cmb
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Post by cmb on Jun 11, 2017 5:34:18 GMT -6
+1 to staying because of the benefits.
I moved states and transferred jobs in October 2015. New job had an 8 week wait period for insurance to kick in. We had to go on old job's cobra for two months in order to have coverage for my H and DS1.
We looked at moving from my employer's insurance to my H's this year. Not only were his premiums higher, so was his deductible, copays, and coinsurance. His also charged a penalty for adding your spouse who was eligible for their own employer's insurance.
It's so stupid that this is how the insurance system here is set up.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2017 16:01:20 GMT -6
I'm definitely calling Franken and Klobuchar's offices tomorrow and telling them to do what they can to slow Senate business down until they do public hearings.
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mowkey
Bronze
Posts: 145 Likes: 923
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Post by mowkey on Jun 12, 2017 5:25:03 GMT -6
My company (Siemens) had day 1 coverage, but the most I had to wait previously was 30 days. I don't understand why there is 30-90 day plus waiting times. Kinda think that is bullshit.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2017 7:17:20 GMT -6
Health insurance tied to employment just doesn't make sense anymore. The economy is so different. People don't go to work for one company and stay there for 45 years anymore. Yet, here we are. This a million times over.
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amylou
Bronze
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Post by amylou on Jun 12, 2017 7:38:58 GMT -6
Health insurance tied to employment just doesn't make sense anymore. The economy is so different. People don't go to work for one company and stay there for 45 years anymore. Yet, here we are. Yes, it also puts small businesses and non-profits at a disadvantage. Most of the turn-over we have in my office is due to people looking for health benefits. We have lost a lot of talented people and that effects the level of service we can provide our clients (local senior citizens and disabled adults.).
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Post by shadesofgold on Jun 12, 2017 8:55:10 GMT -6
I would speculate that part of the reason healthcare costs have spiked is because the inclusion of preexisting conditions and 100% covered preventative care. Insurance companies have to recoup those costs somewhere. Also go ask your local hospital/Dr office how much they had to spend on electronic medical records and implementation. It is shocking how many millions hospitals have to spend on it. Most hospitals are non profit but they still should be breaking even or making a profit to reinvest in new equipment. EMR added to the payroll and budget but aren't necessarily brining in any more money. Also why can we not drop the 26 year old provision that adds a huge cost? Fix the college education system (which would benefit more than healthcare) and focus on a strong economy where people have jobs that pay more than minimum wage. Spending money on social and economic problems have more benefits than simply spending money on healthcare. Insurance companies recouping costs is not apples to oranges with rising health care costs in general. Insurance companies don't set the costs of goods and services. Though they do influence what the providers will charge for them. Like amylou was saying, just the basic cost of health care (the cost set by the provider) is insanely high. To fix that, we need to figure out why. I see multiple reasons (I'm sure there are more, people please chime in): 1. Actual increase in the cost of the physical goods the provider pays to the manufacturer 2. Providers being unable to determine how much it actually costs them to provide a service (e.g. 1 MRI = ??? They pay $XXX for an MRI machine, and estimate they'll do N number of MRIs per year, and the machine has a general life span, but none of that is set and they need to recoup the cost of the machine.) 3. Inflating the cost of the service/good because the insurance company won't pay the full amount so that way they actually get back a decent payment 4. Cost of dealing with ACA provisions These things can all be addressed. Would it be easy? Of course not. Is it the solution to all our health care woes? Nope. But I see it as one part of the bigger problem. We need to address the cost of health care, the power of the insurance companies (and the crappy things they do with it, like pull out of the exchange), and what legislation can do to help. Overuse and high rates of chronic conditions also drive cost. There are serious problems on the consumer side as well, which is much less popular to talk about.
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Post by shadesofgold on Jun 12, 2017 8:58:26 GMT -6
Before the ACA passed, my employer-based health insurance was just as outrageously expensive, but the list of things not covered was wild. I remember seeing that they would only cover one pregnancy, for the lifetime of the policy, in maternity coverage and wondering, "how the hell is that legal?!" Then the ACA passed and it wasn't anymore. I just think people who blame all the prices on Obamacare don't remember what things were like before. ding ding ding!
