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big john wrote:$500-700 month per person is too much to pay for health insurance.
My stepdaughter got laid-off from her job and has no health insurance.
To get a job that has health benefits is pretty tough these days.
It's not all cut and dried and black and white. Some people are just
victims of circumstances. But most people, no matter what the earn,
can't afford $500-700 a month for health insurance. Just my opinion.

This is what health insurance actually costs for a single adult on a group plan, well that is what my company has reported to its employees they are paying with my contribution. Could I afford that if my company didn't pay it? Yeah, but I would have to make some lifestyle changes. I couldn't afford it when I worked on my own that is why I work for the man now. I agree it is a lot. As a country it seems we want Cadillac care but are only willing to address the cost or how to pay for it.

Skibo wrote:
See the problem is you came to the game looking for an argument. I came looking for information. I didn't think there was an opposing view to my question which was how much should health insurance cost for a person. The answer to that question is a number. There is no opposite to 500. There are bigger numbers and smaller numbers, but no opposite numbers.

the problem is the way you framed the question and the tone you used. You aren't getting the information you want to match the outcome you want. Sorry about your luck.

And you are getting called on your approach, and you are getting defensive and verbally-abusive. Both of which are making it increasingly difficult to get people to cooperate, even if the question's initial framework wasn't so skewed. (something you admitted yourself). and the best part? because of your responses, you are going to probably have to wait a few weeks for the heat to die down. Bright side on that tho: it might give you a bit of time to rethink, reframe, and reword your question so it isn't quite so unbalanced. Think of it as a learning opportunity for you.

Can we leave Emu's out of it .... they are australian native animals.... our insurance is lower .... it would not account for much

buffettbride wrote:

I'm an Altered Boy wrote:$18.79

And an emu for the road?

speeewwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!

So, to summarize .... the Health Insurance Pole is what gets inserted into the posterior of those that don't have insurance. And it costs $500 .... or -$500 .... or $18.79 .... or an emu. Unless the emu is on the road. In which case it was irresponsible and deserves its fate.

alphabits wrote:So, to summarize .... the Health Insurance Pole is what gets inserted into the posterior of those that don't have insurance. And it costs $500 .... or -$500 .... or $18.79 .... or an emu. Unless the emu is on the road. In which case it was irresponsible and deserves its fate.

i love you Bits!!!!!

alphabits wrote:So, to summarize .... the Health Insurance Pole is what gets inserted into the posterior of those that don't have insurance. And it costs $500 .... or -$500 .... or $18.79 .... or an emu. Unless the emu is on the road. In which case it was irresponsible and deserves its fate.

actually, the emu is irresponsible and deserves its fate no matter where it is.. because it tried taking someone else's money rather than having the grace to just s*** it up and die.

I haven't read a lot of posts here but I did see a post about universal healtcare. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has as close to universal healthcare as you can get. You had had to sign up by January 1st of this year or you will lose your tax deductions from the state (which amounted to $219 per resident) if you didn't have one inssurance. If you didn't, you lost this deduction, and I think you would have been fined for everyday you didn't have insurance (this last part I would need to check).

aeroparrot wrote:I haven't read a lot of posts here but I did see a post about universal healtcare. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has as close to universal healthcare as you can get. You had had to sign up by January 1st of this year or you will lose your tax deductions from the state (which amounted to $219 per resident) if you didn't have one inssurance. If you didn't, you lost this deduction, and I think you would have been fined for everyday you didn't have insurance (this last part I would need to check).

I'm confused. And part of the reason is that I've never paid state income tax. You get a deduction if you have insurance or you loose your deductions if you don't sign up for state funded insurance if you have no insurance?

What if your employer funded insurance is cost prohibitive of your being able to afford insurance yet you make just above the maximum allowed for state funded? Does your state regulate the insurance industry to the point it puts caps on insurance costs or something. I just can't imagine fining someone who can't afford insurance but doesn't qualify for assistance.

RinglingRingling wrote:

Skibo wrote:
See the problem is you came to the game looking for an argument. I came looking for information. I didn't think there was an opposing view to my question which was how much should health insurance cost for a person. The answer to that question is a number. There is no opposite to 500. There are bigger numbers and smaller numbers, but no opposite numbers.

the problem is the way you framed the question and the tone you used. You aren't getting the information you want to match the outcome you want. Sorry about your luck.

