hardworkingstiff
Senior Member
- Location
- Wilmington, NC
Oh yea, don't forget to put something away for taxes that aren't withheld from unemployment.
Health insurance..... up again
- Thread starter electricmanscott
- Start date
- Status
Oh yea, don't forget to put something away for taxes that aren't withheld from unemployment.
- Location
- Massachusetts
Yeah I did forget about that, so put away about 25-30% of the unemployment for taxes.
powerslave
Senior Member
- Location
- Land of Lincoln
My wife's family lives in a country with socialized medicine. It is very hard to get care because the lines are so long. Everyone goes to the doctor for every little thing because it's free. But her uncle was told three months ago he needs by-pass surgery. He still has another three months to wait to have the operation.
Our current form of healthcare is the greatest in the world. But only if you can afford it. That's why all the rich people in the world come here when they need an operation.
BryanMD
Senior Member
Health care should not be as much as a house payment. America's unhealthy lifestyle habits, and a sue happy world for mal-practice, and dividend thirsty investers, make it sky high. Something has to change....
powerslave
Senior Member
- Location
- Land of Lincoln
My thoughts exactly.
electricmanscott
Senior Member
- Location
- Boston, MA
The CEO of my plan, one of the smallest in the area, made $713,000.00 last year. Most of the others were over a million.
- Location
- Massachusetts
Oh I am sure he earned every penny of that. They have a very rough day. :roll:
You might have to suffer with private chefs serving you in this little dinning room.
If you have a few friends over you have to slum it here.
Once you finish your lunch you have to hang out in the waiting room for the meeting
Then, you actually have to attend the meeting in horrible conditions
The photos come from an insurance company headquarters.
Yep if they feed those thirsty investors well, they get paid well....and as iwire said, they must have a rough day earning it....
But not exactly what I'd call "by the sweat of your brow"
Im all for business in America, but there seems to be select few whom are running the WHOLE show. And we allow them to control us is what's crazy.........
Now look what's its costing the citizens to bail out fat cat's such as these (ie: Banks, Auto makers)
tonyou812
Senior Member
- Location
- North New Jersey
My wife has a great package being a nurse at a great hospital system. In a two income earning relationship its good for the one to go for good health care coverage.
Teaspoon
Senior Member
- Location
- Camden,Tn.
Yes I really feel sorry for them .Having to work under these conditions.
you think maybe Hazzard pay is in order?
you think maybe Hazzard pay is in order?
electricmanscott
Senior Member
- Location
- Boston, MA
No doubt that is a great way to go.
My wife is home "working" on raising the kids and doing other home stuff. Maybe when they get older I'll tell her to hit the steets and find a job with good bennies.
Of course she'll have to shave the beard first..
:grin:Red Wiggler
Senior Member
Major coverage only
Major coverage only
Competition for your buisness is what lowers the price in the market place.
1) Who do doctors compete against?
2) You don't see them advertising i.e. Today's Special...Hernia operations $1000 complete. (I think they have some sort of rule about advertising, except for Plastic Surgeons)
3) The AMA is probably the strongest "Union" in the country. (there are no "Open Shop" doctors...they all belong to the AMA.
4) The "third" party payment system (Insurance Companies) we have is not accountable. The doctors charge what they want to charge and the Insurance Companies pay what portion they want to pay for it. We pick up the rest.
5) We the consumer can only control cost by not going to a doctor (until we are so sick that it ends up costing lot more money, and more lost wages until we are cured)
What should we do? It is my opinion that we look into the following scenario, it might help the situation...
1) Only have Major Medical Insurance. (If our car insurance was like our medical insurance, we would be filing a claim for a flat tire, or we would only need to pay 20% of an oil change...etc.) Major Medical would be for Cancers, Heart Problems, Broken Bones, Operations etc. Not for cuts, bruises, sniffles, sore throat, etc. This insurance would be cheaper for a younger employee (they are presumed to be healther and have a smaller chance of having a need for a claim on the insurance. This savings would be passed on to the Employer)
2) Get legislation enacted to allow for a percentage of income to be put into a personal "Health Fund" that would be non-taxed (lowering your gross income) and be "available" for doctor visit expenditures. (This money would be for the "sniffles", "cuts" etc). You could then shop around to see if it is "cheaper" at one facility then it is at other facilities. With out insurance supplimenting the doctors fees, they would forced to become more competative for your buisness. Plus you would be able to pay doctors cash instead of them spending money "billing" the insurance company. This would reduce the "doctor's" overhead so that the cost of doing business would would be reduced. (more savinigs)
3) Insurance is like "legalized gambling", and most everyone has bought in to the system. I would love to have a business where you give me money (and I determine how much) and I will pay you bills for you (and I determine how much I will pay). I will set up the odds and you can gamble whether or not you need "more" insurance!!!
