davedunaway
Gold Level Site Supporter
Have been away for a bit, can anyone give me an update on Les' condition.
Condition of Les.
- Thread starter davedunaway
- Start date
REVERUP
Gold Level Site Supporter
I saw Les last night as a matter of fact. I dropped some stuff off for him at his house. I was shocked when I saw how well he is getting around, he looked really good.
He is still sore as one could only imagine and is limited in what he can do. He has a ways to go before he will be working on our suspensions again. He's shooting for sometime in June.
He is somewhat stressed of course as he is self employed with no medical insurance and has just racked up and I'm sure continues to rack up medical bills from all of this. The quadruple bypass surgery alone was $300,000.
So if any of you reading this can spare anything to help him out, even just a little, please do so. Everything helps!
Roscoe
He is still sore as one could only imagine and is limited in what he can do. He has a ways to go before he will be working on our suspensions again. He's shooting for sometime in June.
He is somewhat stressed of course as he is self employed with no medical insurance and has just racked up and I'm sure continues to rack up medical bills from all of this. The quadruple bypass surgery alone was $300,000.
So if any of you reading this can spare anything to help him out, even just a little, please do so. Everything helps!
Roscoe
bchatt
Bronze Level Site Supporter
I don't understand how a country that sends men and equipment into space, sends men and equipment to almost any country/conflict on the planet, has a gazillion dollar economy, holds itself to be the pinnacle of prosperity and democracy, insists on treating it's honest hardworking citizens so poorly.
I am so lucky to live in tiny NZ where everyone (even guys like Noobi !) have all their injuries and illnesses taken care of by the state.
noobi
New member
Income tax for a PAYE(pay as you earn), non salary.
0-14000 => ~12.2%
14001-48000 => ~19.2%
48001-70000 => ~31.7%
70001+ => ~34.7%
~2% less on a salary, I think.
15% sales tax on goods and services. Plus tax on pretty much everything else.
I just cost the country ~20k ? for my leg surgery.
I cant imagine having such an enormous bill just arrive out of no where
GMP
Active member
Don't get me started about socialized medicine. There is a reason people come here from all over the world with the worst of problems for the best of care. My wife is alive today because of the cutting edge expertise that is only developed in a private market system with accountability and competition. She is also a proffesional in the industry, and deals with people all over the world, docs and govt. people, so I have a very personal view of this subject from both sides. Many countries are developing private networks like we have because despite its flaws, and what you may think, its still the best system in the world.
Its simple really, there is only so much compensation available for the services from the govt. So, what happens is the services are either regulated/rationed or quality suffers, in addition to high tax rates.
I'm not looking to start a big argument here, but do your homework before you decide to crap in my backyard.
Its simple really, there is only so much compensation available for the services from the govt. So, what happens is the services are either regulated/rationed or quality suffers, in addition to high tax rates.
I'm not looking to start a big argument here, but do your homework before you decide to crap in my backyard.
I've done my homework and I live in your backyard. The fact is that our system will eventually only provide for the elite that can afford care, the rest of us will suffer. Les is in a terrible situation. Why did he not have medical insurance? Probably was too expensive so he took the gamble. I have used his suspension service before and he is the best, too bad his genious didn't cary over to his choice about taking care of himself regarding medical insurance because in a country where you are on your own you really have no one to blame but yourself.
Hope he is well soon.
Nate
Hope he is well soon.
Nate
REVERUP
Gold Level Site Supporter
Yep the cost for medical insurance is very expensive for the self employed. You pay for the entire coverage unlike those of us that have an employer that pays for much of it.
So anyhow the important thing is Les is still with us and doing better.
If anyone can help him great. I always think about what if I was in that situation. I'd hope I'd get some help.
Roscoe
So anyhow the important thing is Les is still with us and doing better.
If anyone can help him great. I always think about what if I was in that situation. I'd hope I'd get some help.
Roscoe
GasGas
New member
We have public health care, and yes you wait for some things. Tear your ACL and you are going to wait 6 months to a year. A wait I am more than happy to have when I know I'm covered when I need a quadruple bypass. What kind of tax rates do you pay in the US. I'm thinking that they are not far off us here in Canada. Some states have the same sales tax as us. It would be interesting to know what their income tax rates are? The fact that people like Les are hung out to dry is pretty sad. I'd rather have a system that was 90% for all than one that was 100% for some.
When I was self employed I bought my own health care.. sorry to piss off anyone.. I got great coverage and it was $735 a month.. I pay now thru work my part is 625 a moth an co pays are 20% and for tax if you add up everything that comes out of my paycheck I'm around 17% ish.. but if I need a ACL I can have it today.. by the best DR's in the world.. and if you make less than a certain amount gov assistance covers you.. My brother shattered his knee cap down in FLA.. surgery, hospital stay one week and rebah 9 months.. zero co pay.. he makes under 28K a year.. and in fla that qualifies you for free healthcare..
