Reader comments
Insurance too costly for jobless Utahns

awsomeron | 3:47 a.m. Jan. 10, 2009

If you cannot afford the Insurence you have got to park the car. You cannot put yourself and us at risk. If you are stopped and you do not have Insurence you need to be Towed.

On the flip of that a Good Transportation System should be provided.

Many Jobless say that they cannot afford Insurence but they continue to Smoke, Drink, Party and Reproduce.

I believe that anyone that has Ate Themselfs or Tattooed themselfs to the point of unhireability should not get State Aid or Food Stamps.

Spend smart | 5:39 a.m. Jan. 10, 2009

Wouldn't healthcare funds be better spent if it went directly to doctors or hospitals than to a 3rd party insurance company? The majority of what insurance companies get from government is turned in to profit and investment funds for insurance companeis so why not eliminate their profiteering from healthcare funds? Each state has its own department of health so why not let them be the caretakers of these funds instead of wasting the billions the insurance companies take off the top? Better yet, force employers to be responsible in providing better wages and subsidized health care benefits? Giving tax funds to the top eschelons of insurance companies that let trickle down funding go to heatlh care coverage. The government funds insurance companies get are a cash cow for them and does little to provide health care. We also need to stop the irresponsible illegal foreign nationals from theft of services of the health care they steal.

work this through | 7:17 a.m. Jan. 10, 2009

"Insurance is too costly for those who are jobless."

Yah think?????????????????????

Comments continue below

Anonymous | 8:20 a.m. Jan. 10, 2009

Don't get COBRA. I am unemployed and I insure my family of six for $200 a month through Assurant. No it doesn't offer and of the preventative care or anything of the sort and it has a $2,500 family deductible but at least I have something in case something really, really bad happens. By using it my coverage doesn't lapse either.

Anonymous | 9:36 a.m. Jan. 10, 2009

awesomeron, it's healthcare insurance, not auto insurance they are talking about.

anonymous, have you checked into the cynergy health coverage? just over $300/mo for your family, better coverage and you can also get prescription coverage at no additional cost. worth checking into. we are going to get that instead of paying over $600/mo thru my husbands employer.

Anonymous | 11:04 a.m. Jan. 10, 2009

Anyone can go to the ER and get care,

it can not be denied by law.

So whether you can afford it or not you can still get it.

Smiths Clinics | 11:35 a.m. Jan. 10, 2009

49 dollars, and no insurance required. Inside some Smiths grocery stores in at least Salt Lake county.

front page editorial | 12:21 p.m. Jan. 10, 2009

the never-ending drumbeat for "universal care" continues on the front page of our newspapers. They should just have a permanent headline advocating "free" healthcare and increased education spending.

Duh! | 1:29 p.m. Jan. 10, 2009

It is called the cost of living. May as well tell us about their inability to get food and housing as well and how the government ought to provide those too. Sheesh! How is this different than any other cost we must bear to live? Socialism, here we come!

Note to writer: | 2:24 p.m. Jan. 10, 2009

Life is hard for the unemployed, of course they can't afford health insurance. In this case the state can help and they can't be denied care at an emergency room.

I'll bet you that most of these people who can't afford health insurance, have big screen tv's, lots of food too eat, probably a car that is better than mine, etc...

Horrible | 3:43 p.m. Jan. 10, 2009

front page editorial is right. This author wants socialized healthcare. It is not the governments job to provide healthcare, wellfare, retirement, education, public transportation and many other wasteful program. Give back the taxes and let capitalism take over. Give the people of this country proper freedoms and they can solve the problems without the government.

awesomeron | 6:03 p.m. Jan. 10, 2009

Okay Embarrassed already. It was almost two in the morning HST.

However that said: It still applies and is still true. The whole Statement is correct and very relevant, just not exactly what we are talking about.

However the Eating of ones self to a state of being in such Physical Health Disrepair that you cannot be hired, is a health issue and if you are unemployable, then the tax payer has to pay for your health issues and the tax payer will see no relief from that.

Certain Tattooing (Although I Love Good Body Art) prevents employment (even in some cases Hawaii)and could be considered a Mental Health Issue. Such as a Tattooed Face. Might be a sign you got hit in the Ring to often. Also just a simple move not to be able to work, because No one will hire me with this Swastika on my shaved head. Real bad Prison Art on lower arms and Neck. Again the Tax Payers must pay for the health care, Prison Health Care and Unemployment, Food Stamps, Section 8, Rehab etc.

I do not like National Health Care because of the potential of Abuse, Long Lines and Poor Service

get a grip | 7:37 p.m. Jan. 10, 2009

This country is already socialist! I have one child but I have to pay higher property taxes for everyone else's 10 kids to go to school. If education was capitalist, then we would privatize education on a "pay as you go" scenario.

The child tax credit is refundable, therefore socialistic by its very nature. Yet Utahns gladly pile on this credit.

This article is merely showing that people that lose their jobs not only suffer from loss of income, they also suffer from increase in expenses. This is a fact. Yet everyone here is so quick to jump down the throats of the jobless. How charitable and Christlike. Just wait until its your turn to suffer some sort of a setback. I truly hope others are less judgmental of you then than you are of others now.

High deductible plans | 10:19 p.m. Jan. 10, 2009

When my family was without employer sponsored health insurance, we picked out a good high deductible plan that costs $160 a month for our family of six.

We basically pay everything out of pocket for health care and are covered in the case of a catastrophic illness or accident. It is much cheaper for us than trying to pay $800 a month or more in COBRA coverage.

Because we pay for everything, we try to make wise choices with our health care. We buy generic drugs, don't get unnecessary tests, and put more emphasis on healthy living. We don't skimp on preventative care but don't go overboard either.

I think if everyone used this kind of system, our health care costs would plummet.

0802 | 12:22 a.m. Jan. 11, 2009

RE: Anonymous | 8:20 a.m. Jan. 10, 2009
RE: Anonymous | 9:36 a.m. Jan. 10, 2009
RE: Smiths Clinics | 11:35 a.m. Jan. 10, 2009
RE: High deductible plans | 10:19 p.m. Jan. 10, 2009

I agree with these posts 100%. This is exactly how we need to address the health care issues facing our country, through the free market and personal responsibility.

Boschetto | 2:51 a.m. Jan. 16, 2009

I came across a business recently while searching for insurance options called the No Insurance Club. It offers a low-cost option for health care coverage for office visits. It doesn't seem to cover major medical but does cover office visits and services generally offered at clinics. I'm convinced that if given an opportunity entrepreneurs will eventually find solutions to most problems. This looks like a good one.

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