how are you college kids

[OUHOMER]

going to afford health insurance, I know some will be covered by their parents, But some wont.
how are single mother going to able to afford insurance ?

How are folks that dont have it, because it's not offered by an employer.

I dont know how this is going to be possible and if you dont you get finded.

my SIL is a single mother that makes about $18,000 and struggles everyday.

[Ardmore_Sooner]

I just graduated in May and my employer currently supplies me with health insurance (including health, dental, and life). I was covered by my parents insurance until August (when I was officially no longer a student) and payed for my own insurance from the time of PT employment to FT employment at my current business.

[OUHOMER]

so what did it cost you, I assume your are young and single, and in good health

[Ardmore_Sooner]

How much it did cost for the one month? Honestly I don't remember since it was a temporary thing but it honestly wasn't the cheapest. I basically got it cause I knew that I was going to be getting on FT soon where I worked so I just grabbed something in the meantime.

And yes I'm young, single, and in good health.

[Frozen Sooner]

Student health plans are quite reasonable. $1300 for the year for me.

[1890MilesToNorman]

And Cobra plans are $400 a month for individuals? And that was 5 years ago.

[Curly Bill]

The Chinese are going to finance health plans for all of us -- no worries.

[Frozen Sooner]

And Cobra plans are $400 a month for individuals? And that was 5 years ago.

Depends on what the unsubsidized cost of your plan was.

[I Am Right]

OU offers a policy for $1,000 per year, good coverage, however all clinic stuff must be done through the ou medical clinic.

[StoopTroup]

I pay for my Healthcare through my employer's payroll deductions. I don't get a choice of I'll pass either. They consider it a benefit even though they require me to pay for it. Not sure how that's going to pan out if there is a public option. Could I make my employer quit charging me for my benefits? I doubt it. What if I just like the Public Option?

I'm pretty sure I won't like the Public Option and I'll probably stay with my employers forced plan...but I just thought I'd point out that I can see why so many folks are uneasy with all of this as it seems each and everyone of us has quite a few questions. It's hard to get behind something that seems to have so many unanswered questions, holes and possible flaws.

It seems like even my employer changes the computer screen every year that we are to use to pickout which benefits we'd like forced on us. It's really aggravating when they had a system that was informative...worked well...and then they hire some person out of the nearest Community College that likes to spend his/her days during the year tweeking the screens.

This time of year is very aggravating for me personally.

I'm sure what ever comes down from all of this won't be much better either.

Sad but true.

It's been messed up for 20 years.

[IGotNoTiming]

It will become any increasingly difficult proposition for a larger percent of the population as time goes on unless things change. Our current system is broken... I am not saying that the efforts or ideas that are being proposed are the answer but one thing I know for sure is that the system as is NOT working

[StoopTroup]

Obama is just trying to keep as many folks happy so he doesn't face a complete collapse when they implement their changes.

It will be a huge *** mess. There will be folks taking advantage of loopholes. They'll need Healthcare Police to spot graft and cheats.

People who used to make easy money and suddenly get cut out of the loop will go insane...

It's not going to be smooth.

[IGotNoTiming]

ST... you mean people like the Health Insurance Companies, their attorneys, the politicians who vote those companies agendas whether it is good for the public or not?

[OUHOMER]

with the plan offered for me.I will pay about 215 a month for me and the wife. We have $250 deductible each and then the plan cover 85%. The company picks up about $350 a month. So really no complaints here. At least today.

But i know a lot of folks who can not afford to pay 250 or more a month.

I could have gotten Blue Cross and blue shield but it like $600 a month.

So my question, how is a Mother with 2 kids working at Denny's going to pay for health care?

[Okla-homey]

One thing about the schemes currently winding their way through both houses that is virtually certain is that health insurers will be required to cover people they would not choose to cover now. You know, people with disqualifying pre-existing conditions.

Thus, if any of these things pass, you can be certain everyone now paying health insurance premiums, including individuals and employers, will be paying more for the same level of coverage. It's really unavoidable since the insurance risk pool will have been expanded greatly. Do the math.

