Do You Have Health Insurance?

[June]

Tell us your stories both good and bad. If you're comfortable doing so, tell us:

1. How much you pay out of pocket
2. What state you live in
3. What industry you work in
4. If you are self employed
5. Does it include partner benefits
6. Anything else

Thanks for playing!

AND! It's multiple Choice!

[Apocalipstic]

I am aware that I am in the minority and am very lucky insurance wise. be that as it may, I am for 100% socialized medicine and I believe that until this happens our nation will continue to fall behind as a developed nation. We are only as strong as the weakest among us.

1. How much you pay out of pocket. I pay zero out of pocket for my insurance. $15 copay for doc visits, 20% for procedures and meds are $10, $15 and $25 depending on what it is. This year our insurance became slightly more limited in what hospitals and doctors we could use, but this did not impact me. My company also provides short term disability at no cost and I pay out of pocket for accidental insurance and cancer insurance though AFLAC

2. What state you live in Nashville, TN

3. What industry you work in? Entertainment

4. If you are self employed? No

5. Does it include partner benefits? I can get Cynthia insurance through my work, but it is over $1000 a month. We were able to get her insurance through her University since she lost her job with General Motors last year. It is $130 a month, but she gets free health care if she goes to campus health.

6. Anything else? The insurance companies are greedy and out of control and every single person deserves and has the right to have health coverage, and yes I am willing for my taxes to go up to help pay for it.

[Corkey]

Other..... I finally got my SSDI after years of no insurance and fighting WC. Now I have Medicare, and pay for my subsidiary insurance which went up over 50%, so I had to cut back on my healthcare options to afford coverage. When I did work I did have healthcare thru my company, and it was a very good program, even had dependent care, and could take time off for my parents whom one had cancer and the other heart problems. Those were the days.

[SuperFemme]

Tell us your stories both good and bad. If you're comfortable doing so, tell us:

1. How much you pay out of pocket $790 per month
2. What state you live in California
3. What industry you work in Disabled
4. If you are self employed n/a
5. Does it include partner benefits no


Thanks for playing!

6. Anything else: I was enrolled in Blue Cross of CA (now Anthem) mandatory Major Medical Risk Insurance Plan MMRIP. When I enrolled my cost was about $400 a month and no pre-existing conditions were covered for the first six months. In a matter of two years my premium went up almost 100%. Last month they cancelled me, back dating it to September (I had a costly ICU stay in September). They kept all the premiums I sent them from Sept - Jan, but started harassing my dr.'s making them pay back any monies recv'd for services after Sept. 1st.

I am currently in appeal with the Insurance Commissioners office of CA. In the meantime? No treatment no meds no nothing. My last ICU visit (during a month which my premium was paid) in Jan. has been billed as 100% cash pay.

If I do not win the appeal? I have no other recourse to receive medical insurance. If Obama passes his healthcare bill? It is worthless to me because it will take 4 years before the removal of denial due to pre-existing conditions kicks in. My one hope is that my spouse gains employment and that that employer offers us insurance based on the fact that we are legally married here in CA.

Blue Cross IS a death panel IMO.

[John Shaft]

Tell us your stories both good and bad. If you're comfortable doing so, tell us:

1. How much you pay out of pocket
2. What state you live in
3. What industry you work in
4. If you are self employed
5. Does it include partner benefits
6. Anything else

Thanks for playing!

AND! It's multiple Choice!

I don't have insurance right now for myself or my significant other and I think it sucks ass. I work for a major company, one of the best companies to work for according to Forbes. But they decided to not keep on most of the staff as full time. Granted, I just came aboard about six weeks ago. What they did was make most of the staff part-timers with only one as full time. We get 30 hrs a week at a high rate of pay. No health benefits available for anyone but the full time employee.

[Apocalipstic]

I do want to add that I feel pretty much stuck at this job and in Nashville until I retire, because of my pre-existing conditions and having insurance.

[theoddz]

Yes, I have insurance (a PPO plan of the American Postal Workers Union which is administered through Cigna) through my place of employment, which is the U.S. Government. I pay $51 each pay period ($102/month), which is every 2 weeks, for single coverage. For this, I get pretty good coverage, including a prescription plan that has decent copays. I've had several plans through the FEHB (Federal Employees Health Benefit) and the premiums I've paid have really varied. This past open season, I opted for the APWU plan because it was cheaper than the Blue Cross/Blue Shield plan I had before. BC/BS wanted $83 per pay period ($166/month) and, to tell you the truth, I seldom use my employment based plan for care.

I prefer to use my benefits from the Dept. of Veterans Affairs for my health care. It costs me nothing for my medical, dental, optical care and hospitalization and I am exempt from the copays for medication because I hold a high enough disability rating from my military-related illnesses and injuries. It's truly been a great benefit to have, but I like to carry my employment based coverage "just in case". It gives me a second option, in the event that I might need surgery, in particular, because I don't want residents and interns cutting on me.

I do know that, if I use my APWU plan to see a non-VA provider, it costs me $15 for an office visit. Any deductibles I might have otherwise been responsible for meeting end up being paid for since VA bills my APWU plan for whatever care that I receive that is not due to my service-related disabilities. At the VA, I am not responsible for paying the difference between what is paid by APWU and the amount that the plan allows for the visit or procedure. Without VA, I would be responsible for paying to the private providers. So, VA does save me a LOT of money. Additionally, if I get sick or injured and have to call 911 for emergency transport, the VA pays for all care, services and procedures, including the ambulance fees to a private hospital that I am admitted to. They only do this because I hold a 100% (permanent and total) disability rating from the VA.

I realize that I am extremely lucky to have this kind of access to top notch care at no cost to me. I am not one to leave much to chance, however, and this is why I also have and PAY for my coverage through the FEHB. I have a plethora of medical problems, so I'm the first one to appreciate what I have. I think every American should have the care that I am afforded. In a country as wealthy and influencial as the USA, there is NO excuse for ANY American to not get reasonable, quality, affordable health care. NONE.

~Theo~ :bouquet:

[MrSunshine]

Veteran 100%

[PinkieLee]

Well, unfortuately I work for a company that doesn't offer health insurance. We are a small business with about 25 employees... and most of the employees here have it through their spouses. After a few years of complaining to my boss that I needed health insurance, he started paying for it ~ out of his own pocket. It's NOT major medical, and basically just pays for office visits & so much for emergency care.

1. How much you pay out of pocket
My insurance isn't the greatest.... it pays $100 per dr visit (with 10 visits per year max). It usually costs me about $30 - $40, depending on the doctor.

2. What state you live in
Texas

3. What industry you work in
Construction management

4. If you are self employed
n/a

5. Does it include partner benefits
Nope.... luckily my g/f has insurance through her job, which pays 100% of the premiums. They do not offer domestic partner insurance.

6. Anything else.
Because I don't have major medical, I do have an extra cancer and major illness policy that pays a lump sum of money to me if anything happens. It costs me about $38 a month ~ for a $50,000 policy (which is a drop in the bucket & won't pay for much if anything ever does happen).

[MsTinkerbelly]

Tell us your stories both good and bad. If you're comfortable doing so, tell us:

1. How much you pay out of pocket...$30 a month, which includes dental for myself and my daughter.
2. What state you live in...California
3. What industry you work in..manufacturing
4. If you are self employed
5. Does it include partner benefits..if i want, but too costly. Kasey has insurance
6. Anything else..

Thanks for playing!

AND! It's multiple Choice!

I would probably be dead without the coverage I have. Sad freaking world when even Cuba has socialized health care, and we let our citizens go without.

[UofMfan]

1. How much you pay out of pocket: US$75.00 per month
2. What state you live in: I don't live in the US, I live in a developing country that is not socialist, on the contrary it is very conservative.
3. What industry you work in: Education
4. If you are self employed: Self-employed, I would pay less if I were working for a company.
5. Does it include partner benefits: Yes, for the same amount.
6. Anything else: It is sad that a country like mine offers better health insurance than "the most powerful country in the world". I pay about US$1.00 as co-pay and I can go to the best hospitals and not pay a thing! It also covers all my lab work, mammograms, etc, and these do not require a co-payment.

