Health-insurance for everyone in USA

[46Young]

You're correct. Hospital payment plans can be in bits and pieces. We work hard to get everything paid because it's the right thing to do. Nothing should come free to those who can pay. If I pay mine, the cost to everyone is lower. Medical costs go way, way beyond a hospital visit though. Those off lable meds for example, they're a killer! It's those additional costs that can add up and really squash a budget! Slows down being able to pay outstanding hospital bills as quickly as one would like. We've taken up to 4 years to pay some in full.

I for one am concerned with a national health care plan. Not for my kids because they can only be treated by specialists not available at corner hospitals. I'm more concerned for the average family who could wind up standing in line for years for routine medical care and procedures. I am concerned that budgets, politics and policies will leave hard working citizens in poor health due to delays in provider care. The list of concerns goes on.

I understand your moral obligation to do the right thing. However, if it comes down to losing my house, I think I'll choose to keep my home. It'll hurt the hospital system a lot less than it'll hurt your family to pay slowly.

Think about it. Your healthcare bills are/were so high due to uncompensated cases. These individuals aren't losing anything, aren't being asked to give up the roof over their heads, so why should you? Our lawmakers feel no obligation to go after freeloaders, so don't feel bad about wanting to keep your posessions, which you and your husband have worked so hard for, doing the right thing and all.

 

[rescue99]

46, I didn't lose a house..just spent a lot of the equity. For some it is the heavy burden of having those outstanding bills hanging over our heads that is more distressing. I see where you're coming from though and I agree.

 

[46Young]

46, I didn't lose a house..just spent a lot of the equity. For some it is the heavy burden of having those outstanding bills hanging over our heads that is more distressing. I see where you're coming from though and I agree.

It'll be OK. Here's why: It's not beneficial to keep more than 20% equity in your house, anyway. Once your bills are paid, or if you can cry poverty and pay signifcantly less toward them, you can start investing. Interest rates are around 5% currently. Don't fall into the ruse of prepaying principal. Funds that would otherwise go into paying down the principal ought to be invested, earning a greater return than that 5%. Mortgage interest is tax deductible, payments to principal are not. Your investment account will compound at a quicker rate than you would save in interest by prepaying. Down the line, you can still pay off your house early if you wish, but I would refinance with an 80% mortgage and invest the proceeds with the rest.

This account is accessible if you sustain any further financial insults. The account can pay you interest, which will later provide interest to help pay your mortgage for you, hopefully in full. Why pay toward the principal and then borrow it later? Let your money work for you. If you pay off your house, you'll be house rich and cash poor. You wouldn't keep 250k under your mattress, would you? Why would you keep it in the walls of your house? You still have your house, let it help provide for your financial security. Big, long mortgages can be financially beneficial for you, provided the monthly payments are reasonable, and the disposable income is invested.

 

[HuiNeng]

Reading the legislation

The various arguments posted so far show some common themes. Unfortunately, some of those themes are old, tired, and wrong. The usual scapegoats have been trotted out.

Malpractice reform is a good idea. The Department of Health and Human Services is taking action on the problem outside the scope of current health insurance legislation.

You can find the text of four versions of current US health insurance legislation on www.thomas.gov. The bill numbers are HR3200, HR3962, S1679 and S1796.

HHS held meetings with US citizens across the country to find out what concerns people the most. Some of those concerns are reflected in prior posts in this thread. Check out some of the meeting reports.

I don't have links at hand for the following points. The quotes below are copy-n-pasted from the text of HR3962.

Those of you who have ever been self-employed already know that we pay both sides of the FICA (Social Security) tax. A requirement for carrying some sort of health insurance is consistent with the idea of paying into Social Security even though you're 18 and invincible. Young adults become sick and injured too. I skipped health insurance when I was young and poor. I was lucky.

For those who don't like our hard working, entrepreneurial illegal aliens, "Nothing in this title shall change current prohibitions against Federal Medicaid and CHIP payments under titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act on behalf of individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States."

Some here might be interested in (the caps are in the original): "SEC. 2554. ASSISTING VETERANS WITH MILITARY EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRAINING TO BECOME STATE-LICENSED OR CERTIFIED EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS (EMTS)." Cool. That would employ veterans and bring bleeding-edge trauma knowledge to the folks back home.

Others here might be interested, pro or con, in : "SEC. 1737. CONTINUING REQUIREMENT OF MEDICAID COVERAGE OF NONEMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION TO MEDICALLY NECESSARY SERVICES." Taaaxi!

These bills are huge. There's a lot to like or dislike about them. Might I suggest that it would be more useful to debate the actual content of the legislation, rather than dredge up tired old tropes?

