Better brush the dust off those wallets.....

[Stanley Steamer]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091004/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_affordability

[Bob E.]

Right now, I am paying over $450/month for health insurance for my family of 5...on top of the $900/month my employer puts in.  That is $16,200 per year, $5400 out of my pocket.

[Puffs Daddy]

^^^ And about $1000 of that goes to provide health care for those without insurance.

[sugerbear]

so your saying that if the unisured become insured my ins goes down $1000??
not likely, the middle class foots the bill for EVEYTHING.
 

[Stanley Steamer]

Right now, I am paying over $450/month for health insurance for my family of 5...on top of the $900/month my employer puts in.  That is $16,200 per year, $5400 out of my pocket.

I work for the local City/County Govt.....back when I started in 1996, as long as you didn't have Family coverage, they guaranteed a person "free" healthcare.......back then there were mainly PPO's...and about 5 yrs ago or maybe a little before that, they had to tell us that were getting the "free" stuff that if we wanted to keep it that way, we'd have to switch to an HMO plan...and I did, and it worked out even better for me....anything done in a Dr's office under the HMO plan was covered....the PPO plan was subject to things like being charged for "surgeries" if certain procedures were done in the Dr's office....that would have meant paying deductibles and such....

I don't remember even having to GO to a Dr. for that first 10 yrs or so....the last 3-4 yrs has been when things have started hurting and needing medical attn......my Wife works for a mid-sized local bank and has insurance through them, so we have seperate plans.....works out real well for us, at least so far.....

We didn't get a raise this year(first time in the 13 yrs I've been here), but they gave us a sheet with the breakdown of out benefits package and for me that means they pay almost another $14,000/yr....which includes the other taxes employers must pay to Uncle Sam.....I am very grateful for those benefits and try not to take them for granted.....but I do work hard for them...NOT to my Groundskeepers and Inmates delight.....lol.......

Today was a rain day, and after helping clean up our shop area and equipment barn, I took the rest of the day off....using accumulated vacation time of course.....

[Probie (Scooter57)]

What a bunch of pansies...it ain't rainin now I looked at the radar and it's clear all the way back to B'ham. I would take a ride if I wasn't waiting on a package that requires a signature...

[Stanley Steamer]

What a bunch of pansies...it ain't rainin now I looked at the radar and it's clear all the way back to B'ham. I would take a ride if I wasn't waiting on a package that requires a signature...

Yeah, likely story.....you're like a Gremlin only you can't get wet anytime!!.....lol

[Bob E.]

Right now, I am paying over $450/month for health insurance for my family of 5...on top of the $900/month my employer puts in.  That is $16,200 per year, $5400 out of my pocket.

I work for the local City/County Govt.....back when I started in 1996, as long as you didn't have Family coverage, they guaranteed a person "free" healthcare.......back then there were mainly PPO's...and about 5 yrs ago or maybe a little before that, they had to tell us that were getting the "free" stuff that if we wanted to keep it that way, we'd have to switch to an HMO plan...and I did, and it worked out even better for me....anything done in a Dr's office under the HMO plan was covered....the PPO plan was subject to things like being charged for "surgeries" if certain procedures were done in the Dr's office....that would have meant paying deductibles and such....

I don't remember even having to GO to a Dr. for that frist 10 yrs or so....the last 3-4 yrs has been when things have started hurting and needing medical attn......my Wife works for a mid-sized local bank and has insurance through them, so we have seperate plans.....works out real well for us, at least so far.....

We didn't get a raise this year(first time in the 13 yrs I've been here), but they gave us a sheet with the breakdown of out benefits package and for me that means they pay almost another $14,000/yr....which includes the other taxes employers must pay to Uncle Sam.....I am very grateful for those benefits and try not to take them for granted.....but I do work hard for them...NOT to my Groundskeepers and Inmates delight.....lol.......

Today was a rain day, and after helping clean up our shop area and equipment barn, I took the rest of the day off....using accumulated vacation time of course.....

I'm a Civil/Structural engineer working for a large (about 4000 employees) private consultant firm, so I am fortunate to have a good job.  Our insurance is Blue Cross/Blue Shield and is essentially a HMO plan.  We have deductibles for everything ranging from $10-$20 for routine appointments to $100-$200 for hospital stays.  We do have a max out of pocket for deductibles at $1500 per year.

[Stanley Steamer]

Right now, I am paying over $450/month for health insurance for my family of 5...on top of the $900/month my employer puts in.  That is $16,200 per year, $5400 out of my pocket.

I work for the local City/County Govt.....back when I started in 1996, as long as you didn't have Family coverage, they guaranteed a person "free" healthcare.......back then there were mainly PPO's...and about 5 yrs ago or maybe a little before that, they had to tell us that were getting the "free" stuff that if we wanted to keep it that way, we'd have to switch to an HMO plan...and I did, and it worked out even better for me....anything done in a Dr's office under the HMO plan was covered....the PPO plan was subject to things like being charged for "surgeries" if certain procedures were done in the Dr's office....that would have meant paying deductibles and such....

I don't remember even having to GO to a Dr. for that frist 10 yrs or so....the last 3-4 yrs has been when things have started hurting and needing medical attn......my Wife works for a mid-sized local bank and has insurance through them, so we have seperate plans.....works out real well for us, at least so far.....

We didn't get a raise this year(first time in the 13 yrs I've been here), but they gave us a sheet with the breakdown of out benefits package and for me that means they pay almost another $14,000/yr....which includes the other taxes employers must pay to Uncle Sam.....I am very grateful for those benefits and try not to take them for granted.....but I do work hard for them...NOT to my Groundskeepers and Inmates delight.....lol.......

Today was a rain day, and after helping clean up our shop area and equipment barn, I took the rest of the day off....using accumulated vacation time of course.....

I'm a Civil/Structural engineer working for a large (about 4000 employees) private consultant firm, so I am fortunate to have a good job.  Our insurance is Blue Cross/Blue Shield and is essentially a HMO plan.  We have deductibles for everything ranging from $10-$20 for routine appointments to $100-$200 for hospital stays.  We do have a max out of pocket for deductibles at $1500 per year.

I have a BC/BS HMO plan...co-pays are $20 for a GP and $30 for a Specialist....I can't remember what my deductible is off hand, maybe $500?.... but something like a $2,000 yearly max, out of pocket...$10 for generic drugs, and $20 for name brand.....

I recently recieved a letter from BC/BS saying they had noticed I had recently had a refill on Protonix for acid reflux.....and that new research has shown that over the counter meds could be just as effective....but "please consult with your DR. before switching/stop taking your meds".....I think they are hinting that in the future, they may quit paying for those type drugs.....hummmm...

I have tried Prilosec and some of the others, but they didn't work exactly the same as the protonix...if I miss taking it for a couple of days, I pay dearly and the heartburn is back...