So can anyone tell me what the average middle class American family pays for a basic insurance package?
I know that is a pretty general question but my daughter's father is really against national health care and a big champion of the American system. I tell him that is easy for him to say when he can walk into the doctor and get a prescription and it's all free except the 2.50 pharmacist's fee.
And if you know, how much would a high risk vaginal delivery with 5 nights in hospital set someone back with just basic insurance? Would it all be covered? Without insurance?
Are there different levels of insurance? Like is there a bare bones basic package and then more comprehensive, expensive packages to choose from?
Sorry for the partial threadjack and all the questions!!! I just need some ammo in our ongoing debate over the future of health care.
Very true Laura, when dh had cancer back in "89" no one told us what dr. to go to which is why we could have gotten a 2nd. opinion & gone to Boston. He wouldn't be alive today if we hadn't been able to do that. He was never refused anything by insurance. he had chemo & then the same regime of radiation your mom is getting. After all that is when we went for the 2nd. opinion because we were told to wait 6 mos & see what happens. We went to Boston & he had to have his lung removed if he wanted a slim chance to survive because by then thats all he had. Out co pay after all was said & done was over $50,000. He was told to not go back to work but w/that copay he not only wanted to but in a way had to.
The insurance I have now covers visits & the copay keeps going up. Everything but a mamo I get a bill for. I keep wondering if its worth having but the prices these drs. charge its better than nothing.
Our health care needs seriously to change but I don't want the gov't in charge of my health. Look what they allowed to happen w/housing & the banks. No way do I want them in my healthcare.
We are fortunate enough to have excellent health insurance. I went years without for myself before marrying DH, and I am so grateful to have it & know that I can take my children to quality providers.
Our medical insurance is ridiculous. We pay an arm and a leg for it and it does not cover much of anything. I don't think Obama plans to mess with currently existing coverage. But I hope something is done so that people no longer have to fear going into bankruptcy over medical bills, etc.
Whoa, that is not the way I understand it. Obama does not want to get rid of health insurance through employers. He wants to impose a penality on any employer who does not make a meaningful contribution to their employee's health coverage. And he wants to open up the Federal Employee Benefits Plan to self-employed people and small businesses. This would help us tremendously, as we are self-employed and are paying a ridiculous amount for crap coverage. If we could buy into the FEBP, we would still be paying the ridiculous amount, but the coverage would be great. That's the way I understand it.
I thank the deities every day that we have insurance through the military...so no worries from our family as far as healthcare is concerned...
I do work as a nurse though, and I work in a county mental health clinic...you wouldn't BELIEVE how difficult it is for some of my patients to get very BASIC health care and medicines, while others seem to get extravagent tests, etc, and every med under the sun...As an example, I have one patient who is prescribed an antipsychotic called Risperdal which JUST went generic over the summer...the generic version is STILL $400 per month, and he is able to work but doesn't get health insurance...he doesn't make enough money to afford the medication out of pocket, and doesn't have coverage.
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So can anyone tell me what the average middle class American family pays for a basic insurance package?
I know that is a pretty general question but my daughter's father is really against national health care and a big champion of the American system. I tell him that is easy for him to say when he can walk into the doctor and get a prescription and it's all free except the 2.50 pharmacist's fee.
And if you know, how much would a high risk vaginal delivery with 5 nights in hospital set someone back with just basic insurance? Would it all be covered? Without insurance?
Are there different levels of insurance? Like is there a bare bones basic package and then more comprehensive, expensive packages to choose from?
Sorry for the partial threadjack and all the questions!!! I just need some ammo in our ongoing debate over the future of health care.
Very true Laura, when dh had cancer back in "89" no one told us what dr. to go to which is why we could have gotten a 2nd. opinion & gone to Boston. He wouldn't be alive today if we hadn't been able to do that. He was never refused anything by insurance. he had chemo & then the same regime of radiation your mom is getting. After all that is when we went for the 2nd. opinion because we were told to wait 6 mos & see what happens. We went to Boston & he had to have his lung removed if he wanted a slim chance to survive because by then thats all he had. Out co pay after all was said & done was over $50,000. He was told to not go back to work but w/that copay he not only wanted to but in a way had to.
The insurance I have now covers visits & the copay keeps going up. Everything but a mamo I get a bill for. I keep wondering if its worth having but the prices these drs. charge its better than nothing.
Our health care needs seriously to change but I don't want the gov't in charge of my health. Look what they allowed to happen w/housing & the banks. No way do I want them in my healthcare.
Dee
Dee
Mom to Nik
We are fortunate enough to have excellent health insurance. I went years without for myself before marrying DH, and I am so grateful to have it & know that I can take my children to quality providers.
~Lori~
Sarah...mommy to Janessa and Julian
I thank the deities every day that we have insurance through the military...so no worries from our family as far as healthcare is concerned...
I do work as a nurse though, and I work in a county mental health clinic...you wouldn't BELIEVE how difficult it is for some of my patients to get very BASIC health care and medicines, while others seem to get extravagent tests, etc, and every med under the sun...As an example, I have one patient who is prescribed an antipsychotic called Risperdal which JUST went generic over the summer...the generic version is STILL $400 per month, and he is able to work but doesn't get health insurance...he doesn't make enough money to afford the medication out of pocket, and doesn't have coverage.
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