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thatgolfb
Unicorn
Posts: 55,026 Likes: 234,926
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Post by thatgolfb on Jun 12, 2017 9:00:08 GMT -6
bunnyfungo, I do live in the EU, but our insurance is not tied to our employer in the same sense that it is in the US. All employers here pay 8% for all employees. That's a country-wide law, not a company-by-company policy. If I am fired, I keep my insurance, and for the time period that I'm unemployed, I get insurance for free (because I pay 8% of my income, and 8% of 0 is 0). If I get another job with a different company, then I start paying my 8% again and my employer starts paying 8% - to the same health insurance provider I've been with the entire time (Unless I want to switch. I can do that if I want, but I don't have to ever.). The sucky part is that if you're self-employed you have to pay 16% because you're both the employer and the employee. Okay thanks. That makes sense. And I like that a lot better. Does anyone know what most employers pay on average here in the US? I'm wondering if an across the board percentage like that would save them money or not. Since, ya know, Washington seems to care more about business' best interests than their constituent's. I think it varies widely. H's company pays 100% of his premium (but would not if he covered DD and me), and I think my company pays like 80-85% of my premium for me and DD (I would have to look at a paycheck), and picked the best plan they offered. H has Kaiser and we have UC Care, a special plan for university employees. We both have pretty amazing plans. I could tell you in dollar terms what I pay and what my employer pays if you want, just LMK. But, I very much think what we have is NOT the norm. H works for a forward thinking tech company, and I work for a state entity. We both know how fortunate we are for this health insurance, especially knowing how expensive it was for me to buy from the marketplace while I was a student.
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Post by shadesofgold on Jun 12, 2017 9:07:15 GMT -6
I have a masters in health policy and work in public health. Honestly, I'm so exhausted trying to defend the ACA and so horrified with what is being proposed that I have nothing really to offer. All I can say is that it is garbage and we're all fucked. I'm to the point where I can only muster the energy to retweet Sarah Kliff's posts.
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Minerva
Ruby
Posts: 15,381 Likes: 67,036
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Post by Minerva on Jun 12, 2017 9:46:11 GMT -6
Okay thanks. That makes sense. And I like that a lot better. Does anyone know what most employers pay on average here in the US? I'm wondering if an across the board percentage like that would save them money or not. Since, ya know, Washington seems to care more about business' best interests than their constituent's. I think it varies widely. H's company pays 100% of his premium (but would not if he covered DD and me), and I think my company pays like 80-85% of my premium for me and DD (I would have to look at a paycheck), and picked the best plan they offered. H has Kaiser and we have UC Care, a special plan for university employees. We both have pretty amazing plans. I could tell you in dollar terms what I pay and what my employer pays if you want, just LMK. But, I very much think what we have is NOT the norm. H works for a forward thinking tech company, and I work for a state entity. We both know how fortunate we are for this health insurance, especially knowing how expensive it was for me to buy from the marketplace while I was a student. When I was working for the UC system, I had the most amazing health insurance. Kaiser, 95% subsidized by the university because I made below a certain threshhold. Damn I miss it. Definitely not the norm.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2017 9:53:12 GMT -6
Hey all. I just called my Senators and asked them to slow down all Senate business until the GOP releases public text and holds public hearings on the AHCA bill.
Please call yourself!
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thatgolfb
Unicorn
Posts: 55,026 Likes: 234,926
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Post by thatgolfb on Jun 12, 2017 10:27:47 GMT -6
So I just looked and I was pretty spot on. My company pays about 84% of my premium and I pay 16%. My monthly total premium is about $1400.00 for me and DD (I pay 16% of that out of my paycheck). So yearly about $16800. Yikes.
But, I pay max $20 copay per visit and my entire hospital stay for the birth will be $250. Again, that is the reason I picked the very best plan offered. I had to pay a lot more than that with DD, and even then I had a pretty excellent plan.
It angers me that anyone has to worry about outrageous health care costs.
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Post by marshian on Jun 12, 2017 10:52:47 GMT -6
Insurance companies recouping costs is not apples to oranges with rising health care costs in general. Insurance companies don't set the costs of goods and services. Though they do influence what the providers will charge for them. Like amylou was saying, just the basic cost of health care (the cost set by the provider) is insanely high. To fix that, we need to figure out why. I see multiple reasons (I'm sure there are more, people please chime in): 1. Actual increase in the cost of the physical goods the provider pays to the manufacturer 2. Providers being unable to determine how much it actually costs them to provide a service (e.g. 1 MRI = ??? They pay $XXX for an MRI machine, and estimate they'll do N number of MRIs per year, and the machine has a general life span, but none of that is set and they need to recoup the cost of the machine.) 3. Inflating the cost of the service/good because the insurance company won't pay the full amount so that way they actually get back a decent payment 4. Cost of dealing with ACA provisions These things can all be addressed. Would it be easy? Of course not. Is it the solution to all our health care woes? Nope. But I see it as one part of the bigger problem. We need to address the cost of health care, the power of the insurance companies (and the crappy things they do with it, like pull out of the exchange), and what legislation can do to help. Overuse and high rates of chronic conditions also drive cost. There are serious problems on the consumer side as well, which is much less popular to talk about. Very true!
