Corona Virus (SARS-COV2) UPDATE
March 28, 2020
Corona Virus (SARS-COV2) UPDATE
Padmini Arhant
Corona Virus (SARS COV2) – Actions and Effects Update
March 26, 2020
Corona Virus (SARS COV2) – Actions and Effects Update
Padmini Arhant
Britain’s Prince Charles, the apparent heir to the throne tested positive to Corona Virus (SARS COV2) early this week.
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India as per public data :
Courtesy : Worldometers.info
Total Affected Corona Virus Cases – 887
Deaths – 20 (22%)
Active Cases – 794 currently infected patients.
794 (100%) claimed to be in mild condition.
0% Serious or Critical
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Question for Indian Authorities:
Among 794 currently ill patients – 0% Serious or Critical ( which means the status relieves the government from the burden of organizing ventilators and critical medical equipment and supplies?).
In 2019, Bihar had to deal with acute encephalitis syndrome in Muzaffarpur and the adjoining districts in Bihar state resulting in deaths of more than 150 children. The trend continued subsequently with more cases and deaths that were brought to light by other non-government sources.
Are the Indian authorities sure about the corona virus data considering India’s population density and practicality in maintaining social distancing and limiting public contacts especially in the poorer sections of society?
Not to mention the proximity to China in the eastern border.
The update on EU nations and EU role in dealing with global pandemic and economic stimulus together with global governments response on the deadly virus will be discussed shortly.
The preceding posts on this topic are available on this site as well as the subdomain Prakrithi.PadminiArhant.com and youtube channel Nirvana.
Thank you.
Padmini Arhant
Author & Presenter
PadminiArhant.com
Prakrithi.PadminiArhsnt.com
Corona Virus Management
March 22, 2020
Corona Virus Management
Padmini Arhant
I share my thoughts on COVID-19 management.
Beginning with United States, given the surge on affected cases nationwide including U.S. territories, President Donald Trump administration and Congress bipartisanship latest actions are welcome and hopefully alleviate the economic woes confronting millions of Americans in workforce and others facing dire financial situation in the wake of COVID-19 preventable pandemic.
The White House along with defense department coming forward with diverse strategies to ease the overwhelming burden on the health care system in combating the virus is a positive step that could save lives and contain the virus.
President Donald Trump having invoked the Defense production act with congressional approval reminiscent of the Korean war, the crucial medical supplies protecting health care workers in the front line of this pandemic is paramount enabling private companies in the United States to manufacture and supply them for immediate use that could significantly boost medical care and treatment while reducing casualties from the virus.
United States Congress members in the House and Senate coordination in passing the emergency care package for COVID-19 victims and families as well as Americans at individual to Small Business ownership already feeling the pain from necessary confinement at home to overcome the health crisis is a meaningful response in the hour of great economic distress.
Needless to say, health care workers in the United States and worldwide working round the clock together with volunteers deserve immense appreciation and acknowledgment for their dedication to help COVID-19 patients’ recovery.
Similarly, the medical research on vaccine and effective drugs to address the rapidly spreading virus is a tremendous engagement that could break the cycle and provide much required medical intervention now and in the future.
In other parts of the world, the governments initiatives in protecting the population through travel restrictions, closing schools, colleges and cancellation of public events is the appropriate measure to prevent the virus contagion effect.
However there are some reports like in India, the most densely populated northern state Uttar Pradesh BJP government plans to organize major religious festive activity in the coming weeks i.e. early April amid COVID-19 outbreak that has affected India as well regardless of the figure being higher or lower is irresponsible and disappointing as any form of close public contacts and gathering proved to exacerbate the current challenge.
Accordingly, the political leaderships and heads of the states from local to national level understanding the consequences of such mass participation adversely affecting large segments leading to community infection is important and prohibit activities expected to aggravate and protract the pandemic.
As for citizens worldwide dealing with this global pandemic, strict adherence to health safety features on limiting social meetings, personal hygiene such as washing hands with soap and sanitizers to safeguard personal health and well-being that would in return deescalate the viral transmission is critical in the battle against the pandemic.
Individual efforts by following health experts advise and recommendations in minimizing the spread of the disease is the clarion call on stymieing the virus.
The grim reality is the economic downturn in the face of shut down for middle and lower income groups in any country not barring the developed nation like United States despite the government stimulus package again only organized in fewer countries and that too not guaranteed to adequately cope with the economic constraints confronting the world.
Poorest of the poor and others up to the middle class do not have the luxury like the rich and super wealthy in any society to live on their accumulated wealth and extraordinary assets until the crisis is laid to rest.
