Forums | MacLife

Here in Palm Bay mortgages run ~$900/mth for a 3 bedroom house and the rent on a 3 bedroom apartment runs ~$1200/mth

Some1 wrote:

Farmerkev wrote:

robco wrote:

Let's also not forget the inefficiencies of going through so many middlemen. What value do the insurance companies add? Isn't it more important to have a choice of providers rather than insurers?

Employer-sponsored HSA's are great if your employer has them. You're also limited as to how much can be put in the HSA every year. For most folks who have a hard enough time paying their mortgage and saving, HSAs are a nice idea, but not very viable.

They work wonderfully for me as a private individual.

Who gives a smurf about all those moochers who can't afford healthcare and don't have it as part of their job, it's their fault for not trying hard enough. Or all those leeches with pre-existing conditions that can't get health insurance and are as a result bogged down in medical costs.

A healthy society sure as hell wouldn't be more productive than an unhealthy one, especially if the evil government is running the show.

Actually I'm on record here supporting expanding Medicaid for those that need it (means testing) and regulatory changes on the health and insurance industries.

Farmerkev wrote:

Some1 wrote:

Farmerkev wrote:

They work wonderfully for me as a private individual.

Who gives a smurf about all those moochers who can't afford healthcare and don't have it as part of their job, it's their fault for not trying hard enough. Or all those leeches with pre-existing conditions that can't get health insurance and are as a result bogged down in medical costs.

A healthy society sure as hell wouldn't be more productive than an unhealthy one, especially if the evil government is running the show.

Actually I'm on record here supporting expanding Medicaid for those that need it (means testing) and regulatory changes on the health and insurance industries.

I think you would find your posts better received if you did more advocacy of things you wanted instead of playing the apologist for people you don't even agree with.
I have been here in these forums for many years so I know you're not a crank but if one had to judge from the last year or so the conclusion might be different.

Pariah wrote:

Farmerkev wrote:

Some1 wrote:

Who gives a smurf about all those moochers who can't afford healthcare and don't have it as part of their job, it's their fault for not trying hard enough. Or all those leeches with pre-existing conditions that can't get health insurance and are as a result bogged down in medical costs.

A healthy society sure as hell wouldn't be more productive than an unhealthy one, especially if the evil government is running the show.

Actually I'm on record here supporting expanding Medicaid for those that need it (means testing) and regulatory changes on the health and insurance industries.

I think you would find your posts better received if you did more advocacy of things you wanted instead of playing the apologist for people you don't even agree with.
I have been here in these forums for many years so I know you're not a crank but if one had to judge from the last year or so the conclusion might be different.

It gets damned old saying the same thing over and over and over.

The hell of it is, on those stupid political compass tests I always come out just a blond hair right of dead center. I'm a dreaded moderate but around here I look like John Birch in comparison

Pariah wrote:

Farmerkev wrote:

Pariah wrote:

I think you would find your posts better received if you did more advocacy of things you wanted instead of playing the apologist for people you don't even agree with.
I have been here in these forums for many years so I know you're not a crank but if one had to judge from the last year or so the conclusion might be different.

It gets damned old saying the same thing over and over and over.

The hell of it is, on those stupid political compass tests I always come out just a blond hair right of dead center. I'm a dreaded moderate but around here I look like John Birch in comparison

Topics come up from different angles and just cuz you said something related 3 months ago doesn't mean anyone but you remembers.
Then when you do things like waxing maudlin about how the Birthers concerns need to be addressed you do come off as....well...off. (for one example)

Yeah well, I try and show some understanding and respect for you guys too.

Like so?

You could still supply that.

I can imagine why, too!

Farmerkev wrote:

Do you believe there is value to the consumer through business competition or not?

As of right now, I don't have competition. I have two or three plans to pick from at work, only one of which makes any financial sense for me (given my lack of dependents, income, savings, etc.) and they're all from the same company. Any third party plan would cost me three times as much.

So I have health care. But whether Medica treats me well or not, whether they cover me for the things I need or not, I'm stuck with them.

Assuming it's not another Hobson's Choice, a state health co-op or a federally run public option insurer would double my options.

<cynic>Also, the choices-and-competition-are-good principle only really holds if the consumer is informed. I suspect most people aren't terribly informed when it comes to medicine. Unfortunately, it seems a few people make a lot of money if the masses remain largely ignorant. Side effects may include blanket diagnosis of an entire generation of children with ADD, physicians writing prescriptions for drugs you don't need for conditions you only think you have because you saw them on TV, and flatulence with oily discharge.</cynic>

ScifiterX wrote:

dv wrote:

Farmerkev wrote:

Do you believe there is value to the consumer through business competition or not?

As of right now, I don't have competition. I have two or three plans to pick from at work, only one of which makes any financial sense for me (given my lack of dependents, income, savings, etc.) and they're all from the same company. Any third party plan would cost me three times as much.

So I have health care. But whether Medica treats me well or not, whether they cover me for the things I need or not, I'm stuck with them.

Assuming it's not another Hobson's Choice, a state health co-op or a federally run public option insurer would double my options.

<cynic>Also, the choices-and-competition-are-good principle only really holds if the consumer is informed. I suspect most people aren't terribly informed when it comes to medicine. Unfortunately, it seems a few people make a lot of money if the masses remain largely ignorant. Side effects may include blanket diagnosis of an entire generation of children with ADD, physicians writing prescriptions for drugs you don't need for conditions you only think you have because you saw them on TV, and flatulence with oily discharge.</cynic>

It also helps when the companies aren't operating like trusts. That is to say actually competing rather than only having a presence in a given territory to give the appearance of competition while avoiding any actual competition.

I'm 47.
My HSA costs me $132/month
Total for all 4 of us is $ 331/month

Now see how much it would be if one of you had ever had cancer. Or a heart attack or stroke. Or mental health issues. Or was HIV+. You'd see those rates skyrocket - if they would even give you coverage. If you were diabetic, you'd drain that HSA every year buying testing supplies and insulin.  Likewise if you take any prescription meds on a regular basis.

robco wrote:

Now see how much it would be if one of you had ever had cancer. Or a heart attack or stroke. Or mental health issues. Or was HIV+. You'd see those rates skyrocket - if they would even give you coverage. If you were diabetic, you'd drain that HSA every year buying testing supplies and insulin.  Likewise if you take any prescription meds on a regular basis.

My wife has pre-existing conditions. The last 23 years in fact.