[Dylan]

You left out a box on the poll for those receiving Medicaid or Medicare


Jus' Sayin',
Dylan

[MsMerrick]

You left out a box on the poll for those receiving Medicaid or Medicare


Jus' Sayin',
Dylan

Not to mention I don't live in the US of A, and as such my Health Care, is excellent :)
Health Care, not being confused here, with Health Insurance
Not the same thing at all..
As an option that is..
Me, I still live here :(

[MsDemeanor]

Tell us your stories both good and bad. If you're comfortable doing so, tell us:

1. How much you pay out of pocket $400 per month. Last year, my premium was raised from $260 to $300 in June, then raised again in July to $400 because I turned 50. It's a good policy, I think. I don't have any health conditions and have never used it. Kinda like car insurance, but hella more expensive
2. What state you live in CA
3. What industry you work in Computer/Banking
4. If you are self employed I'm a contractor working through an agency that offers a crap-ass hella expensive insurance plan from some company that I've never heard of option for which the contractors pay 100% of the premium. I'm not eligible because I don't always work the mnimum # hours per week required to participate.
5. Does it include partner benefits No
6. Anything else

[Kat]

1. How much you pay out of pocket

$40/month

2. What state you live in

Oregon

3. What industry you work in

Local government

4. If you are self employed

No

5. Does it include partner benefits

Yes (another $40/month)

6. Anything else

Medical covers 85% of costs (after 1,500K out-of-pocket maximum per person)

Our dental coverage sucks -- we have a $1,500/year maximum per person, with a different % out-of-pocket for different procedures. June needed 2 root canals in 2008, and the second was paid for entirely out-of-pocket. Forget about bridges and crowns...

BTW, I think our dear President considers the insurance plans of most of the folks in this thread to be *Cadillac* plans, which means the insurance provider is going to be taxed at a significant rate for each plan after "reform" kicks in. That sounds great, right? Except there's no provision that prevents those providers from passing that additional cost on to us. You know they will, and so does Obama...

[June]

Well. I can't go in and change the Poll, I tried. Maybe Linus can. In the meantime, I hope folks that are receiving Medicaid/Medicare will chime in!

And yes, we also want to hear from the folks who live outside the states brag about their amazing care system! Buggars! ;)

[sweetfemme247]

]1. How much you pay out of pocket[/B]

I pay 145 a paycheck for my health but I have everything covered

2. What state you live in

washington state

3. What industry you work in

Seattle Goodwill

4. If you are self employed
no

5. Does it include partner benefits

nope im single

6. Anything else

my work pays for 80% of my health cost, I pay a 15 dollar co pay when I go see the doctor and all my lab work and shots are free. its all in one building..... I have accidental death policy and also a cancer plan. I get free dental that pays a max of 2,000 a year. and 10 dollar co pay.

[HowSoonIsNow]

Canada, here.

Universal Single Payer System.

No co-pays or user fees for any hospital / physician care.

Work covers eyes (150 a year?), meds (I pay a couple bucks per Rx), and dentist (I've never had to pay for the dentist--three cleanings a year too).

(apparently, our gov't pays about a thousand dollars less per head than the USA too for health care--for all citizens to be covered)


Although there is a waiting list for non-emergency procedures and to see specialists, I think our system is fantastic and am very appreciative of it.

[key]

Tell us your stories both good and bad. If you're comfortable doing so, tell us:

1. How much you pay out of pocket 100%
2. What state you live in California
3. What industry you work in Dogs, Training, Boarding, Walking
4. If you are self employed Yes
5. Does it include partner benefits
6. Anything else

Thanks for playing!

AND! It's multiple Choice!

Ever since I started working for myself (10 years ago) I have not had health insurance. Finances were always too close to the edge and in flux. Have not seen a primary care physician in probably 15 years. Been to lots of holistic and alternative healers and I eat well, don't smoke or drink and exercise regularly. I went to the ER once after enduring excruciating pain for weeks due to kidney stones. Only cost $500 to diagnose me with stones, tell me to take ibuprofen and send me home. Good news though in SF we have Healthy SF and I will finally see a general practitioner doc next Tuesday!

[Linus]

1. How much you pay out of pocket: $100 per month and co-pays

2. What state you live in: NY but soon CA

3. What industry you work in: IT

4. If you are self employed: No.

5. Does it include partner benefits: Yes

6. Anything else: I actually miss the Canadian Health Care system.

[SuperFemme]

Once the portion of the Health Care Reform goes into effect (if it passes) the Insurance companies that do NOT enroll people with pre-existing conditions will be charged a fine of $100 per day. That is $36,500 a year.
My chemo alone costs double that in a year. Not to mention all the other complications that could arise.

Who wants to bet me $1 that Insurance companies will take the fine?

[Linus]

Other options added.

[June]

So far, I'm the only one who's answered this poll that has benefits under their partner. That's kind of sad to me.

And! Thank you Linus for adding our other choices!

[Kobi]

1. How much you pay out of pocket - I pay less than 60 a month for coverage plus co-pays

2. What state you live in - Mass where health insurance is mandatory

3. What industry you work in - health care, ironic isnt it lol

4. If you are self employed - no

5. Does it include partner benefits - no

6. Anything else - I wasnt too keen on mandatory health insurance simply because it wasnt meant for my benefit but for the bottom line of providers. When I left my last job, I was paying over 700 a month on cobra plus copays. Now, under the commonwealth plan, I have decent coverage at a much more reasonable cost.

I dont like the Obama health care policy fiasco simply because it is ill conceived, too provider/insurance industry biased, too complex to do anyone much good, and after trillions of dollars spent, still does not cover everyone.

[Corkey]

So far, I'm the only one who's answered this poll that has benefits under their partner. That's kind of sad to me.

And! Thank you Linus for adding our other choices!


I use to, but not with Medicare. Major retailer.

[Gemme]

Tell us your stories both good and bad. If you're comfortable doing so, tell us:

1. How much you pay out of pocket
2. What state you live in
3. What industry you work in
4. If you are self employed
5. Does it include partner benefits
6. Anything else

Thanks for playing!

AND! It's multiple Choice!

I'm in WA state and I work in the hospitality field. When I started working here four years ago, basic health insurance was offered at no cost to the employees. After a couple of changes of ownership and major dip in the economy, the insurance was canceled. When we did have it, though, it did not include partner benefits as it was the very most basic policy the then-owners could find.

[dreadgeek]

Tell us your stories both good and bad. If you're comfortable doing so, tell us:

1. How much you pay out of pocket



Actually I don't pay out of pocket. My employer picks it up 100% and it's counted as income.


2. What state you live in

Oregon

3. What industry you work in
Software development


4. If you are self employed
No


5. Does it include partner benefits
Yes but Jaime carries insurance through her employer (although we may change that at the next open enrollment period because I have a cadillac plan and she has health insurance in name only).


6. Anything else


Our health insurance plan is actually *very* good. I pay $20.00 for an office visit, $10.00 for meds. Vision is covered with one eye exam a year and new eyeglass frames every two which my employer covers at 100% for the first $200 and then 80% above that. Mental health services are covered (about six months worth) as well as things like chiropractic and acupuncture which I don't utilize.

I didn't have insurance for a few years after I moved to Oregon because the dot.com bubble burst and I went from making a decent living to making almost no money at all. I had a bad bike accident about six years ago in which I broke my ribs. A few hours at the E.R. cost me about $5,000! Good times!

I am stunned, truly stunned, that we have elected officials who feel perfectly comfortable getting up in front the cameras, their mother and everyone and *defending* the insurance industry!

Cheers
Aj

[Cyclopea]

Now that corporations are "people" can we charge them with first degree murder?

