That's going to be a problem with any third-party payment scheme. The insurer pays the bill and passes the cost on to the insured without any incentive to hold down costs. Unfortunately, there is no alternative to third-party pay as with any method of shared risk. Insurance companies must be made to control their costs through some type of incentive scheme or else the government will become the third-party insurer, not a pretty alternative either.
Canadians come to the States to receive quicker treatment while Americans go to Canada for less expensive treatment and medicines. (Bus trips from Buffalo to Ontario for seniors seeking treatment and medicines are common.) There has got to be a more efficient method. But unfortunately our elected government officials are bought and paid for by lobbies including the insurance lobby.
Our system here in Canada manages health care by rationing it via budgets. In my example of the heart valve, they told me they only do a small number of these procedures each month. Part of the reason is that each valve costs them $26,000. Now, I have no idea what goes into that number but they are a bovine valve that is then worked on by the producer - the mock up I was shown looks like it was not $26K worth of work. Who knows for sure though.
I also waited 18 months for my previous open-heart surgery back in 08/09. And wait lists for things like knee and hip replacement are years long here. So there is a lot of suffering and reduced quality of life for folks afflicted.
Not sure there is any perfect solution, but there is big money being made by some in health care both here and south of the 49th parallel..
There's pro and con to both systems. For my recent surgery I saw the doctor on Monday and had the operation on Friday. Would have been sooner but I had to get med clearance first.
Cost savings come in because a big company can negotiate big discounts. The anesthesia bill was $900 but the insurance paid them $168. Because of that my premium is less.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Leaving Sunday for Costa Rica. 6am flight. Ouch. Anyway, just thought I'd throw that out there.
I go there quite often. One of the big computer companies I do business with has a sales and support HQ there.
Love going there. Rainforest is beautiful. People are great.
Last time I was there, went to a French restaurant about 30 minutes from my hotel. Had a wonderful 5 course meal with great service for under $100.....for 2. And, the total taxi ride, up and back, was $15. I gave the driver a $20 and told him to keep the change. You would have thought I gave him an ounce of gold.
No trips there this year. But, looking for a way to get back down there next year.
Went to Cruise Night last night. It was a really fun night, they even had an Elvis guy who was pretty good. Saw lots of huge 50s Cadillacs and about a 60 Lincoln Continental...it was humongous.
Saw one of these in this color.....remember The Judge;
Also saw one of these, Cadillac XLR The Cadillac XLR is a luxury roadster that was marketed by Cadillac, assembled in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Intended to be Cadillac's flagship sports car, the XLR was based on the Chevrolet Corvette's Y platform. The XLR featured its own unique styling, interior, and suspension, and power-retractable aluminum hardtop, along with the Cadillac Northstar engine. The XLR ended production after the 2009 model year.
The car was based on the all-new Chevrolet Corvette (C6). Cadillac introduced the XLR at the 2003 Detroit Motor Show and began production in the 2004 model year
Lots of nice T-Birds, Mustangs, and Corvettes. They don't make them like they used to.
My late uncle had one of those XLRs. It was very cool. I remember the family poked at him for spending a lot of money on it, but not sure what the prices were on them.
Went to Cruise Night last night. It was a really fun night, they even had an Elvis guy who was pretty good. Saw lots of huge 50s Cadillacs and about a 60 Lincoln Continental...it was humongous.
Saw one of these in this color.....remember The Judge;
Also saw one of these, Cadillac XLR The Cadillac XLR is a luxury roadster that was marketed by Cadillac, assembled in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Intended to be Cadillac's flagship sports car, the XLR was based on the Chevrolet Corvette's Y platform. The XLR featured its own unique styling, interior, and suspension, and power-retractable aluminum hardtop, along with the Cadillac Northstar engine. The XLR ended production after the 2009 model year.
The car was based on the all-new Chevrolet Corvette (C6). Cadillac introduced the XLR at the 2003 Detroit Motor Show and began production in the 2004 model year
Lots of nice T-Birds, Mustangs, and Corvettes. They don't make them like they used to.
It had a Northstar? No wonder they didn't sell. Sources say they fixed most of the problems by 2005 but by then the reputation was toast. They should have put in at least basic Vette motor in it. A 300hp engine didn't justify the price..
