very light in coloration...nice!

I've seen people post (recently) that Desert's go from yellow to black and white after a year. Another post said they were the same as the Nerd Lemon Pastels, and you can pick up one of those for $125.. I guess I am just going to have to be selective with my $750 and wait a bit..?

Desert ghosts are recessive and the deserts that pro exotics and I think pete kahl are working with are dom/codom and don't turn that black and white color that the desert ghosts go for.

I wouldn't have named them Deserts since Desert Ghost was already in use. Certainly can be confusing (they are not related) but we weren't the one to choose the name in the beginning : )
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robyn@proexotics.com

ShipYourReptiles.com
Pro Exotics Reptiles

a longer than a year to make the color change and they do not look like pastels as babies. Very bright yes but nothing like a pastel plus they are a LOT more than $750 for one.

Leave politics out of this forum! I really enjoying coming to this forum to read about what everyone is doing with their REPTILES. Maybe you're glad with how things are turning out with "health care reform" but I haven't had health insurance in five years and probably won't have it for several more years. The only health care I get is when I visit the evil country of Ireland where they have many many programs that we would call "socialist" and I visit a private doctor who is subsidized by the government for $30 bucks. My family doesn't have to pay at all because they're citizens and therefore benefit even more from the single payer system.

I can talk politics day and night. I'm graduating with a degree in history and political science and I'm starting on my Master's in political science this fall. But this forum is not the place for this and if we just leave politics out then we can all enjoy this forum.

For somebody crying about no politics, you did a pretty good soapbox job buddy. Move to Ireland and cry about your lack of healthcare there...I just saved my tax dollas and I am buying a snake with my proceeds!

n/p

Go to school and work like I and many people do instead of whining.

Option 1) I can making a counter argument and correct your erroneous assumptions. But I've learned that some people have their minds made up and as soon as I see the "well why don't you just leave" argument I know that the person making this argument will never open their mind to what I am saying and they're just going to continue making petty jabs and we will never get anywhere. I love to argue, it's amazing what you can learn about yourself and others when you hear someone passionately defending their view especially if it's drastically different than yours. But this is only fun when both sides have their facts straight and can make good logical arguments. Even if we could have a good fun argument, this is not the place.

Option 2) Ignore the hateful political jabs that have slowly been becoming more common on this forum even though it makes my stomach churn every time I read them.

Option 3) Accept that this is a conservative forum and move on. This option is disappointing because up until recently I really enjoyed this forum. It is also frustrating because everyone needs to be working together to fight S373 but instead we're dividing ourselves. Forums like this play an important role in bringing matters like S373 to everyone's attention and promoting ways of fighting such legislation. So making this forum unenjoyable for everyone it hurts the reptile community.

Thanks.

You have another options:

1)Go to school and be thankful your getting a tremendous education in the greatest country on earth.

2)If you need healthcare, get a job and work for your benefits while going to school, and stop blaming everyone else for your own situation. Its not easy, but you will be a better person for it.

3) Kiss the ground and pray to the Stars and Stripes daily that we ALL have the freedom to disagree.

Well that's for making that decision for me. Oh and you probably should have actually read my post before responding. Generally when one says that have a Bachelor's degree in two subjects it means they went to school...

What it doesn't mean is they have a job! So, if you have no health insurance and no job-get a job that has health insurance. If you can't, then go back to school and get a degree, certificate, or something in a field that will get you a job, where you can get health insurance. There is no free health care, somebody is going to flip the bill. You fly back to Ireland to spend 30 dollars on health care? How much does that cost? Why wouldn't you just use that money at your doctors office? That makes no sense without some details.

If you want to shoot me an email then I will gladly feel you in on the details. But a reptile forum is the appropriate place to discuss politics. It was not my intention to start this discussion here and I really don't want to continue it here. So if you want to make any more political related comments about my post please email me and keep it off the forum.

Thanks.

