Do you have health care?

[Earth_First]

Poll question: Do you have health care?

In re: Moore shows clips of film on health care

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2503145&mesg_id=2503145

I've been without health care coverage for over a decade now. My cohabitant, my significant other, disqualifies discounted health care through the state because she is a signatory our lease agreement, so her income is used as qualifying income. Alone, I would barely afford the $157 ($628/month) a week to carry BASIC health care coverage in New York State.

Somethings gotta give.

[Eurobabe]

1. Yes, but in Europe, not the USA

although if I visit and something happens to me, I am covered too.

[Pool Hall Ace]

2. I have crappy health care coverage

that seems to cover almost nothing.

[China_cat]

14. Sounds like my husband's

It should have 'good only until needed' stamped on the bottom.

[blonndee]

3. I have minimal coverage until December, then I'm SOL.

Basically I've signed up for this semester just in case of an accident--the coverage is okay but I have to meet a high deductible first. I almost didn't even bother because even the little $80/month coming out of my paycheck is almost more than I can afford. But if I had a car accident or something horrible like that I'd be bankrupted, so I decided to be cautious. I don't know what I'll do after my teaching appointment ends. I can't afford to pay full price for individual coverage. Guess I'll have to go back to keeping my fingers crossed and knocking on wood that I stay healthy and don't have any bad luck.

[WinkyDink]

4. I have it from my school district until I'm 59, because I retired early

and coverage followed for only 7 years.

After then, ????

[whistle]

5. I have it but it is outragiously expensive for small businesses

...that are under 20 employees and my co-pays for doctor visits and prescriptions really add up

[abluelady]

6. Yes, But

I had very expensive insurance plan and thought I would take a risk--I have good health and switched to an HSA. My bad. Had an accident which wiped out my savings. The premium was very low and my thought was I would "save" the extra that had gone to premiums to help pay the deductible and my copays. Well, the accident was 2 weeks after the policy started. Never had time to save anything. The reality is I might not have been able to save. I changed policies because I needed the money that was going to premiums. In November I have the opportunity to get another policy. I don't know which direction to go.

[JitterbugPerfume]

7. I have excellent health care coverage

but it is in serious jeopardy because of a corporate bankruptcy . The first thing to go will be retirees insurance ( that's me)

[rosesaylavee]

8. We are a family of three

and purchase it outright independent from a business. Just updated our policy to have a daily deductible of $250/day. So any procedure or hospital stay or out patient thing, we only pay $250 for whatever happens that day. Haven't had to use it - but would be interested what others think about this plan. The only downside - if we were to spend three weeks in the hospital, that would be bad... but who is allowed to do that anymore?

[TheFarseer]

9. I've had health insurance for about 4 months

thanks to my new employer. Before that, I went 4 years without.

[catabryna]

10. Add me and my five year old son...

to the rolls of the uninsured. I could no longer afford to pay $719.00 per month to continue our COBRA coverage and had to let our policy lapse as of July 31st. Fortunately, I am able to get my son covered for a MUCH lower premium in a couple of months through the Healthy Families program. And, because he has a birth defect, I've learned that he can be covered by CCS so we don't have to worry about any limitations placed on us by Healthy Families coverage. As for myself, I've got to buckle down and find another policy. I'm fortunate that I don't have any pre-existing condition hurdles but it is still going to be financial ding to obtain coverage for myself since I'm now in my 40s.

[meldroc]

11. Yep, I'm one of the lucky ones...

But a couple years ago, I was unemployed for three years straight, uninsured, and having to scramble for aid from the county to deal with some health issues. That experience has made me a flaming fucking socialist when it comes to health care issues. Most people have limited control over their health care expenses, and shouldn't have to be driven into bankruptcy by going to the doctor.

[TAPat]

12. I have state sponsored (medicaid) healthcare

which covers about half of the massive dental work I am having done and supposedly covers 100% of the pre-cancerous condition I had a few months back (still arguing with the billing department a bit about that!)...

My daughter, however, is covered 100% for everything through Illinois' new program called KidCare.

Signing up was super easy and they didn't hold it against me that I'm self employed - So far, so good.

edit for typo

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

13. Yes. Carried it into retirement from my gov't employment.

Not great, but more than adequate for me and my wife. Relatively low cost - about $175 a month.

[Thirtieschild]

15. We are incredibly, incredibly lucky to have affordable health care

We are retired, pay something like $175 a month for Medicare and back-up health care. Prescriptions (and we have a bunch) cost us $10 a month per prescription, plus shipping. I had a total knee replacement this summer and our cost will be around $1200.

This doesn't mean I'm happy with the health care disaster in this country. I'm sick to my stomach watching several friends declare bankruptcy because of catastrophic illnesses. One of our sons has no health coverage, probably never will, has to depend on the kindness of pharmaceutical companies for his anti-depressant (which he has to have - is non-functional without it). Our youngest daughter has health coverage, but only within her "network", said networks couldn't fit her in in spite of her excruciating stomach cramps. She had no choice but to go outside and pay $900 for tests - inconclusive tests. Contrast that to our daughter, who married a Brit and is raising her toddlers in Yorkshire, seems to have excellent care, a doctor even made a house call when she had a miscarriage.

I grew up during WWII and was proud to be an American. I'm not sure we've done anything good in the world since then. Our karma is horrendous - genocide of Native Americans, stealing their land, slavery, corporate rule, and now a preemptive war.

Forgive the rant. I just get so disgusted with the greed in this country.

[Beelzebud]

16. Nope. Currently unemployed. Therefore I'm sub-human.

I'm not economically viable.

I fix computers for people for cash, but there is no health insurance for that.

[Greyhound]

17. What's that?

:kick:

[question everything]

18. Yes, paying for my own

For the past 10 years I have been paying for my own "Blue." With high deductions of $1,500 and only this year, with a stream of allergy shots, did I finally pass it.

Both of us changed too many jobs and then, once there, the employer keeps changing carriers and contracts so I figured - holding my fingers crossed - that I'd be better off with my own where I will not be terminated once my health deteriorates and won't have to worry about "pre-existing conditions" every time we change carrier.

I started with this when, after yet another job loss, I realized how expensive the COBRA was and that I could get my own a lot cheaper.

Also, this keeps any employer from knowing my health care. What most employees choose to ignore, or just do not care, is that employers, who pay the cost, can and do get copies of claims covered. Not the details, only that Hospital XYZ or Doctor ABC was reimbursed X amount of dollars for treating Jane Smith. Now imagine that that doctor is known to be the only one in town that still performs abortion...

[Earth_First]

19. Afternoon kick! n/t

[FILAM23]

20. I'm retired military

have TRICARE, not the best around but better then none

[leftofthedial]

21. I have to pay 100% of it myself

and my ex and I split the cost for our kids.

what's gotta give is basic human dignity. The destruction of the middle and working classes and a return to a corporatized form of feudalism.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

22. yes-not great but saved my butt this year.

had 7 trips to the ER, and without the insurance, I would owe over 15k in bills. I'm slowly paying off the 1k worth of debt left after they paid most of it.

[EFerrari]

23. I take care of my covered partner and have to work at home.

That means, I don't qualify for anything and can't afford insurance. I haven't had health care for 12 years, since I stopped teaching.

I don't see that changing any time soon unless we win the lottery. And, thanks so much, Ahnold, for your veto of universal health care for Californians!