How much do you pay for 'Health Insurance' every year?

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

What sort of coverage do you get? Do you get it through work? Uninsured?

This question was sparked by Mitt saying how health coverage should be 'reasonably priced'.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Uninsured

I've been told that for me, alone, to get coverage it would cost over 1/4 of my monthly take home pay, which I simply cannot afford. I am very wary of any mandated coverage, because I can't for the life of me figure out how I will be able to afford it.

[focusfan]

66. I think that is most of us,I know I can`t pay for it.

[dmallind]

2. About $200/mo, family

Decent but not spectacular coverage. Visits and prescriptions run $10-15, not too many restrictions. Through work. Costs them three times as much as me so $800/mo total price.

[knitter4democracy]

3. We've got an HSA, a $2400 deductible, and we still pay a lot.

I freakin' hate this insurance. Sure, it covers big things, but it nickel and dimes us on prescriptions (pay full price until deductible is met, and then name brands have a $60 co-pay) and other stuff. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad we have it, but if the Republicans think HSAs are so great, it just means they don't have one.

[hobbit709]

4. Define "reasonably priced" there Mittenfuehrer?

Luckily my wife's is paid for by her work. I'm on VA. Most of people I know couldn't afford it on their own if it wasn't for their work. My neighbor pays $450/mo for her and her husband through her work and it's pretty crappy insurance-huge deductibles for everything and copays of $50 and up. She only makes $30k/yr so it takes a large chunk of her pay. The same amount of money would a much smaller bite on someone making a lot more money.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

16. Well, I'm one of those "lazy" people who just don't want to buy

health insurance. Had excellent coverage until the divorce, managed to scrap together $420.00/mo to keep coverage until COBRA benefits ran out. Coverage was then offered to me at just a little over 120% (premium over triple) of my monthly income. Was turned down for by two other companies for lesser coverage and high deductibles because I was actually treated for something during the 30 years I had coverage under the ex. This is without any major health problems.

Last summer I was diagnosed with breast cancer after going three years without coverage. Wanna guess my options now? The only way I stand a chance of getting coverage now is either the Democratic party gets their collective heads out of their ass and offered universal coverage for everyone or hope I make it to age 65 and Medicare will kick in. And, yes, Mitt I am desperately trying to find a job. Only in America. Literally, only in America.

Disclaimer - I was "allowed" Medicaid coverage by the state of Kentucky while I was under treatment for the breast cancer so I guess I shouldn't complain too much. However, the surgeries are finally over, the chemo is done and my coverage lapses in February because they do not offer follow-up care under this program that I am going to need to make sure the cancer doesn't come back. I am suppose to get blood tests to check cancer levels every six months and take Femara (at a cost of $320.00 a mo) for the next ten years.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

5. I pay nothing. I am uninsured and cannot afford insurance. nt

[madokie]

6. 37 + months of my life

15 months in country 'Nam

[fasttense]

7. I'm lucky

I got retired military insurance and pay a little more than $400 a year for my family. But it is a pain in the ass to get them to pay. It always requires three phone calls.

I think every American deserves free medical care. Unlike a republican, I have good health insurance and want everyone else to be taken care of when they are sick too - no exceptions.

[notadmblnd]

8. I pay nothing. I am the surviving spouse of a GM worker

my benefits were negotiated by a union, for which I am truly grateful. It is traditional BCBS which does not cover office visits so my appointments are limited to the occasions where I am truly ill.

[leftofthedial]

9. about $5000

but I'm too healthy to come anywhere near using my deductible, so the rare occasions when I need health care, I can't afford to go to the doctor. Plus, they don't cover many of the things I could use. I keep it in case of something catastrophic.

[ThatsMyBarack]

24. Sounds like me.

[TCJ70]

10. I don't have any...

...for various reasons, mainly not being able to find a job that would provide it. Although, through some tricky negotiations, I should be covered soon through my current job.

