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cloudy
Alabama Slammer
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2004
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- 37,997
We don't have insurance. Well, let me correct that...my husband has insurance that his employer provides free for him - GOOD insurance, Blue Cross/Blue Shield - but if he were to add me and spidey to his ins., it would cost us right at $120/wk. Apparently, his employer is covering the cost of what they provide free for their employees by charging out the wazoo for adding family coverage.
We could afford it, but it would put a serious crimp in things. Close to $500/mo is almost a house payment.
Spidey and I both are in very good health, thank goodness, but still...I had to take him to the doctor a couple of weeks ago for an ear infection, and the visit alone was $45, and that was at a Med-Assist clinic. The prescriptions were extra, and of course, no insurance for those, either.
We just keep our fingers crossed that nothing serious happens to either one of us while we are without. Once the car's paid off in about six months, I think he's going to add family coverage, and we'll just have to budget around the extra money that won't be coming in anymore.
The thing that really gets me about the whole insurance thing is that though we aren't by any means well off, we are comfortable, and insurance is still out of our reach.
Spidey had heart surgery when he was five and a half months old. At the time, I was working and had excellent family coverage, and out of pocket expenses (after my insurance paid its part) were still over $10,000, and took us right at two years to get paid off.
I don't know what can do to fix it, but something needs to happen. The medical/insurance system we have now is beyond broken.
We could afford it, but it would put a serious crimp in things. Close to $500/mo is almost a house payment.
Spidey and I both are in very good health, thank goodness, but still...I had to take him to the doctor a couple of weeks ago for an ear infection, and the visit alone was $45, and that was at a Med-Assist clinic. The prescriptions were extra, and of course, no insurance for those, either.
We just keep our fingers crossed that nothing serious happens to either one of us while we are without. Once the car's paid off in about six months, I think he's going to add family coverage, and we'll just have to budget around the extra money that won't be coming in anymore.
The thing that really gets me about the whole insurance thing is that though we aren't by any means well off, we are comfortable, and insurance is still out of our reach.
Spidey had heart surgery when he was five and a half months old. At the time, I was working and had excellent family coverage, and out of pocket expenses (after my insurance paid its part) were still over $10,000, and took us right at two years to get paid off.
I don't know what can do to fix it, but something needs to happen. The medical/insurance system we have now is beyond broken.
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insurance
When a working parent cannot afford insurance to his small child, there is a problem with the system. As someone who had to rely heavily on my (expensive) insurance once, I can only hope that a solution is found.
Feel good.
Maharat
sweetsubsarahh said:
When a working parent cannot afford insurance to his small child, there is a problem with the system. As someone who had to rely heavily on my (expensive) insurance once, I can only hope that a solution is found.
Feel good.
Maharat
Recidiva
Harastal
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2005
- Posts
- 89,726
I sympathize.
This is my job, reviewing hundreds of medical tragedies every week. I handle medical reports and reviews, operative reports and psychiatric admissions for hospitals and clinics all over the country.
It was truly crushing when I first started.
The hardest for me are the pediatrics and the elderly. Children who never had a chance and elders with dementia who are transferred into the hospital for their last days of life to expire there from sepsis.
I used to cry every day. Then every week...then it progresses and I get used to certain tragedies. Now maybe only a few times a year will a case hit me until I have to step back and absorb it all.
I will say though...I do not take health for granted. And I tell my family I love them and hold them close several times a day.
This is my job, reviewing hundreds of medical tragedies every week. I handle medical reports and reviews, operative reports and psychiatric admissions for hospitals and clinics all over the country.
It was truly crushing when I first started.
The hardest for me are the pediatrics and the elderly. Children who never had a chance and elders with dementia who are transferred into the hospital for their last days of life to expire there from sepsis.
I used to cry every day. Then every week...then it progresses and I get used to certain tragedies. Now maybe only a few times a year will a case hit me until I have to step back and absorb it all.
I will say though...I do not take health for granted. And I tell my family I love them and hold them close several times a day.
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somberReality
Taking a Lit break
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2007
- Posts
- 2,080
I don't have insurance for the kids either. The ex is supposed to provide it but it's not panned out that way. Gah. People can't afford health insurance.
rgraham666
Literotica Guru
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- Feb 19, 2004
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- 43,689
Move to Canada. Our taxes may be higher, but we offer a lot more services.
