On Oct 27, 5:55*pm, John H. wrote:
On Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:04:41 -0700 (PDT), "Sure, Not"





wrote:
On Oct 26, 1:58*am, "Bill McKee" wrote:
"Keith Nuttle" wrote in message

...

Don White wrote:
"H the K" wrote in message
news:edydnUtWfccKo3nXnZ2dnUVZ_oli4p2d@earthlink. com...
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.

I still think a national sales tax would be a better way to fund
universal health care for most Americans.
Sure..the guy who buys the $100K boat, $60K auto or expensive clothes &
furnishings will pay more... but you have to think of the overall benefit
to all fellow citizens.
I can not find the reference but I believe the profit margins for the
insurance companies are about a tenth of the figures quoted or about 2.5
to 4%, or about the same as a Walmart, grocery stores or many other
companies in the world.

Only a start up company would experience 25 to 40% profits. *They may see
a 25 to 40% change in their profits, with the 30% pelosi plunge during the
first 2 weeks of October 2008 and the 30%obamaslide during the first
three months of this year.

actually financial companies were making big profits. *Before the crash,
Citigroup made about 35% profit.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

And now they want to make it up by charging 29.99% interest. *BOAis
following suit.

This discourages credit card use, which is a good thing. *But as
always, they miss the big picture. *It's easy to turn this around.

Pay off your cards or transfer the balance. *If it is a no-feecard,
keep it. *Use it to make a very small purchase such as a $1.00 pack of
gum every month. *Get the statement in the mail and pay the bill
online.

Get a card from a credit union. Many of them are giving rebates for
usage. Mine gives me:

# Earn 2% cash back on supermarket purchases*
# Earn 5.00% cash back from gas purchases paid at the pump*
# Earn 1.25% cash back from all purchases** you make with thecard
during each billing cycle

Pay the balance every month and save money at the same time. I even
put the travel trailer on it. Got over $200 back.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Only if you paid it off immediately.

On Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:02:50 -0700 (PDT), "Sure,Not"
wrote:

On Oct 27, 5:55*pm, John H. wrote:
On Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:04:41 -0700 (PDT), "Sure, Not"





wrote:
On Oct 26, 1:58*am, "Bill McKee" wrote:
"Keith Nuttle" wrote in message

...

Don White wrote:
"H the K" wrote in message
news:edydnUtWfccKo3nXnZ2dnUVZ_oli4p2d@earthlink. com...
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.

I still think a national sales tax would be a better way to fund
universal health care for most Americans.
Sure..the guy who buys the $100K boat, $60K auto or expensive clothes &
furnishings will pay more... but you have to think of the overall benefit
to all fellow citizens.
I can not find the reference but I believe the profit margins for the
insurance companies are about a tenth of the figures quoted or about 2.5
to 4%, or about the same as a Walmart, grocery stores or many other
companies in the world.

Only a start up company would experience 25 to 40% profits. *They may see
a 25 to 40% change in their profits, with the 30% pelosi plunge during the
first 2 weeks of October 2008 and the 30%obamaslide during the first
three months of this year.

actually financial companies were making big profits. *Before the crash,
Citigroup made about 35% profit.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

And now they want to make it up by charging 29.99% interest. *BOAis
following suit.

This discourages credit card use, which is a good thing. *But as
always, they miss the big picture. *It's easy to turn this around.

Pay off your cards or transfer the balance. *If it is a no-feecard,
keep it. *Use it to make a very small purchase such as a $1.00 pack of
gum every month. *Get the statement in the mail and pay the bill
online.

Get a card from a credit union. Many of them are giving rebates for
usage. Mine gives me:

# Earn 2% cash back on supermarket purchases*
# Earn 5.00% cash back from gas purchases paid at the pump*
# Earn 1.25% cash back from all purchases** you make with thecard
during each billing cycle

Pay the balance every month and save money at the same time. I even
put the travel trailer on it. Got over $200 back.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Only if you paid it off immediately.

Absolutely. Pay the balance every month. Amen.