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Of all the arguments about the "non-need" for health insurance, this one is the lamest. Look at the change in life expectancy in the last 100 years. Improvements in health care bring about rising costs. The ability to pay for health care is part of the issue.
1. A facile answer that is supposed to shut everyone up. The government is not broke. It is spending more than it brings in. We have to develop a priority list of cuts. Health care is not necessarily at the top of that list.
2. Many of us do. I don't think you have a grasp of how much a simple night in a hospital costs; a simple lab test, etc.
not my problem...a Cadillac costs A Lot too..does that mean everyone must have one? no...you get what you pay for
Unbelievable that you have the audacity to ask me "Why don't I help them voluntarily?"
Because,....
I'm one of the underemployed in this country that has been forced to work at an extremely low paying job for health insurance because I can no longer afford an individual health insurance policy with a reasonable deductible. The only policy that I could afford prior to taking this job (which still wasn't cheap) had a $5,000 deductible and they were willing to raise my deductible even more to keep taking my money for zero coverage. As of January 1st, the company I work for went from a $500 deductible policy to a $1,500 deductible policy with less coverage so that they can continue to offer affordable health insurance to their employees.
And, to answer your other comments ....
The woman that I spoke of whose health insurance would not pay for an ambulance to come get her has Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield which is provided by her husband's employer. You make it sound like there's a smogasboard of jobs out there for people to choose from which offer great benefits. Maybe you haven't been watching the news but that's not the case. Even if there were many jobs to choose from, her husband has been with this company for many years. He's middle aged. I don't think he's going to become a job jumper like you propose.
The family that I spoke of whose losing everything due to his wife's illness runs a second generation business - the business is about as solid as the dirt you're buried in. As a small business owner with just a very few employees he didn't have the health insurance options available that big businesses can purchase. These folks are relatively young people in their 40's. His wife has been sick now for 15 years. She was once a county official. They are hard working, rock solid people.
It's too bad that you people feel that you have all the answers for everyone else and refuse to acknowledge that health insurance needs reforming and affordable health insurance should be available for everyone.
btw - I left out discussing #2 in your post but it would be good for you to look at the history of who introduced the bill that repealed Glass Steagall and how it got passed. The banking industry had been seeking the repeal of Glass–Steagall since at least the 1980s.
I'll give you a hint,... it was the same party that always looks after corporate interests instead of caring about the rest of us. True to form regarding their stance against health insurance reform, they're looking after the "interests" of the health insurance companies instead of looking out for you.
u Know i dont care to read sob stories...if you can't buy insurance or negotiate with an employer or prospective employer to provide it Then that is your and not my problem..dont make this Country socialistic..my problems are not yours, and vice versa
Unbelievable that you have the audacity to ask me "Why don't I help them voluntarily?"
Because,....
I'm one of the underemployed in this country that has been forced to work at an extremely low paying job for health insurance because I can no longer afford an individual health insurance policy with a reasonable deductible. The only policy that I could afford prior to taking this job (which still wasn't cheap) had a $5,000 deductible and they were willing to raise my deductible even more to keep taking my money for zero coverage. As of January 1st, the company I work for went from a $500 deductible policy to a $1,500 deductible policy with less coverage so that they can continue to offer affordable health insurance to their employees.
And, to answer your other comments ....
The woman that I spoke of whose health insurance would not pay for an ambulance to come get her has Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield which is provided by her husband's employer. You make it sound like there's a smogasboard of jobs out there for people to choose from which offer great benefits. Maybe you haven't been watching the news but that's not the case. Even if there were many jobs to choose from, her husband has been with this company for many years. He's middle aged. I don't think he's going to become a job jumper like you propose.
The family that I spoke of whose losing everything due to his wife's illness runs a second generation business - the business is about as solid as the dirt you're buried in. As a small business owner with just a very few employees he didn't have the health insurance options available that big businesses can purchase. These folks are relatively young people in their 40's. His wife has been sick now for 15 years. She was once a county official. They are hard working, rock solid people.
