primitive rants about health insurance

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x739018

Oh my.

rbnyc  (1000+ posts)        Fri Mar-25-11 01:15 PM
Original message
 
Health Insurance Rant. (Anger Alert.)

I pay almost $500 a month for family health insurance. My small not-for-profit organization pays the other 2/3 of the premium. The high cost of employee health insurance is one of the reasons my organization can’t pay higher salaries. So there’s also an unseen cost to me in taking a lower salary.

My co-pay for a regular doctor’s visit is $40. If I get sent downstairs for blood work, that’s another $40. If I have to go to the emergency room, it’s $100. If I need an out-patient procedure, that’s a $750 copay. Now I just received a bill for a strep throat test, for the whole cost of the test because that’s not covered by insurance at all.

So why the **** am I paying for health insurance?! I have over $2,000 in medical bills right now, for basic stuff. I know that’s nothing compared to uninsured families who are bankrupt from medical expenses, but WTF!! It just gets worse and worse. It makes absolutely no god-damned sense to have health insurance tied to employment.

And health insurance companies should not be allowed to operate as for-profit entities. Period. Exclamation point!

Working families who are not living excessively should be able to pay their god-damned bills, and if they are lucky enough to have health insurance, they should be able to afford to use it. What’s the point of going to the doctor if I can’t afford to pay for the tests he needs to diagnose and treat me? So why am I paying $500 a month if I now feel prohibited from sending my family to the doctor because of our accumulating medical debt from outrageous co-pays and uncovered items?

I could really use that money for:

Food!
Child Care!
Electricity!
Our mortgage!

****!!!!!!!

Oh dear. 

One takes it the New York primitive isn't fond of her health insurance company.

Or so it seems.

Curmudgeoness  (1000+ posts)      Fri Mar-25-11 01:32 PM
Response to Original message
 
6. I could not agree more. I consider my health insurance (which is very much like yours) as catastrophic health insurance. It is uselss for day-to-day health care issues but hopefully would save my ass if something big happens.

As to the costs of all the tests, procedures, etc., I have told my doctor to pretend he is practicing in the 19th century, and try to just treat what he sees. Of course, I have not had any life-threatening issues so far. He doesn't like it, but he plays along because he knows I will not get the tests done anyways. I found that 99% of the time, the treatment would be the same with or without the tests.

Autumn  (1000+ posts)      Fri Mar-25-11 01:32 PM
Response to Original message
 
7. I dropped my health insurance the first of March

I was paying out to much for something I couldn't afford to use. I have better uses for that money. I'm going to the Dentist next month for the first time in 4 years. Paying cash, because I have a little extra now.

[jukin]

I bet the OP DUmbat is living in a liberal mecca where everything must be covered.

[zeitgeist]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x739018

Oh my.

Oh dear. 

One takes it the New York primitive isn't fond of her health insurance company.

Or so it seems.

Well, I am not to fond of the NY primitive.

I think I will cut to the quick here, you don't work, you don't eat, you get sick and don't have insurance, you pay or die.  Now do you understand??  Tough love, that is what today's uber liberals need, tough love.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

As Colin Powell might say WRT his "Pottery Barn doctrine"...

...you broke it, you bought it.