posted
this was on NBC NIGHTLY NEWS. rest can be found at msnbctv.com this is just a piece. Who are the one in seven uninsured Americans? Like Berry, more than eighty percent have jobs. The majority is between the ages of 18 and 44, and almost a quarter earn $50,000 or more a year. “These are people just like you and me,” says Dr. Arthur Kellerman, who runs the emergency room at Atlanta’s Grady Hospital. “They are contributing to the economy, they wait on our tables, they fix our cars they are our neighbors. In some cases they are even members of our own families.” Without money to pay for a private doctor’s care, the uninsured come to emergency rooms where doctors are obligated to treat them even if they can’t pay. And who pays that bill? We all do, in higher insurance premiums and higher taxes. The result of this is a ripple effect that is more like a tidal wave. The cost to cover the uninsured, hospital costs mostly, is $35 billion a year. And the number of uninsured is only rising. Why? A sputtering economy, spiraling insurance premiums and the Medicaid crunch, with huge cutbacks in the program around the country, are pushing more poor to the ranks of the uninsured.
Over 40 million Americans are uninsured. 37 percent of workers who lose their jobs also lose their health coverage. 2 million Americans lost health insurance due to job loss in 2001, the largest one-year increase in a decade. In 2001, premiums for employer-sponsored coverage increased 11 percent. 8 of 10 uninsured Americans are in working families that cannot afford health insurance and are not eligible for public programs. Number of uninsured men ages 50-64: 2,272,000 (11.5 percent of males in that age group) Number of uninsured women ages 50-64: 2,954,000 (13.7 percent of females in that age group) Under COBRA, employees of workplaces with 20 or more employees on more than 50 percent of its typical business days in the previous calendar year, their spouses and dependent children are eligible to continue coverage for up to 18 months following lay-off or reduction in work hours. For other qualifying events, coverage is for 36 months. Employers are not required to pay for continuing coverage and workers are usually required to pay up to 102 percent of the health plan: the employer's and employee's shares of the premiums plus an administrative fee. COBRA costs an individual, on average, $2,600 to $2,700 a year ($225/month) for an individual plan and over $7,000 a year ($600/month) for family coverage. 4 of 5 individuals eligible for COBRA do not use it because of the cost. Workers in companies that discontinue health coverage are ineligible for COBRA, as are workers in companies that declare bankruptcy. Only 7 percent of unemployed adults had coverage through COBRA in 1999. Employer-Based Plan Single coverage: $360 Family coverage: $1,800
Individual Health Insurance Single coverage: Healthy 55-year-old, $4,800 Healthy 25-year-old, $2,200 Family coverage: $7,400+
COBRA Single coverage: $2,700 Family coverage: $7,197
* All figures reflect average costs
A study that examined annual premiums for individual health insurance plans in selected cities in 1999 found: For plans with a modest deductible (less than $250) Age 25: $1,092 Age 50: $2,568 Age 60: $4,032
For plans with a higher deductible (over $1000) Age 25: $1,644 Age 50: $3,480 Age 60: $5,688
New York and New Jersey are the only states where the private insurance market is regulated, with insurance priced the same regardless of age and health.
[ February 11, 2003, 02:20 AM: Message edited by: old paint ]
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
One thing I hear consistently, is "inflation is virtually negligible" That takes the issue into an intellectual plane that the average person cannot comprehend. After all macro/micro economics is heavy stuff. This is what I observe: Its damn hard to survive on $50,000 a year income. Young people simply are unable to leave the nest at the same age we did. I see my neighbors kids returning to mom and dads house to live (often with a grand kid ...or two) So we all have to make larger salaries to make it. Here in Oakland County Michigan...the auto capital...we see homes springing up everywhere starting at over $250,000! There are so many new cars on the road I feel wierd driving a 92 Dodge Van. Bottom Line...our society is living too large. If the x generation college educated crowd needs incomes in excess of $75,000 a year to make it...their employers have to generate revenues to cover payroll and related costs. Now apply the income necessary to fulfill the lifestyle needs of Doctors and Lawyers and you see why medical costs are outrageous and insurance coverage is out of reach for the poor guy only making $50,000 a year.That's INFLATION. Solution? We need to embrace simpler lifestyles as measures of success. Small business owners should be commended or committed...hang in there!
-------------------- Tony Lucero Eagle Graphics Waterford, MI www.eaglegph.com Posts: 305 | From: Waterford, MI, USA | Registered: Apr 2000
| IP: Logged |
If everyone working in the Government had to pay for their own health care insurance, such as the President, Congressmen, Senators etc, they could relate to the people they are suppose to represent. Something may get accomplished with health care issues. The people we have elected, the career politicians, are too far removed from the people they are "suppose" to be representing. If they had to fill up their own gas tanks, pay for their own prescriptions and so on, right out of their pocket, they would understand our problems much better.
Of the people who are insured, how many have "good" insurance, or just enough to cover a major medical situation. I have a $1500 deductible. Yep, I'm one of the self employed that have insurance, but it's not very good insurance. I'm sure I will find a lot of loop holes and non covered items if (and when) I ever have to make any claims with my insurance. Try reading your insurance policy, whether health insurance or any other coverage. Not easy.
We should have a simpler lifestyle. Maybe try to buy American products whenever possible and get involved more. I'm surprised how many people don't vote because they feel that is a way of protest against the way our government is being run. Apathy just helps the career politicians, they don't have to work for our vote. They are glad many don't vote, it actually helps them.