[juajen]

11. My husband and I pay $518 per month, which is medicare,

drug coverage and supplemental insurance. Bet most people are surprised. Our supplemental is as much as our regular medicare premium and drug coverage. Scary, isn't it? That is a lot of money. I have found that almost everyone I talk to who is not medicare age or who has no experience with medicare, believes it's free. It is a large chunk out of our fixed income. Our children have to help. I pity seniors who have no children to help them. We are lucky.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

15. Right, it's not free--no country really has "free" health care, but

I bet that adding all the young people to the pool would lessen everyone's premiums.

They have "free" health care at point of us, but it's paid for by taxes or payroll deductions.

It's like when I was on the Yale Health Plan. You paid for it at the beginning of the school year in a lump sum, but you never saw a bill after that.

[RebelOne]

39. I am of medicare age and I collect social security,

but I continue to work full time because I have insurance through my employer.

[Tracer]

44. Gee, that doesn't sound right.

I pay $80/mo. for supplemental (BC/BS drug and medical supplement).

The $98/mo for Parts A & B is deducted from my check and I never see it, so don't miss it.

[RB TexLa]

12. Under $1000 a year, very high deductible with an HSA, when they let you take a higher deductible

it will go down some more.

[RebelOne]

13. I have insurance through my employer.

I pay $64.91 every 2 weeks, which includes medical, dental, eye care and life insurance.

[erinlough]

62. Same here and I fight to keep it every negotiation cycle

And I will continue to fight for all those who come after me, even though the younger workers don't see why we need it. The insurance is the reason I'm still teaching after 35 years. I believe in unions.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

14. Definitely underinsured

As a middle-aged self-employed person, I pay "only" $2520 per year, BUT I have a $5000 deductible, so in effect, I (and the other middle-aged people in my situation) are giving the insurance company free money, since I have never yet used up my deductible.

Worse than that, if I were to require hospitalization (knock on wood), I would still be responsible for 20% of expenses over $5000 AND I have a lifetime maximum of $1,000,000.

To top it off, I live in Minnesota, which is supposed to be a "good" state for health insurance. I'd hate to see what the lousy ones are like.

[Art_from_Ark]

90. How does that deductible thing work out?

Is that the first $5000 for one visit/treatment/bill, $5000 for the year, or what?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

93. The first $5,000 of medical expenses that I incur each year

are totally my responsibility. The insurance doesn't kick in at all until I've spent that much--which I've never done, which is why the insurance company is making over $2000 a year of free money off me. :grr:

[Bonhomme Richard]

17. Zero if you don't include a $45.00 co-pay.

My insurance is through my wifes plan. She works in a dental office and they pay it all.
I'm lucky.

[Squatch]

18. Zero.

I'm in the military.

[nadinbrzezinski]

71. When you get out, MAKE SURE YOU KEEP PAYING for your Tricare Prime

you will NOT get anything like that in the civilian world, trust me

[Sonicmedusa]

19. Uninsured here.

And I just paid $130.00 to an extraction clinic to get a tooth pulled that was savable- savable if I had a few thousand dollars.

[raccoon]

30. Sorry to hear that. BTDT. :hug: nt

[Sonicmedusa]

38. Thanks. I appreciate that.

[Bigmack]

20. $900 month...

for decent coverage for both of us. And that's insurance thru the state... we are retired teachers.

I've got an idea.... Give us free health care and raise our taxes $10,000 a year. We'd still save money!

[jemsan]

25. $15,000 per year for self, 23 year old student daughter and husband on medicare..

and the private policies have 30% co pay and $1500 deductible. Husbands medicare is fabulous. I can't wait till I'm 66 and get it...if it's still around!

[sinkingfeeling]

21. I pay about $62 a month while my employeer (state university) pays $211. That's for me alone.

That comes out to be about $3000 a year for a single person. Way beyond insane!

[NewJeffCT]

22. About $100/month for a family of three with no deductible

We have co-pays for prescriptions and doctor visits.

We're lucky that my wife has very good benefits at her job.

[bemildred]

23. Zero, uninsured. nt

[MilesColtrane]

26. Uninsured.

Self-employed and can't afford the premiums.

[Oceansaway]

27. .

retired UAW here...great benefits....