GMP
Active member
My wife had a rare pancreatic cancer, six hour surgery by one of the best in the world withen two weeks of diagnosis at MSKCC in NYC. Try that in a socialist panacea, you probably would not even get the advanced diagnostics due to cost and govt guidelines, even if it was available, and you would probably wind up dead in a few months. Canada has good docs, but a lot of them are moving south as they don't like the system, thats part of the reason there is a wait for certain services. My wife's friend in Montreal goes to docs in New York state for care that requires a wait in Canada, recently sinus surgery on one of her kids. The larger the scale of this system the worse it is. The more the govt is involved the more inefficient it is, or far worse the more regulated it is. You wan't to hear some horror stories, talk to Dr. Mark Sanders about the level of care provided in some of these countries with socialized medicine, and thats just orthopedic care. There are ways to fix the flaws in our system without trashing what makes it very good. Unfortunately some of the more effective ways are the most uncomfortable as most politicians are also lawyers.
I'm just happy Les is doing well and that he got the level of care he needed to survive, thats the main thing.
I'm just happy Les is doing well and that he got the level of care he needed to survive, thats the main thing.
nambo-trev
New member
My good friend and sister both have had serious cancers up here in Canada and began full treatment 2 weeks after diagnosis by some of the best cancer doctors in the world( Tom baker cancer center in Calgary Alberta Canada). We have some of the best diagnostic equipment in the world here as well and from a family of nurses and a doctor I'd argue the quality of our health care system to be just as "state of the art" as the US. I've been to the states with my sister for experimental treatment that we paid for and have seen that side as well. From my persepective the systems are very similar but my dads bypass cost nothing along with the imediate cancer treatment. Your right this is a very touchy subject and a matter of opinion unless you have experienced both first hand and lived in both systems, but no matter how well informed you think you are there are alot of other valid opinions and arguments that would be worth listening to(although these are better discussed somewhere other than a forum for dirtbiking!)
blitz11
Silver Level Site Supporter
(although these are better discussed somewhere other than a forum for dirtbiking!)
I actually really benefit from the discussion, and seeing both sides of the coin through logical thought and REAL human experience. What you read in the paper is pure rubbish, but hearing for dirt bike riders (real people) is much more educational.
Maybe it's worth moving the discussion to its own thread.
BTW, Minnesota is where the HMO was conceived. Our local United Health Care CEO made $48M last year.
I'd be happier with him making $4M per year, and investing that $44M in equipment, training, and staff education, but that's just me.
Thanks for the discussion.
blitz11
Silver Level Site Supporter
Amen.
In the U.S., what appears to be "free" is really debt. We haven't paid it yet, but we're gonna'.
I was discussing the cost of the local dog park ($35/year to let the dog run free in the park). He said, "boy, nothing's free anymore."
I said, "Nothing ever has been free." He just didn't get it.
BTW, I am happy to pay for the dog park license. I use it, so I should pay. if you don't have a dog, you shouldn't pay for mine to use the park.
I'm pretty sure if you asked Les if he would rather pay 300K or be dead he would choose to pay. @ $800 per month over a lifetime he would have way more than 300k in the bank. Private insurance companies make a profit by collecting more than they pay back. Government agencies are not efficient and wast time and money. The money paid vs. service is a debate that could go on forever but the individual choice to have or not have insurance is the fundamental difference.
Auto insurance used to be much cheaper until it became mandatory by law but that's another debate/gripe that can go on forever.
I everyone that got free advise from Les during a phone conversation sent him a few bucks to even the score it would help and show that we all care and appreciate him.
Auto insurance used to be much cheaper until it became mandatory by law but that's another debate/gripe that can go on forever.
I everyone that got free advise from Les during a phone conversation sent him a few bucks to even the score it would help and show that we all care and appreciate him.
Reality 101
How did this caring question here turn into what it is, presently??.Les has been a institution on helping people everywhere with getting them the most out of their motorcycles suspension.
I truly wish I could have had him spin the ?wrenches? on my bike. He was pleasure to speak with.
But Wow, soo many people want to give the philosophies on health care, after the fact?!?
Crap. For a recuperating individual no one in his condition needs to hear ranting from people that enjoy seeing their words in print, sad really?.
Monday morning quarterbacking provides 20/20 vision; well not all of us have 20/20 at all times in our lives?..
Let?s do what I?m sure we all really want, positive outcome for Les?
Get better Les!!!!!
How did this caring question here turn into what it is, presently??.Les has been a institution on helping people everywhere with getting them the most out of their motorcycles suspension.
I truly wish I could have had him spin the ?wrenches? on my bike. He was pleasure to speak with.
But Wow, soo many people want to give the philosophies on health care, after the fact?!?
Crap. For a recuperating individual no one in his condition needs to hear ranting from people that enjoy seeing their words in print, sad really?.
Monday morning quarterbacking provides 20/20 vision; well not all of us have 20/20 at all times in our lives?..
Let?s do what I?m sure we all really want, positive outcome for Les?
Get better Les!!!!!
GMP
Active member
It started because a guy from another country with no clue how our system works made a comment that pissed me off. To be honest, I should try to be above that as a mod but I am human and have triggers like everyone else, this being a big one. So, we can call this quits before it deteriorates.
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