mimo2005

Massachusetts residents better have health insurance by tonight at midnight or else....



http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wi...-apconnecticut

40sondacurb

A tiered system is more like welfare, something we don't need more of. Universal health care is what's needed.

yustr

Unbelievable! The lady running the day care is paying $11628 a year for medical insurance - and is tickled. Where's all this money going? Hint: look at the signs on the big office buildings in Springfield and Hartford. This is just another way to route $$$ to the insurance companies.

I agree with 40, we need government run universal health care - like most of the industrialized countries of the world.

aaron_online

That link does not open .

mimo2005

Here is a different link , but same information:
http://74.125.45.104/search?q=cache:...lnk&cd=4&gl=us

Drew1369

Yes because a government that can't even run a cafeteria should be able to run our healthcare. We don't need universal... those that want healthcare can get a job.

bry623

See What Happens When You Live In A Liberal State???????

Drew1369

Shoot... I'm glad the dems here in WA have screwed things up so badly... they defied the will of the people... we will be going red this Nov.

I think its funny... people without jobs and/or healthcare have so many options available... Heck, here in WA you get government healthcare if you are low to no income.

Mcninjaguy

I live in canada hahaha

Drew1369

And yet... all your Doctors are leaving for the US :p

yustr

I assume you're referring to employer provided [sic] health insurance - not just earning enough money to pay the bill. If so, my question to you is: What does one have to do with the other?

Health insurance is just a way to spread risk; a lot of healthy folks pay for the few sick ones. But why stop at employers? Why not unions too? Why not fraternal and professional organizations? How about alumni associations? Answer: they already do. All universal coverage is - at its most basic level - is spreading that risk to all.

I do think we need a company as manager, I just don't think we need to pay them more than about 5% of the total. I don't know what insurance companies skim off the top now but I'd bet its a lot higher than that.

mimo2005

Here is the latest link that talks about the mass. experiment :



"Two years into the state's bold healthcare experiment, its early success in expanding dental coverage may be threatened by a shortage of dentists willing to treat newly insured patients."
http://www.boston.com/news/health/ar...ng_lines_grow/




I live in mass. and We need more dentists, the law helped people to get " affordable" healthcare , but from my personal observation , the state needs more doctors and dentists , i pay 10$ to see a generalist and 20$ for a specialist .

bry623

[quote=MIMO]i pay 10$ to see a generalist and 20$ for a specialist .[/mimo]

Not to mention the all of the taxes.

mimo2005

yes , but it s still good to see hundred thousands of adults and kids to have access to doctors and dentists , without having to go jam the emergency room's hospital of their neighborhood (that leaves some room for the needy).
you pay a health plan membership depending on how much you make per year, i pay for my family 80$/month , still good to know that you are covered ,than not being covered at all , 3 years ago private health insurance plan used to go for 300 or 400$ per month and ......more !

Chode

drew, one of the problems with American health care is that even with a job and insurance, you can still have crappy coverage and face some pretty huge bills. My wife may need a hip replacement. Even with our insurance we've still coughed up a few grand for specialists, and don't even have a consensus about whether she'll benefit from a replacement or not.

The benefits on our dental plan have been cut to the point where we plan to cancel it next year because we'd be ahead to bank the premiums and pay our expenses out of pocket. Just about every other industrialized country on the planet manages to provide all their citizens with decent health care, so why can't we?

Once again, neither Presidential candidate is pushing a government run program. The suggestion that Obama is calling for this is just another one of McCain's many lies in this campaign. You can see the candidates plans here and here.

And, drew, honestly, no one actually cares whether the Senate's cafeteria makes money or not. Maybe it's time to give it a rest.♦

Drew1369

I brought up the cafeteria to make a point... and this is the first besides the article I posted.

But all I hear is crying... "other countries do it, whaa whaa... why can't we be more like Europe... whaa whaa.

Don't like your coverage, get another, can't afford it? Ask for a raise, they wont give it to you, look for another job. Thats what I did!

Quit expecting the government to take care of you. Unless you work for them of course.

I have great coverage, I have awesome insurance thru my company. Why would I want to lose that for some government run crap hole of a system and pay MORE for the government crap then what I'm paying now?

yustr

Drew,

Unfortunately your company just announced it was closing the Seattle office and they're not going to retain any of the employees. You're lucky enough to find another job after only 3 months during which time you didn't get sick or injured but their insurance requires that you be employed for 6 months before coverage kicks in. Sure hope your luck holds. On top of that, your wife had been looking into having a hip replacement done but since that is now a preexisting condition they won't pay anything towards it -ever.

Unlikely?

Sorry but its an all too frequent scenario.

There's no reason a company cannot continue to offer "great" coverage in whatever system is proposed. When I first started working insurance was a benefit company's offered to attract and retain workers. It was not a mandated program (tax). A company could still say we'll pay your share. They won't of course, but they could.

Chode

drew, anytime you post about any government programs, you have to bring up the cafeteria. It really doesn't make a point. Why should we expect the Senate to be able to run a cafeteria at a profit? Depending on the numbers you want to accept, somewhere between 27% and 60% of new commercial restaurants fail the first year. After 3 years, about 50% are no longer in business. At the 10 year mark, 90% are gone. http://www.restaurantowner.com/public/302.cfm

As well as giving the pointless point a rest, I think you should drop the Republican lie about a "government run" healthcare system. I know you can read, so read McCain's plan and Obama's. Nothing about "Government Run" in either one. They have significant differences, but try and tell me that in the end, they aren't more alike than not.

Why should I expect the government to take care of me? Well, let's see, I vote and I pay taxes. If I think that a nationally structured healthcare plan would be more efficient and cheaper, I'll vote for it. Why should governments provide law enforcement. I own handguns so I guess I can protect myself. Fire Departments? Hey! I gotta hose!

drew, here's a question for you: Why should you expect your employer to take care of you? I'm glad you have a great healthcare plan, but U.S. employers cut 62,000 jobs in June and a further 51,000 jobs were cut in July. I don't know that I'd get too complacent.

Chode

Oh, drew, you also might unexpectedly have some state agency arbitrarily make it illegal to practice your profession.

mimo2005

Hey drew , there are millions people like me that are either self employee ,or run a small business , or work in a "stinky" job with no health benefit, these people have bills to pay , mortgages / rent to pay .When you have a wife and kids , it's not that easy to be jumping from job to job.