June 11, 200917 yr Just today, my employer provided healthcare coverage is being changed: No longer an ER co-payment, it goes toward the deductable. The deductable has been raised from $500 to $1500/Individual Co payments have gone up $10 Maximum out of pocket annually has gone up from $2500 to $4000/Individual ER Coverage-20% coverage if admitted, after deductable Generic drugs-from $10 to $20 now. Brand Name drugs-from $25 to $40 now Non-Preferred drugs-from $50 to $70 now. Mail order-can now only order twice now So, my cost hasn't gone up, but I can't afford to go to the doctor even WITH insurace.
June 11, 200917 yr Just today, my employer provided healthcare coverage is being changed: No longer an ER co-payment, it goes toward the deductable. The deductable has been raised from $500 to $1500/Individual Co payments have gone up $10 Maximum out of pocket annually has gone up from $2500 to $4000/Individual ER Coverage-20% coverage if admitted, after deductable Generic drugs-from $10 to $20 now. Brand Name drugs-from $25 to $40 now Non-Preferred drugs-from $50 to $70 now. Mail order-can now only order twice now So, my cost hasn't gone up, but I can't afford to go to the doctor even WITH insurace. As you know, your cost HAS gone up in the form of copayments and deductibles.
June 11, 200917 yr Obviously we don't know if it will work(thus, my investment analogy that failed miserably). Companies could obviously change their own plan and essentially push their employees to the govt plan. However, they do so at the risk of losing their employees to a competitor who offers better benefits. Why would any company maintain health insurance for their employees if there was an option not to?
June 11, 200917 yr BTW I don't think its a given that this gets through the House and Senate. Another Dem came out today as being against it after being for it a few months ago. Can you smell the campaign money that's flowing in?Or the sound of constituants flocking to the another candidate.
June 11, 200917 yr Why would any company maintain health insurance for their employees if there was an option not to?Good businessmen won't.
June 11, 200917 yr Why would any company maintain health insurance for their employees if there was an option not to? Good businessmen won't. I agree, Swamprat. Benefits are part of the compensation package. So if Company A has a better package than Company B who just dropped their plan then Company A is going to look much more attractive.
June 11, 200917 yr Why? B/c too many companies will pay less for their employees insurance. Therefore more people will be on the govt. option or they will be paying a whole lot more. It also isn't attractive right now to job hunt so they'll be stuck w/ a bad plan.
June 11, 200917 yr I agree, Swamprat. Benefits are part of the compensation package. So if Company A has a better package than Company B who just dropped their plan then Company A is going to look much more attractive. I thought he was saying they wouldn't pick up the tab for insurance.
June 11, 200917 yr I thought he was saying they wouldn't pick up the tab for insurance. Kinda thought the same thing. Providing health insurance is a HUGE cost for companies.
June 11, 200917 yr I thought he was saying they wouldn't pick up the tab for insurance. I misunderstood it then. My answer still stands however not as a blanket statement. Some industries don't have to worry about the benefits they offer. Edited June 11, 200917 yr by Clyde
June 11, 200917 yr I misunderstood it then. My answer still stands however not as a blanket statement. Some industries don't have to worry about the benefits they offer. I take it you have health insurance through your employer?
June 12, 200917 yr For many 'company provided' insurance is not free and must be paid for by employees. And it goes up every year. Personally, we pay $5,800 plus $2,000 in the 'use it or lose it health account' for a family of 5. And this is working for large company traditionally known for strong benefits. It is taken before going into W2 earnings so it does not get taxed. The option to 'opt out' does exist. The cost has been rising about $500 a year the last 3 years. The variations of coverage, cost to the employee, value to the employee are probably endless. To figure how to tax these endless variations and do it with any fairness would likely be a nightmare. It would be good to have an easy way to compare coverages from different companies and from open market providers. Large companies want out of this mess and that is why most of them back a government sponsered single payer system.
June 12, 200917 yr Do you know about what % of the insurance premium you pay? Before I retired last year, I paid 50% of the cost of the plan.
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