Someday I fear health insurance will be a thing of the past.

[eliza61]

Wait did I miss a memo. Is UShealth care, Aetna, blue cross/blue shield, AARP or any of the other big insurance companies going out of business next year?

As long as there are insurance companies and its a pretty safe bet they will still be operating, I'll put my money on there being doctors getting paid by them.

 

[Free4Life11]

Any time the phrase "Obamacare" is used I know right of the bat it's not possible to have a rational discussion, so that gets a big old from me. FYI: "Obamacare" is NOT single-payer, so I don't know why that is still being mentioned.

I hate that 50% number that always gets tossed around.

That "50% of Americans don't pay income tax" comes from the fact that the median income for a household in America is I think $53,000. At that income, a household isn't paying Federal income taxes and only IF the household has 2 children to get the child tax credit. It also depends on if you are paying into a retirement fund of which will be a tax credit if you are under $55,000. If you make that without children, you certainly are paying federal income tax. Not everyone has children and not everyone contributes to a retirement fund.

State taxes, at least in PA, you are paying regardless. There are no exceptions. Maybe in other states, but in PA you pay the taxes. Plus there is also local income taxes (1% in my case). So it is not a case of 50% don't pay income taxes. It is a case that a high percentage don't pay federal income tax, but it isn't 50% that people love to toss around because it sounds so extreme.

In 2009 I was just barely below that median income number. I have 2 children and also contributed a chunk into 401k. I broke exactly even and owed 0 federal taxes. Had it not been for putting into 401k, I would have owed about $2000 in taxes. In 2010, I still had 2 children and still had a chunk going to 401k, but I was just barely above the median level and could not apply my 401k contribution to a tax credit. I paid about $2700 in taxes.

That statement of "50% of Americans don't pay income tax" just gets under my skin.

Thank you! The little "tidbit" gets under my skin too and is thinly veiled attempt to imply that half the country are entitled losers, living high off the hog while contributing nothing to society. Also I'd point out that individual income taxes are only 40-45% of the federal revenue in 2010, so income taxes are not the be all end all!

 

[CdnCarrie]

So in addition to the taxes that a Canadian pays that are used for the national health care they also get stuck with additional fees? Has anyone up there ever been told how much of their taxes are going to health care so the people can figure out how much they are paying in total? Or is it like the US where they use smoke and mirrors to keep people from knowing the true cost of anything the government does.

Again it's only 3 provinces that has a a user fee. I don't even know how that works as I don't live in one of them and healthcare is mainly provincial.

And as I also pointed out earlier that no we don't get an annual printout of what we pay to healthcare same as you don't get a annual printout of your share of the city parks or military use. It's just paid out of our taxes. Do you know where every dollar of your taxes go to ?

 

[CdnCarrie]

Any time the phrase "Obamacare" is used I know right of the bat it's not possible to have a rational discussion, so that gets a big old from me. FYI: "Obamacare" is NOT single-payer, so I don't know why that is still being mentioned.



Thank you! The little "tidbit" gets under my skin too and is thinly veiled attempt to imply that half the country are entitled losers, living high off the hog while contributing nothing to society. Also I'd point out that individual income taxes are only 40-45% of the federal revenue in 2010, so income taxes are not the be all end all!

And people still pay taxes in form of sales tax and property tax. We have provincial sales tax of 7% that goes partly into the healthcare coffers.

 

[BoardWalkBelle]

I am thrilled to have health insurance.. I havent had it for such a long time...and its very affordable..no deductible ..love it! I dont earn much money but these days the health insurance is worth gold!

 

[dcfromva]

Wait did I miss a memo. Is UShealth care, Aetna, blue cross/blue shield, AARP or any of the other big insurance companies going out of business next year?

As long as there are insurance companies and its a pretty safe bet they will still be operating, I'll put my money on there being doctors getting paid by them.

I doubt the ins companies are going out of business. But they are in the business of maximizing profit.

This story was reported in 2010--

In the midst of a deep economic recession, America's health insurance companies increased their profits by 56 percent in 2009, a year that saw 2.7 million people lose their private coverage.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/HealthCare/health-insurers-post-record-profits/t/story?id=9818699

This s

 

[dcfromva]

Here's from a story from May 2011

Nation's major insurers are barreling through a third record year of profit....


http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/14/business/14health.html

 

[eliza61]

I doubt the ins companies are going out of business. But they are in the business of maximizing profit.

This story was reported in 2010--

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/HealthCare/health-insurers-post-record-profits/t/story?id=9818699

This s

Oh 100% definitely. they also are very smart cookies. People scream about how the government is going to make all doctors quite and other such silliness. Does anyone honestly think that the insurance companies are going to allow any thing, any thing at all remotely upset their little apple cart of profits (and no I don't think them making money is a bad thing.).

They are 100% profit orientented and they are actively involved in a legislation that will effect them. Doctors will still be around getting paid very nicely.

Interesting enough most of the physicians surveyed by the pew trust stated that medical malpractice insurance and lawsuits were a bigger concern to them than any changes in laws.