To be honest, only political discussion before your comment was dealing with various reptile bills. The poster only stated he didn't have to worry about paying for the Health care reform. Comments like this will crop up time to time in any forum, just ignore them, don't take them personally and focus on the parts of a post or different threads that appeal to you the most. Just as children will have 'selective hearing' ignoring parents saying its time for them to do chores or other unpleasant things but instantly hear when its time for dinner or dessert, or do some fun/exciting task/event. Just apply this as 'selective reading'.
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PHLdyPayne

As a Graduate Student and a worker (thus I have a job AND go to school), I am curious: What am I supposed to do for health care?

I don't make enough money to purchase decent health care for myself and live in a building. I cannot work more hours without jeopardizing my education and research. I also cannot get a decent job with health care benefits without going to school.

So what am I supposed to do for Health Care?
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Lincoln, NE
0.1 Pastel, 1.0 Pastel het Pied, 0.1 Pied, 0.1 Cinn, 1.0 Black Pewter, 1.0 Woma (hidden gene?), 0.1 Yellowbelly
2.0 Normals, 1.0 Thayeri, 0.1 Thayeri X Alterna, 0.1 crazy cat, 1.0 husband

Easy...don't get sick or hurt lol. I'm in the same boat as you, working on my doctorate means I don't have a real job and have to have insurance through my school. That also means I have to use the university's health services instead of being able to go to an actual doctor's office.

Try having a pre-existing condition, like my wife. When we haven't been turned down outright, the quotes we get for even the most basic coverage are so high that we can't even consider them! All we can do is try to stay well and hope for some kind of meaningful health care reform.....And remember-there are 50 million people out there in the same boat!
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

"I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do." - Robert A. Heinlein

I agree. There are so many conditions out there under which good, hard-working, educated people are either unable to afford health care, or even unable to be approved for the insurance because of pre-existing illnesses or even *genetics* in some cases.

I don't want to pay for "loafers" and lazy, morbidly obese smokers to go to the doctor and get pills to make them happy any more than anyone else.

On the other hand, if I or my husband get sick (or even badly injured), I don't want my first concern to be "My god, how much is this going to cost us?!"
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Lincoln, NE
0.1 Pastel, 1.0 Pastel het Pied, 0.1 Pied, 0.1 Cinn, 1.0 Black Pewter, 1.0 Woma (hidden gene?), 0.1 Yellowbelly
2.0 Normals, 1.0 Thayeri, 0.1 Thayeri X Alterna, 0.1 crazy cat, 1.0 husband

The problem with the non-health field working public is that most people don't quite understand what this bill is going to provide or change or what is already available for the non-insured public. Having worked in the health field for the last 9 years I've seen the good, the bad and ugly of what our health care system has. For one, I've never seen anyone turned away at an emergency room when they needed care (or when they didn't need care either) as that would be illegal. I've seen homeless individuals stay admitted to hospitals for months because they had no home to be discharged to. I've also seen people with minor pre-existing conditions come in and die because they didn't have the funds to see the doctor of thier choice and didn't know of the resources out there. The fact of the matter is there are choices for medical care out there if you don't have insurance. You will not be able to see the best specialists out there, but you won't with this new "reform" either. What this is going to do, is make it difficult to see anyone other than your family doctor if needed. There is a reason that people living in most countries that have government run health care come here for specialists.

Everyone wants to point to back in the day when the doctor would come to your house and see you and everyone had access to them. Well the doctors didn't cut on brains or re-pipe your heart or place cameras in your nether regions back then. Yes our health care system is flawed now, but this alternative is not the answer in my opinion (for what it's worth anyway). I've already seen a huge increase in the number of concierge doctors (when the patient pays a flat fee for the year to have the doctor at his/her beck and call and the doctors never charge insurance even if the patients have it) and if this new bill passes, the "good" doctors will all just go this way to where you still won't be able to get the best care possible. This bill does nothing to make health care more affordable. Adding almost 1 trillion of debt for everyone to pay is rediculous. This country has gotten to lazy and everyone thinks good health is owed to them and a house is owed to them. WELL YOU ARE WRONG. Live a healthy lifestyle, loose weight (talking to myself here, lol), quit smoking, get a good job, buy health insurance if you can afford it and if not look for the options out there as they are there. Quit expecting everything to be given to you.
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Josh & Krysty Hutto

Various Ball Pythons, boas, dogs, cats, fish, a couple sulcatas and a few other odds and ends.

a BAD dog is MADE not bred, support the American Pit Bull Terrier as the greatest breed of dogs on Earth!!!!!

