CNN Money interviews 9 on health ins. What they pay, what they get, what they want in reform.

Doesn't look to me like the teabaggers' views have rubbed off onto many of these folks.

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/news/0910/gallery.fix_health_care/index.html

Health care: What I want fixed
What does health insurance cost? What is normal? These nine people talk about what they pay, what they get for their money -- and what reform means to them.

Here's the 9th person:

Michael Sweeney: Employer plan

Michael Sweeney, 45, lives in Duluth, Ga.
What I pay: $670 per month
Deductible: $3,000 family
Insurer: Aetna

My wife and I are covered through my company-sponsored health insurance plan. We had bad experiences on a low-deductible plan, so we switched to what we have now.

As long as I'm employed at a decent-sized company, I know I can get health insurance. I've turned down jobs with small firms because insurance costs would double; my wife works for a small investment firm where the insurance is also expensive. It shouldn't be that way; it's not that way in any other country.

What I want fixed: I have a lot of friends who are doctors, and they prefer the single-payer system. Everyone would be covered, and it would simplify the system. Who actually does the paying isn't my concern as long as the bill gets paid. I am fortunate to have a job and good coverage through my employer, but there has to be a safety net. At the end of the day, Congress needs to make sure everyone is covered.



The first eight stories are equally interesting and revealing.

It's getting so that you either (a) are in a bad situation with your own or your family's health, or (b) you know someone who is. The decision point is coming RealSoonNow.

This repuke can't decide if he likes his government small (health savings account) or HUGE:

What I pay: $1,075 a month
Deductible: $3,000 family
Insurer: Altius

I currently have a high deductible HMO-style health plan provided by my employer. It costs me $75 per month and covers me, my wife and three children. I used to be on a lower deductible plan, but it was too much of a hassle to deal with the insurance company when I made claims.

Now I contribute $1,000 per month to a health savings account and enjoy the freedom of spending my own health care dollars. Providers treat me as the customer instead of the insurance company, but I do think they need to improve the disclosure of costs associated with health care procedures, consultations and supplies, including drugs.

What I want fixed: The government should get rid of employer-sponsored health insurance and give individuals tax deductions or credits instead. That way more people could afford health insurance and termination of employment wouldn't equate to termination of health insurance. The cost of insurance is hidden because employers pay for so much of it. Individuals would shop wisely for health services if they were paying for it.


One thing is for sure: he's a mega-size ass. :eyes:

that is affordable and covers everything. I have Medicare and BC/BS as a secondary..I pay about 200 dollars for these two plans. I pay nothing else except for prescriptions, 5 dollars and 4 if I get the genetic thru WalMart. There are several that cost 15.00 but even that isn't bad compared to what some people pay. I am fortunate. Very fortunate. It makes me mad and also sad to see what happens to people who don't have and can't afford health insurance. It is not right. It is not right that CEO's of those same companies get 20 million dollar salaries and 20 million dollar bonus while people are denied services because they are expensive.

There is something not really right in this country that this is allowed to go on. I think congress should pass a bill that gives the same type of insurance I get thru Medicare to any body that wants it and the cost should be graduated on the ability to pay.

If you go back and look you will see that any chance we have of prosperity has come under a democratic president. As soon as a republican gets in the slash everything but tax breaks for the rich. And to make matters worst they don't even have a department that oversees the taxes the super rich pay. Most get off scott free and are never ever investigated. They go after the little man because he doesn't have a bevy of lawyers to head them off.

I say...make the law pass it with the majority of votes and let the republicans continue to whine and moan and you know what. As for Fox News I think there should be some way of collectively shutting down the urging of violence they are ramping up...where's the secret service when you need them...go after a school kid because they had a T-Shirt on that said they didn't like bush????