Random Thought Thread

[bluemax_1]

On the topic of acronyms:

I remember having to websearch IANAL. “What the heck does that mean, and why do people seem to post it before giving their opinions. Why would I WANT their opinions?”

Similarly, I had numerous friends in middle school and high school who trained and competed in Taekwondo. It wasn’t until college that people started going, “Wait… the organization is the World Taekwondo Federation? W T F?” , and they’d always whine, “Well, yeah… it’s been called that, since way before the acronym came into use”.

 

[Richard338]

It's not like I was looking forward to it...when I could have the pleasure of spending the morning comparing federal health plans for the coming year.

Most people I know chose BCBS. I followed suit without trying to make sense of the overwhelming list of options.

 

[Blues]

This is the way, Richard338 :

Guide to Health Plans For Federal Employees, 2025 FEHB Open Season

Checkbook's Guide to Health Plans helps active and retired federal employees find the best FEHB and FEDVIP plan for themselves and their family.

www.checkbook.org

I happily left BCBS some years ago when their prices skyrocketed out of control

You can use the aforementioned site to look at the relevant data for your circumstances and zip code, and prioritize the columns by cost, benefits, value etc.

I've been using it for years and it's the best way I have found to make sense of the numerous options. (And pretty much every year, it reinforces the decision to stay with the provider I have been using for several years already.)

I can literally get through with the analysis in minutes...instead of hours. It's only a few dollars, and money well spent.

 

[TRfromMT]

My name is Tony and I am not anonymous. I think some of, if not most of, the problems in our culture today stem from the anonymity that comes from the internet. People can say things they wouldn't dream of 15 or 20 years ago because they can get away with spouting any foul thing that comes to mind, hiding behind a screen name.

I have wrestled with this the past 3 years wondering what is going on in the world around me. It's led to a depression I've never had to cope with before.

So I'm going to speak up. I'm not OK with the crassness I see here from time to time that simply wasn't 3 years ago. I'm not OK with it. This used to be a safe place on Bladeforums not to be exposed to this. There are other places to go have the more colorful dialog.

Thank you Blues for taking it on today. It should not be just your job as moderator.

My name is Tony and I'm not anonymous.

 

[Blues]

Thanks, Tony. There's a line. I may have a difficult time defining it, but as Justice Potter Stewart said..."I know it when I see it".
Some things are better left for private conversations with intimate friends, or in Whine & Cheese if you simply must opine on this site.

I'm far from a prude...but there is a basic level of respect that people should employ in a community living room open to the public, including youngsters.

Not saying I've never been wrong...because that would be a lie.

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

Personally, I am not a free speech absolutist, but I lean that way.

I'm also not easily offended. There are concepts and ideas that I find offensive, and there are actions that I find offensive, but I personally cannot recall having ever been offended by anyone's language. What they speak of, perhaps, but the language itself doesn't bother me. Probably because I'm an unwashed heathen, raised by wolves.

It is my opinion that everyone has the right to be offended, but nobody has the right to not be offended. Meaning, it is not a god-given right that other people don't say something that offends you. And I think we would all agree with that and I think we're all on the same page there, more or less.

So, starting from what I believe is probably common ground I will point out that there are always going to be some people offended by some things and therefore, in order to be decent conscientious people, we do need to have boundaries so it's just a matter of where do we draw those lines.

On the one hand, I do want to try to keep this place classy, but on the other hand this is pretty much a boys club and there's usually a different set of standards when men are amongst other men.

So, going forward, I would ask you to keep in mind that there are some women here and in theory this is supposed to be a child friendly forum, so let's try to keep it PG-13 around here.

 

[Blues]

Thank you, Nathan, and as always, since it's your living room in which this is taking place, please feel free to tell me to pound sand if I overstep.
I know we're friends and will not be offended by your establishing house rules.

 

[Blues]

Richard338

By way of example, (and realizing that things may be slightly different based upon age, zip code, Medicare)...here's a snippet of info from the analysis done earlier today...which shows premium costs and worst case out of pocket for plans in the two highest levels..."excellent" / "outstanding" for a self plus one enrollment. The others were not considered.

Look at the cost of the policy vs. the maximum out of pocket for each. These are only "Fee for Service" options. No HMOs or health saving accounts which would require my wife to do to address too many hoops were I not around to deal with the minutiae.

 

[Hatchet_Jack]

Blues I find the American healthcare system very confusing. Please help me understand.

Let’s say a low socio economic person finds an odd lump and wants to have it checked out. Then is recommended to have ultrasounds and MRI’s. This indicates that it needs to be removed and tested but they don’t have private healthcare or the money to pay for it do they still get care? What happens if they’re unable to foot the bill?

In Australia we have a hybrid type system where paying for private health gives you benefits such as choose your own doctors, less wait time and sometimes better hospitals. But it’s very expensive, so I rely on the alternative public healthcare. Contrary to popular misconception it isn’t free. Everyone pays a levy come tax time and we pay a subsidised gap for services we use.

