On December 1, my health insurance will cost $7557.96 a year

This is going to be a simple and straightforward diary. Nothing fancy, just bleak information most Americans will certainly relate to.

These are the facts.

Fact: It's very scary being a citizen of the United States when you have to deal with realities like these.

Fact: I received my health insurance premium renewal notice today. As of December 1, it's going up 13%.

Fact: It had been $558.48 a month. It's going to $629.83.

Fact: This is $7557.96 a year.  This doesn't include a $500 deductible if I go outside the PPO.

So if I go to doctors ouside the preferred provider organization (PPO), I'm in for $8057.96, before I get a nickle from the insurance company.

Then, if I'm lucky, they pay 80% of what is called the usual and customary charge.

Do you all know how the usual and customary scam operates? For those of you who don't, let me explain. Say you go to a doctor and he charges $200.00 for a 6 minute visit. You submit the bill to the insurance company thinking well, I've met my $500.00 deductible, at least I'll get reimbursed 80% of $200.00, $160.00. Not so quick, amigo.

The insurance company pays you 80% of what it deems the reasonable and customary charge. So if they believe the UCC is $120.00, you'll receive a magnanimous $96.00.

I know I'm a very privileged American. I'm insured, I should just shut up, but I can't because I'm deeply worried, as I know all of you are, about our collective future. The enormous financial burden of healthcare has worn me out, I'm running on fumes and I'm one of the lucky ones.  I can only imagine the rage of most Americans.

I'm also beside myself with anger that I'm expected to pay 13% more for the privilege of fighting to access basic healthcare which should be a right of citizenship.There's a serious malignancy deep in our national psyche--a  malignancy which may be uncurable. Too many Americans, including Mr. Bush, believe that healthcare is not a right. This is depraved thinking. The challenge for the next Democratic president will be to explain to the American people why every American is entitled to the basic healthcare the rest of the civilized world takes for granted.

I'll leave you with this sad story.

I recently had to have a medical procedure. The minute I walked in the door, the receptionist threw a piece of paper in my face and barked, "Sign here! This states if your insurance doesn't pay, you're responsible."  The denials of treatment, tests and medical care has become so routine, that despite paying these outrageous premiums, we know, as do health care providers, that we are all totally at the mercy of the out-of-control and lawless health insurance industry.

And yes, I know many of you are uninsured. I honor your bravery, courage, and determination in the face of terrible hardship every single day.

•  This just can't go on indefinitely . . .

  It's an obscenity and a real hardship.

  by nyceve on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 06:14:02 PM PDT

  •  I am so sorry Eve

    DAMN!

    by annefrank on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 06:15:16 PM PDT

    •  annefrank, please don't feel . . .

      sorry for me. I work hard so I can pay my health insurance premiums. Isn't this the American way?

      The people to feel sorry for are the uninsured.

      by nyceve on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 06:19:33 PM PDT

      •  Still, Eve, it sucks canal water.

        I'm working now to get myself thrown into the state risk pool. I'll be paying $900/month -- but at least it appears to pay better than the piece-of-shit policies I have in place now.

        I used to wonder how people could work at collection agencies. Now I wonder how people can work at HMOS and insurers, turning down claims with so little regard.

        by Melody Townsel on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 06:25:11 PM PDT

        •  the Real Republican Health Care Plan

          

          by ca democrat on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 07:07:40 PM PDT

          •  If a Rethugs lips are moving, they're lying.

            by groggy on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 08:26:24 PM PDT

          •  Maybe that's their plan to get a majority back

            "Be rich or die," as you say.