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
XLR was an interesting car. Kind of cool styling, but mid 00s GM interior quality, and odd marketing positioning. Another SL competitor that didn't cut it. The base model heavily undercut the SL on price, but also fell short on performance - and the SL is more boulevardier than track terror. The V model heavily undercut the SL AMG, but only barely beat the normal SL in performance. The market didn't react. Today, maybe a car for the Allante enthusiast who has everything, or for a Corvette fan scared of the image.
The Cadillac XLR is a luxury roadster that was marketed by Cadillac, assembled in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Intended to be Cadillac's flagship sports car, the XLR was based on the Chevrolet Corvette's Y platform. The XLR featured its own unique styling, interior, and suspension, and power-retractable aluminum hardtop, along with the Cadillac Northstar engine. The XLR ended production after the 2009 model year.
That $100,000. legacy gift to your alma mater would probably be used for a pay raise to an already overpaid professor, etc. whereas, it might be more meaningful to your remaining family members. Not second guessing, just my opinion.
My opinion too with the social engineering and extravagant pay for biased professors and administrators. Money would probably end up in the athletic program at some schools and there's already too much of that. A legacy left to aspecific department, such as the physics department or a specific engineering department might work.
I'd think more of a local scholarship to help deserving students who are potential contributors to society get to college and stay there. I learned that a fellow who graduated from high school a year behind me who was in the band has a scholarship for students from the high school. I suspect the school staff does the picking. I learned when our son was at the awards ceremony graduation from high school that two friends of ours had a scholarship fund for students of our local high school. They'd never mentioned a word. Since he was a coach I suspect the scholarship targets athletes.
If I do a scholarship, it would be targeted to students based on potention rather than ones in low income or families with no history of college, and support would go to students who were not athletes but who showed promise. Athletes are already over-glamourized here in Ohio. There are other activities such as band, science olympiad, and mock trial where students excel. And even students who don't excel there show classroom promise to be scientists, technicians, engineers, and mathematicians.
Your gift to a university may be targeted but it must be large enough to be classified as a restricted endowment fund. Small amounts (less than $100k) usually are commingled with other unrestricted funds.
In my case, my future gift is to a small private catholic college that is tuition driven, where any amount in excess of $10k makes a significant difference to the survival and legacy of the college itself. Some people give to their church, library or museum; I give to support the development of human capital- 'cause a mind is a terrible thing to waste.
That's a good point. Likewise, for most small liberal arts colleges, a gift of $25k can be targeted. You can also designate any amount to go to an existing fund that has the same goals as you want.
That makes sense. Normal checkups are a lot less onerous than specialized care. And even then, there should be some type of insurance to cover the costs, so people barely scraping by aren't forced with a $5000 bill for a 15 minute ER visit that turned out to just be a few stitches.
It should be the exact opposite. Basic essentials is what we can pay for ourselves. The government should pay catastrophic items. We can buy up perhaps cutting edge, or maintenance care, the way we do maintenance packages, if we wish to. The poorest of us could get "free clinic" access from charitable doctors, if they can't afford even the basics.
Ab, my thoughts on health insurance is that government supplied should work like that. Basic essentials. People then are free to pay extra (oop or via private insurance) to go beyond that. But everyone should have access to core care. Just have to accept the fact that everyone doesn't get the latest and greatest immediately.
That is not a bad idea, but man would you be castigated for even mentioning it on some sites. Rich vs poor.
That makes sense. Normal checkups are a lot less onerous than specialized care. And even then, there should be some type of insurance to cover the costs, so people barely scraping by aren't forced with a $5000 bill for a 15 minute ER visit that turned out to just be a few stitches.
It should be the exact opposite. Basic essentials is what we can pay for ourselves. The government should pay catastrophic items. We can buy up perhaps cutting edge, or maintenance care, the way we do maintenance packages, if we wish to. The poorest of us could get "free clinic" access from charitable doctors, if they can't afford even the basics.
That goes into pricing transparency. One big difficulty I did not mention previously is that healthcare, especially emergency care, is the only service ever we receive first and get the price later. No other business is allowed not tell us, how much it will cost before we actually use it. Moreover, many times, even if they wanted to (and they really, really don't want to), we wouldn't be able to make a decision anyway, being unconscious, or under pain. It's essentially an only working gas station after a hurricane. How do we control that one, short of government price control, I simply don't know.
My biggest fear today is that I actually accumulated some assets and all of it can be wiped out with one claim denial, or "out-of-network" situation that is beyond my control, like you go into in-network place, but somehow one expensive procedure is out-of-network and they tell you that later.
