how can you afford health insurance

[private_ryan]

here in the NY /NJ area I'm paying close to $400 for a $30 copay (I've been to the doctor once in the past 2-3 years, and that was becuase I needed blood test for something I applied) just for myself. For a family, it's about $1200. Right now I can afford it, but how can someone making an average salary or hourly rate afford this? That's $300 a week, not counting food, shelter, clothes etc.

[Skittles]

1. they can't afford it

that's why there's nearly 50 million without health insurance.

[Commendatori]

2. I can't, which is why I have none.

Not much I can do about it.

[GOPisEvil]

3. If I had to buy my own health insurance, I couldn't.

Thankfully, my employer provides mine.

Most people do without, and go to the emergency room when they need a doctor.

[JCMach1]

4. Leave the country-- Price here $40 per month

and that's only because I need coverage when I am in the U.S.

Before I left, my insurance was going up to $1000 per month.

We would have had to drop it...

The U.S. health system is messed up...

but then I didn't need to tell you that.

[johnnie]

5. I have it thru work

I think I pay about 60 bucks a month or something. The sad part (or good) is that I have yet to use it in 10 years. I am a single 40 year old male. I don't need to use it much. I feel so guilty for having it and seeing the way it is out there. I wish I could donate mine to a needy family, but I don't think it can be done. Of course, the day I get rid of it is the day I will fall down some steps.

[shanti]

24. me too, give thanks!

i remember being uninsured for quite awhile....it's not fun, especially when you have young children.

i really feel for everyone here without medical insurance. that's one of my issues!

[RobertSeattle]

6. GOP Health Plan: Don't get sick

Our small business rates are right around $290 per month here in Washington. In 1997 it cost around $94 per month.

What we really need is BIG BUSINESS to throw in the towel and admit that we need a single payer system.

[private_ryan]

8. why the huge difference between the states?

lawsuits? The doctors are getting shafted too so we can't blame them.

[RobertSeattle]

12. Not sure

Since health insurance plans have many different options, an apple to apple comparison is virtually impossible. Some state laws require certain things be offered and some don't.

All I do know is that any additional layer of middlemen (insurance companies) obvi0usly increases costs and single payer should greatly diminish that - apparently medicare is incredibly efficiently run compared to a for profit insurance company.

[markus]

11. The *Real* GOP Health Plan

Reduce unemployment before the election.

Die.

[Canuckistanian]

7. I can

(sing-song voice) Because I live in Ca-na-da, na na na na NA na....
Seriously, why aren't you people screaming about this every chance you get?
And to think, Republicans trashed Hillary because she TRIED to MAKE HEALTH CARE MORE AFFORDABLE. Scandalous.

[Tom_Foolery]

9. Count me among the millions who don't have it...

My employer keeps me at 29 hours a week so that I can't qualify for full-time benefits. If it weren't for remotes, I'd be in BIG trouble. I'm in trouble, but it isn't BIG...yet. Our government should be ashamed.

[sundog]

10. I can't, but now on my business insurance...

there is an additional $20.00 fee for "acts of terraism" coverage--

What the fuck?

What the fuck terraist is going to go after my small ass business? I was so pissed when I saw that last week... All businesses have to pay it now... It's a scam! A scam I tell ya...

[Nikia]

13. 75% of insurance cost covered by the employer

Still it is expensive, a little over $200/month for my husband and I. That is one reason that I feel stuck with my job. Most jobs require you work a certain amount of time before getting insurance through them. I am certainly not paying $800 per month to keep my current insurance. I don't know about private short term insurance. I could not get it anytime soon. My husband recently tore a ligament in his knee and he might need surgery. I guess I am glad that I didn't get the job that I interviewed for that I wanted.

[ForrestGump]

14. Got none right now. Have to be careful. Good thing I'm indestructible.

[LynzM]

15. Ours is about $260 a month for 2 of us

My daughter qualifies for state insurance at $11/month. That's about 30% of my pay before taxes... It's expensive, but not that expensive. Because I'm diabetic, I can't get private (in Indiana, anyway) and high-risk pool is $315/month minimum. So I went without for 7 months. Scary. I want to go back to Germany... $55/month, NO copays for ANYTHING.

[Kellanved]

20. well, that days are over

In Germany that is.
The public healthcare still covers almost everything, but now €10 are charged for every Medical Practitioner initially visited (i.e. he might send you somewhere else for free) and many drugs are only partially covered (depending on the Insurance Provider). Dental replacements got a whole lot more expensive as well,

On the other hand the insurance got a little cheaper and it's easier to have additional private insurance now, which can be quite worthwhile. (and people earning over €40K can still opt-out)

[curse10]

16. I'm at school- free at the health clinic- 10 copay for my PT

5 prescriptions for generic- 15 for name brand- there is also a copay for specialists.

$1328 for the school year

[Solon]

17. Sold a Kidney...n/t

[Kazak]

18. Baaaaaaaaaaarely...

Scrape scrape scrape.

[cestmoi]

19. Comments from a Canuck. No gloating.

It always strikes me as ironic that with so many so-called Christians (I have a problem with Fundamentalists) why, given Jesus's example, health care isn't free. Its unbelievable that the 40 million uninsured Americans aren't rioting in the streets, I can only conclude that many uninsured are buying into propaganda about socialized medicine.

And not only are you guys getting shafted on health care but I've worked for a number of US companies in Canada who outsourced their work here because of health care costs there!

Although we do have doctors wanting to privatise, many doctors here like our system because they aren't encumbered by forms and red tape which is why our doctors haven't flocked down to the US. I read about a family doctor who moved back to Canada from Florida fed-up with dictatorial HMO's. What I found strange that her income remained the same.

Don't believe any propaganda form HMO's. We have a great system up here. Its ain't perfect but Canucks love it.

[latebloomer]

21. I'm in Jersey, self-employed

and every month it's a struggle to get up the $1200 for a family of four. Sucks royally.

[private_ryan]

22. most cheap insurance cos

don't even enter the NJ /NY market. Makes me wonder why. That's $300 every week

[latebloomer]

23. I know, it's very limited

We have only 3 insurance cos to choose from-- this was the best deal :eyes:

[Donkeyboy75]

25. In Ireland - $500 a year for a married couple.

Ridiculous. If a country with 4 million people can keep it affordable (and reliable), so can a country with 280 million people.

[Snoggera]

26. I have to

child support and enforced insurance coverage. I would think most people would have to live in a mud hut to afford to live after paying out what I do. That, or be one of the 1 in 75 men in the US in jail/prison.

[BlueStateGirl]

27. I have good private insurance through Aetna and nit is not too expensive

$10 co-pay costs me $210 a month and that includes dental.

I just looked up the rates for jersey (I'm in Pa) and it sky rockets up to $719 a month.

Why such a diference?

[latebloomer]

29. Wow!

What an incredible disparity. I have no idea why that is.

[private_ryan]

30. I'm moving to PA

everything is much cheaper over there. Houses cost at least half less, insurance and even food and clothes are less expensive. Too many lawyers in NJ or regulations. That's the only thing that makes sense.

[redwitch]

28. almost 10,000 a year for my family of four

we get behind on other bills because of it. It's really, really hard for us.