Out Of Work, Out Of Insurance, Out Of Luck

Unemployed Search, Some In Vain, For Affordable Medical Insurance After Losing A Job

(AP)  Leah Smith shells out more than $730 a month for health insurance but you won't hear her complaining.

Among the jobless, Smith is one of the lucky few with solid health insurance that she can afford. And it covers thousands of dollars in prescription drugs she could never pay for herself.

Health problems forced the 55-year-old to leave her job as a human resources director several years ago. She takes medication to help cope with spine problems, multiple sclerosis and high blood pressure, among other ailments.

She's covered under the Indiana Comprehensive Health Insurance Association, a state-backed safety net program, and pays $2,198 every three months. That's not cheap. It's about what the average worker pays over three years for her portion of a single-coverage plan through an employer, according to statistics from the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundationm.

The Indiana insurance pool is one of the limited possibilities for people who lose their jobs and are searching for health insurance. It's a problem more Americans will face as more people lose jobs in the economic downturn.

"There are not adequate options," said Cheryl Fish-Parcham, deputy director of health policy at the nonprofit Families USA, which advocates health care reform. "People may face prices that are totally unaffordable, and they often can't get the same benefits they had before."

Still, Smith calls her insurance "a lifesaving plan."

She landed in Indiana's insurance safety net after first paying about $400 a month for 18 months of COBRA coverage. That's the program that allows a departing employee to remain under the employer's health plan by paying the full premium cost. Many unemployed people can't afford that, but Smith said disability insurance gave her a portion of her former salary to help cover it.

Once COBRA coverage ended, she searched for an individual policy and found it wasn't easy.

"I even wrote letters asking them to please cover me," she said. "They had no interest as soon as they learned of all the (health) issues."

Eventually, she found refuge in what's considered Indiana's insurance of last resort. The state helps fund the program, which charges relatively high premiums but provides its estimated 1,200 customers insurance with no lifetime maximum on benefits.

The program rejects no one and, like similar ones in 20 to 30 states, it provides coverage for people who can't afford it on the open market but are too well off to qualify for Medicaid.

To afford it, Smith scrimps in every possible way. She downsized from a condo to an apartment. She cut out basic cable and trimmed caller ID from her phone service.

"I go out to do dinner maybe twice a month, I don't go to fancy dinners," she said. "Obviously I don't go on a lot of occasions anymore."

In return, her insurance covers most of the expense of her nausea medicine, which costs about $1,600 for 120 pills. It also covers a patch she needs for nerve pain, a blood thinner, blood pressure drug and other medicines.

Many others in Indiana aren't so fortunate. The unemployment rate in this key presidential election state stood at 6.2 percent last month, a shade higher than the national figure, which experts say could rise in the coming months.

The first and best option for people who lose their employers' insurance is switching to coverage through a spouse or family member. Then there's COBRA, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. The cost of extending this employer's insurance, however, usually rises about fivefold once you leave the payroll.

"You would go from paying 20 percent to paying all of it," said Karen Pollitz, a research professor at the Georgetown Health Policy Institute. She said the cost of a COBRA policy quickly becomes a "conversation stopper" for those who have just lost their income.

Poor families may find coverage through state programs like Medicaid. Some people might convert the group policy from their employer to an individual plan or buy a separate policy on the open market.

Insurers offer scores of individual plans for a wide range of prices. But these polices may not work if the applicant has a pre-existing condition. That can lead to insurance that costs too much or excludes expensive conditions like diabetes.

For Jeffrey Carroll, there were no affordable options when he lost his job as a truck driver. At $1,000 a month, COBRA proved too pricey for the 44-year-old with a wife and daughter. He also found nothing but big fees when he searched online. He said some polices wanted as much as $241 a week.

"They need to come up with an affordable plan for a common working man," said Carroll, who has since found another job and is waiting for health coverage to start. "Joe Blow off the street can't afford it."

Kimberly King has managed to get by more than five years without health insurance. She left her job as an accounting clerk in 2001 to take care of her sick mother, who died the next year. King, 46, dipped into her retirement savings to stretch COBRA coverage into 2002.