Try finding "options" if you or your spouse has a pre-existing condition that the insurance companies don't find it "profitable" to cover. Or if you're self-employed (like many reptile breeders). Or even, if you do have insurance, but your company does not cover certain unprofitable conditions.

This bill is bloated, more expensive than it needs to be, and is far from perfect-but it does remove the ability of insurance companies to discriminate against patients based on preexisting conditions, or to drop coverages. It will also provide coverage for most of the 50 million uninsured Americans-just SAVING money by removing a huge annual emergency room bill that we ALL are now paying!
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

"I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do." - Robert A. Heinlein

I understand that some people have trouble finding coverage due to pre-existing problems but my question for YOU is this. I should have to pay for YOU to have insurance because YOU have a pre-existing condition that YOU cannot pay for? The beauty of a captitalistic system is that if you need or want something the tools are there for YOU to go out and get it. Like I said earlier, too many people now-a-days want things given to them and think they are DUE these privledges. I'm sorry but top medical care is a privledge, access to basic medical and emergency medical care is a right, but one should still have to pay for these services rendered to THEM if at all possible.

People like to talk about that they are in school working on graduate studies and can't work to get benefits. Well go to school part time, or make due with no insurance until you are in a situation that YOU can pay for YOUR insurance YOURSELF or pay as YOU go. Doctors do take cash for payments. But why should anyone have to pay for a service rendered anymore?
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Josh & Krysty Hutto

Various Ball Pythons, boas, dogs, cats, fish, a couple sulcatas and a few other odds and ends.

a BAD dog is MADE not bred, support the American Pit Bull Terrier as the greatest breed of dogs on Earth!!!!!

Who said anything about you paying for anything? I pointed out you and I are ALREADY paying for care for the 50 million uninsured - in emergency rooms.

My wife and I both work hard and have good, upper middle class incomes. It's a scandal that people like us cannot get even basic health insurance at a remotely affordable price.
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

"I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do." - Robert A. Heinlein

If we apply the logic that the insurance companies (private business) should not discriminate with whom they insure to lets say the reptile industry than you should also give away your snakes to those people out there that can not afford to buy them.

I'm in total agreement that the system needs to be fixed, although my solution is not more mandated bureaucracy, it is to restore the patient-doctor relationship and disconnect the employer and government from the responsibilities of taking care of ourselves. Insurance should not be paying for anyones health care needs, it should be for health care emergencies! After all, we don't expect the auto insurance companies to pay for an oil change do we? Once people own their own health care we may actually see people taking responsibility over their own health!!!! If you are expecting some to take better care of you than yourself then be prepared for getting left behind.

So, the lives of you and your loved ones are equivalent to the price of snakes? I doubt many would agree. A very silly analogy.

I believe that those who abuse their body-smokers, heavy drinkers, the obese, should certainly be required to pay more than healthy non-smokers (like myself)for health coverage. That is just one of many changes that need to be made.

But if you're saying the present system does not need to change, then I doubt you'd get wide agreement there, either. When you or a loved one needs a VERY expensive treatment (which your insurance company refuses to pay for and you can't afford yourself)in order to live, will that still be your attitude?

I also can't agree that basic health care is a right, while expensive treatments are only for the rich. Scientific and medical knowledge belongs to the species, not just to those who can afford it.

And if you want to make a mere economic argument, then just look at the fact that most of this research is at least partially paid for by our tax dollars....
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

"I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do." - Robert A. Heinlein

I agree 100% that the system needs to be changed, but this is not the change that will fix the problem. Like the previous poster stated, we need to own our health and health care. If we own our health care the insurance companies will have to be more competitive with their prices but don't get me wrong, they are a private industry and are going to make money (as they should).

