March for health care! - Page 3

**Goat Blower** · 09-09-2009

Why thank you. With obamacare we probably would've delivered in the bath tub with a plunger and a bottle of Scotch.

niterydr · 09-09-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goat Blower

Why thank you. With obamacare we probably would've delivered in the bath tub with a plunger and a bottle of Scotch.

But would it have been good scotch? Perhaps taken from someone else's liquor cabinet?

Congrats on the new addition!

**goodhart** · 09-09-2009

^^ Don't confuse the military with the government (i.e. the VA)

The military can't take care of shit because there is too many people that do things by-the-books instead of doing things using some common fucking sense.

talonite · 09-09-2009

in my opinion the health care system is fine, it just that the government isn't getting their money back due to all the state appointed healthcare programs and all the people that use these "free" healthcare programs to their advantage, which gives them a huge debt, even though tax payers are paying for it. So in all reality i feel that they used the people to screw themselves, and now they are just gonne screw it up more.

Captian James F. Awesome · 09-09-2009

Keep your goddamn government hands off my medicare!

**Halon** · 09-09-2009

Is it just me, or do Tom's posts always seem to drastically change all the time? One minute the it says one thing, the next it's completely different. Kinda funny.

**Kracka** · 09-09-2009

Even Channel 5 news, typically liberal as are most, called this plan socialism today when I had it on before work!

Captian James F. Awesome · 09-09-2009

There is a certain logic to the public plan that I like. Larger pools of insured lower premiums for everyone. Also you'd have coverage if you lost you job. It really hits home to me because my small employer just raised our premium contribution by $100 a month. The boss said he had to do it, drop health insurance all together, or go out of business. I don't know if any of you have had the unfortunate situation of having to get health care whilst unemployed, but the cheapest plans go for $100 a month with $5000 deductibles. How are you suppoed to afford a hospital visit costing $5000 while unemployed? Plus if my boss didn't have to pay high premiums he could afford to give all the employees the raises we've forgone for the last few years. Boss told us he spends $20000 on each of us for healthcare. So by no means think that you get "free" healthcare from your employer. It's costing you a whole lot in wages.

polishmafia · 09-09-2009

I agree with some of your points about how expensive coverage is for employers, but about this...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captian James F. Awesome

Also you'd have coverage if you lost you job.

That already exists. Its called state continuation, or if the employer has more than 20 employees, its COBRA. In Florida, its called Mini COBRA, and in California, its called Cal-COBRA.

A//// Guy · 09-09-2009

Im actually on Cobra this month because I changed jobs and my new work insurance kicks in Oct 1st. 300 bucks gives me good coverage per month. Its not cheap but it works.

Captian James F. Awesome · 09-09-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by A//// Guy

Im actually on Cobra this month because I changed jobs and my new work insurance kicks in Oct 1st. 300 bucks gives me good coverage per month. Its not cheap but it works.

Just saw this, which kind of proves my point. I you need to do COBRA, your stuck with whatever you had. Sometimes thats a $300 plan, and sometimes it's a $1000 plan, whichever you had when you're layed off. Which leads to another great point. People are pretty much stuck with whatever the employer offers. I don't know what it's like at a big company, but at my small one, we have the choice between really expensive/no deductible, or the new super high deductible plan. Nothing in between.

polishmafia · 09-09-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captian James F. Awesome

Just saw this, which kind of proves my point. I you need to do COBRA, your stuck with whatever you had. Sometimes thats a $300 plan, and sometimes it's a $1000 plan, whichever you had when you're layed off. Which leads to another great point. People are pretty much stuck with whatever the employer offers. I don't know what it's like at a big company, but at my small one, we have the choice between really expensive/no deductible, or the new super high deductible plan. Nothing in between.

Also, don't forget that if you have a $300/month or $1000/month plan, your employer can adjust the cost for you up to a 10% administrative fee. :P

Another great point? You're stuck with what your employer offers? Not true. You can go out and get individual insurance (for yourself only, or plus a spouse/children). Just because someone doesn't want to go research their options doesn't give them a right to bitch about having to choose from two "bad" plans. The employer is at fault, too. They should shop around and find an insurance company that would let them choose from more than two plans. A "good, better, best" option (depending on what your definition of "best" is) is offered by many, many companies.

Captian James F. Awesome · 09-09-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by polishmafia

Also, don't forget that if you have a $300/month or $1000/month plan, your employer can adjust the cost for you up to a 10% administrative fee. :P

Another great point? You're stuck with what your employer offers? Not true. You can go out and get individual insurance (for yourself only, or plus a spouse/children). Just because someone doesn't want to go research their options doesn't give them a right to bitch about having to choose from two "bad" plans. The employer is at fault, too. They should shop around and find an insurance company that would let them choose from more than two plans. A "good, better, best" option (depending on what your definition of "best" is) is offered by many, many companies.

I guess I can't really speak from experience. Never been layed-off. But, how many people seriously do that? I want to see a hands up. You completely lose the benefit of not being in a pool with individual plans (which are a huge savings for large companies and states). And employer plans are so heavily subsidized by the employer you'd never compete with them for cost. I know it's possible to do, but really who does it?

**Kracka** · 09-09-2009

Hey Tom, why didn't you follow your own advice after the 2000 and 2004 elections?

Captian James F. Awesome · 09-09-2009

And COBRA is prohibitively expensive for an unemployed person. I just don't think most people realize what employers but up for premiums. I was told that for me (28 years old, single, healthy) that it's $700 some a month. That's all COBRA does. It allows you to keep what you had, but pay all the cost. I just look at it this way. You spend you whole life working and paying premiums. Why shouldn't you be covered for those (hopefully) few months you spend between jobs for a reasonable cost. Yes, I know you could go to another cheap plan, or state care or something until you get another job, but there's waiting involved. You can't plan when you'll get sick.

Here's another fun question. What if your employer gave you the $700-$2000 a month they spent on premiums and let you put it in you pocket instead. Would you pay for the same plan you're on, or would yo skimp to some crappy plan that no person in thier right mind brag about being the "best in the world"

A//// Guy · 09-09-2009

I wasnt laid off at my last job, I quit for this new job. I took the Cobra from my old job.

I was laid off last year though, and luckily the company gave me 3 months severance with full benefits. I was lucky to get my old job back before that ran out.

Maybe some of the shops around here, or even Steve can comment on insurance for self employed? I dont know how the rates go there, but I know there are alot of options.

Captian James F. Awesome · 09-09-2009

I guess I don't want to argue on thing reasonable people can disagree on. I just want to know why employers got stuck with this whole healthcare thing. Why can't we look at something where large amounts of individuals can pool up and make choices from more plans.

Matt D. · 09-09-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captian James F. Awesome

I just want to know why employers got stuck with this whole healthcare thing. Why can't we look at something where large amounts of individuals can pool up and make choices from more plans.

I don't know what the law is about employers providing health care. Is it a choice, do they HAVE to do it, or do they do it in order to be a competitive employer?

mukapahnpy · 09-09-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt D.

I don't know what the law is about employers providing health care. Is it a choice, do they HAVE to do it, or do they do it in order to be a competitive employer?

I'd say it is part of being a good employer. Let's say you are Mr. Gates himself. Now, since your employee's do such a fabulous job at making YOU and the stock holders money, wouldn't you want to keep them there? Wouldn't YOU want to take care of them as they are doing for you? Now, if YOU don't care, then your employee's need to weigh their options, family, health, benefits, pay, etc. etc.

s1ngletracker · 09-09-2009

i have cobra, costs $108 a month, for the plan I have. There's a gov't subsidy for it right now that pays 66%.