            If people who aren't rich all die, then only rich people (who'll vote Repug) will remain....

            by CenterLeft on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 08:28:41 PM PDT

            •  The United States of Myopia

              Then the rich will find out that they themselves will have to do the work when all the poor are dead. Then the super-rich will become the rich and the merely rich will become the poor.  They don't understand that the work they are doing now of killing off the poor and middle class is tantamount smashing the floor they walk on with a sledgehammer.

              by Josh Prophet on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 06:16:11 AM PDT

              •  Of course there's some snark in both our comments

                But, keeping the line going, in a variation of a familiar poem, the merely rich will someday say:

                "First they came for the poor, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't poor.  Then they came for the middle class, but I didn't speak up because I wasn't middle class.  Then, they came for me, and there was nobody left to speak up for me."

                by CenterLeft on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 03:56:48 PM PDT

        •  both

          the collection agencies take the bills from the doctors when you can't pay and harass you and will even take steps to go after your assets.  They're profiting off the healthcare crisis.  

          by Ramelle on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 03:43:52 AM PDT

          •  The Credit Card companies are making off

            like bandits, too. A lot of Americans have to pay for their healthcare on credit, even with insurance. Then if you default, the collection agencies get their piece of the pie.

            by Spathiphyllum on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 04:15:03 AM PDT

      •  That's more than Michele Malkin can do..

        or can do without whining, anyway.

        by BoringDem on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 06:54:26 PM PDT

      •  Ironically

        I happen to be one of those that don't believe Health care is a right. It's in every country in the world - a privilege. But, it's a privilege that the self proclaimed richest country in the world should be able to afford it's citizens.

        As you rightly noted - even those with insurance are at the mercy/whim of unregulated insurance companies. Perhaps if our media where not completely beholden to them - more of an issue would be made with anecdotes like yours - but alas there is literally no way to get the scoop on the evil practices of a provider until you fall victim to it's follies. It's a sad, sad situation.

        Btw - I am all for universal health care: I am just waiting to hear the who will tell it like it is. There will have to be a limit to the monetary value government will be able to deliver. A cost analysis of a moment when it won't be in anyone's interest to preserve life at all costs. Despite the folly of the US medical system - the overly costly last-ditch efforts to keep patients alive is still a hallmark of the system, and the driving force behind a lot of innovation and headway in medical research.  

        I know I will get pounded for saying this here, but, instead of ignoring the issue as if that would detract from the merit of that argument. I propose   we acknowledge the little that is commendable about the US medical system. And find a way to deliver a basic universal health care plan that leaves intact    the options for a competitive regulated private insurance to enable the practice of cutting edge medicine. After all we can surely all agree that we are never going to have universal health care translating into "Cedar Sinai" quality care for all Americans.

        Compromise? anyone?

        by Alice AN on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 07:33:27 PM PDT

        •  Some compromise is reasonable

          Partially to get something passed.

          I really like the idea of Medicare for all, at least as a start.  

          Then of course we fix Part D (Dubya-style prescription drug coverage that protects the pharmaceutical industry) to be more cost-effective and compassionate by eliminating the donut hole, the "must buy through corporations" postion of it, allow Medicare to negotiate with pharamceuticals using its bargaining power to get lower prices, and legalizing reimportation of prescription drugs.

          Now, Medicare doesn't completely cover everything, and I can live with that.  Medicaid should continue to exist to supplement for the poorest Americans, and others would still need some degree of private "medigap" insurance; but it would be considerably cheaper than needing to buy one's entire health care privately.

          One thing I don't want is more HMO involvement, though.  There do have to be some limits on what's paid for, but HMO's should not be able to overrule doctors if the doctors can show (not just assert, but show) reasons why there is a medical necessity.

          And if any cost containment, HMO or otherwise, leads to large medical problems for a patient, the insurer should be able to be sued if the doctor had shown why the treatment was necessary.  There might need to be some defense for denying extremely expensive treatments, but the key word is "extremely."

          I don't mind the rich having better health care than everyone else, as long as everyone has good health care.

          by CenterLeft on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 08:42:00 PM PDT

        •  National Health care is not 'free', contrary to

          what people seem to think.

          I live in Japan (and have diaried about the Japanese system here:  http://www.dailykos.com/...

          In Japan, they basically deduct an amount from your salary like FICA (Social Security?) in the US.  It's a sliding scale and tops out at around US$100,000/year (again, refer to my diary above for the details & costs).