Granted I am speaking as a fairly healthy person who's child and wife are healthy and at this time with no health insurance as I'm unemployed due to a move (start working in 2 weeks). With that said, the idea of someone else having to take care of me or my family financially (with their tax money) does not sit well with me one bit. I or my wife have the ability, skill and knowledge to work more than one job if need be.

You say we already pay for the bills in emergent care for these uninsured people. Than answer me this, why is it going to cost an additional 1 trillion dollars for this health care plan. This money has to come from somewhere and that is from me and you and everyone else to pay for the care of those that cannot or chose not to get out there and work. I guess I'm just selfish that I'd rather spend my money taking care of my family rather than someone else's.
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Josh & Krysty Hutto

Various Ball Pythons, boas, dogs, cats, fish, a couple sulcatas and a few other odds and ends.

a BAD dog is MADE not bred, support the American Pit Bull Terrier as the greatest breed of dogs on Earth!!!!!

Is this really what it has come down to? The cost to the public versus the ethical care of other human beings?

The last time I heard a price quote, the cost of the legislation was closer to $300 billion to implement (still a large number, I know). But they did not clarify that was *in addition* to what we already pay now. What are the current health systems costing the public currently? Does anyone know? Because I bet it is probably still a LOT.

Also, an excellent point has been made. A large portion (not all) of nay-sayers against reform have never had a major health crisis. I have heard many individuals speak about their trials with the health care system who have had cancer, a genetic malformation/disease, were involved in an accident that was not their fault, etc. Does anyone have stories of people who were one of the above and were pleased with the way their insurance covered it? The surgeries, prescriptions, doctor's visits, lab tests, all ran smoothly?

Are there any success stories out there at all?
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Lincoln, NE
0.1 Pastel, 1.0 Pastel het Pied, 0.1 Pied, 0.1 Cinn, 1.0 Black Pewter, 1.0 Woma (hidden gene?), 0.1 Yellowbelly
2.0 Normals, 1.0 Thayeri, 0.1 Thayeri X Alterna, 0.1 crazy cat, 1.0 husband

to be honest I have never been horribly sick, but my wife did have to have an emergency C-section almost exactly one year ago with the birth of our daughter. What I can say is that the billed cost of this whole procedure (before birth until both were discharged from the hospital) was just shy of $30k (which is high and by adding more competition will drive prices lower) but the overall price that we had to pay was $1500 and the hospital set up a payment plan for us if we needed it but we had money set aside for any surprise medical problem and didn't need to make payments. So the one time I've had to use my insurance for something major it worked out great.

The only other time I have personal experience with the health care system (other than working as a nurse) was 10 years ago when my grandfather was diagnosed with lung cancer. He was misdiagnosed and than once it was determined what was wrong, it took several more months for him to be able to see an oncologist and at this time it had been just over 9 months since symptoms began and it was determined the cancer was terminal and he passed away just 4 months later. My grandfather never smoked a day in his life and served this country for 25 years in the Navy and was treated by the one and only government controled health care system in existance at this time, the great VA.

So if you ask my opinion based on personal experience, I'll take private insurance over government any day.
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Josh & Krysty Hutto

Various Ball Pythons, boas, dogs, cats, fish, a couple sulcatas and a few other odds and ends.

a BAD dog is MADE not bred, support the American Pit Bull Terrier as the greatest breed of dogs on Earth!!!!!

You say we already pay for the bills in emergent care for these uninsured people. Than answer me this, why is it going to cost an additional 1 trillion dollars for this health care plan. This money has to come from somewhere and that is from me and you and everyone else to pay for the care of those that cannot or chose not to get out there and work. I guess I'm just selfish that I'd rather spend my money taking care of my family rather than someone else's.

Fair enough. Then I would once again ask-when the time comes (and odds are it will, eventually) that you, or your wife, or child, have a life-threatening condition that you and/or your insurance can't (or more likely refuses) to pay for, will you shrug your shoulders and say "Well, those are the breaks"....?

