I just got my premium notice.

[Cassandra]

My health insurance is going up 17% and will now be about 1/3 of my income. Wow, am I depressed.

[gateley]

1. That is just so wrong, I'm sorry. nt

[Cassandra]

3. Given that I've heard of other increases of...

32%, I suppose it could have been worse.

[NMMNG]

2. Don't let your insurance company know you're depressed

They'll jack up your rates again. :-(

[Cassandra]

6. Ok, I'm smiling, see....

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :mad: :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :cry: :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :scared: :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[endless october]

4. i'm sorry to hear the bad news.

[coti]

5. Well, here's what we're going to do to solve that, and it's not what you think...

You'd THINK we'd find some kind of a way to compete with or strictly regulate insurance companies to deal with this gouging.

But the Obama Administration has a better idea- give them MORE money! You see, if we give them more money, then maybe we'll satiate them and they'll stop jacking up their rates. Right?

[MerryBlooms]

7. I just got my notice of increase

another 12% for a grand total of 44% in less than two years.

[Lorien]

14. Crap, that's insane!

but not surprising. A friend with MS saw the same increase.

[MercutioATC]

39. Mine's going up 80% next year (Aetna).

I switched plans.

[Cassandra]

46. Eeeek!!

:wow:

[MercutioATC]

47. No big deal.

Switched to Blue Cross/Blue Shield Basic and $50 biweekly into a health savings account. Roughly the same coverage for about the same money as my current Aetna policy.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[kdmorris]

9. I feel lucky

Mine only went up 11% this year. Could have gone with "way cheaper" if I would just take the HSA that my company is trying to push us all into, but as long as I'm able, I'll choose the PPO.

[glinda]

10. what health insurance company. What State? I just had mine go up $100 from 400-now 500.

[Cassandra]

13. Empire

BCBS

[glinda]

16. I have BCBS also. Doesn't cover hardly anything too.

[Cassandra]

18. Mine covers what I've needed so far...

but that's all been preventative. I have no idea what would happen if I actually got sick.

[glinda]

22. Don't. I cannot afford to I know that for a fact. So am stuck paying for something I cannot dare use

[undeterred]

11. I have no insurance.

And its depressing.

[Cassandra]

17. Yes, that is depressing.

At least I'm in NYC and there are plenty of doctors and hospitals that take my insurance.

[glinda]

19. I am 55. Only have had HI for 15 yrs out of that. Bad insurance too. Hope you are younger than me.

[Lorien]

12. I'm dropping mine. I can no longer afford it

If it's between electricity and "insurance" which pays for nothing until I pay the 12k deductible, it's next to worthless.

[Cassandra]

23. If it weren't for the fear of a serious illness...

it would be much more cost effective to pay cash for doctor's visits.

[SoCalDem]

41. pay the premiums..AND the deductibles, and co-pays

..all that money WASTED on NO actual health CARE (that's paid out by the "insurance" company).. that's the real problem:grr:

[Blue_In_AK]

15. Our premiums increased from $300 a month

to $800 a month in five years. It's taken from my husband's fixed pension. It sucks.

[glinda]

20. We are in the same boat. It does suck. scary too.

[Cassandra]

21. 5 years ago I think mine was about $400.

Now it will be $1170. That's almost as much as my rent.

[Blue_In_AK]

24. That's an insane amount, I agree.

Our $800 is just for my husband and me. Does yours cover family? Even if it does, that's way too much for health insurance.

Wouldn't it be nice if we'd at least get a rebate or something if we don't use our insurance? I go to the doctor once a year to get my blood checkied and renew my Synthroid prescription. My husband doesn't go at all. $9600 a year seems like an awful lot to pay for that.

[Cassandra]

27. Mine is just for me.

If I want anything better, I think I may have to marry it. (I'd like to get married but would prefer not to feel forced to do so for health insurance savings).

[glinda]

36. what????? that large amount? Why?

[KittyWampus]

25. My premium just went from $500 to $580 a MONTH. What percent is that?

[ThomCat]

28. 16%

:(

[Cassandra]

32. Seems to be the percentage du jour.

[dixiegrrrrl]

35. It went up by 11%.

[clear eye]

26. OMG.

Wish there were better news for you today, but since you have coverage, you won't be elegible for much of anything. And what you are elegible won't start until 2013 or so.

Stay well (I mean it. Live clean and stay well.)

[ThomCat]

30. Cassandra, I am so very sorry.

:(

:hug:

You are one of the people I have been thinking about through all of this. I have been hoping that somehow the final bill that comes out of all of this would help you.

[Cassandra]

31. Thank you sweetie!

:hug: :hug:
It just keeps getting scarier. It also makes me angry; all the things I'd like to get for my business but can't afford because the insurance comes first.
How are you doing in the new place?

[ThomCat]

34. I wish I had moved sooner.

I miss the old location, and the old place was more accessible.

But the new place is brighter, and has more space. I love having the large back deck and the friendly neighbors.

I like no longer having the building super from hell living in the apartment next door snooping on me. I like no longer having the loud upstairs neighbors constantly waking me up.

And like no longer having to ever deal with water bugs coming up through the foundation of the building. :puke:


This place is is a house, and frees us from a lot of the problems that come with living in apartment buildings.

If you have any free time I'd love to have you come out here for dinner some time. :hug:

[glinda]

37. Same for me also. I wonder if we drop our insurance for me, if I can last that long.....

[L0oniX]

29. I've heard of it doubling for some. They are raping us before the bill passes and goes into effect.

What else would you expect these sociopaths to do?

[footinmouth]

33. Mine went up too

My monthly premium went from $373 to $500. That's awful. It seems like decent insurance but I don't really use it much so I don't know. I'm retired and on Cobra until Medicare kicks in.

[glinda]

38. That is how much mine went up in 5 months.

[Uben]

40. Mine went down 5% !

I was shocked! After raising every year for the last 7 yrs and essentially tripling my costs, they lowered it this time. They have something up their sleeve, I know. I turn 55 this year, so they'll be raising it again due to my reaching that benchmark, no doubt.

[blueamy66]

42. I don't find out about my new rate

until February.

I am trying to get ready for the news.

[Le Taz Hot]

43. You have an income?

And insurance?

Trust me, hon. Things could get MUCH worse.

[Cassandra]

45. Of that I am well aware.

I also have no debt, no car (I'm in NYC and don't need one)and I have some savings but several years of being squeezed by these thieves has begun to feel like thumbscrews and the hope I was hoping for may not come.
What's really infuriating is the waste. I'd like to invest more in my business but I can't. Business is down because of the obvious, so earning my way to better days is not so easy and extra money continues to flow out to the insurance company. The "money honey" asked on her show why Israel is the start-up miracle, with so many more start-up businesses than here. She didn't mention that they have universal health care, which our money helps make possible, even though we don't pay for it directly. (Disclaimer: I'm Jewish and generally pro-Israel but very much against Likud and the RW parties and the lousy decisions they have made.)

[roamer65]

44. ...and we're about to make the health insurance companies a cartel.

Isn't America wonderful?

[eleny]

48. Mine went up over 30%

So I switched to an option which is essentially a catastrophic policy. A real step backward after buying decent insurance in our American system of health insurance for 38 years.