Mary Lou Retton Fighting for Her Life in ICU

[NotUrsula]

I've seen posts about her stance being 'anti-insurance' but is it possible it's getting conflated with something else she was against? Perhaps it was the ACA itself?

I believe that it was. I do not want to drag this thread into political territory, but MLR's political affiliations are well-known, and it is most likely that her voiced opposition was to the ACA, not to privately-funded insurance. She has publicly spoken out against some other legislation from the same perspective. (I don't necessarily agree with her perspective, but she is entitled as an American to speak out in support whatever causes she wishes, as may we all.)

 

[jdb in AZ]

Update: ICU is such a roller-coaster!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/ot...n&cvid=96ebe6f76e3b460691429a1caa462589&ei=14

 

[DCLMP]

Hopefully, she recovers to explain what happened.

 

[greeneyedchick]

I for one am grateful for ACA. After my husband retired last year and went on Medicare I had to find affordable health care for myself as I am 7 years younger and unemployed. I have a good plan, just about the same as the premium Anthem one we had when he was still working and it only costs me $22.66 a month. They accept the doctors I see and any hospitals that I would ever need to go to. My husband is healthy and our agent recommended an Advantage Plan for him that is awesome and only costs him $19 a month.

You're very lucky. We pay over $1500 a month for lousy coverage through work.

 

[barkley]

You're very lucky. We pay over $1500 a month for lousy coverage through work.

i was curious so i just went online and looked at my former civil service employer's open enrollment information for 2024 to see what it currently costs for an active employee's coverage w/ a spouse under the plan i had before i retired-

employee monthly share of premium-$5285.26 medical ONLY, vision and dental (LOUSY minimal coverage) tag on another $50.

so i guess on 'payday' the staff lines up and pays the employer (b/c between state and fed taxes, union dues and other mandatory deductions i imagine a good number are working a second job to pay for the first)

 

[sam_gordon]

i was curious so i just went online and looked at my former civil service employer's open enrollment information for 2024 to see what it currently costs for an active employee's coverage w/ a spouse under the plan i had before i retired-

employee monthly share of premium-$5285.26 medical ONLY, vision and dental (LOUSY minimal coverage) tag on another $50.

so i guess on 'payday' the staff lines up and pays the employer (b/c between state and fed taxes, union dues and other mandatory deductions i imagine a good number are working a second job to pay for the first)

What does that job pay? I mean that's $62,000 in health insurance premiums. I would think you'd need to be making $150K+ to make that job "worth it" (by the time you get taxes and all the other stuff in there).

 

[mjkacmom]

Hopefully, she recovers to explain what happened.

Absolutely, I want her recover so the mystery of no health insurance can be put to rest, because that is super important to everyone, especially her family and friends.

 

[barkley]

What does that job pay? I mean that's $62,000 in health insurance premiums. I would think you'd need to be making $150K+ to make that job "worth it" (by the time you get taxes and all the other stuff in there).

best i can tell from hr's salary website (civil service loves to change job titles/duties)-

my former position (depending on length of service) $6,618.94- $8,452.66 per month. the folks i supervised $3818.45-$6801.86 (3 classifications-my clerical support would be at $3174.67-$4978,52). it's unreal how people can afford this. they offer a couple of other somewhat less expensive options but they have strict residency requirements (one in a high cost of living area, one with a major provider that has always had a very 'love it or detest it/would not wish it on my worst enemy for treatment' reputation among the public-both VERY restrictive hmo's w/ bad patient services reputations).

 

[TippyThomas]

Absolutely, I want her recover so the mystery of no health insurance can be put to rest, because that is super important to everyone, especially her family and friends.

Yes, very important. I'm sure they're all on pins and needles waiting for the explanation.

 

[DCLMP]

Absolutely, I want her recover so the mystery of no health insurance can be put to rest, because that is super important to everyone, especially her family and friends.

LOL that wasn't what I meant. I was trying to be funny, but it didn't come out right. I just wish her the best.

 

[mjkacmom]

LOL that wasn't what I meant. I was trying to be funny, but it didn't come out right. I just wish her the best.

Lol I need to look at who posts what, there are those on this thread who seem to think she deserves this.

 

[disneychrista]

I know I am late to the party but I’m really curious what Mary Lou would think of her daughters doing this. Honestly and maybe I am wrong but I feel like her daughters are doing it for attention. If they are influencers, as some have mentioned here, I bet this has given them many more followers which can make their own profitability greater.

 

[Marrila]

I know I am late to the party but I’m really curious what Mary Lou would think of her daughters doing this. Honestly and maybe I am wrong but I feel like her daughters are doing it for attention. If they are influencers, as some have mentioned here, I bet this has given them many more followers which can make their own profitability greater.

Could be.
On the other hand, there are daughters that are devastated at the thought of losing their mother.
Just in general-many of the various posters on this thread are likely well beyond young adult age and may not recall those feelings.