This to me is an issue of plain morality-Bill Gates does not have ONE IOTA more right to life-sustaining treatment than my wife or child.
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

"I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do." - Robert A. Heinlein

unfortunately, Bill Gates will get better care. Our society is completely based on money and not the individual as all equal. Whether it is morally right or wrong is another question but it is the country that we built. Honestly, Health Savings Accounts are the way to go and are actually cheaper then health insurance. Most of the premiums you see on visits are elevated to reflect the insurance company's rate, not the actual cost. If you actually talk to your billing department at your doc's office, they do discount the price if you pay out of pocket. The only insurance you need to cover is catastrophic, which would be your major events.

I currently don't have an HSA but many around me do and are very pleased. The money is managed much better because it is their own money.

To answer the other poster that asked who has had any major conditions and had insurance come through, well, I've had several surgeries (a few major) including one recently and my insurance has been outstanding.

Here is a link that I thought was interesting. Not sure it will all work but just thought it was a conversation piece, lol

http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_ID=18897

Most of that sounds good. I agree with it.

However, I still want there to be some legislation (or reform brought about by other means) which would change the way insurance companies deal with individuals with "pre-existing conditions". Especially since there is so much research going into human genetics. I don't think it will be long until insurance companies can ask you to undergo some (or many) genetic tests so they can shuffle you into the "pre-existing" category simply because you have certain genes.
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Lincoln, NE
0.1 Pastel, 1.0 Pastel het Pied, 0.1 Pied, 0.1 Cinn, 1.0 Black Pewter, 1.0 Woma (hidden gene?), 0.1 Yellowbelly
2.0 Normals, 1.0 Thayeri, 0.1 Thayeri X Alterna, 0.1 crazy cat, 1.0 husband

Oh, I agree completely with your assessment of "how things are". Cash is king, money talks, etc.

But my question is essentiually one of morality, so I'll ask it again, another way:

Are any of you willing to agree with the following statement:

"Yes, because they have more money and political power than I do, Bill Gates, members of Congress, Senators, Wall Street Bankers, and corporate CEOs all deserve to live longer, healthier lives and survive conditions that would certainly mean death for me or my loved ones".

Anyone? Because if not, then YOU are for health care reform.
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

"I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do." - Robert A. Heinlein

Like I originally stated, our system is broken and needs to be fixed, but a government controled system is not the answer. Some say Bill Gates shouldn't be able to get better care because he has money, but why does he have more money. He created an empire from almost nothing and became one of the richest people on this planet. He was not given the money. He worked his butt off to get where he is by using the capitalistic views of this country. We all have that oppertunity and once this country starts giving services away and making everyone else pay for them, this great country will no longer be the country that it was built up to be.

To say health insurance companies should have to allow pre-existing conditions at the same price as "healthy" individuals is rediculous. These are private companies that are here to make money just like any other business!!! I could see there being some form of government provided insurance for those that can't be covered by private health insurance (similar to florida's state home owners insurance) that is a flat rate but not free and not payed for by the tax payers. Try to make me seem like the immoral person by saying that I think rich people deserve better care than poor people all you want, but that couldn't be further from the truth. I believe everyone deserves the best care possible, but I also believe they need to pay for that care in one way or another (thinking providing community service for health care if you have no money to pay for the services but that would be cruel to force someone to have to work off a debt even though it will help the community). Or how about this, a government controled health insurance company competing with private industries that allows people to sign up for let's say 10 hrs of community service per week and as long as they work these hours of service the cost of the insurance is free or they can pay the flat rate if they can afford it (this would also force the private industries to be more competitive). But you will never see politicians propose a plan that holds people responsible for paying for their own care.
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Josh & Krysty Hutto

Various Ball Pythons, boas, dogs, cats, fish, a couple sulcatas and a few other odds and ends.

a BAD dog is MADE not bred, support the American Pit Bull Terrier as the greatest breed of dogs on Earth!!!!!

Things are continuing to happen in biomedical , prosthetic, nanotech, genetics, and cybernetic research that will not only continue to increase medical costs, but steepen the curve. Medical insurance is ALREADY unaffordable by over 15% of the population, and that percentage will go up-none of the "cost containment" proposals so far is anything but bureaucratic, and so won't address these fundamental factors. Someday soon, something will have to give.