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62G2DO20100317

[roy g biv]

Tell us your stories both good and bad. If you're comfortable doing so, tell us:

1. How much you pay out of pocket
Blue Cross Blue Shield Basic $41.40 every two weeks
Short Term Disability Insurance 16.14
Long Term Disability 22.19
NY Disability 1.20
I forgot what my copays are because I rarely use it.

2. What state you live in
New York

3. What industry you work in
Hospital


4. If you are self employed
No

5. Does it include partner benefits
I believe that option is available.

6. Anything else
Though I pay for all of that, I rarely use any of it because I am well and when I need a practitioner, I prefer eastern medicine and other practices which are not covered by health insurance which seems to only pay for surgery or chemicals. I am in favor of Universal Single Payer health insurance which I doubt we will see in the near future. And I am in favor of expanding coverage to alternative health care.

Thanks for playing!

AND! It's multiple Choice!

It won't let me post unless I put in at least ten characters outside of the quotes.

[theoddz]

Once the portion of the Health Care Reform goes into effect (if it passes) the Insurance companies that do NOT enroll people with pre-existing conditions will be charged a fine of $100 per day. That is $36,500 a year.
My chemo alone costs double that in a year. Not to mention all the other complications that could arise.

Who wants to bet me $1 that Insurance companies will take the fine?

Where do the collected moneys from the fines go?? :|

~Theo~ ....bets they go to some crook who is all too eager to pad his/her collective pockets with the FOR PROFIT health care industry. :furious::bouquet:

[DapperButch]

I am extremely lucky and the benefits is one of the reasons why I started to work at my current employer.

1. How much you pay out of pocket

$22.00/month for the medical PPO plan (Blue Cross/Blue Shield). Standard copays of $20.00 for Primary Care Physician. $35.00 for Specialists. Three tier system for meds starting at $10.00 for first tier. $20.00 per outpatient mental health visit (with number of visits based on "necessity" - meaning, the number of visits based on what the insurance company views as necessary.

Dental is $9.64 per month, which pays for 2 dental cleanings a year. Any other service they cover 50%.

I assume there is some sort of eye coverage, but I don't know anything about it. It may just be a discount on frames at certain stores.

2. What state you live in Northeast
3. What industry you work in I work for a nonprofit medical hospital
4. If you are self employed No.
5. Does it include partner benefits No.
6. Anything else

My medical insurance would cost $30 more per month if I did not submit to their "Big Brother" health screening every year. This is where they do lab work, height/weight, and check your blood pressure. This information is supposed to be confidential and only the employee gets the information. This is a nice service that lets us know that our iron is low so we can go to our doctor and become healthier people. :nurseshot:

I have no doubt that part of what they're doing is gathering information so they can decide later what types of illnesses they want to discriminate against in some fashion in our medical benefits in the future. But, I can be untrusting like that...

[SuperFemme]

9 -- that's number of states and the District of Columbia where there is still no specific law that makes it illegal for insurers to reject applicants who are survivors of domestic violence by citing the history of domestic violence as a pre-existing condition.


Unfortunately, the gender inequalities across our broken heath care system don't end there. In many states, insurance companies can still discriminate on the basis of gender -- charging women higher premiums than men simply because of their gender or denying coverage because of so-called "pre-existing conditions" like being pregnant, experiencing a prior pregnancy complication, or having undergone a C-section. And health plans in the individual market often do not cover basic maternity care.

[SassyLeo]

1. How much you pay out of pocket

Nothing. We have several plans through my employer. How much is paid by my employer/me is based on years of service, job classification, etc. We get "points" and they are credited toward the plan of choice. I chose the middle plan and I have enough points for the middle so I don't pay anything.

Dr visit co-pay = $15-20
Dental co-pay = $5
Meds = $10

We also have mental health, eyecare and some other more holistic options.

2. What state you live in

Oregon

3. What industry you work in

Healthcare

4. If you are self employed

No

5. Does it include partner benefits

It could if I wanted it to. My partner has her own benefits through her company, which is also a healthcare org. And they have DP benefits.

6. Anything else

I feel incredibly grateful to have very comprehensive healthcare at almost no cost to me. Sometimes even guilty...considering so many don't.

[Lynn]

1. How much you pay out of pocket
$100. month (half the premium cost)

2. What state you live in
NY

3. What industry you work in
Health care

4. If you are self employed
No

5. Does it include partner benefits
They offer access to health benefits for partners, but my gf's insurance through her work is a better deal.

6. Anything else
There is only one plan offered, but it's the best I've had in a while. It's a traditional plan, not an HMO. I can choose my own providers. At my last job, I paid more for an inferior plan which didn't have any pharmacy option at all.

[suebee]

Canadian here. My health care is paid for through a provincial sales tax, as it's a provincial juristiction. A year and a half ago I was diagnosed with a lung tumour. Pretty scary stuff. I was a week in the local hospital when they first found it. After that I went to a regional hospital about an hour away as an outpatient over a five-week period for all the diagnostic and pre-op tests. Surgery, including a three-day stay in ICU and about ten-day stay on the surgical ward. Follow-up visits with the surgeon, physiotherapy, and visits to the pain clinic for complications from the surgery. Total cost to me: the price of the parking, and only at the regional hospital - at the local hospital it's free.

If I were still living in the province of Quebec, I'd still have public prescription insurance. When I left that province five years ago the maximum co-pay for an individual per month was about $70 CND.

Socialism rocks!

[Hack]

1. How much you pay out of pocket

I only pay co-pays, ranging from $50 (ER visit) to $15 (office visit). I work in public service, so I have good insurance.

2. What state you live in

Michigan

3. What industry you work in

State Government

4. If you are self employed

No

5. Does it include partner benefits

Sadly, no. We had them for about 2 weeks a few years ago, but then a court ruling took them away.

6. Anything else

I realize I am one of the fortunate people. I support universal health care. Hell, I support socialism for most things. If I didn't have the health care coverage I have now, I would likely be in the street and/or dead.

[HowSoonIsNow]

Canadian here. My health care is paid for through a provincial sales tax, as it's a provincial juristiction. A year and a half ago I was diagnosed with a lung tumour. Pretty scary stuff. I was a week in the local hospital when they first found it. After that I went to a regional hospital about an hour away as an outpatient over a five-week period for all the diagnostic and pre-op tests. Surgery, including a three-day stay in ICU and about ten-day stay on the surgical ward. Follow-up visits with the surgeon, physiotherapy, and visits to the pain clinic for complications from the surgery. Total cost to me: the price of the parking, and only at the regional hospital - at the local hospital it's free.

If I were still living in the province of Quebec, I'd still have public prescription insurance. When I left that province five years ago the maximum co-pay for an individual per month was about $70 CND.

Socialism rocks!

I'm with you on the awesome system here, Sue, but actually our health care system isn't structured under a socialist formula (although I thought it was too) before I started researching it:

Best (most simple) explanation I found was from Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Canadian_and_American_health_care_sy stems#cite_note-21):

While some label Canada's system as "socialized medicine," the term is inaccurate. Unlike systems with public delivery, such as the UK, the Canadian system provides public coverage for private delivery. As Princeton University health economist Uwe E. Reinhardt notes, single-payer systems are not "socialized medicine" but "social insurance" systems, because doctors are in the private sector.[22] Similarly, Canadian hospitals are controlled by private boards and/or regional health authorities, rather than being part of government.
-------

I know many would call it Socialist anyway--which I don't care--as long as we maintain our right to universal health care, I'm ok with whatever they call it!

I actually had no idea how it was all funded or the formula--I just grew up taking it for granted...until I started reading about our neighbour's lack of universal coverage. Now, I don't take it for granted!

[Blade]

1. How much you pay out of pocket $45 weekly
2. What state you live in NC
3. What industry you work in Manufacturing
4. If you are self employed No
5. Does it include partner benefits No
6. Anything else The company use to pay for us and our dependents totally. Then they paid all of employee coverage and half of dependent coverage now we pay half of everything. The $ amount was the same if you had 1 dependent or 100. Now it is more evenly figured, single, parent and child, employee and spouse or employee and so much for each dependent.