[bluedogok]

And Cobra plans are $400 a month for individuals? And that was 5 years ago.
Mine would have been $476 when I quit and moved to Austin 6.5 years ago, it would have been about the same to add me to my wife's policy at her small non-profit, they have a few people with disabilities and that skews the cost because of the amount of medical care they need for their associated conditions.

I went without until I got a job down here, just paid cash whenever I needed to go to the doctor and there is a clinic nearby which gives a pretty sizable cash discount. Luckily nothing too much happened during that time so we came out of it pretty well. I have also known some with insurance forced into bankruptcy because of what insurance wouldn't cover, so you can get wiped out whether you have insurance or not.

I agree something needs to drastically change but I don't think what is proposed is the "right path", I'm not sure what the right path is though.

[IGotNoTiming]

What is really troubling to me is the notion that health care is a luxury in this country. Does anyone here know when Great Britain adopted it's national healthcare? Winston Churchill brought it about IMMEDIATELY after WWII. Think about that, England had NOTHING. Most of it's infrastructure was wiped out. I remember an excerpt from a speech where he stated that no citizen of England would ever want for health care. Their system is one of the most effective. Does it have problems? Certainly but nothing like what we have.
Most of the opponents of a nationalized system here are only opponents because of the massive propaganda effort sponsored nearly 100% by the privatized health industry that is waging a massive disinformation campaign to spread lies about the realities of nationalized system.

We as a people need to look outside OUR borders to look at countries where the medical systems really work. I travel to Europe often, (4 times this calendar year) When you talk to common people, EVERYONE is happy with their health care. They are nearly stunned when it is explained to them how our system works here. Sometimes I think we need to accept the fact that while we think we know best how to do things in this country... it is not always the case. When it comes to health care it is especially true. Here is one to chew on....

Out of all of the industrialized nations of the world look at where WE stand.
Google, INFANT MORTALITY and look at your hits, whether it is a link from The World Health Organization, The CIA or whoever... look how low we rank and then whip out your Uncle Sam costume and whoop about how bad*** we are.

Makes ya wanna wretch.

[Okla-homey]

What is really troubling to me is the notion that health care is a luxury in this country. Does anyone here know when Great Britain adopted it's national healthcare? Winston Churchill brought it about IMMEDIATELY after WWII. Think about that, England had NOTHING. Most of it's infrastructure was wiped out. I remember an excerpt from a speech where he stated that no citizen of England would ever want for health care. Their system is one of the most effective. Does it have problems? Certainly but nothing like what we have.
Most of the opponents of a nationalized system here are only opponents because of the massive propaganda effort sponsored nearly 100% by the privatized health industry that is waging a massive disinformation campaign to spread lies about the realities of nationalized system.

We as a people need to look outside OUR borders to look at countries where the medical systems really work. I travel to Europe often, (4 times this calendar year) When you talk to common people, EVERYONE is happy with their health care. They are nearly stunned when it is explained to them how our system works here. Sometimes I think we need to accept the fact that while we think we know best how to do things in this country... it is not always the case. When it comes to health care it is especially true. Here is one to chew on....

Out of all of the industrialized nations of the world look at where WE stand.
Google, INFANT MORTALITY and look at your hits, whether it is a link from The World Health Organization, The CIA or whoever... look how low we rank and then whip out your Uncle Sam costume and whoop about how bad*** we are.

Makes ya wanna wretch.

two points:

We have, what, 300 million folks here? And our population is expanding at an exponential rate. Spread over the length and breadth of one of the world's largest (in area) countrys. No European state has anywhere near the challenge we face in providing national health services to all. That is the main reason it hasn't occurred.

Even so, Medicaid covers our poor, and Medicare covers our elders. The folks in the middle are the problem, far too many of whom can afford health insurance, but choose not to buy it.