The employers and businesses arguably cannot afford to retain employees indefinitely in the absence of productivity, sales and consumption normally fueling the economy. Obviously collective responsibility in all frontiers especially enhancing medical supplies and respiratory equipment like ventilators and virus testing kits etc. is the priority in health aspects besides prudent economic planning and financial restructure facilitating liquidity and solvency of different industries with a major focus on workers in the service industry like restaurants, retailers, transportation and an array of economic complexity instrumental in running the economic engine is absolutely vital to overcome the current catastrophe.
Whenever calamity hits the shores, the nation’s ability and capacity is tested reflecting on the utilization of resources at disposal or the lack thereof revealing the path to pursue in mitigating disaster such as the prevalent deadly virus.
The poignant lesson form COVID-19 proliferation is the world unprepared to tackle cataclysmic events in epic proportion due to tunnel vision exclusively on nuclear armament, cyber attacks and terrorism attracting disproportionate allocation of national budget discarding the essential investment in health hazards management and relevantly preparedness to rise to the occasion upon being subject to a viral tsunami such as the potent COVID-19.
Universal solidarity emanating from individual perseverance in every citizen in every part of the globe in preventable course practicing stringent methods in compliance with public health safety instructions and governments prompt decisive actions towards health and economic assistance to all citizens transcending statehood and nationality is fundamental to expedite patients recovery and reining on the life consuming virus.
Once again, since this crisis is pervasive with the virus not being selective in choosing hosts, the health and economic toll definitely impact all. As a result, it is the duty of every adult citizen to be responsible and guide the younger as well as aid the elderly in the family and community to do everything possible in defeating the global pandemic without losing more lives and further economic decline.
Above all, government transparency in data on virus victims, deaths and possible suspects not excluding Asymptomatic carriers are imperative to evaluate the actual threat in a particular territory, region and the world at large.
Finally, the authorities in Beijing responsible for the lapses in the initial outbreak of the disease in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China respecting their local medical experts honest professional opinion in the matter to sustain containment of the highly infectious virus and extending all facilities i.e. monetary and logistic combined is an obligation to domestic and global population.
Let us all come together setting aside partisanship, preferences and prejudice with the main goal of saving lives and prevailing in the enormous health and economic troubles causing legitimate concerns and grief worldwide.
Thank you.
Padmini Arhant
Author & Presenter
PadminiArhant.com
Prakrithi.PadminiArhant.com
Corona Virus – Global Pandemic
March 17, 2020
Corona Virus – Global Pandemic
Padmini Arhant
Corona virus COVID-19 has brought the world under lock down claiming lives, affecting thousands in different parts of the world and paralyzing the global economy. Politics and political authorities colossal failure to take timely decisive actions in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China has led to the contagion effect. The travel ban in the wake of initial outbreak in Wuhan should have been the preliminary step that could have limited the spread of the virus now causing significant stress, anxiety and economic meltdown.
Citizens across the globe exercising due diligence in adherence of medical warnings and advisory on hygiene, restricting social contacts until the virus containment is critical for self-protection and those in the family and community.
The health crisis affecting most parts of the world is a serious matter with the world having become smaller and closer from transportation and technological advancement in the twenty first century. The novel corona virus nCoV or COVID-19 originating from Wuhan City in Hubei province China claiming many lives over there with global impact is unfortunate and squarely falls on the local and central authorities in China for the inadequate containment of this deadly virus.
China having experienced earlier outbreaks of corona virus family and other virus strains in the past two decades could have adopted stringent methods and imposed rules along the line prioritizing public health and safety in the prevention measure. The subsequent steps in Wuhan’s lock down was rather aggressive in terms of welding apartment buildings gates and doors prohibiting exit of residents slighting grave danger of such actions in the event of incidents like fire and other possible emergencies arising in the apartment complex.
There was obvious failure in response mechanism and handling of the repeat outbreak in Wuhan, China with a contagion effect worldwide. The Chinese authorities in Beijing muzzling the whistleblower, the young physician Li Wenliang alerting the community and authorities having to pay a price with his life and several other citizens in China who fell victims to COVID-19 followed by those in many parts of the world speaks volume on the state of affairs i.e. politics endangering lives with authorities exerting power to silence legitimate concerns like the one from Dr. Li Wenliang and series of lapses in addressing the problem from the very beginning considering the history of epidemics from China or anywhere rapidly shared with the rest of the world through constant stream of travelers criss crossing various destinations world over.