But now she can't find steady work for more than $7 an hour, let alone a job that also offers health insurance.

"I took bits and pieces of little jobs, and it's a joke," she said. "I can't even buy gas on $7 an hour."

King, who has no dependents needing coverage, says she hasn't looked for insurance because she knows she can't afford it. She used to visit the doctor twice a year for checkups. Now she pops vitamins and hopes to stay healthy.

That worked until she became dizzy and passed out about a year and a half ago.

An ambulance rushed her to Wishard Memorial, the public hospital serving Indianapolis. Doctors treated her for a urinary tract infection. The ambulance ride alone cost $400.

"I still haven't paid the bill yet," King said. "I'm probably going to be out a thousand bucks."

She thinks people like her might be helped if Barack Obama wins on Tuesday. She normally votes in every election, but this year offers extra incentive.

Smith, on the other hand, said her situation shows that coverage is available. People just have to look long enough and hard enough to find it.

"I think if you're determined to find something to get covered, I think it's out there," she said. "It's not going to fall in your lap."

Smith is leaning toward John McCain. She isn't eager to see a government-run health plan. She envisions long waits and limited choices of doctors.

Most importantly, she's worried she'll lose the security it took her a year and a half to find.

"I'm very nervous about that," she said. "I would hate for them to come and replace the health coverage I have."

[ladyephesus1]

Leaning towards the wrong person. Get use to the fact that Obama has won this one honey!

[usedeqbroker]

Our very rich country, the richest in the world gives other countries so much aid and lets us stand by hoping some bread will fall off the table. Health care should not be an issue in this country. Our leaders have turned their head to us one to many times on this issue... we the people, are in need and deserve to be better taken care of. Shut down the money funnel to outside countries and we will have insurance, we can shore up social security, we can balance the budget and change the direction of this country... Even for profit corporations provide these things for their employees... and with the taxes we pay it''s kin tow working half the time for he government anyway... we shouldn''t have to beg. If the government managed it''s revenue properly, we would have it... but it is being stolen and give a way...

[billh971]

IF I CHANGED JOBS MY FAMILY COBRA COVERAGE WOULD BE $1300 A MONTH. IF I LOST MY JOB, I AM A DIABETIC IF I HAD TO BUY MY 5 PILLS A DAY AND INSULIN AT FULL PRICE WHO KNOWS. EVERY YEAR MY 3 PERCENT RAISE IS ABOUT EQUAL TO MY 3 PERCENT INCREASE IN HEALTH CARE COST. IF I HAD NO JOB NO INSURANCE WELL EVEN IF I DIDN''T GO TO THE HOSPITAL MY CHOICES WOULD BE EITHER PAY MY BILLS, PAY FOR COBRA, PAY FOR MY MEDS OR DIE? NO OR! MY JOB SUCKS. I PAY 50% OF MY HEALTH CARE COVERAGE. IT IS ABOUT $5,6OO A YEAR FOR FAMILY COVERAGE OUT OF MY POCKET. THAT IS OMLY 1/2 OF THE COST. THE FULL COST $11,000 A YEAR IS THE COBRA COST. THE $5600 A YEAR DOES NOT INCLUDE COPAYS FOR DOCTOR VISITS OR PERSCRIPTIONS.I WORK FOR A MID SIZE BANK IN TENNESSEE. IF I GET $5000 FROM THE MCCAIN HEALTH PLAN AND MY HEALTH CARE BENIFITS ARE TAXED I GO IN THE HOLE EVEN MORE! THIS ARTICLE DOESN''T TELL THE WHOLE PICTURE! I STAY AT MY JOB NOT FOR THE PAY, BUT FOR HEALTH CARE INSURANCE!

[hitoyou1]

Yes a crook and a no good has won. Obama.

