Health insurance?

[alabama]

I have been lucky all my life to have had health insurance. I know that a lot of people don't have it and I guess if you ain't got nothing then why pay for health insurance? If you ain't got nothing you can't be sued and thay have to treat you.
I went through a delima several years ago when my daugther was out of school and 22 years old. She could no longer be covered under my insurance. We were trying to find her a job that had insurance, and we did, but in the mean time I had to pay for it. Insurance for her ran almost $700 a mounth and I could not have kept it up long. Now that is high, but I figured it was cheaper than selling the farm is somthing went bad. There was no way I could have slept knowing that I may not have been able to cover her if the need came.

So this is what we are up aginist. We pay a huge amount for insurance or we bet the farm or ranch every second of every day. How can young people buy a ranch and cattle and make a living starting from nothing? Unless one workes in town and he other raises the kids and farms. Just health cost alone would put them under otherwise.
Who is making all the money in the health system? And why are we letting them?
What can we do to get the cost of health under control? Limit law suites? I don't know but we ned to find a way?
Humm. sorry to rant. What to Y'all think?

 

[C-E]

I understand and agree with all of your post. My grandparents never could afford much in the way of health insurance. To be honest I'm suprised that they never lost the ranch. It makes me sick the way they had to work through so many injuries and so much pain just to pay doctor bills. All of that and in the end they have nothing to show for it. They did it because it was what they loved. However they grew up in different times. I stand to inherit the operation however in today's times I don't think that even with starting out with all the land and cattle I will be able to make it. As a young family we barely make ends meet with both of us working in town. Over a quarter of our earning go back to health and life insurance. I would love nothing more then to quit my town job and work the ranch, but with a one yr old son and planning at least one more child I believe my priority is my family. We plan to lease over half of our land when grandpa passes (I believe we should do it now but he won't hear of it, grandma worked 18 hours putting up hay the day before she passed and he will do the same thing. Just doesn't know how to stop.) I don't know any other way to make it work. And alot of the land has been in the family name since the land run. I'm not going to be the one to lose it, just because I can't pay a doctor bill.

I'm sorry I'm probably way off subject by now but i'm just venting, guess this hits a sore spot with me.

 

[Anonymous]

Yep--you ain't the only one Alabama...Looks like you're in the majority of Americans...Something should have been done years ago--but the politicians are dragging their feet....
To me it should start with massive tort reform and limitations on civil court payments for malpractice-- but that will never happen as both parties in Congress are made up primarily of attorneys whos clique is tighter than a cats behind.....

This is shaping up as a major election issue--

with polls showing that as many as 90% of the public saying health care cost is a serious issue-with 66% calling it very serious..Just 33% of Americans favor a national health insurance program, but most are open to ideas that would expand coverage to cover more of the uninsured population. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 55% favor the idea of requiring companies to provide health insurance and 57% favor taxing wealthier Americans to provide coverage for those without insurance.


http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/business_economy/top_stories/just_33_favor_national_health_insurance

Most favor some type of plan that lowers health care/insurance cost thru lowering medical malpractice costs which would lower health care costs-- which ain't gonna happen- and a requirement that all employers provide a basic insurance coverage- and that those not covered by employers be provided thru a government program...I see miss Hilary came out with her plan today that uses a plan somewhat similar to this-making some type of health care insurance mandatory- and using tax incentives for business's -- and medicare or federal employee insurance for those not getting employee coverage-- or you can stay with your existing plan....

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/09/17/health.care/?iref=mpstoryview

Not sure if this one is the answer or not-- but something needs to be done-- and those candidates with no Health Care Plan will be left at the starting gate come election day....
The Dems are historically seen as the party that will guarantee an affordable health care program for all- and do so now in the current polls (52% to 31%). and may be a reason their poll standings for Congressional elections just went up to +18% compared to +10% in April....

 

[Big Muddy rancher]

Not that is is any help to one facing huge medical bills and I know we are criticized for "Socialized medical care but I haven't heard of anyone losing the place over hospital bills. At least here in Saskatchewan.

 

[ranchwife]

Alabama---have you looked into a "medical savings account" at your local bank???? You could put $200-$400 a month away and cover any "unexpected" medical expenses that come your way!!! My banker told me about such a thing when I considered dropping my family's $600 a month health insurance (with $1000 per person deductible)....check it out!!!! :wink:

 

[jodywy]

Been to a few auction to help a young married man that was hurt snowmobileing (3)and a couple others that been hurt . Usually the aution is to help pay medical bill and help the family. My thought was that new snowmobile could have bought that young family a couple of years of health insurance.
We allways had health insurance and went with out the 4 wheeler, snowmobile, fancy horse , fancy trailor.

 

[jodywy]

I see miss Hilary came out with her plan today that uses a plan somewhat similar to this-making some type of health care insurance mandatory-

gee what happened to personal resposability, guess we have to make the government make us ressponsable

 

[Anonymous]

Been to a few auction to help a young married man that was hurt snowmobileing (3)and a couple others that been hurt . Usually the aution is to help pay medical bill and help the family. My thought was that new snowmobile could have bought that young family a couple of years of health insurance.
We allways had health insurance and went with out the 4 wheeler, snowmobile, fancy horse , fancy trailor.

Maybe that means we do need a "requirement" that everyone have some type of health insurance-- so the rest of us don't have to pay for the ones that choose the snowmobile, fancy horse, and horse trailer over insurance--with our increased medical costs and insurance rates..... :???:

You know that in this country they will give them medical care-its the duty of a civilized nation---- and like Alabama says the ones that have nothing-- also have nothing to lose (wrecked snowmobile :???: )-- so all those that have worked to get something are already paying their hospital bills plus our own insurance... :roll:

One comment on TV today caught my ear-- they said under Hillarys plan those with no insurance and no employer insurance could choose the same Federal employee plan that the Senators have...
Does that mean I get to be cared for at Walter Reed or Bethesda too :???: :wink: :lol:

 

[Kato]

:? :? :? Wow. I know if we had to come up with 700 a month for insurance we'd be in big trouble. I also know if my parents had had to pay for medical bills I would probably have grown up in a cardboard box. :shock:

We grouse about waiting lists and such here, but in the big scheme of things, it could be worse. I for one am grateful for our system because I know that if we had the same system as you do the insurance would be a huge dilemma for us too.

So I won't complain next time I have to wait a month to see a specialist.

 

[katrina]

Bama, You need to shop around for health insurance.... There are better deals out there..... A high deductable will help bring the cost down... Isn't there an insurance company that will insure you for just what you want?? I can't remember the name...... Find an insurance man that sells differant kinds of insurance so he can find you the most afforfable and what you want........

 

[HAY MAKER]

Katrina is right alabama,lots of folks around here have a high deductable health insurance policy,it aint much but it might keep a man from having to choose between selling the ranch or inadequate care for a loved one........good luck

 

[alabama]

Bama, You need to shop around for health insurance.... There are better deals out there..... A high deductable will help bring the cost down... Isn't there an insurance company that will insure you for just what you want?? I can't remember the name...... Find an insurance man that sells differant kinds of insurance so he can find you the most afforfable and what you want........

I think y'all miss understand. I have plenty of insurance. That is one reason I keep my town job untill I retire in 8 years. My Daughter is married now and her hubby has a good job with plenty of insurance.
I was just wondering how folks without town job did it.
I think the insurance folks are getting rich and the medical folks are also getting rich.
I think we need change but goverment controled health care ain't it.

 

[Anonymous]

Another place where the insurance companies got you-- if you've never had health insurance before-- they can allow or refuse you insurance coverage (or price it out of reach) due to a previous medical condition....

I know a rather large farmer that spent many years earnings paying off his wifes hospital/doctor/nursing home bills that occurred when she had a stroke in her 30's with no insurance--she recovered after years of therapy- but then no one would insure them...He had to sell several hundred acres of bottom land to pay off the debts he incurred...

Now--He's to the age that he's covered by medicaid--but she isn't and won't be for several more years...She has a rather large continuing pharmaceutical bill, but has been able to pay that out of pocket-- but he told me one time that his biggest worry-- that she will have problems again before they have some coverage and they will lose everything they worked a lifetime for--which they had counted on for their golden years....He said he might have to work until they stick him in the grave...

 

[jodywy]

When government takes responsibility for people, then people no longer take responsibility for themselves. --George Pataki

 

[kolanuraven]

I'd agree that the ins co are getting rich..

I asked a Dr friend of mine how was his insurance for his pratice going. He said that in less than 2 years it had gone up over 40% due to faulty law suits filed by people.

He's having to pay around $40K every 6 months. When you're in a small rural town area like this part of Ga...that's hard for ANY Dr. to meet!!

So, the ins. co ' get' the Dr.'s also!!

 

[Faster horses]

Bad as I hate to say it, what we've got now isn't working.
I don't think socialized medicine is the answer either.
I wish someone truly had the answer to this problem.
Our son-in-law was kicked in the head in 1988. He had basically
no insurance, workmen's comp denied the claim. So I've seen
what can happen first hand...and it's not a pretty picture.

I've worked in town because of insurance as well.
Like I say, I wish someone would come up with a solution to this
problem. It's HUGE!

 

[kolanuraven]

I think people are just hanging up on the word " socialism" and all it's bad connotations!

A nation wide system, of some degree, wouild even the playing field for everyone. Probably take some of the burden off of us with ins. as with higher premiums we are taking up the slack for others.

 

[katrina]

Sorry alabama I did miss understand.......... From what I gather most town jobs have insurance.... I do feel the same way as you, but the goverment is not the answer........ Has anyone looked in to Mitt Romney's health care???

 

[andybob]

One of the few worthwhile perks of my job is the subsedised health insurance, especially with a dependant on expensive medication and having severe siezures several times a year. The co-pay and other fees still add to the financial burden though. In Rhodesia our medical aid was a non profit trust, so comprehensive cover was cheap. The Farmer's union started the medical and pension schemes years before, resulting in a secure capital base for these schemes.

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry alabama I did miss understand.......... From what I gather most town jobs have insurance.... I do feel the same way as you, but the goverment is not the answer........ Has anyone looked in to Mitt Romney's health care???

Which Romney plan--as Governor he helped pass "mandatory" health insurance-penalties if you didn't have insurance-now he says he doesn't support "mandatory" :???:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Question: If government and business leaders do their part to lower the cost of health insurance, should people be required to sign up?

Republican Mitt Romney used to answer yes.

Now he says no.

"Individual mandate" is the jargon politicians use to describe health care plans that assume every citizen will enroll in health insurance, often with subsidies and under threat of penalty.
Romney's yes-and-no positions are further reminder that he has a habit of taking both sides of an issue — often based on what's politically expedient at the time.

As governor of Massachusetts, Romney pushed a plan that requires state residents to get health insurance or face tax penalties. The law includes a new bureaucracy to implement it, government subsidies for the poor and guidelines for health insurance companies.

The effort broke new ground by sharing responsibility between government, business and individuals.

As a presidential candidate, Romney opposes a national individual mandate. Balancing his belief in personal responsibility against his support of states' rights, Romney came down on the side of federalism.

"Far be it from me ... to stomp on all 50 states and say, "Here's Mitt Romney's plan. You must all adopt my plan,'" he said during a recent interview with The Associated Press. "No, let people try their own plans but do what the federal government did for us, which is give us the flexibility to create our own plan."

He led as governor. Is Romney copping out as a presidential candidate? He says no.

"From the very beginning, I was asked, 'Is this the model for all states?' I said no — some parts of this may be, but states have very different populations," Romney said.

He said Massachusetts has a relatively low rate of uninsured and older residents, which allowed state leaders to seek universal health care without raising taxes.

"But I wouldn't go to Texas and say, 'All Texans must have insurance. Oh, too bad there's not enough money, so you're going to have to raise taxes.'"

Not as a GOP presidential candidate, anyway.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gmSjjqp_2y45-UZtXfLR4g1LVQ_g

The war in Iraq figures to be a major issue in the 2008 U.S. presidential election. But, as VOA national correspondent Jim Malone reports from Washington, health care and economic issues are also high on the list of voter priorities.

http://voanews.com/english/2007-09-18-voa58.cfm

Where the candidates stand on health careSources: Tribune staff and news services, candidates' statements
September 18, 2007

DEMOCRATS

Delaware Sen. Joe Biden: Wants to expand health insurance for children and for catastrophic care, look to states for ideas on moving toward universal coverage.

New York Sen. Hillary Clinton: Seeks mandatory universal coverage. Tax credits would limit costs for working families, and business would be required to offer insurance to employees or pay into a pool for people without it. Expanded Medicare and federal employees' health plans would cover those without adequate workplace insurance. Higher taxes on wealthier families would help pay program's estimated yearly cost of $110 billion. Also would raise taxes on a portion of "very generous" plans covering people making more than $250,000.

Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd: Proposes to expand coverage by offering insurance that could be taken from job to job, with premiums based on ability to pay. There are no cost estimates. Coverage would be similar to that offered in plans for federal employees.

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards: Wants to achieve universal health coverage with expanded federal health insurance, family tax credits and coverage requirements on employers, insurance companies and individuals. Would increase taxes on wealthier families to pay for program's cost of up to $120 billion a year.

Former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel: Supports a government-funded national health-care voucher plan.

Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich: Favors national health insurance program covering medical, dental, mental health and long-term care, as well as prescription drugs. "My plan doesn't provide for a role for for-profit insurance companies," he has said.

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama: Pledges to insure all children. Would require employers to share costs of insuring workers, but no mandate that everyone must have insurance. Proposes coverage similar to that offered in plans for federal employees. Says package would cost up to $65 billion a year after unspecified savings from making system more efficient, and would raise taxes on wealthier families to pay the cost.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson: Proposes tax breaks for businesses and for people who pay for their own coverage. Would lower the eligibility age for Medicare to 55 and expand programs for the poor and children. Package could cost up to $110 billion a year; seeks savings in treatment costs by expanding spending on preventive care.

REPUBLICANS

Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback: "Market-based solutions, not government-run health care."

Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani: Proposes an income tax deduction of $7,500 per taxpayer to defray insurance costs. Would offer a tax credit for poorer workers to supplement Medicaid and employer contributions, as part of "market-driven" expansion of affordable coverage. Favors expanded use of health savings accounts.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: Favors market solutions, state innovation. Would increase spending on prevention and research.

California Rep. Duncan Hunter: Supported health coverage expansion through tax breaks, not government-led universal plan.

Arizona Sen. John McCain: Has a record of promoting prescription drug coverage for elderly and expanded insurance for children, but not universal coverage.

Texas Rep. Ron Paul: Says government policies restrict free market and keep health-care costs high.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: Favors incentives for states to expand affordable coverage. As governor, signed health-care law aimed at ensuring universal coverage through a mix of subsidies, sliding-scale premiums and penalties for those who do not get insurance.

Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo: Wants market reforms instead of more federal spending to expand health coverage.

Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson: "Market-driven" expansion of affordable coverage.