[raccoon]

28. About $200 a month, individual, $5000 deductible and it won't cover 2 pre-existing conditions.

I had to go without insurance for about 10 years.

I work at a community college where 50% of the faculty/staff is part-time, no benefits. A worker in HR told me the 50% figure. Many people think state agencies have great benefits. Sure they do, if you're one of the employees lucky enough to be full-time with benefits.

[mvccd1000]

29. Zero. Uninsured by choice. nt

[guitar man]

31. $4476

$373 per month is my portion of a $1245 per month total premium (or so my employer claims). Just got hit with a $102 increase at the first of this year, it was $271 per month. Family of three, myself, wife and 2 year old daughter. $20 doctor visits, $10 generic prescriptions.

It sure cuts into my $33k annual salary, hard :(

[malta blue]

32. I get it through work and I pay almost $5000 annually for

Mr MB, Little MB and myself :puke:

So you know, that is approximately 20% of my annual income....

That is not resonably priced as far as I can tell :shrug:

[canadianbeaver]

33. $91.00 / month for BC Healthcare......

This would be zero if I made under $19,000.00 a year....and depending on how much I make it would increase up( in increments) to the full amount of 91.00( individuals )

I probably only go to the doctors about once a year...

edit: spelling

[Lydia Leftcoast]

41. Envy--envy--envy

Is it the same for self-employed people?

[canadianbeaver]

50. Not sure on that one......

but you HAVE to have BC medicare if you live in BC....no exceptions(that I know of).....

but my hubby was self employed a few years back...and we still paid $91.00 each then...so maybe it is the same....I really never looked into it at the time either...DOH!

[arthritisR_US]

57. $42 per month....Alberta Health Care n/t

[canadianbeaver]

60. Is it mandatory? n/t

[arthritisR_US]

83. yes, but it you make 21,000 or less you can get

it subsidized and for some the province would pay the entire premium.

[emmadoggy]

34. We're very lucky, so far.

We have insurance through my husband's employer and right now they pay the entire premium for medical (Husband/Me/two kids). We pay about $22/month for dental. The insurance is BCBS with a $15 office visit copay, $10 prescription copay($25 for certain brand drugs - one of which my daughter takes), $500 deductible per person (we used to have a $250 deductible, but had to go to $500 in order for his employer to keep paying the full amount). Two years ago, they added a $100 deductible on the prescriptions, which sucks. My daughter takes a medication that costs over $100/month, so every January we have to pay the full amount which really hurts.

Even with that pretty good coverage and no premiums coming out of our pocket, in 2006 we still managed to accumulate $4,000 in out-of-pocket medical/dental/prescription/vision costs. Luckily, that was not a typical year.

So far, we are lucky, but we live in fear of his employer deciding to cut back their portion of the premiums. And frankly, the copays and deductibles can still really add up.

[Giant Robot]

35. I pay $600 a year

For decent BCBS through my work. I do not think it is as great a plan as they say it is, and reading some of the details here, I am certain of it now., but its not horrible. That is just for me however. To have the family plan, with Mrs. Giant Robot and Little Robot on it would send the bill up to nearly $6000 a year, which we just can't do. Fortunately Mrs. Robot's work offers insurance that is also not bad at a slightly less ridiculous rate of $3000 a year for the two of them.

So to all the people who complain about the additional taxes from a universal healthcare plan, or look at the tax rate of countries that offer universal coverage, I would like to present the math in my family:

$3600 a year for coverage.
$20 an office visit for me/$25 for wife and child
prescriptions cost up to $50 each
$1500 deductible for me/not sure about wife and child


I would be happy to give this up for universal coverage and higher taxes. I am paying now. Let's just change who I pay and what I get.

[alfredo]

36. $3,400 a year. I get it through my union. The price went down

this year. I will be paying $10 less per month. The bad news it, Cigna will be handling our insurance.

[BobMorr]

37. plasterers union rate-$7 an hr-$14000

I'm a union plasterer. Our rate for health and welfare is $7 an hour. This is part of our total package thats paid before taxes. We need 1200 hrs. for full coverage, any hrs. after 1200 don't matter. No credit for the hrs. and it just goes into the fund. Thats $14000 if you work 2000 hrs a year. This is with a $500 deductible per family. Health care rates are obscene.

