NLIC.org

Tara Said:

Health Insurance Question...?

We Answered:

You can easily check your minimal health care rates in internet, for example here - health-quotes.isgreat.org

Renee Said:

could this ever be a proper sentence?

We Answered:

It should read..."Which of the following health insurance premiums is tax deductable?

A
B
or
C

Or..."All of the following health insurance premiums are tax deductable except..."

Joy Said:

Insurance People --- May I Borrow Your Minds for a Moment?

We Answered:

Although it's a lovely idea, I can think of several reasons why it won't work:

1. it would violate millions of union contracts

2. people who CURRENTLY have preexisting conditions, wouldn't be ABLE to get health insurance. Wellness programs won't affect the issues related to pregnancy (#1 preexisting condition!), type 1 diabetes, cancer, that sort of thing.

3. you'd still have cost issues with affordability - especially for family plans

4. How would you migrate welfare health insurance plans - Medicaid and Medicare - over to this.

Your plan, addresses ONE of the main reasons why health care costs are drastically rising. Don't get me wrong, I LIKE it. But it doesn't address several of the OTHER reasons why health care costs are rising:

1. it's impossible to comparison shop. There can't be any competition, as long as a. you never know what the doctor/hospital is going to charge until AFTER you've received the services b. the doctor/hospital can charge 5 different people, 5 different rates and c. the consumer is completely isolated, financially, from their health care, by having insurance pay for it.

2. pharmaceutical company issues - lump it all together here, from getting a new patent because now your drug is time released for two more hours (same formulary!), to public advertising (ask YOUR doctor if Viagra is right for you!)

3. legal issues - medical malpractice is exhorbitant, and the rates DO get passed to the consumers. No claim makes me, an agent, groan more than a 'dead baby' claim - because it doesn't MATTER if the doctor is at fault or not, the policy limit WILL be paid out. NO jury is going to side with a doctor, over grieving parents. Lawyers encourage this, by taking a HUGE chunk.


Yes, I think we've got some serious self responsibility issues here in the USA, when we're always looking to someone else to fix it for us. I do have my own ideas for health care reform (note, not health INSURANCE reform, different thing!), but mine aren't going to work either.

**
Amusingly enough, my kids' pediatrician suggested government run medical centers, instead of health insurance reform, when I was discussing the issue with him.

Although . . . is it your intention to provide medical coverage to illegal aliens? We have somewhere between 15,000,000 and 20,000,000 illegals here, and they are a good portion of your 35,000,000 uninsured.

Judy Said:

How much do you pay for health insurance independently or through your employer?

We Answered:

Too damned much for the coverage we receive. Nearly $5,000 per year.
Our own plans, since we've retired. And, of course, that above amt. does not cover co-pays and deductibles. Both of us have some relief on prescriptions, not enough I feel.