[Gemme]

I'm with you on the awesome system here, Sue, but actually our health care system isn't structured under a socialist formula (although I thought it was too) before I started researching it:

Best (most simple) explanation I found was from Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Canadian_and_American_health_care_sy stems#cite_note-21):

While some label Canada's system as "socialized medicine," the term is inaccurate. Unlike systems with public delivery, such as the UK, the Canadian system provides public coverage for private delivery. As Princeton University health economist Uwe E. Reinhardt notes, single-payer systems are not "socialized medicine" but "social insurance" systems, because doctors are in the private sector.[22] Similarly, Canadian hospitals are controlled by private boards and/or regional health authorities, rather than being part of government.

I know many would call it Socialist anyway--which I don't care--as long as we maintain our right to universal health care, I'm ok with whatever they call it.

I actually had no idea how it was all funded or the formula--I just grew up taking it for granted...until I started reading about our neighbour's lack of universal coverage. Now, I don't take it for granted!


Very interesting!

I guess it's all the same really. You all are just really social people. :blink:

[Wryly]

I live in :canada:
1. How much you pay out of pocket
- other than parking and gas I don't pay anything.

2. What state you live in
Ontario

3. What industry you work in
Unemployed

4. If you are self employed
n/a

5. Does it include partner benefits
n/a


6. Anything else
As a citizen of Ontario I get the same health care as other people in Ontario.
As an Aboriginal (Indian) I also recieve medical and dental care thru the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs - which is paid for by the Federal Government.
So: free eye test - every 2 years (or every year if you are diabetic or a minor), glasses: $40 towards cost of frames - I have to pay the rest, basic lenses (including bifocal) are free.
Basic dental free - cleaning, fillings (cosmetic is extra), x-rays. My dentist has been asking for a crown ($750) for 3 years and has been turned down every time.
Medications are free - BUT when filling out a prescription the pharmacy defaults to generic unless the doctor specifically instructs a certain med be used. (ie - sleeping pills for my insomnia).
My mother was diabetic and had heart and cholestrol problems - her meds and blood testing kit, testing strips, needles and swabs were covered by Indian Affairs. Also - misc. stuff like a cane. She was eligible for a worker to come in for 4 hrs/day to do light housework, she was driven to medical appointments.
When she first became diabetic she had a hospital stay 4 or 5 days of in-patient clinics to learn what she could eat, how to monitor her blood and how to inject herself. She also qualified for a government program to retrofit her house so she could be more comfortable as her health declined - a wheelchair ramp was built (although she didn't require a wheelchair), bars in the bathroom, special handles on the sinks, etc.

About 10 years ago I had my gall bladder removed - an inflammation (3 day hospital stay) in the spring lead to the decision to operate. An infection bumped up the surgery date. The surgery (4 day hospital stay) and follow up care were all free.

For my prescriptions I tend to claim them under Indian Affairs because there is no co-pay.

When I did work I paid about $20/month for a basic health plan (private room when in hospital - which I tried to claim but there weren't any rooms available - just a semi-private ward!), accidental death & dismemberment. But I opted out of the dental program as it was expensive for a single person, cheaper for someone with a family.

[AtLast]

I have a group policy as a retired person through an employer. I pay the premiums myself (over $500/month - about $700 by 2012). I also pay all co-payments.

Without this, pre-existing conditions would keep me from having coverage, or put me in a high risk policy. Now, a few years back, the high risk policy would have been vewry expensive. However, my policy has skyrocketed even though it is a group plan.

I don't think many people realize just how many semi or retired people there are that can remain on a group policy (just to be able to have health insurance), but have to pay for it out-of-pocket. The days of employer provided retirement health insurance are rapidly diminishing! I am not old enough for MediCare or to draw my Social Security that I have paid into since the age of 12 in support for retirees ahead of me.

I'll be honest, my retirement is on a dividend basis (like a hell of a lot of people with such things as 401K's or IRA's), consequently, as the economy has tanked, I have lost income (about 2/3rds), the reality of losing my health insurance has become something that can happen to me. As I said, I have chronic illnesses that do require prescriptions, yearly scans, and routine blood tests. It would not take long at all for me to have to declare bankruptcy (simply to protect my home) if my health care is lost.

But, I do have coverage for the time being... many do not and have young kids to support.

[Miss_Tia]

I have state medicaid. If not for it, I would not be able to afford my meds. It took me almost a half a year to get it, and then its taken me almost a year to get myself stabilized. I am lucky...and feel grateful everyday for this blessing...

[Unndunn]

$60/month for good insurance through my job, it would have been free if I went for the HMO option, but that's a joke and it's not worth it in the long run or if anything happens. I work for a small psych hospital in an outpatient program. My co-pays are about $20 per visit and the prescription coverage is good, but not great. My company provides healthcare benefits for part time workers that work 20 hrs per week or more, which I think is good.

[Gayla]

1. How much you pay out of pocket - $240 a month for COBRA, going back up to $700-something when the subsidized thingy runs out in a month or two.

I have a pretty generic PPO plan through Aetna. When I was employed, it ran about $100 a month for my partner and I. It covers 90% of most everything including inpatient hospitalization/surgery, etc. My surgery in January, including an almost 48 hour in patient stay cost me about $1300 out of pocket. Meds ran $10 each (but I get most of them at Walmart for $4 instead).

2. What state you live in - Washington

3. What industry you work in - This is a COBRA'd plan from my soup factory job

4. If you are self employed - Yes, there are plans available through NAR and other organizations but similar coverage is more then I can afford to pay right now.

5. Does it include partner benefits - It would but she has her own benefits.

6. Anything else - I'm pretty much screwed once the COBRA goes back up. Screwed to the point where I'm thinking about getting a part time job somewhere just for the benefits.

[MsDemeanor]

I'm with you on the awesome system here, Sue, but actually our health care system isn't structured under a socialist formula (although I thought it was too) before I started researching it:
Unlike Canada, we here in the US do have a system of socialized medicine. It's considered the best medical system in the country, and it's called the V.A.

[christie]

Tell us your stories both good and bad. If you're comfortable doing so, tell us:

1. How much you pay out of pocket
2. What state you live in
3. What industry you work in
4. If you are self employed
5. Does it include partner benefits
6. Anything else

Thanks for playing!

AND! It's multiple Choice!

1. I pay $242/month pre-tax dollars for individual coverage. We offer three different levels of coverage, two HMO plans and a PPO plan. I chose the PPO plan because I don't care for the "referral process" in the event I need to see a specialist.

Most of our employees choose the lowest cost HMO plan and pay a little over $100/month for coverage. Those are also pre-tax premiums.

We also offer a non-employer sponsored dental plan in which the employee pays 100% of premiums.

Currently, my employer contributes 85% of the cost of the lowest single coverage. I changed this contribution at renewal last year because the previous contribution was not equitable for all employees. When we contributed to dependent care coverage, it was not "fair" to employees who did not have/need dependent care coverage.

By making the change, we significantly reduced the employee cost for those single coverage persons. It did increase those of us with spouses/children, but none of our employees voiced concern that we were leveling the field.

2. VA

3. Mail shop

4. N/A

5. No. Domestic partner benefits are not available due to the size of our company. In order to offer domestic partner benefits, we would need to have 100+ full time employees. The owner of the company would be more than willing to purchase the DP benefits rider IF it was available.

6. An aside note to DP benefits - If these benefits were available, I would have to provide legal documentation (as with a previous employer who did offer DP bennies) as to the longevity of our relationship, THREE different proofs of such documentation. I also had to sign a statement that if I dropped DP coverage that I could not enroll a new DP for six months.

Additionally, the costs of the DP coverage was considered taxable income to me and the premiums were not eligible for the 125 pretax deduction.