Secondly, our infant mortality rates appear relatively alarming only because in the US, we report some stillbirths and deaths of neonates among our infant mortaility stats. No other nation in the developed world includes those in their infant mortality stats. They only consider infant mortality to include babies who die after they are home from the hospital. If we did the same thing, I'm pretty confident we'd be at or near the top. At least that's what my wife who has been in the baby-cathcing business as an RN for over 27 years tells me.

[Okla-homey]

What is really troubling to me is the notion that health care is a luxury in this country. Does anyone here know when Great Britain adopted it's national healthcare? Winston Churchill brought it about IMMEDIATELY after WWII. Think about that, England had NOTHING. Most of it's infrastructure was wiped out. I remember an excerpt from a speech where he stated that no citizen of England would ever want for health care. Their system is one of the most effective. Does it have problems? Certainly but nothing like what we have.
Most of the opponents of a nationalized system here are only opponents because of the massive propaganda effort sponsored nearly 100% by the privatized health industry that is waging a massive disinformation campaign to spread lies about the realities of nationalized system.

We as a people need to look outside OUR borders to look at countries where the medical systems really work. I travel to Europe often, (4 times this calendar year) When you talk to common people, EVERYONE is happy with their health care. They are nearly stunned when it is explained to them how our system works here. Sometimes I think we need to accept the fact that while we think we know best how to do things in this country... it is not always the case. When it comes to health care it is especially true. Here is one to chew on....

Out of all of the industrialized nations of the world look at where WE stand.
Google, INFANT MORTALITY and look at your hits, whether it is a link from The World Health Organization, The CIA or whoever... look how low we rank and then whip out your Uncle Sam costume and whoop about how bad*** we are.

Makes ya wanna wretch.

two points:

We have, what, 300 million folks here? And our population is expanding at an exponential rate. Spread over the length and breadth of one of the world's largest (in area) countrys. No European state has anywhere near the challenge we face in providing national health services to all. That is the main reason it hasn't occurred.

Even so, Medicaid covers our poor, and Medicare covers our elders. The folks in the middle are the problem, far too many of whom can afford health insurance, but choose not to buy it.

Secondly, our infant mortality rates appear relatively alarming only because in the US, we report some stillbirths and deaths of neonates among our infant mortaility stats. No other nation in the developed world includes those in their infant mortality stats. They only consider infant mortality to include babies who die after they are home from the hospital. If we did the same thing, I'm pretty confident we'd be at or near the top. At least that's what my wife who has been in the baby-catching business as an RN for over 27 years tells me.

[soonerinabilene]

with the plan offered for me.I will pay about 215 a month for me and the wife. We have $250 deductible each and then the plan cover 85%. The company picks up about $350 a month. So really no complaints here. At least today.

But i know a lot of folks who can not afford to pay 250 or more a month.

I could have gotten Blue Cross and blue shield but it like $600 a month.

So my question, how is a Mother with 2 kids working at Denny's going to pay for health care?

if she is a single mother with two kids qorking at dennys, she shouldnt be paying a dime for any kind of health care. her and the kids would qualify for medicaid.

[Okla-homey]

if she is a single mother with two kids qorking at dennys, she shouldnt be paying a dime for any kind of health care. her and the kids would qualify for medicaid.

Yep, and if she's unable to work because she's legitimately disabled to the extent she's on Social Security disability, she qualifies for Medicare. Just like grandma.

[GottaHavePride]

I pay for my own. I've got the best coverage I can get from Blue Cross Blue Shield as an individual.

$185 per month.

[IGotNoTiming]

Okla-homey,

I will meet you half way... In europe they use the same set of criteria we do...
(according to 2 doctors I spoke with over there) Every country in Europe ranks better than we do. I am sorry but as an American, I get my feathers ruffled by that stat. If we are truly the great nation we pretend we are, that is unacceptable.
People are afraid of the word socialism in this country, dating back to the McCarthy scare and the cold war against the former Soviet Union. While no ONE form of government is the end-all defacto best way to govern.... I think if we look at the positive aspects of governments throughout history, we would realize (Oh God protect me from the backlash) that there are elements from various styles of governing that we could learn from and make work in the U.S.A.

