posted on June 15, 2012 08:05:15 AM new
Yeah, thats right.
The State of Oregon is one of the first states to institute the Health Insurance Exchange that includes this wonderful calculator to figure out what your premiums will be once it starts in 2014. I will save at least 50% for our business employees thanks to ObamaCare. Enter your figures and compare against what you are paying now:
http://www.orhix.org/calculator/
Yet, we have Mitt Romney and his party wanting to repeal it. What does that mean? Higher premiums, caps on your coverage, back to pre-existing conditions, college grads will be stuck in the donut hole of no employment, no affordable insurance coverage available. No more free annual health screenings, no more free medical equipment for diabetics. This translates to much higher premiums, which means less coverage for Americans and taxpayers on the dole for emergency care that could have been prevented.
Yeah, that so-called Socialist in the White House really screwed over America on that one. NOT!
One of the things that many independent business owners struggle with is affordable health care. Insurance costs, denying coverage for individual plans under pre-existing conditions, and leaving millions of people under the age of 26 to fend for themselves against the wall of insurance companies... Yep, I'll take ObamaCare and I will gladly call it so.
posted on June 15, 2012 08:56:01 AM new
ObomaCare will make it cheaper for some and more expensive for others and not affordable for many. These people will be forced to pay for insurance they can not afford or do not want to purchase.
I guess for people that need a Government to tell them every move to make because they are not smart enough to make their own decisions this is the start of a great new country. I would just prefer to be a part of the same great country I was born and raised in where we are allowed to make a choice without the government telling us what to choose.
posted on June 15, 2012 11:31:53 AM new
I have to agree with jtomp, but if you have a body, you should be required to purchase health insurance, just like you have to if you have a car, or relinquish all rights to any health care you may need unless you pay for these services upfront when you need them.
posted on June 15, 2012 12:30:01 PM new
shaq, why don't you take your post and format it into a letter. Then email and mail it to as many independent voters that you can identify. Further, send it to all the editors of newspapers also.
Your post reads like the story line that comes from the current administration. You should share it with as many as you can.
posted on June 15, 2012 02:50:24 PM new
if you have a body, you should be required to purchase health insurance, just like you have to if you have a car,
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BTW,there are some good movies on Gulag !
posted on June 15, 2012 04:59:57 PM new
Ha! You old fogies love the government handouts when it comes to social security, medicare, medicaid, handicap parking spaces, equal protections against age discrimination, etc. Buy then you cry foul when you don't agree with something. A bunch of hypocrites.
As for toolhounds comments it will be more expensive for some, that couldn't be further from the truth. The reality is that you have a choice of where you get your health care. You can take what is provided by your employer or you find your own. You can shop your insurance rates around as you wish and find the corporate managed health care program that you want to use that contributes more money than you will ever earn in your life to their CEO. Under the current law, if you find your own, you could easily be denied for preexisting conditions. Under ObamaCare... it is no longer.
And yes, this does belong here because I sell on eBay and as part of being a seller on eBay, health insurance is one of the most important AND expensive things I pay for. The mere fact that you participate in this conversation proves the hypocrisy in your statement.
posted on June 15, 2012 06:15:23 PM new
When Meg was running Ebay,she did try to get group insurance coverage for power sellers,but the insurance companies said no,power sellers are not one group of people.
Which tells you Harvard does not teach you everything !
posted on June 15, 2012 06:48:19 PM new
"Ha! You old fogies love the government handouts when it comes to social security, medicare, medicaid, handicap parking spaces, equal protections against age discrimination, etc. Buy then you cry foul when you don't agree with something. A bunch of hypocrites."
shaq - I do not use, medicaid, medicare, handicap parking, nor do I seek equal protections against age discrimination.
I have regular health insurance which serves me well. I have been poked, probed, and pricked using health insurance I have paid for. How long such all-encompassing insurance will be available to me and my family under Obama Care is unknown.
Apparently, you prefer to live off a government program. I prefer to do by myself.
I do hope you enjoy health and prosperity with Obama Care.
That is, if it survives the U.S. Supreme Court.....
posted on June 15, 2012 07:09:28 PM new
I have a high deductible policy and never exceed the deductible.
I get 34% discount from some providers because I paid right there.
When it is your own money,you tend to spend it carefully !
posted on June 15, 2012 09:43:45 PM new
It's important for everyone to sign up for health care. Otherwise, they go to the emergency room for their care, which the rest of us pay for in higher costs.
I honestly don't see people complaining about having to have auto insurance, which protects both the party at fault and the party that suffers in an accident. Whatever is the difference??