And you are getting called on your approach, and you are getting defensive and verbally-abusive. Both of which are making it increasingly difficult to get people to cooperate, even if the question's initial framework wasn't so skewed. (something you admitted yourself). and the best part? because of your responses, you are going to probably have to wait a few weeks for the heat to die down. Bright side on that tho: it might give you a bit of time to rethink, reframe, and reword your question so it isn't quite so unbalanced. Think of it as a learning opportunity for you.

Someone call Moses. The seas have parted. R2 and I agree on something.

I've been thinking back to when I first started working at my company just under 8 years ago.

It was $0 per month for just myself, and $14 per month employee contribution to cover my daughter. So, that averages to $7 per month, per person. There was no deductable and most services were covered at 100% (including labs) after copay ($15 for doctor visit, $25 for specialist visit, $25 urgent care, $50 for ER or ambulance service, and $150 for an inpatient hospital stay.

Now I pay $350 per month to cover 4 people which is $87.50 per month, per person. That is a 12.5% increase in 8 years only comparing my employee contribution per month for the same PPO network. In addition, I pay a $30 copay for phsycians visit, a $40 visit for a specialist visit, $75 urgent care, $150 for ER and ambulance service, and $300 for an inpatient hospital stay IN ADDITION TO a $300 deductable per person with a maximum of $700 deductable for the family. Aside from physician visits, labs are covered at 90% and most other services are covered at 80%.

Here is an example from when my daughter fell off her bike and broke her arm. I have to pay $800 before my insurance will even cover that expense: $350 monthly contribution, $150 copay, and $300 deductable. The entire visit comes out to around $400 billed by the hospital to the insurance company to cover physicians services, administering pain medication, radiology and casting. Rather than just shelling out $400 out of pocket, I have paid $800. Of the $400 billed to insurance, my $300 deductable is fulfilled, but I will still have to pay another $20 since the remaining $100 is only covered at 80% by my insurance.

$820 for a broken arm!! At least she got a purple cast and some BNrs to sign it! Had my coverage not changed from when I first started working here, I would have paid $57.

Anyone want to see the breakdown of her expenses for Celiac Disease diagnosis last year?

buffettbride wrote:

RinglingRingling wrote:

Skibo wrote:
See the problem is you came to the game looking for an argument. I came looking for information. I didn't think there was an opposing view to my question which was how much should health insurance cost for a person. The answer to that question is a number. There is no opposite to 500. There are bigger numbers and smaller numbers, but no opposite numbers.

the problem is the way you framed the question and the tone you used. You aren't getting the information you want to match the outcome you want. Sorry about your luck.

And you are getting called on your approach, and you are getting defensive and verbally-abusive. Both of which are making it increasingly difficult to get people to cooperate, even if the question's initial framework wasn't so skewed. (something you admitted yourself). and the best part? because of your responses, you are going to probably have to wait a few weeks for the heat to die down. Bright side on that tho: it might give you a bit of time to rethink, reframe, and reword your question so it isn't quite so unbalanced. Think of it as a learning opportunity for you.

Someone call Moses. The seas have parted. R2 and I agree on something.

oh crap it's a hat trick - a damn trifecta.

RinglingRingling wrote:

Skibo wrote:
See the problem is you came to the game looking for an argument. I came looking for information. I didn't think there was an opposing view to my question which was how much should health insurance cost for a person. The answer to that question is a number. There is no opposite to 500. There are bigger numbers and smaller numbers, but no opposite numbers.

the problem is the way you framed the question and the tone you used. You aren't getting the information you want to match the outcome you want. Sorry about your luck.

And you are getting called on your approach, and you are getting defensive and verbally-abusive. Both of which are making it increasingly difficult to get people to cooperate, even if the question's initial framework wasn't so skewed. (something you admitted yourself). and the best part? because of your responses, you are going to probably have to wait a few weeks for the heat to die down. Bright side on that tho: it might give you a bit of time to rethink, reframe, and reword your question so it isn't quite so unbalanced. Think of it as a learning opportunity for you.

And it's SPELLED "Poll" not POLE

Skibo wrote:

RinglingRingling wrote:nice attempt at a cya. well, as nice as a one-note singer can do covering Beethoven's 9th. It appears it was never going to be a discussion, nor were you apparently ever going to concede any merit in the opposing viewpoint's position, so.. you trolled. and you started denigrating those whose views are different from yours.

brilliant.