Some of the things researchers are working on now will, once perfected, be true "miracles"-but also VERY expensive. If they are only available to the rich, then I fear for what will happen. What would YOU do for the chance to, say, double your lifespan-or cure your mother's inoperable cancer-or walk again-or grow a new arm?

Capitalism works fine (sometimes ) for things like stock markets or commodities prices. But the health and well-being of our loved ones is a higher calling. Many European countries offer both better health care and universal health care-while at the same time remaining staunch capitalistic systems, with standards of living exceeding our own-with, I might add, higher standards of living than we now enjoy here in the U.S. It's time we did the same.
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

"I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do." - Robert A. Heinlein

They are frankly worthless. Make someone-not necessarily a poor person, btw-who probably already has a full time job-work community service to pay off a premium that is probably a large percentage of their own income?? How long, do you think, at a normal wage for such work, would that take? Hope one of the breakthroughs we'll be seeing frees us from the need for sleep!

Once again, I still have not heard you say that you would be okay with it if, in the future, your insurance refuses to cover treatment that could save the life of you or a loved one.

I don't think you will ever say that. I've faced that situation my friend-so don't throw stones at me until you have as well.
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

"I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do." - Robert A. Heinlein

We don't need reform... some of us just don't want to have to carry the dead beats on our sholders! Should the dead beats insurance come out of YOUR pocket??? I know I don't want it coming out of my pocket. I bust my a$$ daily to make sure I have what I need AND want. Maybe those that can't find a way just are not looking.
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Brian Hettinger
480 Pythons
Contact us

that's exactly what I'm saying. I do understand how some people have pre-existing conditions and insurance companies charge more and how that can be a burden on some people. But to say a private company or another individual should have to pay for this expense is rediculous. This country was built on hard work and you get what you put in. What ever happened to the immigrants that came to this country and worked 18 hrs a day to build lives for their families and so they could have the AMERICAN DREAM? The other poster keeps asking what would I do if the Insurance company refused to pay for my or my loved ones care, well I would pay it myself. We have a HSA for that as well as insurance to make sure we are covered. My wife and I have had to work and go through school to get where we are. Nobody gave us one thing to help us.

Like my previous post stated, I have nothing against the government helping those that NEED (not want) it, but they should also help those that are helping them. My proposal of people working community service to recoup the cost of the premium for health care is a very good one. You state that how can we expect people to have the time to do this when they are working so much to begin with and that I do not understand. I threw out the number of 10 hrs per week and you state that is too much. That is less than 2 hours per day of work for health care. You do not have to work more if you use it, just a guarenteed 10 hrs per week. If you take for instance $12.50/hr as an average salary for people that is only $125.00 a week for health care, much less than I pay for mine. In fact the time you spent on this one topic this week could have paid for your health insurance. But I guess with the mindset of this country now-a-days, if it isn't free, it isn't worth anything.
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Josh & Krysty Hutto

Various Ball Pythons, boas, dogs, cats, fish, a couple sulcatas and a few other odds and ends.

a BAD dog is MADE not bred, support the American Pit Bull Terrier as the greatest breed of dogs on Earth!!!!!

I agree! We should close down public schools immediately due to all the dead beat parents using them!

Once again, you have no pre-existing conditions-you're young and healthy (so far)-so it is no surprise that your insurance company loves you. But people are dropped ALL THE TIME when they get so sick that it is no longer profitable for their insurance to carry them.

Health insurance companies have used the many special benefits (for example, exemption from anti-trust laws) given them by the (bought and paid for) government to run up record profits. Cry me a river for them! But I guess you have no problem with that-after all, it's their money, right-they can use it to buy our congress if they want. Pure capitalism!
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

