Reader comments
Health-care costs eclipsing paychecks

Cleanroom | 10:45 a.m. Oct. 23, 2008

Now just imagine how hard it is for those of us who insure themselves.

I propose | 12:00 p.m. Oct. 23, 2008

Ending insurance altogether. I mean this is a scam so large as to not believe it isn't happening. If the medical industrial complex won't simplify their convoluted system to cotrol their costs then take their security base away. Let them fall and the market will replace their greed based system with something better.
As with the auto industry, when GM Ford and Chrysler fall, their systems will be replaced with something better. Unless of course the government steps in and messes things up the way they are doing with the financial system.

John | 12:14 p.m. Oct. 23, 2008

If you think healthcare is expensive now, just wait until Obama makes it "free."

Comments continue below

Anonymous | 12:15 p.m. Oct. 23, 2008

I am a fortunate person in that I don't have to work because of a substantial private income. I am married, my husband is retired and I buy my own insurance policy costing $420 per month with a $250 annual deductible. My policy with BCBS use to be more expensive($495) but recently they made some changes deleted some coverage added some items. When I asked my agent in Private Client Services if I should change he said no, don't change companies are just looking for a way not to cover individuals and this guy didn't even write my original policy.
So, I can afford my coverage my friends with your bunch kids -Stop have so many children-the Lord does not provide insurance coverage! Before you think about having just one more -think about the cost -insurance, food, education, clothing, not to mention the impact of more and more people on this overcrowded earth! If you think the GOP is going to save you money on insurance, then please tell me why they have do nothing in the lat 8 years?

Anonymous | 1:24 p.m. Oct. 23, 2008

Health care is one of those things that is amazingly expensive, if a person is ill, and extremely cheap if one isn't. The rub is you never know how it will go, and as we age, we do need more care.

Health care, like car insurance, should be one of those things we pay for, spreading a reasonable cost out among all of us.

Health care coverage right now is framed in terms of "Health Insurance." It shouldn't be! It should be framed in terms of health coverage.

Take the corporations out of the mix, devise a plan that covers the country, and lets get skyrocketing health costs - and social costs for uncovered people- out of the economic mix.

Timj | 1:54 p.m. Oct. 23, 2008

Right now, the goal of the health care and the health insurance industries is simple. It's to make money.
If we can change this to a focus on health, we can reduce costs by eliminating useless procedures, and by focusing on prevention.
Health insurance companies and hospitals aren't going to do this by themselves. It's something that needs to come from the American people.

No Kidding | 2:22 p.m. Oct. 23, 2008

The free market system is no way to run a health care industry. When was the last time you got tonsillectomies for the entire family because they were on sale? Duh. It shouldn't be about supply and demand. It will be a sad day when the hospitals are empty and homes are full of sick and dying people who can't afford the care. We're already facing that in the coming years with all the elderly who outnumber the generation who will care for them -- who can't even afford their own medical care. And where does the government get money for medicare, etc.? There won't be any if they keep pouring good money (borrowed from soc. sec. and medicare) after bad (greedy bankers, etc.)

You think you have it bad?? | 2:43 p.m. Oct. 23, 2008

Think your insurance coverage is costly? Pshaw! Enough with your sob stories! I have a friend who is a hockey mom from Alaska, and it cost her $150,000 for two months worth of clothing and accessories! Now that is rough!

doesn't add up | 3:01 p.m. Oct. 23, 2008

I always wonder where exactly this extra money from increased premiums goes. As a family, we purchase individual insurance because my husband is self employed. Luckily we are a healthy family, but pay thousands of dollars per year that we never see as benefits to us directly. In many ways I feel that health care already is socialized because all of us insured end up paying the bill either way.

Re: No Kidding | 3:13 p.m. Oct. 23, 2008

How would you know if the free market system is the way to go. The free market system has never had a chance to try.

mom of 5 | 3:59 p.m. Oct. 23, 2008

to doesn't add up:

Where does it go? Lawsuits.

Where does it go? | 4:01 p.m. Oct. 23, 2008

As mentioned earlier, health insurance companies are in it only to make money. When the market crashes and they aren't making money off of the economy like every other business they still have investors and a bottom line to maintain...and so they raise premiums to make up for lost cash.

I'm in medical school right now, and I am very worried about the future of the healthcare system. I have always been opposed to the idea of "socialized" medicine, but I now see how wasteful our insurance company run system is. We pay millions for underwriters and lawyers to fight both patient rights and physician care practices. Cut them out and let the government take over is where I lean right now.

spudover | 4:51 p.m. Oct. 23, 2008

it's all about money.that's all people care about.your judged on how many posessions and money you have and that's it!

AHL | 5:13 p.m. Oct. 23, 2008

The health care system that Senator Barack Obama porposes will cost a whole lot less that the unnecessary war in Iraq and a lot less than Senator John McCain's plan.

John Selfish | 5:40 p.m. Oct. 23, 2008

John wait until you loose your JOB.

Dave | 8:22 a.m. Oct. 24, 2008

Insurance companies set rates so that they cover the medical costs. They make their opperating expenses and profit by investing our premiumpayments in the interum. Invetments have not been doing so well lately have they? Watch out next year.

Bang for the Buck | 8:58 a.m. Oct. 24, 2008

A recent World Health Organization (Jul. 2008) report ranked US health care 38th in the world. That is just behind Dominica and Costa Rica and just ahead of Slovenia and Cuba. Other developing nations that scored better include: Singapore, Coloumbia, and Chile. Much of the low score is directly attributed to the cost where we spend roughly twice as much per capita than any other country.

The amount of money that we waste in health care is staggering because inspite of the almost doubling of the costs in the past 8 years we have little to show for it in improvement.

My personal health care, which is an individual plan, has increased 20-30% per year. At these rates and in 5 years a policy that costs $500 per month will cost between $1200 and $1800 per month. In ten years the same $500 per month policy will cost between $3000 and $6800 per month!

We need a RADICAL change. Now. Because in a couple of years no one will be able to afford it.

Go Major Medical | 6:56 p.m. Oct. 24, 2008

Simply stop buying first dollar coverage! You pay much more in premiums than you save in the occasional office visit. Only use insurance for major medical and pay out of pocket for primary care. When doctors start starving, prices will change instantly!

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