dextermech
Mechanical
At my current job, I have to pay $185 per WEEK for health insurance. The employer pays 50%, we pay 50%. No dental, no vision. Have any of you ever HEARD if benefits this bad? It's really starting to tick me off...
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Health benefits 4
- Thread starter dextermech
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Like I said, the US consumers are subsidizing the world's pharmaceuticals.
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How much do YOU owe?
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How much do YOU owe?
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Health care in USA is tough. Hospitals and Medical staff are generally trained at their own expense, to work for the living they can bid for on their incomes.
Medical equipment is partly privatly funded, part Goverment funded. Hospital properties same same plus must be very insured (their rates are no bargain either).
Any itenerant fruit picker can walk into a hospital for surgery/trauma care and take off without paying a bill.
Yet I a citizen and tax payer can have my home and property seized if I want the same service and can't pay.
But I prefer it this way than if the government ran things. Could you imagine be'ing sick or hurt and "having to go to DMV".
Medical equipment is partly privatly funded, part Goverment funded. Hospital properties same same plus must be very insured (their rates are no bargain either).
Any itenerant fruit picker can walk into a hospital for surgery/trauma care and take off without paying a bill.
Yet I a citizen and tax payer can have my home and property seized if I want the same service and can't pay.
But I prefer it this way than if the government ran things. Could you imagine be'ing sick or hurt and "having to go to DMV".
For the most part I've been happy with the healthcare I've received in the US. As a kid, I broke about 7 different bones, on different occasions (about half from fighting and the other half from so-called "extreme" sports).
There was, however, one time when I went into a hospital with a broken bone, and might as well have gone to the DMV. It took 6 hours for someone to even see me, and another 4 hours before I was out the door, without treatment. They couldn't find anyone who could read an x-ray, so they finally picked a doc to give it a try, and he didn't notice the fracture. He wasn't impressed when I told him that after 5 or 6 broken bones I could tell the difference between what was and what wasn't broken, and that he must've missed something. They did at least have the sense to mail the x-rays back to the hospital in my hometown, who eventually called up to ask whether I'd like to get a cast on my broken arm (about a week later).
On the plus side, stitches and a tetanus shot usually only took about 20mins.
There was, however, one time when I went into a hospital with a broken bone, and might as well have gone to the DMV. It took 6 hours for someone to even see me, and another 4 hours before I was out the door, without treatment. They couldn't find anyone who could read an x-ray, so they finally picked a doc to give it a try, and he didn't notice the fracture. He wasn't impressed when I told him that after 5 or 6 broken bones I could tell the difference between what was and what wasn't broken, and that he must've missed something. They did at least have the sense to mail the x-rays back to the hospital in my hometown, who eventually called up to ask whether I'd like to get a cast on my broken arm (about a week later).
On the plus side, stitches and a tetanus shot usually only took about 20mins.
ivy,
So how bad did the other guys turn out after the fights? Did you win any?
Ed
So how bad did the other guys turn out after the fights? Did you win any?
Ed
heheh... I learned the tough lesson that "boxers' fractures" are easy to come by if you punch straight ahead instead of around the corner. That said, if you break two carpals in your left hand while mashing the nose and cheek of your assailant, he may be disinclined to find out whether you're right handed (I am). You won't feel it much 'til the buzz wears off anyway.
I just learned that the owner's wife had cancer. I think she is in remission or looking to go into remission. You wouldn't know anything was wrong by looking at her.
She is actually on the payroll as the Executive Director. She does the finances and such.
Perhaps her illness (hopefully its behind her soon if not already) contributed to the high rates we are asked to pay here?
Ed
She is actually on the payroll as the Executive Director. She does the finances and such.
Perhaps her illness (hopefully its behind her soon if not already) contributed to the high rates we are asked to pay here?
Ed
nadam,
That's about $870 per month. Is that your medical insurance? For the family?
Why so high? How does that compare to other premiums you've paid in the past?
