Thoughts on health insurance in America

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

Hello? The new paradigm is already here. It's been here since about 2006.

There is no longer a majority race in America. The conglomeration of the former "minorities" is now the majority. And, they will continue to be the majority.

This country isn't,and never was, a pure democracy. The electoral college will continue to tip for the Democrats. The decline into socialism will be difficult for many to face. And, those who believe they want it will be like most in this hemisphere who believe(d) they want(ed) it - disappointed that they are still poor, or getting poorer.

The health care plan is just an example of what is to come.

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Not sure why you think the electoral college favors Democrats ...... In the 2000 election the popular vote would have elected Gore ... but the electoral vote elected Bush.. Rarely do they disagree with each other but it can happen... Often the winner doesn't get 50% because of a third candidate as happened when Clinton defeated Papa Bush (Perot took a sizable popular vote,but no electorial vote) One big reason for the electoral college instead of popular vote is not all states have exactly the same voting standards and rules ( I find it hard to believe that in some states you can register to vote on the same day as the election, no check time on validity of voter... plus in Texas, it is difficult to stay on rolls more than two years if you move or die, not true in some states ). ... and can you imagine the problems that would occur if the popular vote was only a few 100 apart as happened in Florida in 2000.... All 50 states would be scrambling to recount and find extra votes ..... That would be far worse that the mess that occurred in Florida.

As for health care plan .... I am not sure I support it and never claimed I did ...but we are paying now anyway with property taxes (at least where we have hospital districts) for those who can't/don't pay as it is anyway.... Something needed to be done ... just not so sure this is the way to go.

As for race ... it seems in America there is always a problem or targeted group... People once disliked the Irish ... and they hated the Germans (my family was... not very popular people in WWI, many changed spelling of their name .. example Schneider became Snyder, the town Stanton was once Marienfeld ) they have disliked Italians, they have disliked blacks, they have disliked Polish, they have disliked the Jewish, and many more ... just weren't English enough.... now it seems to be a couple of other groups ........ it seems everyone except British names got their turn..

Think about this ..... nearly every President has a name from the British Isles .. except Teddy Roosevelt, F.D. Roosevelt, and Van Buren (all were from Dutch families in New Amsterdam (now New York) from the 1600-1700's prior to USA, ... plus Eisenhower (German name, war hero) and now Obama. 39 have names from British Isles ... no French, Italian, Scandinavian, Oriental, native American, Hispanic, or Eastern European names.... May not be a majority race in America but there is in Presidential names. Only two haven't had a British Isle or a New Amsterdam Dutch name.

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Edited November 8, 2013 by SCREAMING EAGLE-66

[UNT90]

#TedCruzwasright

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

#TedCruzwasright

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about what???.... I will agree he is extreme right ... as was Adolph.... who thought his group was superior people, persecuted various religions especially Jewish, and was liked by big business and industrialists and even provided them free labor (prisoners) .. He was the direct opposite of a socialist (despite the name) ..

Edited November 8, 2013 by SCREAMING EAGLE-66

[Army of Dad]

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about what???.... I will agree he is extreme right ... as was Adolph.... who thought his group was superior people, persecuted various religions especially Jewish, and was liked by big business and industrialists and even provided them free labor (prisoners) .. He was the direct opposite of a socialist (despite the name) ..

Oh good God(win), how/why the hell would you go off on a nazi tangent?!

[forevereagle]

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about what???.... I will agree he is extreme right ... as was Adolph.... who thought his group was superior people, persecuted various religions especially Jewish, and was liked by big business and industrialists and even provided them free labor (prisoners) .. He was the direct opposite of a socialist (despite the name) ..

Wait, Cruz is advocating that we persecute people based on their religion? That seems to be what you are claiming here. Maybe you want to rephrase.

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

Oh good God(win), how/why the hell would you go off on a nazi tangent?!