My wife and I both have respectable jobs so we’re not low income but with nearly 4 kids and sky rocketing cost of living we can’t foot the $1k per month private health. The scenario was one I was in a couple years back. The tumour ended up being benign mind you, but multiple doctor visits, ultrasounds, MRI and surgery set me back about $500-600 out of pocket.

 

[Blues]

I'm not an expert on the healthcare system as a whole, though I don't think the ERs are supposed to turn away those in need.

I only concern myself with the plans available to me through my government service, and which ones rip me off the least in comparison to the benefits offered for the money paid.

I'm sure there are far more knowledgeable people here on the topic, especially since I only visit a doctor when dragged kicking and screaming.

But...by way of example, the bill from the ER for 13 stitches a couple years back was $1500.00
That's not what they got, mind you, but that was the ask. I don't know what would have happened had I not been insured and if the cost to me hadn't been significantly reduced by the existing plan between the insurance company and the provider...etc.

 

[Richard338]

Richard338

By way of example, (and realizing that things may be slightly different based upon age, zip code, Medicare)...here's a snippet of info from the analysis done earlier today...which shows premium costs and worst case out of pocket for plans in the two highest levels..."excellent" / "outstanding" for a self plus one enrollment. The others were not considered.

Look at the cost of the policy vs. the maximum out of pocket for each. These are only "Fee for Service" options. No HMOs or health saving accounts which would require my wife to do to address too many hoops were I not around to deal with the minutiae.


View attachment 2708717

Appreciate it Blues . An additional consideration for me is that I travel a lot and spend time in two very different states.

 

[Blues]

Appreciate it Blues . An additional consideration for me is that I travel a lot and spend time in two very different states.

If it matters at all, take a look at GEHA. I had to visit an ER out of state once for a hand injury during a motorcycle trip. (I had to laugh, I was the only one in the ER in Breckenridge, TX and had to wake up the attending physician.)

I know GEHA handles claims for participating and non-participating facilities, albeit at different rates. Out of state is not an issue.

Plus, the "Chefs" play at GEHA Stadium, don't they?

 

[Richard338]

For what they charge for tickets I should be in TS's box.

 

[Blues]

For what they charge for tickets I should be in TS's box.

I won't ask you how you mean that...given the issues here earlier. LOL.

BTW, I have found GEHA as good as BCBS at a much more palatable price.

(Now, I'm calling Travis to tell him what you said.)

 

[SpyderPhreak]

You could always pull the ole blinker fluid gag by making her all for it at an autoshop..... or just poop in her pillow case and be done with it

Dang. Nuclear option right out of the gate. Normally I'd love that! Might be a bit much here tho...

I would have lost my mind! My wife can be a trickster, but certain things are just off limits.

I was NOT happy!!! Hours of WASTED time!

Not my place, but I recommend de-escalating.

I would normally follow the 10-fold path. And in a way, I am. Little things add up.

My wife has a friend whose husband is always pranking her and vice versa. Some of it is funny but I would hate to be watching over my shoulder all the time for the next “gotcha.”

Yeah, that would suck! This is not typical, and I did nothing to deserve it!


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I have now hidden one of her favorite coats, a pair of socks, and a pair of her winter boots. Car keys keep getting "misplaced". I'm just getting started.

 

[Jason M D.]

I have HC through work and it’s decent.
I wanted to get tested for strep and doc had samples tested for 20 different things (strep, all the covids, all the flus, etc.) which I didn’t mind.
One of the covid tests was over $900. Talkin bouts the vapors. Found out ins no longer covered that test under the billing number Tried to get it changed but to no avail.
Asked if I could get it reduced. Thankfully nice billing lady cut it by 60%
This was after 4 weeks of waiting and hand wringing.

Wouldn’t mind only paying $400-$600 for a major surgery but not sure I would like everything else that would come with that type of healthcare, governmentally speaking.

 

[Blues]

(FWIW, I've lifted the day long thread ban on tinfoil hat timmy . Was just trying to get a point across earlier, and if it was received, fine. If it wasn't, waiting until tomorrow won't change anything. I'm not really into public flogging just for the hell of it. Only putting this here since the issue came up in the open forum.)

 

[toker]

High deductible plans and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) are where it's at.

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

We love you Timmy!


(Now try harder)

 

[carnifex knifeworks]

to be FAIR

pooping in your wifes pillow is WAY WORSE than ASKING for anal sex.

It didn't sound like you were going to ask. "Revenge" or "Payback" usually isn't consensual. Going to drop it though. Not an alley we need to go down.

Dang. Nuclear option right out of the gate. Normally I'd love that! Might be a bit much here tho...


I was NOT happy!!! Hours of WASTED time!


I would normally follow the 10-fold path. And in a way, I am. Little things add up.


Yeah, that would suck! This is not typical, and I did nothing to deserve it!



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I have now hidden one of her favorite coats, a pair of socks, and a pair of her winter boots. Car keys keep getting "misplaced". I'm just getting started.

I mean.....I gave 2 options; one mild, one extreme. I thought everyone liked having options.