It's too bad that you people feel that you have all the answers for everyone else and refuse to acknowledge that health insurance needs reforming and affordable health insurance should be available for everyone.
btw - I left out discussing #2 in your post but it would be good for you to look at the history of who introduced the bill that repealed Glass Steagall and how it got passed. The banking industry had been seeking the repeal of Glass–Steagall since at least the 1980s.
I'll give you a hint,... it was the same party that always looks after corporate interests instead of caring about the rest of us. True to form regarding their stance against health insurance reform, they're looking after the "interests" of the health insurance companies instead of looking out for you.
spare me the theatrics..she should have called the ambulance, and they would have taken her there..they could sort out The Payment Stuff Later..no EMT is going to leave her there..so spare me the nonsense..u can make a Payment Plan with the hospital, mail them $10 A Month for the rest of your life and as long as youre making A "Good-Faith" Payment they cant do anything anyway..so spare me the sob stories, son
I can't imagine how expensive insurance would get if Paul Ryan gets his way. Premiums will be astronomical to assure profitability after senior citizens are addes to the rolls. They can't ad millions of sick and elderly without dire consequences.
spare me the theatrics..she should have called the ambulance, and they would have taken her there..they could sort out The Payment Stuff Later..no EMT is going to leave her there..so spare me the nonsense..u can make a Payment Plan with the hospital, mail them $10 A Month for the rest of your life and as long as youre making A "Good-Faith" Payment they cant do anything anyway..so spare me the sob stories, son
You probably work as an insurance agent, based on your few posts. Like any risk management professional, you are all smiles and handshakes until you have to pay out... and then, it's "too bad old friend. Good luck!.."
As someone who once worked as a secretary in an Health Insurance Brokerage firm, you are talking to someone who knows how they really work. I've seen the daily fax communications from their Insurance Lobby keeping them up to date on what's happening in Washington. They lobbied long and hard for years against insuring people with "pre-existing conditions".... Miserable group, almost every broker smoked like a chimney. Guess they felt they were safe from ever losing their coverage since they worked there.
For that matter, I also worked in a Worker's Compensation area of a huge Insurance Company. So, do me a favor and don't talk to me about how these risk managment, "for profit" businesses view their insured. I have an opinion based on a lifetime of work experience.
And, btw, you also seem to know nothing about what it is to be a working Joe in America. You believe that people working for companies can "Negotiate for better coverage?" Are you endorsing unions? hmmm.... You certainly have an answer for every situation. What's it like for you living in another reality?
I've just related real life stories of a couple of people in my circle of acquaintances that I've heard about in the past two weeks.
There are many more -- not that you care.
And, my own personal situation which I shared is not unlike millions of underemployed Americans that are the new working poor... due to the many bad choices made by the party you embrace.
It's the middle class, the homeowners... the ones who that are trying to hold on to their standard of living that are being hurt by these greedy, for profit companies.
So, dear sir, spare me your suggestions.
"Good faith payments" to a hospital won't protect you from losing your credit standing... and we all know what happens then.
Last edited by World Citizen; 04-09-2011 at 01:47 PM..
You probably work as an insurance agent, based on your few posts. Like any risk management professional, you are all smiles and handshakes until you have to pay out... and then, it's too bad old friend.
As someone who once worked as a secretary in an Health Insurance Brokerage firm, you are talking to someone who knows how they really work. I've seen the daily fax communications from their Insurance Lobby keeping them up to date on what's happening in Washington. They've lobbied long and hard for years against insuring people with "pre-existing conditions".... Misereable group, almost every broker smoked like a chimney. Guess they felt they were safe from ever losing their coverage since they worked there.
And, btw, you also seem to know nothing about what it is to be a working Joe in America. Negotiating for better coverage? Are you endorsing unions? hmmm.... You certainly have an answer for every situation. What's it like for you living in another reality?
I've just related real life stories of a couple of people in my circle of acquaintances that I've heard about in the past two weeks.
There are many more -- not that you care.
And, my own personal situation which I shared is not unlike millions of underemployed Americans that are the new working poor... due to the many bad choices made by the party you embrace.
It's the middle class, the homeowners... the ones who that are trying to protect their standard of living that are being hurt by these greedy, for profit companies.
So, dear sir, spare me your suggestions.