The nCoV or COVID-19 being attributed to transmission from animal to human and mutation thereafter causing the pandemic clearly indicative of the lack of appropriate system monitoring and curbing incidents in wet markets and animal husbandry identified as the catalysts not for the first time but also previously noted in the wake of H1N1, SARS, MERS and now COVID-19 clarify the absence of critical inspections and importance to clean healthy environments in handling meat products sold to the public in open markets.
Yet another issue is wild animals and variety of species landing on the food table as delicacies for human consumption beckon attention and discernment to spare them as they cause disruption in nature designed food chain with dire consequences on natural habitat and ecological balance depriving members in the wilderness from their original prey for survival contributing to endangered category. Nature has provided more than enough food produces and choices for humans to feed on without having to indulge in far reaching wild life menu not necessarily meant for satisfying normal appetite instead exploring extravagant desires like the items serving as aphrodisiacs for some and others experimenting medicinal value to deal with illnesses in a raw condition often proved to be recipes of disaster.
The government intervention through education and orientation on the health hazards of such practices in the rural, remote and urban areas of the country is essential to save lives in all frontiers i.e. humans and natural conservation.
Since the preparedness to combat pandemic is always challenging regardless of economic and health care affordability for nations worldwide, the preventative course would significantly mitigate the spread of the disease upon individual discipline and commitment in adherence of public health care advisory on hygiene and limiting social contacts given the nature of the virus to contaminate anyone or anything resulting in massive suffering notwithstanding the toll on global economy.
Citizens across the globe respecting health care experts warnings and heeding recommendations on the ways and means to cope with the virus and cooperation in deescalation of the current pandemic would effectively restrict the proliferation of the victims and reduce casualties from the alarming COVID-19.
I extend my sincere condolences to families in Wuhan and rest of China as well as all in other parts of the world who have lost their loved ones to the preventable pandemic and hold the ones affected by the virus in my thoughts and prayers for speedy recovery.
Be wise and stay healthy.
Thank you.
Padmini Arhant
Author & Presenter
PadminiArhant.com
Prakrithi.PadminiArhant.com
United States – Affordable Care Act (ACA) aka Obamacare
October 14, 2017
United States – Affordable Care Act (ACA) aka Obamacare
Padmini Arhant
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) aka Obamacare has been discussed in detail on this site. Please refer to posts related to this topic.
The recap on ACA – The mandatory insurance tied to penalty proved extremely profitable to insurance industry with no obligation on insurance providers in skimming premiums or expanding coverage. On the contrary, the insurance offered today under ACA has high deductibles on treatment for various health conditions not necessarily pre-existing and some procedures required to treat certain health issues are not covered regardless of the health plan available in the market place.
Not surprisingly, those against amending the health care law i.e. Obamacare are not in touch with reality and pledged to establishment rules and symbolic trends at vast majority expense.
The mandatory subscription enforced in the existing Obamacare is unethical and undemocratic especially in the absence of commitments from insurance industry to meet their end of the bargain.
The compulsory insurance subscription enforced via Obamacare is rejected by many citizens opting to pay the unconstitutional and illegal penalty rather than enriching the industry barely offering coverage to subscribers on variety of health problems experienced by them.
When industries in the economic sector and politics join forces for vested interests exploiting ordinary citizens, the market economy sustainability is challenged woefully affecting businesses aimed at mega profitability beyond affordability.
The consumer force determines business success or failure and industry survival. In resistance to any modifications and fair adjustments of Obamacare at congressional level due to political partisanship, the industry is ultimately taken up to tasks to comply with standards and maintain reliability barring policies set to protect major shareholders and top 1% windfall guaranteed in Obamacare.
Average citizens do not have the luxury as the privileged class to squander hard earned savings without any value in return.
Health is critical and taxpayers tax dollars expended wisely in universal health care with comprehensive plan could not be a tall order for an industrialized nation allocating disproportionate spending on military and nuclear weapons as well as foreign aid to affluent allies while leaving citizens entirely at health care merchants and insurers mercy with legislations overwhelmingly favoring campaign financiers from the industry.
The unique position among lawmakers to defend industries agenda neglect constituents plight allowing major companies in the health care industry to evade responsibility on rising costs and declining health package.
In terms of lawmakers in the U.S. Senate vote to rectify anomalies in Obamacare, the reasons from them do not reconcile with their trajectory. The Senator posing with terror factions responsible for terrorizing and killing thousands of innocent children, women and men in Syria having reservations on Obamacare amendment reflect personal issues with incumbent administration rather than genuine concern for the people affected under current health care law.
Unfortunately, prioritizing individual gains at public loss is the convention in politics fostering waywardness in the extraordinary conditions imposed on citizens in the hyped health care reform short on benefits and delivery making Affordable Care Act / Obamacare anything but affordable.
