Resistance Begins at Ohm!

Saturday, October 17, 2009

And this makes a lot of sense....

Under both house and senate proposals, insurance companies would not be able to drop you if you are sick, nor deny you a policy because of a prior medical condition. So, can't turn you away if you are or have ever been sick. Nor can they charge you more in premiums because of your medical status. But may the Lord save you if you have an unhealthy lifestyle (in whose opinion???)...

Under current regulation, incentives based on health factors can be no larger than 20 percent of the premium paid by employer and employee combined. The legislation passed by the Health and Finance committees would increase the limit to 30 percent, and it would give government officials the power to raise it to 50 percent. For example, families with premiums of $13,375 — the combined average for employer-sponsored coverage, according to a recent survey — could have $6,687.50 at risk.

source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33336289/ns/politics-washington_post/

Whether you look at it like a discount or a penalty, makes no difference. If you smoke, have high cholesterol, are overweight, don't exercise, eat too many carbs, have high blood sugar, and whatever else the government and your insurance company come up with has risk factors, you are going to pay more. Now you will have your insurance company inspecting your every body function to determine if they can either charge you more or deny you some discount. You will need to get this test, that exam, some other procedure, to determine if you measure up to your insurance company's standards. Now isn't that a pleasant thought? If you don't submit, well then you are going to pay all the penalties. Your insurance company, your employer and your government are now going to be right there overlooking your every day behavior, reminding you that you have a personal and financial responsibility to live your life their way, not your way.

I think I'm going to puke! Oh crap, that will make my rates go up, I might be bulimic!.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Everyone benefits when I spread your wealth around

Remember the NYT writer that had an idea how we could regulate lawyers like we treat physicians under medicare? This guy explains wealth redistribution with a new grading system. Mike Adams

The lastest "you can't be that stupid" moment:

1) Young people (who pay a lot more in premiums than they use in benefits) only have to pay 10% of the premium if they don't get insurance. So of course, they will get the insurance, right?
2) Insurance companies can reduce premiums by offering low cost policies to more sick people.
3) Your premiums won't go up if we tax the hell out of the insurance companies.

Why is it that they get "spread the wealth" but they don't get spread the risk?
Why is it that we privatize the profits and socialize the losses? The losses are not an asset, duh! And the losers should not be spreading the risk, they should be eating the whole thing.