I see medical businesses (in their aggregate) as essentially criminal organizations aimed at stripping you from everything you have, cause they fixed something in you. Their standing posture is we saved your life and you owe us everything you have. They throw random numbers at you completely at will and see what will stick. I had one hospital visit three years ago and it was an eye opener to this business. Simple one night observation, a few tests, blood, scan, etc. "List Price": $50,000, insurance allowance (negotiated price) - $1700. They of course bump it to something like $2800 on pretenses of couple of denied blood tests (utilization), bill at their phoney high price (not the price same procedure was paid by the insurance deductible, but one they pulled out or their a** - proportion was $50 or so for insurance-covered price and $700 for their "list" price). I call them, they totally stone wall me. Finally, insurance lady explains the deal to me - I'm not responsible for the denied service, it's entirely between them and the hospital. I send the check for the appropriate amount, as outlined on my EOB from the insurance, not on the hospital bill with a short letter. And they say OK, of course. This is plain fraud. Phoney prices, phoney costs, phoney billing. Anybody else would go to prison for doing things like billing 50k and accepting 2k. But they can. Until we fix that part, there is no improvement.
These phoney prices also introduce a lot of stress into the system, when normal people with decent means have to constantly look not to get trapped into something. If you have nothing, you're fine. If you have millions, you're fine. If you have couple of hundred thousand dollars that you worked for your entire life - that's when they come in and take it all, if you are not careful.
I studied this hospital bill and concluded that the biggest fraud (there is no other name for it) is happening in diagnostic area. These bills include all different components. Doctor's prices are usually discounted by 30-60 percent vs. the list price. Steep, but not impossible. However, any kind of diagnostic test that involves some machinery is the one when the spread between "insured" and "uninsured" price is essentially criminal (like 20:1 or sometimes even 100:1). I think, what allows them to do that is amortization. Say it's a 10 million dollar machine. The hospital will amortize this machine for purpose of "uninsured patient" bill (aka rack price) using short schedule, say 3 years and small number of patients. The insurance company will come with calculations making many, many more patient and much longer amortization schedule for their price base. So, making up numbers, $10M/3yrs/1 patient per day is 10 grand per procedure (for the rack price), vs. $10M/10yrs/5 patients per day gets you $500 per procedure. 20:1 Mystery solved.
So you pay in straight dollars in Costa Rica, no currency exchange necessary?
You can go either way, just like in Mexico, from what I have read. We will exchange some because my experience is that you typically get a better deal with local money.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I despise our legal system. Received the following email this morn. So the lawyers get $2M to award people 0.26% from a silly coin counting machine. Absurd.
According to TD’s records, you may have completed a Penny Arcade transaction at a TD store between April 11, 2010, and July 12, 2017, inclusive (the “Class Period”), and therefore may be eligible for a payment from the Class Action Settlement if it is approved. You are receiving this notice because you have a right to know about a proposed Settlement and about all of your options before the Court decides whether to give final approval to the Settlement.
If the settlement is approved, TD Bank will create a $7,500,000 fund to make payments to class members and up to $100,000 in litigation costs. Each class member's exact payment cannot be determined now, but payments will be calculated by applying a multiplier of 0.26% (based on extensive third party testing of machine accuracy) to identifiable class members' Penny Arcade transactions during the Class Period, after which any additional amount in the fund will be added pro rata to each class member's payment. This means payment to class members will likely be at least 26¢ per $100 exchanged using Penny Arcade during the Class Period. Any amount remaining in the fund after all payments are made to the class members will be donated to one or more court-approved non-profit organizations. TD will also pay attorneys' fees of up to $1,935,000 and service payments of up to $65,000, in the aggregate, to the named plaintiffs. TD will not resume using the machines at issue in the lawsuits to provide self-service coin counting in TD stores.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
@dino001 - don't forget "the kicker." The difference between the "List Price" or "Rack Rate" and what the insurance company pays gets written off by the hospital as a "loss." The hospital essentially gets subvented by the gov't.
As you all know, I sell plumbing & heating supplies for a living. Everything has a "list price" which absolutely nobody pays. I sell pretty much everything as a discount off of a list price. I would LOVE to be able to write the difference off as a loss, it would be wonderful. It's not legal though. Because I'm not a hospital.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD, 2025 Toyota Camry SE AWD
@dino001 - don't forget "the kicker." The difference between the "List Price" or "Rack Rate" and what the insurance company pays gets written off by the hospital as a "loss." The hospital essentially gets subvented by the gov't.