Anything in ACA defense only project the content of law missing in practicality that in itself invalidate the legislation not binding on all sides to be meaningful and effective.
Health care for all in the appropriate disbursement of tax funds in caring for the sick, elderly and healthy of any age is significant to qualify for advanced nation status.
Peace to all!
Thank you.
Padmini Arhant
Author & Presenter PadminiArhant.com
Spouse in Divine Mission
Affordable Care Act aka Obamacare
September 22, 2017
Affordable Care Act aka Obamacare
Padmini Arhant
The affordable care act aka Obamacare is anything but affordable. The law overwhelmingly favoring health insurance industry with mandatory subscription tied to penalty upon failure to do so is undemocratic and unethical.
Anyone in good conscience would not endorse a law that burdens average citizens to bear the costs on ever increasing health care expenses due to unregulated industry profit margins exceeding market affordability.
The Affordable Care Act allows free ride to health care and insurance industry with no obligations to rein in surging premiums and diminishing coverage despite compulsory insurance subscription. Obamacare is bonanza for insurance industry with 35 million subscribers forced into plans barely meeting minimum health care requirements like annual exam and consulting visits to doctor’s office not to mention higher deductibles and copayments. Meanwhile, the propagated advantages of the law such as accepting patients with pre-existing conditions are not only charged exponentially by insurance providers but also the costs are transferred to healthy subscribers in the expense reallocation.
In short, the affordable care act is a proof of successful lobby from the health care and insurance industry rewarding those complicit in the enactment of law that is inadequate in coverage and enforces subscription beyond reasonable means to enable insurance industry control over patient care and health management.
Politics playing central role in upholding laws that are favorable to campaign financiers viz. health sector in this instance at electorate financial woes and losses impact economy and electoral outcome.
The lawmakers focused on loyalty towards SuperPac for re-election often forget voters dissatisfaction expressed through ballots on issues not addressed responsibly and in worst case scenarios rejected for misplaced priority.
Congressional and administration actions would be meaningful and effective upon legislations passed to alleviate problems of ordinary citizens as regular taxpayers expecting their tax dollars to be invested in their health, education and job security besides infrastructure and clean environment.
The disproportionality enrich industries with policies entirely benefitting them.
Setting aside political alliance and affiliations, the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare replacement eliminating mandatory subscription is the preliminary step towards health care reform. The shared responsibility between state, federal and health industry in offering quality health care meeting basic to advanced health coverage is the standard any system could provide excluding none regardless of socio economic background.
The cost factor in a market economy allowing choices via healthy competition would promote decent health care options currently unavailable due to major stakeholders monopoly in the industry. Universal health care is dismissed on the notion of extraordinary costs and liability originating from health industry practice and strategy to maintain status quo.
The contemporary law bearing on the industry is negligible shifting the responsibility on subscribers i.e. the insured to comply with various demands limiting affordability. The incentives to the industry are far greater to accommodate enrollment in health care plan that are not necessarily distributed down the line to end consumer. As a result the healthy and those experiencing health problems are faced with escalating price and insurance industry maneuvered eligibility criteria.
United States joining nations that pay attention to citizens health and well being made possible with investment in best medical care for all is prudent to improve failing health and tax structure.
Thank you.
Padmini Arhant
Author & Presenter PadminiArhant.com
Spouse in Divine Mission
The Affordable Care Act Reality
July 30, 2017
The Affordable Care Act Reality
By Padmini Arhant
The Affordable Care Act became comprehensively effective in 2014 and not 2010.
The subsidies to Insurance companies are not passed over to end consumer as co-payments and deductibles have been higher despite the law.
The premiums have not been cheaper while the insurance industry has been rewarded with 35 million subscribers through mandatory subscription.
There is no penalty on Insurers unlike on subscribers and employers on non-compliance.
The constant slogan on 20 million losing insurance would happen under the current law. The reason is the funding enabled largely on higher payroll taxes and individual mandates burdening small business, the middle income groups, the youth and healthy population.
The fiscal budget for 2018 on mandatory spending covering Medicare and Medicaid costs at $582 billion and $404 billion respectively are expected to rise further with bulk of the payments derived from general tax revenues becoming the primary source. The current 43% would soon increase to 62% affecting the younger groups, the middle class and baby boomers in work force.
There are already proposals to hike taxes for the income bracket between $150,000 – $300,000 in the tax reform bill sparing those earning above the target income to accommodate anamolies in the present health care bill that would exacerbate consumer spending with ripple effects on retail business and the economy.
