Running Bear's May 2023 Coffee Shop.
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"How bout dem O's Hon!?"
The same holding company that owns Aetna also owns CVS.
I use traditional Medicare. My supplement is through United Healthcare, the Railroad Employees plan...which doesn't have any restrictions, (apparently like other United Medigap plans). My Prescription plan is with Horizon Blue. No co-pay on tier 1 and 2, $40 on tier 3 and 4, and a percentage of retail on tier 5 and 6. There are so many plans out there that it is really hard to compare.
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I pay extra for the "bronze plus" plan, which supposedly has lower deductibles and pays more. I'll be calling my benefits administrator on Tuesday.
Bruette
Well-Known Member
The health insurance companies have more plans than "Carter has little liver pills"
They sit around day and night dreaming up ways to increase profits. They are brilliant! The seven largest health insurers had a net profit of 6.6 billion in 2019. That is only what they reported! I can only imagine how much they spend on accountants and lawyers working the numbers they report. Like poor Jeff Bezos, his Amazon pays next to nothing in taxes because they are losing money.
Meanwhile politicians from both sides of the isle wave the flag, feed us double talk, tell us about socialism, and why a single payer system for all Americans is wrong. I think billions of dollars in profits off the back of our health care is wrong!
Backdoor deals between health care providers, business and politicians leave us to foot the bill.
P. T. Barnum was right!
I don't have the answers, but what we are doing is not working for the common man.
They sit around day and night dreaming up ways to increase profits. They are brilliant! The seven largest health insurers had a net profit of 6.6 billion in 2019. That is only what they reported! I can only imagine how much they spend on accountants and lawyers working the numbers they report. Like poor Jeff Bezos, his Amazon pays next to nothing in taxes because they are losing money.
Meanwhile politicians from both sides of the isle wave the flag, feed us double talk, tell us about socialism, and why a single payer system for all Americans is wrong. I think billions of dollars in profits off the back of our health care is wrong!
Backdoor deals between health care providers, business and politicians leave us to foot the bill.
P. T. Barnum was right!
I don't have the answers, but what we are doing is not working for the common man.
Last edited:
Bruette
Well-Known Member
When I was self-insured for several years, I paid far less than any health care plan would cost me. The potential for an expensive catastrophic health problem was too much stress for my wife. I gave in and got a health insurance plan.
When I was paying cash at Costco for my prescriptions, they cost me a little over $600. My health care says they pay over $2000 for those same prescriptions!
They say they pay far more than I did for all kinds of things. Everything from cancer screenings to checkups. Not a little more, double, triple and more!
Either they are stupid, or they got a slick game going.
When I was paying cash at Costco for my prescriptions, they cost me a little over $600. My health care says they pay over $2000 for those same prescriptions!
They say they pay far more than I did for all kinds of things. Everything from cancer screenings to checkups. Not a little more, double, triple and more!
Either they are stupid, or they got a slick game going.
Bruette
Well-Known Member
Enough of that! I'll stick to trains, baseball, westerns, music, and other fun things.
I had a great birthday yesterday! Somebody took a picture of me on the couch with my grandsons. I will post it when they send it to me. I'm so proud of my boys. They are excellent young men! Not a mean bone in thier bodies. They are kind, caring and they think of others. That says something about the nature vs nurture debate. I told them "Thanks to you guys, I got a shot at going to heaven!"
"By thier fruit you will recognize them" thank you Jesus!
I'm not counting my chickens... But I can trust judgment will be fair. The good thing about being Catholic is we have purgatory going for us!
I had a great birthday yesterday! Somebody took a picture of me on the couch with my grandsons. I will post it when they send it to me. I'm so proud of my boys. They are excellent young men! Not a mean bone in thier bodies. They are kind, caring and they think of others. That says something about the nature vs nurture debate. I told them "Thanks to you guys, I got a shot at going to heaven!"
"By thier fruit you will recognize them" thank you Jesus!
I'm not counting my chickens... But I can trust judgment will be fair. The good thing about being Catholic is we have purgatory going for us!
Bruette
Well-Known Member
MLB Gameday: Rangers 2, Orioles 3 Final Score (05/28/2023)
Follow MLB results with FREE box scores, pitch-by-pitch strikezone info, and Statcast data for Rangers vs. Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards
www.mlb.com
"How bout dem O's Hon!?"