[grouchyjohn]

There are public health departments in most states/cities. Most drug makers will give indigents medicine for free (google rxassist or pparx)and Wal-Mart has over 300 medicines listed for $4.00. Also, all veterans are eligible for the VA, although some may have a co-pay. The problem is more of perception and wanting the government to take of you then one of not being able to get treatment or medicine. Here in a county of 14,000 in rural Florida no-one goes without health care or medicine unless they want to. I find it hard to believe that people really do anywhere in the US. They may not like the lines or the wait, but it is available!!!!

Posted by bob5ford at 09:30 AM : Nov 03, 2008





Public health departments DO NOT provide medical care!!!

Where did you get this ultra-bizarre information from?!?!?!

[dburfears]

McCAIN/PALIN HEALTH CARE PLAN:

"DROP DEAD! WE DON''T GIVE A D*MN!"

"Pre-existing condition?" Forget it! No insurance. Drop dead."

"We will give you $5000 but take away $12,000 for the actual insurance"

"If your insurance company decides to drop some coverage, or reduce your benefits, then TOO BAD FOR YOU. If you DIE BECAUSE YOU CAN''T GET TREATMENT, THEN SO WHAT?"

"If you are one of the 25% of Americans with personal paid coverage, then you BETTER HOPE YOU DO NOT GET SICK. Because we don''t care that your insurance company will DROP YOU any time you get sick. DROP DEAD!"

"If you are one of the 20% of Americans without health care, CRAWL AWAY AND DIE. We don''t give a d*mn about you."

"Tax your company-provided health benefits". YOU CAN AFFORD IT!

"I got mine, good luck getting yours"

"We''ll eviscerate corporate health plans to enrich the insurance companies"

"As government paid politicians, we have a great medical plan. Who cares if you DIE because YOU can''t get one!"

[observer2020]

Suggestion.. Get a prescription.. Go to central America.. get your prescription filled and have a good time on the beach.. If you take many meds you will come out cheaper then buying them in the US.
Posted by swensbckcuf

If you can''t afford health insurance or afford to pay for perscriptions, how are you supposed to afford a trip to South America? I can''t even afford to change my mind in today''s economy. And after tomorrow, it''s just going to get much worse. Can''t even vote for the lesser of the two evils...they''re both just as bad when you weight it out, just in different ways. Vote for NONE OF THE ABOVE!

[dlawrenceb]

Time to stop fooling around and just have a single payer health insurance system. No lines, you can choose your own doctors; government would not be running health care, just providing health insurance. It would cost 30% less in additional taxes than we (workers and employers) are paying now in premiums. The only ything we would miss would the the millions of hours spent now trying to get private insurance companies to pay whqt they promised. This wouod be like medicare, except all physicians would take it.
All indiviiduals would benefit, so would businesses large and small. Our companies would be more competitive with those countries that have national health insurance. We could retrain health insurance workers to do productive work, the best of them would run the single payer system.

[antoniof123]

Most importantly, she''s worried she''ll lose the security it took her a year and a half to find.

"I''m very nervous about that," she said. "I would hate for them to come and replace the health coverage I have."

This is an example of a moron, she has not even looked at the web sites of each person.

Obama web site says you can keep your existing coverage. McCain says you can too.

I swear some people either need to learn to read or go back to school.

[middleman8]

All the ridiculous medical prices in the state is a rip off. It is the only country in the world with such a rip off on what should be a right to the people.
Just look north to Canada and see what a medical plan should be like. Don''t listen to those who tell you different, they have probably been on government insurance all their live, like the politicians etc. If you let this rip off go on and on it is your own fault.

[singlemom81]

The McCain plan is unrealistic in terms of providing health insurance. He obviously has not priced health insurance on the open market. I shopped for an insurance plan when my daughter became older. The cheapest I could find was about $800 per month for just her with a large deductible. The $5000 tax credit that McCain proposes does not go very far when the cost is $9600 per year. The cost difference is even larger for a family. The insurance companies also can drop you if they feel you have become to too sick or have a "preexisting condition." He also wants to tax the medical insurance that we get through our employment. It will destroy insurance through work. I was able to get reasonable insurance through my work for my daughter but it is still $400 per month and many low income families would not be able to afford that amount. Many people in the US are frightened of single insurance because they fear long waits and lack of choice of doctor. There are, however, other single payer health systems in Europe that work very well where you can see the doctor you want in a timely fashion. The successful single systems need to be studied for what would work in the U.S. Personally, I think the German system is one that could be adapted to the US and offers portability of health insurance. In the neighborhood I live in there are people dying because they lack health insurance. Something has to be done, but McCain''s plan will make it worse. Obama%u2019s is at least a start.

