Major Budget Buster - HEALTHCARE

[DisneyMomJen]

We just received DH's Benefits package for next year to review and sign up. WE have to pay $500 more a month to keep our exact same current medical coverage in 2011. Our medical, dental and vision will now cost us over $1100 every month and this is through his company. This is crazy!!!!

 

[NiftyJ88]

Don't forget, tax cuts are due to expire this year. You will likely be paying more in taxes too. Enjoy the "change"!

 

[disneyfan55]

i wonder how they're going to be able to enforce everyone purchasing health insurance when many don't have jobs. Even those working and that have health insurance are having less insurance at greater costs. This healthcare law is the worst thing that could happen to healthcare.

 

[Halbleib1]

Much of the healthcare bill does not even take effect until 2014 including the mandate that you must buy insurance.

 

[minniefan65]

Our plan is coming up for renewal in November and I am dreading it. Everybody I have heard from has had huge cost increases and reduced benefits.

NiftyJ88: I would love to enjoy the "change" but I rarely have any left.

 

[disneyfan55]

Much of the healthcare bill does not even take effect until 2014 including the mandate that you must buy insurance.

Correct but many companies are changing their policies on providing health insurance now. Also, many insurance co. are increasing rates. This is in the news most every day Just 2 days ago, it was announced that 3M was either cancelling or decreasing retiree insurance.

 

[clh2]

Ooh, ooh, ooh...My new raise goes into evvect on November 1st. When my new insurance premiums hit...it will more than negate the raise. Happens every year.

It's hard to get excited about the raise. Easy come...easy go...

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I am almost scared to see what ours will go up to. It seems like every year we have to pay more and more, and our Ins. payes less and less.

 

[Katie's Butterflies]

i wonder how they're going to be able to enforce everyone purchasing health insurance when many don't have jobs. Even those working and that have health insurance are having less insurance at greater costs. This healthcare law is the worst thing that could happen to healthcare.

I have to disagree. Greed is the worst thing to happen to health care.

 

[Belle5]

Correct but many companies are changing their policies on providing health insurance now. Also, many insurance co. are increasing rates. This is in the news most every day Just 2 days ago, it was announced that 3M was either cancelling or decreasing retiree insurance.

Sad, but true...

 

[momof1princess]

if DH's insurance goes up this year, and i'm sure it will, we're going to be sunk, financially. even with insurance, we can't afford to go to the doctor unless one of us is deathly ill, because copays are so high. i'm still waiting for MY "hope" and "change".

 

[Planogirl]

I didn't care for the new healthcare bill but I don't think it's solely responsible for the higher costs that so many are seeing. I also expect it to get worse before it gets better (if it ever does).

 

[RockAndRollBallerina]

i wonder how they're going to be able to enforce everyone purchasing health insurance when many don't have jobs. Even those working and that have health insurance are having less insurance at greater costs. This healthcare law is the worst thing that could happen to healthcare.

Bingo! How is it that pretty much every other developed country has some sort of health care plan in place for its citizens, yet the only genius idea that congress could come up with is mandating health insurance for everyone? Add to that the costs involved are insulting. My fiance had to have his retina in his left eye reattached back in March, his insurance paid all of $850 of it, and the rest of it was out of pocket...6 grand.

I personally would pay $275 a month out of my income to have everything covered and not have to pay out any more additional costs. I am 21 and due to health insurance costs, and I do have pre-existing medical conditions. I have to pay out a yearly deductible of $6,500.00, and monthly I pay $415. I can barely afford the office co pay $35.00 if I get majorly ill. When all is said and done I'm just making it by the skin of my teeth every month.

 

[maggieusa]

Get use to it yout Healthcare will go up every year I heard this on cnn a few months ago.

 

[momof2gr8kids]

Reading posts like these make me grateful I live in Canada.

And to think everyone here complains about the $250 per year Ontario health premium that is added to your income taxes. So many people here do not realize how great they have it.

Couldn't imagine paying that amount of $$ out of our budget on health insurance.

 

[DeniseinNS]

those prices are insane. I'm thankful to not have to worry about healthcare costs, we do have an inexpensive medical plan for the few things that we do have to pay (prescriptions, glasses and dental)

 

[DisneyMomJen]

If my premiums go up in order for others to have insurance I am more than ok with that. How can we claim to be the best nation while ignoring those less fortunate?

I hope my healthcare costs will go up at least $1000 next year so that I can help pay for everyone elses healthcare while worrying about feeding, clothing and housing for my children. All while DH leaves at 6:00 AM and returns 8:00 PM every day.

I agree we should try to provide healthcare for everyone, but there are other ways. Try controlling expenses or legal issues.

 

[ancestry]

I completely feel for you. We already pay close to $15,000 for our health care plan which is set to renew in April. I'm scared to death to see how much that is going to go up. Unfortunately we are forced to carry what ever plan DH's job offers no matter how much it costs because of a child support court order against my husband for his adult daughter. (Yes in NY child support continues to the age of 21 which includes mandatory health care coverage.) We usually only have about $5,000 a year in medical costs (for 7 of us) yet we are forced to pay for this ridiculous $15,000 a year policy.

 

[minnie1928]

I don't want to get into a political debate, but honestly everything goes up every year...not just health insurance. The reality is that insurance is a business, and like any other business they are there to make money for their shareholders. While many of you might not require much medical care (thankfully!) there are others that require a lot of care. Keep in mind that the baby boomers are getting up there and requiring more care (I know my parents do). The costs of all the tests, drugs (including free samples), procedures, the doctor's malpractice insurance, etc. add up and in order for the company to make a profit, someone has to pay for it all. Unfortunately, that turns into you and I.

Preventative care needs to be focussed in order to keep health care costs down. If we as a population took better care of ourselves in general, I think costs wouldn't be where they are.

 

[ACS228]

Unfortunately part of the proposed National Healthcare Reform bill to have a low cost government run plan to compete with insurance companies was not included in the bill. This would have forced insurance companies to keep their premiums low in order to keep customers.

Don't forget, tax cuts are due to expire this year. You will likely be paying more in taxes too. Enjoy the "change"!

The tax cuts that are expiring will only affect households with income above $250,000. per year. And then only the amount over that $250,000 with be taxed at the higher rate.

Great for anyone who makes more than that! You can afford to pay a bit more taxes. Especially since you have been saving money with these cuts for so many years.