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#1
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OT Bush hatred
NOYB wrote:
"Harry Krause" wrote in message ... NOYB wrote: NFIB and small business make the difference in Washington, D.C. NFIB comes out fighting every time lawmakers and regulators try to take another bite out of your business or your pocketbook. NFIB members from all over the country make their voices heard, and Congress listens -- and those victories translate into money in your pocket. Hehehe. They sho' got their hooks into you. Obstacles Cleared for Overtime Reform You mean elimination. Small Business Scores Health-Care Option With HSAs President Bush signed legislation in December 2003, authorizing the creation of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Taking effect Jan. 1, 2004, HSAs are tax-free savings accounts for medical expenses that will allow more small-business owners to obtain affordable health coverage for themselves and their employees. This is one of the biggest and saddest laughs of all. An HSA is no substitute for a strong health insurance plan. Can you tell us why? Any taxpayer with a high-deductible insurance plan can contribute up to $2,600 a year ($5,150 for families) into an HSA account. Well, that ought to cover two days at the hospital...or removal of a hangnail. Doh! The "high-deductible insurance plan" pays the big bills. The $2600 pays the routine trips to the doc. I pay almost $11,000 for a family of four (with an 80/20 plan and $500 deductible). I bet my premium would drop by 75% if I had a very high deductible plan. If nobody gets sick in a given year, then I would save mega-bucks...which is money that would be lining the pockets of some insurance executive if it weren't for HSA's. If we *do* get sick, then it's virtually a wash. The other issue NFIB is strongly lobbying for are AHP's. Until an Association Health Plan bill is passed, we small business guys don't get the same special privileges as is afforded government workers and union members. You guys lobbied for AHP's and got 'em (in principle, if not in name)...and now it's our turn. Indeed, AHP's are promising. A really serious problem these days is that the cost of pharmaceuticals for covered employees now costs health plans about the same as hopsitalization. This is leading to caps and higher co-pays for some. -- Email sent to is never read. |
#2
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OT Bush hatred
"Harry Krause" wrote in message ... NOYB wrote: "Harry Krause" wrote in message ... NOYB wrote: NFIB and small business make the difference in Washington, D.C. NFIB comes out fighting every time lawmakers and regulators try to take another bite out of your business or your pocketbook. NFIB members from all over the country make their voices heard, and Congress listens -- and those victories translate into money in your pocket. Hehehe. They sho' got their hooks into you. Obstacles Cleared for Overtime Reform You mean elimination. Small Business Scores Health-Care Option With HSAs President Bush signed legislation in December 2003, authorizing the creation of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Taking effect Jan. 1, 2004, HSAs are tax-free savings accounts for medical expenses that will allow more small-business owners to obtain affordable health coverage for themselves and their employees. This is one of the biggest and saddest laughs of all. An HSA is no substitute for a strong health insurance plan. Can you tell us why? Any taxpayer with a high-deductible insurance plan can contribute up to $2,600 a year ($5,150 for families) into an HSA account. Well, that ought to cover two days at the hospital...or removal of a hangnail. Doh! The "high-deductible insurance plan" pays the big bills. The $2600 pays the routine trips to the doc. I pay almost $11,000 for a family of four (with an 80/20 plan and $500 deductible). I bet my premium would drop by 75% if I had a very high deductible plan. If nobody gets sick in a given year, then I would save mega-bucks...which is money that would be lining the pockets of some insurance executive if it weren't for HSA's. If we *do* get sick, then it's virtually a wash. The other issue NFIB is strongly lobbying for are AHP's. Until an Association Health Plan bill is passed, we small business guys don't get the same special privileges as is afforded government workers and union members. You guys lobbied for AHP's and got 'em (in principle, if not in name)...and now it's our turn. Indeed, AHP's are promising. A really serious problem these days is that the cost of pharmaceuticals for covered employees now costs health plans about the same as hopsitalization. This is leading to caps and higher co-pays for some. I figure that once AHP legislation passes, it'll force to the table two of the larger profit-makers in the pharmaceutical industry...namely, manufacturers and pharmacies. I would hope to see the individual associations (with memberships sometimes exceeding several hundred thousand people) negotiating directly with the manufacturers and the pharmacies. Of course, the biggest opponent of AHP's is the insurance industry. AHP's give associations bargaining power against the insurance companies...and could give associations enough clout to completely bypass the insurance companies. Wanna know who the key opponents are? Blue Cross/Blue Shield State insurance commissioners AFL-CIO and other unions Mental Health Groups Health insurance agent associations Senator Edward Kennedy Senator Richard Durbin (source: http://www.cropusainsurance.com/legi..._opponents.asp) In light of your strong allegiances to the aforementioned groups and individuals, I'm surprised that you've broken ranks and described AHP's as "promising". I guess there's some hope for you yet. ;-) |
#3
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OT Bush hatred
NOYB wrote:
"Harry Krause" wrote in message ... NOYB wrote: "Harry Krause" wrote in message ... NOYB wrote: NFIB and small business make the difference in Washington, D.C. NFIB comes out fighting every time lawmakers and regulators try to take another bite out of your business or your pocketbook. NFIB members from all over the country make their voices heard, and Congress listens -- and those victories translate into money in your pocket. Hehehe. They sho' got their hooks into you. Obstacles Cleared for Overtime Reform You mean elimination. Small Business Scores Health-Care Option With HSAs President Bush signed legislation in December 2003, authorizing the creation of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Taking effect Jan. 1, 2004, HSAs are tax-free savings accounts for medical expenses that will allow more small-business owners to obtain affordable health coverage for themselves and their employees. This is one of the biggest and saddest laughs of all. An HSA is no substitute for a strong health insurance plan. Can you tell us why? Any taxpayer with a high-deductible insurance plan can contribute up to $2,600 a year ($5,150 for families) into an HSA account. Well, that ought to cover two days at the hospital...or removal of a hangnail. Doh! The "high-deductible insurance plan" pays the big bills. The $2600 pays the routine trips to the doc. I pay almost $11,000 for a family of four (with an 80/20 plan and $500 deductible). I bet my premium would drop by 75% if I had a very high deductible plan. If nobody gets sick in a given year, then I would save mega-bucks...which is money that would be lining the pockets of some insurance executive if it weren't for HSA's. If we *do* get sick, then it's virtually a wash. The other issue NFIB is strongly lobbying for are AHP's. Until an Association Health Plan bill is passed, we small business guys don't get the same special privileges as is afforded government workers and union members. You guys lobbied for AHP's and got 'em (in principle, if not in name)...and now it's our turn. Indeed, AHP's are promising. A really serious problem these days is that the cost of pharmaceuticals for covered employees now costs health plans about the same as hopsitalization. This is leading to caps and higher co-pays for some. I figure that once AHP legislation passes, it'll force to the table two of the larger profit-makers in the pharmaceutical industry...namely, manufacturers and pharmacies. I would hope to see the individual associations (with memberships sometimes exceeding several hundred thousand people) negotiating directly with the manufacturers and the pharmacies. Of course, the biggest opponent of AHP's is the insurance industry. AHP's give associations bargaining power against the insurance companies...and could give associations enough clout to completely bypass the insurance companies. Wanna know who the key opponents are? Blue Cross/Blue Shield State insurance commissioners AFL-CIO and other unions Mental Health Groups Health insurance agent associations Senator Edward Kennedy Senator Richard Durbin (source: http://www.cropusainsurance.com/legi..._opponents.asp) In light of your strong allegiances to the aforementioned groups and individuals, I'm surprised that you've broken ranks and described AHP's as "promising". I guess there's some hope for you yet. ;-) More bull****. I'm directly involved with several of the largest unions affiliated with the AFL, and the AFL itself, all deeply involved in health care associations set up for the very purpose you are discussing here. You need to expand your lists of sources, fella. -- Email sent to is never read. |
#4
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OT Bush hatred
"Harry Krause" wrote in message ... Indeed, AHP's are promising. PROS & CONS - SUPPORTERS AND OPPONENTS Association Health Plan Legislation Pro a.. Supporters of the plan include small businesses, Farm Bureau, chambers of commerce, and associations of self-employeds such as engineers, construction firms, farm associations and those who have not been allowed to purchase health insurance through associations Con a.. Opponents of the plan are Blue Cross/Blue Shield, who fear that they would lose business to AHPs and fear that they would lose the ability to set rates for individuals and small businesses based upon company-wide expense b.. Senator Kennedy and other liberal Senators oppose the legislation because it would lessen the need for national health care c.. State insurance departments oppose the plan as they fear losing their regulatory authority and insurance premium taxes d.. AFL/CIO, American Federal of State & County Municipal Employees, American Federation of Teachers and other unions oppose the plan because they support universal health care e.. Health insurance agents fear loss of commissions |
#5
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OT Bush hatred
NOYB wrote:
"Harry Krause" wrote in message ... Indeed, AHP's are promising. PROS & CONS - SUPPORTERS AND OPPONENTS Association Health Plan Legislation Pro a.. Supporters of the plan include small businesses, Farm Bureau, chambers of commerce, and associations of self-employeds such as engineers, construction firms, farm associations and those who have not been allowed to purchase health insurance through associations Con a.. Opponents of the plan are Blue Cross/Blue Shield, who fear that they would lose business to AHPs and fear that they would lose the ability to set rates for individuals and small businesses based upon company-wide expense b.. Senator Kennedy and other liberal Senators oppose the legislation because it would lessen the need for national health care c.. State insurance departments oppose the plan as they fear losing their regulatory authority and insurance premium taxes d.. AFL/CIO, American Federal of State & County Municipal Employees, American Federation of Teachers and other unions oppose the plan because they support universal health care e.. Health insurance agents fear loss of commissions Your source's interpretation is wrong. Certainly the labor movement supports universal care, and huge elements of movement who support that also support health care associations, and participate in them. -- Email sent to is never read. |
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