Stock Market Losses Under Trump

[baddog]

12 minutes ago, OlDawg said:

Actually, it was United Health Care. Heavily weighted on the Dow & posted lower earnings & bad forecast for remainder of the year.

I actually don’t mind them losing money a bit. They are one of the major players in the rip-off of Medicare. All the Medicare Advantage sellers up charge the government (our tax $$$) for their policies, deny a lot of coverage, cover it up with health club membership bullcrap & such, then drop folks when they actually get really sick or elderly & dump them back on Medicare. Then, it’s almost impossible for people to get supplemental coverage & they’re left with OOP costs many can’t afford, and Medicare winds up paying for the really expensive medical treatment that might have been prevented if the Advantage plan had allowed treatment earlier.

(Always makes me furious just thinking about it.)

Beware Medicare Advantage plans. They ARE too good to be true.

When I posted earlier today, that was what was on the stock page. It doesn’t even concern me anymore but I hope Trump turns it around for everyone else.

[OlDawg]

12 minutes ago, baddog said:

When I posted earlier today, that was what was on the stock page. It doesn’t even concern me anymore but I hope Trump turns it around for everyone else.

No problem. I should clarify I wouldn’t attack a CEO either. That’s not allowable to me at all. But, if DOGE wants to do a deep dive into Medicare spending, this (Medicare Advantage) is an area that could expose a LOT of fraud.

[LumRaiderFan]

23 minutes ago, thetragichippy said:

What? 

Easy to beat? How soon we forget the killing you guys got 5 months ago.

It all depends on how these tariffs come out. With most nations making deals, I think we he will be fine. 

Agree, the country said, with certainty, last election that they wanted no more democrat lunacy.

[LumRaiderFan]

34 minutes ago, OlDawg said:

Actually, it was United Health Care. Heavily weighted on the Dow & posted lower earnings & bad forecast for remainder of the year.

I actually don’t mind them losing money a bit. They are one of the major players in the rip-off of Medicare. All the Medicare Advantage sellers up charge the government (our tax $$$) for their policies, deny a lot of coverage, cover it up with health club membership bullcrap & such, then drop folks when they actually get really sick or elderly & dump them back on Medicare. Then, it’s almost impossible for people to get supplemental coverage & they’re left with OOP costs many can’t afford, and Medicare winds up paying for the really expensive medical treatment that might have been prevented if the Advantage plan had allowed treatment earlier.

(Always makes me furious just thinking about it.)

Beware Medicare Advantage plans. They ARE too good to be true.

Yes, they are, couldn’t agree more.

[UT alum]

3 hours ago, OlDawg said:

Actually, it was United Health Care. Heavily weighted on the Dow & posted lower earnings & bad forecast for remainder of the year.

I actually don’t mind them losing money a bit. They are one of the major players in the rip-off of Medicare. All the Medicare Advantage sellers up charge the government (our tax $$$) for their policies, deny a lot of coverage, cover it up with health club membership bullcrap & such, then drop folks when they actually get really sick or elderly & dump them back on Medicare. Then, it’s almost impossible for people to get supplemental coverage & they’re left with OOP costs many can’t afford, and Medicare winds up paying for the really expensive medical treatment that might have been prevented if the Advantage plan had allowed treatment earlier.

(Always makes me furious just thinking about it.)

Beware Medicare Advantage plans. They ARE too good to be true.

You are 100% correct. All you really have to do is consider this:  When open enrollment comes around, Advantage plans are advertised at least 10 times as much as Supplement plans. Why you think that is? Companies advertise the most for the plans that make THEM the most money. 
 

With advantage plans, you sign your Medicare rights over to the insurance company, your premium withheld from Social Security goes to them, and they get to direct your care. 

[OlDawg]

Off topic for stock market discussion. But, since I’ve happened to find an area where at least two posters with diametrically opposed views agree, I’ll go ahead & drop this right here.

Can we agree this may be a good area for the technical wizards with DOGE to investigate and advise? It doesn’t mean cutting benefits—as some are claiming.

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

@UT alum

@LumRaiderFan

 

[LumRaiderFan]

9 hours ago, OlDawg said:

Off topic for stock market discussion. But, since I’ve happened to find an area where at least two posters with diametrically opposed views agree, I’ll go ahead & drop this right here.

Can we agree this may be a good area for the technical wizards with DOGE to investigate and advise? It doesn’t mean cutting benefits—as some are claiming.

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

@UT alum

@LumRaiderFan

 

It would be a great idea for DOGE to step in and advise on making this more efficient, if fact, they would be the perfect fit when I read that almost half of the $84 billion spent on MA participants is due to “coding intensity”.

I mean, what’s the down side?

[OlDawg]

1 hour ago, LumRaiderFan said:

It would be a great idea for DOGE to step in and advise on making this more efficient, if fact, they would be the perfect fit when I read that almost half of the $84 billion spent on MA participants is due to “coding intensity”.

