covid-19

[Westerly 61]

12 hours ago, kallend said:

Delta isn't lowering their pay, it's raising the health insurance premiums of unvaccinated employees.  I'm sure they have actuarial data to support doing this.

A fine distinction, but an important one.

But is the insurance carrier raising their premium to Delta accordingly? As far as I know, zero insurance companies right now make premium decisions based on vaccination status. So if Delta is charging an increased premium, but the carrier is not, that is just a profit fine, which mathematically is identical to just lowering their pay by the same amount.

[Westerly 61]

On 8/25/2021 at 1:19 PM, ryoder said:

 then why has the anti-vax crowd not raised a big stink about the vaccination requirements to go to public school in the US?

 

They did, and some still currently do, just they lost that battle a long time ago so they have moved onto wars they can actually fight. 

[ryoder 1,590]

Like most large employers, Delta insures its own work force, meaning it pays health costs directly and hires an insurance company to administer its plans.

Delta’s Extra $200 Insurance Fee Shows Vaccine Dilemma for Employers

[Westerly 61]

11 hours ago, GeorgiaDon said:

It is quite legal to put a surcharge on health insurance premiums for behaviors that have a significant likelihood of raising health care costs. 

Actually it is specifically illegal. There are only three factors that can legally be used to decide your premium: location, age and smoking status. Not even gender can legally be used to determine premiums. This was one of the largest changes imposed by the ACA when Obama signed it. The original premise was to prevent women from being charged more just because they were women (e.g. increased costs for childbirth) and charging people more because they were sick. So the ACA specifically coded what factors insurance companies could use to adjust rates and adjustments by any other factors were outlawed. So no, in fact, you cannot be charged more because you're a higher risk, unless it's by age, location or smoking status. It's literally a federal offence to adjust premiums based on other factors. That's why when you go on the ACA's website to get a quote for an individual plan, the only questions they ask you are your zip code, age and smoking status. Nothing else is asked.

Edited August 27, 2021 by Westerly

[headoverheels 333]

At a school meeting regarding masks, things get a bit demonstrative.

 

[kallend 2,108]

6 hours ago, Westerly said:

Actually it is specifically illegal. There are only three factors that can legally be used to decide your premium: location, age and smoking status. Not even gender can legally be used to determine premiums. . . .

I guess Delta should fire its corporate lawyers then.

[SkyDekker 1,465]

14 hours ago, Westerly said:

Actually it is specifically illegal. There are only three factors that can legally be used to decide your premium: location, age and smoking status. Not even gender can legally be used to determine premiums.

Illegal for marketplace insurance. Is it illegal for private insurance?

[JerryBaumchen 1,445]

Hi folks,

Well, it is Texas so there should be a lot of those cow pills to take:  her husband initially refused to get tested for the virus and tried his own vitamin regimen 

‘It’s not looking in our favor’: Man who organized anti-mask Freedom Rally now on a ventilator after catching COVID (msn.com)

Just another idiot who follows Gov. Abbot.  I'll cry no tears for him.

Jerry Baumchen

[ryoder 1,590]

Governor Ron DeSantis’ Loss Over Mask Mandate Is A Win For Parents & Children

A Leon County Circuit Court Judge John C. Cooper shredded the governor’s order leading up to his determination that it was unconstitutional. 

 

[ryoder 1,590]

[facepalm]

NRB spokesman Dan Darling fired after pro-vaccine statements on ‘Morning Joe’

[headoverheels 333]

Edit: might have been in poor taste.

 

Edited August 28, 2021 by headoverheels

[kallend 2,108]

 

Liberty University lifted building capacity restrictions as well as distancing and masking requirements when classes for the fall semester started this week.

The university's online COVID-19 dashboard showed 159 known active cases among students, faculty and staff as of Friday.

Liberty University said on its website that the entire campus will be entering a two-week quarantine period set to begin Monday and last until Sept. 10.

With the new quarantine order, the university also announced all classes will be changed to online only. All large indoor gatherings are suspended, and indoor dining locations will provide takeout options in addition to expanded outdoor seating.

The vaccination rate in Lynchburg, Virginia, where the evangelical Christian school is located, is 38%.

But STILL no masking or distancing requirements.

Religious right wing stupidity at its finest.

 

[wmw999 2,545]

Thereby proving that big curative disruptions periodically are better than small preventive disruptions. Or something like that. 
Me, I’d rather prevent. 
Wendy P. 

[JerryBaumchen 1,445]

Hi folks,

For all you DIYers:  On A Back-To-School Supply List: Materials For DIY Air Purifiers : Back To School: Live Updates : NPR

Jerry Baumchen

[JerryBaumchen 1,445]

Hi folks,

The list just keeps growing:  3rd conservative radio host who condemned vaccines dies of CovidPOLITICOSearchSearchClose

One would think that somewhere, somehow they would learn.

Jerry Baumchen

[kallend 2,108]

1 hour ago, JerryBaumchen said:

Hi folks,

The list just keeps growing:  3rd conservative radio host who condemned vaccines dies of CovidPOLITICOSearchSearchClose

One would think that somewhere, somehow they would learn.

Jerry Baumchen

"Give me freedom and give me death."

[billvon 3,078]

2 hours ago, JerryBaumchen said:

Hi folks,

The list just keeps growing:  3rd conservative radio host who condemned vaccines dies of CovidPOLITICOSearchSearchClose

One would think that somewhere, somehow they would learn.

Jerry Baumchen

IIRC a conservative radio host is running for governor of California in the recall election.  

That could make things interesting.