Breeder of:
Green Tree Pythons
Jungle Carpet Pythons
Pastel, Pinstripe, FIRE, Piebald, Clown, Lavender Albino, Leucistic, and Spider Ball Pythons
Striped Colombian Boa Constrictors
Kenyan, Rufescens, and Conicus Sand Boas
Red Phase Western Hognose Snakes
Spider Western Hognose Snakes
Albino Western Hognose Snakes
Locality Trans-Pecos Mexican Hognose Snakes
Southern Hognose Snakes
Eastern Hognose Snakes
Tricolor Hognose Snakes
Hypo Checkered Garter Snakes
Eastern Blackneck Garter Snakes
Stillwater Hypo Bullsnakes
Patternless Bullsnakes
S. GA Eastern Kingsnakes
Locality Desert Kingsnakes
Albino Desert Kingsnakes
Hypo Desert Kingsnakes
Mexican Black Kingsnakes
Desert Phase, Striped Desert, Newport, and Coastal California Kingsnakes
Locality Mexican Milksnakes
Spotted Mexican Milksnakes
Tangerine Mexican Milksnakes
Locality Alterna
Abbott Okeetee Cornsnakes
Mexican Baird's Ratsnakes
Cape Housesnakes
Tangerine Albino African Fat -Tailed Geckos
Locality Spotted Turtles

I read your post and I understand you have your bachelors...conagrats!!! You said you were going for a masters, but you just may have to go part time and work to get benefits if you need them, this is what I was referring to. If you have a BA and you put a little effort into it, there is no reason you shouldnt be able to land a job with health benefits. I know its hard and the world is a big place, but I have faith in you.

Just one question? Were you the person using the World Health Orginazation as referenec & to grade the quality of healthcare between countries? I was on the Blckberry when I read it, and almost hit the car next to me laughing. That was a good one!!! Maybe we will use the United Nations report on labor abuse in China, compared to the USA...

You guessed it, the United States are the bad guys again!!! China is a model of civil rights in the United Nations eyes...

The W.H.O. is a J.O.K....E.

I was checking out the classifieds and personal collection displays today, trying to straighten out which Desert / Desert Ghost / Desert ECT. I was interested in spending my tax savings on. I am really leaning towards the recessive Desert's that change from yellow to black and white. While I think the other yellow Desert's are very pretty also, they are co-Dom and currently sell for 1 - 2k from what I can tell. No offense to the permanently yellow Desert, but co-Dom's and holding value is like a teen music heartthrob and number one singles....a.k.a; Not long to last... The co-Dom's have seemed to lose value way, way too fast for me. Besides, I love the look of a white and black snake....awesome! The search continues....

I agree with you. I actually went for both but I think the recessive Desert Ghost will come out the lasting winner in the long run. We are just starting to see some of the combos. I saw a Desert Ghost/Pastel Jungle for the first time this year and it was amazing. For a recessive project that has been around for some time it is still way under utilized and with so much potential. Contact Mark Bell for some outstanding Desert Ghosts.
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www.ballpython.ca

I do work. Full-time in fact. But I have two pre-existing conditions so the cheapest plan I can get starts at $800 a month and that's not even getting into the co-pays. I'm sorry for starting this post but this forum has been my sanctuary for many years to escape politics. I've focused on American history and my interests have expanded to foreign policy particularly on the Middle East. The more one learns about the past the more it tends to complicate the present. And for the record I'm not really on the right or the left. The democrats disgust me almost as much as the republicans. Ralph Nader was right - "the only difference between the Republican and Democratic parties is the velocity with which their knees hit the floor when corporations come pounding on their door."

I've disrupted this board and I apologize.

We need to fix this as a nation, I just wish we had politicians that we could trust.

I also agree that this forum should be a place where all of us can escape!

The following is the World Health Organization's worldwide rankings of health care, based on both quality and availability:

1 France
2 Italy
3 San Marino
4 Andorra
5 Malta
6 Singapore
7 Spain
8 Oman
9 Austria
10 Japan
11 Norway
12 Portugal
13 Monaco
14 Greece
15 Iceland
16 Luxembourg
17 Netherlands
18 United Kingdom
19 Ireland
20 Switzerland
21 Belgium
22 Colombia
23 Sweden
24 Cyprus
25 Germany
26 Saudi Arabia
27 United Arab Emirates
28 Israel
29 Morocco
30 Canada
31 Finland
32 Australia
33 Chile
34 Denmark
35 Dominica
36 Costa Rica
37 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

If you like our health care system now, you probably are a very healthy person, with no pre-existing conditions. The present "health Care Reform" bill is probabl;y a pretty bad solution, but it's better than the status quo.
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

"I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do." - Robert A. Heinlein

That is funny because people talk about Canada quite a bit, and they're number 30??? The current bill was not the answer. There is a decent 10 min. video on youtube that spells out some of the things that bill would've meant.