_____________________
Gandhi's seven deadly social sins:
Politics without principle
Wealth without work
Commerce without morality
Pleasure without conscience
Education without character
Science without humanity
Worship without sacrifice
posted on June 16, 2012 05:33:53 AM new
some folks dont have auto insurance,because they cant afford it,of course they should not be driving but they do.
Auto insurance depending on coverage may protect both parties,but health insurance,there is only one party involved,unless you call the doctor and hospital the other party.
My parents who past away 2 years ago,never have insurance,they paid for all the medical expenses themselves.
But in this country,people enjoy more amenities ,some are basic such as an automobile to go to work and get around,some like student loan and credit card bills,a middle class lifestyle called for certain amenities such as a recreational vehicle or motor boat,an annual vacation,second home,eat in/eat out/carry out.drycleaning,teeth whitening,hair and nail salon,always wear fresh clothes every day,central air/central heat,bottled water,wine with dinner,refreshment,botox,etc ect.
All these get in the way of saving for old age and medical expenses,by the time we realise we dont save enough,it is too late.
With house price falling,medical expenses soaring and 401K decimated,it is a nightmare for folks who live on fixed income.
Where do you think some of the items on Ebay come from?
posted on June 16, 2012 07:50:05 AM new
Bill - My father was in the military and was on all of the socialist programs they offered. free health care, discounted food prices at the Commissary, VA Loans, GI Bill, anything else the government gave out.
posted on June 16, 2012 08:16:26 AM new
I hate to break it to you, but Capitalism is not freedom, it isn't American, it isn't even written in the Constitution. It is nothing more than an economic system and under its current form in this country is stealing from the middle class and sending that money straight to the wealthy. They use that money to control our government even more so that they can be even more wealthy.
My point... Health Care should never be a for profit business. Additionally, you so called conservatives scream about freedom and liberty, but how much freedom and liberty is there when you are under the thumb of a corporation, or better yet, forking out an additional $1000-2000 a year in health care costs to cover those Emergency room visits for people that don't have health insurance? How much extra money are you forking out in taxes, both state and federal to cover write offs for Medical Centers to cover people who couldn't afford preventative care because an insurance company wouldn't cover them to begin with?
Sorry, but for all the screaming about freedom and capitalism, none of that applies when you are going to be tied down by the system anyways. If you want true freedom, move to Somalia or live in the Yukon off the grid and fend for yourself.
You can't pretend to be some anti-government libertarian while driving down our roads, highways, using USPS to ship your eBay crap, or sending your kids to free education, living life knowing that a fire truck will respond when your house is in flames (or your neighbors house is on fire) or when you have some health emergency. You can't pretend that the police keep our communities safe. It doesn't work like that, and you know it.
posted on June 16, 2012 09:20:04 AM new
How much extra money are you forking out in taxes, both state and federal to cover write offs for Medical Centers to cover people who couldn't afford preventative care because an insurance company wouldn't cover them to begin with?
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Shag,
you just answered your own question.
If the private insurers cover those with pre existing condition,terminal illnesses etc,your premium will go up,your co-pay and deductibles will go up while your benefits will go down.
A lot of our health problems come from our lifestyle,eating too much and eating the wrong stuff,they should ration sugar and flour.
Take a look at what McDonald offers-a big mac,milk shake ,fries and apple turnover.
Do we really need milk shake and apple turnover in one setting,both are considered desert which makes us fat and diabetic!
posted on June 17, 2012 04:35:54 AM new
All of the comments here are very interesting but alas, in the end they make no difference. Forcing individuals to purchase health insurance or any insurance for their person is unconstitutional. The Supreme Court in all its glory will more than likely rule this way. The states then will follow suit and refuse to institute Obamacare. Sorry guys..Socialism way be on its way to taking over America but probably not today.
posted on June 17, 2012 04:03:24 PM new
capo- The United States has ALWAYS had elements of Socialism, and anyone who thinks otherwise seriously should have their heads examined.
The opening sentence of the Constitution is a Socialist statement.
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
If you strictly adhere to the definition of socialism, then there you have it...
posted on June 19, 2012 03:24:09 AM new
Thanks to ObamaCare my 24 yr old son was able to get AFFORDABLE health care insurance through my wife's company until he finally found a good job that provides insurance.
The poor already get FREE healthcare and the rich don't care because they can afford to pay for healthcare out of pocket and not have a major impact on their finances.
I am not looking for free healthcare just affordable healthcare.....
posted on June 19, 2012 11:50:53 AM new
Health care is more expensive for various reasons. Rather than point to faults I will focus on solutions.