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People like Cruz and Rush are harmful to America... They divide and make crazy claims that if you don't agree with them you are non-Christian Pagan, and non-Patriotic. that bothers me.. Those of us who did not think Iraq invasion was necessary (just as most European did not support it) were considered unpatriotic.. i think absolutely otherwise... I didn't want American soldiers harmed or killed needlessly and nothing seemed to support a nuke program there but only one guys word that the Germans said was liar (he was in Germany at the time he claimed to be in Iraq at a nuke plant)

Even Michael Reagan has flat out called people who don't vote for the party he supports are Un-Christian (I actually heard him say it on one of his programs ). Learn a bit of history and you will find that people who did not support their leader were made fun of, were considered non-patriotic etc. We need people to unite America and do the right thing not divide us. As for Conservative... Explain how in 2001 after 200+ years the debt was about$ 5.8 trillion .... then in 2009 (eight years later it became $11.9 trillion) ... how was that conservative. ??? My opinion of T-party folks is they don't want to pay any taxes... and to hell with the debt.. Their actions show that, want more tax cuts but no spending cuts that make sense. .. . Conservative is not increasing debt.... which I believe.. Conservative Santorium was known as the king of earmarks when in Congress...(contributing to the debt big-time). He was no conservative despite his claims.

If you answer how doubling the national debt was conservative... then they have some credibility ..otherwise they are lying snakes. . The economy went to hell in that final year too and we haven't totally recovered from it since. We never before had invaded a country before without being provoked ... but we did then... and thousands died and have permanent injuries... Do you approve of that?? ..[don't mention 9-11, Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11 ] Was that conservative and patriotic or was opposing it patriotic?? That other leader did the same, claim to be superior and invade countries for no reason .. that is how it came up. . Support people who want to help America ....not divide it and make fun of people who disagree with them.. I have said enough, maybe too much. ...

I don't dislike the GOP just because they are GOP ..... I dislike the ones who thump Bibles and think only they are Christian or Godly, only they are patriotic, and say they are conservative while ruining the debt and economy.. The GOP is now really two groups.... The moderate sensible ones and those that have no clue..

Edited November 8, 2013 by SCREAMING EAGLE-66

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

Wait, Cruz is advocating that we persecute people based on their religion? That seems to be what you are claiming here. Maybe you want to rephrase.

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That was not intended.... But there are those that think the opposition party is un-Christian .. that was the point.. I have even heard statements to that effect. Also there are a lot supporters that give non-Christian religions a bad time. I won't label Cruz as one of them ... just clueless ... What sensible spending has he proposed to cut ?? He just suggests less taxes... That is like me going to work less because I owe money... It went out of control after 2001... Check this site if you think I am being dishonest about that claim. check the 90's and then 2000+... Maybe you will see I am be 100% truthful .. (US Treasury site... non-political. )

. http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/histdebt/histdebt.htm

[UNT90]

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about what???.... I will agree he is extreme right ... as was Adolph.... who thought his group was superior people, persecuted various religions especially Jewish, and was liked by big business and industrialists and even provided them free labor (prisoners) .. He was the direct opposite of a socialist (despite the name) ..

LOL!

Talk about a total misunderstanding of history.

Nazi comparisons are a clear indication that one has lost an argument. Thank you for your admittance.

But I'll give it one more try. Ted Cruz and his fellow conservatives shut down the government because it was the right thing to do to try and force President Obama to delay what they knew, and knew correctly, was going to be a complete disaster.

And it has. Total. Utter. Complete. Disaster.

The people who are ruining America are not people who are right about policies harmful to average American citizens. The people ruining America are the people who push through health care legislation without reading one damn page of it. The people harmful to this country are thiose that lie to the American people about whether or not they will lose insurance coverage over legislation that the person lying had not even read, legislation that was pushed through at the last second, not because it would benefit Americans, but because a new congress was about to take over that wouldn't allow this legislation to be inacted.

Legislation that was purely and completely political in nature and which has led to a decrease in full time employment and benefit coverage for middle and low income Americans.

Legislation's whose end goal was the complete government take over of 15% of the U.S. economy, not to help any American citizen in any way.

But, ya, Rush Limbaugh and Ted Cruz are the real threats to America.

Jeez.

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Edited November 8, 2013 by UNT90

[UNTFan23]

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People like Cruz and Rush are harmful to America... They divide and make crazy claims that if you don't agree with them you are non-Christian Pagan, and non-Patriotic. that bothers me.. Those of us who did not think Iraq invasion was necessary (just as most European did not support it) were considered unpatriotic.. i think absolutely otherwise... I didn't want American soldiers harmed or killed needlessly and nothing seemed to support a nuke program there but only one guys word that the Germans said was liar (he was in Germany at the time he claimed to be in Iraq at a nuke plant)

Conservatives don't have a monopoly on "dividing and making crazy claims." It happens on both sides of the aisle.