I mean, what’s the down side?

Wait til you read this one. Waste, fraud & abuse to the max. Not just the $84 billion. Apparently, our government has known about this stuff for 4 Administrations & done nothing but pocket the insurance lobbies’ money.

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

Meanwhile, my better 1/2, with Parkinson’s Plus which keeps her from walking, writing, talking clearly, bathing, going to the bathroom, eating, or clothing herself has to hire a disability attorney to try to fight to get disability where she can have insurance. At 61 years young, we have to be on outrageously expensive ACA for her to have any coverage at all since we’re in the ‘donut hole’ unless we pay an attorney and cross our fingers and wait. And—in Texas—unless your 65, the state doesn’t require supplemental insurance to cover preexisting conditions.

It’s a big mess and a crock. Sorry. I guess I should be happy/thankful we can get anyone to cover her at all. Off my soapbox now.
 

[LumRaiderFan]

56 minutes ago, OlDawg said:

Wait til you read this one. Waste, fraud & abuse to the max. Not just the $84 billion. Apparently, our government has known about this stuff for 4 Administrations & done nothing but pocket the insurance lobbies’ money.

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

Meanwhile, my better 1/2, with Parkinson’s Plus which keeps her from walking, writing, talking clearly, bathing, going to the bathroom, eating, or clothing herself has to hire a disability attorney to try to fight to get disability where she can have insurance. At 61 years young, we have to be on outrageously expensive ACA for her to have any coverage at all since we’re in the ‘donut hole’ unless we pay an attorney and cross our fingers and wait. And—in Texas—unless your 65, the state doesn’t require supplemental insurance to cover preexisting conditions.

It’s a big mess and a crock. Sorry. I guess I should be happy/thankful we can get anyone to cover her at all. Off my soapbox now.
 

Hopefully DOGE will bring enough awareness that the Trump administration won't kick the can down the road anymore.

Very sorry that you and your wife are having to deal with a situation like this, when so much money is being spent on those that are actually gaming the corrupt system.

[Reagan]

On 4/15/2025 at 9:22 AM, DCT said:

Midterms will be a game changer.  Megas will definitely need to keep the windows under lock and key.
His approval is in the trash. 

 

Looks like the public disagrees with you.

PS -- I saw the new democratic slogan:   DeMS 13

[LumRaiderFan]

1 hour ago, Reagan said:

 

Looks like the public disagrees with you.

PS -- I saw the new democratic slogan:   DeMS 13

I can name multiple reasons to vote for Republicans to stay the course, can anyone list reasons to vote for the democrats, other than they hate Trump?

What’s appealing, it it love for MS-13, love of wasteful spending, love of open borders, love of men pummeling women in sports??

Help me out, what’s the appeal?

[baddog]

Another bad day. Stocks close at same amount as yesterday. Lol

[UT alum]

20 hours ago, OlDawg said:

Off topic for stock market discussion. But, since I’ve happened to find an area where at least two posters with diametrically opposed views agree, I’ll go ahead & drop this right here.

Can we agree this may be a good area for the technical wizards with DOGE to investigate and advise? It doesn’t mean cutting benefits—as some are claiming.

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

@UT alum

@LumRaiderFan

 

Yes, I was somewhat surprised to get a heart from Reagan. We agree on the symptoms, but I’m pretty sure we won’t agree on the cure. Without lobbying reform and campaign finance reform, Big Pharma and the Insurance Industry will continue to pick our pockets. We do pay the most as a percentage of GDP for healthcare with inferior outcomes. I did extensive research on this using the CIA’s World Fact Book a few years back.

My career was in insurance. For all you youngsters out there approaching Medicare eligibility DO NOT buy an Advantage plan. Keep your Medicare rights. AARP’s plan with United Healthcare and Mutual of Omaha sell good Supplements. At least, United is good for now (that’s what I have).

[UT alum]

11 hours ago, LumRaiderFan said:

It would be a great idea for DOGE to step in and advise on making this more efficient, if fact, they would be the perfect fit when I read that almost half of the $84 billion spent on MA participants is due to “coding intensity”.

I mean, what’s the down side?

Healthcare costs have nothing to do with the government. If anything, Medicare helps keep costs down by with their pricing schedules. DOGE can’t help much on this one. What is $84 billion against $3 trillion (total cost, public and private).

[LumRaiderFan]

4 hours ago, UT alum said:

Healthcare costs have nothing to do with the government. If anything, Medicare helps keep costs down by with their pricing schedules. DOGE can’t help much on this one. What is $84 billion against $3 trillion (total cost, public and private).

When Obamacare kicked in I saw my healthcare cost increase significantly and when we had our yearly meeting it was without a doubt the cause.

Healthcare costs are absolutely affected by government.  
 

Do you have a problem with DOGE trying to cut wasteful spending?