Politics punishing the middle class and lower income neither qualifying for Medicaid nor benefiting from tax credits with health insurance premiums exceeding qualifying deductions is economically unsustainable with inevitable backlash from the electorate.
The ACA needs amendments in these areas with facts and figures reconciling reality.
Thank you.
Padmini Arhant
Author & Presenter PadminiArhant.com
Spouse in Divine Mission
United States – Health Care Bill
July 26, 2017
United States – Health Care Bill
By Padmini Arhant
The latest unsuccessful attempt to pass health care bill is perhaps due to lack of coordination and substance not in adherence with requirements.
The main aspects of the bill for robust health care law starting from eliminating mandates with penalty, Medicaid expansions not contractions, reviewing tax features for balanced appropriations, addressing opioid funding and state autonomy for health care benefits to suit respective needs with or without federal assistance.
The existing law enforcing penalty for failure to subscribe insurance and coverage lapse is pro-industry and neglect reality related to unfortunate and unpredictable circumstances that happens in life forcing people into unaffordability. There is a need for law to be flexible and democratic rather than the present conditions binding on the middle and lower income group who do not qualify for Medicaid.
With the current partisanship on this crucial bill, the focus is shifted from strengthening health care benefits to preserving industry profitability against affordability burdening healthy citizens and segments unable to meet legislative and industry criteria. Any reservations are seemingly political than practical.
United States fiscal budget FY 2018 – Medicare and Medicaid costs under Mandatory spending are $582 billion and $404 billion respectively per The Office of Management and Budget. Mandatory Spending Control Mechanisms, Congressional Budget Office.
Medicare Hospital Insurance program entirely funded by payroll taxes right now alongside Supplementary Medical Insurance program and drug benefit provided by combination of payroll taxes and premiums making up 57 percent and the balance 43 percent from general tax revenues contributing to budget deficit. The long term appears costlier with escalating healthcare costs demanding 62 percent from general tax revenues to fund Medicare. The irony is the Affordable Care Act largely dependent on higher payroll taxes shifting the burden from the wealthy to younger population in the work force and small businesses – usually in the front line dealing with challenges during economic downturn.
Neither the present law nor the proposed health care bill demonstrate courage to rein in on ever rising health care costs with monopoly in health care, insurance and pharmaceutical industry confirming the political status on legislations passed to favor oligarchy over ordinary citizens.
No matter how the existing health care law and embattled legislation are viewed and interpreted, the average and healthy citizens are penalized for political reasons with little or no concern on the economic impact and real experience not propagated information with serious ramifications to follow.
Thank you.
Padmini Arhant
Author & Presenter PadminiArhant.com
Spouse in Divine Mission
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Health Care – Prevention is better than Cure. This article is dedicated to all Americans regardless of age, gender, socioeconomic background and importantly health status. The podcast on this article will be available shortly. The topic will continue further on funding medicaid expansion, opioids epidemic and health industry regulation.
By Padmini Arhant
All citizens need health care access without having to differ medical consultation and treatment programs or going overseas witnessed in the trend created by unaffordable hospitalization and medical care costs in the United States.
United States with GDP per capita approximately $51,000 for 2016 and California @ $59,000 remaining the largest economy in the nation with $2.3trillion GDP – 12.43% of National GDP $18.5 trillion struggling to afford health care for all understandably frustrates citizens in the state that also clarifies escalating health care costs and insurance premiums in parallel with no point of intersection.
Taxpayers having the option to allocate pretax earnings towards health savings account is critical for health maintenance choosing the best suitable plan that fits their budget and health needs.
Medicaid Expansions for the poor, lower and middle income groups eliminating current caps to permit significant percentage of population not meeting present criteria would produce healthy results in cutting expenditure that is otherwise keeping them from dependable health plan.
Medicaid for basic to complete recovery based on individual medical conditions would save healthcare spending arising from neglected and preventable health issues costing patients, insurance and the states alike.
The topic will resume on Medicaid funding with dissection of federal and state disposable income, wasteful spending that could be divested in citizens health care and more.
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Health care law – The Affordable Care Act in the United States is not quite affordable for many due to health care costs constantly on the rise along with insurance premium. With health insurance covering only certain percentage on health bill the remaining is expected to be paid by patient. This is apart from copayment and deductibles on the related item.
The law is claimed to protect 20 million people who are brought under the ambit via mandatory subscription tied with penalty on failure to do so. This enactment proved a bonanza to health insurance companies in their deal to offer coverage for a price not nearly meeting average consumer purchase power.
