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Skibo wrote:

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.

ph4ever wrote:

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.

flyboy55 wrote:

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.

Skibo wrote:Healthcare is not a right.

buffettbride wrote:Oh yes. And as not to be remiss about what I learned from the broken arm experience, we have changed primary care physicians for my children from a family practice where I have gone for 15 years but they provide very little directly in terms of labs, procedures, and xrays to a pediatric office that does have an in-house lab and radiology. If I knew then what I know now, the same broken arm would cost $30.

I have sacrificed the quality bedside manner of my favorite physician for someplace I like a lot less but will save my ass in an emergency. I've put my children on notice that they are only allowed emergencies between the hours of 8a-5p M-F and every first Saturday from 9a-12p.

Skibo wrote:

flyboy55 wrote:

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.

I appologize to anyone that was offended by this statement. The thread derailed long before this but I will accept responsibility for my statement.

buffettbride wrote:

Skibo wrote:

flyboy55 wrote:

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.

I appologize to anyone that was offended by this statement. The thread derailed long before this but I will accept responsibility for my statement.

You might think it derailed (and I am entirely not offended by your statement even though I was unable to keep my pants on when I was 22). In fact, I've managed to stay relatively on topic in this thread, which is, why I am guessing, the mods are keeping this thread around in the first place. If it gets to sporks and popcorn, you'll know we've reached the danger threshold.

ph4ever wrote:

buffettbride wrote:Oh yes. And as not to be remiss about what I learned from the broken arm experience, we have changed primary care physicians for my children from a family practice where I have gone for 15 years but they provide very little directly in terms of labs, procedures, and xrays to a pediatric office that does have an in-house lab and radiology. If I knew then what I know now, the same broken arm would cost $30.

I have sacrificed the quality bedside manner of my favorite physician for someplace I like a lot less but will save my ass in an emergency. I've put my children on notice that they are only allowed emergencies between the hours of 8a-5p M-F and every first Saturday from 9a-12p.

yeah like Tony listened to that one.

buffettbride wrote:

ph4ever wrote:

buffettbride wrote:Oh yes. And as not to be remiss about what I learned from the broken arm experience, we have changed primary care physicians for my children from a family practice where I have gone for 15 years but they provide very little directly in terms of labs, procedures, and xrays to a pediatric office that does have an in-house lab and radiology. If I knew then what I know now, the same broken arm would cost $30.

I have sacrificed the quality bedside manner of my favorite physician for someplace I like a lot less but will save my ass in an emergency. I've put my children on notice that they are only allowed emergencies between the hours of 8a-5p M-F and every first Saturday from 9a-12p.

yeah like Tony listened to that one.

At least when he shoved a rock up his nose, he did it on the day the doctor's office had evening hours. Twice.

buffettbride wrote:

Skibo wrote:

flyboy55 wrote:

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.

I appologize to anyone that was offended by this statement. The thread derailed long before this but I will accept responsibility for my statement.

You might think it derailed (and I am entirely not offended by your statement even though I was unable to keep my pants on when I was 22). In fact, I've managed to stay relatively on topic in this thread, which is, why I am guessing, the mods are keeping this thread around in the first place. If it gets to sporks and popcorn, you'll know we've reached the danger threshold.

popcornjack wrote:

buffettbride wrote:

Skibo wrote:

flyboy55 wrote:

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.

I appologize to anyone that was offended by this statement. The thread derailed long before this but I will accept responsibility for my statement.

You might think it derailed (and I am entirely not offended by your statement even though I was unable to keep my pants on when I was 22). In fact, I've managed to stay relatively on topic in this thread, which is, why I am guessing, the mods are keeping this thread around in the first place. If it gets to sporks and popcorn, you'll know we've reached the danger threshold.

Wait, I'm confused....

popcornjack wrote:

buffettbride wrote:

Skibo wrote:

flyboy55 wrote:

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.

I appologize to anyone that was offended by this statement. The thread derailed long before this but I will accept responsibility for my statement.

You might think it derailed (and I am entirely not offended by your statement even though I was unable to keep my pants on when I was 22). In fact, I've managed to stay relatively on topic in this thread, which is, why I am guessing, the mods are keeping this thread around in the first place. If it gets to sporks and popcorn, you'll know we've reached the danger threshold.

Wait, I'm confused....

buffettbride wrote:between jobs and had to take my child to the dr. for an ear infection, they billed me as uninsured and it was $40. My copay would have been $20 from the old job and $65 billed to the insurance. Go figure.