To me, this is regulating my private life. When I was married, I was NEVER asked to provide proof of the relationship unless I enrolled my spouse as a "life change" event. I could have divorced, remarried as soon as legally possible AND enrolled the new spouse without a waiting period. Any spousal or dependent care coverage was not considered taxable income.

Under the current reform bill, it appears as though Jess, who is now uninsured with a chronic, debilitating condition, would be eligible for Medicaid coverage. What the current reform bill doesn't state in relation to Medicaid eligibility is that Hy would lose our home in the process, much in the way an elderly person has to sign away assets to enter nursing home care today.

I also don't see how exempting small business with less than 50 full time employees is helpful. Its been my experience as a Controller for such small businesses that it is exactly those companies who don't offer coverage because of the cost and I would think that there needs to be a provision other than the ones being presented to ensure that these companies are offered the same tax credits as the ones with over 100+ employees.

Under the current ARRA COBRA subsidy, as an employer, we are required to contribute 65% of both single and dependent care coverage for released, eligible employees. We are refunded those monies quarterly when we file payroll taxes.

It makes more sense to me that rather than mandate folks purchase coverage by 2014, that we have a provision to offer DP benefits regardless as to company size AND offer some type of tax credit to employers to offer better coverages for both working and released employees.

I also have concerns that any new plans would be federally regulated. In watching how our federal government has pandered not just to the healthcare industry but also to the pharmaceutical industry (especially in the Medicare Part D program), I just don't have a good deal of confidence that it will be what is "best" for the masses.

I know first hand what not having health care coverage is like. Every month, we pay astronomical prices for the medications that Jess needs just to live. Breathing is rather important.

One thing that I haven't seen mentioned is that those without medical coverage do have options for more than adequate care now. MCV (Medical College of VA) hospital has a "fee subsidy/financial assistance" program that Jess participated in when we lived in Richmond. Based on Hys income (or lack thereof), Hy was able to receive both medical and prescription drugs at no cost.

There is a local community health care facility where we live now that offers the same program. While it is very humiliating to have your personal finances laid open to a "system", it is better than nothing. We have chosen for Jess to not participate in this program because of the prospect of having a lien placed against any asset, including our home, in Jess's name.

[NJFemmie]

1. How much you pay out of pocket
I can't remember the exact amount, but I think my job covers 75% and I shell out 25%. I comes out to a little over $100 a month. $20 copay for doctors, $30 for specialists, $10 scripts (of course that changes per tier level, and sometimes I pay less - so it depends on the script).

The dental is pretty decent - most of the services are covered 100%.
I think the office visit is $10-15.

No vision coverage.

2. What state you live in
New Jersey
3. What industry you work in
Engineering
4. If you are self employed
Nope
5. Does it include partner benefits
I could if I requested it. Mare already has insurance through her job. When we figured out the cost - it's less expensive to maintain it separately.

6. Anything else
Thinking out loud: I used to have a HRA plan, and they royally suck! It wasn't that I was ungrateful - but the way HRAs work, it almost seems as if you don't have any coverage - AND, you're paying towards it.

[little man]

no health insurance at all. it is offered through my place of employment, but is high for someone single and doesn't pay much of a percentage on services. i'm out of pocket 100% on everything. unless it looks like i'm going to bleed out or something is going to fall off, my solution is to avoid doctors (i think they just kill ppl anyway).

i cover all costs for T and will have to save up the cash for surgeries.

ETA: duct tape...works wonders. :)

[key]

if the people on here are wanting the health insurance reform package (hopefully) being voted on this weekend. So far 99% of the people responding have health insurance and seem to be satisfied with it.

Can I just say to those people who have health insurance now that your coverage will not change.

The only across the board changes are:
.
Insurers CAN NOT drop you when/if you get sick
.
They CAN NOT deny you coverage based on pre-existing condition.
.
They CAN NOT put a lifetime dollar cap on the amount they spend on your care.
.
Children under 26 will be allowed to stay on their parents policies.
.
These changes will affect everybody. Everything else in the bill is directed at those who do not have insurance now (me and a lot of self employed people).


Lets get 30 million Americans health care who don't have it now ok? I have another thread on here about passing the bill. Titled "Fix then Pass the Health Care Bill". Well, fixing time is over, we just have to pass what we have and go from there.


Here is a simple overview of the bill put out by Kiaser. Please read, if you care. And please call your congress critter and ask them to vote for this bill.
.
http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/8023-S.pdf
.
.

[dreadgeek]

I absolutely want this bill to pass! I would very strongly *prefer* if the Democrats had the ovaries to pass a single-payer plan but since they *don't* have the ovaries for that this will have to do for now. It's not for my own benefit that I want the health care bill to pass. It is for the benefit of the people at my wife's work who, for the most part, can't afford the minimal coverage they offer now. I want it so that America can join the rest of the civilized world which, for reasons that seem beyond the grasp of the conservative party in America, manage to have real economies and *still* cover all of their citizens through some kind of economic legerdemain beyond the ken of Americans for some reason.

Cheers
Aj




if the people on here are wanting the health insurance reform package (hopefully) being voted on this weekend. So far 99% of the people responding have health insurance and seem to be satisfied with it.

Can I just say to those people who have health insurance now that your coverage will not change.

The only across the board changes are:
.
Insurers CAN NOT drop you when/if you get sick
.
They CAN NOT deny you coverage based on pre-existing condition.
.
They CAN NOT put a lifetime dollar cap on the amount they spend on your care.
.
Children under 26 will be allowed to stay on their parents policies.
.
These changes will affect everybody. Everything else in the bill is directed at those who do not have insurance now (me and a lot of self employed people).


Lets get 30 million Americans health care who don't have it now ok? I have another thread on here about passing the bill. Titled "Fix then Pass the Health Care Bill". Well, fixing time is over, we just have to pass what we have and go from there.


Here is a simple overview of the bill put out by Kiaser. Please read, if you care. And please call your congress critter and ask them to vote for this bill.
.
http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/8023-S.pdf
.
.

[Apocalipstic]

if the people on here are wanting the health insurance reform package (hopefully) being voted on this weekend. So far 99% of the people responding have health insurance and seem to be satisfied with it.

Can I just say to those people who have health insurance now that your coverage will not change.

The only across the board changes are:
.
Insurers CAN NOT drop you when/if you get sick
.
They CAN NOT deny you coverage based on pre-existing condition.
.
They CAN NOT put a lifetime dollar cap on the amount they spend on your care.
.
Children under 26 will be allowed to stay on their parents policies.
.
These changes will affect everybody. Everything else in the bill is directed at those who do not have insurance now (me and a lot of self employed people).


Lets get 30 million Americans health care who don't have it now ok? I have another thread on here about passing the bill. Titled "Fix then Pass the Health Care Bill". Well, fixing time is over, we just have to pass what we have and go from there.


Here is a simple overview of the bill put out by Kiaser. Please read, if you care. And please call your congress critter and ask them to vote for this bill.
.
http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/8023-S.pdf
.
.

I absolutely want this bill to pass! I would very strongly *prefer* if the Democrats had the ovaries to pass a single-payer plan but since they *don't* have the ovaries for that this will have to do for now. It's not for my own benefit that I want the health care bill to pass. It is for the benefit of the people at my wife's work who, for the most part, can't afford the minimal coverage they offer now. I want it so that America can join the rest of the civilized world which, for reasons that seem beyond the grasp of the conservative party in America, manage to have real economies and *still* cover all of their citizens through some kind of economic legerdemain beyond the ken of Americans for some reason.

Cheers
Aj

Yes, I do have insurance, but I would far rather see a one-payer system for everyone. I am brokenhearted that the Bill is so watered down from what it could and should be.

I do not get why people are so ardently interested in voting against their own best interests. So selfish.

And, as an aside, "congress critters" is brilliant!

[MsMerrick]

Tell us your stories both good and bad. If you're comfortable doing so, tell us:

1. How much you pay out of pocket
2. What state you live in
3. What industry you work in
4. If you are self employed
5. Does it include partner benefits
6. Anything else

Thanks for playing!