As you all know, I sell plumbing & heating supplies for a living. Everything has a "list price" which absolutely nobody pays. I sell pretty much everything as a discount off of a list price. I would LOVE to be able to write the difference off as a loss, it would be wonderful. It's not legal though. Because I'm not a hospital.
I think "loss" writeoff would probably apply only to unpaid service, not the one paid at the negotiated price. However, even at that it's still fraudulent. Using my hospital ecperience example, they got paid whatever was allowed by the insurance and those two or three utilization-based denied services, they can likely write those off at their fraudulent "rack" price. But I get what you're saying. This scandalous type of accounting will allow "non-profit" hospitals function nicely with everybody involved getting fat checks. The "for-profit" hospitals will probably create non-GAAP metrics to show investors they're really making tons of money, just accounting tricks allow them to dodge taxes. I'd have to look into some of those publicly traded hospital companies to see how they do their accounting and what investors actually look at. May be an interesting case.
My biggest fear today is that I actually accumulated some assets and all of it can be wiped out with one claim denial, or "out-of-network" situation that is beyond my control, like you go into in-network place, but somehow one expensive procedure is out-of-network and they tell you that later.
I see medical businesses (in their aggregate) as essentially criminal organizations aimed at stripping you from everything you have, cause they fixed something in you. Their standing posture is we saved your life and you owe us everything you have. They throw random numbers at you completely at will and see what will stick. I had one hospital visit three years ago and it was an eye opener to this business. Simple one night observation, a few tests, blood, scan, etc. "List Price": $50,000, insurance allowance (negotiated price) - $1700. They of course bump it to something like $2800 on pretenses of couple of denied blood tests (utilization), bill at their phoney high price (not the price same procedure was paid by the insurance deductible, but one they pulled out or their a** - proportion was $50 or so for insurance-covered price and $700 for their "list" price). I call them, they totally stone wall me. Finally, insurance lady explains the deal to me - I'm not responsible for the denied service, it's entirely between them and the hospital. I send the check for the appropriate amount, as outlined on my EOB from the insurance, not on the hospital bill with a short letter. And they say OK, of course. This is plain fraud. Phoney prices, phoney costs, phoney billing. Anybody else would go to prison for doing things like billing 50k and accepting 2k. But they can. Until we fix that part, there is no improvement.
These phoney prices also introduce a lot of stress into the system, when normal people with decent means have to constantly look not to get trapped into something. If you have nothing, you're fine. If you have millions, you're fine. If you have couple of hundred thousand dollars that you worked for your entire life - that's when they come in and take it all, if you are not careful.
As I understand that it's a kind of tax dodge. If they bill $50 and get $2 they claim the $48 as a "loss". This helps non-profits maintain that "didn't make any money status" it helps individual providers avoid taxes as well.
Edit: I see you guys already discussed that. Smart bunch.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Well, my son and grandson have come and gone. I could not believe how big my grandson got. He has a 36" waist (I know because I spent a small fortune on back-to-school clothes for him) and a 34-35" inseam. He is 6'3" tall and weighs about 220. Still has his blond hair and blue eyes and the biggest dimples in his cheeks when he smiles - and he isn't 17 years old yet. Today was the first day of school for him as a senior in High School. He says he isn't interested in the distraction of girls right now and concentrates on school work and baseball. He is one of the starting pitchers on the Varsity Team. He must have to fight the girls off (being a jock, tall, blond and blue eyed with dimples and a terrifically handsome face and body) but I am glad he has set his priorities for the next year.
Unfortunately, my son got very sick here - threw up once while I was driving and I pulled over just in time. He had tremendous headaches and just felt a general malaise throughout his body. He called his oncologist in California while he was here. She is very concerned about the possible recurrence of his brain cancer.
I spoke with him yesterday afternoon and he has an appointment for an MRI of his brain and a full PET Scan of his body today. He said he would call me as soon as they have the results of the tests - probably Monday or Tuesday. I am very worried about him. He had lost a lot of weight and I have not slept very well since his visit. I pray he'll be all right or that if there is something, they can get right on it before it gets out of control.