          In Japan national health care actually covers about 70% of medical bills.  Some things aren't covered at all: abortions, viagra, plastic surgery, braces (for teeth), etc.

          Supplemental private insurance is available and can be purchased by those who want more coverage.  Cancer insurance in particular is popular because even in countries with nat'l health care, cancer treatment is expensive.

          The fact of the matter is though, the system is transparent.  If your required procedure isn't covered by nat'l health care, the doctor just comes out and tells you.  On the other hand, you can use any doctor/hospital, drug prices are lower, and the system is about as close to stress-free as I can imagine.

          Americans in the US are so pumped full of misinformation about national health care that it's almost as though they inhabit another planet.

          by YoyogiBear on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 08:46:58 PM PDT

          •  I have no idea why people feel the need to

            announce that nat'l health care is not free.  Duh.

            Of course it's not.  Medicare is not free, either, though it is subsidized for those below a certain income level and, it could be thus argued, free for those who cannot afford the premiums, which are still pretty modest.

            National health care for all citizens is necessary to the quality of life of any civilized nation.  Not free, necessary.

            by Nastja Polisci on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 09:42:11 PM PDT

            •  Fair enough. I often get the impression, even

              from watching the movie Sicko, that people are getting the wrong impression.

              My point was that while it's not 'free' it's still infinitely easier to use than the hodgepodge of hundreds (thousands?) of competing private plans in the US that seem entirely inadequate - and increasingly expensive.

              In Japan, and probably other countries with Nat'l Health Care, it's transparent though.  If costs go up, they go up for everyone at the same rate.  And I have never heard of them going up more than, say, 10% in a single year.

              by YoyogiBear on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 03:49:53 AM PDT

            •  To counter the right-wing rant...

              ...which goes something like this: "You people just want somthing for nothing, you want somebody else to take care of you, you want a free ride, you want everything handed to you..."

              I've heard it all.

              But no one has ever said, "You just want your potholes filled for free, you just want the police department to take care of you for nothing, you just want the fire department to hand you protection on a silver platter, you just want to be able to turn on a water faucet anyplace in the country and get water for FREE..."

              Until they get it, we have to keep explaining that we know it's not "free," but paying for healthcare collectively--as we pay for other things--is the most sensible way to do it.

              by CoolOnion on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 07:09:16 AM PDT

              •  I absolutely lose my mind

                when I hear rich uber-capitalist republicans complaining about the working classes being socialists and wanting "something for nothing." These are the guys who ply the government using the most despicable tactics to gain no-bid contracts, billions of dollars in tax breaks, kickbacks, subsidies, etc. That's hypocrisy for you: These guys want everything privatized for the average citizen, while their own risk is subsidized by billions of dollars of government money. Now, who is it that really wants something for nothing?

                by matty on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 08:08:17 AM PDT

                •  They draw the line at passive income, too

                  If you ask them about people like the Walton heirs, who just sit on their butts and enjoy the family wealth...well, they don't seem to see anything wrong with that.  Actually, I don't, either, but if there's anybody who's getting something for nothing, benefitting from someone else's work and not their own, it's people like that who live off family fortunes.

                  I don't begrudge them their wealth, I'd just like to see the day when rich people "get it," and stop trying to make every budget cut from the bottom of the heap.

                  by CoolOnion on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 11:56:08 AM PDT

          •  I don't need it to be free

            but one thing I do really want is a system that takes from me based on my ability to pay. When I'm making good money, I'm happy to pay in a sizeable amount. But if I'm sick and unable to work, and therefore unable to pay, I want the system to still be there for me.