If all insurance premiums were within say +/-10% of an average, it might be OK. But it seems they can be all over the board for similar coverage.
Ed
That's about $870 per month. Is that your medical insurance? For the family?
Why so high? How does that compare to other premiums you've paid in the past?
If all insurance premiums were within say +/-10% of an average, it might be OK. But it seems they can be all over the board for similar coverage.
Ed
In Canada, we are lucky-for comprehensive coverage for Federal or Provincial govt. emplyees, rates are very reasonable. We pay $80 to $90 (Cdn) per month (dental, medical and some vision) - depending on level of hospital coverage and depending whether it is family or single. Of course the employer puts in a good deal more.
waskillywabbit
Mechanical
If we got family insurance through my employer, $600/month for family w/ high deductibles and vision/dental extra.
Our family insurance is through my wife's employment, she's a public school teacher, so we pay around $150/month for everything. Her job is worth the lower salary just for the insurance and retirement benefits.
Brian
Our family insurance is through my wife's employment, she's a public school teacher, so we pay around $150/month for everything. Her job is worth the lower salary just for the insurance and retirement benefits.
Brian
There again. Why not just have employers quit playing games with lower salay vs higher insurance costs? If your wife's school can offer $150/month insurance why can't anyone? Why is your company insurance $600?
It makes no sense.
Ed
It makes no sense.
Ed
HVAC, I know I'm opening a can of worms here, but:
Public school systems are state/local/federally funded, and our businesses are not. Sure, some states have low paid teachers (VA and NC come to mind). Other states like PA have really lucrative teaching jobs. I'm in WI. Here the local board just passed the teacher pay raises/healthcare raises. The teachers' union opted for the guaranteed 3% annual increase (lower than what they'd like) and a small increase in healthcare, probably because the union figured that with the way healthcare has increased in the past 8-10 years, this was a safer bet w.r.t. overall compensation.
Now, that's written into a contract. If the insurance goes up more than planned/budgeted, the money has to come from somewhere. So they re-assess your property or raise the millage rate. Budget crunch solved.
My employer doesn't have the luxury. We've got automotive customers slamming us for price decreases constantly, yet our raw material prices and the extemporaneous costs continue to rise. To maintain the margins, the cost has to come from somewhere. They won't consider lowering the margins, so the benefits cost is the easiest thing to play with. And frankly, you as an employer can always point to Delphi/GM/Ford/Visteon/etc. and say, "See what happens if we don't take some of the brunt?"
Plus, as I said in an earlier post, company size has a lot to do with the type & cost of insurance you can obtain. Teachers' unions are negotiating oftentimes for the whole school district. This employee number is often much greater than that of the typical small business (25-50), so you get the nice economies of scale.
I really wish I had a viable solution to this one, but I think it's just one amongst a few problems the US is going to be forced to deal with in upcoming years. Baby boomers and SS are really going to throw another wrench into the cogs, especially for us young folks.
Public school systems are state/local/federally funded, and our businesses are not. Sure, some states have low paid teachers (VA and NC come to mind). Other states like PA have really lucrative teaching jobs. I'm in WI. Here the local board just passed the teacher pay raises/healthcare raises. The teachers' union opted for the guaranteed 3% annual increase (lower than what they'd like) and a small increase in healthcare, probably because the union figured that with the way healthcare has increased in the past 8-10 years, this was a safer bet w.r.t. overall compensation.
Now, that's written into a contract. If the insurance goes up more than planned/budgeted, the money has to come from somewhere. So they re-assess your property or raise the millage rate. Budget crunch solved.
My employer doesn't have the luxury. We've got automotive customers slamming us for price decreases constantly, yet our raw material prices and the extemporaneous costs continue to rise. To maintain the margins, the cost has to come from somewhere. They won't consider lowering the margins, so the benefits cost is the easiest thing to play with. And frankly, you as an employer can always point to Delphi/GM/Ford/Visteon/etc. and say, "See what happens if we don't take some of the brunt?"