Jaz avalley
Station cat
Here in the uk the nhs allows you to buy a 3month or a year prescription prepaid I think that equals 3 or 4 prescriptions then the rest are ‘free’ but we pay over 10 pound a pop each, but over 6o atm is free but there has been threats to stop that as it costs so much
Jaz avalley
Station cat
My other half goes sees a doctor,gets a prescription,reads the side effects,usually the side effects are worse than the symptoms,so he says thanks but no thanks before he lays the prescription.
fyi he has a hate wish on omeprozolem which is supposed to cure acid reflux, for him it acts like milk, as in
`1.has acid reflux acid coming up,
2. People think drink alkaline so sup milk,and instantly feel better….BUT
3.the stomach reacts to the alkaline and makes acid so produces more excess acid,half an hour later more acid reflux
SO he takes apple cider vinegar, heavy with mother, i teaspoon and water, this is not an instant fix, but your stomach reacts by making alkaline and stops acid reflux
he also eats pickles which are acidic and his stomach produce alkaline and this helps long term, so
in order to stop acid reflux he regularly consumes acid and gets better,
1. Apple cider q teaspoon in water am,
2. Pickles with last meal or at least in the evening, plus low calories.
3. Any vinegar dressing sherry, lemon, malt vinegar balsamic vinegar.
If he gets lazy the acid reflux returns,he ups the acids, and not a quick fix but once the acid diet kicks in the acid reflux problem goes again.
Uou can easily research this for your self. This then means you can spend important money on food not on medicine.
Of course all people are individuals,and might have trouble finding the sweet spot, if you find the acid unpalatable,which might lead you to adding sugar to lessen the taste or avoid potential mouth ulcers better to 1. Use a sugar substitute eg erythritol or other (admittedly not cheap) or brush teeth after consumption of acid (fyi for some tomato products pasta sauce etc can provide enough acid)
As you can see this approach is fliexible and heavily effected by what else you eat.Luckily for the other half he has an approach that can and does provide relief,then stop if he follows it. plus his mostly Keto / carnivore diet has less to an enormous reduction in this approach.
fyi he has a hate wish on omeprozolem which is supposed to cure acid reflux, for him it acts like milk, as in
`1.has acid reflux acid coming up,
2. People think drink alkaline so sup milk,and instantly feel better….BUT
3.the stomach reacts to the alkaline and makes acid so produces more excess acid,half an hour later more acid reflux
SO he takes apple cider vinegar, heavy with mother, i teaspoon and water, this is not an instant fix, but your stomach reacts by making alkaline and stops acid reflux
he also eats pickles which are acidic and his stomach produce alkaline and this helps long term, so
in order to stop acid reflux he regularly consumes acid and gets better,
1. Apple cider q teaspoon in water am,
2. Pickles with last meal or at least in the evening, plus low calories.
3. Any vinegar dressing sherry, lemon, malt vinegar balsamic vinegar.
If he gets lazy the acid reflux returns,he ups the acids, and not a quick fix but once the acid diet kicks in the acid reflux problem goes again.
Uou can easily research this for your self. This then means you can spend important money on food not on medicine.
Of course all people are individuals,and might have trouble finding the sweet spot, if you find the acid unpalatable,which might lead you to adding sugar to lessen the taste or avoid potential mouth ulcers better to 1. Use a sugar substitute eg erythritol or other (admittedly not cheap) or brush teeth after consumption of acid (fyi for some tomato products pasta sauce etc can provide enough acid)
As you can see this approach is fliexible and heavily effected by what else you eat.Luckily for the other half he has an approach that can and does provide relief,then stop if he follows it. plus his mostly Keto / carnivore diet has less to an enormous reduction in this approach.
Jaz avalley
Station cat
As for diabetes, my overweight dad was diabetic,be a e I’ll ended up in icu intensive care unit for 3 month almost died but lost a serious load of weight,when he came out they advised him to destroy his diabetic medicines as he was no longer diabetic. the doctor said this was a known phenomenon,
losing weight alone can stop diabetes symptoms
stop eating sugar and hidden sugars and high carbs which are just long sugars not yet broken down to sugars,hence your carbs and the percentage of sugars in those carbs,
replace sugar with sugar Replacements - fyi some people deal with different types different,y and this tends to be a journey buy a small supply if you try this, to find which taste you can stomach and which works for your diet microbe
fyi this change can be improved by adding pre biopics, Greek full fat yogurt is usually the cheapest,and again a food not a supplement,
oh and milk is high in,a rose,and lactose is sugar,but cream is not,neither is goats milk but of course more expensive,but still food not medicine.
