Census: One in five in N.C. don't have health insurance (homeowners insurance, employment)

[SunnyKayak]

Nearly one in five North Carolinians younger than 65 lacks health insurance, according to U.S. Census estimates. That percent was higher than all but 16 states.

read more here
Census: One in five in N.C. don't have health insurance

[PDD]

I'll bet they have an I-Phone, I-Pad and a hand full of lottery tickets every week. Who need insurance when the emergency rooms have to take car of you when your sick or injured?

[box_of_zip_disks]

Originally Posted by SunnyKayak

Nearly one in five North Carolinians younger than 65 lacks health insurance, according to U.S. Census estimates. That percent was higher than all but 16 states.

Call me cynical but I would've figured the number was higher.

[SunnyKayak]

This is why the Affordable Care Act that congress and Supreme Court passed is good in reducing the burden when everyone pays in to it.

[jmking]

I would have thought it higher also and most likely is.

[netbrad]

Originally Posted by SunnyKayak

This is why the Affordable Care Act that congress and Supreme Court passed is good in reducing the burden when everyone pays in to it.

Keep telling yourself that. The math doesn't work, and not everyone is going to pay the penalty for not having insurance. Employers are going to dump insurance for their employees at the first opportunity, and the cost of insurance at the exchanges is going to be up to 40% more than what you currently pay, assuming you are allowed to buy into an exchange (which does not exist yet in NC) in the first place. That is in addition to the extra compliance and administrative costs.

The company I work for has already stated they are going to stop providing insurance. My wife's company, since it only has 8 employees, will not be able to provide it either so they will have to pay a $2,500 per employee penalty. So thanks for supporting the loss of my health insurance and the extra penalty on small businesses. And yes, this is relevant to NC since both employers are in this state.

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by netbrad

Employers are going to dump insurance for their employees at the first opportunity...

The sooner the better.

Perpetuating the employment relationship is the #1 problem with the ACA as it currently exists.
It distorts everything about healthcare and makes it harder for new companies to start up.

[netbrad]

Originally Posted by MrRational

The sooner the better.

Perpetuating the employment relationship is the #1 problem with the ACA as it currently exists.
It distorts everything about healthcare and makes it harder for new companies to start up.

But I thought if I liked my plan I could keep it? The problem with the ACA is that it does not provide any incentive for any employer to provide insurance as a benefit. Employer plans cause insurance premiums to be much less than they would individually. Have you tried to buy insurance on your own, or paid into Cobra? It costs about twice as much as the company plan. Since employers will no longer be subsidizing coverage there won't be enough money to drive costs down, plus you will add several million high-risk insured into the mix with the "no pre-existing conditions" portion of the bill so the costs go even higher. Then add the extra taxes on the drug companies, employers, insurance providers and medical device manufacturers and there is no where else for costs to go but up.

[PDD]

Originally Posted by SunnyKayak

This is why the Affordable Care Act that congress and Supreme Court passed is good in reducing the burden when everyone pays in to it.

I agree with you but then again we have the people who don't want to buy insurance because they "never get sick". Just like the ones who don't carry liability insurance because they are "good drivers" , because it never floods where they live", because "what do I need homeowners insurance for"?

I'm just glad that there are enough smart people that realize that if the majority is willing to pay a fair share for insurance then they won't get stuck paying huge medical bills like the uninsured will because they needed the money for more important things.

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by netbrad

Since employers will no longer be subsidizing...

They aren't "subsidizing" anything.

You're paying every penny of everything whether you see the money or not.
Me? I'd rather see the money and make my own choices.