The Capitol Police have 2300 officers. That's almost three times the size of the entire Minneapolis police force. It's not obvious to me why they would have needed federal help if they had been properly prepared to face the huge, unruly crowd that was easily foreseeable.
They might not have needed federal help if they had been given arms and protective gear, and something of a heads up. But somehow the leadership in the Force refused such helps. There was some talk of them not wanting the same sort of criticisms they'd had after the BLM protest. Well, they didn't get the same. This is a whole other magnitude.
Wil and I are on a learning curve when it comes to big ticket doctor and hospital stuff.
So, to those of you with more experience...
When you have an event happen near the end of a year and all the billing happens in the New Year, does it affect last year's deductible or this year's or both?
I don't know either. I have a Medicare Supplement plan (no longer available to those not currently enrolled) that covers at least Part B deductibles. I've never actually paid one that I can recall.
We don't go on Medicare until Wil retires at the end of next year. We're still on his work insurance...which has been good up to this point, but we haven't really needed it for anything beyond annual checkups and dental work (it actually covers the vast majority of dental work!). We will get the supplemental insurance when we go on Medicare (probably December). Meanwhile, it's pretty frustrating that we have finish paying last year's deductible for both in-network AND out-of-network services, then begin again now paying this year's deductible. We don't yet know how much the life-saving procedure will cost, but we're guessing that when the dust settles it'll all cost us around $9,000 out of pocket. We'll see.
Make that end of *this* year! Oh right, it's 2021 now. LOL!
We are clear that we'd far rather have Wil alive than have $9K. But it is a little frustrating that his PCP referred him to a cardiologist who is "out of network" and we didn't know that until the first statement came, AFTER his procedure. We had no idea that it would be an issue, because this same insurance used to hold that you had to go to an in-network PCP, but you were free to go to ANY specialist, no referral needed. When the new owners took over the company, though, apparently that changed.
“Language included in the $900 billion spending deal that passed both chambers Monday will make those bills illegal. Instead of charging patients, health providers will now have to work with insurers to settle on a fair price. The new changes will take effect in 2022, and will apply to doctors, hospitals and air ambulances, though not ground ambulances.”
We learned today that our insurer will work with the doctor to decide on a "customary and reasonable charge." Hmmm. Maybe it won't be $9K. Anything helps.
I'm so glad I stayed up past 3:00am Tuesday night into Wednesday to watch the returns from Georgia. I got up nigh on to Noon, and by the time I was showered and dressed and getting a bite to eat all hell was breaking loose at the Capitol. Every now and then I stop and savour the wins again, even in the midst of so much heartbreak and destruction. It's like a little flame of hope.
Murakowski was in fact elected as an independent after losing the Republican primary. I can easily see her becoming officially an independent. But my guess is that she will still caucus with the Republicans as Bernie caucuses with the Democrats.
Trump went 'ballistic' after being tossed off Twitter [Click] President Donald Trump has many prized possessions. But few seemed to inspire as much personal joy as his Twitter feed. Trump routinely boasted of the social media bullhorn he possessed. He credited it with launching his political trajectory. And he used it as a tool to lacerate his foes. On Friday night, he lost it. And, then, he lost his mind.
I think Ms Abrams is going to make a fine governor.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. She is a most impressive lady.
DeleteThe Capitol Police have 2300 officers. That's almost three times the size of the entire Minneapolis police force. It's not obvious to me why they would have needed federal help if they had been properly prepared to face the huge, unruly crowd that was easily foreseeable.
DeleteThey might not have needed federal help if they had been given arms and protective gear, and something of a heads up. But somehow the leadership in the Force refused such helps. There was some talk of them not wanting the same sort of criticisms they'd had after the BLM protest. Well, they didn't get the same. This is a whole other magnitude.
DeleteCapitol Police Rejected Federal Help Days Ahead Of Insurrection Attack [Click]
ReplyDeleteCapitol Police Officer Dies From Injuries in Pro-Trump Rampage [Click]
ReplyDeleteFourteen officers reported injured in the riot.
DeleteNPR announced this (no name given) the night before, then retracted it.
DeleteI gather they mentioned it before next of kin were notified.
This wasn't merely a riot. It was an insurrection, a coup attempt, domestic terrorism.
Delete
ReplyDeleteFrom The Beaverton; OK, they hurt a bit, but we sure as Hell deserve it (and they are not without humor):
Capitol Hill Police too tied up with 3 BLM protesters to deal with storming of Congress [Click]
Energized Trump scrambling to fit in as much treason as possible before term ends [Click]
Attempted coup in global superpower much goofier than expected [Click]
I recall the person warning that the next person trying to pull off a takeover of the USA would have better attorneys than Larry, Moe, and Rudy.
DeleteGEORGIA SENATE SPECIAL ELECTION RESULTS
ReplyDeletevia NPR at 11:56am, 8 JAN 2021
Ossoff ahead by 1.0% 45,001 votes
Warnock ahead by 1.8% 83,088 votes
CANDIDATE PERCENT VOTES
Jon Ossoff (Dem) 50.5% 2,252,511
David Perdue (GOP) 49.5% 2,207,510
CANDIDATE PERCENT VOTES
Raphael Warnock (Dem) 50.9% 2,271,583
Kelly Loeffler (GOP) 49.1% 2,188,495
Wil and I are on a learning curve when it comes to big ticket doctor and hospital stuff.
