Health insurance. Oh, my God. (a rant).

[Missy Vixen]

My husband got a job. (I mentioned this the other day.) I work for myself, so I don't carry the family health insurance. We are both over 40. We both have pre-existing conditions. We will be booted off COBRA since we have a job. Here are our choices:

1. Health insurance offered by the contract company: $450 per month. $25,000 per year coverage. Yes, you read that correctly. In other words, one trip to the emergency room could wipe out any benefits for the year.

2. Various health insurance company quotes on a $2,000 per year deductible -- anywhere from $450 (minus prescription benefit of an additional $75 per month,) to $675 per month. IF we can get through underwriting. It's my understanding we probably can't.

3. The Washington state high-risk pool is $1400 per month. Yes, you read that right. IF we were accepted.

4. If we have no health insurance coverage, the retail on the medications my husband takes each month is about $450.

Here's the thing. Congress thinks they're going on vacation in August instead of working to pass a health insurance bill? I am THERE. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, I'm waiting for you to show up anywhere in the Seattle area. I'm going to ask you, face to face, what the hell we should do, and why you deserve a vacation when those of us who need some kind of public option NOW will be paying through the nose for whatever "coverage" we can get.

I know there are many here who make our situation a walk in the park. I'm just pissed, though, and I'm wondering what would happen if, just once, a large number of people got on the same page and started showing up at the "town hall" and fundraising events around the country next month. What would happen if they had to face those of us, over and over and over, who suffer because they sit on their asses day after day?

Yes, I'm pissed.

[livetohike]

1. I'm hoping my Rep. has town hall meetings

He is a Freshman in Congress and a Republican in an extremely safe, rural district. I will bring my 36 pages of bills from the broken foot I suffered last November to the meeting with me. We always had an HMO when we lived in CA and I never saw a bill for anything. I guess I am naive, but when I saw the amount of paperwork from our current health plan I was shocked. Also, I had to make a phone call to Customer Service for nearly every bill that arrived.

Here's what the bills looked like:

Doctor charges/Insurance allowed(always less than the doctor charges)/Insurance paid/You owe

(This is not a bill. You will be billed by your provider)

It's such a game. It's disgusting.

[The empressof all]

2. We're in the same boat

Jay Inslee cancelled his telephone town hall last night as he was meeting with Pelosi. I was planning on giving him my constant rant on this. Our self employeed family of three pays 1300 a month for mediocre plan with Group Health (through our long term union membership that we continue just for the healthcare) Our plan has a high deductible and a $30 co pay...But it's all we can get due to our pre existing conditions. We've tried several times to get other plans and no one will touch us. We're barely making it but are doing OK compared to a lot of folks. I resent being trapped in WA. We've been toying with the idea of moving out of state to be closer to family and that just can't happen as our insurance won't come with us. (I really love WA so it's not that awful--but I still don't like it)

I'm getting less hopeful that we'll see any real relief on this soon. It sucks the big one.

[Missy Vixen]

7. The empressof all, what's going on with Jay Inslee?

I would think he'd be in there fighting tooth and nail.

Seriously: What would it take to find one senator or representative that would introduce a bill causing all members of Congress (and their dependents) to lose their taxpayer-funded health insurance till they get an affordable public option for everyone?

Grrrr.

Thinking of you. :hug:

[The empressof all]

8. I think Jays ok. I'm thinking about calling him this week though

Adam Smith is being an Ass and I'm thinking of telling Jay's office that I won't be sending him any money next year and sending it to any progressive running against Adam Smith. We Don't need Dems like that especially from Western WA. I can't think of any other way to get some more pressure on him other than call Headquarters and his fellow Democrats and threaten with the money. Not that my little paltry contribution I can scrape up means much....

I'm feeling a little hopeless about the healthcare today.

[prolesunited]

3. That's awful!

Thanks for sharing your story. It sounds like your best bet is going with the company plan and hope for the best. Would it be possible to get catastrophic coverage on top of that, a plan that would cover you after the cap is exceeded? I'm not sure if the catastrophic plans are as stringent on the underwriting because you're right about not making it through. I've heard stories about some companies stringing out the process while you're paying the premiums. You file a big claim and bam, they say they aren't planning on covering you. Sure, they refund what you've paid them so far, but you're screwed. It's really criminal.

We're on COBRA right now and the state is no longer accepting applicants for low-income adults. I don't know what we're going to do if we don't get employer coverage before that runs out since we're both over 40 and also have pre-existing conditions.

Statistics show older Americans are having a harder time than ever in finding jobs. I'm sure insurance plays a big role in that. Who wants to hire older people who are more likely to have medical conditions and drive up the premiums for the entire company. Each year there is a review based on the prior year's claims to determine the next year's rate. What company wants to put themselves in a position that they will pay higher rates?

[Missy Vixen]

5. I wish we could

>Would it be possible to get catastrophic coverage on top of that, a plan that would cover you after the cap is exceeded?<

They underwrite all of them. The only coverage we probably could get is a group plan; right now, that's out of the question.

This is insane. I am wondering (seriously) what it is we all have to do to get them to listen to us. We've called, we've written, we've faxed and e-mailed and begged face to face. Nothing.

What would it take to get a bill introduced on the floor of the Senate suspending the health insurance coverage of everyone in Congress and their dependents until an affordable health insurance program for all is put in place? :eyes:

[femmocrat]

4. I wince when they say, "85% of Americans have (or are satisfied) with their health care."

Your situation illustrates that even having health care is inadequate and unaffordable.

We need it NOW -- not in the several years they are saying that it will take to phase it in.

[Vinca]

6. $25,000 a year? That's ludicrous. One incident and you're out of benefits.

My husband and I are unable to buy insurance at any price at this point because of pre-existing conditions. And Congress goes on vacation. This is a great country to live in . . . if you're rich.

[nightrain]

9. Rec--do it. show up at a town hall and tell your story! It's important

that Congresspeople hear the pain.

[ColbertWatcher]

10. k+r + link to related DU thread ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6134339&mesg_id=6134339

[abumbyanyothername]

11. At least call them and ask them on the phone

be sure to mention that a medicare for all plan would pass a national referendum by double digits.