[theroux1]

Why do some people have such a hard time grasping this concept?

Socialized medicine is a safety net for those people unable to afford other coverage. Can you upgrade to "better" care if you can afford it? Of course! Are their longer waits and sometimes a shortage of doctors? Definitely. But this is coverage for the non-insured and under insured.

Read Obama''s plan folks! What he is proposing is that you can keep your current insuance if you wish but don''t we have a responsibility as human beings to help those less fortunate than ourselves? You never know when your own situation might change. Don''t you want that safety net for your family?

I do!

[williamfold]

curse914,

you said "Your "rights" are fully spelled out in the US constitution. I do not see medical care, welfare or free education there.

A standing Army isn''t in the Constitution either, but we have one.

[middleman8]

bob5ford;
I have lived and worked and served in us military and now live in Canada (Gods country ). and am real appreciative of that. My kin still live under the capital
ripoff in the states.
When young I watched my sister die of appendicitis from lack of transportation to a hospital. Please, Please don''t quote the "constitution" to me. It was written by of bunch of slave owners and carpetbaggers.( The only thing George had right.) You can even go to Mexico and get sooner, better, cheaper, care than in the States. How long is the lineup of americans for medication in Canada ?

[easeup-2009]

You can even go to Mexico and get sooner, better, cheaper, care than in the States. How long is the lineup of americans for medication in Canada ?


Posted by middleman8 at 12:32 PM : Nov 03, 2008

Better medical care in Mexico??? BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

How''s the taxes up there, eh?

[godseyesore-2009]

Constitution Preamble states "promote general welfare".
Declaration of Independence states "...certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
I defy anyone to argue that a state of happiness can be held or maintained without general wellbeing and access to health care. If you are sick, you are not happy.

[sepa2]

Time to stop fooling around and just have a single payer health insurance system. No lines, you can choose your own doctors; government would not be running health care, just providing health insurance.
Posted by dlawrenceb

I guess that explains why all the Canadians come to Florida for their surgery? How many people would go into medical care as doctors, nurses and the rest, if the government controlled medicine? Even the VA has problems getting American born doctors, most at the local one are Indian or from someplace else. Don''''t miss-understand, the level of care is very good, but they have to import doctors because the ones here won''''t work for the paltry $100,000 they are paid. Imagine if none made over that and lawyers still made much more. What do you think would be the profession of choice????
Single payer = price controls and doctor shortages!!!!

Posted by bob5ford at 11:42 AM : Nov 03, 2008
----------------------------------------
100k is about what a scientist or an engineer with P hD (who discover most medical devices and medicines which doctors prescribed)earns. Under current practices we should say medical bussiness not care. With 20% GDP already being gobbled and employers dropping medical benefits like hot potetoes where do you think medical bussiness would end up?

[awinslow2]

We as a nation need to provide some type of health insurance coverage to those who are without coverage. I have been saying this since 1988 election. Employers such as Walmart need to provide a portion of coverage to every employee. You shouldn''t be the nation''s largest employer and only provide health insurance to 30% of your employees. Everyone with insurance is paying for those people that do not have coverage anyway.