Good faith payments won't protect you from losing your credit standing... and we all know what happens then.
like i Said, im lower middle class..i unload trucks for a living at a supermarket. i chose an employer that offers this coverage. Thats called planning and negotiation. For much of my life, i had no coverage. I never complained about it or expected anything from the government. I did things for myself Than and i do Now..Underemployed you Said? i was delivering pizzas For $5 A Hour..can't get much more unemployed than that can we bro.? im not a Rich guy..but i am a free market self-reliance guy. I dont want anything from the government. and yes if people dont pay their bills, they deserve bad credit. i bust my butt to keep my credit good and i deserve to have good credit...those that do not, do not.
You probably work as an insurance agent, based on your few posts. Like any risk management professional, you are all smiles and handshakes until you have to pay out... and then, it's "too bad old friend. Good luck!.."
As someone who once worked as a secretary in an Health Insurance Brokerage firm, you are talking to someone who knows how they really work. I've seen the daily fax communications from their Insurance Lobby keeping them up to date on what's happening in Washington. They've lobbied long and hard for years against insuring people with "pre-existing conditions".... Miserable group, almost every broker smoked like a chimney. Guess they felt they were safe from ever losing their coverage since they worked there.
For that matter, I also worked in a Worker's Compensation area of a huge Insurance Company. Do me a favor and don't talk to me about how these risk managment, for profit business view their insured.
And, btw, you also seem to know nothing about what it is to be a working Joe in America. "Negotiating for better coverage?" Are you endorsing unions? hmmm.... You certainly have an answer for every situation. What's it like for you living in another reality?
I've just related real life stories of a couple of people in my circle of acquaintances that I've heard about in the past two weeks.
There are many more -- not that you care.
And, my own personal situation which I shared is not unlike millions of underemployed Americans that are the new working poor... due to the many bad choices made by the party you embrace.
It's the middle class, the homeowners... the ones who that are trying to protect their standard of living that are being hurt by these greedy, for profit companies.
So, dear sir, spare me your suggestions.
Good faith payments won't protect you from losing your credit standing... and we all know what happens then.
your friend should have called an ambulance regardless..there are no points for stupidity (not calling one)
not my problem...a Cadillac costs A Lot too..does that mean everyone must have one? no...you get what you pay for
Re-read (or read for the first time):
Quote:
Originally Posted by GreenScoutII
It's been said that a Liberal is just a Conservative who hasn't been mugged yet. Perhaps this is true. If it is, then I would also submit that a Conservative is just a Liberal who hasn't been sick yet....
Yes, my family and I have health insurance. Yes, I agree that it is each of our responsibilities to see to it that we have the coverage that we need. Yes, I agree that it is the responsibility of every able bodied adult to pay for said coverage for themselves.
However, the system we have does not work. Maybe if one is young and in good health, it will work just fine, but consider the following:
Your wife is pregnant with twins. She goes into labor eight weeks early and there are complications for both her and the babies. Your wife spends a week in the hospital. Your children spend five weeks in NICU.
But you have insurance right? Every thing's covered, so you're good, right? Are you sure?
Your plan pays 90%. How bad can the remaining 10% really be? What if your insurance company arbitrarily refuses to pay for a necessary medical procedure? They do that frequently, as I found out.. So how bad can it be?
Try $65,000 and change out of pocket......
Yes, we negotiated with the hospital and one of the doctors and got the bill knocked down a bit. We had 20K in savings that went towards it and we paid the remaining 15K off over two years.
We were fortunate. We were in a position to do so. Most people are not.
So why is it such a bad idea to have universal health care? Why is it such a bad idea to have everyone pay into the system so that it is there if you ever need it? You know, kind of like we do for things like say, the military, or the police department, or the fire department, or even public education?
Naw, that would be (shudder) socialism.... We can't have that!
I used to see health care the same way some of the more conservative posters here do. I sincerely hope none of you ever find yourself in the position of needing extensive medical care. I can't say that you'll change your mind, but I can guarantee you will re-evaluate your position on the subject....
What do people who DON'T want health care for all............
Not to complicate matters here, But dead people make great Golf Course fertilizer.
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