See the problem is you came to the game looking for an argument. I came looking for information. I didn't think there was an opposing view to my question which was how much should health insurance cost for a person. The answer to that question is a number. There is no opposite to 500. There are bigger numbers and smaller numbers, but no opposite numbers.

How can you put a monetary value on a person's life????

ph4ever wrote:

buffettbride wrote:

RinglingRingling wrote:

Skibo wrote:
See the problem is you came to the game looking for an argument. I came looking for information. I didn't think there was an opposing view to my question which was how much should health insurance cost for a person. The answer to that question is a number. There is no opposite to 500. There are bigger numbers and smaller numbers, but no opposite numbers.

the problem is the way you framed the question and the tone you used. You aren't getting the information you want to match the outcome you want. Sorry about your luck.

And you are getting called on your approach, and you are getting defensive and verbally-abusive. Both of which are making it increasingly difficult to get people to cooperate, even if the question's initial framework wasn't so skewed. (something you admitted yourself). and the best part? because of your responses, you are going to probably have to wait a few weeks for the heat to die down. Bright side on that tho: it might give you a bit of time to rethink, reframe, and reword your question so it isn't quite so unbalanced. Think of it as a learning opportunity for you.

Someone call Moses. The seas have parted. R2 and I agree on something.

oh crap it's a hat trick - a damn trifecta.

I love the way we trifecticate together.

buffettbride wrote:I've been thinking back to when I first started working at my company just under 8 years ago.

It was $0 per month for just myself, and $14 per month employee contribution to cover my daughter. So, that averages to $7 per month, per person. There was no deductable and most services were covered at 100% (including labs) after copay ($15 for doctor visit, $25 for specialist visit, $25 urgent care, $50 for ER or ambulance service, and $150 for an inpatient hospital stay.

Now I pay $350 per month to cover 4 people which is $87.50 per month, per person. That is a 12.5% increase in 8 years only comparing my employee contribution per month for the same PPO network. In addition, I pay a $30 copay for phsycians visit, a $40 visit for a specialist visit, $75 urgent care, $150 for ER and ambulance service, and $300 for an inpatient hospital stay IN ADDITION TO a $300 deductable per person with a maximum of $700 deductable for the family. Aside from physician visits, labs are covered at 90% and most other services are covered at 80%.

Here is an example from when my daughter fell off her bike and broke her arm. I have to pay $800 before my insurance will even cover that expense: $350 monthly contribution, $150 copay, and $300 deductable. The entire visit comes out to around $400 billed by the hospital to the insurance company to cover physicians services, administering pain medication, radiology and casting. Rather than just shelling out $400 out of pocket, I have paid $800. Of the $400 billed to insurance, my $300 deductable is fulfilled, but I will still have to pay another $20 since the remaining $100 is only covered at 80% by my insurance.

$820 for a broken arm!! At least she got a purple cast and some BNrs to sign it! Had my coverage not changed from when I first started working here, I would have paid $57.

Anyone want to see the breakdown of her expenses for Celiac Disease diagnosis last year?

It's your fault - you should have been responsible kept your legs together and not had kids you are paying for your irresponsibility.

ph4ever wrote:

buffettbride wrote:I've been thinking back to when I first started working at my company just under 8 years ago.

It was $0 per month for just myself, and $14 per month employee contribution to cover my daughter. So, that averages to $7 per month, per person. There was no deductable and most services were covered at 100% (including labs) after copay ($15 for doctor visit, $25 for specialist visit, $25 urgent care, $50 for ER or ambulance service, and $150 for an inpatient hospital stay.

Now I pay $350 per month to cover 4 people which is $87.50 per month, per person. That is a 12.5% increase in 8 years only comparing my employee contribution per month for the same PPO network. In addition, I pay a $30 copay for phsycians visit, a $40 visit for a specialist visit, $75 urgent care, $150 for ER and ambulance service, and $300 for an inpatient hospital stay IN ADDITION TO a $300 deductable per person with a maximum of $700 deductable for the family. Aside from physician visits, labs are covered at 90% and most other services are covered at 80%.