And I don't believe that our taxes are anywhere near as bad as insurance payments. As I recall the U.S. spends about 14% of GDP on healthcare. Canada spends 9%.
It a simple case of Tanstaafl.
And I don't believe that our taxes are anywhere near as bad as insurance payments. As I recall the U.S. spends about 14% of GDP on healthcare. Canada spends 9%.
It a simple case of Tanstaafl.
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Guest
Guest
The US has the finest heath care system in the world...If you can afford it.
If you can't afford it, please die quietly, preferably with your debts paid off.
Thank you.
Your Leaders
If you can't afford it, please die quietly, preferably with your debts paid off.
Thank you.
Your Leaders
jomar
chillin
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2006
- Posts
- 27,562
As far as socialized/single-payer healthcare (UK, Canada) is concerned, John Stossel has an ABC special on tonight on which should be interesting.
At this point in my life I am fortunate to have decent family insurance through my wife's job. For a long time we had catastrophe insurance - insurance with a high deductible, so most office visits were out of pocket. The numbers worked and I was really uncomfortable not having any insurance at all.
At this point in my life I am fortunate to have decent family insurance through my wife's job. For a long time we had catastrophe insurance - insurance with a high deductible, so most office visits were out of pocket. The numbers worked and I was really uncomfortable not having any insurance at all.
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WRJames
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2007
- Posts
- 1,397
What disturbs me most is that health care is such a non-issue as far as our Presidential candidates are concerned.
It's obvious from the few comments here that the current situation is bad for small business, bad for working families -- and the solution would be so simple -- make medical care, like education, available to everyone. What aren't we even attempting to get this fixed?
It's obvious from the few comments here that the current situation is bad for small business, bad for working families -- and the solution would be so simple -- make medical care, like education, available to everyone. What aren't we even attempting to get this fixed?
rgraham666
Literotica Guru
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WRJames said:
There's too much money involved. The health care companies pay big bucks to make sure things stay just as they are.
I recall hearing that they spend about $1 billion every election.
christabelll
Too...Gone Baby Gone
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2007
- Posts
- 1,801
for single person insurance I pay 106 a week
if I were to add my children that would go to 345 a week
thats just over a 3rd closer to hald of my gross a week....
the coverage sucks at best
I had to call over 30 doctors offices to find even one doctor who was actually still in the plan and then the waiting list to get in was 9 + months
I was able to pull some strings through my surgeon to see a doctor at the hospital when the TB scare happened but christ what a frickin lot of hoopla
my employer sent out a survey about the health care coverage they offered and more than half the people there FRIED them for it
may change may not but I do not nor will I ever recommend AETNA for coverage for any body
if I were to add my children that would go to 345 a week
thats just over a 3rd closer to hald of my gross a week....
the coverage sucks at best
I had to call over 30 doctors offices to find even one doctor who was actually still in the plan and then the waiting list to get in was 9 + months
I was able to pull some strings through my surgeon to see a doctor at the hospital when the TB scare happened but christ what a frickin lot of hoopla
my employer sent out a survey about the health care coverage they offered and more than half the people there FRIED them for it
may change may not but I do not nor will I ever recommend AETNA for coverage for any body
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WRJames
Literotica Guru
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- Apr 15, 2007
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Here is an interesting article that sums up how betrayed we are:
Money Puts a Lid on Health Care Reform
Money Puts a Lid on Health Care Reform
matriarch
Rotund retiree
- Joined
- May 25, 2003
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- 22,743
This is the biggest thing that concerns me should the wife and I decide to live in States after I retire. Paying for healthcare. As an older woman, with pre-existing medical conditions, I know damn well my insurance payments would be astronomical, probably more than my pensions combined.
My brother is going through a particularly stressful period of treatment for cancer, in the States, and his biggest worry the whole time - many, many months - has been not about his survival odds, but whether the insurance company will pay for the treatment, and if not, how the hell could he afford it on his salary! This is not what healthcare should be about.