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athn64
Ruby
Posts: 17,428 Likes: 76,777
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Post by athn64 on Jun 12, 2017 10:53:12 GMT -6
Hey all. I just called my Senators and asked them to slow down all Senate business until the GOP releases public text and holds public hearings on the AHCA bill. Please call yourself! Thanks for the reminder. I just did it. Though the Washington Office was busy and told me to send an email instead. So I did that too.
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Post by morecoffeeplease on Jun 13, 2017 7:02:44 GMT -6
Ben Wikler is tweeting that staffers for certain R Senators are telling callers there is no health care bill/they know nothing about a bill/ it won't happen until the fall. This is disgusting if true.
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pesto
Sapphire
Posts: 3,229 Likes: 19,529
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Post by pesto on Jun 13, 2017 7:36:49 GMT -6
Gardner's office won't answer their damn phone. I've left voicemails but I imagine that goes into an infinite abyss.
People have been protesting outside of his Denver office over this bill so I'm hoping he gets the message that way.
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robot
Ruby
Posts: 23,367 Likes: 52,074
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Post by robot on Jun 13, 2017 7:53:06 GMT -6
Gardner's office won't answer their damn phone. I've left voicemails but I imagine that goes into an infinite abyss. People have been protesting outside of his Denver office over this bill so I'm hoping he gets the message that way. You could also try the ResistBot fax thing?
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LED
Gold
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Post by LED on Jun 13, 2017 9:52:48 GMT -6
I love my senators.
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Post by summerbabe on Jun 13, 2017 9:59:26 GMT -6
you're making me want to move back to Oregon.
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LED
Gold
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Post by LED on Jun 13, 2017 11:22:38 GMT -6
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Post by anastasia on Jun 14, 2017 3:37:21 GMT -6
Way late to this, but since I relate everything to my own situation... My mom is dependent on her employer based health care. She's currently on long term disability. If we're lucky enough for her to live more than a year, her job will be terminated. And she'll suddenly have no insurance.
I won't lie, I had been weary of single payer insurance years ago because of some of the problems I saw with it in my husband's home country. I've been on board for awhile, but never had it hit so close to home.
Having healthcare tied to employment is wrong, dangerous, and outdated. And that's true for a woman who worked almost 30 years at the same company, let alone someone who changes jobs in the modern economy.
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Post by Cnon on Jun 14, 2017 4:33:38 GMT -6
So sorry about your mom, anastasia, that really bites!
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Post by morecoffeeplease on Jun 14, 2017 8:52:03 GMT -6
anastasia, I am sorry about mom. I have no idea if she would qualify, but you could look into Medicaid eligibility in your state. I know it takes a long time to go through the process so it may help to start researching now.
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Post by morecoffeeplease on Jun 14, 2017 8:53:05 GMT -6
anastasia, I am sorry about your mom. I have no idea if she would qualify, but you could look into Medicaid eligibility in your state. I know it takes a long time to go through the process so it may help to start researching now.
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Post by crimsonandclover on Jun 15, 2017 12:18:44 GMT -6
I'm so sorry, anastasia. I agree with morecoffeeplease that you should call and get some information about Medicaid eligibility.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2017 14:17:19 GMT -6
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2017 14:20:51 GMT -6
The part about Collins and defnunding Planned Parenthood is making me fucking rage. She essentially says she wants a chance to vote against it on record but would let it go through. Just like she fucking did with DeVos's nomination.
That coward.
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Post by ldubhawksfan on Jun 15, 2017 14:23:31 GMT -6
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2017 14:30:14 GMT -6
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2017 14:38:07 GMT -6
I'm only about halfway through the article, but basically what I'm getting is, "We'll still cut all the things. We're just going to take a much longer time to do it, so we can point the finger at someone else by the time the other shoe drops." Is that a decent assessment? Yes, it's very similar to the House bill. They also might create an opioid treatment fund.
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