Plus, as I said in an earlier post, company size has a lot to do with the type & cost of insurance you can obtain. Teachers' unions are negotiating oftentimes for the whole school district. This employee number is often much greater than that of the typical small business (25-50), so you get the nice economies of scale.
I really wish I had a viable solution to this one, but I think it's just one amongst a few problems the US is going to be forced to deal with in upcoming years. Baby boomers and SS are really going to throw another wrench into the cogs, especially for us young folks.
$185.00 per week?
I've heard of this before. You need to get some details from both your employer AND the insurance provider.
Not too long ago here in the middle US, a company got itself in some hot water for mis-representing insurance costs to its employees. Basically, the entire cost of the monthly premium was being paid by the employees while they were being told that the company was paying a percentage.
The whole thing was scam that resulted in zero cost to the company for its employees' insurance.
Where I'm employed, there are approx. 230 people. We have decent benefits with some moderate co-pays. Eyeglasses and dental are ok with a small max pay per year per person.
($150 eyeglasses and $ 500 dental)
There are three in my family and my monthly deduction is about $150.
You need to do some investigating.
I've heard of this before. You need to get some details from both your employer AND the insurance provider.
Not too long ago here in the middle US, a company got itself in some hot water for mis-representing insurance costs to its employees. Basically, the entire cost of the monthly premium was being paid by the employees while they were being told that the company was paying a percentage.
The whole thing was scam that resulted in zero cost to the company for its employees' insurance.
Where I'm employed, there are approx. 230 people. We have decent benefits with some moderate co-pays. Eyeglasses and dental are ok with a small max pay per year per person.
($150 eyeglasses and $ 500 dental)
There are three in my family and my monthly deduction is about $150.
You need to do some investigating.
tripleZ,
I can respect that arguement.
Maybe its just an anomoly, but my wife's company with 4 full time employees (2 of whom are the owners), one part time employee and 2 1099'd contract salespeople has a great insurance plan and only $300 per month for a family.
That's a small company.
I believe your points, but I just don't see a consistent pattern throughout.
Ed
I can respect that arguement.
Maybe its just an anomoly, but my wife's company with 4 full time employees (2 of whom are the owners), one part time employee and 2 1099'd contract salespeople has a great insurance plan and only $300 per month for a family.
That's a small company.
I believe your points, but I just don't see a consistent pattern throughout.
Ed
Here, try this:
This was posted on our HR itranet site. They actually had rates similar to what I pay now. I did not look to see how they compared to other plans offered.
If anything, it will give you a look at what you could get on your own. Provided you are healthy, I believe at least the OP could save some money.
This was posted on our HR itranet site. They actually had rates similar to what I pay now. I did not look to see how they compared to other plans offered.
If anything, it will give you a look at what you could get on your own. Provided you are healthy, I believe at least the OP could save some money.
.
Confirmation of an interesting way of alt-healthcare.
pmover wrote:
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Confirmation of an interesting way of alt-healthcare.
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A comment regarding the skip the health insurance and pay in cash etc. etc....
My experience although not exactly like that was much different. My young child was taken to the dentist for a first check up, X-rays the whole bit and they recommend a whole host of treatments. About $1000 worth with out insurance. He didn't have dental insurance since he is just 4 and I forgot to add him to my dental last go around. Long story short when I asked what the price would be if I chose to have the work done, paid in cash, and in full.
They looked at me like I was on crack and repeated the figure $1000.
My experience although not exactly like that was much different. My young child was taken to the dentist for a first check up, X-rays the whole bit and they recommend a whole host of treatments. About $1000 worth with out insurance. He didn't have dental insurance since he is just 4 and I forgot to add him to my dental last go around. Long story short when I asked what the price would be if I chose to have the work done, paid in cash, and in full.
They looked at me like I was on crack and repeated the figure $1000.
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