Then there are issues with insurance companies declining coverage on some ailments not necessarily pre-existing and when they do cover, they are not without terms and conditions to an extent of transferring the burden on to consumer.
Under the existing health care law, the provisions to allow subscriptions for patients with pre-existing illness and extension on dependent children until 25 years of age pegged to parents or primary subscribers is a partial relief and again the price is not any cheaper as insurance premium is twice or more than regular cost for subscribers with any pre-existing symptoms or treatment.
The insurance companies with different tier plans covering 60% – 80% maximum and the rest left for consumer to contend with, the bottom line is health care and insurance industry exorbitant price makes it difficult for modest income consumers to absorb significant portion of the bill.
The Affordable Care Act focus limited to health insurance subscription while allowing health care and insurance industry to maintain extraordinary gains with soaring costs beyond consumer affordability reflects monopoly in a market economy.
Ordinarily the price determined in a market economy based on demand and supply together with competitiveness from multiple providers contributes to price adjustment and consumer price index.
Health care being vital for survival and wellbeing, the rapid escalation in costs against controlled inflation deprives citizens with basic and contingency subscriptions from affordable care.
Again, any subsidy and discounts are usually offset with treatment vs. drug costs rather than comprehensive package covering entire medical expense inclusive of medicines and any other requirements enabling full recovery.
The argument that tax credits for out of pocket medical expenditure paying towards any surplus typically works in favor of higher income bracket while middle and lower income group with relatively less taxable income falling short to take advantage of deductions in annual return.
Another development in health care practice now is the insurance industry run health care centers and medical foundations hiring medical professionals and practitioners safeguarding insurance company policy on quantity over quality in patient consultation keeping accessibility to necessary medical exam and procedure to bare minimum or unavailable.
Similarly, the tradition on insurance company approval every step of the way is continued with any refills on prescription drugs not linked to opioids also left at the insurance company discretion overriding medical advice and illness status.
Unfortunately, the Affordable Care Act inability to address these persisting problems pose a greater challenge for average consumers forced into compulsory insurance subscription benefitting the insurance industry more than the subscriber.
Furthermore, the enrolment of consumers with pre-existing situation is hardly a loss for health insurance company since payments towards ongoing treatment to patients in this category are compensated by young and healthy individuals’ subscription under current law.
On health management, the middle aged healthy subscribers routine physical exam every two years also restricted with insurance company protocol requiring payment for lipid profile viz. cholesterol and other critical blood tests to rule out any potential disease. These rules are enforced on insurance plan across the board and not confined to lower or higher payment plan.
The prevalent health care woes outlined above are factual leading to worse scenarios for many struggling to stay alive in the heavily profit oriented environment.
The debate on nothing wrong with aiming for jumbo profits is possible in full employment and fair income distribution economy in contradiction to reality.
The argument has no meaning in economic situation where profitability exceeds affordability widening the gap between haves and have nots especially in economically disadvantaged segments and amongst income group both young and old with the former starting life and latter nearing retirement on meager savings or none at all.
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What needs to be done?
SOLUTION
Any legislation – present or future only concerned about health insurance, health care and pharmaceutical industry profits unaffected rain or shine need to pay attention to the system being not quite effective in delivering service to the most vulnerable as well as others not receiving the value for money in protecting health and life.
The antitrust law compliance facilitating more competition is the fundamental course to curb ever increasing costs on minimal to prolonged medical care including prescription drugs and any medical device.
Tax breaks matching employer contribution to employee and those with dependents would create a flexible plan.
Tax credits with full deductions for self-employed and small business owners enable more choices for consumers in the market place.
Medical Savings Account (Medi-Fund) – Financial institutions like banks, credit unions and cooperatives set up accounts exclusively for medical expense with better interests on deposits and lower borrowing rate would ease expense for families having members suffering from minor to major illness. The funds are to be FDIC insured to prevent risks and guarantee anytime withdrawal for medical purpose. The ATM debit card for medical use would serve well during emergency.
Students unable to stay on parents or guardians’ insurance plan should be eligible for federal and state medical grants together with college or educational institution initiated private endowments for student medical aid.
Senior Citizens – Expanding Medicare as well as covering drug costs with choices to buy through government agency sponsored pharmacy. Additionally, any retailers discount on prescription drugs qualifying for tax rebate would also be helpful.
Medicaid Expansion under Obamacare – Supreme Court decision allowing States to exercise discretion based on voluntary Medicaid expansion emphasized status quo. As such Medicaid expansions are made possible by lower and middle-income tax payers and not the wealthiest of the wealthy in the economy.
