nom=de=plume wrote:
wrote in message
...
On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:20:39 -0400, H the K
wrote:

We are right in the middle of the insurance selection window. Lots of
people are getting a package with something like that in it.

IBM's retiree EPO (United) went from $860 to 988 a month.
Our provider has sent out notifications that the program we've been
part of for 5 or 6 years will no longer be offered. Of course the
replacements will either curtail coverage or offer the same at an
inflated rate.

The timing couldn't be better to help folks realize that the public
option is one of the few weapons against this legal fleecing.

More and more, I am wondering why we need the health insurance company
middleman between us and our medical providers.

Seems to me that if you eliminated over time the private health
insurers, the high profits they are skimming could be put to use
providing needed care and coverage to Americans, costs would stabilize,
and we could have serious negotiations on price with all manner of
providers.

Medical services would be cheaper if we had to actually write a check.
Insurance should really only be for catastrophic injuries and
illnesses. We should be paying out of pocket for routine maintenance.
That is the only way to cut out the middle man, whether that is the
government or the insurance companies

BTW insurance companies really don't have that high a profit margin
when compared to other, similar sized companies.


What about people who are unemployed for one reason or another?

All they need to do is claim illegal alien status for all the free
medical care they want.

On Oct 31, 10:50*am, TJ ""tj\"@florida,com" wrote:
nom=de=plume wrote:
wrote in message
.. .
On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:20:39 -0400, H the K
wrote:

We are right in the middle of the insurance selection window. Lots of
people are getting a package with something like that in it.

IBM's retiree EPO (United) went from $860 to 988 a month.
Our provider has sent out notifications that the program we've been
part of for 5 or 6 years will no longer be offered. *Of course the
replacements will either curtail coverage or offer the same at an
inflated rate.

The timing couldn't be better to help folks realize that the public
option is one of the few weapons against this legal fleecing.

More and more, I am wondering why we need the health insurance company
middleman between us and our medical providers.

Seems to me that if you eliminated over time the private health
insurers, the high profits they are skimming could be put to use
providing needed care and coverage to Americans, costs would stabilize,
and we could have serious negotiations on price with all manner of
providers.

Medical services would be cheaper if we had to actually write a check.
Insurance should really only be for catastrophic injuries and
illnesses. We should be paying out of pocket for routine maintenance.
That is the only way to cut out the middle man, whether that is the
government or the insurance companies

BTW insurance companies really don't have that high a profit margin
when compared to other, similar sized companies.

What about people who are unemployed for one reason or another?

All they need to do is claim illegal alien status for all the free
medical care they want.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Not true.

"TJ" ""tj\"@florida,com" wrote in message
...
nom=de=plume wrote:
wrote in message
...
On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:20:39 -0400, H the K
wrote:

We are right in the middle of the insurance selection window. Lots of
people are getting a package with something like that in it.

IBM's retiree EPO (United) went from $860 to 988 a month.
Our provider has sent out notifications that the program we've been
part of for 5 or 6 years will no longer be offered. Of course the
replacements will either curtail coverage or offer the same at an
inflated rate.

The timing couldn't be better to help folks realize that the public
option is one of the few weapons against this legal fleecing.

More and more, I am wondering why we need the health insurance company
middleman between us and our medical providers.

Seems to me that if you eliminated over time the private health
insurers, the high profits they are skimming could be put to use
providing needed care and coverage to Americans, costs would stabilize,
and we could have serious negotiations on price with all manner of
providers.

Medical services would be cheaper if we had to actually write a check.
Insurance should really only be for catastrophic injuries and
illnesses. We should be paying out of pocket for routine maintenance.
That is the only way to cut out the middle man, whether that is the
government or the insurance companies

BTW insurance companies really don't have that high a profit margin
when compared to other, similar sized companies.


What about people who are unemployed for one reason or another?

All they need to do is claim illegal alien status for all the free medical
care they want.


I'm sure you've tried it.

--
Nom=de=Plume

In article , ""tj
\"@florida,com" says...

nom=de=plume wrote:
wrote in message
...
On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:20:39 -0400, H the K
wrote:

We are right in the middle of the insurance selection window. Lots of
people are getting a package with something like that in it.

IBM's retiree EPO (United) went from $860 to 988 a month.
Our provider has sent out notifications that the program we've been
part of for 5 or 6 years will no longer be offered. Of course the
replacements will either curtail coverage or offer the same at an
inflated rate.

The timing couldn't be better to help folks realize that the public
option is one of the few weapons against this legal fleecing.

More and more, I am wondering why we need the health insurance company
middleman between us and our medical providers.

