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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 357
     Location: Canada | Could someone give me a quick rundown of how your healthcare system works? I often read posts on it and don't fully understand the situation but would like to. (I'm Canadian)
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 BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
          Location: Bastrop, Texas | Whit37 - 2015-02-11 1:13 PM
Could someone give me a quick rundown of how your healthcare system works? I often read posts on it and don't fully understand the situation but would like to. (I'm Canadian)
I'm not very confident there is any way of giving you a "quick rundown" on US healthcare, honestly. If you wait a few more years, you won't need one because it will be just like Canada's. |
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 Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
    Location: Missouri | Bear - 2015-02-11 12:04 PM Red Raider - 2015-02-09 1:43 PM As a self-employed business owner, I was totally screwed on looking for cheaper insurance for just me. What saved my hide somewhat was being able to buy through a pool organized by the State Bar for us solo-practioner attorneys. I pay about $333 per month and think my deductible is $7500 with BCBS of Texas. You might want to check through AQHA or other organizations (like AAA) to see if you qualify for cheaper insurance as part of a bigger pool of people. I didn't read every post here, but I don't have to. I think what Red Raider has is a good example of what most people should have. If the vast majority of Americans had this kind of insurance, without government meddling, we would see a drastic decline in healthcare costs. Basically, the first $7500 of what she pays for healthcare each year comes out of her pocket. Insurance doesn't have anything to do with it. What she has is basically catastrophic health insurance. When people have to pay for anything out of pocket, they shop around.....unless they are stupid. They are quick to learn where you get the best quality for the lowest price. Also, they tend to think twice before running to the ER for a stubbed toe, or the doctors office for a cold. That's what happens now. The system is overwhelmed by people who don't stop to think, so long as they are "covered". There are days when I might see say 25 people in the clinic, and only about 10 of them really need to be there. Another thing I notice is people actually complaining that they can't afford say $500-600 a month for health insurance. A lot of those same people don't think twice about paying $800 a month for a new pickup every 5 years. We have some pretty screwed up priorities in America, in my opinion. There is only one possible way that we can preserve good health care that we can afford. It's so logical it isn't even funny. It's simple, fair, and is the only solution that has the potential of preserving excellence. All the rest is just bullsh!t.
My husband owns a private practice. We have insurance through his professional organization, but they are not allowed to offer discounts. Basically, it's just a go-between for us and the insurance companies. They help me shop and explain plans, premiums, etc. They can call if I have problems with coverage, and remind me if I'm past due, etc. Our health insurance is the most expensive payment I make each month. My newest car has 250,000 miles and is 11 years old. I think I have a right to complain. I am paying for people who don't. Also, deductible is not the same as out-of-pocket, as I'm sure most know. We have met our $10,000 deductible a few times through the years, and still keep paying to reach our out-of-pocket. $10,000, plus $800/month. How is that NOT devastating? The real kicker... the times I've met my deductible, I would have paid less WITHOUT insurance.
PS Just a guess, but I'm pretty sure the ones who are taking advantage of your services, complaining about the costs, who don't "stop to think" are NOT the same hard-working, self-employed people on this thread. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 953
      
| I don't have insurance because I can't afford it. Its RIDICULOUS. The cheapest insurance I could find had a detectable of $6500 and was still $455 a month. That plan didn't include nothing besides catastrophic, so I still have to pay everything else out of pocket! Good luck on your search. THANKS OBAMA, best president ever..NOT 
Edited by cowgirl156 2015-02-12 10:09 AM
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 Party Girl
Posts: 12293
        Location: Buffalo, Wyoming | My company was going to due away with our insurance a month ago, so I was shopping around like crazy to see what I could find. I am almost 30, never been smoker or had any major issues and there was no way I would have been able to afford to get my own insurance. Thank goodness my company figured out a way they could afford to insure us.
I now pay roughly $104 a month (depending on the month could be more as we get paid every week.) and have a $2500 deductible. I am very thankful for this. The only time I had to go to the DR in the last couple of years is when I did not have insurance and that only was $2500. Before I worked at a Dr's office and we had free health care within the clinic just had to pay for RX's.
I really hope something changes soon as I may be without a job soon (thanks oil prices) and may have to start shopping around again unless I get married and I get be put on my SO's Insurance. |
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 IMA No Hair Style Gal
Posts: 2594
    
| My husband and I are lucky. I am insured through the school district I work for, and pay 60 a month. My deductible is 2500 and I have a health savings account that the district puts 500 on a year that rolls over.
I get free eye and dental too.
My husband pays $30 a month and has a HSA and he gets 800 a year. I am not sure what his deductible is as he handles his insurance and I handle mine.
There was a point that he lost his job so I put him on mine and it jumped up to $600 but I also had the best insurance plan Humana had to offer it was a PPO with a very very low deductible.
I could have opted out of an upgrade and gotten free insurance that the school would pay for.
Insurance and retirement are two additional benefits of being a teacher. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1064
   Location: Idaho | Well 2 days left guys and still not sure what to do! :( |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
      Location: Arkansas | Your "PS" says it perfectly |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
      Location: Arkansas | That's why I said earlier on the thread I think there will be audits to confirm insurance or an overhaul of the program. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1062
   Location: Probably On the Road to the Next Barrel Race! | magic gunsmoke - 2015-02-13 11:17 AM My husband and I are lucky. I am insured through the school district I work for, and pay 60 a month. My deductible is 2500 and I have a health savings account that the district puts 500 on a year that rolls over. I get free eye and dental too. My husband pays $30 a month and has a HSA and he gets 800 a year. I am not sure what his deductible is as he handles his insurance and I handle mine. There was a point that he lost his job so I put him on mine and it jumped up to $600 but I also had the best insurance plan Humana had to offer it was a PPO with a very very low deductible. I could have opted out of an upgrade and gotten free insurance that the school would pay for. Insurance and retirement are two additional benefits of being a teacher. ...don't know what state you live in but teacher retirement in TX is a joke...and the insurance wasn't that great, either.
Edited by CrossCreek 2015-02-13 10:10 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1062
   Location: Probably On the Road to the Next Barrel Race! | EqualRanch - 2015-02-06 8:53 PM I have Blue Cross Blue Shield, of Texas. I know they have multiple options and IF I'm not mistaken, the cheapest is around $350-$400. Just have to check and see.
BCBS of Texas jumped from $750 for myself and husband to $1300/month in less than a year. We just dropped them and now are going catastrophic only for about $375. Horrible, horrible thing, healthcare. I think Obama should be.....well, I guess I can't say that, probably, without going to jail. :( |
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Expert
Posts: 1432
     
| I hate to tell ya what I hve for insurance. You guys might reach thru the computer and strangle me.. :). I pay $140 a month, no deductible, $35 copay for specialists and $25 for regular dr visits. I hve BC/BS. I'm very healthy and rarely go to the doctor.. I'm seriously thnking of quitting my job, that I hate, to train horses full time so I'll be in the same boat as the rest of you pretty soon... |
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