I have had health insurance for the last 20 years since I have been married. I now have a 19 year old daughter in college.
The premiums on my company until about 3 years ago, Aetna, had gotten to about $24,000 per year. That is a lot of money and my income does not really allow for that expense. I was notified that in 2 months it would go to $32,000, and shortly after that $35,000. That is a lot of money. John Kerry, in the 2004 election, said that his Congressional healthcare was $700 per month, which of course is $8,400 per year.
My healthcare……..
John Kerry, in the 2004 election, said that his Congressional healthcare was $700 per month, which of course is $8,400 per year. It is obvious that I would take that plan in a minute.
I contacted a broker and got a new plan before Aetna had a chance to raise its rates, ATLANTIS, which is about $950 per month or $11,400 per year. Neither of my policies covered prescriptions, but Atlantis has trouble paying for tests. Now, my daughter has damaged her ACL. The school doctor recommended an operation, our local doctor, skeptical of operations, was convinced by the MRI that an operation was needed. Atlantis did not pay for the MRI. They have not given permission for an operation. The doctor’s office has told us they were going to drop Atlantis because they provide such poor service. More importantly for my daughter, the doctors have said that this condition is weak and will be a serious problem for her in 20 years. This is not a legacy I want to participate in.
I am self employed, a have suffered a severe income loss over the last 6 months, and have mounting bills.
Why does my Senator pay $700 per month when I need to pay $3000 per month for a similar service and make a great deal less than the Senator?
If there is single payer healthcare, the vast majority of costs due to paperwork, litigation, and stiff arming customers would be greatly reduced. The amount of money paid by all in premiums would be much more than that paid by the single payer (government). Therefore , while taxes would go up, they would seemingly go up less than the premiums were. National Healthcare needs to cover what is recommended by doctors, it needs to be separated from employment, and it needs to be universal. If ‘taxes’ rise to cover healthcare, does not the insurance payment disappear? Do not the proposed taxes equal or be less than the insurance premium because so Much of the premium goes to paperwork and litigation and not actual healthcare?