At the same time, I am getting ready for my surgery on Tuesday morning to remove tumors from my right forearm. I've already spoken with the hospital and they have given me my instructions. They want me to have someone stay with me for the first 24 hours since even though I won't be under general anesthetic, but rather a "la-la type of anesthetic", the procedure is still going to take 30-40 minutes and they want someone to watch me closely once they discharge me later in the morning or afternoon. I called my doctor's nurse to see if she could find someone to pick me up at he hospital and stay with me for the night. Things are just getting hard to handle lately with my son and now me.
Looking over my wife's shoulder at some "rich women of Georgia" or sonething show and the mother is taking the daughter shopping at an exotic car dealer. The younger woman is running from Fararri to Maserati without even knowing the name. Mom tries to get her interested in a BMW 4 and the kid says "that car don't give me 'life'...these other ones give me 'life'"
Wow! Just wow!
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Looking over my wife's shoulder at some "rich women of Georgia" or sonething show and the mother is taking the daughter shopping at an exotic car dealer. The younger woman is running from Fararri to Maserati without even knowing the name. Mom tries to get her interested in a BMW 4 and the kid says "that car don't give me 'life'...these other ones give me 'life'"
Looking over my wife's shoulder at some "rich women of Georgia" or sonething show and the mother is taking the daughter shopping at an exotic car dealer. The younger woman is running from Fararri to Maserati without even knowing the name. Mom tries to get her interested in a BMW 4 and the kid says "that car don't give me 'life'...these other ones give me 'life'"
Wow! Just wow!
WOW is not the word I would have thought of (I would have been much more appalled) but I get what you're saying.
Cost savings come in because a big company can negotiate big discounts. The anesthesia bill was $900 but the insurance paid them $168. Because of that my premium is less.
I don't understand that. It's like if you wrote off your GT in a wreck and your insurance company is buying you a new replacement. You walk into the Ford dealer and ask "What's the price of that Mustang GT over there?"
"$125,000" the salesman says.
"My insurance company won't go for that!" you exclaim.
"Oh, you're getting it through insurance? Then it's $35,000".
I seriously doubt the hospital was losing money on your $168 anaesthesia.
As others like @dino001 have so well detailed, the system is broken, if not outright corrupt.
XLR was an interesting car. Kind of cool styling, but mid 00s GM interior quality, and odd marketing positioning. Another SL competitor that didn't cut it. The base model heavily undercut the SL on price, but also fell short on performance - and the SL is more boulevardier than track terror. The V model heavily undercut the SL AMG, but only barely beat the normal SL in performance. The market didn't react. Today, maybe a car for the Allante enthusiast who has everything, or for a Corvette fan scared of the image.
I really liked the styling of the XLR. It was the first "Art & Science" Cadillac design job that I thought really looked good. Thought it looked better than the Vette actually. But I agree that the engine was a poor choice. If nothing else the V-spec engine should have been the standard choice if they had to use a Northstar.
I don't understand that. It's like if you wrote off your GT in a wreck and your insurance company is buying you a new replacement. You walk into the Ford dealer and ask "What's the price of that Mustang GT over there?"
"$125,000" the salesman says.
"My insurance company won't go for that!" you exclaim.
"Oh, you're getting it through insurance? Then it's $35,000".
I seriously doubt the hospital was losing money on your $168 anaesthesia.
As others like @dino001 have so well detailed, the system is broken, if not outright corrupt.
Oh, its awful. AND, if you don't have insurance at all, the rate is much lower. It is a crazy scam. It is kind of like marking up your prices 1000% and then having an "800% off" sale. My chiro was not shy about this. If I went through insurance, he'd charge them $80 per visit and they'd pay him $40. If I paid out of my pocket, I paid $40.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Cost savings come in because a big company can negotiate big discounts. The anesthesia bill was $900 but the insurance paid them $168. Because of that my premium is less.
I don't understand that. It's like if you wrote off your GT in a wreck and your insurance company is buying you a new replacement. You walk into the Ford dealer and ask "What's the price of that Mustang GT over there?"
"$125,000" the salesman says.
"My insurance company won't go for that!" you exclaim.
"Oh, you're getting it through insurance? Then it's $35,000".
I seriously doubt the hospital was losing money on your $168 anaesthesia.
As others like @dino001 have so well detailed, the system is broken, if not outright corrupt.
Just imagine we buy any kind of consumer product using logic of medical companies.
