Basically, I think everyone should be able to obtain, not be given, obtain some form of health coverage. Starting with well care and moving up through the levels of care. That would begin to clear out the emergency rooms and would be less expensive at all levels of government. Would be well worth shifting fund to underwrite the states for a portion to get it in place.

Gosh Medic - who’d a thunk a few weeks ago we’d be discussing let along mostly agreeing!!! Life takes funny turns, I’ve learned not to fall on too many swords……

/\/\3|)iç 64 (Winner of the BVBL 40k and 50k post award) said on 7 Feb 2008 at 5:29 pm:

Dolph,

You are not vintage, you are timeless with years of wisdom. (and a good swimmer too ~splash~)
__

I agree that is where regulation comes in, however, it seems to me that people are able to figure out the loop holes pretty quickly.
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Dolph said on 7 Feb 2008 at 8:50 pm:

I feel the same way. I am paying a higher premium for family coverage. I haven’t had to use the insurance but 3 times in the three years I have been here. It is a gamble. They gamble you are not going to need it and you gamble that you will.

My mom is in the same boat as you. She should have been able to retire 2 years ago, but because of the insurance premium costs, she will get to retire after next school year. It is sad that seniors have to work so much extra just to be able to afford to live. Oh, I should have said the timeless with wisdom.

A good reason for working for the feds. 72% is sweet. I am one of those people who is neither fish nor fowl at this point. Not working and not eligible for medicare yet. My pension kicks in some bucks towards my health care but it is a fixed amount.

The insurance premium can rise as much as it wants and it probably will. Hopefully by then I will be on medicare.

You have a great deal!
~~splash~~

I pay a total of approximately $560. per month for health care. I am retired from the Federal gov. and my portion of the premium is $360. per month. The gov. pays 72% of the total cost. My wife and I both have medicare and each of us pays approx. $100. per month. Hope this clarifies the math.

I am fixated on your health care….trying to figure out the math. My husband is on medicare and all the costs add up to about $250 per month. Mine is the big one….it ends up costing me almost $500 a month. I am not eligible for medicare for several years.

What of the folks who cannot afford medical insurance? They have too much money for medicaid and not enough to get regular health care. I find it scary to think about. On the other hand, why should my family be chunking out $750 a month and other people get theirs for free?

I certainly do not want to have national ized Kaiser Permanente. I just feel like I have a mega premium that pays for me and several others.

I wasn’t moaning and groaning nearly as much before I retired, but I will say that the thought of how expensive this venture was going to be kept me from retiring sooner.

That’s where regulation comes in.

You are correct. I too am tired of paying for the freeloaders.
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999 said on 7 Feb 2008 at 5:36 pm

The problem with that is the big insurance companies will raise their rates so people can no longer afford it and they do not have to pay out as much, yet reap the benefits from those who can.

There is a choice and I think you will see it an extremely low voter turnout in November.

My conservative Brit friends like NHS and one recently told me he is proud of their country for implementing it. I am not sure this country could afford the gas prices they shuck out in the UK to pay for it though.

I totally agree that everyone should be covered by some sort of healthcare plan. However, I don’t agree that the ENTIRE healthcare system has to be re-vamped to provide for the uninsured. If I am correct, there is something in the order of 40 million people in this country with no health insurance. Lets get those people without insurance into the system and leave the ones who have a suitable plan alone. I cannot understand why Medicare becomes the primary health insurer and one’s current health plan becomes the secondary when reaching 65. I am paying over $360. a month for my wife and I for a health insurance plan and my wife and I are both paying almost $100. each per month for Medicare. IMHO, my private health insurance should be footing the bill first and then Medicare to fill the gap. To me, it’s BASSAKWARDS! Take the money Medicare is paying out for services for people with adequate plans of their own and use it to take care of the uninsured.

However, I do think that it is in our best interest to require employers to make some form of health care available to their employees either through them or through other associations or groups. Well care and preventative care does not have to be beyond the reach of most, and I also think is in the best interest of all of us that we approve the role of government to assure basic care is attainable at some level tied into minimum wage. Basic care will allay future and catastrophic costs. Individuals should be expected to pay for that needed expense for their families. Does that mean you get lousy care? Not always, that depends on the Dr. You could pay a fortune and not get good care.

Why should health care be affordable? No one talks about affordable education. Let’s make BMWs affordable. Let’s make NYC real estate affordable.

Everyone wants Cadillac health care on a Yugo budget. Why is health care expensive (according to some)? Trail lawyers and illegal aliens. I am willing to pay for quality. But I have to admit I’m tired of paying for the freeloaders.

My conservative Brit friends like NHS and one recently told me he is proud of their country for implementing it. I am not sure this country could afford the gas prices they shuck out in the UK to pay for it though.

I also am retired and I find the cost of health care to be …breath-taking. I also am buying in to my former employer’s plan so I am not getting hit as hard as many people. I also consider myself to be fortunate because I am able to do this.

Many people do not have access to a good health care plan. Many people cannot leave their jobs because of pre-existing condition clauses with potential employers. Some folks max out with their existing insurance companies ecause of catastrophic illness. Others are just uninsurable. These are the conditions I feel are criminal. Additionally, I realize that my policy costs continue to rise at steep rates because of those who walk on their bills. Someone has to cover it. Might as well be me. grrrrrrrrrrr

I thank you for your attempts to explain far left conservative to me. I think I ended up getting dyslexia from too much left and right. But thanks for trying. I could follow you as long as I didn’t think too much about left and right. I ended up feeling like I was my own great grandfather.

~~splash~~

Canada and Mexico were brought up due to your statement re American health care. Since both of these countries have virtually “free” health care, I thought you might compare all three countries (btw, I left England off - that should have been included for camparison also.) You get what you pay for!

The Dr gets the $10.00 for services rendered
The Ambulance service receives 5.00 for services rendered
The ER gets 20.00 for the services rendered
The X-ray dept gets 5.00
The lab gets 5.00

I know these may not be as much as they get now, but these were figures from the time I worked in the hospital in the early 90’s. Make calculated adjustments for inflation accordingly.

Here we have $45.00 payout to the health care system. One lab test was more than that. The hospital has to eat the rest or go after the patient to get it, which adds even more expense carrying the debt and the collection agency to collect it.

If we didn’t have the nanny state and the services provided were paid a fair price, then we would be better off. I am not saying to cut it off completely, but make it available for those who can not work.

Bon voyage yourself. Let me guess, your employer pays for your health care, you don’t change jobs often, and no one in your family has had a catastrophic

WRONG ON TWO ACCOUNTS! I’M RETIRED!

Agree with the quote, if insurance is made to be obtainable then more people will have it which will result in what you are saying.

If the Gov’t absorbed some drug rehabilitation (including the Rush Limbaughs and Betty Fords - not just the ugly druggies) and mental health it would go a long way toward obtainable insurance for the majority. Well care and preventative care routine screenings may reduce the number that end up with mental health and drug issues in the long run.

Science is driving catastrophic care and there is really no way to control that.

Agree with the black hole of prescription drugs and drug companies…… Now there is public competition - no so sure it’s a good thing. The nanny state HAD to get involved or most of us would be dead and broke.