medicines are often filled with junk buckets inc sugar,
anyway 1. If diabetic it is seriously likely dieting will relieve your symptoms and you may even stop being diabetic at all,you must still maintain a healthy diet,and likrly pickles and rabbit food can aid in this process
most diabetics will improve by dropping carbs as they are sugars that means avoiding grains, pasta and bread are worse offender, wheat and goo sweetcorn ie vey sweet sweet corn is the worse offenders, god I miss the smell of wheat bread but luckily found alternatives that I like almost as much, yeah I admit almost,and only after going without bread which I admit I adored.
losing weight alone can stop diabetes symptoms
stop eating sugar and hidden sugars and high carbs which are just long sugars not yet broken down to sugars,hence your carbs and the percentage of sugars in those carbs,
replace sugar with sugar Replacements - fyi some people deal with different types different,y and this tends to be a journey buy a small supply if you try this, to find which taste you can stomach and which works for your diet microbe
fyi this change can be improved by adding pre biopics, Greek full fat yogurt is usually the cheapest,and again a food not a supplement,
oh and milk is high in,a rose,and lactose is sugar,but cream is not,neither is goats milk but of course more expensive,but still food not medicine.
medicines are often filled with junk buckets inc sugar,
anyway 1. If diabetic it is seriously likely dieting will relieve your symptoms and you may even stop being diabetic at all,you must still maintain a healthy diet,and likrly pickles and rabbit food can aid in this process
most diabetics will improve by dropping carbs as they are sugars that means avoiding grains, pasta and bread are worse offender, wheat and goo sweetcorn ie vey sweet sweet corn is the worse offenders, god I miss the smell of wheat bread but luckily found alternatives that I like almost as much, yeah I admit almost,and only after going without bread which I admit I adored.
Jaz avalley
Station cat
Oh god last one then I will stop yapping about health, if constipated, you need to drink more, and I spent years suffering from constipation taking fibre fillers, when I went Keto I avoided fibre and ate meat and fat,lots of fat, and my constipation issues reduced significantly and my toilet habits became more regular and less painful. I for one do not take fibre if constipated I drink more and eat more fat, coughs I also drink cream (milk works) and lemon or acid …..lots of people get the runs if they consume milk and fresh orange juice in a glass it curdles in the glass and the reaction replicates in your gut removing constipation, and for me that never resulted for a nd dash to the toilet,others may have the runs instead. Yeah after this one i really need to stop the health comments…..toilet paper anyone? Laughs
Jaz avalley
Station cat
JeffH
Well-Known Member
Ok, I was close, but I was remembering incorrectly.
The same holding company that owns Aetna also owns CVS.
...THAT explains a great deal...
Smudge617
Well-Known Member
Flipping hope not, cost me a fortune if I have to start paying for all my med's
Boris
Beach Bum
Not that I'm aware of...UHC owns a prescription manager called Unnum. CVS owns a different plan manager, and also owns Aetna.
I use traditional Medicare. My supplement is through United Healthcare, the Railroad Employees plan...which doesn't have any restrictions, (apparently like other United Medigap plans). My Prescription plan is with Horizon Blue. No co-pay on tier 1 and 2, $40 on tier 3 and 4, and a percentage of retail on tier 5 and 6. There are so many plans out there that it is really hard to compare.
Patrick
What, me worry?
Morning all,
Yesterday went to a Wichita church with a 7:30 am mass. In and out in 35 minutes, no music, short sermon...etc. Then we hit the Wichita area cemeteries and then headed east to where the in-laws are buried. Made a day trip of it. Didn't stay as long at any one as the wife's knees were bothering her and she didn't get out of the car.
Not much today as it feels like a Sunday. I am working on the laundry that got backed up by the party Saturday and being gone yesterday. Not sure what's going yo happen the rest of the day.
Not going there on the drugs thing. But I do agree with Louis on the fact everyone is getting rich except those that need the medicine or services.
BBL
Yesterday went to a Wichita church with a 7:30 am mass. In and out in 35 minutes, no music, short sermon...etc. Then we hit the Wichita area cemeteries and then headed east to where the in-laws are buried. Made a day trip of it. Didn't stay as long at any one as the wife's knees were bothering her and she didn't get out of the car.
Not much today as it feels like a Sunday. I am working on the laundry that got backed up by the party Saturday and being gone yesterday. Not sure what's going yo happen the rest of the day.
Not going there on the drugs thing. But I do agree with Louis on the fact everyone is getting rich except those that need the medicine or services.
BBL
TLOC
Well-Known Member
Good morning.
