By Deb

April 1, 2010 8:30 AM | Link to this

I am starting a business with a partner. Her last company closed and there is no cobra offering. She had melanoma 7-years ago (a $900 surgery caught in the very earliest stage with a full recovery with no additional treatment other than regular skin checks). Because of her pre-existing condition, she has been denied repeatedly for coverage. She finally located coverage and is paying $1,100 per month + $100 additional for children. That’s $1,200 per month with a $15,000 deductible. That’s $29,400 before insurance picks up a dime. Something is wrong with the current system for the working class. No wonder so many people can’t afford insurance. I was recently diagnosed with the same type of melanoma - caught it early because I have blue eyes, light skin, redish hair, skin cancer in the family and was smart enough to have annual skin checks. Apparently that will be held against me. This is discrimination. The system has to be changed. I know too many people that have been fired from privately insured companies within a month of diagnosis or treatment. There is no doubt that these companies cut their liabilities to keep premiums low. The system is wrong. People on Medicaid show up and clog the ER’s with the flu because a Dr. won’t see them. Medicaid reimbursement to high cost ER’s doesn’t cover costs and we all end up paying for it in the end. The system is wrong. We have to be willing to change. Leaving it as is is not the answer.

By larry

April 1, 2010 1:31 PM | Link to this

I expect my bill to go up because companies will be forced to take pre-existing conditions and some won’t apply before the problem forces them. I expect the Democrats will eventually get their wish of everyone under one government run plan. I used to be on a health care committee and there really won’t be any reason for a company to offer that as a benefit because it won’t be offered by rival companies. God help us all. Rationing and death panels will be the norm because that is what happens everywhere else.

By Squirrellygirl

April 1, 2010 1:39 PM | Link to this

I expect my premiums to double and eventually get so high I won’t be able to afford insurance. I expect my contractor company to eventually drop my insurance and force me on govt option (which Obama will pass before his first and only term as prez is up) because all of the other insurance companies will be forced out of business by Obama’s hc bill. I expect my coverage to be less because it will be harder to find doctors who are willing to accept less and less money as govt forces doctors to accept it or go out of business. I expect the govt to try to hire doctors to work for the govt because they will be making life/death decisions while they ration care due to less funding. Just as they did with not allowing mamograms until you’re 50, people will start to die from breast cancer and other cancers because the govt is trying to save money. I expect this administration to try to force 40 year olds and up on medicare as he cuts medicare more than the $530B he’s already robbed from the program to help fund his new entitlement hc program. My daughter will be forced to pay penalty fees which will increase each year because she can’t afford to buy hc insurance and her employer (small company) doesn’t provide it—this will result in her receiving less tax rebate which will result in her spending less at the store/purchases, etc. Our economy will be hit hard, and we will soon go into bankruptcy due to the wreckless spending/borrowing/printing of money. People will revolt in the streets fighting each other, stealing what they think they’re entitled to. It will cause further division in our country. We will look like Greece with all of the fighting in the streets. Thanks, Obama!

By parental

April 1, 2010 1:40 PM | Link to this

Well, Deb, I agree as do most people that the status quo is no good. The big however: I really wonder about having to pay for your problems. Can I come to your house and eat breakfast everyday? I need to eat after all and experts say breakfast is important to my health. See, maybe I don’t want to pay for you. Thats all I’m saying. You want me to pay for part of your health care because you have cancer. Congrats for beating it by the way. Right now, under the current plan, young people (way younger than I) who are healthy and use very little health care will be paying so old people and others can get coverage at better rates. I think Quality is going down, costs are going up along with taxes. EVERY country who has this much government involvement has had higher costs, lower qulaity.

By Squirrellygirl

April 1, 2010 2:11 PM | Link to this

In addition to my other post: Obama has taken over banks/hc/student loans, he’s getting ready to take over energy. He purchased 13 million acres of land in West U.S. using executive order. He will eventually pass mandates that will cause companies to quit hiring and go out of business. Next, he’ll move on to personal property. Russians took over everybody farms and then starved entire families to death. By then I don’t know whether or not Obama will still be president. He used illegal means, ie. ACORN and such corrupt organizations to help him get elected. I don’t expect the Democrats to change, so they will continue to manipulate votes. One example is by legalizing illegals to get their votes. These people will be added to our hc and other benefits which will accelerate our ecnomic bankruptcy. For example of Social Justice (forced redistribution of wealth) look at Venezuela/Chavez. Restrictions on media/radio will not allow for opposing views. We’re headed for some hard times, folks. Life as you know it is gone unless we can get Americans who believe in our Constitution back in the White House and Congress.