AND! It's multiple Choice!

No, I don't have Health Insurance, and have not had it for many years.
I live in NY State
I work in a Service Industry, aka I'm a private Chef.
I am not self employed.
I have been without Insurance for./. many years, more than a decade.
I use alternative practitioners, a lot, acupuncture, chiropractic.
When you pay out of pocket, a lot of stuff , doesn't happen. The last couple years this has become problematic for me
I still won't be able to afford Insurance under the Bill.
I hope its a good thing, but at the moment, I only see that I will be penalized, and yes i know about the subsidies. Someone like me who works, makes less than 30k a year, will "only" have to pay $300 a month, for something that will do pretty much nothing for me, and will mean I won't be able to afford to do those things that actually keep me healthy.
I was very much an advocate of single payer, and of actual reform or making Insurance companies non profits, as they are in a number of countries.
I see no positives .. a bit here and there, for a handful,. maybe.. But with no cap , no way of regulating the Insurance Industry, I don't see any incentive for them to stop making billions of peoples pain.
So what if they have to take you with a pre existing condition. They did take you before, they just wouldn't pay for that condition, for 12 months. If they can raise and raise the premiums, where is the benefit ?
I don't see where teh benefits are, other than to the President, in that he gets it passed.. Which is somewhat in my interest but not a lot.

[MsDemeanor]

if the people on here are wanting the health insurance reform package (hopefully) being voted on this weekend. So far 99% of the people responding have health insurance and seem to be satisfied with it.

My premiums went up over 50% last year on a plan purchased in the private marketplace that I don't use because companies drop individual subscribers when they file claims. Happy? No, I'm fucking pissed! If we can't get single payer, then I'd at least like to get away from this whore insurance agency and be able to purchase something reasonably priced that I can actually use.

[Kat]

I want it so that America can join the rest of the civilized world which, for reasons that seem beyond the grasp of the conservative party in America, manage to have real economies and *still* cover all of their citizens through some kind of economic legerdemain beyond the ken of Americans for some reason.

Since this bill will pass without a single Republican vote, and without many conservative Democrat votes, conservatives can't really be blamed for abandonment of the "single-payer" dream before negotiation even started.

Blame, instead, the fact that the three branches of the federal government serve at the pleasure of corporate America.

[Apocalipstic]

Since this bill will pass without a single Republican vote, and without many conservative Democrat votes, conservatives can't really be blamed for abandonment of the "single-payer" dream before negotiation even started.

Blame, instead, the fact that the three branches of the federal government serve at the pleasure of corporate America.

Agreed, and the Democrats have been total wimps about this. I am so incredibly sad about it all. Starting with the President.

[Mindy]

I'm not currently employed, so, I have no insurance. Many of the places I have worked, though, didn't even offer insurance to the employees.

[Daywalker]

:worried:

I'm just grateful to have the GA System, such as it is...as my current 'Health
Insurance'. For many many years I had Kaiser, from when I was a child up
until I moved to TN. From there, I had Humana...and as some of you may
remember, I was forced to leave that job due to them dropping the Health
Insurance and not telling me until after.
:|
I was there 4 years, and the Insurance was part of my hiring package.

The Dealership could no longer afford the rate increase, which trickled
down to mean that no one at that place had coverage anymore.
Some of the staff had been there 15-20 years.

I got Humana again upon taking another position at another TN Dealership.

I never took it for granted, and always felt very fortunate to have it.
:nurseshot:
I miss being fully Insured.
I really really miss it.


:sadangel:


:daywalker:

[theoddz]

Since this bill will pass without a single Republican vote, and without many conservative Democrat votes, conservatives can't really be blamed for abandonment of the "single-payer" dream before negotiation even started.

Blame, instead, the fact that the three branches of the federal government serve at the pleasure of corporate America.

And it seems that more and more Americans are waking up to this fact...which is a very hopeful sign.

Since emerging from the Great Depression and WWII, America has enjoyed "good times". We've had financial prosperity and society and advanced technology have brought us, as a society, to a high standard of living, complete with many luxuries and high styles of living. I find it particularly disturbing and disgusting that many Americans, especially since this issue of public health care has been being addressed, have seemed to adopt this attitude of "I've got mine, so fuck you.". The people with power and influence these days are especially unconcerned with the public good. They are, themselves, secure, so the issue of the common good doesn't appeal or even concern them. This is why we see our elected and appointed public officials openly and unashamedly "on the take" with big business. I always wonder what kind of culture we have that even allows for this kind of arrogance. Our elected officials wouldn't think of exhibiting such shameful attitudes to the general public if they didn't think they could get away with it.

Well, now the piper has come......and he wants his due. The fat cat owes the piper and so does the American people....for allowing the fat cat to prosper while we were distracted and complacent.

I firmly believe that America has been asleep. We have become fat, overindulged and spoiled. We're not "hungry" anymore. We feel "entitled" and desire instant gratification with minimal effort. We'd rather be entertained, engrossed in other less demanding affairs, rather than actively becoming involved and participating in the affairs of our government.

Plato said, "The penalty good men pay for ignorance of public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.", and he was so very, very right. Rome fell from within, as this great country is getting ready to do if we don't wake up and take a stand. We need to stop patting ourselves on the back for the legacy that our proud ancestry left to us with this country.

Unseating the devil is a hefty and daunting task, but it can be done. For the first time in many, many years, the young people of this country woke up, stood up, stood together and joined with the older citizenry and voted for a change, which was to come in the form of victory for who was thought to be the most unlikely victor.....Barack Obama. Mr. Obama may or may not turn out to be what we all had hoped he would be, and he may or may not be able to totally change this country around. The important thing that stands out in my mind is that the spirit that elected him is alive and can be mobilized to take this country back. We just have to become "hungry" again.

The wealthy elite make up only 1% of this country's population. The rest of us....the 99%, have one BIG thing that the 1% fear......there's more of us than there are of them and we still have the VOTE. That's pretty powerful, and it sure is damned hopeful. We just need to get our collective arses in gear and become involved.

America is going to see a new Revolution. There is an almost tangible feeling in the air these days. I've been feeling it for the past couple of years. When Mr. Obama was elected, it was like you could touch it. We're on the brink of something, folks, but we're going to have to find a way for that 99% of us to come together on some kind of common ground. The bickering and greed has to be put aside and we have to start looking at a larger picture. That larger picture means taking this country back for the people who live here.

America needs to redefine and gather her collective wit. We need to remember where we've come from so that we can better understand to know where we're going.

Sorry for the derail, peeps, but I really feel a bit better now that I've gotten my thoughts out on this.

Respectfully,
~Theo~ :bouquet:

[Bit]

1. How much you pay out of pocket Nothing--can't afford any of it.

2. What state you live in was AZ, now KS

3. What industry you work in freelance writing

4. If you are self employed yes

5. Does it include partner benefits n/a

6. Anything else

I've been very lucky to be able to write in recent months; up to this point I've been unable to work at all due to my disabilities. Most people think I ought to just go apply for Social Security Disability. They don't want to hear that it doesn't work that way; my three disabilities are all officially "moderate" and no matter how many people someone may know who got on SSDI with "less serious conditions than you have, Cath!" unless a doctor were willing to certify me "severely disabled" I will not qualify.

Unfortunately for me, because I was sidelined by the fibromyalgia and PCOS for most of my adult life, I also do not have enough quarters worked to qualify for SSDI, which leaves SSI. In Kansas, if you live with another person, you don't get SSI. This is the terrible burden on my friend with the aneurysm in her brain; she MUST live alone in order to keep her income. She gets $500 a month to pay for everything--including her $390 rent which only leaves $110 a month for food and utilities--and while her medical care is paid for, her dental care is not. Her teeth are literally rotting out of her head and she has no way to see a dentist, not even a subsidized dentist. She's explored every option in the system, and in the end, this is what she qualifies for as a disabled adult with no minor children: $500 a month.