Healthcare is a necessary evil. There are many holistic approaches that work for some but can hurt others. Same with meds. Weight control is probably the best cure of many things but of course not all. Once a diabetic, always a diabetic, it’s a continuing fight that you must keep working at. Been down that road and it doesn’t take much to head back down the wrong road.
I know many doctors. I would see on average 2-3 doctors a day on sales calls. It’s not them that are getting rich. After their college and med schools bills are paid, it often takes them to their 40’s to pay off, then they are comfortable. There are exceptions, mainly those that are specialized surgeons, but my medical crew they are doing good but not living in luxury. My endocrinologist is one of my wife’s good friends. Now I also know some of the executive management teams at 3 health insurance companies. They are living the lives of the very rich but not so famous. It’s a scam…
Like our educational system it needs to be reformed and get government and it‘s politics out of it.
I got a message from a FB friend selling sulfur cars. I put an SOS out there for sulfur cars the 1st week in May. I purchased 11 at a very good price last night of the Walthers Proto series of cars and they are a very nicely done car. I now have 18 (0 to 18 in a month) of these cars and that’s enough or actually 8 too many. Something to weather and sell with the extras.
Terry and I wandered around Austin yesterday. I love this city. So vibrant even at noon on a Sunday. Many things to do. Stayed away from the crazies though on and around Lake Travis. BUT, it is getting harder every trip to move around in a car. So much construction. Last night we experienced a superior meal and service at Moonshines downtown. Today is a day to relax and recharge for California and beyond
Healthcare is a necessary evil. There are many holistic approaches that work for some but can hurt others. Same with meds. Weight control is probably the best cure of many things but of course not all. Once a diabetic, always a diabetic, it’s a continuing fight that you must keep working at. Been down that road and it doesn’t take much to head back down the wrong road.
I know many doctors. I would see on average 2-3 doctors a day on sales calls. It’s not them that are getting rich. After their college and med schools bills are paid, it often takes them to their 40’s to pay off, then they are comfortable. There are exceptions, mainly those that are specialized surgeons, but my medical crew they are doing good but not living in luxury. My endocrinologist is one of my wife’s good friends. Now I also know some of the executive management teams at 3 health insurance companies. They are living the lives of the very rich but not so famous. It’s a scam…
Like our educational system it needs to be reformed and get government and it‘s politics out of it.
I got a message from a FB friend selling sulfur cars. I put an SOS out there for sulfur cars the 1st week in May. I purchased 11 at a very good price last night of the Walthers Proto series of cars and they are a very nicely done car. I now have 18 (0 to 18 in a month) of these cars and that’s enough or actually 8 too many. Something to weather and sell with the extras.
Terry and I wandered around Austin yesterday. I love this city. So vibrant even at noon on a Sunday. Many things to do. Stayed away from the crazies though on and around Lake Travis. BUT, it is getting harder every trip to move around in a car. So much construction. Last night we experienced a superior meal and service at Moonshines downtown. Today is a day to relax and recharge for California and beyond
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Boris
Beach Bum
Bout time they got back on track. Could be worse...look at the MetsMLB Gameday: Rangers 2, Orioles 3 Final Score (05/28/2023)
Follow MLB results with FREE box scores, pitch-by-pitch strikezone info, and Statcast data for Rangers vs. Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards
"How bout dem O's Hon!?"
santafewillie
Same Ol' Buzzard
Good Morning All. Happy (or sad) Memorial Day to one and all. Take a moment to think about the real meaning of the day while you're grilling/smoking those big hunks of red meat today.
Partly cloudy and 65° here, going up to the upper 80's today. Spring continues. Rain was removed from today's forecast, but there were a few drops yesterday.
Went to Dallas yesterday afternoon for my two grandson's birthdays. Ryan was 14 yesterday and Conner is 16 today. Went to an Italian Restaurant that they both like, unfortunately they were short-staffed and service was slow. Our waiter had seven tables including our party of nine! He did OK, but he was definitely spread too thin. Food was excellent as we expected from this place that we have been at many times before.
The new to us Lexus surprised me on the trip in with another built-in feature that I wasn't expecting and frankly I don't need. After a few sprinkles of rain hit the windshield, the wipers came on automatically - on intermittent! Not something that I need and a wasted and expensive feature in my opinion. That lane-line thingy remains really confused on a six mile stretch of rural highway that's under construction on my way home, since some of the old lane marker lines weren't completely blacked out. Some new side lane markers aren't there either. I also made a discovery yesterday that I will have to contact the dealer about. There is no mounting bracket for the front license plate! Texas is a two plate state. I found them on Amazon for $17 but I shouldn't have to pay for one, plus my labor. I'll have to weigh that against making the 150 mile round trip to have them do it.
Traveled about the garden for a while yesterday. There's some weeds taking over where I had previously harvested crops and the Cabbage Worms are eating well. They like Broccoli despite being called Cabbage Worms. They don't seem to be affecting the harvest, but the plants are beginning to look ragged. They'll be part of the compost heap in another week or so.
Onions are very close to harvest, the tops are falling over. Once that happens, the flow of nutrients stops. in this picture, you can also see the Cabbage Worm damage and in the top right you can see one of the many smaller side Broccoli shoots that develop after the main head is harvested.
Do ya reckon I may have planted some a little close???
Meanwhile tomatoes are developing everywhere.
These plants are now at the tops of their 4' cages.
Another row planted 3 weeks later has some caching up to do.
Green beans are starting to form and will need to be picked by the end of this week.
Meanwhile out in the train shed, here are the shots from Saturday. I have to start with the unfinished road grade/support. Before.
After.
The obvious next steps are painting and attachment. Then I will decide whether or not I can fit a pre-made grade crossing in or scratchbuild one. I have done both in other places.
Louis/Jaz - I have shopped at Aldi a few times at the one closest to me (27 miles). I found it to be more hype than substance. Their prices there are at best only marginally less expensive, selection is extremely limited and that 25¢ deposit on shopping carts is kind of hokey and inconvenient.
Today is National Paperclip Day. It's one invention that hasn't undergone any changes in over 150 years.
JFK would have been 106 today.
Everyone have a great day and be safe around those grills; have a steady table for your beer.
Partly cloudy and 65° here, going up to the upper 80's today. Spring continues. Rain was removed from today's forecast, but there were a few drops yesterday.
Went to Dallas yesterday afternoon for my two grandson's birthdays. Ryan was 14 yesterday and Conner is 16 today. Went to an Italian Restaurant that they both like, unfortunately they were short-staffed and service was slow. Our waiter had seven tables including our party of nine! He did OK, but he was definitely spread too thin. Food was excellent as we expected from this place that we have been at many times before.
The new to us Lexus surprised me on the trip in with another built-in feature that I wasn't expecting and frankly I don't need. After a few sprinkles of rain hit the windshield, the wipers came on automatically - on intermittent! Not something that I need and a wasted and expensive feature in my opinion. That lane-line thingy remains really confused on a six mile stretch of rural highway that's under construction on my way home, since some of the old lane marker lines weren't completely blacked out. Some new side lane markers aren't there either. I also made a discovery yesterday that I will have to contact the dealer about. There is no mounting bracket for the front license plate! Texas is a two plate state. I found them on Amazon for $17 but I shouldn't have to pay for one, plus my labor. I'll have to weigh that against making the 150 mile round trip to have them do it.
Traveled about the garden for a while yesterday. There's some weeds taking over where I had previously harvested crops and the Cabbage Worms are eating well. They like Broccoli despite being called Cabbage Worms. They don't seem to be affecting the harvest, but the plants are beginning to look ragged. They'll be part of the compost heap in another week or so.
Onions are very close to harvest, the tops are falling over. Once that happens, the flow of nutrients stops. in this picture, you can also see the Cabbage Worm damage and in the top right you can see one of the many smaller side Broccoli shoots that develop after the main head is harvested.
Do ya reckon I may have planted some a little close???
Meanwhile tomatoes are developing everywhere.
These plants are now at the tops of their 4' cages.
Another row planted 3 weeks later has some caching up to do.
Green beans are starting to form and will need to be picked by the end of this week.
Meanwhile out in the train shed, here are the shots from Saturday. I have to start with the unfinished road grade/support. Before.
After.
The obvious next steps are painting and attachment. Then I will decide whether or not I can fit a pre-made grade crossing in or scratchbuild one. I have done both in other places.
Louis/Jaz - I have shopped at Aldi a few times at the one closest to me (27 miles). I found it to be more hype than substance. Their prices there are at best only marginally less expensive, selection is extremely limited and that 25¢ deposit on shopping carts is kind of hokey and inconvenient.
Today is National Paperclip Day. It's one invention that hasn't undergone any changes in over 150 years.
JFK would have been 106 today.
Everyone have a great day and be safe around those grills; have a steady table for your beer.
- Status
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