[davinci08-2009]

There appears to be more support of Obama''s health plan proposals because of increased coverage including pre-existing conditions. Who could say no to that? However, what would happen to the cost of health care if insurance companies were forced to provide this coverage.
Private companies will not sacrifice profit. The increased costs will be passed on to consumers. Then what do we do? Demand higher wages to pay for it? Insist that taxes be reduced further to help with the burden? Obama''s proposals create more questions than answers; questions that he can not and answer specifically. McCain wants to eliminate barriers to competition so that insurance companies have to compete for your business. It''s clear that competition reduces costs. Think Walmart. They have chosen to really examine their business to reduce their cost of doing business so that you and I can have an opportunity to products at lower prices. Look what Walmart has done already in terms of Prescription prices. Their system may not be perfect but without a doubt they have helped many of us purchase things even prescriptions at better prices making them more affordable. Other companies followed Walmart''s lead on the prescription program. Now there is more affordability throughout the system. Has anybody questioned Walmart? Essentially, that''s McCain''s plan. While his tax credit seems modest to some of you, when health insurance and prescriptions become more affordable, the tax credit will look much better.

[mycommentspg]

I am not for a socialized country, but paying taxes during your lifetime should give you access to healthcare when life deals you a situation where you cannot afford coverage. Taxpayer money sure provides Congress with good healthcare. http://mycommentspage.blogspot.com/

[LikeSoup]

The economy is bad and may get worse. The stock markets are bad, the home mortgage and other credit systems are broken, the jobs situation could possibly continue to deteriorate. Who knows what else looms? You deserve a good news alternative. LikeSoup.com

[hennighg]

This is part of the trickle down economic policy anyway. Either be one of us (white, rich, conservative, at least a pretend christian, and a lover of the South American model of economics and government) or you may die, and the sooner the better. No one wants a bunch of smelly poor people around anyway. Tain''t republican.

[davinci08-2009]

re: Constitution Preamble states "promote general welfare".
Declaration of Independence states "...certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
I defy anyone to argue that a state of happiness can be held or maintained without general wellbeing and access to health care. If you are sick, you are not happy.

Posted by godseyesore
----------------------------------------------
Did the founding fathers have health insurance?
It sounds like you believe that our government should provide equal coverage to all. It sounds ideal. What country does that? Those whose systems are socialized are the closest. Which Country''s systems provide the most round breaking research and development that is eagerly sought by other countries who pay their students tuition to go and study not to mention where they bring their leaders to have these procedures done? Not Canada... Not Mexico

[usclimey]

Maybe it''''s your "right" to work and earn so you can pay for your medical care???

Posted by bob5ford at 11:45 AM

That was uncalled for. Al I can think of about your wonderful situation in FL is that you never go to the Dr or have any prescriptions. I DO work for a living, my wife stays at home since she has MS and we have a child. I''m very lucky with my firm''s insurreance. I pay under $1000 in premiums on a $12,000 policy That includes a $4000 deductible - ie I pay the first $4,000 out of pocket. Since April our total costs have been in excess of $25,000. With McCain''s health plan, my wife would be no longer insurable AND I''d be paying $11,000 more in premiums for a $5000 tax break. If you think I''m voting for that... - well ya gotta be kiddin''. You should be thankful for your good health, but don''t begrudge those of us who are not so lucky.

[missingamerica]

"Leah Smith shells out more than $730 a month for health insurance but you won''t hear her complaining."

Let me see...at the minimum wage of $6.55 an hour, $730.00 represents - before taxes - 111 hours of work, or almost 3 out of 4 weeks of the month.

Yup - that is definitely a sign of the Republican stewardship of our economy, and the success of "free trade" and "trickle down" economics.

You can either:

Eat and live inside while paying the auto insurance and buying the gas to get to and from work while dying from lack of medical care

Or, you can:

Get the medical care required to keep you alive enough to work to get the fuel and insurance necessary to keep working while living outside and dying of starvation.

But not all of the essentials of survival at once.

The Republicans and neoliberals masquerading as Democrats have gifted our children with a lovely future, have they not?

[usclimey]

Better medical care in Mexico??? BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

How''''s the taxes up there, eh?

Posted by easeup

Typical me first GOPig answer. If it all went into healthcare insurance, I''d be more than happy to pay a couple of thousnd in extra taxes to ensure nationwide health insurance.

[usclimey]

How''''s the taxes up there, eh?

Posted by easeup

In 2004 the avergae US citizen paid 16.5% income tax, the average Canadian 17.8%. That 1.3% extra for 100% health coverage. Are you even too selfish for that??