[warren pease]

40. $14,088 in premiums for my wife and me this year; more in 2009...

Then there's deductibles, copays and random payments to cover the difference between the "negotiated settlement" that the insurance cheapskates paid out and what the doc actually billed for his services. Sometimes that gap is a few bucks; sometimes its a hundred or so.

Prescriptions are reasonable as long as you're using generics. If not, brand name drugs are either $50 or $70 per scrip.

All in all, we'll probably spend close to $18K this year on medical-related stuff. And mind you, we're pretty healthy for the most part. I suppose the price rises along with the amount of care you consume. The invisible hand of the free market at work.

I will say that the coverage itself is pretty decent, they've never weaseled on a claim and they don't fuck with my doc any more than the vampires at other companies do.

There is no vision care or dental coverage available at any price under this program or anywhere else, since needing glasses is a preexisting condition, and so are cavities, peritonitis, poor jaw alignment and so forth. So you can see an eye doctor as long as you don't need to see one, and you can see a dentist as long as there's absolutely nothing wrong with your teeth.

Despite living in the nexus of lunacy that Heller describes in "Catch 22," this type of shit would have blown away even Yossarian, who really thought he had seen every possible form of corruption and madness.

Anyway, this $18K or so outlay per year is, believe it or not, supposed to be a fucking deal. We're both 57, both work for ourselves, both have those dreaded pre-existing conditions (and who doesn't by the time they hit middle age, unless you've lived your life exclusively in a bubble), and are absolutely uninsurable by the alleged free market.

So Oregon has this high-risk pool where people like us can get coverage, but at insane costs. To even qualify for this pool and be extended the privilege of spending $18K a year on medical bills, you have to be denied a policy by three conventional insurance carriers. Since we're both persona non grata in the world of for-profit medicine, that was as simple as filling out forms and waiting for the rejection notices.

However, even though it's often pretty funny to watch the sheer stupidity and mindless illogic we apply to medical issues in America, this nonsense about almost $1200 a month in premiums for the two of us is just legalized extortion. And the premiums have gone up by double digit percentages every year we've had it, starting in 2002, I think. You'd think we'd get 24/7 protection from the leg-breakers for that kind of money.

Thing is, it's not really medical insurance; it's protection money paid to an organized crime syndicate to keep them from stealing our house, cars, bank accounts and anything else that isn't bolted down should something serious (i.e., expensive and requiring hospitalization) happen to either of us.

Medical insurance has nothing whatsoever to do with health care except in the twisted minds of Chicago School libertarian fanatics and free market pitchmen. Break that nonsensical, artificial link, dump the idea of for-profit medicine entirely, replace it with single-payer universal-access and spread the risk over the entire population in the form of a modest, progressive tax. I'd be willing to bet a pretty good sum that no matter what we'd end up paying in taxes to fund such a system, it's going to be considerably less than that estimated $18K we'll piss away on premiums and overpriced drugs this year.

Then use that revenue to expand, properly fund and improve Medicare. Within a year or two, you've got a model single-payer system, nobody's going bankrupt over medical bills, nobody needs to cling to a shitty job just for the medical benefits, no more financial penalties for becoming seriously ill or getting badly injured and, all of a sudden, one of the prime stressors in American life is removed.

Can you imagine what that would feel like? Can you imagine how people who have spent most of their lives using the ER as their primary care facility would feel if they could just establish a normal relationship with a good family practitioner and not have to worry about bills? And their kids, too? No worries about how to deal with childhood illnesses or vaccinations or...

Is there anyone reading this who thinks that the way we abuse our own citizens in the name of corporate profits is fair, decent, rational and humane?

Or how about asking if it's effective; based on best public health practices; responsive and proactive on epidemiological issues; designed to improve quality of life for all; successful at getting key public health indicators like infant mortality rate and average disease-free life span into the top 10 in the world?

It's none of these things. It's simply a rapacious cash machine that makes more money by not performing its alleged function than it does when it actually does its job -- the job being to cover subscribers' medical bills without throwing a great squalling corporate hissy fit over every fucking nickel they're forced to part with.

Anyway, enough of that. I think you get my point. Thanks for reading this far.


wp

[Arger68]

42. Self employed, I pay $930.00 per year for

$10,000 deductible, no drug plan, no co-pay. Any problem I have will cost me 10 large, even something relatively minor such as gall bladder, appendix, etc.:eyes:

[hunter]

46. It will cost you more than $10,000 because they won't cover all of it.

And if it's anything complicated that leaves you with lingering health problems and unable to work for a time, that will be the end of it. A gall bladder or appendix is easy, but something like cancer with chemo and they'll do everything they can to push you out into the cold.

[Arger68]

59. Very true. (n/t)

[hunter]

43. Very nearly $18,000 a year, insurance and "HSA" bullshit.

My wife and I reach the deductible around August or September every year, which is why there is no "savings." So I just figure the "rate" we pay is whatever we pay for medical care until the deductible is reached, plus the ridiculous monthly rate.

And the hell of it is, there are always medical costs the insurance company won't count toward the deductible. They'd be a lot happier if we didn't reach the deductible every year.

So it's like the worst of both worlds, the insurance company meddles in our medical care for the entire year even though we are paying for it out of our own pockets for eight or nine months.

The health insurance companies are damned crooked and they do everything they can to shed clients who have chronic health problems. If they had their way they would hand over everyone with a chronic health problem to the government, and keep only the patients who never needed health care. And they would still charge those healthy people outrageous rates.

What kind of ass-backwards nation is this that we don't have a single payer health care system? In a civilized nation many of the people who run our health care industry would be in prison for running criminal enterprises.

[seabeyond]

45. blue cross, family 4, 1200/mnth, thru work.... now we have this funky ass put money in acct

when it reaches 15k? i dont know, .... then the insurance kicks in. weird shit and just not gonna get sick and use doctor. we get the money if we dont use it. thru work

[Faux pas]

47. State of CA retired union my premium co-pay is $6.10 (yes six

dollars and ten cents) a month, the state of CA pays about $450 a month. I have a $500 deductible which I never reach to get the 80/20 and it's $20.00 for an office visit. My scripts cost $10 each for 90 days worth if I mail order. I think I'm pretty f-ing lucky.

[poisonivy]

48. My wife and I are covered by her work provided

Insurance. Its pretty decent overall. We get 3,000 a year in an account so the first 3K is zero out of pocket. If we dont use it all it carries over to the next year. After the first 3K we pay the next 650 out of pocket then once that is met it goes to a 90/10 for a maximum yearly out of pocket of 2500. Once we hit that 2500 the insurance picks back up at 100%. I also have a HSA thru my job to cover scripts, etc...

[LibraLiz1973]

49. Nothing. I am insured through work and they cover the policy in full

Of course, I pay for medications ($5-$10) and Dr visits ($10)

On Edit: I know that it costs my employer $550 a month for my insurance

[bunkerbuster1]

51. First off, FUCK MITT WITH A RUSTY CHAINSAW. Oh, and about 550/month

For very crappy coverage through BC/BS, huge deductable, really just a tiny hedge against financial collapse if anyone in my family were to be hospitalized.

Of course if the bill was very high, I'd still be wiped out because it only covers 80%, after the huge deductable.

[SeattleGirl]

52. $378 a month through my husband's company.

Coverage is pretty good, but the price is really making a ding in the budget.

[trackfan]

53. $5592 for 2 people, $2400 deductible.

[taught_me_patience]

54. $30/month or $360/yr

Group HMO through my employer. I feel this is very reasonable.

[dysfunctional press]

55. nothing, right now...

but my wife starts a new job on monday- we'll see what the costs are after that.

[Cleita]

56. Over three hundred a month and I have Medicare.

My Medigap (private insurance) pays for 20% of my costs and Medicare 80%, yet the private insurance costs three times as much as the Medicare. Don't tell me I can get Secure Horizons or any number of the other privatized Medicare plans. There are no doctors except the basest pill pushers here who will accept them because they pay so poorly or not at all. We really need single payer to bring costs down. The middle men insurers are robbing everyone blind.

[SharonAnn]

58. Through my husband's employer, $350 a month just for me.

And coverage goes down every year, co-payments go up, deductible goes up, and premiums go up.

And, it's a Fortune 500 company.

[geardaddy]

61. $421+ a month

for just me.

[Jimbo S]

63. Zero. $2,500 deductable.

[Muttocracy]

64. I pay $580, my employer $5200 per year

And I'm very grateful.

That big sum must all be going into some administrator's pocket. Sometimes I'd rather have no insurance and have them pay me $1000/yr because I rarely use the insurance and if something catastrophic happens I'm going bankrupt anyway.

[Thothmes]

65. Military Retiree

$480 a year for a supplimental policy to cover those costs that Tricare doesnt cover. After $3000 in copays during a year. no further copays for the family. When I hit 65, shift to Medicare with the Tricare system being the backup. Good untill the eternal dirt nap.

[napsi]

67. I pay

$9738 per year for my wife, myself and 2 children. $1500 deductible. My wife and I are in our late 40's and healthy. The insurance is good and it seems to cover all things it is suppose to. I could take it down to $658 per month if I accepted a $2500 deductible which I may end up doing.

[trashcanistanista]

68. I pay about $32 month for dental and

about 220 a year for teeth cleaning that my dental doesn't cover. The rest is paid by the employer. The only catch, and it's a big one, is that you can only use an ER if you have a life threatening illness (determinedby the insurance company). If you can diagnose that chest pain, or stomach ache yourself, and determine it's non-life threatening, you don't go to ER. I don't take the risk of using my health insurance. If you think you have a life threatening illness and go to the ER and they tell you it's not, you pay out of pocket, insurance won't cover ANY of it. They make it easier to use the ER as they have shut down their urgent care facilities, so you either get a Dr. appointment right away (not possible) or go to the ER and pay all of it yourself.

[nadinbrzezinski]

69. You really don't want to know, but thanks to my hubbies

service in the US navy (20 years) we get Tricare and it is the most reasonable HI out there. Hell, to the point that it should serve AS A MODEL

And truly folks you do not want me to post what we pay... But let's put it this way, it is our primary insurance and every time we look at private sector insurance we think about it for all of five seconds

[bhcodem]

70. Pay my own

Age 61 female that joined Farm Bureau to get their group Blue Cross/Blue Shield plan. My monthly premium currently $368.50 but the plan has very good coverage. $15 office visits, $30 per month for name brand drugs and $5 for generic. CAn't remember what I selected for hospitalization deductible since I have not had to make use of it, but it was mid-range of those offered. Plus get up to $500 wellness benefit per year that helps cover mammograms or colonoscopy type tests, or thinking of getting shingles vaccination under that coverage. Have an exclusion on two minor pre-existing conditions. No dental or regular eye exam coverages. By the time I add in a monthly fee for a long term care policy and take into account living on Social Security widow's benefit and my deceased husband's public employee pension for a few more years, I have enough medical expenses to use the deductions on my income tax now.

[Lorien]

72. $4368.00 with a $5,000.00 deductible.

I used to pay around $5,000.00 a year for insurance through NASE, but after two trips to the ER and one minor (but critical) surgery I was left $32,000.00 in debt. NASE had said they would pat for everything up front, but then refused when the bill came. Turns out that's pretty much standard operating procedure for that "insurer". I'm with United now, but I don't even get checkups anymore because I won't be able to afford it if there's anything wrong. :-(

[Jed Dilligan]

73. Uninsured.

And currently sick!

[gilpo]

74. about $8000 per year for the family

includes dental, but sheesh!

[high density]

75. My share is about $1,000 annually plus my employer pays $3,000

So about $4,000 overall per year for one guy in his twenties to be insured. HMO, no deductible.

[Blue_In_AK]

76. We are insured through my husband's union, MEBA.

They take $800 a month out of his pension for the premium, which is approximately one-fourth. We also have deductibles and a 20% co-pay unless we use approved doctors.

