Health Insurance as Employee Benefit

[Tia]

What are the tax rates in countries that have universal coverage? Someone has to pay some how.

probably like Canada, Australia, England or Japan, etc. Hospitals in those countries don't seem to have gone "broke"..........

 

[Brett]

What are the tax rates in countries that have universal coverage? Someone has to pay some how.

sure, people will have to pay for extended age coverage and doctors, hospitals and insurance companies will probably get less.

 

[bluehende]

What are the tax rates in countries that have universal coverage? Someone has to pay some how.

Higher,but much much cheaper than our taxes plus health care premiums.

 

[goaliedave]

always saddens me to read USA folk talk about their health care

Sent from my SM-J327W using Tapatalk

 

[Luanne]

What are the tax rates in countries that have universal coverage? Someone has to pay some how.

It's very easy to look up if you are really interested.

I remember friends from other countries, like Germany, saying that while their tax rates might be high, at least they got something from it....like healthcare, and free education, through university.

 

[Passepartout]

What are the tax rates in countries that have universal coverage? Someone has to pay some how.

Maybe the interesting thing here is that NONE of the people who live in ANY of those countries EVER cast a vote to do away with universal healthcare and go for 'fee for service'. NONE OF 'EM! Healthcare is a basic RIGHT, not a priveledge for the wealthy.

Jim

 

[geekette]

I am 53 and have never ever had employer pay the entire cost of health insurance premiums. I have worked for corporate and non-profits, never union, never C-suite.

 

[geekette]

My personal premium (California) went from about $235 a month to $600 now. Our employees are in a range based on age. If our people can get insurance via a spouse, we give them a little extra in their check since we don't have to pay it.

My ins is roughly 600. a friend said it has been about that amount for well over a decade. Without employer subsidy, hard to handle a bill like that.

 

[turkel]

I feel bad for all those whose premiums are sky high. As a nurse I have access to reasonable or free coverage. I actually waive the coverage at my current employer and they pay me exactly $72.00 per check to waive a benefit they value at 20 k. It made no sense to get the HMO coverage since my dependents live out of the area and the PPO cost close to $400 a month, my spouse already pays for a family plan with his employer and it cost $0 to add myself and 2 kids. ( $0 since he already pays the family premium of several 100’s).

I see plenty of the uninsured. No one is denied access to healthcare in America that’s the law folks. EMTALA is serious stuff. I don’t know what the answer is but glorifying Canada or European care is speaking without first hand knowledge. Who here knew that Canada doesn’t cover prescription drugs or certain procedures?

Socialized medicine and socialized college et al will not fix us. Who hear thinks politicians and the government function in our best interest??


No system is perfect. But I for one am happy and proud to be living in America.

 

[bogey21]

I see plenty of the uninsured. No one is denied access to healthcare in America that’s the law folks.

I may be dense but if the above is true, why does anyone pay for health insurance? What is to stop someone from putting all their assets in a Trust, have no other resources and get free healthcare...

George

 

[PrairieGirl]

What are the tax rates in countries that have universal coverage? Someone has to pay some how.

Yes, our income tax rates and often provincial sales taxes are higher than in most US states. Significantly higher.

But it is really very difficult to do direct comparisons of the health care situations in various countries. For example, emergency or life threatening situiations here in Canada take priority (obviously) for the available health care $. Need your knee replaced? Yes, I know that it is affecting your quality of life big-time, but be prepared to wait a year. And no, you can't get on the list until you are basically disabled. Stage 4 cancer? While aggressive treatment IS available, it isn't going to happen. Go home and get your affairs in order, better to spend the $ on earlier stages. Sure, this may not happen in all cases, but I've witnessed plenty.

I came from the US (but before ACA) so I'm familiar with both systems. Both have pros and cons. BOTH spend far too many $$ in administration and overhead. In a perfect world, we could all sit down, sort out what works well and what doesn't, take the best from all systems and come up with something that WORKS. But I fear that there are FAR too many vested interests for that to every happen in my lifetime.

 

[heathpack]

Who hear thinks politicians and the government function in our best interest??


No system is perfect. But I for one am happy and proud to be living in America.

Who here thinks the insurance companies, the pharmaceutical companies and the hospital system in the US function in our best interest?