            In our current system, no matter how long I've paid in or how much, if I miss one monthly payment due to illness or financial hardship, I'm done. I will be dropped and I won't be able to buy it again. I'll get no credit for 20 years of paying in.

            by elfling on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 08:46:04 AM PDT

          •  A very late response, but your link is broken

            The link you provided to your diary was broken. Thanks for posting that diary, I'm curious to hear more about the Japanese system. And I'm glad you posted this link, too, since I hadn't seen your diary before. Domo arigato.

            by dconrad on Tue Oct 30, 2007 at 04:55:12 PM PDT

      •  Maybe you answered this before Eve

        or somewhere in the comments (all of which I haven't read), but who does your health premium cover?  Yourself only, with ?? dependents?

        by Terre on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 08:03:53 PM PDT

        •  It's got to be an 'Eve only' policy for

          under $1,000/month.

          by groggy on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 08:30:39 PM PDT

          •  No way

            we have blue cross blue shield 625 per month for the whole family.
            I keep seeing people post 1000 and up but that just isn't reality.
            And I am a smoker, if I wasn't, you could take about 125 a month off of that.

            by AJsMom on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 08:43:49 PM PDT

            •  ??

              just because it's not YOUR reality doesn't mean it's not real. I know quite a few people who pay up to $400 to $1000/month for individuals.

              by Buffalo Girl on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 08:50:56 PM PDT

            •  It's true

              Age is a factor, as is region.

              by denise b on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 09:04:22 PM PDT

              •  In NYS, we have community rating . . .

                everybody pays the same amount for a smiliar policy.

                by nyceve on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 04:21:15 AM PDT

            •  maybe it depends on where you live?

              Everyone I know who buys their own insurance and has a family is paying around $1,500 a month.

              by Ramelle on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 03:46:12 AM PDT

              •  Ramelle

                Do you mind telling me which state you live in?
                That is 3 times our non smoker rate!

                by AJsMom on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 03:53:41 AM PDT

                •  NY State

                  I live in New York, but I also know people in Mass.

                  by Ramelle on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 04:29:35 AM PDT

                •  In our state, premiums are age-rated

                  So a family in their 60's pays 350% of what a family in their 20's would pay.

                  by elfling on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 08:47:09 AM PDT

            •  Oh rhully?

              How nice for you, gloating much?

              (But if you're in California, you can look forward to blue cross/shield cancelling your insurance retroactively as soon as one of your little family files an expensive claim, as the blues have already done to so many.)

              I've tracked down every possible form of health insurance coverage for myself over the last decade, in what I've come to think of as my health insurance wars: for instance, it was either shield or cross which rejected me for the pre-existing condition of a $20 a month prescription (althoughI haven't been hospitalzed since 1958.)

              Ten years of finding that the organization I joined had enrolled us in a fraulent plan, of the next insurance company dropping everyone in California, including the next professional organization I joined for insurance.

              Right now, the only insurance I can find is nearly $700 a month for Cigna HMO for individual me. (Which doesn't cover vision or acupuncture, both of which I require, of course.)

              I was enrolled in the Cigna PPO last year for less, when Cigna arbitrarily raised those rates to over $1,000 a month for everyone: forcing me into the only other option, $700 for the HMO.

              And I don't smoke, don't drink, don't even drive. So don't be too smug, bub, because the deal you have can change tomorrow on your insurer's whim, and good luck Charley on finding that rate again.

              by judybrowni on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 03:47:08 AM PDT

              •  The only way to get a reasonable rate

                is to be part of a large group, like a big company... or f---ing everyone!  Individuals don't stand a chance, especially older individuals.

                by groggy on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 09:12:30 PM PDT

            •  I assure you

              it IS a reality.  Get yourself a "pre-existing" condition or rated, and watch your premium skyrocket.  Or get sick.

              by KibbutzAmiad on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 03:50:59 AM PDT

            •  I'm happy for you, but

              In NYC our only COBRA option for 18 months was over $1200 for the whole family.  We would never, never be able to just buy coverage, based on "pre-existing conditions."  Has to be tied to employment or - the more expensive option - membership in professional associations.