If one doesn't read the UN report one may think that this is actually about the quality of care provided, but in fact it is all about "financial fairness" and who pays. Some of the report deals with health levels, which the US doesn't do well since we are all fat. So, if you have a free market based health care system, you don't want to be anywhere near the top of this list.

And, when it comes to "responsiveness" which is the only factor in the report that is remotely close to addressing quality issues the US is #1.

The report is more double speak babble from the socialist progressive movement. They must think that we are either really stupid or just not paying attention.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704130904574644230678102274.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEFTTopOpinion

From "Myths about Worldwide Health Care"

1. "It's all socialized medicine out there."

Not so. Some countries, such as Britain, New Zealand and Cuba, do provide health care in government hospitals, with the government paying the bills. Others -- for instance, Canada and Taiwan -- rely on private-sector providers, paid for by government-run insurance. But many wealthy countries -- including Germany, the Netherlands, Japan and Switzerland -- provide universal coverage using private doctors, private hospitals and private insurance plans.

In some ways, health care is less "socialized" overseas than in the United States. Almost all Americans sign up for government insurance (Medicare) at age 65. In Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands, seniors stick with private insurance plans for life. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is one of the planet's purest examples of government-run health care.

2. Overseas, care is rationed through limited choices or long lines.

Generally, no. Germans can sign up for any of the nation's 200 private health insurance plans -- a broader choice than any American has. If a German doesn't like her insurance company, she can switch to another, with no increase in premium. The Swiss, too, can choose any insurance plan in the country.

In France and Japan, you don't get a choice of insurance provider; you have to use the one designated for your company or your industry. But patients can go to any doctor, any hospital, any traditional healer. There are no U.S.-style limits such as "in-network" lists of doctors or "pre-authorization" for surgery. You pick any doctor, you get treatment -- and insurance has to pay.

Doesn't sound so bad to me, as a person who CANNOT GET affordable health insurance IN MY OWN COUNTRY!!!!
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

"I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do." - Robert A. Heinlein

So WHO is starting a total political post NOW? This is a
BALL PYTHON forum!

"Evil country?"

Be careful!
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signature file edited, contact an admin. 2/13/06

expert...then you should know that the reason they hare "free" healthcare in socialist/communist European countries IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO PAY 50-75% INCOME TAXES!!!!! Personally, Id rather pay 15% income taxes, take care of my self thru diet and exercise, have an hsa acct that costs me $93/month with a $5200 deductible (thanks Pres. Bush, GR8 idea!!). SOCIALISM DOES NOT, AND HAS NOT E V E R WORKED!

HSA's are the way to go! I use the high-deductable plan too. This covers my prventative stuff and I bank my money in my HSA to cover any major prfoblems (God forbid) if they evedr occur. This way it MY money to do with as I choose! Love the Health Savings Accounts!! I went from paying 7.5k for me and my family per year to 2.5k and my account is growing and gaining interest..

I too am sick of the free-loading, socialist parasites in this country who think everything should be handed to them on a silver platter . . .

1. Public Schools-Why am I paying to educate your children?
2. Roads and Bridges-These should ALL charge tolls so that only those who use them pay for them!
3. Police and Fire Departments-Once again, why am I subsidizing these organizations? I don't live in a crime-infested area, and I've never caught anything on fire. So, why am I paying for the mistakes of other people?

Get off your duffs and work for what's yours! It's not a right to be healthy in America . . . it's a privelage that you should pay for! And if you didn't work hard enough to get yourself to a position where you can afford to be healthy, then that's your own fault.

I agree with most of what you said. However, why would you not want to fund Police and Fire Departments? If you did away with them and then your house was robbed or burned to the ground, I think you'd be singing a different tune.

...politicians suck.

df