wat do ya pay for health insurance

[CaptainRobin]

I'm with JEEP... nothing, I'm a service connected disabled Veteran. The VA pays ME to go see the doc... pretty good deal.
Robin

 

[bigscoop]

Health insurance? What's that? Now days I just grab some tape and a couple of sticks and hope for the best. Lately I've been reading up tendon repair cause I'm going to have to do that myself in the very near future.

 

[bigscoop]

You know.......now there's an idea. Let's teach our children every phase of the medical profession instead of math, history, etc. And by the time they graduate from high school...........health care crisis solved! Every future home will come with it's own ambulance & medical wing!

 

[5500D]

Just under $1300 a month. When I worked it wasn't that bad. About $180 a month for a family plan. When I retired I got to pay the entire cost.

 

[rginn]

My health insurance policy is pretty much like all the farmers' "Don't get sick". All you vets, watch that VA hospital. Some ain't that great I've heard. Health care sucks in this country, but if it was free, it would make us socialists or commies. More importantly, it would cut the salaries of doctors. Any doctors out here, please justify to me your rates, and how you arrive at them. I'll hear it for that. The training, the schooling, etc. etc. blah blah blah. Go ahead and justify it, and then figure out how the medical profession could cut the costs. You could still make enough to live on. Of course, there's a lot of money to be made in sickness and tryin to cure it, and we do worship doctors like gods of the modern world.

 

[diggemall]

My health insurance policy is pretty much like all the farmers' "Don't get sick". All you vets, watch that VA hospital. Some ain't that great I've heard. Health care sucks in this country, but if it was free, it would make us socialists or commies. More importantly, it would cut the salaries of doctors. Any doctors out here, please justify to me your rates, and how you arrive at them. I'll hear it for that. The training, the schooling, etc. etc. blah blah blah. Go ahead and justify it, and then figure out how the medical profession could cut the costs. You could still make enough to live on. Of course, there's a lot of money to be made in sickness and tryin to cure it, and we do worship doctors like gods of the modern world.

Two thoughts on this one:

1) Our local paper reported that Medical professionals enjoyed an average 10% increase in "salary" this last year............. Tell me THAT's not a big part of the problem.....

2) Ever try to make a dentist appointment on a Friday ? Around these parts, it AIN'T gonna happen ! So, SOMEBODY's makin enough in FOUR days to "satisfy" their wants, needs, and desires........

Diggem'

 

[naturegirl]

don't we need to get past the "health care for everyone makes us commies or socialists"? Love the way you word things rginn. What are we called when money is more important than compassion? We pay 500 a month for two of us, and I don't know what my husband's company pays, but it's always threatening to drop it. I'm contract-paid labor now, my job never even offered insurance. Thanks rubytuesday for the view into a different way of life! What's it like to not have this insurmountable cost hanging over you?

 

[bigscoop]

I think health care is going to be just another in a long line of industries that are going to experience the always threatened, "If you can't aford it don't buy it" slogan. I just hope the Gov says "NO" to bailouts and/or forced programs in the future. If the ship is sinking let it sink.......new ships & better ships will arrive in their wake.

 

[diggemall]

The biggest single problem with our health care / insurance system is that free-market pressures never really come into play at all. NOBODY really knows the true cost of anything they have done. Even if you don't have insurance, what you get billed is not reflective of a true price as those that pay, either through an insurance program, or out of their own pocket, are picking up the costs of those that simply never pay their bills at all. Between that and the "insurance" companies setting up "deals" with certain providers, there is absolutely zero incentive for the vast majority of end consumers to shop for best value, and therefore, zero pressure for real competition. Couple that with the fact that the "insurance" companies add roughly 25 - 30% to the cost of the care itself and you have the mess that we have.

If I could find a way to get between Americans and their groceries, the same way insurance companies have gotten between us and our health care, I would be a very, very wealthy person.......

Diggem'

 

[Unicorn]

Thru out our working life we pay what is called NHS.(national health insurance) this is deducted from your salary while you are working. So contrary to what most people think, we do contribute toward our health scheme, but of course its subsized by the Governement. We get free medical treatment at the point of need, from the cradle to the grave. We pay a % of prescription charges, and also dental treatment. It's not a perfect system, and of course those who can afford to pay for private treatment because they feel that its a better service ( which mostly it isn't) do so. Social medicare seems to be something that America won't embrace. But it's such a relief to have peace of mind, knowing that you won't have to show either a medical insurance card or a cheque book before you can be treated, either in a hospital or by your Doctor.

Of course we all know there are abusers of this system, and that there are 'hangers on'. But it's a system that was adopted here when times were so hard that men, women and children just died from lack of treatment. Thankfully this is no longer the case. So like Rubytuesay, I just say I am happy with what we have.

'U'

 

[naturegirl]

Thru out our working life we pay what is called NHS.(national health insurance) this is deducted from your salary while you are working. So contrary to what most people think, we do contribute toward our health scheme, but of course its subsized by the Governement. We get free medical treatment at the point of need, from the cradle to the grave. We pay a % of prescription charges, and also dental treatment. It's not a perfect system, and of course those who can afford to pay for private treatment because they feel that its a better service ( which mostly it isn't) do so. Social medicare seems to be something that America won't embrace. But it's such a relief to have peace of mind, knowing that you won't have to show either a medical insurance card or a cheque book before you can be treated, either in a hospital or by your Doctor.

Of course we all know there are abusers of this system, and that there are 'hangers on'. But it's a system that was adopted here when times were so hard that men, women and children just died from lack of treatment. Thankfully this is no longer the case. So like Rubytuesay, I just say I am happy with what we have.