As explained in the article below – any subsidies and premium tax credits capped at 138% and 400% of federal poverty level (FPL) to qualify for Medicaid and tax deductions under Obamacare enables marginal members provided their taxable income is sufficient to offset credits again excluding higher medical expenses for patients with pre-existing conditions and those pre-disposed to any genetic disorders.
Thank you.
Padmini Arhant
Author & Presenter PadminiArhant.com
Spouse in Divine Mission
Health Care Bill – Myths and Facts
By Padmini Arhant
The heated debate on Health Care Bill pending votes in the United States Senate arguably attracts attention and tension.
Health Care Bill – Understanding the details would perhaps ease friction allowing focus on appropriate action.
OBAMA CARE: Taxes, subsidies to insurance customers, Medicaid expansion program.
Obamacare requiring all Americans to subscribe to health insurance or pay tax penalty – A bonanza for health insurance industry bringing 35 million subscribers with mandatory insurance law tied to penalty.
The media reporting that repeal is expected to sharply increase the number of people who don’t have insurance which could in turn lead insurers to raise premiums.
This means the insurance for those unable to subscribe Obamacare compulsory insurance is essentially paid by healthy insured customers enabling health care industry mega profitability.
Obamacare mandate on large employers to offer health insurance or be fined. Most corporations were offering some form of health insurance to employees negotiated in salary benefits prior to Obamacare rule. The penalty factor guarantees health insurance industry revenue.
In a real democracy and market economy choices combined with competition would facilitate affordability rather than mandatory law favoring monopoly in health care and health insurance industry.
Health coverage to the poor – Medicaid criteria.
Prior to Affordable Care Act – In all states, Medicaid provides health coverage for some low-income people, families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. In some states the program covers all low-income adults below a certain income level.
Obamacare Medicaid eligibility is based on income at or below 138% of federal poverty level (FPL).
Department of Health and Human Services determined FPL is used to evaluate Medicaid eligibility. The FPL is defined as set minimum gross income a family needs for survival that includes food, clothing, transportation, shelter and other essentials…allowing for inflation every year. The poverty level data is presented according to family size beginning with single person in a household upto family of 10 i.e. a couple with eight children. Then onwards the amount is incremental for additional person in a family.
FPL figures are released in January of the year. FPL for 2017 for single person household is reported as $13,860. The single person would qualify for Medicaid under Obamacare with income level at $19,127 (i.e. 138% of FPL $13,860 for 2017).
Obamacare premium tax credit and cost sharing reductions supposedly leads to Medicaid eligibility.
Premium tax credits are generally available to people with household incomes between 100 and 400 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) and are based on factors such as plan rates where you live.
In this instance, the single person household seeking premium tax credit would qualify upon annual income anywhere between $13,860 to $55,440 – this would be affordable when tax payable is more than insurance costs including deductibles and out of pocket payments.
Where does that leave others who neither belong in 138% FPL nor 400% FPL for premium tax credit and instead reminded of heavy penalty for not subscribing to health insurance?
The cost sharing reductions usually shifted on to subscriber by insurance industry given the insurance costs and health industry extraordinary profit margins not addressed in Obamacare or GOP health care bill.
GOP bill offering reimbursements for at least two years to health insurance companies on the assumption of major loss to insurance providers for subsidies that reduce out-of-pocket costs for low income customers of Obamacare plans proves industry winning favor from both left and right of the political aisle.
Subsidies to reduce out-of-pocket costs for low income customers. The subsidies never affect insurance industry as no reduction in health insurance costs experienced with distribution across consumer base that penalize the healthy to bear expense. Even otherwise the subsidies are eventually paid for by middle income tax payers in the state and national economy.
Thank you.
Padmini Arhant
Author & Presenter PadminiArhant.com
Spouse in Divine Mission
PadminiArhant.com – Recognition of Issues – 2015
August 27, 2015
By Padmini Arhant
Health and Environment leads the issues concerning life and habitat.
Health is important for survival. Healthy living contributes to productivity and quality life.
The fundamental facilities like clean drinking water, sanitation, proper accommodation and health care access are lacking for scores of inhabitants across the globe.
Political, economic and social complexities deprive locals from basic requirements in life. Above all warfare and internal turmoil disrupt normal state with enormous toll on health and infrastructure.
In the urban areas, health is affected from eating habits, lifestyle, stress level and surroundings including common genetic factor and general well being.
Healthcare costs still remain unaffordable for vast majority in the developed and developing nations worldwide.
Accordingly, the nation prioritizing national health would strive for universal health service without preconditions and restrictions to people from all walks of life.
The healthy choices in food are available now compared to a decade ago. This is a preliminary step towards recognition of health as critical for existence.
