Imponderables: Ball And Chain
POSTED BY: nvghostrider
UPDATED: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 15:03
VIEWED: 15244
PAGE 10 of 11
Quote:
Originally posted by MSB:
Rugbug ( and FMF since she asked)
Assurant Health individual policy for ages 25-45 is $110 per month for complete coverages... check it out:)
It may be inexpensive...that doesn't mean someone can qualify for it. Individual plans are notoriously hard to qualify for. You must be in near perfect health. The underwriting process is extensive and there are three tiers of risk that are acceptable. The price above is no doubt for the best risk category. If you are on a maintenance type medication, you will be flat out denied.
If someone is self-employed in an industry that has a trust, they may be able to be a part of that trust and get insurance through them. Otherwise, they better hope they are HEALTHY and can make it through underwriting.
Quote:
HUGS Rugbug...yeah see this is why though i think the woman should have been better prepared and all, I really htink we need national health 'cause no one should have to choose between health care and paying bills...
Better prepared may or may not have played into this scenario. It's possible that even if she was better prepared, she still wouldn't have qualified. I talk to many people every week who are taken in by the rates they hear for individual coverage. They would rather pay $87/month over the $200 or so that pay for group coverage. 'course that is before they go through individual underwriting and are either rated up or denied. Group cover is much more extensive than individual, doesn't usually carry the same exclusions and limitations not to mention deductible issues.
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"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw
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Yeah it defintiely sucks... we so need universal health care.. Assurant isn't as picky about the pre-exisitings 'cause they insured my sis in law and she has MS ( it was a bit more expensive, but they did it)
Health care bites... and like I said no one should have to choose between bills and going to the doctor.
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Love doesn't make the world go 'round; love is what makes the ride worthwhile.
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Quote:
Originally posted by MSB:
Assurant isn't as picky about the pre-exisitings 'cause they insured my sis in law and she has MS ( it was a bit more expensive, but they did it)
Wowzers. I took a look at those plans and let's just say they are crap. The least expensive plan for me is $180.41/month and has a $3500 deductible (everything, including office visits, is subject to the deductible which means you really have no coverage until you hit that deductible), it has a 50% co-insurance (um, ouch), and the OOP is $5500, so with the 50% co-insurance, you should pretty much plan on paying $5500 a year + the $180/month premium.
To make this plan even slightly resemble a group plan, it would cost around $465.60/month (similar to or more expensive than a group plan premiums and that still has a maternity exclusion). That doesn't even bring up if there are enough providers in your area to keep you on the 'in-network' benefit level. I can tell you without a doubt that Assurant does not have a provider panel in this area.
Yes, it's coverage, but it's crappy coverage, in my professional and not-so-humble opinion. Sorry to get all tetchy about it, but it's what I do all day long and to say someone could get coverage cheaply is really selling the situation short.
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"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw
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Wow you are much better at research than I am Rugbug ( of course you're a pro) yeah it's crappy, but if there's nothing else available it's a possible alternative to COBRA ( which is hideously expensive to the tune of ...if memory serves $758 per month which is what I meant by cheaply... not that Assurant was cheap, just that it was tons cheaper than alternatives) Still all in all it's not good no matter what. Even if you have an employer with insurance it's still costing you and your employer tons of money for a service you use infrequently... we really need national health care
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Love doesn't make the world go 'round; love is what makes the ride worthwhile.
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holy shit, does anyone know anything about Hondas? srsly, i need someone with expertise @_@
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I still worry about national healthcare too. Don't you think the government will regulate costs to death and make is so that the hospitals struggle to make money? I pretty much imagine our healthcare system taking a turn to be like our education system. Not enough money to provide good service.
If the money dries up then the gifted people will find a different profession to pursue and we'll be stuck with lack luster medical care for all. That doesn't seem like a good alternative either.
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I have resources. What's up FLT?
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Being an artist means not having to avert one's eyes.
-Akira Kurosawa
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well, for a while the AT control unit has been wonky, randomly shutting itself off so i have to shift manually, which wasnt a problem, except when it stopped shifting into third and fourth every time it shut off. so we (me and the bf) got a new unit, and we just put it in today. transmission now works fine, shifts on its own, but the D4 light doesnt stay steady on like its supposed to, it blinks constantly. we can't figure out why it's blinking.
tried shorting the little whatchathing plug near the comp, which allows the comp to output an error code, and it gives us an error code 10 and the check engine light comes on (note, check engine light is OFF when the car is just running, no code check).
now error code 10 means the temperature sensor is bad, but that has nothing to do with the transmission, which should be the only reason the D4 light blinks at all when the car is running. so we're stumped. :-P
*huggs NV*
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Well if anyone can figure it out NV can... he's got mad skills when it comes to fixing and building ( very talented in so many ways)
HUSG FLT I am sorry the car's all wonky
Zeek...hmm well at this point we already have lackluster medical care 'cause most people can't afford it and the medicare system is bogging down. I think what it'll do is drive down med school costs and eventually even out. Sure it won't be Costa Rica, but hey England's nice( or at least better than what we have now)
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Love doesn't make the world go 'round; love is what makes the ride worthwhile.
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MSB, I was curious because what I know of individual insurance tells me it's may be cheap...but if so, it's not good coverage.
And yes, COBRA can be expensive, especially when someone is used to an employer picking up a hefty sum of the premium. Realizing that while you paid $300 for family coverage, your employer paid $1000 for you to have that coverage and ythat ou'll be expected to pay the full $1300 plus a 2% or 10% (based on group size) administration fee while on COBRA, can be schocking.
Quote:
Originally posted by Zeek:
I still worry about national healthcare too. Don't you think the government will regulate costs to death and make is so that the hospitals struggle to make money? I pretty much imagine our healthcare system taking a turn to be like our education system. Not enough money to provide good service.
If the money dries up then the gifted people will find a different profession to pursue and we'll be stuck with lack luster medical care for all. That doesn't seem like a good alternative either.
I'm not completely sure what a nat'l healthcare system would look like, but I would guess that there would be a bigger line drawn in the healthcare sand. Right now, if you are insured, you can get just about any kind of (traditional) treatment. For example, my boss' 92 year-old MIL would had surgery for brain cancer. I think stuff like that will stop. 92 and they're doing brain surgery because 'why not, it's paid for.' America is so afraid of death we've gone above and beyond providing realistic healthcare. I think guidelines would become stricter. I wouldn't mind seeing that. Have knee problems and weigh 300 lbs? Maybe try dieting before you do the knee replacement. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc...same thing. (and this is coming from someone medicated for high cholesterol...I have significant genetic markers and diet did little (brought it down about 10 points...to just under 400
). I think the responsibility for being as healthy as possible will be put back in the hands of the people. I'm all for personal responsibility. One of the biggest problems with universal healthcare is that urgent issues are handled well, but elective situations (knee replacement, etc) often face significant waits. MUCH longer than we do here.
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"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw
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