Hudson: Junk Economics

[jheis]

Re: Hudson: Junk Economics

Amateur astronomers and burglars in Colorado Springs should both be pleased about this darkening of the city

[flintlock]

Re: Hudson: Junk Economics

I don't want "free health care."

I am living with cancer. I want to be able to move anywhere in the US that I want to and be able to buy a freaking individual policy with a premium that doesn't consume 40 percent of after-tax income.

As things stand, I can't buy one at any price today except in the handful of states with guaranteed-issue health coverage.

The minute insurance companies (that's the "I" in FIRE economy) got their mitts into health care, the price of it was bound to go beyond the reach of ordinary citizens, or those too young for Medicare but old enough to have less than perfect health.

Believe me, a lot of folks who lose their jobs, and along with it their health coverage, are in for a nasty surprise when their COBRA runs out, they can't immediately get another job with coverage, and they can't buy individual coverage at any price because of their medical records.

The mass demonstrations in D.C. for single-payer are coming when the pain becomes deep and widespread enough.

The sooner the better.

Thanks for posting this. Good luck with your treatment. Sometimes I can't believe how many people have a " it won't happen to me" attitude about their health. Most don't give a rat's ass about health care until they need it. Or have to pay for it. People in their 40s and 50s need to check the facts on buying health insurance outside of a large group plan. Lose your job, Cobra runs out,and many will be shocked to learn that that big insurance company doesn't really want your business anymore like it did when you got out of college. Not at any price. Unless you have never been sick, never been to the doctor, and never taken any prescription medicine of course.

I think the increasing rise of unemployment will have some impact on what happens. More people are finding out what "going naked" really means. A lot are also finding out they are not as well off as they thought they were. It's one thing to budget for the rent, utilities, etc. How the heck do you budget for health care? How much is enough? Hard to know.

Side note: Wife said today a fellow teacher was told her insurance won't pay for the hip replacement she needs. Apparently its not considered necessary to have a hip.:rolleyes: And this is with "good" teacher insurance. Oh well, if she can just hold out until medicare kicks in and the insurance company can pass off it's responsibility to the US taxpayer.