However, greater efforts and actions are required in enabling population in lower economic strata with similar consumption. Obviously price is the bottom line for many with inflation reflected in food market.
Regrettably, healthy food is relatively expensive than unhealthy products leaving significant mass susceptible to health problems.
Multinational Corporations (MNC) dominance in food manufacturing beginning with farming, harvesting, sales and distribution hinder incentives to farmers in growing organic foods and produces availability at reasonable price.
In fact, organic food could be cheaper upon high market demand long stymied by MNC monopoly in agriculture commodity trade and food supply.
The corporations focus on profits over consumer health exacerbates conditions for vulnerable segments in society.
Corporations could make profits and achieve targeted earnings without compromising on healthy options especially the ingredients in various food merchandises with potential harm increasing health risks to average citizen and regular patrons.
Government agency such as food and drug administration effective measures and timely interventions on any serious violations are instrumental in averting food related health crisis.
The food and premise inspection of restaurants and food merchants sometimes evade responsibility due to corruption.
In developing nations, the street hawkers and vendors observing plain guidelines in food handling and safe practices would eliminate exposure to known and unknown health woes for customers in this category.
Briefly, health cannot be neglected for any reason. Simple decisions to improve health by checking on diet and physical activity could enhance living standard.
There are many form of exercise suitable to individual preferences and the one that cost nothing is walking leaving no excuse for sedentary routine.
Yoga is balanced with meditation for mental relaxation that complements overall benefits in mind body function.
Health and Environment are directly linked with clean, healthy, innocuous and secure atmosphere imperative for life sustenance on planet.
Environment pollution and contamination is a major challenge resulting in preventable illnesses regardless of age.
The contributions in promoting health and environmental status will be highlighted and honored for continued progress in this field.
Environment topic will be presented shortly.
Peace to all!
Thank you.
Padmini Arhant
United States – Single Payer Universal Health Care
October 1, 2013
By Padmini Arhant
United States health care debate renewed in 2013 provides opportunity for national movement seeking single payer system otherwise known as universal care in consideration of costs analyses favoring taxpayer dollars investment in comprehensive health care benefits for all.
The status quo evidently has at least 46 to 50 million Americans uninsured with Medicaid and Medicare criteria only allowing those qualifying the category.
Notwithstanding these programs constantly threatened with possible elimination under fiscal responsibility pretext amid bipartisan approval of wasteful spending in illegal warfare, sponsoring terrorism and multi billion dollars aid to Israel other than regional funding to safeguard nuclear Israel’s security.
In the health care reform passed in 2010 – the failure to enforce premium cap and measures to maintain affordability contributes to exorbitant costs depriving patients from receiving necessary medical relief and life saving procedures now and in the future.
Furthermore, effective January 2014 the mandatory subscription in the bill with penalty on non-compliance designed to favor health insurance industry would exacerbate citizens suffering in the dire economy heightened with misplaced priority to fund terror activities in Syria and expansion of militarism in the Asia Pacific titled pivot to Asia and Africom in the African continent.
Single payer implemented in other industrialized nations proved to be economically prudent and financially profitable to participating companies in the standardized method avoiding unnecessary expenses while facilitating diverse health care options through private management.
The tax dollars divestment in socialized medicine for national distribution would essentially constitute quasi operation with private sector focus on services relevant to health care needs.
Accordingly taxes collected from taxpayers allocated to guaranteed health care protect lives substantially reducing present Medicare and Medicaid spending upon amalgamation of auxiliaries under universal care ambit.
Single payer option is the legitimate right of all citizens and protects small businesses along with medium and major corporations from dealing with minimum to optimum commitments towards employees in the exponentially rising health care and pharmaceutical payments adjusted against salaries and wages that could be expended in retail consumption of utilitarian products serving as the economic stimulus.
Although choices for people to explore suitable plan would be a bonus in the national health scheme, the marginalized demography affected in the lack of free health care provisions would primarily gain from federal and state funded medical assistance.
United States budget appropriation directed in public and national interests could produce positive outcome and issues such as social security, health care, education and environment besides job creation deserves due attention with effective policies leading to sustainable progress.
Healthy nation means higher productivity critical for economic growth and long-term prosperity.
Single payer or national health care is an entitlement that could no longer be denied to citizens in a nation that disproportionately misuse tax revenues on destructive cause.
Finally, United States citizens unified stance on universal health care urging Congress to act in recognition of republic will is the cornerstone to bring about the anticipated change improving economic conditions for the struggling class in society.
Peace to all!
Thank you.
Padmini Arhant