The fact that there are majors in vocational schools specialized in medical billing, should tell one the system is ripe for complete overhaul. We complain how elaborate, byzantine are cell phone plans. It's nothing compared to messed up medical services.
I don't understand that. It's like if you wrote off your GT in a wreck and your insurance company is buying you a new replacement. You walk into the Ford dealer and ask "What's the price of that Mustang GT over there?"
"$125,000" the salesman says.
"My insurance company won't go for that!" you exclaim.
"Oh, you're getting it through insurance? Then it's $35,000".
I seriously doubt the hospital was losing money on your $168 anaesthesia.
As others like @dino001 have so well detailed, the system is broken, if not outright corrupt.
It is kind of like marking up your prices 1000% and then having an "800% off" sale.
To be exact, it's like having 99% off sale, but your point is correct.
Things are imploding, for sure. Even inside of your deductible you used to get a better price with insurance vs. without it. Now I'm buying couple of my maintenance medications from a mail order pharmacy (legitimate outfit, nothing funny) that does not accept insurance at lower price than if I got one with my insurance discount. You can also get GoodRx discount coupons that often are also better than the insurance price.
What's worse, Aetna has its own mail order service that charges about 3 times as much for equivalent supply vs. its own negotiated price at the local store (only difference, at the local store they'd let me take 30 days at the time, whereas mail order can get 90 days). That's a parallel universe to me.
I really liked the styling of the XLR. It was the first "Art & Science" Cadillac design job that I thought really looked good. Thought it looked better than the Vette actually. But I agree that the engine was a poor choice. If nothing else the V-spec engine should have been the standard choice if they had to use a Northstar.
qbrozen I despise our legal system. Received the following email this morn. So the lawyers get $2M to award people 0.26% from a silly coin counting machine. Absurd.
So, people are complaining because they lost a few pennies each time they took their pennies in to be counted in the machine? Wouldn't a normal person just figure that is part of the cost of having a machine count out my silly pennies,
btw, in Canada we have not had pennies for about 5 years now......don't miss them one bit. They just round prices up or down a nickel......they cost more to make than they were worth.
Enjoyed your comments about the XLR. It sure looked nice....on looks alone I would have considered one over a Corvette and possibly a Mercedes....have to drive it first though.
Up here in Canada there are only a handful of XLRs listed for sale that I could find. Regular ones go for around $30K, while V models seem to pull down $65K or so.
In Murka, the tinfoil hat-wearing big gubbamint-hating (yet often have their meal ticket linked to public sector spending) paranoids and wackjobs would go insane if someone was to "steal" their pennies. It'd be some kind of conspiracy.
So, people are complaining because they lost a few pennies each time they took their pennies in to be counted in the machine? Wouldn't a normal person just figure that is part of the cost of having a machine count out my silly pennies,
btw, in Canada we have not had pennies for about 5 years now......don't miss them one bit. They just round prices up or down a nickel......they cost more to make than they were worth.
I've never liked those XLR's. They just look cheap and fake. A subsequent 'Cimarron'. If others like them, I won't be your completion trying to buy one.
2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
Up here in Canada there are only a handful of XLRs listed for sale that I could find. Regular ones go for around $30K, while V models seem to pull down $65K or so.
Up here in Canada there are only a handful of XLRs listed for sale that I could find. Regular ones go for around $30K, while V models seem to pull down $65K or so.
qbrozen
I despise our legal system. Received the following email this morn. So the lawyers get $2M to award people 0.26% from a silly coin counting machine. Absurd.
So, people are complaining because they lost a few pennies each time they took their pennies in to be counted in the machine? Wouldn't a normal person just figure that is part of the cost of having a machine count out my silly pennies,
btw, in Canada we have not had pennies for about 5 years now......don't miss them one bit. They just round prices up or down a nickel......they cost more to make than they were worth.
And now that they complained, a team of lawyers gets $2M. Really grinds my gears.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
qbrozen I despise our legal system. Received the following email this morn. So the lawyers get $2M to award people 0.26% from a silly coin counting machine. Absurd.