ReplyDeleteSo, to those of you with more experience...
When you have an event happen near the end of a year and all the billing happens in the New Year, does it affect last year's deductible or this year's or both?
Our impression is that they go by date of service. (Thus it will affect both.)
DeleteDamned if I know.
DeleteI don't know either. I have a Medicare Supplement plan (no longer available to those not currently enrolled) that covers at least Part B deductibles. I've never actually paid one that I can recall.
DeleteYeah, Bill, they ended "Part F" for new enrollees just 3 months before we would have been eligible.
DeleteWe're on the shafted end of the Baby Boom generation. (The money always runs out just before we get there.)
We don't go on Medicare until Wil retires at the end of next year.
DeleteWe're still on his work insurance...which has been good up to this point, but we haven't really needed it for anything beyond annual checkups and dental work (it actually covers the vast majority of dental work!). We will get the supplemental insurance when we go on Medicare (probably December). Meanwhile, it's pretty frustrating that we have finish paying last year's deductible for both in-network AND out-of-network services, then begin again now paying this year's deductible. We don't yet know how much the life-saving procedure will cost, but we're guessing that when the dust settles it'll all cost us around $9,000 out of pocket. We'll see.
Make that end of *this* year! Oh right, it's 2021 now. LOL!
DeleteWe are clear that we'd far rather have Wil alive than have $9K. But it is a little frustrating that his PCP referred him to a cardiologist who is "out of network" and we didn't know that until the first statement came, AFTER his procedure. We had no idea that it would be an issue, because this same insurance used to hold that you had to go to an in-network PCP, but you were free to go to ANY specialist, no referral needed. When the new owners took over the company, though, apparently that changed.
I think I read something about a bill recently passing that outlawed surprise bills from out of network providers.
Delete
DeleteSurprise Medical Bills Cost Americans Millions. Congress Finally Banned Most of Them. [Click] Here is the NYT story; if you can’t read it, let me know. Oops, probably just too late for your benefit:
“Language included in the $900 billion spending deal that passed both chambers Monday will make those bills illegal. Instead of charging patients, health providers will now have to work with insurers to settle on a fair price. The new changes will take effect in 2022, and will apply to doctors, hospitals and air ambulances, though not ground ambulances.”
WOW~!!!
DeleteWell, hope for the future, at least.
We learned today that our insurer will work with the doctor to decide on a "customary and reasonable charge." Hmmm. Maybe it won't be $9K. Anything helps.
Biden and Bernie...
ReplyDeletehttps://www.wcax.com/2021/01/08/the-latest-pelosi-lowers-capitol-flags-in-honor-of-officer/
Millions of stimulus payments for TurboTax customers and others sent to wrong accounts
ReplyDeletehttps://www.cnn.com/2021/01/08/success/irs-stimulus-payments-turbotax-wrong-accounts/index.html
*headsmack!*
Well, thank goodness we didn't do any of the things they are blaming the recipients for doing.
Delete*UPDATED* GEORGIA SENATE SPECIAL ELECTION RESULTS
ReplyDeletevia NPR at 7:38pm, 8 JAN 2021
Ossoff ahead by 1.0% 47,342 votes
Warnock ahead by 2.0% 84,488 votes
CANDIDATE PERCENT VOTES
Jon Ossoff (Dem) 50.5% 2,257,118
David Perdue (GOP) 49.5% 2,209,776
CANDIDATE PERCENT VOTES
R. Warnock (Dem) 51.0% 2,276,218
Kelly Loeffler (GOP) 49.0% 2,190,730
I'm so glad I stayed up past 3:00am Tuesday night into Wednesday to watch the returns from Georgia. I got up nigh on to Noon, and by the time I was showered and dressed and getting a bite to eat all hell was breaking loose at the Capitol. Every now and then I stop and savour the wins again, even in the midst of so much heartbreak and destruction. It's like a little flame of hope.
DeleteThere has been a truly overwhelming amount of stuff in the news today, which explains the paucity of my posts.
ReplyDeleteTwitter permanently suspends Trump's account, citing risk of 'further incitement of violence'
ReplyDelete12m ago
If you're Trump, being unable to tweet must seem a whole lot like your own personal Hell. May it be but the first of many more punishments to come!
DeleteWebsites For The Coup Rally Organizers Have Quietly Been Erased From The Web [by parties unknown] [Click]
ReplyDeleteMurkowski Becomes First Republican Senator To Call For Trump To Resign [Click] It does sound like she is preparing to leave the GOP.
ReplyDeleteI don't see any problem with making sure Alaska gets a few more bridges or whatever if it will counterbalance Manchin.
DeleteMurakowski was in fact elected as an independent after losing the Republican primary. I can easily see her becoming officially an independent. But my guess is that she will still caucus with the Republicans as Bernie caucuses with the Democrats.
DeleteMaybe Bernie and Lisa can caucus together.
DeleteTrump went 'ballistic' after being tossed off Twitter [Click]
ReplyDeletePresident Donald Trump has many prized possessions. But few seemed to inspire as much personal joy as his Twitter feed. Trump routinely boasted of the social media bullhorn he possessed. He credited it with launching his political trajectory. And he used it as a tool to lacerate his foes.
On Friday night, he lost it. And, then, he lost his mind.
No, he lost it quite some time ago.
His mind, that is.
DeleteMAGA internet turns on Trump [Click]
ReplyDelete