Gryph has health insurance available at work; it's $100 a paycheck for a plan with a $1500 deductible. There is no way we can afford to spend $200 a month for the privilege of then NOT spending the $1500 we don't have... how stupid!

The system is broken. It is utterly broken.

[TIMBERWOLF]

1. How much you pay out of pocket About $300 a month to WT to cover what they take out of her check
2. What state you live in Texas
3. What industry you work in Medical
4. If you are self employed No
5. Does it include partner benefits I'm on WT's as Domestic partner.She doesn't pay for her, but i do as a partner.
6. Anything else It's a PPO w/$2000 deductible.$25 for office visits,$50 for Specialist plus whatever my meds costs there is a co pay.
My Insurance kicks in 90 days. Not sure how much it will be but i think cheaper than $300.
And i hope I can get my colonoscopy this year without having to pay out of pocket($2,000+)
TIMBER

[julieisafemme]

1. How much you pay out of pocket Everything up to a yearly $3500 deductible.

2. What state you live in California

3. What industry you work in Financial Services

4. If you are self employed No

5. Does it include partner benefits No

6. Anything else Insurance is offered through my work but the plan is too expensive. Small business owners are being beaten down as far as the ability to offer plans. The insurance costs are ridiculous even for groups.

Also I am stuck with the plan I have as I am uninsurable.

[TheBellyBionic]

I was looking for the "I have it, but it's such a crappy plan that it's all but useless" option.

1. How much you pay out of pocket
Nothing, my company pays 100%
2. What state you live in
Oregon
3. What industry you work in
Customer service call center for a really crappy cell phone company
4. If you are self employed
nope
5. Does it include partner benefits
I don't think so
6. Anything else
We're supposed to think it's fantastic that our company pays all of our premiums, but what they're paying for has really low premiums because we have ridiculously high copays and deductibles and it doesn't cover much of anything. Our vision plan pays for one eye exam per year with a $20 copay. That's it. Dental coverage pays 70% of exams and fillings, and 50% of x-rays. Medical has a $1000 deductible, $20-40 copay, and an 80% cap on everything. Basically, I have health insurance that I can't afford to use.

[Diavolo]

I'm with TheBellyBionic. It's such a crappy plan that it will only kick in if I am run over by a bus. That wasn't on there.

1. How much you pay out of pocket -$300 month for a $2700 deductable
2. What state you live in -California
3. What industry you work in -Real Estate
4. If you are self employed -Yes
5. Does it include partner benefits -I'm not sure that it includes any benefit to me, can't imagine they would cover anyone else.
6. Anything else -I get it through the realtors board. I can't get it on my own because in February 2008 I went to the emergency room with tachycardiomyopathy. In my case it's completely benign and brought on by extreme stress, (or rather an asshole boss who was trying to fire me for being homosexual). But it doesn't matter to the insurance companies, I'm uninsurable on a private plan.

[turasultana]

1. How much you pay out of pocket - ~ 350 /month
2. What state you live in -NY

3. What industry you work in - Contract employee for too big to fail bank (insurance thru agency)

4. If you are self employed -No

5. Does it include partner benefits - not sure

6. Anything else - its pricey but ok. united healthcare which some docs won't take (I've heard the negotiated fees are really low). But teaching hospitals all take it so all my docs are thru beth israel. And I do my best to get my money's worth! :)

[fiercegrrl]

while uninsured (i am young and thought fairly healthy) i got diagnosed with ovarian cancer. i will never ever be able to get or afford health insurance unless i win the lottery. so far i have stumbled across some people who called in favors to doctors they know and a lot of my medical needs are being covered. but, will have to get creative for the night in the ER this week. if i can't find a way to get that covered i am gonna be in trouble. and there will probably be more ER visits in the coming months. no fun, i hope the health care system changes sooner rather than later.

[Boots13]

1. How much you pay out of pocket
approx. $60 mo.

2. What state you live in
Washington

3. What industry you work in
Municipal Government

4. If you are self employed
No

5. Does it include partner benefits
Partner benefits are available. The cost is less than what I pay, though at the
end of the year I am taxed on the value of the benefit that my partner receives.

6. Anything else
Copays and Meds (generic) are minimal costs, I do know how utterly fortunate I
am to have this. And throughout my career I've been blessed to only utilize emergency
care (outside of the job) less than a handful of times.

State Labor and Industries are a completely different story - grrr.

We are involved in contract negotiations this year and I know the cost for personal
medical benefits will undoubtedly change drastically. I just dont know how the City can
possibly offer what they have in the past.

[Andrea]

1. How much you pay out of pocket: We pay about $150 a month for insurance through my employer that covers both of us, and $15 per doctor visit.

2. What state you live in: California

3. What industry you work in: I am a paper pusher for the State of California

4. If you are self employed: No

5. Does it include partner benefits: See answer #1

6. Anything else: Rene's transition allows us to be covered as a married couple. It was much more expensive as registered domestic partners.

The insurance coverage is one of the reasons I am a government employee at reduced income and three unpaid furlough days per month.

[o222Good]

1. How much you pay out of pocket - $0 and $0 copays, $5 copay for prescriptions, Dental $0

2. What state you live in - NY

3. What industry you work in - Education

4. If you are self employed - No

5. Does it include partner benefits - Yes, and family, as in children

6. Anything else - I am very lucky. But! I have experienced doctors who try to get me on maintenance drugs so I have to keep coming back. The insurance pays so little that they get a few extra office visits a year. For example, ten years ago a doctor said I had a sluggish thyroid. I had to come back every three months for a script. The side effects were horrible, so I took myself off and changed doctors. Recently, a new doctor (without my medical history) ordered blood work. When we discussed the results, I asked how my thyroid was. My thyroid was perfectly fine. Thyroid disease doesn't just improve, it's a lifetime of meds. So I believe my suspicions were correct. Another problem is my dental insurance is too good. For me but not for the doctor. They are always pushing me to have work done that is not covered. And don't get me started on the dental profession! The only medical profession that is completely unregulated and unmonitored! Anyway, the way I see it is, everyone has to make their mortgage payment, and if the doctors aren't making enough money off of someone with good insurance, they'll try to find a way.

[morningstar55]

1. How much you pay out of pocket: $100 per month and co-pays

2. What state you live in: NY but soon CA

3. What industry you work in: IT

4. If you are self employed: No.

5. Does it include partner benefits: Yes

6. Anything else: I actually miss the Canadian Health Care system.

whats the canadian health care like??

[CherryFemme]

1. How much you pay out of pocket -- 100%. I pray to all gods daily that I will not get sick or break something.
2. What state you live in --- Hawaii

3. What industry you work in --- That is the problem... unemployed student.

We have something here called "Quest". Provided by the Hawaii State Department of Human Services, QUEST-ACE covers outpatient physician visits, inpatient hospital stays, emergency room services, dental treatments, prescription drug costs and mental health care .

This free health insurance is available for single adults with incomes of no more than $2,078 per month or $24,936 per year. For married adults, the family income limits are $2,794 per month or $33,528 per year(http://www.med-quest.us/eligibility/EligPrograms_QUEST.html).

I have been "denied" three times by Quest since I lost my job and health insurance. At this point, my understanding of the situation is this: everyone gets denied more than once as a part of the application process, since the state is basically bankrupt. I know 5 other people who are as unemployed as I am, and they too are denied. No one at Quest can tell why exactly WHY I am denied, although I have been told that since I do not have biological children, I am at the bottom of the list. (My un-offical hanai children do not count)

I feel like Quest and health coverage is like a plate of my favorite chicken wings that dissapears into thin air when I try to grab a piece.

~CF


:confused:[/QUOTE]

[Linus]

whats the canadian health care like??



Actually, pretty good from my and my family's point of view. My grandmother had quad by-pass surgery last year (she chose to wait until after the holidays and the doc said she was fit enough to do that). It cost her a whopping $50 for the ambulance. That was it. Everything else, including a semi-private room, was paid for by gov't. As citizens, when we put in our taxes and Employment insurance payments it's pooled and that is used by Health Care Canada to distribute amongst the provinces. The provinces must use the money for health care. They are required to cover certain basics (e.g., accidents, emergency, long term care, etc.) but then can adjust as need (e.g., dental, eye, other services, etc.).