[JesseMartin]

I wouldn't say the healthcare reform stuff is a complete disaster yet, though it may well end up that way. But I do think it's an overly complicated, expensive waste of time. Our insurance is going up by about $150 a month, but at least we're still insured. Disaster? Maybe, time will tell. Clusterf--k? Definitely.

[FirefightnRick]

"Undercover Video Shows Obamacare Navigators Urging Applicant to Lie, Defraud Taxpayers"

http://blog.heritage.org/2013/11/12/undercover-video-shows-obamacare-navigators-urging-applicant-to-lie-defraud-taxpayers/#.UoTepmS9Kc0

Rick

[FirefightnRick]

Healthcare website crashes while Sebelius tries to help a person sign up during media event.

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2013/11/19/hhs-secretary-sebelius-visits-south-florida-to-meet-with-healthcare-navigators/

Rick

[FirefightnRick]

"Banana republic update: cancer patient who complained about ObamaCare gets an IRS audit"

http://www.breitbart.com/InstaBlog/2013/11/30/Banana-republic-update-cancer-patient-who-complained-about-ObamaCare-gets-an-IRS-audit?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Remember Bill Elliott, the cancer patient who said he'd be more likely to "let nature take its course," rather than pay his 900 percent premium increase under ObamaCare? The crestfallen Obama voter who said he voted to re-elect the President entirely because he believed the Big Lie about keeping your insurance and doctors if you liked them?

The funniest darn thing just happened: he's getting audited by the IRS. Apparently his insurance broker is getting audited, too.

Rick

[FirefightnRick]

"Surprise! Walmart health plan is cheaper, offers more coverage than Obamacare".

http://m.washingtonexaminer.com/surprise-walmart-health-plan-is-cheaper-offers-more-coverage-than-obamacare/article/2541670

For many years, the giant discount retailer has been the target of unions and liberal activists who have harshly criticized the company's health care plans, calling them notorious for failing to provide health benefits and "substandard.

But a Washington Examiner comparison of the two health insurance programs found that Walmart's plan is more affordable and provides significantly better access to high-quality medical care than Obamacare.

Rick

[JesseMartin]

That's pretty funny. Our coverage went up $150 a month starting this month. I thought the Affordable Care Act was supposed to be affordable, like for lower middle class families...like us...oh well, at least our portion is lower and previous conditions are covered, so I might be able to get a couple of surgeries I've needed for the last decade or two.

[Harry]

That's pretty funny. Our coverage went up $150 a month starting this month. I thought the Affordable Care Act was supposed to be affordable, like for lower middle class families...like us...oh well, at least our portion is lower and previous conditions are covered, so I might be able to get a couple of surgeries I've needed for the last decade or two.

That's pretty much the tradeoff, it costs more - but it covers more and there are no pre-existing conditions anymore.

The new plans are all built around age. The older you are the more you will pay.

[oldguystudent]

That's pretty much the tradeoff, it costs more - but it covers more and there are no pre-existing conditions anymore.

The new plans are all built around age. The older you are the more you will pay.

So, the typical bronze plan. $6,000 deductible with 60% coverage. For more money.

How is that a benefit? That's taking a whole bunch of my money for almost nothing in return.

One reason I'm always hesitant to change jobs is that I've got sweet, sweet coverage. $5,000 deductible with 100% coverage, but the firm pays the premiums and puts a couple hundred in my HSA every month.

[Harry]

So, the typical bronze plan. $6,000 deductible with 60% coverage. For more money.

How is that a benefit? That's taking a whole bunch of my money for almost nothing in return.

One reason I'm always hesitant to change jobs is that I've got sweet, sweet coverage. $5,000 deductible with 100% coverage, but the firm pays the premiums and puts a couple hundred in my HSA every month.