 

[gmi3804]

I know I am late to the party but I’m really curious what Mary Lou would think of her daughters doing this. Honestly and maybe I am wrong but I feel like her daughters are doing it for attention. If they are influencers, as some have mentioned here, I bet this has given them many more followers which can make their own profitability greater.

Well, they've gotten over $500,000 so far, so there's that.... That's really all you or I know.

 

[Skippy918]

i was curious so i just went online and looked at my former civil service employer's open enrollment information for 2024 to see what it currently costs for an active employee's coverage w/ a spouse under the plan i had before i retired-

employee monthly share of premium-$5285.26 medical ONLY, vision and dental (LOUSY minimal coverage) tag on another $50.

so i guess on 'payday' the staff lines up and pays the employer (b/c between state and fed taxes, union dues and other mandatory deductions i imagine a good number are working a second job to pay for the first)

5k per month in premiums doesn’t sound right. You sure it isn’t 5k per year? cobra Coverage isn’t even close to that.

 

[gmi3804]

5k per month in premiums doesn’t sound right. You sure it isn’t 5k per year? cobra Coverage isn’t even close to that.

Ours is $1,800/month for two of us; maybe 5K/month is for a larger family?

 

[barkley]

5k per month in premiums doesn’t sound right. You sure it isn’t 5k per year? cobra Coverage isn’t even close to that.

nope, that's MONTHLY. when they tried to eliminate retiree coverage about a dozen years ago (after they had stopped offering it to new hires several years earlier) there was a major lawsuit that resulted in requiring them to continue coverage for all the pre-existing employees/retirees (hired in when it was still a guaranteed retirement benefit) but they were allowed to cap their contribution permanantly. they pay a larger share for active employees BUT it's a much smaller percentage than in previous years so that may have been some kind of union concession with recent contracts. the mindset is if they choose the most expensive plans it will discourage anyone from opting in/encourage dropping off, and since they won't even talk about offering the option to give their share of cost towards an employee securing health insurance elsewhere it's to their financial benefit as numbers of covered employees/retirees decline.

the plan charges (for employee/spouse)-

active employees-$5285.26
retired-$5844.25
cobra-$7426.11.

it's obscene.

 

[mjkacmom]

I know I am late to the party but I’m really curious what Mary Lou would think of her daughters doing this. Honestly and maybe I am wrong but I feel like her daughters are doing it for attention. If they are influencers, as some have mentioned here, I bet this has given them many more followers which can make their own profitability greater.

I have kids those ages, they started the go fund me at the beginning, I’m sure they were terrified, and felt helpless. Just because they are influencers doesn’t mean they are selfish and heartless. My 96 year old FIL is in and out of the hospital, my children are so sad, even though he’s a lot older than 55, afraid he’s not going to make it each time.

 

[sam_gordon]

nope, that's MONTHLY. when they tried to eliminate retiree coverage about a dozen years ago (after they had stopped offering it to new hires several years earlier) there was a major lawsuit that resulted in requiring them to continue coverage for all the pre-existing employees/retirees (hired in when it was still a guaranteed retirement benefit) but they were allowed to cap their contribution permanantly. they pay a larger share for active employees BUT it's a much smaller percentage than in previous years so that may have been some kind of union concession with recent contracts. the mindset is if they choose the most expensive plans it will discourage anyone from opting in/encourage dropping off, and since they won't even talk about offering the option to give their share of cost towards an employee securing health insurance elsewhere it's to their financial benefit as numbers of covered employees/retirees decline.

the plan charges (for employee/spouse)-

active employees-$5285.26
retired-$5844.25
cobra-$7426.11.

it's obscene.

Are you sure the $5200/month is the employee portion, and not the combined employee/employer portion? I mean, according to the other numbers you posted, that would mean someone is only clearing $3000/month (and that's the top of the pay scale) BEFORE taxes. That just seems insane that anyone would be willing to work there.

 

[leeniewdw]

Are you sure the $5200/month is the employee portion, and not the combined employee/employer portion? I mean, according to the other numbers you posted, that would mean someone is only clearing $3000/month (and that's the top of the pay scale) BEFORE taxes. That just seems insane that anyone would be willing to work there.

Yeah -- it would make zero sense to enroll in that plan. I don't know if you can decline employer health plans and enroll in the ACA, but I believe the ACA is MAX'd out at 8.5% of your income?

https://www.kff.org/health-reform/i...m-questions-about-health-insurance-subsidies/
The employer’s coverage must also meet a minimum value standard that requires the plan to provide substantial coverage for physician services and for inpatient hospital care with an actuarial value of at least 60 percent (meaning the plan pays for an average of at least 60 percent of all enrollees’ combined health spending, similar to a bronze plan). The plan must also have an annual OOP limit on cost sharing of no more than $9,450 for self-only coverage and $18,900 for family coverage in 2024.

People who are offered employer-sponsored coverage that fails to meet either the affordability threshold or minimum value requirements can qualify for Marketplace subsidies if they meet the other criteria listed above.