Employee health care premiums increased 260% last decade

[Mike Sellers]

Don Kiyoti wrote:
I have to pay 100% of my health insurance since I'm self-employed. In the five years I've been doing it, my monthly premium has increased by $210.

Me too. Yours has only gone up $210 in the last five years? What percentage does that represent? The only way I've managed to keep my monthly premiums under $1000 is to jack up deductibles, co-pays, out-of-pockets to the point where I've been pretty much forced into catastrophic coverage.

[Mac1337]

Why don't you campaign to change the laws favoring employer-based insurance over the self-employed? I all with you on that.

[Don Kiyoti]

Mike, my insurance is just for me (no dependents). The increase is about 175% if my math is right. $1000 deductible.

[mattkime]

>>Why don't you campaign to change the laws favoring employer-based insurance over the self-employed? I all with you on that.

And increase regulation???


DAKOTA! IM SHOCKED!

[the_poochies]

Dakota wrote:
[quote=the_poochies]

When a hospital shuts its doors in my state, usually the outgoing CEO will cite decreased Medicare/Medicaid payments as a significant factor in the closure

There is an alternative to closure. If your costs are not covered and you still want to stay in business, ration services.
Hospitals have been rationing services for a while. My local hospital closed its maternity and pediatric ward in the early 1990s.

I don't think hospitals are going to turn away severely ill patients just because they lack insurance. My state uses a charity care fund that is supposed to provide funds to hospitals who see uninsured patients, but like many accounts, it is underfunded.

My local hospital won't accept my insurance card for non-emergency visits because it is disputing its reimbursement rates with the company. I have to drive 10 miles to another hospital that will accept my insurance card. It's a royal PITA.