By Matt

April 1, 2010 2:16 PM | Link to this

One bill causes the fall of the US and it wasnt the “Patriot Act”? Unlikely.

By Squirrellygirl

April 1, 2010 2:36 PM | Link to this

In a perfect world where people don’t stick bombs up their butts in order to blow up plane loads of people, the patriot act wouldn’t be needed. But we live in an imperfect world where terrorists are constantly trying to figure out ways to outsmart and destroy us. Even Obama continued Bush’s patriot act policies, and I can count on one hand the things Obama has done that I agree with. This is one of them. We can’t depend on those fancy x-ray machines that see under your clothes to your sexual organs, but somehow miss that bomb up your butt. Sorry, but it’s necessary. I don’t like it, but I’ll put up with it so that I can live my 100 years on this earth w/o becoming part of the earth before my time.

By GJ

April 1, 2010 3:00 PM | Link to this

I doubt that it will effect my family at all. I am happy the bill passed so squirrellygirl can finally get the intense psychotherapy she needs.

By Squirrellygirl

April 1, 2010 3:09 PM | Link to this

very funny GJ. What if I’m right and you’re wrong? What if? Have you seen the fighting in the streets of Greece. I’ve been to Greece. Beautiful city. Nice place to visit.

By peopleareridiculous

April 1, 2010 3:56 PM | Link to this

squirrellygirl, maybe you & the rest of the minority that think like that should be on your own islands.

By GJ

April 1, 2010 4:06 PM | Link to this

Squirrelly-The Greece I have been to is a country, not a city. In what state is the city of Greece you have been to? I’ve also been to London, the one in England, Dublin, the one in Ireland, Lima, the one in Peru, and Cairo, the one in Eygpt. They’re all nice places to visit. Take your psychotropic meds with you when you go.

By yes he is a good man

April 1, 2010 4:36 PM | Link to this

I gots me some obama meony, he saves the day. he is gonna pay for my doctors office, and gas, and rent. i get a check from him and i go out and eat . i went to taco bell. thank you mr obamma. you are the best. you help people who cant work bc we are two tired and poor to work. He gave me moeny becasue i am poor. and it is the faluyt of people who work. they took my job at the drug store bc i have 7 kids. why do they care how many kids i have. the more i have the more the governmet gives me. i want more to make more. they said i was late, well heck when you have 7 kids it is hard to be on time. i wrokedd 4 or 5 hours a day. then they fired me. fools.

By J

April 1, 2010 4:52 PM | Link to this

Larry, those employer-provided health plans are precisely why nobody feels the real burden, therefore is forced to make decisions that make a market work. That system must END for a market to function, or else be modified so that en employee can CHOOSE, rather than letting a boss choose for them, getting a deal and a tax break YOU can’t get, telling you that you can’t have a raise because of competition and health costs, and pocketing the surplus for themselves. It’s a bargaining chip being used against you. [br]Squirrelly: I’ve got a thousand contractors in the area to show you. They all exist because they showed they can do a better job than the federal government. UPS and FEDEX are doing pretty damn well doing the same job as the USPS. It’s a false argument to say on one hand that the government can run the private sector out of business, than saying it’s SO inefficient it can’t do anything. If they can set up those secret concentration camps I’m sure you’re worried about, they can run healthcare so smooth and fool you into thinking it’s better than ever. It’s also dishonest to trust the governmentwith your individual liberties (Patriot Act), and yet not to regulate healthcare. Make up your mind. And YET, you’re still blaming the puppets, not the puppetmasters. And tell me why Sarah Palin used to go to Canada for healthcare? I’m amused how easy it is to move you with fear. You’re not angry, you’re scared all the time about everything. [br]To others: The GOP would have cut deals with those industries, too. Take a look at how Part D was done with it’s lack of competition from Canada and not allwing Medicare to negotiate. I’m not for them, I’m just saying our elected officials aren’t there for you. Whoever ‘donates’ big, gets represented big. Oh yea, the guy complaining about paying for other people’s issues: You already are. The costs accrued by those people are passed to you through increased premiums. Premiums that go up at rates far higher than inflation or the actual cost of the care.