First off insuring that every American gets the best quality health care they can.... regardless of income or tax bracket.... A more, DARE I SAY IT, socialized health care in this country would be better than the current one in place....

We all want the same thing, A roof over our heads, Good schools for our children (that will be a topic I later tackle) and good health care. I for one do not mind paying more in taxes if I KNOW the money I am paying is going to good use. I am self employed so I already have a huge chunk taken out.


Lastly, OKLA-HOMEY, your assertion about our population growth, I believe is wrong. Let me know where you have gotten that info because over the last 5 years we as a nation, have actually leveled off in growth. Granted this is from what I have gathered but I believe to be fairly accurate...

[IGotNoTiming]

CURLY BILL....

I do not mind the neg spek... but you should at least put your thoughts into a reasonable discourse and debate me like an adult... that would at least help me understand WHY you disagree with me. Believe me, I don't think that you OWE me that respect, but I love hearing differing opinions on these topics because it only helps me learn and shape my opinions as I go...

Be well

[SteelCitySooner]

I work in healthcare. The thing that drives us is profit. Why do most innovations occur here in America? Why do the richest people in the world come the the US for their care.. We do it the best, and we do it because we profit from it. You take the profit out, and you kill it.

[IGotNoTiming]

Steel City....

I don't believe what I am talking about is profit... and actually more and more people are going outside of our borders for health care because they can afford it. If you are cool with that I cannot debate you... we just feel differently about the issue. I feel like a single mom with three kids is entitled to the same health care that a multi-millionaire gets. You apparently do not feel that way.
I am just trying to get a small peek at how other people feel about this and I appreciate your input.

If we truly do it best explain the infant mortality stats... they are not mine... they are agreed upon by every source you can look up. FACTS DO NOT LIE...

[IGotNoTiming]

Okla homey... here is the infant mortality stat you need...

"While the United States reports every case of infant mortality (according to the WHO definition), it is often claimed that some other developed countries do not due to an 2006 article in U.S. News & World Report which erroneously claimed that: "First, it's shaky ground to compare U.S. infant mortality with reports from other countries. The United States counts all births as live if they show any sign of life, regardless of prematurity or size. This includes what many other countries report as stillbirths. In Austria and Germany, fetal weight must be at least 500 grams (1 pound) to count as a live birth; in other parts of Europe, such as Switzerland, the fetus must be at least 30 centimeters (12 inches) long. In Belgium and France, births at less than 26 weeks of pregnancy are registered as lifeless.[5] And some countries don't reliably register babies who die within the first 24 hours of birth. Thus, the United States is sure to report higher infant mortality rates."[6] However, all of the countries named adopted the WHO definitions in the late 1980s or early 1990s,[7] which are used throughout the European union.[8]"

[TheHumanAlphabet]

I just graduated in May and my employer currently supplies me with health insurance (including health, dental, and life). I was covered by my parents insurance until August (when I was officially no longer a student) and payed for my own insurance from the time of PT employment to FT employment at my current business.

According to Obammy, your health care is considered a cadillac policy and subject to a humongous tax bill. Also if you have a HSA account, consider it gone as Congress err, Pelosi sees all that free money that isn't being taxed. They will confiscate that real quick...

[IGotNoTiming]

According to Obammy, your health care is considered a cadillac policy and subject to a humongous tax bill. Also if you have a HSA account, consider it gone as Congress err, Pelosi sees all that free money that isn't being taxed. They will confiscate that real quick...


Can you reference either of these claims?

[I Am Right]

ST... you mean people like the Health Insurance Companies, their attorneys, the politicians who vote those companies agendas whether it is good for the public or not?

So----- "How are you college kids"

[Sooner_Havok]

eh, I couldn't afford the stuff teh university was peddling. They gave me $10,000 in loans a semester, and tuition is on the plus side of $8,000. Ramen noodles are just as good as I remember them being...

But fear not, if I do get sick I plan on dying quickly. (All the sodium I am ingesting should see to that :D)