Reply #23: The problem is that they know nothing at all about their insurance

[eridani]

--just like they know nothing at all about whether their local fire department is any good.

Try to get them to watch SicKO--it's subjects are all people who thought they had insurance, but couldn't get the company to pay up. Like the chemo claim that was denied because they found out that the patient hadn't listed a yeast infection on her application.

Check out the following financing scheme proposed by WA State.

http://www.healthcareforallwa.org/health-security-trust... /

Employers pay a health security assessment of 10% of payroll above a threshold of $125,000 per quarter. (In other words, the first $125,000 of payroll doesn't count.)

Residents 18 and over pay a health security premium of $75 per month. (Subsidies available for low income people.)

Medicare enrollees pay a premium of $50 per month to add trust benefits beyond their Medicare benefits.

•State funds for health programs are transferred to the trust. Whenever the trust obtains federal waivers, funds for federal health programs will also be transferred to the trust. Until then, federal coverage remains in effect.

Patients will pay small co-payments for outpatient and emergency visits, and prescriptions.

Certain exemptions are included for low income families and employers facing financial hardship.

Employers may purchase private health coverage for their employees. However, the trust benefits package is intended to give employees better coverage than even the best current health benefit plans, which now cost employers 12-14% of payroll.