Its possible to be a proud American and to also discuss problems with our healthcare system. Looking to improve health coverage for all Americans (not just the lucky few like yourself) would seem to me to be *more* patriotic than suggesting the status quo is the best simply because its "American".

And providing emergency care is not the same as providing good healthcare. Its dealing with an emergency and then leaving the patient to cope with the huge bill AND also try to figure out some way to manage their chronic health condition. Managing a patient's diabetes successfully is not the same thing as treating the patient for DKA when they ran out of insulin because they didn't understand their disease, or there's a drug shortage, or they can't afford to buy it.

 

[Luanne]

I may be dense but if the above is true, why does anyone pay for health insurance? What is to stop someone from putting all their assets in a Trust, have no other resources and get free healthcare...

George

Well for awhile you could be penalized for not having healthcare. But I think that aspect of the ACA was removed.

But for me, I would want healthcare because I would have more choice of who I could see. No one can be refused healthcare, but I don't think you can just walk into any doctor, or specialist's, office and demand to be seen for free.

 

[Brett]

I may be dense but if the above is true, why does anyone pay for health insurance? What is to stop someone from putting all their assets in a Trust, have no other resources and get free healthcare...

George

of course it's not true (another FOX FUN "FACT" !)

but it is true hospitals cannot refuse non-insured from using emergency services. But that doesn't mean all their services and the doctors and hospitals will sue the uninsured for payment, that's why all the medical bankrupts.

https://www.jhsph.edu/news/news-rel...ending-highest-among-developed-countries.html

 

[geekette]

...But for me, I would want healthcare because I would have more choice of who I could see. No one can be refused healthcare, but I don't think you can just walk into any doctor, or specialist's, office and demand to be seen for free....

Healthcare and health insurance are not the same thing. Anyone can go to any provider that will set an appt with them. The only question is Who Pays? I have done well on true self pay, less than what I was paying per visit with specialist with health insurance ($100 difference in 'negotiated rate' ins vs TSP, both far below "charged amount"). And I keep my monthly $600 premium in my pocket to dole out as I go.

I don't know that there are a lot of people demanding free treatment but ER's are required to treat patients that arrive. I don't know that the dermatologist, for example, has same restriction. Mostly you find out when you call for an appt if they take your insurance or if they take true self pay.

I am planning on looking into hospital-based insurance for 2020 as I have narrowed to one system I like and I know they offer an insurance plan. If it is same 500+/month, I'll keep on self pay and if **something happens** then I will payment plan with whomever patches me up.

 

[Luanne]

Healthcare and health insurance are not the same thing.

Point taken. And I meant health insurance.

 

[Janann]

Back to the question of free health insurance from an employer --

The only person that I know with free health insurance is my daughter. She is currently working on a PhD in one of the biological sciences at a major west coast university. She is being paid a stipend that is enough to live on, plus receiving free tuition and free health insurance. I believe that vision and dental are also included. Every PhD program that she interviewed with offered free insurance. It is a fairly standard offer in her area of study.

The insurance is offered through Anthem Blue Cross. As far as I know she hasn't used it, so I can't comment on how well it works.

 

[Brett]

big article on health care in the Wall Street Journal today
cost increases the last couple of years ---- employee + employer = $20,000 a year

 

[turkel]

Prairiegirl thanks for you honest input from Canada.

George yes care is provided to everyone who shows up in the ER and LD regardless of their insurance status. No ID required. Yes hospitals, physicians, etc will attempt to get paid but there are countless people who know the system far better than you and I and pay nothing with no consequences.

To Heathpack and Brett attacking those who disagree with you is exactly why nothing ever gets fixed.

We all make choices in our lives. We are all free to choose. Those choices come with consequences. I chose to be a nurse, to help others. I knew when I made that choice that I would never be paid my value I would work hard and by the time I retired I may be physically broken. I am sorry you see my healthcare coverage as something to resent. I don’t know why people choose what they want and then resent others.

Improvement to our healthcare system would be great. I hope someday it happens. Most people who were self insured prior to the ACA pay more and hate it. The preexisting condition clause and covering children till 26 was fabulous but does anyone think a man needs pregnancy care coverage? There are always winners and losers. Some will pay more some less and some find the loopholes.

