choices – R&R – Reachout and Rebuild

Soaring Costs of Prescription Drugs in the US

David Posnett — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 15:09:35 +0000

Great article about the soaring costs of prescription drugs in the US. The very same drugs are offered in other countries like Germany and the UK etc, at a small fraction of what we are asked to pay. Who benefits? The drug companies. Since most countries have government limits on the costs of drugs, the drug companies make less of a profit in those countries (but still enough to continue selling there). To make up for what they view as insufficient margins, they go crazy with the prices in the US, where there are no government limits. The free market just doesn’t work when it comes to life saving medicines. Unless you decide that only the lives of the rich are worth saving.

Confused by Obamacare ? For Suffolk County Residents, read on…

David Posnett — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 20:46:54 +0000

Confused? Not sure how it may benefit you? Not sure how much it will cost? If you are anywhere near Southampton, Riverhead or Hampton Bays, here are 3 seminars coming up: Layman’s terms. Resource guide to local enrollers.

Wed Feb 26, 2014 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Rogers Memorial Library, Morris Meeting Room, 91 Coopers Farm Rd, Southampton, NY 11968. (631) 283 0774, ext 523

Thu Mar 6, 2014 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Riverhead Free Library, 330 Court Street, Riverhead, NY 11902; call (631) 727 3228 or email contact@riverheadlibrary.com

Tues Mar 25, 2014 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Hampton Bays Public Library, 52 Ponquogue Ave., Hampton Bays, NY 11946, call (631) 728 6241 or email hbaylib2suffolk.lib.ny.us

Need help to sign up for Obamacare?

David Posnett — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 15:01:35 +0000

If you are anywhere near East Hampton on the Southfork this is a great place:

East Hampton Health Care Center

for appointments with an “enroller” on Mon and Fri call

Julia Fuentes 631 294 2921
Nancy Moraga Martinez 631 291 5077

for appointments with an “enroller” on Tues and Thu call

Vicki Duran 516 315 1021

All enrollers are fluent in English and Spanish. You can sign up your family within less than 1 hour. It is person to person and you don’t need to have computer skills.

Weighing Health Plans: The Devilish Details (NYT)

David Posnett — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 17:25:14 +0000

A very useful article appeared on Dec 21st, 2013 in the NY Times and many may have missed it (as I did)! It described in detail the choices of plans offered by the ACA. A good read before you get started!

Weighing Health Plans: The Devilish Details, by Tara Siegel Bernard.

Testimonials from Suffolk county: It is not all bad!

David Posnett — Sun, 29 Dec 2013 05:10:23 +0000

I signed up through the NY state website. It was the easiest thing I’ve ever done in this realm. Particularly, as an independent contractor — In the past, I’d tried several times to navigate their labyrinthian website — finally giving up as I was asked to produce more and more paperwork. In this new incarnation, as a self employed person — I went to the Individuals section, and then it asked me to fill in what my expected income was, my deductions and it did the calculations for me. The site immediately told me what I was eligible for and then asked me to choose a plan — I was able to see which plan my doctor accepted (by going to my doctor’s site)….you also have the option to change the plan within 90 days or if not within that time frame then after a year you can opt for another plan. It was so easy and stress free I couldn’t believe it. I am so pleased, I am encouraging others to follow suit. Caterina.

I signed up by PHONE and it was easy and painless, though I think the “hold time” to talk to someone may have increased. I got what I believe is a good plan at an amazingly good rate as my income is low enough to qualify for the subsidy. It took about a half hour. They are available 24/7. Marketplace 800 318-2596. Robin.

I did finally get a BC/BS policy for a few dollars more than my old lousy Oxford policy. This one now has no deductible and covers a lot more services. An agent (paid by the state) helped me sort through it, since finding participating providers is the huge time consuming part. I have a confirmation number for the new policy but I have not yet been contacted by BC/BS to pay, so…come January 1st I do not think any doctors will see me without insurance verification or policy number… I will call them on Monday and see what needs to be done. By the way, the agent I used was Steven Schiller, Financial Representative, Group Sales
Tel 516-677-5031 • Fax 516-677-6894 Woodbury , New York 11797.
sschiller@glic.com. He gets one set up and confirmed but then payments and activation is between the insurance company and the insured. Jim

Navigators in Suffolk County

David Posnett — Wed, 25 Dec 2013 18:09:26 +0000

Nassau Suffolk County Hospital Council has a nice website. They provide navigator services for those wanting to sign up for health insurance (ACA or Obamacare). Need health insurance? Click on this link, or call

631-656-9783 or 631-435-3000

You can sign up

IN-PERSON – NSHC Navigator Agency provides in-person navigators at various sites throughout the community on a daily basis. These sites are offered on a first come, first serve basis. There are no appointments. Click here for Calendar Of Dates, Times, And Locations For Enrollment.
BY APPOINTMENT – Please contact one of these Navigator Agencies:
Community Service Society of New York 1-888-614-5400
Public Health Solutions 1-646-632-5986
BY PHONE – Please call the New York State of Health customer service line at: 1-855-355-5777
ONLINE – Please go to the New York State of Health official website at:
www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov

No more excuses! SIGN UP!

ACA and the Middle Class

David Posnett — Tue, 24 Dec 2013 03:43:21 +0000

So will the ACA really frustrate the middle class? A nice analysis of what you get for your money and a retort to a misleading NYTimes article is this piece: “The ACA Will Help, Not ‘Frustrate’ the Middle Class” by Jared Bernstein.