I gave up my small business and took a position with a non-US company last year. I did it because I knew beforehand that my benefits would be 100% paid. What I didn't know is that my FAMILY would also be included in this, 100% PAID. I pay no premiums, period. My co-pays for meds are the lowest I've ever paid. The money back in my pocket--pre-tax--adds a big number to my bottom line every month. I have a child with a chronic disease, so this is a huge deal. (One med alone has been $2,000+ per month.) This is no-questions-asked coverage.
I have a question, however. Why couldn't I get these kinds of benefit with any US company I've ever worked for, or why couldn't I even GET coverage of any kind for my son? I tried the private insurance route and he was denied coverage for a pre-existing condition. Though I'm by no means "rich" there is no way we would have qualified for any public program (yes, I checked) unless I was willing to give up everything I own and move us under the nearest bridge.
Over the years, I've experienced increasing out-of-pocket premiums and deductibles and decreasing coverage, one of the reasons I decided I could do as well on my own as a consultant--you know, charge what you're actually worth and have someone pay the rate, and work about half as much.
I have a question, however. Why couldn't I get these kinds of benefit with any US company I've ever worked for, or why couldn't I even GET coverage of any kind for my son? I tried the private insurance route and he was denied coverage for a pre-existing condition. Though I'm by no means "rich" there is no way we would have qualified for any public program (yes, I checked) unless I was willing to give up everything I own and move us under the nearest bridge.
Over the years, I've experienced increasing out-of-pocket premiums and deductibles and decreasing coverage, one of the reasons I decided I could do as well on my own as a consultant--you know, charge what you're actually worth and have someone pay the rate, and work about half as much.
So why don't US companies offer the kind of package I now have available? I also have more vacation time than I've ever been offered before. What's up with that? Our elected representatives have pretty amazing coverage from what I hear, and a great pension plan. Why don't US citizens? We provide them with better benefits than they ever even thought of "giving" us. Who pays for whom here?
What have we done to ourselves as a nation? Why is it that we pay so much in taxes (the equivalent of 40% or more of our incomes when you consider all the taxing entities) and still end up on the short end of the stick as a general rule? Why is it that 40% of what we paid in taxes in the past few years has gone to fund the never-ending war in the Middle East, while citizens within the US have to go without some pretty basic stuff?
In the immortal words of the immortal bard, I think something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Smells like ... obfuscation.
What have we done to ourselves as a nation? Why is it that we pay so much in taxes (the equivalent of 40% or more of our incomes when you consider all the taxing entities) and still end up on the short end of the stick as a general rule? Why is it that 40% of what we paid in taxes in the past few years has gone to fund the never-ending war in the Middle East, while citizens within the US have to go without some pretty basic stuff?
In the immortal words of the immortal bard, I think something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Smells like ... obfuscation.
So why won't some folks let the real conversation take place? Is it really more important to drive a party agenda than it is to serve the best interests of the American people? Are some so narrow of mind that they can't even let the conversation take place? What consequences would be so great that would drive them to such behaviors?
Oh wait, I think I heard someone smart once say "follow the money."
Oh wait, I think I heard someone smart once say "follow the money."
Question: Who stands to gain if we don't change a thing?
Answer: Not you or me.
When I had my hip replaced, my insurance was charged $780 for Physical Therapy that consisted of one ten-min. walk to the bathroom and back.
I am quite sure that Physical Therapists do not make $4,680 per hour.
"Myth, you don't really think the pharmas got that money do you? No no no, the hospital got that money! When they charge $10 for a tylenol that ain't going to P&G (or whoever makes tylenol). It's padding in an inexcusable fashion."
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I'd say it's pretty safe to assume that the Pharmaceuticals and the Hospitals share equally in the absurd padding you speak of. The company that manufactures the injection I received twice per day profited just under $6 Billion in 2008.
Myth, you don't really think the pharmas got that money do you? No no no, the hospital got that money! When they charge $10 for a tylenol that ain't going to P&G (or whoever makes tylenol). It's padding in an inexcusable fashion.
Voice, your post is broader than health insurance.
You're addressing what it means to be a worker in America: maybe health insurance, no pension, and maybe some vacation days.
Why this country thinks so little of its workers is a mystery to me -- most of us are workers.
I think we should strive to have the highest paid workers with the best benefits.
And I'm not including CEOs and upper-level managers in that. They're already there.
You're right, we need reform. But who even knows what that might be with all the shouting and lying going on.
My job ends next year. I'm not quite old enough for medicare. I have a chronic ailment. I'm thinking I'm not even going to look for health insurance because I won't be able to afford it. If anything happens, my plan is to throw myself upon the mercy of the county medical system.
I wish your son good health.
I recently spent 7 glorious days in the hospital for a blood clot in my leg. They admitted me because I was unable to ambulate due to the pain and the risk that activity could break the clot loose, something you don't want happening. During my stay, I didn't require anything really special, no heart monitoring or anything like that. I had labs drawn once a day (which the lab bills separately for) I received my regular 4 pills I take every day, and also received two injections per day and one new pill per day. Hospital personnel spent about 15 minutes total per day in my room and that includes my doc, the nurses, lab techs, housekeeping and dietary staff all combined.
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My bill (just for meds and a room mind you) was $12,000. Everything else, radiology, lab, Physician etc were bill separately. Of the $12,000 for the crappy hotel room, meds and food (if you want to call it that) my insurance company determined that my part of that bill is $2,200. Not too bad huh? Well... not unless you consider that my deductible restarts every 12 months which is this month, and over the past year, my family paid $8,100 in premiums. So take my premiums and add them to my deductible and you get $10,300 that "I" paid of a $12,000 hospital stay. Now ain't that grand??
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Oh, and if you want to know where the real money goes, as usual... the pharma companies. Of the $12,000 stay, $5,500 was for the pharmacy. Anyone that thinks health care in the US doesn't suck is a fool, or they've never been sick, plain and simple. WE NEED REFORM NOW!!!