So, people are complaining because they lost a few pennies each time they took their pennies in to be counted in the machine? Wouldn't a normal person just figure that is part of the cost of having a machine count out my silly pennies,
btw, in Canada we have not had pennies for about 5 years now......don't miss them one bit. They just round prices up or down a nickel......they cost more to make than they were worth.
don't get me started. Drove me nuts. TD was wonderful. Bring your bucket of coins, dump them in, get cash money with no fee. it was wonderful. But some people just have to rain in everyone's cornflakes, and caused a big stink. All the machines got audited, and some were a little off. Most were exact or extremely close, a few actually gave extra. very few were shorting by a notable amount. I, like probably 99 percent of users, were perfectly fine by this. But some loudmouths that like regulations made a stink. Now some lawyers get rich, I might get $1 back eventually, and if you want your coins counted it costs 7.5% at a coinstar. So basically, everyone in this loses, other than the lawyers. Me, TD, other customers. And I guess the crusaders can feel like they accomplished something?
Up here in Canada there are only a handful of XLRs listed for sale that I could find. Regular ones go for around $30K, while V models seem to pull down $65K or so.
Here's one that the owner seems to think is the holy grail.
qbrozen I despise our legal system. Received the following email this morn. So the lawyers get $2M to award people 0.26% from a silly coin counting machine. Absurd.
So, people are complaining because they lost a few pennies each time they took their pennies in to be counted in the machine? Wouldn't a normal person just figure that is part of the cost of having a machine count out my silly pennies,
btw, in Canada we have not had pennies for about 5 years now......don't miss them one bit. They just round prices up or down a nickel......they cost more to make than they were worth.
don't get me started. Drove me nuts. TD was wonderful. Bring your bucket of coins, dump them in, get cash money with no fee. it was wonderful. But some people just have to rain in everyone's cornflakes, and caused a big stink. All the machines got audited, and some were a little off. Most were exact or extremely close, a few actually gave extra. very few were shorting by a notable amount.
They should have called it the 1 cent lottery. You put your coins in, they will get counted (and btw, time is money), and you may come out a few cents ahead, or a few cents behind, but it is no different than a casino, except you actually receive something for a few cents.
Well, I didn't win the $750 million Powerball the other night so my plan to buy each of you a car of your choice has been ruined. It's not fair that I don't get to be filthy rich and share it with my friends.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Comments
Cost savings come in because a big company can negotiate big discounts. The anesthesia bill was $900 but the insurance paid them $168. Because of that my premium is less.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Love going there. Rainforest is beautiful. People are great.
Last time I was there, went to a French restaurant about 30 minutes from my hotel. Had a wonderful 5 course meal with great service for under $100.....for 2. And, the total taxi ride, up and back, was $15. I gave the driver a $20 and told him to keep the change. You would have thought I gave him an ounce of gold.
No trips there this year. But, looking for a way to get back down there next year.
It had a Northstar? No wonder they didn't sell. Sources say they fixed most of the problems by 2005 but by then the reputation was toast. They should have put in at least basic Vette motor in it. A 300hp engine didn't justify the price..
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
2018 430i Gran Coupe
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
2018 430i Gran Coupe
I see medical businesses (in their aggregate) as essentially criminal organizations aimed at stripping you from everything you have, cause they fixed something in you. Their standing posture is we saved your life and you owe us everything you have. They throw random numbers at you completely at will and see what will stick. I had one hospital visit three years ago and it was an eye opener to this business. Simple one night observation, a few tests, blood, scan, etc. "List Price": $50,000, insurance allowance (negotiated price) - $1700. They of course bump it to something like $2800 on pretenses of couple of denied blood tests (utilization), bill at their phoney high price (not the price same procedure was paid by the insurance deductible, but one they pulled out or their a** - proportion was $50 or so for insurance-covered price and $700 for their "list" price). I call them, they totally stone wall me. Finally, insurance lady explains the deal to me - I'm not responsible for the denied service, it's entirely between them and the hospital. I send the check for the appropriate amount, as outlined on my EOB from the insurance, not on the hospital bill with a short letter. And they say OK, of course. This is plain fraud. Phoney prices, phoney costs, phoney billing. Anybody else would go to prison for doing things like billing 50k and accepting 2k. But they can. Until we fix that part, there is no improvement.
These phoney prices also introduce a lot of stress into the system, when normal people with decent means have to constantly look not to get trapped into something. If you have nothing, you're fine. If you have millions, you're fine. If you have couple of hundred thousand dollars that you worked for your entire life - that's when they come in and take it all, if you are not careful.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
2018 430i Gran Coupe
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
According to TD’s records, you may have completed a Penny Arcade transaction at a TD store between April 11, 2010, and July 12, 2017, inclusive (the “Class Period”), and therefore may be eligible for a payment from the Class Action Settlement if it is approved. You are receiving this notice because you have a right to know about a proposed Settlement and about all of your options before the Court decides whether to give final approval to the Settlement.