              Right now we're back on employer-subsidized insurance but we have to save in case that ends.

              by javelina on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 06:32:19 AM PDT

            •  1650/ month for my nuclear family in NYC

              1650/ month for my nuclear family in NYC

              by sullynyc on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 06:58:33 AM PDT

          •  Correct, groggy, the premium is for me only (n/t)

            by nyceve on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 07:24:23 AM PDT

        •  Terre, me only. 1 body, mine (n/t)

          by nyceve on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 04:20:26 AM PDT

          •  Thanks Eve

            Never in a million years (with a lottery win, maybe) could our family of 3 afford what you are paying.

            by Terre on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 09:59:51 AM PDT

        •  My experience with Insurance

          when you are purchasing your own health insurance you have to change insurers about every 5-6 years, if you are able. Insurers have a low ball entry price for new customers. They then proceed to up your premiun 10-15% a year until you are where you were before you changed. I have done this twice. My premiun was $750/mo. Reduced to $350/mo 2 years ago, it is up to a little over $400 now. ( United Healthcare- I am 56 years old, retired, self employed)

          I have no preexisting conditions, so changing is not impossible for me. I also have watched my deductible grow from $500 to $1500 to keep my premium lower. Because I haven't used my insurance very much-paying a higher deductible is cost effective for me.

          The part(one if the parts) that makes me angry is that even tho I am paying cash to a doctor for small emergencies (like an earache) that fall below my deductible, I pay the doctor more than those paying with insurance, because the insurance companies have  negotiated a lower price with him/her. The eye opener for me was, that in addition to not having access to doctors, the poor when paying in cash are, paying more for their medical care than anybody else.

          The system sucks. It's all about gaming it. We're talking about peoples' lives. Universal care would change the fabric of our society.

          I don't understand those who are so afraid of paying for healthcare for others, but have no problem paying the extra dollars for the end care we provide by using emergency care, or paying higher interest on loans because of the cost of medical defaults, or extra tax dollars to cover the cost to the judical system for all the extra law suits. Not to mention the fear and anger and loss of productivity inherent in our society because so many people are trapped in a system that does not work.

          The people against UHC are so trapped in their ideology they can't see they are actually paying more for less, and hurting themselves.

          by Sherri in TX on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 08:48:06 AM PDT

      •  Mine also runs out Dec. 1

        I've been comparing, and it looks like it will cost around $1,200 per month for me, my wife and son.

        That's $14,400 a year. I can swing it, but I don't like it.

        I may get a part-time job which will pay for the insurance.

        I feel so sorry for those who can't swing it. It's a national tragedy.

        by Trim Your Bush on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 08:15:11 PM PDT

        •  Careful with taxes

          I got a part-time job once to help pay for a specific expense, and at the end of the year the extra income had pushed me into a higher tax bracket. If you have enough deductions, that may not matter, but I was young and single and got smacked for the extra taxes.

          by Brooke In Seattle on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 08:52:02 AM PDT

      •  Feel sorry for the doctors and labs

        that also work for the insurance industry.  

        Some day soon, I hope, the medicos will realize that the entire system has been taken over by the for-profit insurers.

        by groggy on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 08:25:13 PM PDT

        •  Don't feel too sory for the doctors

          One of my doctors confided that his normal fee is $200 an hour: if the insurance company ponies up less, he can take the rest off his taxes.

          Which adds up to someone with a ton of money to invest.

          No wonder the AMA isn't fighting the insurance companies, is in fact, still fighting against "socialized medicine."

          by judybrowni on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 03:51:43 AM PDT

          •  Yup

            not too many focus on this angle.  This is more than a health INSURANCE problem.  100 years ago it was the insurance companies that were hesitant about health insurance.  The ethical (and other) questions dissipated when health care cost began to rise.  The AMA has been the major block for universal health historically.  Even with Medicare - the resaon AMA accepted it is because it originally paid based on usual and customary - which translated (at the time) to what the health care provider usually and customarily charged.  Until the 70's when Medicare changed to setting their own rates.

            In myceve's example above, UCR for a routine Dr visit was suggested to be $120.  Hmmm would be nice to make $400 to $500 per hour.  Of course that pays for everything - all the personnell, rent, utilities etc.  So maybe that's whittled down to $100 an hour.  Hmmm sure would be nice to make $200,000 a year.

            by newfie on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 04:29:56 AM PDT

  •  Yup, and to my German in-laws unfathomable

    I still remember the look of puzzlement my mother in law showed when I went to the doctor with her, and I whipped out my wallet at the end of the visit.  She was wondering why I was paying.  Of course, health care costs are going up in Germany, and those poor bastards now have to pay $20 every 3 months if they go to a doctor.  They DO pay sizable premiums, but of course, if you can't afford that, the state kicks in, and you can get public insurance.