[OlDawg]

13 hours ago, UT alum said:

Healthcare costs have nothing to do with the government. If anything, Medicare helps keep costs down by with their pricing schedules. DOGE can’t help much on this one. What is $84 billion against $3 trillion (total cost, public and private).

In one sense, I’d say you were correct. No real direct tie between healthcare costs & government. But, with Medicare being a very large chunk of the federal budget & our deficit costs, the abuse of Medicare by the Medicare Advantage providers to the tune of 100’s of billions a year & growing is a problem that DOGE can help address and shine a light on the corruption and inbreeding. When the agency that’s supposed to audit these providers & keep them ‘in line’ is filled with ex employees of the groups they’re supposed to be monitoring, it’s the fox & hen house routine.

The last article I linked points out that traditional Medicare is actually cheaper for the government/taxpayers by far with similar or better outcomes. But, MA plans have become another 3rd wheel because of different issues—lobbying as you state—being one.

You should read the linked article. Just don’t let it make you so mad you need a hospital visit.

[UT alum]

14 hours ago, LumRaiderFan said:

When Obamacare kicked in I saw my healthcare cost increase significantly and when we had our yearly meeting it was without a doubt the cause.

Healthcare costs are absolutely affected by government.  
 

Do you have a problem with DOGE trying to cut wasteful spending?

I don’t have a problem cutting wasteful spending. I have a problem with slash and burn. That’s DOGE.

[LumRaiderFan]

20 minutes ago, UT alum said:

I don’t have a problem cutting wasteful spending. I have a problem with slash and burn. That’s DOGE.

I’m willing to bet will all the “slash and burn” happening, the business of the country won’t miss a beat.

Just like we didn’t implode when the government “shut down”, even though democrats were trying as hard as they could to convince us otherwise.

[OlDawg]

53 minutes ago, UT alum said:

I don’t have a problem cutting wasteful spending. I have a problem with slash and burn. That’s DOGE.

Out of curiosity, when’s the last time you read the 10th Amendment?

[UT alum]

1 hour ago, OlDawg said:

Out of curiosity, when’s the last time you read the 10th Amendment?

What is the relevance? When’s the last time you read the Preamble? How does wrecking the CDC, for one, promote the general welfare?

[OlDawg]

21 minutes ago, UT alum said:

What is the relevance? When’s the last time you read the Preamble? How does wrecking the CDC, for one, promote the general welfare?

That’s an easy one. The CDC shouldn’t exist.

[UT alum]

Just now, OlDawg said:

That’s an easy one. The CDC shouldn’t exist.

That’s a matter of opinion. When’s the last time you read Article 1, Section 3, Clause 3? That broadens Federal authority considerably, and kind of wrecks your 10th amendment theory.

[OlDawg]

9 minutes ago, UT alum said:

That’s a matter of opinion. When’s the last time you read Article 1, Section 3, Clause 3? That broadens Federal authority considerably, and kind of wrecks your 10th amendment theory.

???

This has no bearing on the 10th. The Constitution wouldn’t have been ratified without the 10th. (According to records & historians.)

90% of the Federal Government is against the entire concept of federalism and shouldn’t exist at the federal level. The Commerce Clause has been greatly abused in the past by Statists. The current court is more originalists. That’s why so many progressives are so upset.

[UT alum]

17 minutes ago, OlDawg said:

???

This has no bearing on the 10th. The Constitution wouldn’t have been ratified without the 10th. (According to records & historians.)

90% of the Federal Government is against the entire concept of federalism and shouldn’t exist at the federal level. The Commerce Clause has been greatly abused in the past by Statists. The current court is more originalists. That’s why so many progressives are so upset.

The argument over states vs. federal power goes back to Adams vs. Jefferson. The 10th amendment was needed for ratification. It was also played a central role in the events leading to the Civil War. So, the argument is original in its nature. That’s the beauty of the document. It allows room for the pendulum to swing with the times. Truly unique. Why the Weasel wants to destroy it is beyond me.

[OlDawg]

33 minutes ago, UT alum said:

The argument over states vs. federal power goes back to Adams vs. Jefferson. The 10th amendment was needed for ratification. It was also played a central role in the events leading to the Civil War. So, the argument is original in its nature. That’s the beauty of the document. It allows room for the pendulum to swing with the times. Truly unique. Why the Weasel wants to destroy it is beyond me.

As a libertarian, I’m no big Trump fan. But, he was better than the alternatives. I didn’t vote in the last cycle (first time ever) because I said I was tired of voting against someone instead of voting ‘for’ someone.

Either way, I’m a limited government guy. That means I’m not R or D. I’ll take the benefits available that I’ve paid into if they’re still there. But, if they’re not there, I’ll deal with that also.

I have yet to see Trump do anything to ‘destroy the Constitution.’ I actually saw more of that in the last farcical administration where the people were lied to about a candidate & will never know who was actually running the government. Other than, it wasn’t the duly elected POTUS.

THAT is the biggest scandal/corruption of all time.