Sorry to make this post so political, but our health care system does need an overhaul.
How do other countries handle health care? Doesn't Canada have higher taxes, but better health care coverage? Would anyone be willing to explain their care.
Pam, Pam's Signs
-------------------- Pam Eddy Niles, MI ple@qtm.net Posts: 460 | From: Michigan | Registered: Dec 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
US Government would raise taxes to pay for health care and end up wasting it on something else.
If you have the money to pay for health insurance, you are better off taking that money and putting it into a savings account for times you might need it.
I had health insurance and ended up getting boned for over $10,000 the ONE TIME when I needed the care. Ultimately I got my money back but here's how the story plays out if you want to read it.
I had an infection in my right leg a few years ago, it was pretty nasty. Before I could get any care I had to contact the insurance company to be sure the doctor's visit would be covered. They assured me it was OK so I went. The doctor didnt know what the heck he was looking at, as my leg was swollen to about 26 inches circumference, was beet red, and putting off enough heat to warm up an ice fishing hut. Because the doctor didnt know what was going on, it meant a trip to the hospital for ultrasounds and other tests. Of course I had to contact the insurance company first to be sure it was covered, they said it was so off to the hospital we went. This was all going down on a Saturday, by the way, which only added to the difficulty as things were busy and it was tough getting ahold of people, not to mention people that were coherent enough to do their jobs.
The ultrasounds came up fine, they were checking for circulatory problems and didn't see anything.. good news... sorta.. good there were no problems but bad that they didnt have any leads to go on.
There were blood tests that came back normal. They took a chunk of skin for testing - nothing.
So, the next THREE WEEKS I was laid up in bed, away from work.. taking medications and antibiotics and making doctor and hospital visits for a condition that nobody knew what the hell was goin on.
I can't convey how bad of shape my leg was in and how lousy I was feeling because of it. I had never been this ill in my life and my leg literally felt like it was just going to rip open and spill all over the place.. in fact it eventually did split open but that wasnt unitl the entire area from my knee to my ankle was completely scabbed over. I did take pics though.
3 weeks had gone by and I was over the worst of it so I went back to work. Luckily it was a desk job and they were understanding in letting me bring in a pillow so I could prop my leg up on the desk so it could drain. Note there was still no solid diagnosis on what was causing my problems, just that the first doctor to look at me said it could be some kind of bacterial infection but he wasnt sure because tests showed nothing. Now I start getting rejected claim notices from the insurance company, each claim stating "Non-PreAuthorized Treatment".. Hmm, odd, I called them before every visit and they said it was covered. Come to find out, because nobody nailed down a solid cause, they deemed the treatments as unneccesary and now they weren't going to provide any coverage.
I started receiving bills from the hospitals and doctors, totals over $10,000.. which I paid outta my pocket, miraculously, to get those people off my back. I had that money saved up in preparation for my move to Arizona - which I went ahead and did anyway regardless of not having the funds onhand.
I had the bills taken care of then I turned around and went after the insurance company. I filed a complaint with the Missouri Attorney General's office (my dad's suggestion, they took care of a problem he had with Chevrolet), sent them copies of all the paperwork as well as pictures of my leg which did in fact show there was definitely something wrong with it, and the AG got the insurance company to reimburse me in full. It was not a fast or easy process, but I stuck with it.
So, had *I* been paying the health insurance bills instead of my employer (it was my personal plan by the way, they were picking up the tab instead of making everyone use the company insurance co) it would have been $250/month that I could have just stashed into the bank, paid for the medical bills and have enough left over to live on for 3-4 months.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'm one of those on Cobra for another 9 months. I've talked to at least half a dozen insurance companies about a policy for when the Cobra runs out. All have turned me down because of type 2 diabetes.
It's getting to the point that I'm thinking about just banking the payments. I wonder if I could take the rejection letters with me to the emergency room and see if that would help with the bills!
-------------------- Scott Daniels That Sign Shop Rockton, IL 815.624.7271 Posts: 19 | From: Rockton, IL | Registered: Dec 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Pimp post pics....inquring minds wanna know
-------------------- Gavin Chachere Plotter in the garage,New Orleans La.
"Sgts Shugart and Gordon again request permission to rope down to crash site two" Posts: 1223 | From: new orleans.la. | Registered: Mar 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
the best hospital experiance i ever had....1975, i just got fired from my job, girlfriend left me, iam livin in a an empty 12'x52' trailer with a tv and a couch(she took the rest). iam at my mothers bar as bartender, stepped off a bar stool to answer the phone, had a pair of those pee wee herman high heeled shoes on, stepped wrong and broke my leg just above the ankle. ok. guy comes in the bar finds me layin on the floor out cold. wakes me up, i try to stand cant so he calls ambulance. well off to the hospital, no job, no insurance, basiclly livin with my mother. get to the hospital, get xrayed they want to know if i have insurance,job and how iam gona pay.since i had no job, no insurance, they send in this WELFARE lady, she took all info, and i left hospital. a week later i get a letter tellin me to show up at WELFARE OFFICE, i did, they give me food stamps, $157 every 2 weeks and full medical coverage....including dental!!!!!!!! i had that for the next 2 years while i was in a drug rehab. guess what iam sayin is....as long as you are tryin to make a living and pay for health care it will cost you thru the nose, all you gota do is not work, no job, and you get FULL COVERAGE!!!! and dental!!!!
[ February 12, 2003, 01:15 PM: Message edited by: old paint ]
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic