Reply #19: They need to look at the facts. [View All]

[LizW]

We have health insurance through my husband's employer. We feel VERY fortunate to have it, because we have been without before. We have also paid for insurance under COBRA once when he was laid off, and it cost $400 a month six years ago.

However lucky we are, though, the fact is we are losing ground because of rising health care costs. My husband got a 3% raise last year (he's a programmer), and our part of the health insurance premium went up 19%. Our co-pay doubled, and the deductible went up 200%.

We are going backwards. Slowly but surely, we are losing ground due to high insurance and drug costs. And we are a healthy family.

Every family who has insurance through their employer need to get out the pay stubs for the last five years and do the math. Look at your tax returns and see what you've spent over time for health care.

We may feel lucky to have insurance through an employer, because the alternative is so terrifying, but we aren't doing all that great.