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Marcus Said:

Do you know my family's Health Insurance Premium is already being raised thanks to Obamacare?

We Answered:

The bill we got was crap. No doubt about it. But what I find ironic is medical tourism is on a huge rise now. We, the people successfully killed any suggestion of socialized medicine and got ourselves this ridiculous compromise of mandatory health insurance. We kept our private health care industry and fought the attempt to provide health care to everyone with taxes. Instead we are required to buy insurance which will in theory pay the same amount as the taxes would have plus a profit for the insurance companies. So naturally it cost much more than the taxes would have cost. Of course because we have private health care our doctors and hospitals are much better right? Well...not really.

So now that the folks who valiantly protect free enterprise have won, we are fleeing to countries with socialized medicine in record numbers to use their health care systems. Because it generally cost less than 1/10th what we pay here and is quicker service and higher quality as well. But here is the frosting on the cake. American insurance companies are now sending US customers to England, France and Costa Rica because it is cheaper for them as well and their customers are happier with their service.

I know Obama is a very bad man and everyone should despise him but I can't help but remember that he wanted true socialized medicine here and was shot down in flames for suggesting it. Hmmm. Whatever, Costa Rica isn't a bad place to visit and if I am required by law to pay 400 dollars a month to an insurance company just so they can send me to a country with a working health care system at least I can get a tan out of the deal as well.

Added: I urge you to do some research. Save yourself some money. Medical tourism is not stupid at all. Here is an example that you can easily confirm. Hip replacement in the US will cost you between 31,000 and 45,000 dollars without insurance. Many policies won't cover it. Check yours to see if it is covered. Now to go to Costa Rica (which is not the cheapest) for this procedure with the cost of travel to and from and with 2 weeks of hospital care and 2 weeks of convalescence on the beach in a 4 star hotel, less than 15,000 dollars. Our health care system is a joke, a bad one and were the only ones not laughing. Your going to see more and more insurers here in the US sending their customers to other countries because it saves them a fortune. Were the only country that thinks its right to pay the cost of a house for a heart attack (even with our massively inflated housing market) We did need health care reform, we just didn't get it. Now your absolutely right when you say its worse than ever but it was worse than most of the civilized world before this mess. We pay often 10 times as much for health care that is ranked around 30th in the world for service and success. The big thing that no one seems to get is even with insurance someone is still paying that bill. Maybe its your company paying and not you but if your company has to pay more than the cost will come back to you, they will spread the cost out among their clients but no matter whether you have insurance or not, rising cost hurt you.

Marcia Said:

What will we do in 3 to 5 years when it cost $20,000 a year in premiums for health insurance for family of 4?

We Answered:

The healthcare system will collapse, leaving truly socialized medicine as the ONLY viable alternative.

I know several families whose annual healthcare costs (insurance, deductibles, and copays) that are already skirting that level right now.

Josephine Said:

What are typical premiums for family health insurance coverage? When employers pay health insurance.?

We Answered:

With my insurance I pay 20% of the premium, company pays 80%. Dental insurance is the same. Now, my husbands company pays his 100% and any dependents 80%(vision and dental included). It varies quite a bit from job to job.

Something quite nice that some companies do it "match" your deductible. Say your deductible is $600 per year. Then the company will pay $300 and you pay the other $300.

How they calculate it usually has to do with the amount each insurance would affect your pay check, or the paycheck of an average employee. What good would it do to offer coverage if they made you pay 80% and your paycheck ended up $50 a week to live on? They try to see what is the most comfortable amount for them to pay and the most comfortable you can pay to make everyone happy, and to make their benefits package more desirable. Hope this helps.

Alvin Said:

Is it discrimination to offer full medical insurance (Including family) at no cost to one salary employee?

We Answered:

as insurance is not mandatory...yet it is a perk or benefit some employees get better perks that others, once insurance is mandatory that may require a different answer

Bonnie Said:

Why does a family of 3 pay the same monthly health insurance premium as a family of 8?

We Answered:

Well, in a small part, yes, however keep in mind 1. If you've got 6 kids, you're not going to rush to the doctor as quickly as if you have 1 kid. There's a major hassle factor, both in dragging 6 kids out, and sitting in the waiting room with 6 kids.

and 2. in part, that's how ALL insurance works . . . the people with no/fewer claims subsidize the people with higher claims.

Agnes Said:

Is child support figured based on family policy health insurance or an individual premium?

We Answered:

Well, your first issue is whether your ex can assume the cost of the insurance to lower his support obligation. If the decree says you will pay, he can't just unilaterally decide to do this. He needs to go back to court to the support order revised. IF the court for some reason permits him to assume the cost of insurance, then it will look at your state child support guidelines and determine how much support the child or children are entitled to. It's typical for the state of offset support obligation by the cost of insurance. The court will look at the ADDED cost of insurance. For example, if he already has to pay $100 per month to insure himself, and $200 per month to cover him and your daughter, he will only be permitted to offset the additional $100. Another issue in all this is whether the insurance he proposes to provide has as good coverage, and whether the company is as reliable in paying claims. Another issue is who pays medical costs that aren't covered (e.g., copays and deductibles). Bottom line is that he can't just decide to do this without going back to court.

Melanie Said:

Is Universal health care tyranny, or is $15,000 a year premiums for health insurance tyranny for family of 4?

We Answered:

$15,000 a year of premiums where the insurance company is not obligated to pay is a government-supported monopoly. ?°)