 

[justbishop]

I doubt the ins companies are going out of business. But they are in the business of maximizing profit.

This story was reported in 2010--

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/HealthCare/health-insurers-post-record-profits/t/story?id=9818699

Well that's stomach turning.

 

[averysmom]

If you're from a country with socialized medicine, are your annual taxes itemized, so you see what you are paying for health care for yourself and your fellow citizens? Just curious. Is it a % of your income? What about people who either can't or won't work? Who pays their share?

We just pay taxes. I personally have no idea what % goes to healthcare, what % to defense, what % to intrastructure, what % to National parks, etc. I'm sure I could do some research into it...

I believe that good healthcare is a human right. I pay a crazy amount of tax, and while I can't say that I enjoy paying taxes I in no way, shape or form feel resentful about helping to pay for less fortunate people's healthcare. I think a healthy society benefits all people.

 

[justbishop]

We just pay taxes. I personally have no idea what % goes to healthcare, what % to defense, what % to intrastructure, what % to National parks, etc. I'm sure I could do some research into it...

I believe that good healthcare is a human right. I pay a crazy amount of tax, and while I can't say that I enjoy paying taxes I in no way, shape or form feel resentful about helping to pay for less fortunate people's healthcare. I think a healthy society benefits all people.

I could not have put this any better! The problem with the US system, though, is that most of us go broke and can't afford to pay for our own care while also paying for that of those less fortunate.

 

[Tink-aholic]

I am representative a of a health care trust and we solicit bids from the various insurance companies each year to insure us. I was pleasantly surprised this year to find that Blue Cross Blue Shield's quote went up only a mere 1.6%. This is practically nothing and is looked upon as a big win for our trust in securing essentially the same rate two consecutive years from a "Cadillac" provider.

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

We just pay taxes. I personally have no idea what % goes to healthcare, what % to defense, what % to intrastructure, what % to National parks, etc. I'm sure I could do some research into it...

I believe that good healthcare is a human right. I pay a crazy amount of tax, and while I can't say that I enjoy paying taxes I in no way, shape or form feel resentful about helping to pay for less fortunate people's healthcare. I think a healthy society benefits all people.

This. In the UK we pay income tax and also National Insurance which covers welfare - the NHS, Social Security, State Pension etc. It's just a % of your income. I wouldn't say I pay a crazy amount of tax or NI, it's certainly affordable.

The NHS isn't perfect, but in the UK we certainly wouldn't change it to a US based system. There is certainly room for improvement - the UK is currently ranked #18 compared to the US #37, if there are countries whose healthcare system we should try and emulate then France has consistently been #1. Looking at the WHO tables then generally all the countries who rank higher than the US have some form of UHC system.

I'm very proud of the NHS and what it stands for.

Di x

 

[DISNEYSIX]

Wait did I miss a memo. Is UShealth care, Aetna, blue cross/blue shield, AARP or any of the other big insurance companies going out of business next year?

Yes, you missed the memo big time. The insurance companies won't go out of business, they will be put out of business by our worthless conniving government when Americans finally give in to a National Health Care System due to the massive increases in health care costs that are sure to follow the implementation of this debacle. Look at what your premiums have done just in the first two years alone.

2010: Establishes a requirement to provide coverage for non-dependent children up to age 26 to all existing health insurance plans starting six months after enactment.

2011: Increases the additional tax for Health Savings Account withdrawals prior to age 65 that are not used for qualified medical expenses from 10% to 20%.

2012: Reduces the benchmark payment for Medicare Advantage plans that cover 20% of all seniors.

2013: Imposes a 2.3% excise tax on all medical device manufacturers.

2014: All individuals must buy a government approved health insurance policy or face IRS tax penalties of up to $2,250 per family.

2017: States may allow businesses with more than 100 employees to buy insurance on their exchange.

2018: Imposes 40% tax on high cost health insurance plans.

The "plan" is much more extensive than this but those are just the highlights. Here is a link to the details on how the government will take down the health insurance companies all at our expense: http://republicans.waysandmeans.house.gov/UploadedFiles/WM_hcr_timelinel.pdf

 

[Muushka]

Next time they say "You have to pass the bill to find out what is in the bill" RUN!

 

[justbishop]

To me, these things do not say that there is something wrong with universal care, but that there is something wrong with our government (and that can't be blamed on one person or one party, as much as some might try).

 

[Amii]

Oh 100% definitely. they also are very smart cookies. People scream about how the government is going to make all doctors quite and other such silliness. Does anyone honestly think that the insurance companies are going to allow any thing, any thing at all remotely upset their little apple cart of profits (and no I don't think them making money is a bad thing.).

They are 100% profit orientented and they are actively involved in a legislation that will effect them. Doctors will still be around getting paid very nicely.

Interesting enough most of the physicians surveyed by the pew trust stated that medical malpractice insurance and lawsuits were a bigger concern to them than any changes in laws.