Really, the only good thing that comes from the insurance is that they do pay for us to go to the Bay Area every year for a complete physical --plane fare and the physical, not the lodging -- so we at least get an out-of-state vacation for the $9600 a year we pay. I'm not sure it's worth it.

[Justpat]

77. I don't have health insurance. n/t

[W_HAMILTON]

78. Around $2000/year

And I figured my health insurance is one of the more "affordable" that I've heard about.

And I'm single (non-smoker!), so I'm sure it would be much more if I had to cover persons other than myself.

[TheCentepedeShoes]

79. About $1050 per year

comes out of my paycheck: insurance, RX card for me and $20K life insurance on hubby. I think the dr visit copay is $30 and RX copay is $8.
Hubby goes to VA.

[iamthebandfanman]

80. uninsured

[marlakay]

81. PPO through union

since we are retired and live out of state from our union which is CA we have to be PPO instead of HMO which covered most everything. Now we pay 20% of a bunch of stuff but we knew that moving out of state. couldn't afford to retire in CA.

I don't know how much our union dues are though so that would be like paying for it. I am looking forward to my step daughter being off family plan next year as she keeps going to the doctor for every little cold and we get stuck with the bills.

So in answer we pay thousands per year because of the PPO part.

[Djinn]

82. Um

well I pay 30% income tax but obviously not all of that goes to healthcare.

I pay an extra levy on my income which goes directly to Medicare which equates to roughly $600 per year.

I pay ZERO private health insurance and never will.

When I get sick I am treated in a public hospital and the only charge to myself is the cost of medications - many of which are publically subsidised.

Am I glad my folks emigrated to Australia and not the US? Absolutely.

[RoadRage]

84. $380 per month for a family of 3 (soon to be 4)

Great coverage - 90%, and decent deductibles.. but I work for a very large corporation (100,000+ employees) that is international - so that helps keep costs down due to our "buying power". I'm much luckier then many other Americans.

[piesRsquare]

85. About $6,000 per year for just me n/t

Plus $500 deductible (beginning this year).

[Lex]

86. $363 per month for myself only. Self-employed but

obtained health insurance in a group plan with my professional association.

[flyarm]

87. we pay 1/3 employer pays 2/3rds we pay $20,000.00 a year for hubby and me eom

[Stinky The Clown]

88. About **Twenty Four Thousand Dollars** per year for two of us

No kids (they're all grown and gone).

We're both self employed.

[ornotna]

89. $13,500

For wife 2 kids and myself. I get it through work. The coverage is ok, but dang it sure takes a bite out of the weekly paycheck.

[kcass1954]

91. We're lucky, and we know it.

Mr. kcass is a federal employee, so we have BCBS Federal PPO - his share of the premium is just under $100/pay - $15 office visit co-pay, $300 deductible, prescriptions are pretty reasonable. We've never had a claim denied, even when junior kcass was going to the expensive allergy specialist. Several years ago, my gyn convinced them that they should pay for a bone density even though I was not post-menopausal. My endocrinologist recently submitted some "creative" claims paperwork, and they paid most of the bill for an out-of-network pathologist that he works with.

Through my employer, we have family dental coverage and a vision plan that just covers me for $61 each pay. The dental coverage is pretty decent, and we no longer put off going for even routine stuff. The vision plan is new this year, but it looks like I'll only have to pay the difference because I wear un-lined bifocals.

We are extremely fortunate - we have decent coverage, and don't pay a ton of money for it. Even so, I'd still like to see a single-payer system. Health care shouldn't be a privilege for the few who can either afford it or who have good employer plans - it needs to be available for everyone without condition. No one should have to do with it, or make decisions about whether to eat or go to the doctor.

[Kat45]

92. Over $5,000/year ouf of my own pocket through cobra.

And I don't even want to think about how much it would cost if it wasn't a group plan. Being in Mass, it's something I'll have to think about if I don't find a job before cobra runs out.

[jannyk]

94. $7500 a year for 2 - $5000 deductable each nt

[Donk Yore]

95. whatever I can dig out of my pocket

I worked for non profit agencies for my entire adult life, and have no insurance.