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Healthcare and the American Way
As a small business owner for the last 20+ plus years, I have paid for my own healthcare insurance. Up until this time, I have always paid for the very best of policies – zero deductibles and nominal costs for prescription drugs. I can still remember that when I began shouldering this responsibility I thought the cost of healthcare insurance was out of this world. That was when I paid approximately $300 per month for a family of five. Thanks to the goodness of God, over the past 20 years, not one member of the family was ever hospitalized and family illnesses were few and all common illnesses. The insurance company has made plenty of money off our premiums over the years.
Now the kids have grown and are responsible for their own expenses and insurance. My current insurance plan includes only me and my rates were $609.00 per month, with a $2000 annual deductible, $35 prescription drug co-pays and 100% coverage after the deductible is met.
Last week, I received my annual premium increase. Now, one would think with the healthcare reform bill looming over these large health insurance companies like a sledgehammer, they would disguise themselves as ‘team players’ and limit the rate increases. This was not the case. Instead, my 2010 premium has been raised by $206.43 PER MONTH (or $2477.16 per year). The ceiling on my prescription drug coverage was also raised by $30.00 per prescription that applies.
As always, the price quote came with other options that minutely reduced the premium cost as each applicable plan greatly increased my deductible and out-of-pocket expenses across the board.
Well folks, I’ve just become a believer in the healthcare reform bill. My support of this bill is not because I believe its good legislation. Oh, no! There are far too many unanswered questions for the healthcare reform bill to be considered good legislation. My support of this bill is because I simply can not afford the ever-soaring, out-of-control medical coverage. While discussing this issue with other small business owners, I have found none that could afford what was happening to their healthcare costs, especially at a time when business profits have all but bottomed out.
I can only assume that those who are fighting for healthcare to remain privatized must have their medical insurance provided for them through their employers or through Medicare and Medicaid. The opposition may want to hold back on their opinions until they are assured how their future healthcare premiums will be paid. It’s wishful thinking that employee healthcare costs will remain stable. For, the way I see it, everyone will soon shoulder the massive increases in healthcare costs and responsibilities, be it through their paycheck, tax system or quality of services they receive.
Let’s face it! Until some party steps up fixes what’s broken, the healthcare insurance crisis will remain nothing but a shell game of pass the buck between big business and the government – and in any outcome, the people will pay for the costs and all the bureaucracy! That one party who will play the hero, will once again be the American people.
AARP Announcement
We've just received a preass release from AARP praising the "broc
kage of the do nut hole in the Healthcare legislation today. Claims this is one of the nay-sayers complaints?
What is this Gibberish?
Who is the source and who is the nay-sayer?
Grief Over The Long Overdo Health Care Reform/Repair
re: Health Care and the American Way
The insurance companies are raising premium costs through the roof BECAUSE of the health care law (remember, it's LAW now!) It's an opportunity to make money hand-over-fist right now. If they believe that this health care law will negatively impact their profit margins (or their ability to increase their profit margins or increase the RATE OF INCREASE of their profit margins (let's not forget how American big business thinks!) then they can justify this. If they DON'T believe that will happen but rather that a large chunk of the American populace thinks it will they know that they can shove off blame for these increases on the upcoming health care/health insurance change. It's a win-win for them!
Give It Some Time
The insurance industry is taking advantage of this as it stands now...with the newly enacted Law of the Land. They even jump started increases the last time you got a notice your premiums were going up, as much as 30%, for no reason at all other than bigger profits and bonuses. So, what's new? The Health/Pharma/Insurance-type scams have been around since John Hancock. Honest capitalist corporations are fine but today the majority of them are fascist. The Congress and Senate will massage this brand spanking new HRC and will ensure quality and affordable Health Care for all. This can be done in a bipartisan way but more than likely the once Grand Old Party will not participate. What's new? Who needs them? They'll all be gone in November anyway.
How true! My husband owns a
How true! My husband owns a small business and provides health insurance - in full- to all employees. Providing this benifit is very important to us, and I often wonder if employees really grasp the impact it has on the business. In this economy, we have often had to choose between receiving a paycheck ourselves or purchasing insurance for our employees. A husband shouldn't be put in a position of providing for employees at the cost of providing for his own family.
You Are SO Right!
Your husband and his business are phenomenal in providing this benefit. I hope you can continue to take pride in your exceptionalism. Most companies pass on up to half the cost of the premiums to employees and many go whithout. It's looking like a major part of the Health Care Bill Repair will come soon. An expected part of the change is a nice tax benefit for small businesses. Keep the Faith and STAY BLESSED!
Every year on this date,
Every year on this date, until this legislation is repealed, I will be asking you all if your healthcare delivery system is better, more affordable, and allows you greater access. I'll also be asking you if your federal income tax bill has increased, decreased, or stayed the same. Those are the promises we have been given.
Did you know that approx. 30% of doctors are considering retirement when this passes? Let's see, add 32 million to the insurance rolls and deduct 30% from the number of doctors in this country. hmmmmm......
Did you know that in the coming months Wal-greens is going to stop accepting new medicare patients because of this bill?
Did you know that this bill increases the number of IRS agents by 16,000?
Did you know that the IRS will now be in charge of making sure you have insurance?
Did you know that the IRS will immediately begin sharing all of your taxpayer information with the health department?
Did you know that the IRS will now be able to garnish your wages to pay for your penalty if you choose not to buy health insurance?
I just want to thank anyone who supported this legislation so much. Because I and most Americans are obviously not smart enough or capable of making our own decisions concerning our own healthcare. I really need a Nanny. THANK GOD I HAVE BARACK OBAMA AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO TAKE CARE OF EVEN MY MOST BASIC NEEDS! I sure hope they can run this behemoth better than they do medicare and medicaid.
Where'd You Dig Up The Bullcrap?
What a FOX News TROLL you are! It is so obviously apparent because it's all non-sense. You site all the Phlegm Bleek talking points of the new season on FAUX News. Go Troll your teabagging lies and fear-mongering predictions elsewhere. It'll be sweet when all you XXX-Party folks are gone in November. {{{The XXX is for the 2nd party in the 2-party system...it won't be the once Gran Ol' Pardy}}}...DON'T TEABAG ON ME! Are you the anonymous Scarey Palin, by chance?
Healthcare Reform
The track record of all politicians in Washington surely indicates that federal government isn't the place to fix healthcare... That's just another opportunity for Washington burocrats to line there pockets with more of our money...
Let's Give Obama A Chance
The Federal government is the ONLY place to start. The unregulated HealthCare, Insurance, and Pharmaceutical industries and, especially, their Lobbyists are to be blamed, fully. This has been our history, UP UNTIL NOW! President Obama has done a remarkable job in his short tenure. I believe his accomplishments far outreach any other President in history in the short period of time he's held office. Our President will prove to be the greatest on record. He's well on his way and will transform the way America does business and politics! At long last...
I'm surprised!
> My support of this bill is because I simply can not afford
> the ever-soaring, out-of-control medical coverage.
Wow, I am pleasantly surprised! I had thought this was going to be another anti-socialism tirade, but I am pleased to see that common sense does prevail. I am confident that there are going to be a great many things wrong with the new health care plan, but I am also reasonably sure that it will be better than what we would have gotten had no action been taken.
Happy Holidays (meaning Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and anything else you'll be celebrating) to all!
Better Late Than Never
Well we didn't get it for RamaHannaKwanzMas but it's a sweet Passover/Easter treat.