From a purely selfish viewpoint, what would be the ideal health insurance plan for YOU/YOUR family? (healthcare, premium)
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With all this talk about the proposed new insurance plan, I am just wondering what, from your individual standpoint, would be best for you and/or your immediate family, and what would be the maximum you would be willing to pay for that? If you choose to answer, please state the basics of your particular situation (household members, their ages, and your general socioeconomic group, if you choose to share that). I would also be interested in knowing what would you like to see for the nation, in general, regarding insurance and/or healthcare.
FOR US:
In my case, I am 63 and married, my husband is 60, and we are both in good health with no current medical conditions except that my husband is taking blood pressure medication, and neither of us have had any major or serious past medical conditions -- knock wood. We are middle class with comfortable savings.
For us, for non-major medical, I would like to see co-pays of $50 per office visit, $250 for outpatient surgeries, and $25 for prescriptions. For major medical at 80% (after a $5,000 annual deductible each), plus co-pays of $2,500 per surgery and/or hospital stay with our maximum total lifetime contribution of not more than $50,000 each. (Dental, vision, and hearing needs would be covered, but nursing home stays, mental health services, and cosmetic procedures would not be covered.) For all that, I would be willing to pay a maximum of $500 per month in insurance premiums for each of us -- or $1,000 per month for us both. I would also like all insurance premium and medical payments to be tax deductible.
FOR THE NATION:
I don't think that anyone should be denied coverage altogether because of a pre-existing condition. but I also think that premiums should be based on the individual and his/her history. I also think that insurance should not be mandatory, but if adults choose not to pay for insurance, then I don't think they should be entitled to any kind of medical treatment that they cannot pay for except when treatment is necessary to preserve life* (or in such cases as treating a broken leg, for example); and in those situations, they should be expected to pay as much as they reasonably can for their treatment. (To be clear, I don't think that any child should be denied medical or dental treatment, period.) I also ]think that Medicare should be abolished except for those now 55 or older,with refunds or tax credits given to those now under 55 according to how much they have paid into it. (Those who are now 55+ would have the option of having Medicare as it stands now or choosing private insurance instead.)
Of course, this is just a "bare bones" summary of what I would like from an admittedly very self-centered viewpoint, but I am more interested in reading what YOU think would be best for YOU. My only purpose for starting this thread is to get an idea of what people would choose for themselves, given the opportunity, and to express what they would like to see regarding the U.S. overall; and I respectfully ask that you not insult anyone for expressing their opinions.
*For example, YES to treatment for a heart attack or for injuries sustained in a car crash; NO to consultations for a sore throat unless there is good reason to suspect it might be a symptom of something much more serious than just a cold. I would also support free birth control for those who want it and cannot afford it otherwise.
Medicare for all from cradle to grave. It would come from payroll withholding as it does now. It would be cheaper than it is now for everyone as only people 65 and older are on it and these are the sickest demographic in the nation.
Just the services and coverage we chose, high deductibles, incentives for good test results, (blood sugar, bp, bmi, those sorts of things). Portability and pre-existing condions possibly, though that area could be a little tricky. Would be more open to pre-existing condition coverage if there was a much heavier emphasis on lifestyle.
The plan I had before that jackass lied and took it away from.
I want what I had before ACA that took care of me instead of other people.
I pay my way. Others should too. If they can't, not my problem.
Actually you don't pay your way. Nobody really does. This is the big myth of the free market, that somehow what you put in is what you get back. You always get back more than what you contribute when it comes to insurance. A government run insurance plan would make sure everybody pays, no exceptions.
Actually you don't pay your way. Nobody really does. This is the big myth of the free market, that somehow what you put in is what you get back. A government run insurance plan would make sure everybody pays, no exceptions.
Uh huh, got some ocean front property in Arizona. Interested?
Actually you don't pay your way. Nobody really does. This is the big myth of the free market, that somehow what you put in is what you get back. You always get back more than what you contribute when it comes to insurance. A government run insurance plan would make sure everybody pays, no exceptions.
How do you plan on that. A large percentage don't even pay income tax.
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