In the UK, meanwhile, I don't have a problem with paying my taxes so that everyone, and I mean everyone, even the itinerant off the street, can get healthcare. I would gladly pay more for the security of knowing I can call my doctor surgery and make an appointment to see one of the 8 doctors based there, can request to be referred to a consultant/specialist, can have treatment, including surgery and hospital stay...and not have to worry about forking out one extra penny. I know we have to pay for our prescriptions, but even that doesn't bother me. I have peace of mind.
When we moved to UK, the first thing I did was get Min registered at our local doctor surgery. As a temporary resident with an approved visa that's how it works.
I've heard all the stories or worry-mongering about waiting lists and waiting time in UK, I don't care. I know, were it a real emergency, I'd get treated immediately.
My brother is going through a particularly stressful period of treatment for cancer, in the States, and his biggest worry the whole time - many, many months - has been not about his survival odds, but whether the insurance company will pay for the treatment, and if not, how the hell could he afford it on his salary! This is not what healthcare should be about.
In the UK, meanwhile, I don't have a problem with paying my taxes so that everyone, and I mean everyone, even the itinerant off the street, can get healthcare. I would gladly pay more for the security of knowing I can call my doctor surgery and make an appointment to see one of the 8 doctors based there, can request to be referred to a consultant/specialist, can have treatment, including surgery and hospital stay...and not have to worry about forking out one extra penny. I know we have to pay for our prescriptions, but even that doesn't bother me. I have peace of mind.
When we moved to UK, the first thing I did was get Min registered at our local doctor surgery. As a temporary resident with an approved visa that's how it works.
I've heard all the stories or worry-mongering about waiting lists and waiting time in UK, I don't care. I know, were it a real emergency, I'd get treated immediately.
john-the-author
Literotica Guru
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- May 6, 2004
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I feel fortunate that my wife and I have good health insurance with incredible dental and vision, but we are keenly aware that this is not as common as it should be in this country. We have bumper stickers on one of the cars that say "Gay marriage doesn't scare me. No health care does." and "Our national health-care policy? Don't get sick."
About every third president, Dem & Rep both, in the last century have tried to get some kind of national health care system in place. Clinton was working on it, Nixon proposed it in his 2nd Inaugural address, and so on back to Teddy Roosevelt. We should have it. This country can afford it--having a healthy citizenry pays for itself short-term and long-term--and it's the Right Thing To Do for a country that makes so much fucking noise about its family fucking values.
About every third president, Dem & Rep both, in the last century have tried to get some kind of national health care system in place. Clinton was working on it, Nixon proposed it in his 2nd Inaugural address, and so on back to Teddy Roosevelt. We should have it. This country can afford it--having a healthy citizenry pays for itself short-term and long-term--and it's the Right Thing To Do for a country that makes so much fucking noise about its family fucking values.
carsonshepherd
comeback kid
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2004
- Posts
- 14,643
It's America. We want what's good, right and proper for ourselves and our families, but we don't want to pay for it for our neighbors, if it meants higher taxes. We want to keep our money for ourselves, and complain when health care (or education, or a gallon of gas) costs too much for us to afford. We refuse to learn that what benefits the many, benefits ourselves.
Read my lips - don't get sick. And don't spend money staying healthy.
Read my lips - don't get sick. And don't spend money staying healthy.
knitedreams
Really Experienced
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2003
- Posts
- 172
I pay over $700 a year for student health insurance. It only covers emergency room visits and stays in the hospital. If I get sick, I have to go to the health clinic on campus and get my meds at the pharmacy on campus. It wouldn't be a bad thing if the health clinic doctors knew what they were doing. Most times they just keep prescribing things for you until they find something that words.
I had an ear infection in my left ear that kept coming back over the course of three months until they finally prescribed me something strong enough to get rid of it once and for all.
Even though the student health insurance sucks big time, it's still something. I often wonder if I'll even have health insurance, or a job that has health insurance benefits, once I'm completely done with college.
I had an ear infection in my left ear that kept coming back over the course of three months until they finally prescribed me something strong enough to get rid of it once and for all.
Even though the student health insurance sucks big time, it's still something. I often wonder if I'll even have health insurance, or a job that has health insurance benefits, once I'm completely done with college.
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