[olofscience 489]

One more, relatively young at 30, not really in the usual risk group for covid. But if you don't get the vaccine, you're rolling the dice.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/aug/29/texas-caleb-wallace-anti-mask-protests-freedom-dies-covid-19

EDIT to add: he also began taking high doses of Vitamin C, zinc and ivermectin. How anyone prefers the serious side effects of antiworm medication, to a slightly sore arm for a few hours is beyond me.

Edited August 30, 2021 by olofscience

[Phil1111 1,149]

1 hour ago, olofscience said:

... ivermectin. How anyone prefers the serious side effects of antiworm medication, to a slightly sore arm for a few hours is beyond me.

Conservatives. Soon schools will have to be built just to accommodate their special thinking.

Demand Surges for Deworming Drug for Covid, Despite No Evidence It Works

Prescriptions for ivermectin have jumped to more than 88,000 per week, some pharmacists are reporting shortages and people are overdosing on forms of the drug meant for horses. "Mississippi’s health department said earlier this month that 70 percent of recent calls to the state poison control center had come from people who ingested ivermectin from livestock supply stores....

In the conservative mind; Unapproved ivermectin good. Approved covid vaccines not good.

[SkyDekker 1,465]

5 hours ago, olofscience said:

One more, relatively young at 30, not really in the usual risk group for covid. But if you don't get the vaccine, you're rolling the dice.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/aug/29/texas-caleb-wallace-anti-mask-protests-freedom-dies-covid-19

EDIT to add: he also began taking high doses of Vitamin C, zinc and ivermectin. How anyone prefers the serious side effects of antiworm medication, to a slightly sore arm for a few hours is beyond me.

And he really loved his family, just not enough to get a vaccine to protect his kids. And of course, there is a GoFundMe. I really have a hard time mustering up any sympathy for that level of stupidity.

[JerryBaumchen 1,445]

Hi folks,

Re:  Make men, men again.

I guess I did not know that I was not a man any longer.  How ignorant of me.

Steve Lynch Calls to Remove School Board Over Mask Mandates (mediaite.com)

Where, oh where do these idiots come from?

Jerry Baumchen

Edited August 30, 2021 by JerryBaumchen

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

2 minutes ago, JerryBaumchen said:

...Where, oh where do these idiots come from?

Jerry Baumchen

Hi Jerry, 

 

They come from everywhere.

I posted this link a week or so ago:

https://www.reddit.com/r/HermanCainAward/

It's absolutely exploded since then. Warning: Very large amounts of schadenfreude in here. 
It's stunning how many strident 'anti-mask' or 'anti-vax' fools are dying off.

Or maybe it's not.

There's some decent info (sourced and such) in some of the comments.
And there's a sub where a poster claiming to be an ICU doc* is answering questions about the whole situation.
Some of the interesting items:

People who go on a ventilator have about a 20% chance of making it out alive.
They have about a zero percent chance of resuming a normal life anytime soon.

The number of people asking for 'woo' treatments is staggering. Yet people who take the vaccine are 'sheep'.
 

The number of people who are sorry they didn't get the vaccine is high, but so is the number of people who are defiant to the end.
The number of 'supporters' and family of those who are sick or dead that are still adamant about being anti-vax is stupidly staggering.

This isn't going to get better anytime soon.

 

* - The OP in that sub (currently near the top, with a lot of posts) says he's an ICU doc. He doesn't identify himself any further (understandable).

So there's no proof he really is what he says.
But his language, terminology, overall attitude & tone are convincing.
The stuff he's posting that's checkable checks out.
There are a lot of other health care types also posting, and they're saying essentially the same stuff.
So, with a bit of skepticism, I tend to believe he's who and what he says he is.

[DougH 270]

On 8/26/2021 at 9:51 PM, Westerly said:

Actually it is specifically illegal. There are only three factors that can legally be used to decide your premium: location, age and smoking status. Not even gender can legally be used to determine premiums. This was one of the largest changes imposed by the ACA when Obama signed it. The original premise was to prevent women from being charged more just because they were women (e.g. increased costs for childbirth) and charging people more because they were sick. So the ACA specifically coded what factors insurance companies could use to adjust rates and adjustments by any other factors were outlawed. So no, in fact, you cannot be charged more because you're a higher risk, unless it's by age, location or smoking status. It's literally a federal offence to adjust premiums based on other factors. That's why when you go on the ACA's website to get a quote for an individual plan, the only questions they ask you are your zip code, age and smoking status. Nothing else is asked.

Oh cool! Now you know more about health insurance law than the entire legal department at Delta Airlines. This is my shocked face.  Go google wellness incentive programs. It may not be the most clear cut area of health insurance, but is far from "specifically illegal".

[DougH 270]

On 8/27/2021 at 11:59 AM, SkyDekker said:

Illegal for marketplace insurance. Is it illegal for private insurance?

He didn't realize that Delta and most major corporations self insure for their health plans, I wouldn't hold your breath on his legal analysis. 

Edited August 30, 2021 by DougH

[Phil1111 1,149]

1 hour ago, JerryBaumchen said:

Hi folks,....

Where, oh where do these idiots come from?

Jerry Baumchen

 

1 hour ago, wolfriverjoe said:

Hi Jerry, ....

They come from everywhere.
So, with a bit of skepticism, I tend to believe he's who and what he says he is.

Nothing I have ever experienced compares to the juxtaposition of trumpism and this pandemic. Two seemingly unrelated events. Yet combined with the information of the internet exposing what seems to be substantial stupidity within populations.