Here is an example from when my daughter fell off her bike and broke her arm. I have to pay $800 before my insurance will even cover that expense: $350 monthly contribution, $150 copay, and $300 deductable. The entire visit comes out to around $400 billed by the hospital to the insurance company to cover physicians services, administering pain medication, radiology and casting. Rather than just shelling out $400 out of pocket, I have paid $800. Of the $400 billed to insurance, my $300 deductable is fulfilled, but I will still have to pay another $20 since the remaining $100 is only covered at 80% by my insurance.

$820 for a broken arm!! At least she got a purple cast and some BNrs to sign it! Had my coverage not changed from when I first started working here, I would have paid $57.

Anyone want to see the breakdown of her expenses for Celiac Disease diagnosis last year?

It's your fault - you should have been responsible kept your legs together and not had kids you are paying for your irresponsibility.

I'm tempted to figure out at what point health insurance stops becoming cost prohibitive. I wonder if my insurance company provides a list of diseases which make it less expensive to afford insurance and what happens if you're not on the approved disease list. Sooo not funny, but that is what it feels like!

buffettbride wrote: Now I pay $350 per month to cover 4 people which is $87.50 per month, per person.

This is what you pay yes, but what do you think that policy really costs? Your total cost of that policy is hidden due to the fact that your company pays the rest. Maybe the companies are to blame partially for this problem for doing such a poor job communicating to their employees the actual cost of insurance.

Skibo wrote:Well this didn't go as well as I had hoped. I was hoping to see where people stood on what a fair insurance cost would be. I was curious to see how many people understood what a monthly premium really cost. Seems that most don't are not willing to admit it. I guess it is easier to want free healthcare for all, or say the evil drug companies charge too much.

I was hoping to eventually get to a followup question for the people that believe everyone should have healthcare and it is...

**BONUS QUESTION**
How much of a tax increase are you willing to accept to guarantee healthcare for all? Please state it in a percentage increase. Hey someone has to pay for all the deadbeats that cannot/will not pay for the healthcare they "deserve"

Let's be fair here. This statement set the tone for much of what followed.

buffettbride wrote:

ph4ever wrote:

buffettbride wrote:I've been thinking back to when I first started working at my company just under 8 years ago.

It was $0 per month for just myself, and $14 per month employee contribution to cover my daughter. So, that averages to $7 per month, per person. There was no deductable and most services were covered at 100% (including labs) after copay ($15 for doctor visit, $25 for specialist visit, $25 urgent care, $50 for ER or ambulance service, and $150 for an inpatient hospital stay.

Now I pay $350 per month to cover 4 people which is $87.50 per month, per person. That is a 12.5% increase in 8 years only comparing my employee contribution per month for the same PPO network. In addition, I pay a $30 copay for phsycians visit, a $40 visit for a specialist visit, $75 urgent care, $150 for ER and ambulance service, and $300 for an inpatient hospital stay IN ADDITION TO a $300 deductable per person with a maximum of $700 deductable for the family. Aside from physician visits, labs are covered at 90% and most other services are covered at 80%.

Here is an example from when my daughter fell off her bike and broke her arm. I have to pay $800 before my insurance will even cover that expense: $350 monthly contribution, $150 copay, and $300 deductable. The entire visit comes out to around $400 billed by the hospital to the insurance company to cover physicians services, administering pain medication, radiology and casting. Rather than just shelling out $400 out of pocket, I have paid $800. Of the $400 billed to insurance, my $300 deductable is fulfilled, but I will still have to pay another $20 since the remaining $100 is only covered at 80% by my insurance.

$820 for a broken arm!! At least she got a purple cast and some BNrs to sign it! Had my coverage not changed from when I first started working here, I would have paid $57.

Anyone want to see the breakdown of her expenses for Celiac Disease diagnosis last year?

It's your fault - you should have been responsible kept your legs together and not had kids you are paying for your irresponsibility.

I'm tempted to figure out at what point health insurance stops becoming cost prohibitive. I wonder if my insurance company provides a list of diseases which make it less expensive to afford insurance and what happens if you're not on the approved disease list. Sooo not funny, but that is what it feels like!

The thing about it is you really can't afford to not have insurance. Think about it what if you got hit with the bit ole C or something like that? I was damn thankful I had every time I picked up my meds. There's no way we could have paid for them ourselves.