On 10/25/09 10:49 AM, Canuck57 wrote:
H the K wrote:
On 10/24/09 10:35 PM, elder wrote:
H the K wrote:
October 25, 2009
Small Business Faces Sharp Rise in Costs of Health Care
By REED ABELSON
NY Times

As Congress nears votes on legislation that would overhaul the health
care system, many small businesses say they are facing the steepest
rise in insurance premiums they have seen in recent years.

Insurance brokers and benefits consultants say their small business
clients are seeing premiums go up an average of about 15 percent for
the coming year ? double the rate of last year?s increases. That would
mean an annual premium that was $4,500 per employee in 2008 and $4,800
this year would rise to $5,500 in 2010.

The higher premiums at least partly reflect the inexorable rise of
medical costs, which is forcing Medicare to raise premiums, too.
Health insurance bills are also rising for big employers, but because
they have more negotiating clout, their increases are generally not as
steep.

Higher medical costs aside, some experts say they think the insurance
industry, under pressure from Wall Street, is raising premiums to get
ahead of any legislative changes that might reduce their profits.

- - -

Yeah, like we really truly need for-profit health insurers who rape
all of us repeatedly.

A relative works for a big retailer. Insurance cost a lot. The coverage
has a huge deductible and co payments. Next year it goes up in price
again and deductibles and co payments are even higher. Still paying on
share of cost that insurance didn't cover from treatment in early part
of year. They cut hours. Next year it will take the equivalent of 2
months pay to cover the deductible and co payments.
Another works for national chain. They cut their hours several times
this past 2 years. When their hours go below 70 in two weeks they lose
their coverage. Medical bills take half of the pay. Everybody get sick.
Now they must sacrifice food etc and forget a future due high cost of
insurance and small benefits to help fill the coffers of the super rich
that now own America.


Bingo. Meanwhile, the health insurers are gouging out 25%-40% profits.
Bendover a little further, please.

Maybe congres needs to look at ways to allow more competition. Right now
the system is so complex and loaded with stupid inefficient practices
due to stupid laws...

While other laws are lacking. Especially in the fairness area.

And does anyone in this group think governemnt is going to live by the
same laws they impale on business? LMAO.

This is about skiming American's health dollars for government revenue.
Pure and simple. If you think going to government is going to make
things better, ask yourself would 95% of Americans be satisfied with
less services, longer waits, poorer quality doctors so hat 5% get a free
lunch?

And if you think Canada has it right, why do I pay $300 extra each month
so I am covered when I travel to the US? Americans coming to Canada
don't need to do that, their US coverage is good here. But not the other
way around.

At least Americans with health care money in their own pockets have a
choice, in Canada there is only one health provider and if you don't
like the regional health care assessment of your situation, they have
your money and you have no service.

25% profit is better than 50% government skiming.

There is a lib-dim brainwash going on with Americans, if you were
intelligent you would tell Obama to f'ck off. His plan stinks of a tax
increase through the side door. Don't be a sucker.


I believe I previously stated I simply do not believe any of the crap
you right-wingers spew. The agenda of the right has no points of
intersection with the aspirations of the middle class or those striving
to attain it.

We should be doing to the right what the right has done to the rest of
the world.