How do you meet your health care needs?

Thanks for the links, Suzanne. I guess I haven't been paying attention this election year. It's just that, like Barbara, I get so tired of the promises that go unfulfilled after the inauguration ceremony. Every four years it happens.

McCain favors "free-market" solutions? Isn't that what we've had for years and years? The healthcare, insurance, and drug industries won't police themselves and free-market just allows those premiums and doctors'/hospitals' fees to keep soaring.

And "individual responsibility?" Believe me, if you are uninsured, that's the ultimate in responsibility. You exercise, try to eat right, do everything you can to avoid a doctor office or emergancy room visit.

Suzanne's doctor says (I must admit, he sounds a little flippant/insensitive to me) that "We already have universal health care." But the patient he talks about whose $20,000 bill was written off by the hospital? It's not been any part of my experience. We have paid on installments until a balance is down to zero, however long it took. No hospital or doctor ever excused a debt of ours.

Wow, I guess I'm pretty passionate about this issue. Maybe we SHOULD organize!

My Buddy ended up in the ER today. We had to wait in line behind a Monroe prison inmate, could it be that not only did the inmate get preferential treatment but we have to pay for ours and his? Why do the inmates get free health care and the rest of us get punished? By the way, Buddy is okay, it seems his blood pressure has gone through the roof. We will be making changes. Barbara, as long as you are throwing tea in the harbor and not wine, count me in. Caroline

Oh, Caroline! So glad to hear that Buddy is okay.

This happened to Bob a couple of years ago on our way to our daughter and son-in-law's for Christmas Day dinner (thank God we had insurance back then). It was a blood pressure thing with him, too, but it scared me to death.

We need to band together and find a way to solve the healthcare problems!

I have also thought many times (my sister-in-law is a registered nurse working at Stafford Creek Correctional Center) how unfair it is that people convicted of crimes get all their health care needs met and I pay for that, yet can't afford coverage for my own family.

Thank you Judy, I do have some good news. My son called from Afghanistan and the USS Lincoln is now headed out of there and he is on his way home! That will take pressure off my Buddy too.
Thank you for acknowledgeing my post. I don't know why I am bawling, I guess I am relieved Buddy is okay and Paul is coming home.

You have a right to bawl. If I were there, I'd give you a big hug.

Wow, that's great news! A double dose in one day. I couldn't be happier for you. Keep us posted on Paul's homecoming, okay? And thank him, from us, for the incredible things he's done to protect us all.

Barbara... Your original question was: "How do you meet your health care needs?"

My reply is: I take care of myself in the best manner possible, both physically and financially. I work hard to purchase the best insurance that I can afford. I do everything that I can so that I do not become dependent upon anyone else or the government, wherever I live. And, I contribute to worthy charities that assist those unable to take care of themselves. I strive to be a "responsible" citizen of my community.

Some replies on this thread prompt me to ask: When did "professional health care" become an unalienable right of birth?

And, why does anyone think that a governmental bureaucracy can tax "responsible" citizens and then administer any program better than a free-market society can?

Yes ---- Health Care is a Hot Topic. It's about time we started promoting Personal Responsibility in how we take care of our bodies. Big Government is Not the Solution!

In my humble opinion, all based on personal experience, not on opinion polls. ...Howard

Well, sorry I haven't jumped on here before. I am glad to see so many are jumping on the band wagon of the HSA plans. This is a great concept to everyone to help out lowering your costs of health insurance. But is health insurance the major expense? The cost of health care is very expensive. Now, insurance carriers have been mandated by the government on several fronts and all self employeds should be fully aware of this. It used to be a sole proprietor in WA could purchase group health insurance. In our legislatures infinite wisdom, they determined a small employer is two to fifty, leaving the sole proprietor out in the cold. I know insurance brokers petitioned to have this changed but to no avail. Now, just recently (June 12, 2008), federal legislation mandated again. (The Republicans drive this) "A small employer" or "small group" means any person, firm, corporation, partnership, association, political subdivision, sole proprietor, or self-employed individual that is actively engaged in business that employed an average of at least two, but not more than fifty employees, during the previous calendar year and employed at least two employees on the first day of the plan year, is not formed primarily for purposes of busing health insurance, and in which a bona fide employer-employee relationship exists. In determining the number of employees, companies that are affiliated companies, or that are eligible to file a combined tax return for purposes of taxation by this state, shall be considered an employer.

The major key here is to get a group rate, you need two people who are drawing an income from the business. In many cases, when a business qualifies under this, I am able to get them good group health insurance at an affordable rate as a member of the Auburn Area Chamber.

As a broker, with no employees, I too have also selected an HSA plan and promote this concept to all my prospects as it allows you to keep much of your money versus sending it to an insurance company. You also get as one mentioned, vision, dental and over the counter drugs covered. I do suggest strongly you get an insurance agent/broker to help you with this process as it can be cumbersome and it doesn't cost you any more to have this agent/broker. Great topic, but guess I was kind of surprised no one had asked me to help input, but here I am anyway.

Ron, I meant to send you an e-mail because you would add (and have added) much to the conversation. Thanks for the facts on HSA's.

And Howard, regardless of how our political views may differ, I was not suggesting that "Big Government" is the answer. I am a huge proponent of personal responsibility. (In my first year of teaching, as a single parent, my child qualified for federally subsidized free lunch and I did not participate because I had a strong need to provide for my family myself.)

I think what I was trying to say is that the healthcare playing field is not level. I think there is a certain segment whose needs are not being met.