Seems to me that if you eliminated over time the private health
insurers, the high profits they are skimming could be put to use
providing needed care and coverage to Americans, costs would stabilize,
and we could have serious negotiations on price with all manner of
providers.

Medical services would be cheaper if we had to actually write a check.
Insurance should really only be for catastrophic injuries and
illnesses. We should be paying out of pocket for routine maintenance.
That is the only way to cut out the middle man, whether that is the
government or the insurance companies

BTW insurance companies really don't have that high a profit margin
when compared to other, similar sized companies.


What about people who are unemployed for one reason or another?

All they need to do is claim illegal alien status for all the free
medical care they want.

When I was in the hospital last week one doctor all but suggested that I
give a fake name and ss number knowing I was uninsured. He said and I
quote "everybody does it"... But no, I will be paying the 26,000 dollars
for the next twenty years because I am not a thief...

On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:01:01 -0400, wrote:



BTW insurance companies really don't have that high a profit margin
when compared to other, similar sized companies.

When you're 1/6 of the economy, 3.5% goes a long way.
Probably more then tens of scores of dineros.

--Vic

On 10/31/09 11:14 AM, wrote:
On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:53:22 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:01:01 -0400, wrote:



BTW insurance companies really don't have that high a profit margin
when compared to other, similar sized companies.

When you're 1/6 of the economy, 3.5% goes a long way.
Probably more then tens of scores of dineros.

--Vic

Perhaps we should be asking what the profit margin is of the medical
providers and drug companies but they seem to be immune from this
scrutiny.


Perhaps we should determine what comes out of "gross profits" to get
down to "net profits," eh? There are many ways a corporation can play
perfectly legal fun and games to lower its net profit dramatically.

On Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:20:13 -0400, H the K
wrote:

On 10/31/09 11:14 AM, wrote:
On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:53:22 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:01:01 -0400, wrote:



BTW insurance companies really don't have that high a profit margin
when compared to other, similar sized companies.

When you're 1/6 of the economy, 3.5% goes a long way.
Probably more then tens of scores of dineros.

--Vic

Perhaps we should be asking what the profit margin is of the medical
providers and drug companies but they seem to be immune from this
scrutiny.


Perhaps we should determine what comes out of "gross profits" to get
down to "net profits," eh? There are many ways a corporation can play
perfectly legal fun and games to lower its net profit dramatically.

Including gigantic salary and bonuses to its execs.

On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:15:37 -0400, wrote:

On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:21:46 -0400, H the K
wrote:

NC insurer says timing of mailings unfortunate


The Associated Press

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

RALEIGH, N.C. — Even Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
acknowledges that its timing on two recent mailings was unfortunate.

The News&Observer of Raleigh reported that customers first learned their
rates will rise by an average of 11 percent next year.


We are right in the middle of the insurance selection window. Lots of
people are getting a package with something like that in it.

IBM's retiree EPO (United) went from $860 to 988 a month.

Ouch. A friend's main reason for working the required 10 years at his
company was to get the company Medicare supplement package.
He just found out from other retirees that they get cheaper and better
packages on the open market.

--Vic

On 10/30/09 4:45 PM, Vic Smith wrote:
On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:15:37 -0400, wrote:

On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:21:46 -0400, H the
wrote:

NC insurer says timing of mailings unfortunate


The Associated Press

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

RALEIGH, N.C. — Even Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
acknowledges that its timing on two recent mailings was unfortunate.

The News&Observer of Raleigh reported that customers first learned their
rates will rise by an average of 11 percent next year.


We are right in the middle of the insurance selection window. Lots of
people are getting a package with something like that in it.

IBM's retiree EPO (United) went from $860 to 988 a month.

Ouch. A friend's main reason for working the required 10 years at his
company was to get the company Medicare supplement package.
He just found out from other retirees that they get cheaper and better
packages on the open market.

--Vic


As I stated, there doesn't seem to be a legitimate rational for many of
our current health insurance options. We seem willing to bend over
farther and farther to enrich companies that do next to nothing to
improve health.

In article ,
says...

On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:15:37 -0400, wrote:

On Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:21:46 -0400, H the K
wrote:

NC insurer says timing of mailings unfortunate


The Associated Press

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

RALEIGH, N.C. ? Even Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
acknowledges that its timing on two recent mailings was unfortunate.

The News&Observer of Raleigh reported that customers first learned their
rates will rise by an average of 11 percent next year.


We are right in the middle of the insurance selection window. Lots of
people are getting a package with something like that in it.

IBM's retiree EPO (United) went from $860 to 988 a month.

Ouch. A friend's main reason for working the required 10 years at his
company was to get the company Medicare supplement package.
He just found out from other retirees that they get cheaper and better
packages on the open market.

That's why you need to belong to associations and trade groups.