We are required to have health insurance in Massachusetts and many doctors have left. Recently my mother's endocrinologist left. I found out that there were 2 endocrinologists in all of MA that were taking new patients. We now have to travel 1 1/2 hours each way to her new endocrinologist.

My mother's primary doctor has changed 3 times in the last 2 years because the doctors left.

My brother needed to see a dermatologist. He did find a few but the wait time was between 4-6 months.

I know people who have to go to the ER if they get sick because they can't find a primary that take their insurance.

Research what healthcare reform has done for MA so far and you may not think it is so silly.

 

[angwill]

We are required to have health insurance in Massachusetts and many doctors have left. Recently my mother's endocrinologist left. I found out that there were 2 endocrinologists in all of MA that were taking new patients. We now have to travel 1 1/2 hours each way to her new endocrinologist.

My mother's primary doctor has changed 3 times in the last 2 years because the doctors left.

My brother needed to see a dermatologist. He did find a few but the wait time was between 4-6 months.

I know people who have to go to the ER if they get sick because they can't find a primary that take their insurance.

Research what healthcare reform has done for MA so far and you may not think it is so silly.

I don't know that is is so much due to required health care. I am in a state that does not have required health care and to compare we are in the same boat.

Our doctors in town keep changing due to the changes in the hospitals they work under. We never can seem to keep the same ones either and they change just about yearly.

My son needed a dermatologist and the closest one was an hour away and it took us 8 months to get in to him because there just are not a lot of dermatologists. Also if it is acne your at the bottom of the list and wait longer vs if it is a possible cancer spot you get in quicker.

Around her the insurance a doctor agrees to take depends on the hospital they work under and what insurances that hospital decides they can or can not take.

I also have a few good friends who live in MA and they claim that a lot of MA residents choose to pay the penalty for not having insurance vs paying the high cost of private insurance. It is cheaper to pay the fine.

Oh and I just looked up endocrinologists in my state and our closest is an hour and a half away. There are not many in that specialty here either.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I hate that 50% number that always gets tossed around.

That "50% of Americans don't pay income tax" comes from the fact that the median income for a household in America is I think $53,000. At that income, a household isn't paying Federal income taxes and only IF the household has 2 children to get the child tax credit. It also depends on if you are paying into a retirement fund of which will be a tax credit if you are under $55,000. If you make that without children, you certainly are paying federal income tax. Not everyone has children and not everyone contributes to a retirement fund.

State taxes, at least in PA, you are paying regardless. There are no exceptions. Maybe in other states, but in PA you pay the taxes. Plus there is also local income taxes (1% in my case). So it is not a case of 50% don't pay income taxes. It is a case that a high percentage don't pay federal income tax, but it isn't 50% that people love to toss around because it sounds so extreme.

In 2009 I was just barely below that median income number. I have 2 children and also contributed a chunk into 401k. I broke exactly even and owed 0 federal taxes. Had it not been for putting into 401k, I would have owed about $2000 in taxes. In 2010, I still had 2 children and still had a chunk going to 401k, but I was just barely above the median level and could not apply my 401k contribution to a tax credit. I paid about $2700 in taxes.

That statement of "50% of Americans don't pay income tax" just gets under my skin.

And 50% of the population controls under 3% of the WEALTH.

 

[sukhakuli]

Physician salaries have been dropping like a rock since the insurance industry has taken over. Now most doctors make a barely comfortable living, but it takes a long time to get there because paying off med school debt is a killer. I know one internal med doc who had a quarter of a million dollars in student loans. And then, the pay for doctors is really low for a lot of years while they are still training. And then once they start making regular money, it's not nearly what other people think it is, especially for general practice.

A lot of doctors go through the military for their school and training, that's what my dh did, because med school costs are so out of control, and it is so hard to pay it back. A typical intern makes about 30k a year, resident about 35k a year, and fellow about 40k a year. We have been really lucky with the military, because dh's undergrad and med school were paid for, and we got a great salary to live on while he went. He's a fellow now, and we make awesome money for a guy in fellowship. However, once he is done with his fellowship, our income will be pretty pathetic compared to civilian neonatologists. I should say, that our salary is easier to live on because we are not swimming in student loan debt like civilians, are, and we have great health insurance.

Dh has been working in what is basically a universal healthcare system his whole career, so 7 years now, and he loves it. He loves that if a kid needs a procedure or test, they just go down the hall and do it, and do not have to deal with insurance companies approving it. He can prescribe the drugs he thinks work the best, not what the parents can afford because everything is free. At some point the military is going to kick him out, but he loves it. However, most of the civilian docs we know are either quitting, or planning to quit as soon as they can. One we know is going to go back and work on his family's farm. Others are leaving the US and working in Africa, so they feel like they are doing something important. One of them told me that she wishes she hadn't gone to med school and had just kept her job at Claire's at the mall. I think out of all of the doctors I know, maybe 5% are happy they went to med school and want to continue working as physicians. Most of them say it is not what they thought it would be, and that the insurance companies have them by the throat.