And, yes, we disagree. I think that basic healthcare should be a right, right up there with "life [which you won't have if you consistently can't access healthcare], liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

This is a hot button issue and I'm glad we can "agree to disagree" and still be friends. : )

Judy.. We will always be friends.

On another track, sometime, let's chat (off-line) about the health care situation as it really is in the prison system. Inmates are people too. They just made a mistake, and maybe only one. You might be interested to learn another perspective. ...Howard

Howard, I know your perspective. But why did my husband take a back seat to an inmate? We are paying full price to be there and Buddy did not make any "mistakes". Not all the crimes are "mistakes" many of those inmates are not good people and have hurt others intentionally. The question is why are we paying for thier insurance, for that matter why are we paying for big fat politicians insurance, the mail mans insurance and everybody elses insurance when we cannot affort our own. Our mistake is being self employeed and we are punished. Not all people in prison are good people that made a "mistake".

But see, it's a mistake to vilify a group for having benefits that I don't have ... but believe I should have. For example, certain kids get college tuition that I don't get, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't get it.

When a group of folks receive a benefit that others do not receive, isn't the issue, "what has to happen so that we all receive that?" rather than, let's take the benefit away from "them" because I don't receive it, so neither should they ...

In regards to Buddy taking a back seat (to anyone) for medical care, part of the problem is under-supported hospitals. What's up that anyone has to queue up for care?

Caroline... This is really a tangent conversation and I would love to discuss with you off-line.

I'm sorry that Buddy was relegated to a lesser position in line. Most circumstances in the world do not comply with the ideal of "fair", and many people in positions to make decisions that affect others do not recognize our own feelings of "justice".

When you ask the question of "why we are paying ...?", my opinion is because WE elected the law makers that make the rules and now WE must live by them. If we want different rules, we need to give more consideration to who we elect to represent our views.

Just the humble opinion of one who cannot vote because he once made a mistake. ...Howard

I'm not saying take away inmates' benefits. As living, breathing citizens living in "the land of the free," we should all have access to healthcare. But why single out one segment and give it to them and deny others?

What is hard to swallow is my sister, for instance, never having worked a day in her life and getting basic health, vision and dental care. When you are on the other side of the fence and you have worked hard all your life, it's hard not to wonder about that.

It's the same with college. Poor families get scholarships and federal subsidies. Wealthy families can pay out of pocket. But once again, it's the middle class that suffers.

I have great compassion for the poor. I was a manager at World Vision. I taught English to Vietnamese and Laotian immigration families. I defended their right to be in the schools when students and even teachers didn't want them there.

Still, there must be a way to allow all people this very basic right.

Okay, I'm finished.

I am not vilifying anyone. The folks in jail did that for themselves. I am saying I don't care where they get their benefits as long as I don't have to pay for it. I is my money and I want it. Let the majority pay for their own and then the insuance companies will have to compete for our business instead of us begging and pleading. Social Security is in the same basket. Congress is in no hurry to fix the SS becuase they don't collect. They are guaranteed their salaries until they die. If they had to depend on SS, I bet they would get their butts in gear. The same is with insurance, the decision makers are in no hurry becuase their families are not hurting. We are not hurting for insurance right now either because of Buddy's insurance. But I am worried about people that are not married to Buddy and don't have insurance. When Buddy retires, I guess I could rob a bank and then get medical, after all it is only a mistake.

Barbara... Just wanting to be clear about MY opinion.

Concerning your statement: "And our constitution does say that government exists to provide for the general welfare for its people - which I think does include access to basic health care."

The Constitution says: "...PROMOTE the general welfare..." not PROVIDE. And, I agree that means "access to basic health care", but not funding it.

In my personal experience, I have witnessed two people who made the mistake of choosing to break the law, but otherwise were good people, DIE because of lack of access to basic health care.

They otherwise could have had access but were denied that privilege because they were classified by society as a threat necessary to be incarcerated. For every public example of an inmate receiving "preferential" treatment, there are numerous examples of government malfeasance in providing access to basic health care.

Let's not get into any movement of change IF it starts classifying people as WHO is deserving and WHO is not.

As business people (solo or otherwise) we make the choice as to what business expenses we deem necessary to operation and the setting of our fees to provide our services, just as large corporations can decide if the health benefit expense fits into the price-value of their services.

Let the market determine the price of health care services without over-regulation and let the insurance companies compete for those who do not want to take the chance of personal responsibility, and let the religious and charitable organizations fill in the gap to care for those in need regardless of the reason.

I agree with you that there are alternative methods to take care of ourselves. I think the government needs to let us keep our own money and decide where we want to spend it.

And I ultimately believe that the competition of alternative sources would provide better and more for less. ...Howard

Barbara, what I was referring to if you are doing the HSA correctly, with the savings program, the savings program provides the dental, vision, office call, over the counter Rx, etc., which normally any medical plan will not coiver anyway. Again, each person must take the responsibility for their own lives. Many people do not want government running their lives any more than they are today. If you see the mess Medicare is in, a government medical plan, people may wish to reconsider having government install a universal heatlh care program.

The company I just joined is seeking insurance. Anyone have a recommendation? We have a need to get on this asap so any referrals would be appreciated. Of course, we would like it to be a biznik referral but any competent person or agency would be good. Thanks in advance for the referral.

Well, I disagree with Barbara's recommendation as the client doesn't pay for the broker and a broker is in a position to shop the market for the group and knows the right questions and concerns a client would have. Barbara, do you suggest she contact all the carriers that offer the coverage she is seeking? She indicated they were in a hurry and companies by contrast, normally are not. Terra, I would be happy to assist you in any way I can.