Comments on: STORIES OF THE UNINSURED – KATHY RILEY http://commonhealth.wbur.org/stories-of-the-uninsured/2008/05/stories-of-the-uninsured-kathy-riley/ CommonHealth Sat, 20 Mar 2010 18:13:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Norma http://commonhealth.wbur.org/stories-of-the-uninsured/2008/05/stories-of-the-uninsured-kathy-riley/comment-page-1/#comment-7382 Norma Mon, 12 May 2008 10:08:45 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/weblogs/commonhealth/?p=453#comment-7382 PJ, The problem is we need more people in Mass to rant.The truth about this health reform law must be told so it is up to us to tell the real story of what is happening.The discrimination against the uninsured,the fact that it is not "affordable."The fact if a person gets a raise or a higher paying job they will have to hand that extra money over to an insurance company.We need a health system that is fair and affordable to all.My husband is on Medicare and pays $94.00 a month and he never had to show financial records to anyone.Our Right to Privacy is very important. PJ,
The problem is we need more people in Mass to rant.The truth about this health reform law must be told so it is up to us to tell the real story of what is happening.The discrimination against the uninsured,the fact that it is not “affordable.”The fact if a person gets a raise or a higher paying job they will have to hand that extra money over to an insurance company.We need a health system that is fair and affordable to all.My husband is on Medicare and pays $94.00 a month and he never had to show financial records to anyone.Our Right to Privacy is very important.

]]> By: PJ http://commonhealth.wbur.org/stories-of-the-uninsured/2008/05/stories-of-the-uninsured-kathy-riley/comment-page-1/#comment-7345 PJ Sun, 11 May 2008 02:45:52 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/weblogs/commonhealth/?p=453#comment-7345 Hi Norma, I agree with you. I had a co-worker who had been laid off Feb. 2007. In Feb 2008 he was called back and was offered another $1.00 per hour over his previous salary. Who could say no? My co-worker should have. He has sole custody of his two sons and receives no child support. He was on a Commonwealth Care plan (I'm not sure if he had to pay premiums or not). This salary increase put him at an income level where he has a premium increase greater than the raise itself. We all got laid off on May 1st when the company closed so I'm sure he will be able to avoid paying the higher premiums. No, this law is NOT a good thing. It overcompensates some and criminalizes others. I don't think ANYONE should have to settle for an over priced high deductible plan just to satisfy a mandate. The high deductible plans should cost less than half of what they cost currently so that the people who CHOSE them (not FORCED to purchase them) could afford to contribute to a health savings account to help cover deductibles. It is sickening that I am subsidizing care for people who have more than I do with my tax dollars while I struggle to maintain my own coverage, Next year, unless I find a job which provides an opportunity to purchase a health plan, I will be unable to afford my current level of coverage. On a whole separate note, why aren't smokers surcharged? They pay more for health coverage in other states, why not this one? I know a handful of Commonwealth Care subscribers and every one of them can afford to smoke. Go figure! Sorry for the rant, Norma Hi Norma,
I agree with you. I had a co-worker who had been laid off Feb. 2007. In Feb 2008 he was called back and was offered another $1.00 per hour over his previous salary. Who could say no? My co-worker should have. He has sole custody of his two sons and receives no child support. He was on a Commonwealth Care plan (I’m not sure if he had to pay premiums or not).
This salary increase put him at an income level where he has a premium increase greater than the raise itself.
We all got laid off on May 1st when the company closed so I’m sure he will be able to avoid paying the higher premiums.
No, this law is NOT a good thing. It overcompensates some and criminalizes others. I don’t think ANYONE should have to settle for an over priced high deductible plan just to satisfy a mandate. The high deductible plans should cost less than half of what they cost currently so that the people who CHOSE them (not FORCED to purchase them) could afford to contribute to a health savings account to help cover deductibles.
It is sickening that I am subsidizing care for people who have more than I do with my tax dollars while I struggle to maintain my own coverage, Next year, unless I find a job which provides an opportunity to purchase a health plan, I will be unable to afford my current level of coverage.
On a whole separate note, why aren’t smokers surcharged? They pay more for health coverage in other states, why not this one? I know a handful of Commonwealth Care subscribers and every one of them can afford to smoke. Go figure!
Sorry for the rant, Norma

]]> By: Norma http://commonhealth.wbur.org/stories-of-the-uninsured/2008/05/stories-of-the-uninsured-kathy-riley/comment-page-1/#comment-7186 Norma Mon, 05 May 2008 09:32:52 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/weblogs/commonhealth/?p=453#comment-7186 In response to Katy Riley; I am very happy to hear your satisfaction with the insurance but for me and alot of others this is unaffordable.Because of your income level you can afford this but say you get a raise?Say that every time you get a raise the cost goes up and up?that's what will happen with this law.Myself and many others cannot afford $400.00 a month and a very high deductable would not pay for any test so that would all come out of pocket.The Commonwealth Connector and WBUR are using your story to try to convince us this is a good thing and we know it's not. In response to Katy Riley;
I am very happy to hear your satisfaction with the insurance but for me and alot of others this is unaffordable.Because of your income level you can afford this but say you get a raise?Say that every time you get a raise the cost goes up and up?that’s what will happen with this law.Myself and many others cannot afford $400.00 a month and a very high deductable would not pay for any test so that would all come out of pocket.The Commonwealth Connector and WBUR are using your story to try to convince us this is a good thing and we know it’s not.

]]> By: Get Real http://commonhealth.wbur.org/stories-of-the-uninsured/2008/05/stories-of-the-uninsured-kathy-riley/comment-page-1/#comment-7177 Get Real Mon, 05 May 2008 02:35:17 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/weblogs/commonhealth/?p=453#comment-7177 I'm glad you have healthcare and yes, for some people in certain circumstances this obscenely costly, bureaucratically bloated, industry-sponsored law might be helpful. But please don't suggest that we not see the forest (everyone deserves good affordable healthcare) for the trees (the comparatively few positive situations where the individual mandate law gives cover to the insurance industry and their politician-puppets). I’m glad you have healthcare and yes, for some people in certain circumstances this obscenely costly, bureaucratically bloated, industry-sponsored law might be helpful.

But please don’t suggest that we not see the forest (everyone deserves good affordable healthcare) for the trees (the comparatively few positive situations where the individual mandate law gives cover to the insurance industry and their politician-puppets).

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