 

[Dutch-EMT]

But how much costs an health-insurance in the US?
And what is the average middle-income?

In the netherlands the middle-income is about €2300 bruto a month.
That's Netto €1500,= / €1600,= a month
Average mortgage is abou €500/€600 a month.

Depending on wich insurance-company you choose, the costs are for a bisc insurance €85,=.
Addition of the tax-authorities is about €20,= a month.
So in fact I pay €65 for a basic insurance.

 

[firecoins]

But how much costs an health-insurance in the US?
And what is the average middle-income?

In the netherlands the middle-income is about €2300 bruto a month.
That's Netto €1500,= / €1600,= a month
Average mortgage is abou €500/€600 a month.

Depending on wich insurance-company you choose, the costs are for a bisc insurance €85,=.
Addition of the tax-authorities is about €20,= a month.
So in fact I pay €65 for a basic insurance.

The US is broken down into 50 states. Health Insurance has different cost in different states due to different regulations. In NY state, a health insurance plan is about $1100 a month.

 

[Dutch-EMT]

The US is broken down into 50 states. Health Insurance has different cost in different states due to different regulations. In NY state, a health insurance plan is about $1100 a month.

Well... can you imagine that there are Dutch people think the insuranceprice is to high in the NLD? When i read this, $1100, that's absolutely absurd.

Now i can tell that the dutch government tries everything to bring down the costs of health-care. No longer the expensive brandmarked medication will be compensated, but only the cheaper unmarked medication.
For example: Lasix can be replaced by the unmarked furosemide.

I think the health-care providers can also do something to keep the costs as low as possible... But only making profit seems to be important.

 

[46Young]

Well... can you imagine that there are Dutch people think the insuranceprice is to high in the NLD? When i read this, $1100, that's absolutely absurd.

Now i can tell that the dutch government tries everything to bring down the costs of health-care. No longer the expensive brandmarked medication will be compensated, but only the cheaper unmarked medication.
For example: Lasix can be replaced by the unmarked furosemide.

I think the health-care providers can also do something to keep the costs as low as possible... But only making profit seems to be important.

The $1,100 is somewhat accurate, but misleading. My plan costs $1,289 monthly. My employer pays $966/month, and I pay $322/month. This is for a family plan. So, I'm paying only 25% of the premium. A single person pays $66 for a $443 monthly policy. A two party plan costs $216 for a $866 monthly policy.

 

[medicdan]

Not all employers contribute as much as your's does to your insurance. The premium says little about the quality of your plan. Is it an HMO? PPO? HSA? How does it reimburse for hospital stays? DRG? Outpatient MD visits? Does it require referrals? Utilization Review? Pre-Approval? Are physicals paid for? How about outpatient lab studies? How much does an ER visit cost? Catastrophic condition?

 

[46Young]

Not all employers contribute as much as your's does to your insurance. The premium says little about the quality of your plan. Is it an HMO? PPO? HSA? How does it reimburse for hospital stays? DRG? Outpatient MD visits? Does it require referrals? Utilization Review? Pre-Approval? Are physicals paid for? How about outpatient lab studies? How much does an ER visit cost? Catastrophic condition?

Cigna OAP (Open Access Plan).
-Sripts - 10 for generic, 20 for brand formulary, 40 for brand non-formulary
-Maternity - paid in full after $10 visit copay
-Labs/x-ray - covered in full after $10 copay
-office visits $10 copay, same for well child and outpatient psych
-ER tx $50 copay unless admitted, then free
-inpatient hosp care - covered in full
-everything else not mentioned covered 100%
-vision through Davis vision, too lengthy to post here
-No deductible or out of pocket yearly limit
-Out of network most everything is covered 70%. A true emercency at the ED will still be covered 100%
-No PCP required

Also, our Occupation Health Center gives us comprehensive yearly physicals (free, and our time at the center is compensated for financially) including TB tests, blood work, traeadmill stress tests, pulmonary function, vision/hearing, hemoccult, plus a general physical.

 

[rescue99]

Well... can you imagine that there are Dutch people think the insuranceprice is to high in the NLD? When i read this, $1100, that's absolutely absurd.

Now i can tell that the dutch government tries everything to bring down the costs of health-care. No longer the expensive brandmarked medication will be compensated, but only the cheaper unmarked medication.
For example: Lasix can be replaced by the unmarked furosemide.

I think the health-care providers can also do something to keep the costs as low as possible... But only making profit seems to be important.

I think you're misinformed about some things. Freedom to choose comes with a price in some respects. Generic drugs are more common than trade names and the average prescription for most of the common medications is only 4 dollars. To families of children, free. Off lable use can get expensive mainly because so many are newer medications.