Your Medical Plan $Changes/Increases for 2011?

[meadandale]

[quote=flu]Ok…So I have to ask…Did any of you or will any of you actually benefit from the health care changes. I guess folks with preexisting conditions that aren’t covered by a group policy from an employer will.. But I’m just curious if this is beneficial to anyone whom I consider in the need category (un-insurable or harder to insure category). I hope the answer is yes….[/quote]

Well, I’m clearly not in the need category as I pay for my own health insurance (self employed) and won’t qualify for government subsidized care.

However, I can say without qualification that the health care changes have only negatively affected my ability to afford healthcare, or in general.

To whit:

1) In spite of the claims that this would reduce health care costs my premiums have risen almost 20% since this legislation passed.

2) OTC medications can no longer be purchased using my HSA funds.

3) And, best of all, the 1099 provision in the massive bill that nobody read means that my costs of doing business as a small business owner will increase substantially in order to comply with the new law.

Yeah, I’m thrilled about the passage of this bill; nothing that was done will reduce my costs at all and the only thing I have to look forward to is higher taxes.

On a side note, a liberal friend of mine claimed that I surely got a tax break from Obama last year. I provided evidence that in fact, this was not in fact true and that my tax bill had risen since he took office in spite of his claim that 95% of people (unless you made over $200-250k) received a tax cut. In spite of the fact that I didn’t in fact make enough to reach O’s threshold, I did in fact pay higher taxes in 2009 than in 2008.

His response?

Alright well you guys got me. If your’e not a “working family” because you’re self-employed or a business owner, and can’t take advantage of the self-employment tax cut or any of the 16 small business tax cuts, then I guess you are simply out of luck.

Out of luck…so much for the ‘everyone got a tax cut’ BS.

[paramount]

This year the only choice we have is Cigna; all other options have been dropped.

So just to review, in the last 2 years I have lost the following:

1. My pension
2. 401k cut by 50%
3. Vacation time cut
4. Lost all sick time
5. Lost holidays (including July 4th)
6. And now choice in Healthcare

But oh yes, were supposed to be happy to have a job.

Meanwhile, public sector workers live in a fairy tale world of high pay and benefits including golden pensions and lifetime benefits.

We’ve been duped into thinking unions are bad; if I was union my employer wouldn’t be getting away with stripping our benefits without a fight.

Sooner or later I’ll wise up and walk away from my house.

[paramount]

This year the only choice we have is Cigna; all other options have been dropped.

So just to review, in the last 2 years I have lost the following:

1. My pension
2. 401k cut by 50%
3. Vacation time cut
4. Lost all sick time
5. Lost holidays (including July 4th)
6. And now choice in Healthcare

But oh yes, were supposed to be happy to have a job.

Meanwhile, public sector workers live in a fairy tale world of high pay and benefits including golden pensions and lifetime benefits.

We’ve been duped into thinking unions are bad; if I was union my employer wouldn’t be getting away with stripping our benefits without a fight.

Sooner or later I’ll wise up and walk away from my house.

[paramount]

This year the only choice we have is Cigna; all other options have been dropped.

So just to review, in the last 2 years I have lost the following:

1. My pension
2. 401k cut by 50%
3. Vacation time cut
4. Lost all sick time
5. Lost holidays (including July 4th)
6. And now choice in Healthcare

But oh yes, were supposed to be happy to have a job.

Meanwhile, public sector workers live in a fairy tale world of high pay and benefits including golden pensions and lifetime benefits.

We’ve been duped into thinking unions are bad; if I was union my employer wouldn’t be getting away with stripping our benefits without a fight.

Sooner or later I’ll wise up and walk away from my house.

[paramount]

This year the only choice we have is Cigna; all other options have been dropped.

So just to review, in the last 2 years I have lost the following:

1. My pension
2. 401k cut by 50%
3. Vacation time cut
4. Lost all sick time
5. Lost holidays (including July 4th)
6. And now choice in Healthcare

But oh yes, were supposed to be happy to have a job.

Meanwhile, public sector workers live in a fairy tale world of high pay and benefits including golden pensions and lifetime benefits.

We’ve been duped into thinking unions are bad; if I was union my employer wouldn’t be getting away with stripping our benefits without a fight.

Sooner or later I’ll wise up and walk away from my house.

[paramount]

This year the only choice we have is Cigna; all other options have been dropped.

So just to review, in the last 2 years I have lost the following:

1. My pension
2. 401k cut by 50%
3. Vacation time cut
4. Lost all sick time
5. Lost holidays (including July 4th)
6. And now choice in Healthcare

But oh yes, were supposed to be happy to have a job.