The biggest cost is the profit motive. Eliminate the for profit health care system, cap executive/administration costs to just double what it is for medicare and the VA and costs go down. Streamline the record keeping process and costs go down, start regulating the advertising that drug companies do which leads to outrageous drug costs, ban drug mfgrs from passing all research and development costs only to the american market. Drugs are cheaper elsewhere because americans foot the bill. Regulate processed foods by requiring real information. Ban special interest lobbying that clouds our legislative process. increase education funding that promotes good nutrition, and bring back recess, gym classes, and sports to schools. All of the will help lower health care costs.
posted on June 19, 2012 01:28:25 PM new
I think the most important and effective way of controlling healthcare cost is 'DONT GET SICK'!
Dont put stuff in your mouth or nose or your vein which is bad for your health.
Nothing is free,everyone must pay,anyone who can afford a Starbuck latter or light up a Marboro cigarette or a cocktail after work should set some fund aside for medical expenses.
As for profit,I doubt anyone is making profit hands over fist,many of the practitioners are just drawing a salary.
[ edited by lostmymojo on Jun 19, 2012 01:30 PM ]
posted on June 19, 2012 04:06:15 PM new
Yep, nobody is getting rich at all.
- John Hammergren, CEO of McKesson Corporation (a pharmaceutical company): $145,266,971
- Joel F Gemunder, CEO of Omnicare (a pharmacy for the elderly): $98,283,242
- Thomas M Ryan, CEO CVS Caremark Corporation (a pharmacy chain): $68,079,823
Ins. Co. & CEO With 2007 Total CEO Compensation
- Aetna Ronald A. Williams: $23,045,834
- Cigna H. Edward Hanway: $25,839,777
- Coventry Dale B. Wolf : $14,869,823
- Health Net Jay M. Gellert: $3,686,230
- Humana Michael McCallister: $10,312,557
- U.Health Grp Stephen Hemsley: $13,164,529
- WellPoint Angela Braly (2007): $9,094,271
- L. Glasscock (2006): $23,886,169
Ins. Co. & CEO With 2008 Total CEO Compensation
- Aetna, Ronald A. Williams: $24,300,112
- Cigna, H. Edward Hanway: $12,236,740
- Coventry, Dale Wolf: $9,047,469
- Health Net, Jay Gellert: $4,425,355
- Humana, Michael McCallister: $4,764,309
- U. Health Group, Stephen Hemsley: $3,241,042
- Wellpoint, Angela Braly: $9,844,212
It is unbelievable the misconception (or denial) people have when it comes to the real world. Who on earth "deserves" to earn that much money??? Nobody, but they do and they also get bonuses on top of that.
To make matters worse, consider that many of these CEOs eat lavish meals, attend lavish parties, get corporate cars and transportation for free. What millionaire needs freebies?
These corporations spend outrageous amounts of money on seminars and events that require participants to fork out millions just to get into the door to sell their latest medical gadget.
In fact, the first guy mentioned receives over $17,000 a year from his employer just to manage all the money he receives.
Notice the "raises" CEOs received while most workers see their salaries decline, benefits slashed, etc.
If you have health insurance, do you think the CEO deserves such a salary while your health care costs soar? Obviously, they are doing their job for the shareholders, not for their customers.
ObamaCare in 2014 put a cap on administrative costs. What exactly does that mean? You may start getting refunds from your insurer if their expenses are skewed.
posted on June 19, 2012 04:20:55 PM new
It is unbelievable the misconception (or denial) people have when it comes to the real world. Who on earth "deserves" to earn that much money??? Nobody, but they do and they also get bonuses on top of that.
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Who is that investment banker who covered Ebay in the internet go go days before 9/11,her annual bonus is 80 million dollars.
Mick Jagger's Rolling Stone tour grossed 80 millions in a few days.
Rank and file workers come to work and do their share,they dont oversee an entire company and many dont take their work home or get midnight phone calls from subordinates.
They dont have to appear in public and take the blame for oil spill or medicine bottle being tampered with or trading losses of their employees.
Most of us do not have the qualification to do their jobs,I dont envy their pay or perks,I just wonder where do they have time to enjoy the money,oh,dont forget Uncle Sam takes a bite too !
posted on June 19, 2012 04:26:02 PM new
How much do you think president of a country make if he has to pay for his room and board at the White House,the airplane,the personal valets,the security service and all the entertainments he hosted for dignataries who visit this country?
And it does not end there,after leaving the office,he gets protection as well.
And the designer clothes the First lady wears,how can he pay for them with his salary?
posted on June 19, 2012 04:41:55 PM new
I think people in this country do not save enough,we should pay for the small stuff ourselves,be it pepsmear,routine office visit,drugs,tests.
Let the insurance policy covers the big stuff-heart,lung,cancer etc.
If a person cannot afford to pay the routine medical expenses,review your lifestyle and make some adjustments.
Be puntual,pay cash,instead of using credit cards,that should help your doctor save some money.