Your mixing two different scenarios here and that makes it difficult to compare. Certainly employer coverage would be better since most employers pay some or all of the premiums for employees. I even have some group clients that pay 80%-100% of dependent premium costs. Larger employers can spread the risk among more employees limiting adverse selection allowing them to secure lower rates..the can also self fund their claims allowing them to avoid some of the Obamacare mandated benefits (enhanced pediatric dental, mental health etc). So comparing employer based coverage to individual is really not a fair comparison.

In the old rules, if you hated your job and wanted to start your own business you would have more difficulty securing individual and family health coverage because they could use medical conditions to raise your rates or deny you coverage altogether. However, if you were young and healthy you could probably get a lower cost plan then what is available today. It wouldn't cover as much but it would cost you less no doubt.

I'm not defending one side or the other here. If you look at it without a political tint -- which is what my clients ask me to do - there are advantages and disadvantages to both sides. My biggest problem is those who claim the system was great before. It wasn't. This new system has major issues as well.

[oldguystudent]

Yeah, it was very clear in my head that I was addressing two completely different situations, and it made perfect sense to me at the time. But it didn't come out like that at all.

See, I get employer coverage, but buy Obamacare for my kid ($6,000 deductible/100%). Because I do both, it makes sense in my simple mind to discuss both at the same time.

The employer thing was a bit of a nonsequitir. Just thoughts going on in my head with current situations.

[Harry]

Yeah, it was very clear in my head that I was addressing two completely different situations, and it made perfect sense to me at the time. But it didn't come out like that at all.

See, I get employer coverage, but buy Obamacare for my kid ($6,000 deductible/100%). Because I do both, it makes sense in my simple mind to discuss both at the same time.

The employer thing was a bit of a nonsequitir. Just thoughts going on in my head with current situations.

OK I get it -- sorry I just picked this up on the tail end and might have missed that.

I'm guessing that you are considering buying the Obamacare coverage for your kid because it is less expensive than doing so through your employer which is fairly common because employers typically don't contribute as much towards dependents.

And you are right, the younger participants are in a sense subsidizing the older sicker ones in the new Obamacare system. So I can understand how you might see higher rates for your child then you did before.

The best cost savings that I can find right now in the Obamacare plans is using concentric provider networks, ie a subset or smaller group of providers who take less reimbursement in exchange for more volume. I haven't been pushing my clients in that direction yet (unless it is a financial necessity) because what good is a plan if your doctors and hospitals aren't in the network? I do see this starting to happen though. You will start seeing more concentric types of provider networks and products popping up in the coming year and beyond. For instance, Baylor will offer a plan that ONLY allows you to use Baylor providers and in return offers you a lower premium cost. I also see CVS and some of the clinics doing similar types of things in the not so distant future. Let's face it most people don't need 100K physicians in their insurance plan network and a more regional focused provider network could provide similar outcomes at a lower premium cost.

[UNTFan23]

Your mixing two different scenarios here and that makes it difficult to compare. Certainly employer coverage would be better since most employers pay some or all of the premiums for employees. I even have some group clients that pay 80%-100% of dependent premium costs. Larger employers can spread the risk among more employees limiting adverse selection allowing them to secure lower rates..the can also self fund their claims allowing them to avoid some of the Obamacare mandated benefits (enhanced pediatric dental, mental health etc). So comparing employer based coverage to individual is really not a fair comparison.

I work for "a large retailer" and I live in fear that the company may choose to go the route of dropping employer provided health insurance, pay the fees, and let me go out on the free market to find my own insurance. Since I make too much to qualify for any subsidies, I won't even bother with the government created exchanges and use a insurance broker to try to find the best health insurance plan that meets my needs.

I'm hoping that doesn't happen but it is a large concern I have.

[oldguystudent]

For my kid, after my loving bride refused to further carry her on her nearly free, super good, coverage, I was faced with $379/mo for $5,000 deductible/100% coverage through my employer (pre-tax) or $120/mo $6,000 deductible/100% coverage (post-tax) for Obamacare. I can still spend my HSA money on her care, so they are, in effect, nearly identical plans. Wasn't a difficult choice.

[FirefightnRick]

Whitehouse delays Obamacare again, this time for mid sized businesses.

http://www.breitbart.com/InstaBlog/2014/02/10/White-House-Announces-Mandate-Delay-for-Employers

Rick