 

[heathpack]

@turkel, no one is attacking you

I'm not sure if you read my post previously but my healthcare is covered 100% by my employer. So I, like you, am one of the lucky few. But just because I'm lucky does not mean that I don't see friends and relatives suffer from the way our healthcare system is organized. I can see that and, despite my own ok health insurance situation, I can be motivated to work to fix the problem- because I want what's best for my fellow Americans, not just what's best for me personally.

I would suggest that you were the one who infused the emotional concept of patriotism into a fairly bland conversation about health insurance and implied that folks who saw positives in the healthcare systems of other countries are somehow not "proud Americans". So I'd argue that your comments are evidence of the reason that things don't get fixed in America- its easier perhaps to characterize the other guy's position as unpatriotic so that it can be written off rather than considered on its merits. And then to feel "attacked" when someone calmly pushes back. Food for thought.

 

[turkel]

@turkel, no one is attacking you

I'm not sure if you read my post previously but my healthcare is covered 100% by my employer. So I, like you, am one of the lucky few. But just because I'm lucky does not mean that I don't see friends and relatives suffer from the way our healthcare system is organized. I can see that and, despite my own ok health insurance situation, I can be motivated to work to fix the problem- because I want what's best for my fellow Americans, not just what's best for me personally.

I would suggest that you were the one who infused the emotional concept of patriotism into a fairly bland conversation about health insurance and implied that folks who saw positives in the healthcare systems of other countries are somehow not "proud Americans". So I'd argue that your comments are evidence of the reason that things don't get fixed in America- its easier perhaps to characterize the other guy's position as unpatriotic so that it can be written off rather than considered on its merits. And then to feel "attacked" when someone calmly pushes back. Food for thought.

I appreciate you well thought out post. I didn’t realize saying I was happy and proud to be living in America was infusing the emotional concept of patriotism.

My exact point was no system is perfect but I am happy to be living here as opposed to elsewhere.

May I suggest you reread my posts, I never suggested or implied that folks who saw positives in the healthcare systems of other countries are somehow not “proud Americans”. But I did say improvement to our healthcare system would be great.

 

[goaliedave]

it's like watching a USA election campaign.

Sent from my SM-J327W using Tapatalk

 

[Brett]

Prairiegirl thanks for you honest input from Canada.

George yes care is provided to everyone who shows up in the ER and LD regardless of their insurance status. No ID required. Yes hospitals, physicians, etc will attempt to get paid but there are countless people who know the system far better than you and I and pay nothing with no consequences.

To Heathpack and Brett attacking those who disagree with you is exactly why nothing ever gets fixed.

We all make choices in our lives. We are all free to choose. Those choices come with consequences. I chose to be a nurse, to help others. I knew when I made that choice that I would never be paid my value I would work hard and by the time I retired I may be physically broken. I am sorry you see my healthcare coverage as something to resent. I don’t know why people choose what they want and then resent others.

Improvement to our healthcare system would be great. I hope someday it happens. Most people who were self insured prior to the ACA pay more and hate it. The preexisting condition clause and covering children till 26 was fabulous but does anyone think a man needs pregnancy care coverage? There are always winners and losers. Some will pay more some less and some find the loopholes.

no one is attacking you or resenting your health care coverage.
Proud patriotic (and happy) Americans are free to question their health care expenses. (and question many other things)

 

[turkel]

Last post because participating has become political. Not my intention, but apparently discussing healthcare has become one of those conversations.

Food for thought ACA covers Viagra for a man, but it denies infertility coverage for women.

Is that fair, or right?

Like I said winners and losers and room for improvement.

 

[Brett]

Last post because participating has become political. Not my intention, but apparently discussing healthcare has become one of those conversations.
Food for thought ACA covers Viagra for a man, but it denies infertility coverage for women.

Is that fair, or right?

Like I said winners and losers and room for improvement.

viagra for women?

ACA covers tubal ligation for women, why not for men ... ?

But Medicare covers both men's and women's medical issues. food for thought .... why does senior medical 'insurance' aka Medicare cover all medical issues and charge the exact same price regardless of gender ?

....... think about it ... seriously ... it has nothing to do with politics