Meanwhile, public sector workers live in a fairy tale world of high pay and benefits including golden pensions and lifetime benefits.

We’ve been duped into thinking unions are bad; if I was union my employer wouldn’t be getting away with stripping our benefits without a fight.

Sooner or later I’ll wise up and walk away from my house.

[davelj]

[quote=paramount]
Sooner or later I’ll wise up and walk away from my house.[/quote]

You and lots of other Piggs say this (often)… and then never actually do it. I’m waiting for one single Pigg to “strategically default.” One. Please be that person. Then we can say that at least one Pigg walked the talk in this department.

Words are plentiful; deeds are precious.

[davelj]

[quote=paramount]
Sooner or later I’ll wise up and walk away from my house.[/quote]

You and lots of other Piggs say this (often)… and then never actually do it. I’m waiting for one single Pigg to “strategically default.” One. Please be that person. Then we can say that at least one Pigg walked the talk in this department.

Words are plentiful; deeds are precious.

[davelj]

[quote=paramount]
Sooner or later I’ll wise up and walk away from my house.[/quote]

You and lots of other Piggs say this (often)… and then never actually do it. I’m waiting for one single Pigg to “strategically default.” One. Please be that person. Then we can say that at least one Pigg walked the talk in this department.

Words are plentiful; deeds are precious.

[davelj]

[quote=paramount]
Sooner or later I’ll wise up and walk away from my house.[/quote]

You and lots of other Piggs say this (often)… and then never actually do it. I’m waiting for one single Pigg to “strategically default.” One. Please be that person. Then we can say that at least one Pigg walked the talk in this department.

Words are plentiful; deeds are precious.

[davelj]

[quote=paramount]
Sooner or later I’ll wise up and walk away from my house.[/quote]

You and lots of other Piggs say this (often)… and then never actually do it. I’m waiting for one single Pigg to “strategically default.” One. Please be that person. Then we can say that at least one Pigg walked the talk in this department.

Words are plentiful; deeds are precious.

[moneymaker]

I don’t believe Obama’s health care package does anything to control costs (have not read it, nor will I, just a feeling), so when Nancy Pelosi says it will trim 1.2 Billion from healthcare costs I have to assume she is talking about saving the government that money under one of the many government sponsored health care programs offered to the elderly, disabled, or those on welfare(yes I’m calling it what it is!). I haven’t got my reenrollment package yet, but I am afraid. One thing I’ve learned is that most doctors/hospitals have no idea what your co-pay actually is. So hang onto those old cards and just pluck it on the counter then you can keep paying your same old co-pay. My wife says hers has nearly doubled, Yikes!

[moneymaker]

I don’t believe Obama’s health care package does anything to control costs (have not read it, nor will I, just a feeling), so when Nancy Pelosi says it will trim 1.2 Billion from healthcare costs I have to assume she is talking about saving the government that money under one of the many government sponsored health care programs offered to the elderly, disabled, or those on welfare(yes I’m calling it what it is!). I haven’t got my reenrollment package yet, but I am afraid. One thing I’ve learned is that most doctors/hospitals have no idea what your co-pay actually is. So hang onto those old cards and just pluck it on the counter then you can keep paying your same old co-pay. My wife says hers has nearly doubled, Yikes!

[moneymaker]

I don’t believe Obama’s health care package does anything to control costs (have not read it, nor will I, just a feeling), so when Nancy Pelosi says it will trim 1.2 Billion from healthcare costs I have to assume she is talking about saving the government that money under one of the many government sponsored health care programs offered to the elderly, disabled, or those on welfare(yes I’m calling it what it is!). I haven’t got my reenrollment package yet, but I am afraid. One thing I’ve learned is that most doctors/hospitals have no idea what your co-pay actually is. So hang onto those old cards and just pluck it on the counter then you can keep paying your same old co-pay. My wife says hers has nearly doubled, Yikes!

[moneymaker]

I don’t believe Obama’s health care package does anything to control costs (have not read it, nor will I, just a feeling), so when Nancy Pelosi says it will trim 1.2 Billion from healthcare costs I have to assume she is talking about saving the government that money under one of the many government sponsored health care programs offered to the elderly, disabled, or those on welfare(yes I’m calling it what it is!). I haven’t got my reenrollment package yet, but I am afraid. One thing I’ve learned is that most doctors/hospitals have no idea what your co-pay actually is. So hang onto those old cards and just pluck it on the counter then you can keep paying your same old co-pay. My wife says hers has nearly doubled, Yikes!

[Author]

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