    It IS scary, and I hope it can be fixed soon.

    by beachmom on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 06:20:27 PM PDT

    •  I would like to add...

      ...that insurance fees here in Germany (with the "public", non-profit insurers) are a percentage of income, not a set fee that you have to pay wether you can affort it or not. So insurance prices go up or down with the income. Besides, children and homemaking spouses are included at no extra cost.

      And I'm with YoyogiBear further up who commented on the Japanese system: reliability is a factor. Here, the doctors know what the insurance covers, because it is defined by law. The need to get claims pre-approved (except for false teeth), and possibly denied anyway afterwards, is a quite foreign horrorstory.

      by intruder from Old Europe on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 07:37:39 AM PDT

  •  It will go on as long as the corporatist

    political system in Washington and its board of directors -- the most powerful medical/pharmaceutical industry players -- can get away with it.

    We MUST elect a Democrat who will disassemble that corrupt and murderous system.

    Thank you for keeping this front and center, and I wish I could chop your premium in half.

    by Quilldriver on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 06:23:58 PM PDT

    •  Wbat scares the fuck out of me...

      ...is that the arguments that are being used by Bushco today to justify wiretapping, Internet audits, and phone record pulls will be used in the very near term by insurers to begin justifying medical-record and DNA pulls to fuel their coverage/rejection and deductible-setting decisions.

      by Melody Townsel on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 06:28:08 PM PDT

      •  Gattaca

        The movie shows pretty much how it will be in the future wrt healthcare and being human . .that is, if Bush doesn't bring the end of the world before it's possible to get that bad

        by donailin on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 08:11:33 PM PDT

    •  What Democrats are you referring to?

      Nobody is proposing to

      disassemble that corrupt and murderous system.

      by Must Have Been The Roses on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 06:29:36 PM PDT

      •  Dennis Kucinich and John Conyers.

        Along with 85 cosponsors of Conyers' HR 676.

        Remember, there are good Democrats out there.

        by Dallasdoc on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 06:46:55 PM PDT

        •  Except for Conyers and Kucinich

          the republicans and democrats plans all look pretty much the same to me: government guarantees to pay private insurance premiums.  I can see the insurers salivating already.  

          by Must Have Been The Roses on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 06:54:50 PM PDT

          •  Yeah.

            The insurance industry loves the plans proposed by Clinton, Edwards and Obama.

            If they love it then we know it's going to be terrible for us.

            by Rex Manning on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 07:27:02 PM PDT

          •  you might try

            here
            there are more politicians who not alike

            by askyron on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 07:39:52 PM PDT

        •  And they're working on it right this minute

          For Conyers and Kucinich, health care is not some empty campaign promise, they've been working on this for years, but have not been able to get very far with it, with the corporatists in charge.

          by CoolOnion on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 07:13:53 AM PDT

      •  This system isn't going to be changed over-night

        nor without a fight from the Insurance Industry.

        Several Democrats have come up with proposals to move towards the Single Payer system we need.  John Edwards has, according to many who know more than me, the best plan.  I do know this:  He is bold and committed.  I think he's our best hope.

        by Persiflage on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 06:49:55 PM PDT

        •  But it's so easy to get Medicare for all.

          A president with a little courage can just change the Medicare code and drop the age limit. That's it.

          Then he/she notifies congress and tells them to fund it.

          Then he orders the Medicare administration to notify the public and tell them that they all have access to Medicare and what the details of the coverage is and how to use it.

          Done.

          If congress wants to fight the president over it they can try. Most likely they won't. At least not if they want keep their seats. Imagine trying to take something like that back from the American public. They would look like total a*holes.

          by Rex Manning on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 07:34:40 PM PDT

          •  Can the president do that without Congress?

