DU'ers, please check in on this health insurance poll.

[raccoon]

There's several things I wanted to ask here, but had to pare it down.

Here's my experience.

I currently have an individual insurance plan. I had no health care coverage for 11 years; I was working, but my employer didn't offer it, and there was no way I could've afforded individual coverage.

I think there are still a lot of nice, progressive people who just DON'T GET IT that many other nice, well-spoken, educated people don't have any health care coverage--and what that's like. Something occurred yesterday that made me realize that.

Anyway, yall please check in.

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. Other - we've got health/dental insurance as a retiree (after I got laid off two years ago)

We are very fortunate - was there long enough to be vested. Still a pretty hefty price tag, but....

[mainstreetonce]

6. needed two choices

I needed to respond to two choices. I have health insurance through my retirment as an educator(which also covers my spouse) and I am covered by medicare. Medical bills in the last year have been huge. I thank God every day for both options.

[lizziegrace]

2. I have health insurance through my job

$300/month for just me. $3,000/year deductible. If I get sent for a mammogram (considered preventative) and they find something, the cost gets put back on me as I now have a medical condition. So yes, I have insurance but can't afford to use it.

[katsy]

3. I have the identical problem.

$400 for just myself, $3K deductible and can't afford to use it.

I'm also Greek and can't read that bottom line. Help please?

[Auggie]

5. Paying $400 a month and I feel the same way

[cali]

4. other

http://hcr.vermont.gov/green_mountain_care/catamount_health

[MissB]

7. I know my family is fortunate.

My employer provides medical, dental and vision and pays the entire premium. We do have copays for everything but preventative care.

I don't think twice about scheduling an appointment for my kid's infected finger. I do, however, realize how lucky I am. I only wish that all Americans had the same coverage that I have.

[Lefta Dissenter]

8. will you adopt me?

:)

[madmom]

9. I too am in the "have insurance but can't afford to use it" group.

[Kali]

10. have been covered for the past 9 months by AZ's version of medicaid

had private insurance for about a year when first married but it quickly became unaffordable, three or four emergency situations through the last 20+ years have qualified us for a quarter year of the state aid. Otherwise been uninsured (and had no preventive care, self paid or self cared for other minor and even more-than-minor problems) most of my adult life. 3 kids raised mostly with out too - that was kind of scary but they made it.

One of the those funny little things I noticed to illustrate the lack of regular care: As a kid our family had GOOD insurance and care. One time taking one of the boys in for some injury or something, the usual procedures of a doctors visit were happening temp, weight, etc. He knew those, but the automatic inhale-exhale you do when a doc places the stethoscope on your back or chest? (I assume everyone does this having been trained since early childhood - if you had regular visits) He had no clue. Hell, I was breathing in and out just watching.:rofl:

[Edweird]

11. "nice, progressive people" that believe that only "other nice, well-spoken, educated people"

deserve or are entitled to excellent healthcare are neither 'nice' nor 'progressive' in my book.

[raccoon]

12. Perhaps I should've worded that differently. What I meant was,

some nice,progressive people who have always had health care, don't realize that they could one day be without it too.

[Edweird]

14. They would be surprised and outraged because, after all, they are ENTITLED to it.

Which is exactly my point. They are entitled to it and others are not - which makes them elitist assholes IMO.

[leftstreet]

15. +1

[Marrah_G]

13. I am in Mass

I pay 77 dollars a month to buy into the MassHealth system. I think everyone should have the opportunity to buy into this wonderful socialist single payer program.

[geardaddy]

16. I have individual health

as I'm self-employed. I pay $526.39 a month for a $1000 deductible.