[nokids4me]

Well, Obama is about to fix all this with Socialism.

[puzzler125]

Waiting a YEAR for health insurance coverage is ridiculous. Borders Inc. offers part-time (and full-time of course) employees insurance starting the first of the month after employment begins!

[missingamerica]

Waiting a YEAR for health insurance coverage is ridiculous. Borders Inc. offers part-time (and full-time of course) employees insurance starting the first of the month after employment begins!

Posted by Puzzler125 at 01:57 PM : Nov 03, 2008

http://blog.mlive.com/annarbornews/2008/06/layoffs_at_borders_group_inc_i.html

June 03, 2008 17:01PM:

[bq]
When Borders Group Inc. announced cuts of nearly 275 corporate jobs Tuesday - including 156 in Ann Arbor - the news wasn''t a big surprise since the beleaguered bookseller detailed a plan last week to slice $120 million in annual costs.
Still, it marked an emotional milestone for workers at the bookseller''s Ann Arbor headquarters.

Borders has never laid off so many people at once at its Ann Arbor headquarters, which now has just over 1,000 employees.
[eq]

Lovely economy, these Republicans have created...

[sangye1-2009]

To bob5ford: I''m a physician who''s always been financially responsible. In sharp contrast to the numerous fiscally irresponsible Republicans around (How about that George Bush? Takes a surplus and turns it into a record deficit!!).

I did everything possible to secure myself financially and physically-- got the best education, lived within my means, bought a home I could easily afford at a fixed 30 year mortgage, took excellent care of my health, paid my taxes, had excellent health insurance, etc.... And then, the unexpected happened : I got a rare, life-threatening disease with an unknown cause that has kept me from working for over 2 years. So I lived off home equity for awhile, then sold the home and lived off that for awhile, and now what?

Bob, in a way, your inability to understand how this can happen to someone who did everything right is a blessing. It means you have not suffered catastrophe in your life, so you still believe you have control over everything. But it is also a curse, because you have not developed empathy for those who are suffering, and the only way you will learn it is to experience it yourself some day. Even if you never fall ill, someone close to you will, and you will suffer for them. Unable to help them, you will know suffering. And you will grow old. And that, too, is suffering. I cannot be angry with you. I can only feel deep sadness for you. Lost in your own private hell of judging others.

[usclimey]

Did the founding fathers have health insurance?

Posted by davinci08

Are you advocating going back to leeches, bleeding and no anasthetics?

[sangye1-2009]

To bob5ford: I''m a physician who''s always been financially responsible. In sharp contrast to the numerous fiscally irresponsible Republicans around (How about that George Bush? Takes a surplus and turns it into a record deficit!!).

I did everything possible to secure myself financially and physically-- got the best education, lived within my means, bought a home I could easily afford at a fixed 30 year mortgage, took excellent care of my health, paid my taxes, had excellent health insurance, etc.... And then, the unexpected happened : I got a rare, life-threatening disease with an unknown cause that has kept me from working for over 2 years. So I lived off home equity for awhile, then sold the home and lived off that for awhile, and now what?

Bob, in a way, your inability to understand how this can happen to someone who did everything right is a blessing. It means you have not suffered catastrophe in your life, so you still believe you have control over everything. But it is also a curse, because you have not developed empathy for those who are suffering, and the only way you will learn it is to experience it yourself some day. Even if you never fall ill, someone close to you will, and you will suffer for them. Unable to help them, you will know suffering. And you will grow old. And that, too, is suffering. I cannot be angry with you. I can only feel deep sadness for you. Lost in your own private hell of judging others.

[usclimey]

Even if you never fall ill, someone close to you will, and you will suffer for them. Unable to help them, you will know suffering. And you will grow old. And that, too, is suffering. I cannot be angry with you. I can only feel deep sadness for you. Lost in your own private hell of judging others.

Posted by Sangye1

Wonderful post. I sincerely wish you better luck in the future.

