Say Good-bye To Employer- Provided Health Insurance.

[Ike Bana]

Interesting article from today's MarketWatch:

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/say...nce-2015-03-17

They call it a "defined-contribution health plan". Basically you get a monthly stipend to your pay and you buy whatever kind of coverage that suits your particular needs, instead of having to take what's offered in the employer's contract with the insurance company.

IMO...feh. Interesting though.

[Tom Joad]

Originally Posted by Ike Bana

Interesting article from today's MarketWatch:

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/say...nce-2015-03-17

They call it a "defined-contribution health plan". Basically you get a monthly stipend to your pay and you buy whatever kind of coverage that suits your particular needs, instead of having to take what's offered in the employer's contract with the insurance company.

IMO...feh. Interesting though.

Rick Scott been pushing this for State Employees in Florida for a couple of years. I think we'll see more of it. Could be a good thing. When all these baggers get thrown off their employer paid group plans and out into the cold hard reality of the free market, they'll start screamin for the gummint to step in. Might help us get to singl payer faster.

[Ike Bana]

Originally Posted by Tom Joad

Rick Scott been pushing this for State Employees in Florida for a couple of years. I think we'll see more of it. Could be a good thing. When all these baggers get thrown off their employer paid group plans and out into the cold hard reality of the free market, they'll start screamin for the gummint to step in. Might help us get to singl payer faster.

One can only hope. Far as I'm concerned Medicare premiums plus premiums for a decent supplement is too much money in premiums for the average retired person. It should be one system for everybody, the cost should come out of income taxes.

[BlueStreak]

They go to this, employers give the $11/hour employee the $500.

The $11/hour employee discovers a plan for his family costs $1,200 a month.

The $11/hour employee spends the $500 on groceries.

The problem persists.

Dave

[Oerets]

The President will get the blame painted with a bawd brush by the Industry and Republicans. When in reality it is all about bonuses and profits for the companies. By those who so hate and care so little for the people who work for them it now seems.

I too hope this quickens the implementation of a Medicare for all movement.

Barney

[Tom Joad]

Originally Posted by Ike Bana

Far as I'm concerned Medicare premiums plus premiums for a decent supplement is too much money in premiums for the average retired person. It should be one system for everybody, the cost should come out of income taxes.

I agree.

I have Medicare and it costs me $105 a month plus $360 a month for my supplemental.

That's $465 a month for one person.

Then I pay another $678 a month for my wife's insurance.

When she turns 65 and goes on Medicare that will drop to $465 a month.

But Medicare is a helluva lot better than what the poor schmucks that are under 65 have to deal with.

Ideally I would like to see us have a system like they have in the UK.

You say my taxes would go up?

So fucking what?

I've got a grand a month that I'm paying for insurance to cover that.

[Ike Bana]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

They go to this, employers give the $11/hour employee the $500.

The $11/hour employee discovers a plan for his family costs $1,200 a month.

The $11/hour employee spends the $500 on groceries.

The problem persists.

Dave

I suppose. I have to keep remembering that MarketWatch is part of the Dow Jones/Wall Street Journal System.

But maybe TJ is right...maybe it's the next required step in slow, arduous, and for many, death march to single payer.

[Ike Bana]

Originally Posted by Tom Joad

I agree.

But Medicare is a helluva lot better than what the poor schmucks that are under 65 have to deal with.

Still I agree, ideally I would like to see us have a system like they have in the UK.

Or Germany, France, Denmark, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Canada. Even Switzerland where the government subsidizes the insurance industry to manage the care much like Medicare Advantage coverage...but even so, it costs almost half what we have costs...and everybody's covered regardless of income or lack thereof, cradle to grave. So unless and until we get it, in the eyes of the people who reside in those, and many other, countries...we, in this country remain a horde of dumb fuckers when it comes to the healthcare,. And they're right.

Welcome to the Dumbfuckers Club y'all.

[Tom Joad]

Originally Posted by Ike Bana

Or Germany, France, Denmark, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Canada. Even Switzerland where the government subsidizes the insurance industry to manage the care much like Medicare Advantage coverage...but even so, it costs almost half what we have costs...and everybody's covered regardless of income or lack thereof, cradle to grave. So unless and until we get it, in the eyes of the people who reside in those, and many other, countries...we, in this country remain a horde of dumb fuckers when it comes to the healthcare,. And they're right.

Welcome to the Dumbfuckers Club y'all.

I don't think there should be any deductibles or premiums.

But I do think there needs to be a small nominal co-pay of say $10 bucks for an office visit and $10 bucks for a prescription.

That's to slow down the worst of the abusers.

When I got back from Vietnam the Air Farce put me to work in the ER at Columbus AFB. And it was a real pain in the ass because of the way the officers wives kept bringing in their little Johnnies and Suzys everytime the kid sniffled.

[Tom Joad]

Originally Posted by Ike Bana

I suppose. I have to keep remembering that MarketWatch is part of the Dow Jones/Wall Street Journal System.

But maybe TJ is right...maybe it's the next required step in slow, arduous, and for many, death march to single payer.

I consider anyone who doesn't fully support Universal Single Payer Healthcare to be an Enemy of America.