Healthcare in this country stinks

I just got a letter from my healthcare insurance company announcing a 24 percent increase in the cost of my premium. I'm too angry to show you the exact numbers but my premium went from $1500 per month for family of 4 to $2000 per month. A $500 per month increase. I run my own business. I've paid 100% of my healthcare premium for 25 years now. Every year before and after the ACA the premium goes up 20% to 25% on average. Every 5 years it doubles in price. This government sucks. This country sucks. Healthcare sucks. All you people with political opinions eff you. Until you pay your own healthcare premium eff you! Eff you all! Eff this country!!

Pretty standard ACA increase for those of us "wealthy" enough not to need a subsidy.

We're all getting hosed like this every year until Congress does something, and even then, they'll still find a way to hose us because they're Congress and that's what they do.

a reply to: dfnj2015

I've said for a long time that Obama should not have tried to get every American insurance coverage. Prices with always rise rapidly with that action.
Look at college tuition. When the government got in the student loan game, prices rose and rose and rose.

He should have focussed his attention on lowering the cost of healthcare instead. That's where the problem truly lies. Then it would be easier to buy insurance.

a reply to: dfnj2015

Eff you for wanting anyone to pay upfront for healthcare premiums, or at the door.

Socialise your damned medicine, and you will not be having this problem. Fail to do so, and you do away with your own right to complain. Its like putting water in a bucket which you know has holes an inch wide in it, and complaining that you cannot get water from your well, to your cabbage patch.

You need a different bucket, and not one which involves ever being able to turn to someone else and say "Eff you for not being rich enough!".

a reply to: dfnj2015

I fully understand your anger. I'm right there with you. Self employed, and I make more than 30K a year, so no help from the gubbament. I'm lucky enough to have the kids on their own by now, but damn, it's not cheap. And the coverage is garbage.
I think the whole health care system will have to collapse and what emerges from the ashes might (MIGHT) be a little better, but it will get worse in the mean time. Try to remember the good times. Like back before the ACA when you could cover the whole family for $200 a month.

Sympathies. Sounds awful.

They just need to get private companies out of the healthcare insurance business. So long as these companies are making such vast profits, and the whole healthcare system is geared around maximising profits from 'customers' instead of patients, it's just going to get worse and worse.

Particularly with the aging population.

You desperately need a free-at-point-of-service NHS style system.

a reply to: TrueBrit

Government healthcare is inevitable in america but people refuse to accept the idea.
It's not just a flip the switch change though, it will also require tax increases.

a reply to: dfnj2015

I've never paid insurance for healthcare. It isn't required by law.

Neither is faith.

Insurance is like gambling. You sit across the table from your insurance 'agent'. You are betting him you will die, he is betting you live.

You hope he wins.

originally posted by: TrueBrit
a reply to: dfnj2015

Eff you for wanting anyone to pay upfront for healthcare premiums, or at the door.

Socialise your damned medicine, and you will not be having this problem. Fail to do so, and you do away with your own right to complain. Its like putting water in a bucket which you know has holes an inch wide in it, and complaining that you cannot get water from your well, to your cabbage patch.

You need a different bucket, and not one which involves ever being able to turn to someone else and say "Eff you for not being rich enough!".

Your government should be communist. That way, everyone has enough food, clothing, and shelter. No need for any extras, just enough to survive.

Hyperbole, but effective. The USA is a bit different than the UK. If we had HSA's and medical care was affordable and not bloated to adjust for those who don't pay, things would work much better. Like grocery shopping.

a reply to: intrptr

See, this is one of those points I don't understand: sure, you are young (I suppose for this example) and fit, and nothings going to hurt you, near indestructible.

As soon as you age to 40, maybe 45, your body starts reacting to "taking the toll", it starts to decay, faster every year.

What now? To die by suicide or such would be foolish, as you are still at the middle of your propable life-expectancy. But medical care is expensive (in the USA, as far as I heard).. What to do now with your nihilistic approach to life?

a reply to: network dude

Look at your wording.

"...those who don't pay..."

I think its important to get things like this perfectly correct... You mean CAN'T pay, those who CAN'T pay. The two are very different situations. For example, someone who won't pay has the money, but refuses to spend it. Thats absurd, and is not happening. The real situation is that people need treating whether they can afford it or not, and if they cannot pay, then someone will have to. That is why it is right and proper that these things be paid for out of taxation, not by any other method, because then we can say that indeed, not only did the country contribute to the cost of their treatment, but so did the individual, by way of paying whatever taxes they owe over the years of their life.

a reply to: TrueBrit

Don't you brits pay taxes all over the place?
Vat tax?
$7 gas?
Etc etc

Or do poor people not pay those?

Serious question.

a reply to: dfnj2015

You effed me and I not even know you. Man, I really hope you find a solution for your problem. I have a cheap healthcare plan that covers nothing. I use natural medicine.

a reply to: TrueBrit

Stopping effing me. I want single payer.

a reply to: Trueman

Eff everyone! I wasn't discriminating. I'm just sick of politics in this country always in favor of the big corporations!

a reply to: ManFromEurope

See, this is one of those points I don't understand: sure, you are young (I suppose for this example) and fit, and nothings going to hurt you, near indestructible.

I am old, treated myself horribly; lived for years under bridges, dumpster diver, smoked cigarettes for decades, substance abuse, blah, blah.

Never paid a dime for life or medical insurance.

Big difference between those that can afford it and those that live on faith.

Ones with money have faith in that.

a reply to: TrueBrit

At the end of the day, I get about 54% of what I make. The rest is taxes and fees. It's always been that way. So I feel as if I pay plenty of taxes. And I get that there are some who are just poor and can't afford things. But if I didn't work, I'd be poor too. Hell, I do work, and I'm not far from it. Before we give the government more money and control over yet another aspect of my life, I think a good hard look at where the existing tax dollars goes should be had, and see if anything could be changed. I don't trust that "they" can deal with this based on their previous track record. I'm a bit scared that you do.

a reply to: dfnj2015

How on earth can anyone afford $2000 pm? That's insane. Even if both adults are working and they wonder why so many prefer to live on the bread line on welfare. What's the point of working if you're paying out that kind of money "just in case"? Plus taxes fuel, gas & electricity, food, clothing, phone, other insurances. Bloody hell

a reply to: intrptr

My gallbladder wasn't removed by faith.

Which country? There are loads who use dollars and loads who log onto here worldwide.

I can guess though....