'U'

:icon_thumleft

thanks unicorn!

 

[bigscoop]

Unicorn,
I would love to see that system in place here, but as Diggemall pointed out, the system we have now is so corrupted and controlled by big business interest/politics that needed change will probably never take place without the type of hidden "consumer bailout plans" like the one President "O" is pushing for. That's what I meant when I said let those ships sink, and make the required changes that need to be made in order to keep your nation as healthy as possible.

 

[Smudge]

$500 a month for me, wife and step-daughter.

$3000 deductible and they cover 80% after that.

Does it really have to be this way?

 

[olroy70]

See, the thing with employer - provided insurance, is that the employee never really relates to the true cost of the insurance. Insurance companies rely on this disconnect. The last employer I worked for got smart - they increased all of their employees wages by the amount that they (the employer) were contributing towards the employees insurance. Then, they deducted the FULL premium from our paychecks. From that day forward, everybody KNEW what the cost of their health insurance was. And you FELT the changes when your salary went up 2-3% and your insurance premiums went up 10%.

If more employers would do this, it wouldn't take long for LOADS of people to do the math and realize it's only a matter of time before we're all working for health care. (Plot two curves - one representing your income and rising at whatever your annual average increase is, and the other, representing Health Insurance costs, rising at 10% or more - no matter what numbers you start with, insurance will exceed income at some point)

Diggem'

I think we should do the same thing with taxes of all kinds............... and make the sheeple pay with a check............

People would sure know how much they payed that way!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[olroy70]

Maybe, before we start looking at other socialist countries, let's compare other things....


Current European tax Rates
United Kingdom
Income Tax: 50%
VAT: 17.5% TOTAL: 67.5%

France
Income Tax: 40%
VAT: 19.6% TOTAL: 59.6%

Greece
Income Tax: 40%
VAT: 25% TOTAL: 65%

Spain
Income Tax: 45%
VAT: 16% TOTAL: 61%

Portugal
Income Tax: 42%
VAT: 20% TOTAL: 62%

Sweden
Income Tax: 55%
VAT: 25% TOTAL: 80%

Norway
Income Tax: 54.3%
VAT: 25% TOTAL: 79.3%

Netherlands
Income Tax: 52%
VAT: 19% TOTAL: 71%

Denmark
I! ncome Tax: 58%
VAT: 25% TOTAL: 83%

Finland
Income Tax: 53%
VAT: 22% TOTAL: 75%


It cost someone to have FREE insurance.

I do NOT want socialized medical..........

There aint nutin free, friends!!!!!!!!!!

 

[aa battery]

this has become a very good info thread

 

[diggemall]

Maybe, before we start looking at other socialist countries, let's compare other things....

It cost someone to have FREE insurance.

I do NOT want socialized medical..........

There aint nutin free, friends!!!!!!!!!!

OlRoy, you're right - ain't no free lunch. However, we are paying close to these rates if you added it all up:

For a family of four, it looks like insurance is costing around 1300.00 / month (that's the employee's AND the employers share together) If you make 3,000.00 / month, that's 34% right there. (total compensation is 3000 + 800 employers contrib. if you're paying 500)

Social Security / FICA is what ? 7.65% from your check and another 7.65% by your employer. That's another 15.3% Total so far = 49.3% !!

*********UPDATE*************

Just realized I forgot to include INCOME TAXES ! What's the average working stiff pay ? 10% maybe ? 59.3% TOTAL So, is it really that bad in the other countries ?

Now, add in your deductibles and whadda ya got ?

PLUS, our system doesn't guarantee coverage for everything. ALL policies have a maximum lifetime total allowed (most are in the range of 1 million) That sounds like a lot, until you have a major accident, or get cancer (which, if you don't die from something else is the one thing that will eventually kill you)

Now, you want to "feel good" about the whole mess ? Insurance companies are walking away with 25 - 30 % of YOUR money, just for the priveledge of your having them make life nothing but difficult for you (denial of claims, pre-certification, etc.) And, if you get canned tomorrow, you're back to square zero: everything you have contributed is theirs to keep !


Nope, ain't no free lunch !

Diggem'

 

[Unicorn]

Just something that might be of interest. When you retire from work and are no longer paying any NHI money, you can rest assured that your medical needs are still met. In fact pensioners get all of their treatments free. What a relief it is when getting older and are more likely to need medical care, you don't have the worry of medical Insurance. My local authority even provides a free bus pass for pensioners, this means that we are able to go shopping using public transport, thus freeing up space by not using cars. I know our system isn't to everyones liking, but it's one that has pride of place here, and is protected with much gusto. I have thanked God for it many times.

'U'

 

[FarmerChick]

I agree Unicorn. Your level of stress thru life not having to wonder at all about medical care from birth to grave actually must be liberating. A feeling I won't know probably

for the USA to change to your type of system would be just overwhelming x 1,000,000,000


we can't fix a small problem of price of services, etc. without major troubles, any HUGE change to the system would be disasterous. The powers that be can't wipe their own butts without $100 toilet paper, so for them to really fix a problem would be just mindblowing.

countries that have it well established should be proud they can provide those services to their citizens! USA is losing alot of its pride lately!!!!

 

[naturegirl]

And can you imagine what less stress does for your health? As a contrast, when I kinda wonder about my future, and all the possibilites ( I really try to take it one day at a time, but can't help but wonder sometimes) I find myself thinking, "Well, when it comes down to it, hopefully I'll just die quickly, and not be a financial burden to anyone"!! those are the worse case thoughts, I stress again, not my everyday thoughts. BUT, I wonder how many more Americans have these thoughts go through thier heads?