The LuLac Edition #1123, Mar. 20th, 2010
PHOTO INDEX: OUR INTERVIEW LOGO.
INTERVIEW
With this weekend’s big health care vote coming up, I spoke with a person that has an individual/ personal plan they pay for every month.
Q: What plan do you have?
A: I have a traditional health plan. It is one I pay for as an independent entity.
Q: What do you pay every month?
A: Over $500.00 a month.
Q: So that covers everything right?
A: Nope I got deductibles.
Q: Explain how that works.
A: Well if I go to the hospital I have to pay a sort of entry fee of $100.00. Then I have to pay $25.00 a day for I think the next 10 days.
Q: So to enter the hospital, you might have to pay a copay of $200.00. How about testing?
A: Well I d get blood work and diagnostic testing but I have a $250.00 deductible to meet. Then after the $250.00, it’s covered.
Q: Do you have Major Medical?
A: Yes I have it in case I need to go to a chiropractor or physical therapist. That’s covered but only after I meet my $500.00 deductible.
Q: Major Medical covers prescription drugs, right?
A: Well I have a drug plan but that kicks in after that $500.00 deductible is met.
Q: Okay, let’s add this up, you pay about $525.00 a month, that’s $6300.00 a year. Then adding the two $500.00 deductibles plus the $250.00, that comes to about $7500.00 a year.
A: Right.
Q: So if you were married and needed to add a spouse you’d get a break, right?
A: No it would be roughly double of mine.
Q: Are you happy with your plan?
A: I’m glad I have it and can afford it. At least now. Barely.
Q: Ever postpone tests?
A: Yeah.
Q: Do you think health care needs an overhaul?
A: No, I think health care is just fine, the way it is administered by the insurance companies needs to be changed.
Q: What do you think about the protesters who say the health care plan will ruin America and our future health care system.
A: I think they can say that from their own perspective.
Q: Why is that?
A: Because they don’t have my health insurance bill.
posted by David Yonki @ 7:38 AM
6 comments
6 Comments:
This is a terrible thing to ponder. It really is a shame that so many people do not have access to health care,but the proposed plan increases demand without addressing supply. That's a recipe for a reduced level of care and access for everyone, and noone that currently has health care wants that.
Olbermanns lament the other night was that 40,000 people a year die waiting for health care. That is terrible, I agree, but is their a country in the world where that does not happen? If we all agree that it's worth paying for...something else has to go....defense ....entitlements...infrastructure. Problem is, we're not willing to give up anything. We've learned nothing from the recession. We still all want to live beyond our means.
The Irish in revolt against the Catholic Church! Its about time. They, like us, have been betrayed again and again by an out of touch, by choice, monster totally insensitive to the people from whom they demand FAITH! All the istitutions I grew up believing in
have been done in by greed! Church, Government and Sports.
Part Irish, ex Democrat, formally Catholic Kid from Scranton
Just curious: how is his health insurance bill going to decrease under this plan?
I don't see how it will. Forcing people to purchase health insurance is not providing insurance.
Don't buy the crap that the more people covered then the rates will come down. Anyone recall PA no-fault insurance. Everyone was required to purchase it with the promise car insurance rates would decrease. They didn't.
This is beyond socialism. This is fascist.
Looking at what the subject of your interview pays, I would take my chances. In general out of pocket bills, baring catastrophic medical care, would be cheaper than what he is paying. If he goes 10 years without using more than the basic medical care, he wasted his money.
You can purchase strictly hospitalization insurance for a fraction of what the above person is paying. Pay the rest out of pocket when needed and over the long run you would spend considerably less money.
I went for a period of about 10 years without insurance. I had regular doctor's visits that I paid for out of pocket and one minor surgical procedure that again I paid for out of pocket. It cost me a total of 5,000 dollars over that ten year period. Let's say I had cheap plan at 300/month. That would have been 36,000 dollars over ten years. I spent 5,000. I was 31,000 dollars to the good. If I were young and healthy I would tell the gov't to fuck themselves, pay the fine and still come out ahead. Or shit sorry that makes sense.
This plan is a boondoggle for the insurance companies. They stand to make huge profits. That dickhead Duke From Dallas keeps talking about admin costs. Don't pay insurance, bank the money you pay in premiums when you are young and you will have money to get you through the rough spots. Let's take the above example 6,000/year times 10 years of good health. That is 60,000. Unless major illness or surgery that is all money wasted.
Get rid of insurance all together, costs will have no choice but to come down, because that is true market forces.
"Get rid of insurance all together, costs will have no choice but to come down, because that is true market forces."
NOw that's a clever idea - NOT!
I had private insurance a few years ago and signed up with Geisinger. I have full coverage plus an RX plan. It costs less than $500/mo and my copays were very inexpensive. People should look into many forms of health coverage before throwing in the towel.
Prices will come down to the extent that we can bargain together collectively. Government plans accomplish that, because the government has a lot of bargaining power.
Nice you contributed to Glenn Steele's multi million compensation.
Post a Comment
<< Home