If the settlement is approved, TD Bank will create a $7,500,000 fund to make payments to class members and up to $100,000 in litigation costs. Each class member's exact payment cannot be determined now, but payments will be calculated by applying a multiplier of 0.26% (based on extensive third party testing of machine accuracy) to identifiable class members' Penny Arcade transactions during the Class Period, after which any additional amount in the fund will be added pro rata to each class member's payment. This means payment to class members will likely be at least 26¢ per $100 exchanged using Penny Arcade during the Class Period. Any amount remaining in the fund after all payments are made to the class members will be donated to one or more court-approved non-profit organizations. TD will also pay attorneys' fees of up to $1,935,000 and service payments of up to $65,000, in the aggregate, to the named plaintiffs. TD will not resume using the machines at issue in the lawsuits to provide self-service coin counting in TD stores.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
As you all know, I sell plumbing & heating supplies for a living. Everything has a "list price" which absolutely nobody pays. I sell pretty much everything as a discount off of a list price. I would LOVE to be able to write the difference off as a loss, it would be wonderful. It's not legal though. Because I'm not a hospital.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD, 2025 Toyota Camry SE AWD
2018 430i Gran Coupe
https://global.handelsblatt.com/companies-markets/audi-uncorks-a-vin-mystery-815394
Edit: I see you guys already discussed that. Smart bunch.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Unfortunately, my son got very sick here - threw up once while I was driving and I pulled over just in time. He had tremendous headaches and just felt a general malaise throughout his body. He called his oncologist in California while he was here. She is very concerned about the possible recurrence of his brain cancer.
I spoke with him yesterday afternoon and he has an appointment for an MRI of his brain and a full PET Scan of his body today. He said he would call me as soon as they have the results of the tests - probably Monday or Tuesday. I am very worried about him. He had lost a lot of weight and I have not slept very well since his visit. I pray he'll be all right or that if there is something, they can get right on it before it gets out of control.
At the same time, I am getting ready for my surgery on Tuesday morning to remove tumors from my right forearm. I've already spoken with the hospital and they have given me my instructions. They want me to have someone stay with me for the first 24 hours since even though I won't be under general anesthetic, but rather a "la-la type of anesthetic", the procedure is still going to take 30-40 minutes and they want someone to watch me closely once they discharge me later in the morning or afternoon. I called my doctor's nurse to see if she could find someone to pick me up at he hospital and stay with me for the night. Things are just getting hard to handle lately with my son and now me.
Oh well, it is what it is!!!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Wow! Just wow!
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
"$125,000" the salesman says.
"My insurance company won't go for that!" you exclaim.
"Oh, you're getting it through insurance? Then it's $35,000".
I seriously doubt the hospital was losing money on your $168 anaesthesia.
As others like @dino001 have so well detailed, the system is broken, if not outright corrupt.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
The fact that there are majors in vocational schools specialized in medical billing, should tell one the system is ripe for complete overhaul. We complain how elaborate, byzantine are cell phone plans. It's nothing compared to messed up medical services.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
2018 430i Gran Coupe
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
What's worse, Aetna has its own mail order service that charges about 3 times as much for equivalent supply vs. its own negotiated price at the local store (only difference, at the local store they'd let me take 30 days at the time, whereas mail order can get 90 days). That's a parallel universe to me.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I despise our legal system. Received the following email this morn. So the lawyers get $2M to award people 0.26% from a silly coin counting machine. Absurd.
So, people are complaining because they lost a few pennies each time they took their pennies in to be counted in the machine? Wouldn't a normal person just figure that is part of the cost of having a machine count out my silly pennies,
btw, in Canada we have not had pennies for about 5 years now......don't miss them one bit. They just round prices up or down a nickel......they cost more to make than they were worth.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
A subsequent 'Cimarron'.
If others like them, I won't be your completion trying to buy one.
Here's one with miles for cheap
Or less miles for less cheap
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
https://fortmyers.craigslist.org/lee/cto/d/extremely-rare-2008-alpine/6264768395.html
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I win.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I'd expect a Bentayga or G-Wagen parked in front of it. Ask no questions about the source of the money, of course.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible