2 hours in the emergency room cost me......

[jodifla]

That was what I posted first, be prepared to be flamed.

I call it priorities and/or lack of

Again, explain to me how putting $50 or $100 away each month in a vacation fund translates to $500 to $800 or more for insurance.

 

[Free4Life11]

It doesn't, but why not put that money into a savings account and set that aside for medical costs or other emergencies?

 

[jodifla]

I don't think just having a Disney fund is the issue. I think, for me at least, the problem is that priorities seemed skewed. What else do the people that don't have health insurance constitute as important? New vehicle every few years, eating out, movies, entertainment etc. I'm not saying that this is the case with this OP but what is "priority" for some certainly seems crazy for others. I would do my best to afford some type of health care before I worried about "extras" like a vacation fund.

I know a couple of families with not much health care.

They shop at thrift stores and garage sales for all their clothes, toys, furnishings, etc. They ain't livin' the high life.

But one family DID actually stay with us in our DVC unit. They didn't take their child into the parks, though....they did the free stuff, Downtown DIsney, swimming at the resort pool, the Boardwalk, etc.

Do you begrudge them that experience as well?

 

[sandy2330]

It doesn't, but why not put that money into a savings account and set that aside for medical costs or other emergencies?

That $100/month could be used to see a Dr. instead of waiting until the pain is so bad that you run to the ER.

JodiFL why is it all or nothing? So you cannot afford the premium so you play instead of saving?

With cash you can negotiate a bill lower. Why would they lower the bill if you are not paying anyway?

 

[jodifla]

It doesn't, but why not put that money into a savings account and set that aside for medical costs or other emergencies?

and again, that's ultimately what this person did....

But the assumption here among "THE HAVES" is that these people now have no right to enjoy their life...no trips, no nothing....because they don't have insurance. The have to put every dime away "in case" something happens.

There was a story in either the Times or the Journal that a rising percentage of folks with INSURANCE go into BANKRUPTCY after they are hit with a major illness.

So I suggest ALL OF YOU stop taking vacations....it's not responsible.

 

[tlens]

This is going downhill fast.

WAAAAYYYY to many assumptions being made. Insinuating people have poor hygene. It's a shamea civil discussion has turned into this.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

It doesn't, but why not put that money into a savings account and set that aside for medical costs or other emergencies?

Starting a savings account & adding to it weekly + "vacation funds" = a year or more of health insurance.

Again I go back to the OP, what will you do if you are given a severe diagnosis? Heart disease, cancer, AIDS, broken bones? Then what?

 

[cteddiesgirl]

I work very hard for my pay. I chose to accept this position BECAUSE of the benefits package. I am paying into my own retirement pension. Yes, the state does pay interest on that, but again, it is part of my BENEFITS PACKAGE. I suppose I should just do this job for free to spare everyone the cost of me working for this State. Perhaps if you had stayed with your position, you wouldn't be without insurance now.

I worked in state government. Not for them. Unfortunately, it was a (very) long term temp job. But I did quit that job after 5 years to move 600 miles away to be with the man I was going to marry. Besides, that position was eliminated only about a year after I left and I would have lost the job anyway. I did have health insurance through my temp agency. The same insurance that still had me owe the hospital over $5000 and the doctor $500 after they paid their portion from my operation. Then it also didn't cover any preventative checkups, procedures, birth control, etc. And it was the only policy available.

I never said you should work for free. But you make it sound as though no one in your state pays for your salary when they do. And you get the great benefits package only because it's offered by your state. They have a huge workforce and get bigger and better discounts from companies. Which is why I'm now working on a project for my state making only $8 phr. Huge discount from the company I'm working for in the hope of bringing in more business from them.

Why did you leave? Seems like a better job than data entry and the bennie are great too!


How old are you? Everybody I know has great teeth. We are the generation with flouride in our water and toothpaste. My girfriend had not been to the dentist in 10 year (not due to insurance but her dislike - which seems to be a common one) and her teeth are not falling out. She takes care of them with flossing, brushing and listerine type mouthwash.

I'm 35. I do try to take care of my teeth. Brush, floss, use listerine and chew only sugar free gum. But, there are now a few cavaties after 18 years of never seeing a dentist. In fact, one is really bad.

Again, explain to me how putting $50 or $100 away each month in a vacation fund translates to $500 to $800 or more for insurance.

That's what I'd like to know. But I guess to them, if you have $50 a month you should automatically have $500.

 

[sandy2330]

I'm 35. I do try to take care of my teeth. Brush, floss, use listerine and chew only sugar free gum. But, there are now a few cavaties after 18 years of never seeing a dentist. In fact, one is really bad.

There is a direct correlation between oral health and physical health. The mouth gives germs a direct line to the blood stream.

Have you looked into a dental school to get your teeth cleaned and work done. When I was younger I remember the local school that was for hygenist did the cleanings for free. I am not sure about other work.

Once our class went there for a tour. It was an interesting place.

 

[Piecey]

Again I go back to the OP, what will you do if you are given a severe diagnosis? Heart disease, cancer, AIDS, broken bones? Then what?

I'd rather die happy than to save for something I don't even know is going to happen (horrible diagnosis).

Eventually, I will have health insurance. When I get a job after college, I will get health insurance. However, right now, I choose to be happy and young and not stress over imminent death like everyone here seems to think I should.

Health insurance is not an affordable option to me. However, being happy is. I love to travel- it makes me happy. So travel I do.

My husband and I have an "in case" account to the tune of almost 10k (and yep, we're in our 20s- although I will admit over 3/4 of that is money he saved while he was in the military). It's for a house, an emergency, or something of that nature. We don't touch it to travel with. It's for later. We don't touch it AT ALL except to put $250/month into.

We still don't have health insurance, still will not pay insane amounts of money for it and we will continue to vacation however we choose!

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

I'd rather die happy than to save for something I don't even know is going to happen (horrible diagnosis).

Eventually, I will have health insurance. When I get a job after college, I will get health insurance. However, right now, I choose to be happy and young and not stress over imminent death like everyone here seems to think I should.

Health insurance is not an affordable option to me. However, being happy is. I love to travel- it makes me happy. So travel I do.

My husband and I have an "in case" account to the tune of almost 10k (and yep, we're in our 20s- although I will admit over 3/4 of that is money he saved while he was in the military). It's for a house, an emergency, or something of that nature. We don't touch it to travel with. It's for later. We don't touch it AT ALL except to put $250/month into.

We still don't have health insurance, still will not pay insane amounts of money for it and we will continue to vacation however we choose!

Your husband doesn't need to worry he has veteran health benefits. What if you get pregnant? Will you also not worry about prenatal care?

Care to prevent illness is just as important as care when you become ill. If you would like to travel the world that is wonderful but as you mature I hope you see you are just putting yourself in jeopardy.
When you are VERY young one feels they will never be sick.

 

[Piecey]

Your husband doesn't need to worry he has veteran health benefits. What if you get pregnant? Will you also not worry about prenatal care?

Care to prevent illness is just as important as care when you become ill. If you would like to travel the world that is wonderful but as you mature I hope you see you are just putting yourself in jeopardy.
When you are VERY young one feels they will never be sick.

I've been sick, quite sick, thanks. Hospitalized twice, so sick I couldn't walk, eat.. etc. I know others have been more sick, but I know sick.
I practically grew up in hospitals because my mother has had cancer. twice.
I've had two operations.
I'm only 21.
(I DO have cancer insurance of some sort, which my parents pay for and have since mom was diagnosed the first time )

My past is why I'd rather live to be happy, rather live to do the things that make happy, than live to scrimp every penny just in case. If I get sick, I get sick. I'm not worried about it and would rather live every day smiling than stressed.

If I get pregnant, my husband would go back in. He wants to anyway but would prefer to go back in as an Officer after he finishes school instead of signing up for another enlistment.

trust me. we've talked.
our decision is the best possible for us.
thanks for the concern though.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

That $100/month could be used to see a Dr. instead of waiting until the pain is so bad that you run to the ER.

JodiFL why is it all or nothing? So you cannot afford the premium so you play instead of saving?

With cash you can negotiate a bill lower. Why would they lower the bill if you are not paying anyway?

It cost me $500 out of my own pocket just for a checkup at my OB/GYN. And that was with insurance 3 years ago.
Also, who says that they're saving $50 or $100 per month? Maybe they could only save their change over serveral years to take a trip.

and again, that's ultimately what this person did....

But the assumption here among "THE HAVES" is that these people now have no right to enjoy their life...no trips, no nothing....because they don't have insurance. The have to put every dime away "in case" something happens.

There was a story in either the Times or the Journal that a rising percentage of folks with INSURANCE go into BANKRUPTCY after they are hit with a major illness.

So I suggest ALL OF YOU stop taking vacations....it's not responsible.

Exactly. I still owed over $5500 in medical bills after my insurance paid their portion. And I only had an ovary and cyst removed, a 5 day stay in the hospital and a couple of follow up appointments. That was 7 years ago. heaven knows what it would be now.

Starting a savings account & adding to it weekly + "vacation funds" = a year or more of health insurance.

Again I go back to the OP, what will you do if you are given a severe diagnosis? Heart disease, cancer, AIDS, broken bones? Then what?

So? $50 a month does not get you health insurance. Period. If it did, I would try scrounge out more money just so I could have it.
She has to worry just like I do. In fact, i do face the very real possibilty of having heart disease (runs in the family) and having cancer. Cancer also runs in my family. I also proved I'm susceptible to it when I had my ovarian cyst removed 7 years ago. After they took it out and sliced it up, they found cancer cells in the core.

But I can't afford insurance. Period. And I don't qualify for any programs. Period. So what do I do? Play the waiting game and hope and pray nothing serious happens.

 

[jodifla]

Starting a savings account & adding to it weekly + "vacation funds" = a year or more of health insurance.

Again I go back to the OP, what will you do if you are given a severe diagnosis? Heart disease, cancer, AIDS, broken bones? Then what?

Your math is WAY off.

That doesn't add up to a year of insurance.

 

[golfgal]

I haven't been anywhere in years. You can even see in my sig when the last time I was at a Disney park was.
I still use my 13" tv that was given to me by my parents for high school graduation in 1991. I don't eat out except for very rare occasions. I did take my dad out for dinner this past sunday. I don't ever buy those "100 calorie packs" of anything. They're a complete waste. I buy big and generic when I can. And I use coupons. I don't pay for internet as my father pays for it along with the phones. My home computer is 7 years old and I have used it to sell things online. I haven't bought anything frivolous in quite a while. No cd's in years. No movies for a while. I haven't had an alcoholic drink in probably about 1.5-2 years. We don't have cable or satellite in my house. I have no cell phone, no car, no home, nothing of value to sell.
It's taken me forever to save what little money I have saved (under $500). And that's only to be used when I'm out of work or when I actually have to have something immediately. My $300 check from the government has to go towards getting an eye exam and getting new glasses. And that won't cover all of it because of how bad my eyes are.

How many more generalizations can you come up with?



You're generalizing again. Not all people choose to be poor and without insurance.

And again, it comes down to you don't want to help those that are less fortunate than yourself and you don't want anything to affect you in any way.

According to you (and a few others) it's everyone else's fault that they don't have it as good as you do. So just piss on them. Make them choose between food, a roof over their head or having health insurance.

Oh. And my dad's homeowner taxes just went way up even as the value of the property went way down.
My poor dad just turned 66, is finally getting social security and still has to work like a dog standing on his feet and constantly throwing around 100 lbs of paper 55 hours a week just to make ends meet. Not to mention having to have his bosses literally screaming at him in front of everyone about things that he has had nothing to do with but yet he saves their asses constantly. Even customers would prefer to deal with him rather than deal with his bosses. Then his bosses laugh at him and say it's not their fault that he couldn't save any money even though he is actually paid under fair market value. And that's after having a heart attack just 2 years ago today.



They don't need as much as we do. We have a lot more population. After all, we have to make it difficult and expensive for women to get birth control. We have to have families. But that's a topic for another thread.


I would love to see the same news you are watching. Every bit of news I see is about how things are getting worse.
Very tiny pockets of the country are booming. Only because the current market or some other temporary thing has made it so. The vast majority of the US's housing market it pretty well bust. Gas and fuel prices, food, and everything else are skyrocketing. Meanwhile, the raises in income don't cover those rising prices. In fact, I make $3 less per hour now than I did 4 years ago doing the same type of work. My dad also makes less than he did 10 years ago doing the same work.
I know a few others like this too.

Unemployment is also getting worse. And that doesn't include people that have been out of work for more than a certain period of time.




$700K for a house is typical?

No wonder you think everyone can afford good insurance.
My dad's property is only worth about $150K. And it's not a crackerjack box with small ground either. Of course, Indiana does have a cheaper housing market than much of the country. But I can't believe that $700K is typical.

It's also no wonder why you think everyone can afford everything because you don't have any personal experience with people unlike yourself.

Why don't you take a year to drive around the country and get to know people outside of your perfect little social circle? And don't just go to the "better" areas.

EVERYONE has a choice to better themselves or to get out of poverty or to buy health insurance. Your lot in life IS your choice. In the US there is ALWAYS something you can do about it. That doesn't mean it is easy but there IS ALWAYS a choice to change where you are in life. ALWAYS.

As for house values, they vary by area. A $700,000 house in San Diego would be a rundown shack without plumbing. It is all relative dear.

As for affording insurance, we can afford insurance because we worked hard in school, got college degrees--which we paid for by ourselves for EVERY dime, made good career choices and were careful with money. DH's first job paid $16,000/year but you know what, he was offered jobs that paid twice that with minimal benefits. Why did he take that job--because we had excellent health care, an incredible pension plan and a whole host of other benefits that made the total package worth a whole lot more then the other companies could come up with.

If you can't find a job, move--there is a choice. If the only job is a paper route, take the paper route to afford your insurance premiums--there is a choice.

I feel bad for your dad but again, what choices did he make to prepare himself for retirement? Again, his CHOICES put him where he is at now.

I have plenty of experience with people unlike me because we WERE there at one time in our life and our CHOICES got us where we are today. DH's Dad worked 3 jobs, 16 hours/day, 6 days/week so his kids could EAT. Do you think he didn't stress to his kids to work hard in school and do better then him. Even with his low income they have a nice size retirement pension, good health care coverage, their house is paid for, their cars are paid for--why, they never went to Disney for one.

 

[golfgal]

I'd rather die happy than to save for something I don't even know is going to happen (horrible diagnosis).

Eventually, I will have health insurance. When I get a job after college, I will get health insurance. However, right now, I choose to be happy and young and not stress over imminent death like everyone here seems to think I should.

Health insurance is not an affordable option to me. However, being happy is. I love to travel- it makes me happy. So travel I do.

My husband and I have an "in case" account to the tune of almost 10k (and yep, we're in our 20s- although I will admit over 3/4 of that is money he saved while he was in the military). It's for a house, an emergency, or something of that nature. We don't touch it to travel with. It's for later. We don't touch it AT ALL except to put $250/month into.

We still don't have health insurance, still will not pay insane amounts of money for it and we will continue to vacation however we choose!

Ok, but do you realize that one bad accident can RUIN your financial future just because you won't buy health insurance?? It can happen in the blink of an eye--car accident=$300,000+ in medical bills--how would you pay those off???? Forget the house you want, the vacations you like, forget ever getting a car loan, NOTHING. Put $100 into your vacation fund and at least get a catastrophic plan so you don't ruin your entire future.

 

[Charade]

I am so glad someone brought this up! Paying for someone else's medical care is the concern? We all pay for the rich white men (mostly) to get the best insurance money can buy. And guess what? We also pay for the people on Medicaid and Medicare, so you are already paying for someone else's medical care. A decent UHC and you get that coverage TOO!

Excuse me?

 

[Teresa Pitman]

Golfgal, I know you believe what you're saying, but it just isn't true. What about my uncle who came down with meningitis as a baby and suffered brain damage? Trust me, that wasn't his choice. He can do simple, minimum-wage work but will never be able to do more than that.

There are plenty of people who, no matter how hard they work in school, will never be able to get top grades and get into university. Not because they're lazy, not because they made the wrong choices, but because they were not born with a lot of academic ability. They will never be able to qualify for the higher-paying jobs.

There are also people with mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety disorders, bi-polar disorders, etc., etc. that limit their ability to work.

If we say that any problems other people have are due to their bad choices, then I guess we don't need to care about them or do anything to help them.

Teresa

 

[MrsToad]

Many people are missing a very important point. It is NOT ALWAYS A CHOICE whether you purchase insurance or not.

Example: Let's say one spouse is older than the other. Let's then say the younger spouse isn't working full-time anymore due to a condition requiring on-going medical treatment. The older spouse retires, or otherwise becomes unable to work, but the younger spouse can't qualify for Medicare yet because he/she isn't 65. If the younger spouse can't hold down a full-time job that offers insurance after the spouse retires, he/she will likely NOT be able to purchase insurance at ANY price that will cover the existing condition. The insurance companies are likely to list the condition as EXCLUDED. They could lose their home through no fault or choice of their own, or face the choice of not being treated. And, until the loss of insurance actually happens, the family spends years worrying about what to do when it does happen. Is this the way we want to treat our fellow citizens, citizens who have otherwise worked as hard as they could all their lives? I have no facts, but would guess there are more of these situations out there than people think. Unexceptable, in my opinion.

 

[MosMom]

We pay for other people's health problems regardless of whether it is in taxes or higher premiums. For the most part, people are healthy yet we all pay extremely high premiums for those who have health issues. I'm paying out the nose for health insurance and it isn't because of my own personal health.