[sg]

[mtpilot]

[sg]

This is the kind of dynamic that exists in the HSA created by the previous Bush administration.

A HIGH deductible, but affordable plan, which entices people to really take care of themselves, because they end up paying (pre-tax) cash for their own healthcare, up to a large deductible. ($2500-$5000) After that, they get great coverage, (like 100% in most cases) for all "major" events.

The money you put in is pre-tax, and doesnt even get taxed when you withdraw it for healthcare costs. It also grows in a fund you choose just like your 401K.
Since you know you will likely have large healthcare costs late in your life, its actually one of the best investment vehicles out there, better than a 401K/IRA, etc

[HGXC]

Jack I agree,

I guess we are saying Bush solved it and all this is current stuff is political nonsense

Dennis

[sg]

Im just stunned it doesnt get more coverage. I almost didnt learn about it.
Its got the perfect dynamic for our fat, lazy, s*** food eating, society

I learned about it FROM MY ACCOUNTANT because its such a smart investment vehicle

One of the big problems I have with any govt healthcare system, is that it will have exactly the opposite dynamic. People will abuse the system, go to a doc for every minor cold, and sky rocket costs. In 2006?08? 49% of US households pay ZERO federal income tax. ZERO. The upper 51% of tax payers paid 100% of fed taxes.
Now we have, what, 1/4,1/3rd? of people uninsured? Guess who's going to pay for THEM too. The numbers dont add up. Our total costs have to go up to cover these peoples. Whether in taxes or premiums or whatever.

I also have zero faith that our government could efficiently run something as complex as healthcare, AND not dip into the huge juicy pile of money like they did with SS. They wont be able to resist.

[selbaer]

I didn't read the entire thread so I'm not sure if my opinion is already mentioned.

As long as congress is not using the same health care program what they want to push down our throat I'm NOT for it.

The average income in the US is below 50k, the average income of congress is above 170k.

They don't even need to vote anymore to approve their own pay raises. They have special retirement plans and the government housing project they are using to live in looks different from the ones I know.

They forgot who they work for and every congress man or woman not reading what they vote for needs to be fired on the spot.

I own a small business and I'm familiar with the health care / tax system in Europe what makes me very sensitive about the f**k up they producing on and on up there in DC.

i moved here 12 years ago, now I'm almost at the point: "Nowhere to run..."

[selbaer]

Add on:

The title of this tread is kinda wrong.
Health care doesn't need to be fixed. I don't know any cases of US residents leaving the country to get taken care of. The other way around is different.
Stop providing health care (except emergency service) to illegals would be a great step of saving tons of money.

[HGXC]

[zamuro]

[sg]

[selbaer]

[i8godzilla]

[selbaer]

[sg]

[HGXC]

Tony is right. Heck I am living proof that we have the best health care. I must have tested every freakin department hospitals have.

It was paid for by my insurance which is part of a wage and benefit package that most of us get as compensation for doing our jobs. If I was (and one day I will be) a consultant then I need to buy a policy and reflect that cost in my business cost and pas those one to my customers. My point is there is no free anything. It all gets passed on to the final price of everything. If One guy doesn't take the responsible route and cover himself then he is just passing this cost on to the hard working guy who did get coverage.

In essence its like Tony, Marco and I go into a bar, order our drinks and say pass the check over to Jack. Hey that isn't a bad idea, lets go guys .......

Dennis

[Scott]

I'd love to have coverage.
I have 1 full time job as a security guard.No coverage and only 8.50 and hour.
Another part time job being the relief water master & meter reader,320.00 bucks a month and no health care and I teach martial arts,zero dollars past 2 months since kids are on vacations with their parents.
I have checked on buying coverage but it ends up being 30 to 40 percent of my entire monthly income for bad coverage.
What the hell am i supposed to do?Quit paying my mortgage and live under a bridge to buy insurance?
I don't qualify for medi-cal because I have more than 1 car....and no,I'm not making any car payments.They say my income low enough but how dare I own more than one car and they want me to sell for pennies on the dollar and then blow the money.I wouldn't be allowed to save any cash in the bank for things like my roof needing repair or the fridge breaking.
The cheapest insurance I found won't cover aviation related injuries,injuries from auto accidents if the gestapo says speeding was involved and a stack of more exclusions a mile long.
I'm sick of folks who say it just people who wont work or take responsibility.
Corporate slime in the once great country have made it futile to try.

[selbaer]

So, what are you telling is the only health insurance you possibly can get is $500.00 / month and up?

[Flying Cavy]

I am 42 yrs old and in "great health". I was downsizd from full time to part time by my job (not my idea) and lost all my health coverage from that. THey offered me my COBRA plan which was going to cost me $420.00 a month to keep the policy I had. That policy didn't include dental or eyesight to begin with. It was strictly the lowest end of the totem pole on cost.

Recently I had a severe bout of vertigo that could have hospitalized me, but didn't. I decided i wanted to change doctors and get away from Kaiser Permanente because they don't treat problems they treat symptoms of problems. I tried calling around to various hospitals and private doctors but was told no one was willing to take on new patients without health insurance.

Then I was told to try getting involved with the county programs for low income,...except I make too much money to be part of them. WTF!!!

I'm sorry to all you who think everyone should shut up and get a second job just to pay for health coverage. It's not as simple as you make it out to be. I'm totally for reform, but this is a country that doesn't actually care about the health of its citizens..just its pocket book. No matter what the bigwigs say or do.

[sg]

I just ran a search for HSA plans for myself as an example.
40 year old male, non-smoker.

The bottom of the barrel is $79/month
$5200 deductible
PPO plan
1 free periodic health exam
You pay for everything using tax free dollars until you burn through the $5200 deductible, then you get 100% coverage, with no co-pay.
Basically, this is the cheapest "emergency" healthcare plan you can get.
Will give you a chance if you get cancer, etc


For $142/month you get
PPO plan
$1500 annual deductible
20% co-pay after deductible for primary and specialist doctor visits
Prescription drugs - 20% copay after deductible
No specialist referrals required
Again, you get to pay for approved medical expenses with pre-tax dollars


Pre-existing conditions are typically covered after the first 6 months on at least some of these plans (If I remember correctly).

[mtpilot]

So SG do those plans cover sports injuries.You know, like hang gliding
and martial arts?