The biggest plus: less stress. If I broke my arm, I could go into any hospital that has an ER and get it addressed. If I think I have a cold, I can go to any doctor's clinic (there were a lot in many cities and are meant for these kinds of things) and get help/advice. Ontario even introduced a nurse hotline for those kinds of questions (e.g., I have a fever of 104 and am puking up purple stuff.. what should I do.?).

All provinces have electronic records (the provinces have exremely strict guidelines for privacy -- moreso than the US does) so that means I just present my card, they swipe it and can see age, where I live and that's it. If they get an ok from me, then they can call my GP for records related specifically to health. I don't have to fill out a thousand times the same forms over and over again when going to the same place.

Not having these options here in the US (at least from my experience thus far in NYC) has caused me frustration and worry. I wonder if I got hurt or had a medical event would I be able to get help? Will my insurance cover it? Will I be discriminated against? The bill is an improvement but still much more needs to be done.

[Andrew, Jr.]

Q. How much do you pay for your out of pocket healthcare?

$700 to $1000 a month with insurance - alot of stress & worry over this cost

Q. What state are you in?

Northeast


Q. What industry do you work in?

Manufacturing


Q. Are you self-employed?

No

Q. Does it include partner benefits?

Yes

Q. Anything else?

I am uninsurable having diabetes, neurological disorders, seizures, and so on. This new bill is a welcome relief, only if it does hold up and continues on. I hope and pray for progress.

[zannadyke]

1. How much you pay out of pocket
For myself and family (whether I am married, partnered or just have kids) about $200 per paycheck---I get paid every two weeks. My copays are: $10 for maintenance meds per month, $5 for one time fill meds generic, and $15 non generic. In network doc visits $0, out of network $20. Psych visits are 15 to 20 per calendar year and they cost $25. Specialist copay in network $5. Out of network $25.
2. What state you live in
I live in Pennsylvania
3. What industry you work in
I work in healthcare (therapy/rehab-physical disabilities)
4. If you are self employed
N/A
5. Does it include partner benefits
Actually, my company is very proactive with the partner benefit thing. They have coverage in healthcare-medical/psychological, dental, eyecare for same-sex/different-sex partners for employees. If I stay in network (within the healthcare system that I work), my copays are minimal to nothing, and all hospital stays and fees are waived for whoever in covered under my insurance plan---luckily the network healthcare system for which I work is associated with "Jeff-now" which includes a multitude of area hospitals and healthcare centers in the SE PA area)
6. Anything else
See above---I junked it all together under #5

[Queenie]

I have no idea how much it is. Because it comes out of my husband's pay. And it's to do with the amount of tax he pays. I really have no idea how it all works. I feel rather dumb about it. Really.

I live in london.

Before I moved to london and got married. I did not have health insurance for over ten years. I didn't have the money while I was in the states to have health insurance.

I had back pain for years in states I couldn't do anything about it. I moved to london and my soon to be husband made me go and see a doctor about it. I got an MRI and then was told I had a tumor inside my spine and that the tumor was rather big. I had half of it taken out and then I had 6 weeks of radiotherapy.

I am by no means in good health from the tumor. Everyday is a day filled with pain. It really is utter hell. But if I was still in the states where would I be? Would I be even able to walk at the moment? I will never bitch about the NHS as they did save my life.

Is the NHS perfect? Hell no! It can rather suck at times. But like everything else it does have it's good points.
Like I don't mind having to pay £7.15 for prescription. That's so cheap! I even get birth control for free.

[BoDy*ShOt]

1. How much you pay out of pocket
hmmm...i don't really know - i just pay it b/c it's a necessary evil for my son and myself
2. What state you live in
Texas
3. What industry you work in
banking/mortgage services
4. If you are self employed
n/a
5. Does it include partner benefits
partner benefits are available, but as i am single, i don't utilize it.
6. Anything else
i miss the NHS

[Rufusboi]

I have no idea how much it is. Because it comes out of my husband's pay. And it's to do with the amount of tax he pays. I really have no idea how it all works. I feel rather dumb about it. Really.

I live in london.

Before I moved to london and got married. I did not have health insurance for over ten years. I didn't have the money while I was in the states to have health insurance.

I had back pain for years in states I couldn't do anything about it. I moved to london and my soon to be husband made me go and see a doctor about it. I got an MRI and then was told I had a tumor inside my spine and that the tumor was rather big. I had half of it taken out and then I had 6 weeks of radiotherapy.

I am by no means in good health from the tumor. Everyday is a day filled with pain. It really is utter hell. But if I was still in the states where would I be? Would I be even able to walk at the moment? I will never bitch about the NHS as they did save my life.

Is the NHS perfect? Hell no! It can rather suck at times. But like everything else it does have it's good points.
Like I don't mind having to pay £7.15 for prescription. That's so cheap! I even get birth control for free.



My partner is from England. She misses the NHS too. She doesn't understand all the fear of it here in the States. She has health ins here but I do not and her company does not have partner benefits. She has requested them the last two years but gets the "we are looking into for next year; followed a few weeks later with "we have decided no."

Oh well I guess we could always move to England. I hate the cold and damp though.

Rufus

[Medusa]

I gotta change my vote.

Jack just got a SWEET job here in Arkansas where they have domestic partner insurance so both of us now have full medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.

I'm fucking ecstatic!

[Venus007]

1. How much you pay out of pocket $89.00 biweekly with a 3500 deductible and 30 for office visits and 50 for specialists, also 150 for ED visits that do not lead to an admission
2. What state you live in TX
3. What industry you work in Education
4. If you are self employed No
5. Does it include partner benefits No
6. Anything else I have kinda expensive crappy insurance, many many things are not covered, I have CIGNA. It states in the coverage guideline for things that are not covered that "Even if medically necessary, and it is the only treatment option" it is still not covered. humph!

[Princess4u]

1. How much you pay out of pocket n/a
2. What state you live in TN
3. What industry you work in nurse but on work comp now
4. If you are self employed no
5. Does it include partner benefits hell no this is the bible belt babes...
6. Anything else
I am on work comp from being kicked in the back by a patient. So my medical expenses are covered by work comp thus far. But my other medical needs arent covered. I investigated getting the state ins calledl TNcare. But that is for ppl who are low income. Hell they get better coverage on TNCARE then I get working and paying for my ins. Of course with other medical conditions I cant afford to pay out of pocket for coverage. So, I do without asthma meds, and other medications as well as annually perscribed diagnostics to follow an on going condition.

[Medusa]

The numbers actually WAY different than what I expected! I thought there would be more folks without insurance.

[Trishagee]

1. How much you pay out of pocket - I pay approximately $120 per month, $20 co-pays and since I am on a deductible share plan with Kaiser they also send bills after each service, ranging from $40 - $300 depending on what my visit was for...

2. What state you live in - California

3. What industry you work in - Property Management

4. If you are self employed - no

5. Does it include partner benefits - no

6. Anything else - due to my co-share for a surgery last year being over $2,000, I realized that the plan my employer offers is not good for someone who has on-going medical issues. I am lucky my partner works in healthcare, for a major hospital in L.A. which offers amazing benefits. This summer I will be added to her plan which will cost me appx $60 per months and $10 co-pays and no cost share.... I do realize how blessed I am!

[diamondrose]

1. How much you pay out of pocket: I pay about 80 dollars a month. Co pay for doctors is $15 ,dentist $50 once a year,and perscriptions $15

2. What state you live in: georgia

3. What industry you work in: retail

4. If you are self employed: no

5. Does it include partner benefits: no

6. Anything else- my insurance includes medical, dental, perscription, short and long term disability, payed benfits when using short term disability, accidential insurance on and off the job.