[nokids4me]

This story doesn''t explain why Leah Smith doesn''t have a husband to take care of her health insurance needs. Thats how most women handle it.

[sepa2]

How''''''''s the taxes up there, eh?
In 2004 the avergae US citizen paid 16.5% income tax, the average Canadian 17.8%. That 1.3% extra for 100% health coverage. Are you even too selfish for that??

Posted by usclimey at 01:57 PM : Nov 03, 2008
--------------------
Goog question. In US everyone think their coverage is better than their neighbor, which make them happy. Doctors and medical bussiness make merry with this mind set extracting maximum profit giving "care". Doctors as true sales people ask few personal questions like how your child is doing in school which make us feel even more important.

[ocasanas]

Well said "avoice": It''s better to have socialism that that McCainian invention of pay it yourself as you go. Oh, surprise $5000 won''t do much good to anybody. For those who don''t like socialism, I''d rather wait a month (or two in some countries) before I can be seen by the doctor than not be seen at all because of not being able to afford it. I''d rather go to the doctor and be told that probably what I have is just a pimple and not a tumor than not knowing what I have because I might loose all my money by going to a McCainian system. "Republicans" think that their ideas are the only ones that work, but they don''t realize that nobody in this world is perfect and that greed breaks the capitalism system taking away from the most unfortunate ones and "spreading the wealth" to the fortunate and rich ones. Neither type of government is good, but I think that "Democrats" are trying to "fix" the damage done until now, while "Republicans" are just saying to calm down, everything is fine.

[bobnjersey]

[Even if you never fall ill, someone close to you will, and you will suffer for them. ]
[Posted by Sangye1 at 02:05 PM : Nov 03, 2008]

no he wont ... he''ll tell them to practice personal responsibility ... because that''s what the dogma says.

[ddaryl1]

LMAO

As any republican would say. Too bad, obviously your just a liberal slouch who doesn''t work hard enough and it''s your own fault.

Now go out and get a Mcjob and be thankful you live in the (I''m laughing my *** off at this one) "Greatest Country on Earth"

If what Obama is offering is socialism... then I want socialism, but its not. It a redistribution of the wealth and putting the power back into the hands of the majority instead of the miniority.

Words cannot describe my full blown hatred for republicans. Its us or them as far as I am concerned, something worth dying for.

[mugaluv]

I have worked for 40 years and now that my health has gone in the cr*****, I can''t get health coverage. I can''t get on disability because you have to be without work for a year and I can''t do that because I have to work enough to exist. Maybe I haven''t been the picture of a good steward of money, but I paid my share of taxes and premiums and co-pays, and now I deserve to be helped. I raised a child on my own without any help from the government (or his father) and I kept us both insured. I resent that McCainian attitude. Trickle down doesn''t work, never has, never will, and there are people everywhere just like me who need help. I couldn''t afford 50.00 a month premium, much less 700.00. Get real. Those of us who have given and given and worked 2-3 jobs deserve help and we just aren''t getting it. I''m not ashamed of being unable to work full time. I have chronic illnesses, most of them inherited, but I guess I was just too stupid to plan for that time when they would hit me -- I was too busy working and raising a child. And, I have seen my salary decrease due to stupid "technology" because employers want to give computers jobs, not people, and they cut your pay and lay you off because they now have computers/software that can do your job. You want to help people, then employ people, not computers.

[afmca]

This is the dream of all Republicans when it comes to the middle and lower class.

While CEOs get slush funds that pay their premiums, co-pays, and out of network costs, the American worker is at the mercy of for profit health care providers that would rather see you die than treat you. McCain''s plan will basically allow industry to opt out of coverage and leave workers with too little funds to get even a second rate policy. If you are a health hazard with a pre-existing condition you might as well roll over and die. Republicans are so pro-life!

As for Obama''s plan at least it would allow everyone to have a basic plan. With the basics some people might start their own business or leave the current employers since health care would be covered. A modern, caring society would find a way to provide adequate health care to all. The cost of not doing so is actually higher than not providing it. We can pay $700B to Wall Street for their crimes; billions more for Bush''s war; but not for citizen''s health.