            If so, that would be fantastic.  I wonder if Edwards or Dodd or Obama would commit to that (I don't see any chance of HRC doing so).

            We'd actually have universal health care now had it not been for a Repug filibuster in '94.  I wish the Dems would consider using a "nuclear option" to end all filibusters (not just judicial ones) with the votes they'll likely have in the Senate after '08.

            Filibusters are by nature conservative instruments, as they tend to prevent change.  I hated the Repug plan to only eliminate judicial filibusters; but eliminating them all would admittedly have both good and bad points-- but mostly good.

            The whole "Gang of 14" deal was awful for Dems, as if we had forced the Repugs to eliminate judicial filibusters, then given the likelihood of a Dem president and 55 or so Democratic Senate seats after '08, any SCOTUS vacancies could be filles by liberals.

            Instead, they got Dems to hold off filibusters of right-wing Repug nominees like Alito as well as to lower courts, without giving up their ability to hold up the nominees of Hillary or Obama or Edwards.

            As usual, the Dems got taken for a ride, or wanted to be.  I'm sure Loserman wanted to be, as he's a conservative values guy at heart.

            by CenterLeft on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 08:52:37 PM PDT

            •  A president can do anything he likes...

              ...with regard to federal regulations.

              That is not to say that congress can't tell him afterwards that he can't do that and then roll back his changes.

              But see, that's the choice they have to make. Do they go along with it or do they oppose it?

              by Rex Manning on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 09:22:25 PM PDT

              •  And our next president will have extra powers

                Since impeachment has been declared "off the table," our next Prez is going to be handed some big privileges.  Hope he or she uses it to give us universal health care by executive order.

                by CoolOnion on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 07:16:43 AM PDT

        •  I agree; it won't change overnight

          Democrats have had good ideas shot down, such as letting people buy into Medicare if they choose to. As is becoming very clear now, a large portion of the population won't give a rat's ass until the problem affects them directly. When premiums cost more than your mortgage or two car payments, that's hard not to notice. If and when people are allowed into a single-payer system, whether it's SCHIP or Medicare, they WON'T want to go backwards.

          I've lived in two countries with fantastic single-payer systems, and I am 100% on board with that philosophy, but the best approach may be stepwise. Far too many Americans still don't want "the government" abstractly "making choices for them". We need to keep hammering home the fact that we have very little choice today. If you are lucky enough to have employer-sponsored coverage, you don't get to choose your health insurance company, nor do you get to choose which doctors are on the plan or which drugs are on the formulary.

          by Leap Year on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 09:22:21 PM PDT

    •  If you thinkHillary will ...

      cut the big insurance corporations out of the middle of the insurance debacle we are enjoying you are nuts, she is their girl. All Hillary will do is limit the rip-off to a few of the biggest ones (a sort of supper single pool HMO situation), which will create a monopoly situation and even higher presidiums, and less delivery of medical care in the end.

      We need single payer government run government insurance without a private insurance company with in a million miles of the program. If the insurance companies and their lobbyists don’t like it is just too damned bad because their greed has brought the need for reform to their doorstep. We need to remove from office any Senator or Representative who will not go along with a government run not for profit single payer program.  I’m tired of a bunch of mercenary slugs making a bundle off the misfortune of most Americans and killing some of them by denying services just to make a buck; this has to end!

      by Bobjack23 on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 08:40:57 PM PDT

  •  People like me think your Insurance co have

    already targeted you to die.  Trouble makers have no place in a system.

    by yoduuuh do or do not on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 06:27:58 PM PDT

    •  kill the Insurance Corporations instead

      

      by ca democrat on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 07:09:26 PM PDT

      •  Great post of great bumper sticker. nt

        by yoduuuh do or do not on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 08:02:36 PM PDT

  •  We have not been told yet how much our

    company-sponsored plans will rise next year. I am very worried about that.

    by blue jersey mom on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 06:30:40 PM PDT

    •  Well bjm, clearly the whole system is imploding

      I mean honestly, how much longer can I or anyone pay 13% premium increases. If it goes up 13% next year, it will go over $700 a month.  That's like a mortgage.

