Well, Post Election Health-Care Shock

I'm the President of my Local, and here's a true story.

I am to be consulted on all health insurance issues concerning my members. We have a difficult to insure group. For any one that knows, we are a 1.2. You see a 1.0 on an insurance scale is average. it has average age, health history, and past claims. The range is 0.8 to 1.2. We are a 1.2.

My own health care is a one and spouse. There is a single plan, an one and spouse, an one and child, and a family plan.

The single plan went from $39 a week to $55 a week. One and spouse is up from $84 a week to $121, the one and child is up from $79 a week to $113, and the family from $124 a week to $175 a week.

During my most recent negotiations with a company whose profit margin is at best marginal, I got a raise of about $30 to $40 dollars a week for all the workers as of January 1, 2005. This is after freezing wages for half the workers for two years, and receiving a modest raise of $25 a week for the other half, which are the lowest paid workers, spanned over 2 years.

Now, here's the rub. A worker who is receiving a $40 a week raise this year, with a family insurance plan, will see a net loss of $11 in his or her pay check, after waiting two years for a raise. I'm sure he or she will be thrilled.

But from the company's point of view, look what they are giving up. Since they pay 50% of the insurance, which is actually good in my industry (Horse Racing, most tracks provide no insurance) they are actually giving the worker in this situation a $91 a week raise ($51 in health insurance and $40 in salary), or about 13%. So, I have the worst of both worlds. A company that can demonstrate a 13% pay raise, and a worker who actually realizes a 2% pay cut, all with the same figures. Both are correct.

Four more years of this insane system. Health Care Premiums continuing to sky rocket, American companies stretched to the breaking point, and Labor Unions seemingly unable to help its members. Washington must help. Only the US Government can establish a system whereby the American worker can be rewarded by his toil and time by having a meaningful job that can enable him or her to provide the basic necessities, including preserving the health of his loved ones, to his family.

Somehow, I believe this is the most important family value in America.

google "marsh spitzer"

both sides of the story.

You're in a tight spot, but I have no doubt that your are an excellent leader and your union members are lucky to have you representing their interests.

I needed that today.

You see, you have more information they they do.

Even though I have to be consulted, I can't inform my members until they reach a final decision, by mutual agreement.

As the nation ages, this problem will only get worse. As long as Rethugs are in power, however, the only thing I see is fewer and fewer people having health insurance. My husband and I have not had any for years. We are lucky we have a doctor who will let us pay off our bills a little at a time, and sometimes in kind.

..until we have a Majority in the 3 branches of Government. We've been through this before and the right-wing will use every dirty trick in the book to stop it.

Univeral Health Care will happen when the American people wake up...in other words.. We're Fucked.

this debate just like many others. Lots of people see "universal healthcare" as a dirty word. Isn't that crazy, but it is true. We have to work especially hard to change this.

and still i dont trust the health care regardless of the money out cause i believe they screw ya anyway. but it does hurt a company and employees dont realize what it takes to cover. i remember the days, full coverage for medical dental and eye including check ups and cleaning. we were so looking forward to what kerry was offering, i think that was the greaest, oh bummer we arent going to get

My dad owns a business in which he pays for the healthcare of his employess outright...yes, he pays 100% of their healthcare costs. It costs him $22,000 a month for 9 employees and their families.

I know this bill is very difficult for him to pay but he doesn't want to pass any of the burden on to his employees. Even though my dad pays above average wages for our area, people are still struggling thanks to the higher costs of living.

Oddly enough my dad is a Bush supporter even though my sister and I were trying to tell him about Kerry's plan. But what can you do...my dad is one of those "I don't vote for a Massachusettes yankee liberal."

SIGH.

low wage, no healthcare.........tight and lean to make it in this enviroment, economy

now, we too pay above wage. told husband, gotta get pay up just cause, responsibility as employer, so employee can live. if we cant afford to do that, i cant do the business. i cant pay a single mother, uneducated, lowest postion a low wage.

but we also have to look at other side, even with making these efforts, there is a sense that more is owed.

told husband this weekend. with the money we have, we can pay off loan, and be done with this business thing. a lot less stress, and time, working for someone else.

and i can get out of state, wink

one year ago co-pays were $5 ..jan 1 $20..
people do not get "real raises" anymore.. Like your experience proves.. They can only hope to stay even or not lose too much.. factor in the additional cost of medicines too..

and gasoline to even GET to work has doubled..

what raise???

Ours, too, went up. We were paying $74 every 2 weeks and as of January 1st it goes up to $102 every 2 weeks. But you know what I find particularly odd? In October we were told it was only going up to $92 per pay period. But last week we received a letter with the $102 figure. Guess the insurance co. felt like they had a mandate, too, with Bush's election!!

I really really hate this industry. I had friends who worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield in Arkansas in the 90's. They were classified as a non-profit corporation and at the end of the year they would take their staff + staff spouses on an all expenses paid holiday (skiing, a cruise, Hawaii, etc.) I don't know if this still happens but I'm sure it probably does.

My friends would say, "Well, its an incentive for us to raise our numbers and work harder to bring in new clients."

Well er... I think that's the goal of EVERY single business in America. But most businesses cannot afford to take an office-load of people and their spouses on a week long Mediterranean cruise (unless they passed the cost on to the customer to subsidize such an expense). I wish there would be some valant Congressmen/women who would look into this.

But I feel lucky just to have health insurance. My husband was unemployed earlier this year and we were searching for health insurance. Blue Cross Blue Shield was the cheapest even though I really didn't want to go with them. They gave us a quote but when we received the paperwork to sign they put an addendum on our coverage that stated I would not be covered for a c-section if I became preganant!!! (I just had a baby in January and had an emergency c-section after 17 hours of labor and my baby's heartbeat started to rapidly decelerate). I couldn't believe it...not covering for a c-section!!!??? Could they actually do that?

I sent them a nasty reply essentially telling them they can take their policy and shove it where the sun doesn't shine. It sounded like they were telling me not to have another child. I know I can't afford to pay for a c-section if I found myself in the same circumstance.

Sorry to rant. This topic really gets to my husband and me. He comes from England so the mere idea of having to pay for healthcare really pisses him off! We've already decided that when we're having child #2 in England.

From Healthcare to Pensions the raping of the Worker's Right to fair compensation/benefits is under severe attack. You've shown a specific example of this crunch.

It's systemic and the sooner that people realize that the sooner that alternatives will be created that will ultimately save lives. Which is what we're supposed to be about, right?

:kick:

it came down to health care or the mortgage

hopefully we can get it back next year

I would answer no.

6 months

students, single moms and recovering addicts trying to get started again

it breaks my heart

Print this thread out and circulate it thru your affected Members, it may let them know they are not alone and they have every reason to become politically involved. The health care issue will get larger and larger in the coming months and years and the voices of anguish will surely get louder and louder.


Come on DUer's let the folks who Louis is trying to help and protect hear you.

the chance to buy into Medicare for its employees. They can offer similar coverage as private insurers for about 25% to 50% less. However, our government seems to be more hellbent in destroying Medicare instead.

My husband has his own business and we don't have any health insurance, and from reading this thread it seems we are not alone.

Well said. Nazi govt. to sick Americans: "go somewhere & die". It's a wise use of our tax dollars to have universal healthcare in this country. It could help mitigate the coming pandemic, healthy workers are more productive workers, no one loses their home due to outrageous med. costs after a medical emergency happens, etc.