[xxunknown]

Here in Pennsylvania there is a program (state run) called Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities. The income limit is quite high and in order to qualify you have to be working and in need of a health sustaining medication (e.g blood pressure/ diabetes etc). The coverage is super and covers doctor, hospital, prescription, psych, dental etc. Its the one program the state did well. Compass.state.pa.us for those of you in PA who may qualify.

[tmittelstaed]

When I was in my early 20''s I developed cancer. I am cured now but my total care cost was billed out at approximately $200,000.00. The employer-paid HMO I was under wrote half of that off and paid just about all of the rest.
If I had not been under insurance I would have almost certainly died. Today I have a wife and 2 children and am working full time and am a productive member of society. Since I was sick I have certainly paid a lot of money over the years in doctor bills and in health insurance, fortunately nothing as major as cancer, though.
Fundamentally, the issue with health insurance in the United States boils down to this. Obviously, serious, expensive sickness is a hit or miss thing, only some will get it. We as a society are being given a choice - we either consign the minority of people who get a serious illness in their lifetime to the graveyard, and gamble that we will be in the majority that dodges that bullet, or we recognize that the gamble that WE might be in that minority someday is a distinct probability, and decide to take measures that provide for coverage for everyone.

[easeup-2009]

Better medical care in Mexico??? BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

How''''''''s the taxes up there, eh?

Posted by easeup

Typical me first GOPig answer. If it all went into healthcare insurance, I''''d be more than happy to pay a couple of thousnd in extra taxes to ensure nationwide health insurance.

Posted by usclimey at 01:54 PM : Nov 03, 2008

Hey dumb-azz, would you rather go to Mexico for a heart transplant or The Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic or John''s Hopkins????

MORON

[xxunknown]

avoice: its not a perfect program, but it has the highest income limit of all Medicaid programs in this state (the limits of other categories of Medicaid are incredibly low. for example $205 monthly income limit for someone who is temporarily disabled).

And it is AMAZING how much some medications and tx can cost! I think thats where the problems lie.

[easeup-2009]

In 2004 the avergae US citizen paid 16.5% income tax, the average Canadian 17.8%. That 1.3% extra for 100% health coverage. Are you even too selfish for that??

Posted by usclimey at 01:57 PM : Nov 03, 2008

And sales tax? How about more than double?

[mugaluv]

Maybe it''''''''s your "right" to work and earn so you can pay for your medical care???

You are either Satan or a fool. There are people just like me who have worked their ***** off their whole life and paid their taxes and premiums, and taken cuts in salary because they got some hereditary disease or a blankety-blank computer took over their job completely or just enought that they feel justified to cut your salary. You are probably the most selfish, self-centered, uncompassionate jerk I have heard in a long, long time. I pray that God gives you what your deserve, a devastating health crisis and loss of your job and insurance, then let''s see how you feel. But, then again, you probably are invested in the stock market and got bailed out along with the rest of the banks and crooks on Wall Street. What comes around goes around, and I have faith that you will regreat your arrogant, uppity attitude. Hope to see you in h-e-l-l.

[simplemind2]

Sooooooo - are you down to your last dime yet?
If not - big deal!
American all have been spoiled - living out of one''s means; borrowed mortgage to live in a nice house knowingly they can''t afford; Charge luxury merchandise using credit card yet when monthly statement arrived - couldn''t pay in full thus owe interest...etc.
At the other side of the stick, elected GWB - The "Sole Decider" not one term, but two consecutive terms and he authorized to spend 3 Billions - i.e. 3,000,000,000.00 US tax-payers hard-earned money in Iraq every week - his national policy clearly is to "Spread our wealth with the Arabs".
Isn''t life grand?
Remember to vote for McCain/Palin tomorrow to continue GWB''s Third term!
WINK WINK!

[brucie2006]

Out Of Work, Out Of Insurance, Out Of Luck


Sounds like the McShame plan for the middle class!

[xxunknown]

lastdance130 told me that (s)he likes child molesters.