      This is absolute insanity. That's why I wrote the diary.

      This is unsustainable.

      by nyceve on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 06:39:14 PM PDT

      •  Yes, like housing, it will implode

        As costs go up, and wages remain stagnant, fewer people buy insurance or seek treatment. Eventually, the only people getting insurance are the ones who don't get sick, leaving many doctors, hospitals and pharmacies with too little traffic to stay in business.

        I'm guessing the situation will one day resemble Prohibition, with many people seeking care across the border. Others will seek out care from an  underground system of unlicensed practitioners, much as women obtain abortions where the practice is illegal.

        All of this makes the U.S. ripe for an epidemic of disastrous proportions.

        by Deep Harm on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 07:00:14 PM PDT

      •  It's like one of the mortgage scams

        that have sent the housing industry flailing...an ARM.

        Meanwhile, my retired buddies are wondering how they can afford 13% annual increases to be withdrawn from fixed incomes.

        by madgranny on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 07:05:52 PM PDT

      •  well, mine's 1550 right now

        for a family of 4
        my mortgage is 1280

        not like a mortgage, more then...

        (btw, 2 pretty serious now-preexisting conditions)

        by askyron on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 07:43:37 PM PDT

        •  ahh, that's a month...

          so, over 18k a year

          by askyron on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 09:47:11 PM PDT

      •  It will be sustained until those who profit...

        are confronted by countervailing power.  This system won't change on its own.

        I was blown away by the reactions of Tweety, Buchanan, and other pundits after the Dem Labor debate in Chicago.  They were genuinely amazed by the story of the disabled LTV steelworker who lost his coverage.  They and other members of the punditocracy have no clue as to what's going on out there.

        JRE wants to confront Big Insurance and Big Pharma.  Obama wants to bargain w/ them.  HRC is funded by Big Insurance and Big Pharma.

        Since Kucinich himself knows he has no chance, it makes your choice fairly easy.

        by RFK Lives on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 07:53:52 PM PDT

      •  It's been going up 13% a year

        For at least 10 years.

        Note that health insurance is not included in the CPI.

        by elfling on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 08:54:33 AM PDT

    •  We got told.

      Ours is going up 40% for next year.

      by Ferrofluid on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 07:26:01 PM PDT

      •  Yikes

        by denise b on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 09:05:38 PM PDT

      •  Sounds like you're going across a dreaded age

        break.

        Happy Birthday.

        by elfling on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 08:55:57 AM PDT

    •  I have. It went up 13% for 2008

      I will have to look and see whether I need to switch to one of the other plans that we choose from.

      Would've thought I would so look forward to being 65?

      by LIsoundview on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 04:49:33 AM PDT

  •  pretty much the same for me

    I am "lucky" to have state employee retire coverage, for which I pay the whole premium, about $540/month, with a $750 deductible.  Same deal with the usual and customary stuff.  I may just have enough medical expenses to deduct them this year....

    There's no way I can afford to NOT pay for this coverage, since I have some expensive procedures every year.

    Pretty soon I'll be eligible for Medicare.. and then we have some fun.

    right.

    by pitbullEmily on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 06:50:53 PM PDT

  •  This will go on indefinitely

    until Americans wake from their long, long, long slumber of thinking the government gives a rats ass about the people.

    Until then, we can all expect to continue to spiral into a country with the moral leadership of a fruit fly.  

    When will this all end?  Greed is the mantra of this country now.  Greed Bless America is what wavers over old glory.  

    I told a woman in my office today that we are spending billions in Iraq.  She said; I don't want to hear about it.  It only depresses me.  nuff said.  Until Americans multiple Americans line up in soup lines and their children are going hungry, will we see the outrage.  And, there is no guarantee we will even see it then.

    by pmob5977 on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 09:02:54 PM PDT

  •  Look, Americans, it's really very simple.

    Cancel your insurance policy.

    Then place that $7k in an account that will earn you good interest, and be easy to get at in