To me, the root of the problem is pharmies and health insurance companies dictate the industry which compromises both doctors and patients in many ways.

ph4ever wrote:

buffettbride wrote:

ph4ever wrote:

buffettbride wrote:Oh yes. And as not to be remiss about what I learned from the broken arm experience, we have changed primary care physicians for my children from a family practice where I have gone for 15 years but they provide very little directly in terms of labs, procedures, and xrays to a pediatric office that does have an in-house lab and radiology. If I knew then what I know now, the same broken arm would cost $30.

I have sacrificed the quality bedside manner of my favorite physician for someplace I like a lot less but will save my ass in an emergency. I've put my children on notice that they are only allowed emergencies between the hours of 8a-5p M-F and every first Saturday from 9a-12p.

yeah like Tony listened to that one.

At least when he shoved a rock up his nose, he did it on the day the doctor's office had evening hours. Twice.

I love your kids.

buffettbride wrote:

popcornjack wrote:

buffettbride wrote:

Skibo wrote:

flyboy55 wrote:

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.

I appologize to anyone that was offended by this statement. The thread derailed long before this but I will accept responsibility for my statement.

You might think it derailed (and I am entirely not offended by your statement even though I was unable to keep my pants on when I was 22). In fact, I've managed to stay relatively on topic in this thread, which is, why I am guessing, the mods are keeping this thread around in the first place. If it gets to sporks and popcorn, you'll know we've reached the danger threshold.

Wait, I'm confused....

Would you prefer sporking the popcorn or the popcorn be sporked?

Skibo wrote:

buffettbride wrote:between jobs and had to take my child to the dr. for an ear infection, they billed me as uninsured and it was $40. My copay would have been $20 from the old job and $65 billed to the insurance. Go figure.

To me, the root of the problem is pharmies and health insurance companies dictate the industry which compromises both doctors and patients in many ways.

I will agree that the health insurance companies are part of the problem unfortunately without them, well there would be no insurance. $40 for an uninsured Dr visit is quite the bargain. I had an uninsured physical last week for $125. I even thought that was a very fair price. 15 minutes of Dr. time, 10 min nurse and a urine test.

The only issue I ever had with the drug companies is their advertising of prescription meds. They do a lot of research, some successful, some not so. Both have to be paid for. I know that is part of the cost of a drug. Then of course there are the socialized countries that put price controls on the drugs which forces us to pay additional cost that doesn't get amortized. And don't forget all discounted drugs that make it to the third world. In a sense we are paying for those too. So it seems that with our higher costs we are paying for health insurance for many besides ourselves. Besides most of these pharmaceutals are public companies, their annual reports are public. If any of them would ever report a 25% profit for a period things would get pretty ugly.

Skibo wrote:

buffettbride wrote:between jobs and had to take my child to the dr. for an ear infection, they billed me as uninsured and it was $40. My copay would have been $20 from the old job and $65 billed to the insurance. Go figure.

To me, the root of the problem is pharmies and health insurance companies dictate the industry which compromises both doctors and patients in many ways.

I will agree that the health insurance companies are part of the problem unfortunately without them, well there would be no insurance. $40 for an uninsured Dr visit is quite the bargain. I had an uninsured physical last week for $125. I even thought that was a very fair price. 15 minutes of Dr. time, 10 min nurse and a urine test.

The only issue I ever had with the drug companies is their advertising of prescription meds. They do a lot of research, some successful, some not so. Both have to be paid for. I know that is part of the cost of a drug. Then of course there are the socialized countries that put price controls on the drugs which forces us to pay additional cost that doesn't get amortized. And don't forget all discounted drugs that make it to the third world. In a sense we are paying for those too. So it seems that with our higher costs we are paying for health insurance for many besides ourselves. Besides most of these pharmaceutals are public companies, their annual reports are public. If any of them would ever report a 25% profit for a period things would get pretty ugly.

popcornjack wrote:

buffettbride wrote:

popcornjack wrote:

buffettbride wrote:

Skibo wrote:

flyboy55 wrote: Let's be fair here. This statement set the tone for much of what followed.

I appologize to anyone that was offended by this statement. The thread derailed long before this but I will accept responsibility for my statement.

You might think it derailed (and I am entirely not offended by your statement even though I was unable to keep my pants on when I was 22). In fact, I've managed to stay relatively on topic in this thread, which is, why I am guessing, the mods are keeping this thread around in the first place. If it gets to sporks and popcorn, you'll know we've reached the danger threshold.

Wait, I'm confused....

Would you prefer sporking the popcorn or the popcorn be sporked?

That depends. Who's doing the sporking?