This is a simplified explanation to what we have now, and how a different system could possible work given a chance. Make the Doctors become competative between themselves, and reduce the amount of control the insurance companies have.
Major coverage only
Competition for your buisness is what lowers the price in the market place.
1) Who do doctors compete against?
2) You don't see them advertising i.e. Today's Special...Hernia operations $1000 complete. (I think they have some sort of rule about advertising, except for Plastic Surgeons)
3) The AMA is probably the strongest "Union" in the country. (there are no "Open Shop" doctors...they all belong to the AMA.
4) The "third" party payment system (Insurance Companies) we have is not accountable. The doctors charge what they want to charge and the Insurance Companies pay what portion they want to pay for it. We pick up the rest.
5) We the consumer can only control cost by not going to a doctor (until we are so sick that it ends up costing lot more money, and more lost wages until we are cured)
What should we do? It is my opinion that we look into the following scenario, it might help the situation...
1) Only have Major Medical Insurance. (If our car insurance was like our medical insurance, we would be filing a claim for a flat tire, or we would only need to pay 20% of an oil change...etc.) Major Medical would be for Cancers, Heart Problems, Broken Bones, Operations etc. Not for cuts, bruises, sniffles, sore throat, etc. This insurance would be cheaper for a younger employee (they are presumed to be healther and have a smaller chance of having a need for a claim on the insurance. This savings would be passed on to the Employer)
2) Get legislation enacted to allow for a percentage of income to be put into a personal "Health Fund" that would be non-taxed (lowering your gross income) and be "available" for doctor visit expenditures. (This money would be for the "sniffles", "cuts" etc). You could then shop around to see if it is "cheaper" at one facility then it is at other facilities. With out insurance supplimenting the doctors fees, they would forced to become more competative for your buisness. Plus you would be able to pay doctors cash instead of them spending money "billing" the insurance company. This would reduce the "doctor's" overhead so that the cost of doing business would would be reduced. (more savinigs)
3) Insurance is like "legalized gambling", and most everyone has bought in to the system. I would love to have a business where you give me money (and I determine how much) and I will pay you bills for you (and I determine how much I will pay). I will set up the odds and you can gamble whether or not you need "more" insurance!!!
This is a simplified explanation to what we have now, and how a different system could possible work given a chance. Make the Doctors become competative between themselves, and reduce the amount of control the insurance companies have.
electricguy61
Senior Member
For two of my employees (young guys, 23 & 20) I was able to purchase a plan through Kaiser Permanente Health that has a $1500 deductable, but after the deductible, you pay nothing ($0) for all health care.
It's kinda like the old "major medical" coverage we had years ago.
Costs $137 per month per employee
On the other hand, my other guy gets his health insurance through his wife's company (Costco)
And my health insurance comes from my wife's company. Actually, that's the primary reason she works. We're both middle aged, and I couldn't afford the health plan she has through the State of California (about $1500 a month)
It's kinda like the old "major medical" coverage we had years ago.
Costs $137 per month per employee
On the other hand, my other guy gets his health insurance through his wife's company (Costco)
And my health insurance comes from my wife's company. Actually, that's the primary reason she works. We're both middle aged, and I couldn't afford the health plan she has through the State of California (about $1500 a month)
tonyou812
Senior Member
- Location
- North New Jersey
that office is way to nice for what that company is. I would be pretty annoyed if my insurance company looked like that. That almost looks as nice as a cardiologist office or or major bank.
sparky 134
Senior Member
- Location
- Joliet, IL
Self employed, no employees anymore. I have a blue cross plan with a 1k deductible per person, no dental or vision and I pay 790.01/month for myself, wife and two little kids. I looked into the HSA plans due to their lower cost AND being able to fund an HSA account to pay for out of pocket expenses.
I'll have to dig up the quote but if I remember correctly my out of pocket was something like 5,700.00 before they covered anything.
The new customer rate for the policy I currently have is 680.00. We applied and were DENIED because my wife went to her doctor and was diagnosed with exercise induced asthma. Well, somehow during the phone interview with blue cross it was interpreted that my wife has a CHRONIC obvstructive pulmonary problem hence the denial.
So now my wife has to call them and get this corrected.
Fun, fun, fun....
I'll have to dig up the quote but if I remember correctly my out of pocket was something like 5,700.00 before they covered anything.
The new customer rate for the policy I currently have is 680.00. We applied and were DENIED because my wife went to her doctor and was diagnosed with exercise induced asthma. Well, somehow during the phone interview with blue cross it was interpreted that my wife has a CHRONIC obvstructive pulmonary problem hence the denial.
So now my wife has to call them and get this corrected.
Fun, fun, fun....
- Status