Last year, I paid ONE THIRD of my gross pay in healthcare insurance/flex spending account

[Horse with no Name]

That does NOT count what I paid out of pocket(copays, prescriptions), as well as my tally at the end of the year is that I STILL owe $7500 in unpaid bills--things insurance did NOT pay.
When I handed my w-2's to the accountant, he shook his head in disbelief.

I think about the raise that I might have seen with universal healthcare. I don't mind paying my share, but I seriously think that when 1/3 of your gross pay goes to healthcare, and you STILL owe that much--there is something VERY rotten in Denmark.

So Congress, President Obama, et al.

You will NOT receive one more thin dime from ME until you fix this broken system. You better get to work because I have a feeling that I am not the only one that will be in shock/anger/disbelief when they actually see the numbers when they do their taxes.
And then the talk about me paying taxes on THAT? I guess they won't be happy until they get 50% of gross pay!:mad:

[annabanana]

1. We are all right behind you. Every American will find themselves

in your shoes if we don't get a handle on this.

[WCGreen]

2. K&R....

I am an accountant and have been at it since the late 80's. I have seen more and more money going toward health care than i care to think about. Usually it's around 10-13% before get to your out of pocket expenses.

And if your employer kicks in money, well, that just knocks it out of the park...

[MannyGoldstein]

3. Then You'll *Love* Our New Health Care Bill!!!

We've finally been able to get the Republicans to agree to something. So, the sole provision of our new breakthrough health care bill finally prohibits insurers from denying coverage to fetuses for pre-existing conditions. Once born, they're on their own.

We hope that you appreciate that we've seized this historic moment to fulfill Ted Kennedy's dream.

Now you whiny far-left retards can go %&$# yourself, real men have work to do here for bankers.

Sincerely,

Rahm

[zbdent]

4. trust me ... you probably wouldn't have gotten the "raise" had the

health care been universal ... you think that the business would have actually have given that money up to you?

I remember one time at my place of employment ... they counted our paid holidays off TWICE in their statement to all staff (which amounted to propaganda) ... I pointed this out to the HR person, who agreed that it was in error ... but they never issued a correction ...

[Vinca]

5. At this point, who has dimes - thin or otherwise - to give?

I'm not even answering the phone calls anymore if I recognize the caller's number as political. It seems it's all been a massive waste of breath.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

6. Good news! Reform may confine that to a mere 24%!

You can go crazy with those extra dollars!

Ignoring the fact of course, that no other modern, industrialized country comes close to individual payouts like we have and will continue to have.

I hope they pass it and then I hope they modify it massively and put in some cost controls and some real regulation. They have a LOT of work to do beyond the Senate bill. The good news is that the modifiers will hopefully all be in small, digestible, understandable pieces so that is will be EASY to say "Why did yo vote against ______________? to either Republicans OR Democrats.

[Statistical]

7. That is utterly insane.

HC insurance got to be so high I switched to a HDHP and put $4000 a year into a HSA. I thought that was a lot. I simply can not imagine paying even 20% of gross income to HCR.

[stray cat]

8. McCains plan was to get rid of employer contributions and give you a 5000 tax break

that should fix things in 2012

[bluethruandthru]

9. Unfortunately, I think Obama and the rest of our party

would count you as a success story. Someone who has "access to quality, affordable health insurance". I'm so sick of that phrase! It would be considered affordable because you didn't go bankrupt or starve to death trying to pay the bills!

[dkf]

10. Why don't we get mad at the medical profession for ripping us off?

Did your services really amount to that value?

[Horse with no Name]

17. It's hard for the healthcare providers to respond to the collusion between

the insurance companies and big pharma.
The insurance companies require MASSIVE paperwork for anything--healthcare providers have to hire people to deal with that paperwork.
Those people have salaries and benefits.
It's ridiculous.
For instance, I had a healthcare procedure done. The doctors office billed $5400 for it. The insurance company wrote off $3000 OFF THE TOP for provider discount. Then, I had something they call "coinsurance" that I had to pay.
Ultimately, when it came down to it, the provider received less than $1000 for the procedure with about 20% of that coming directly from me.
If the healthcare providers initially charged $1000 for the procedure--my guess is that the insurance companies would end up paying about $100. It is a scam.
That is why the insurance companies need to go.
They are a parasite.

[-wulf-]

11. Your insurance is too high and you'll be going to jail

I had insurance like that once, so I got a new job and better insurance for less.

I didn't pay more than 7% of my gross income (and that includes co-pays), and I have a family of four with monthly prescriptions and other "pre-existing" conditions. Two of my dependents have had multiple MRI's and other tests, mostly associated with degenerative disk-disease and cystic fibrosis.

I'm not saying that expenses aren't too high, but if you're paying a full 33% of your income in health care cost, and still have 7,500 dollars in unpaid bills, then you have a terrible insurance plan and need to get that changed asap.

Oh, and if you don't give the beast it's tax dues then you'll go to jail. Universal health care would also mean that you may pay less for "health costs" but you'll pay more in other taxes and products and services.

[hunter]

12. Lucky you. If you are unlucky, the day your COBRA cuts out will be rather grim.

Especially if you can't find one of those increasingly rare jobs with good health insurance.

BTW, are you a Republican Senator or something???

[-wulf-]

18. No senator

I have a family of four and my wife stays at home.

And no I do not have COBRA insurance. I used to have BCBS but it sucked and everyone at work agreed, so we switched.

[Lex]

13. Health insurance costs are *strangling* small businesses

and small businesses fuel the economy. If they want economic recovery, they should've actually fixed the health care system.

[NNN0LHI]

14. Not trying to be snarky but have you ever had a chance to become unionized and declined?

Seriously. The reason I ask is because just about everyone I know who is currently kind of happy with their current health care insurance worked under union contracts. The ones who weren't union were always getting screwed.

I am starting to think this may be part of the problem. If an employer can screw you they will.

Can't count on them being decent because they won't be. Unless they have to.

Don

[Horse with no Name]

15. I'd unionize in a heartbeat

However, I work in healthcare in Texas for a company that is based in Tennessee.
Needless to say, that isn't happening in my lifetime but I would LOVE it if it would.

[-wulf-]

19. err

No union here.

[EFerrari]

16. That seems to be the corporati's standard cut.

Yesterday there was an AP article that said 33 cents of every USAID dollar to Haiti goes to our military. :shrug:

[bullwinkle428]

20. Of course, the Repukes see these flex spending/health savings accounts

as the absolute panacea that will cure all ills associated with the current system!! :nuke:

Well, that along with their precious "tort reform"!

[Last Stand]

21. And ALL they talk about is taxes, taxes, taxes.

Meanwhile, they're getting boned on healthcare and never saying a word.