The real Obamacare plan

[PBzeer]

The individual mandate problem could be solved very easily (but won't be). Rather than penalize not having insurance, you offer an incentive to have it. Make premiums tax deductible.

What I find puzzling in the whole debate (or would, if it was actually about health care reform, rather than pushing a political agenda) is that we know it was government intervention and policy that pushed us into the now unworkable employer based insurance system, and so, the answer, according to the Dems, is more government intervention and policy.

Call me weird, but when I have a problem, part of fixing the problem is eliminating the cause of it. Not increasing the cause of it.

[foxglove]

This a lot of discussion to sort out. Lots of intelligent sailors with opinions about how to cover or not cover those who need health insurance. Perhaps someone has an answer to my problem.

I retired last month at the age of 62. Anthem and several other companies declined to cover me because I take medication for blood pressure and cholesterol. That's right! They turned me down because I take measures to stay healthy.

To boot, I was only seeking a $10,000 deductible catastrophic policy. I had a professional agent who only handles health insurance. He couldn't do anything to help.

My only option is COBRA at $1045 per month for my wife and me.

Perhaps if I were allowed to petition in other states I might find a plan to suite me but if am turned down for medication use in my home state, how likely will the same insurers accept me elsewhere?

If I were allowed, I would buy my way into Medicare. I would pay my fair share. It would certainly be less the $1050 per month which is considerably more than fair.

Suggestions?

[PBzeer]

In general, that's why I feel we need to move to an individual based policy system rather than an employer based one. Then a change in job status, doesn't affect your insurance coverage.

Your problem though, is the here and now of course. (Which isn't addressed in a timely manner for you in any of the current legislation, and you'll be eligible for Medicare by the time it is)

I think, allowing retirees over 60 to buy into Medicare until eligible is not a bad idea, though I don't know how workable it is. Also, if there was a nationwide pool of pre-existing condition (which I assume your meds are for) people (selling across state lines), I would expect some company would fill that need. Though certainly at a higher premium.

Alternately of course, you could've kept working till 65.

[Yamsailor]

Originally Posted by PBzeer

In general, that's why I feel we need to move to an individual based policy system rather than an employer based one. Then a change in job status, doesn't affect your insurance coverage.

Your problem though, is the here and now of course. (Which isn't addressed in a timely manner for you in any of the current legislation, and you'll be eligible for Medicare by the time it is)

I think, allowing retirees over 60 to buy into Medicare until eligible is not a bad idea, though I don't know how workable it is. Also, if there was a nationwide pool of pre-existing condition (which I assume your meds are for) people (selling across state lines), I would expect some company would fill that need. Though certainly at a higher premium.

Alternately of course, you could've kept working till 65.

Are you sure he retired voluntarily?

[danjarch]

Originally Posted by foxglove

This a lot of discussion to sort out. Lots of intelligent sailors with opinions about how to cover or not cover those who need health insurance. Perhaps someone has an answer to my problem.

I retired last month at the age of 62. Anthem and several other companies declined to cover me because I take medication for blood pressure and cholesterol. That's right! They turned me down because I take measures to stay healthy.

To boot, I was only seeking a $10,000 deductible catastrophic policy. I had a professional agent who only handles health insurance. He couldn't do anything to help.

My only option is COBRA at $1045 per month for my wife and me.

Perhaps if I were allowed to petition in other states I might find a plan to suite me but if am turned down for medication use in my home state, how likely will the same insurers accept me elsewhere?

If I were allowed, I would buy my way into Medicare. I would pay my fair share. It would certainly be less the $1050 per month which is considerably more than fair.

Suggestions?

Check your state laws. In most states if you run a small business then you must be provided coverage. You can start a business in less then a week. Don't have to make a profit or give it much time. But check your state laws first.

[erps]

Society imposes both restrictions and requirements on people all the time. The whole issue of being forced to do or participate in something is a red herring. You are "forced" to participate in SS,

It looks like the supreme court was heading towards a decision that would have found social security unconstitutional. According to this article, Roosevelt saw the writing on the wall and loaded the court with justices that to rule in favor is his program.

Is Social Security Constitutional? by John Attarian

But the argument that it "is Illegal" just dosent wash even in the USA since clearly it isnt illegal.

Clearly, if it was so clear, it wouldn't be an issue. Congress has passed unconstitutional laws before, I expect they will pass more in the future.

[foxglove]

Thanks Danjark. I posed your reply to my health insurance specialist. Here is his reply:

Max,

THIS IS POSSIBLE. Here is what needs to be done:

* incorporation or LLC with a federal tax ID number
* there must be at least two employees
* each employee must work 25 hours per week
* each employee must receive at least minimum wage (current Ohio minimum wage: $6.85 per hour)
* you must be able to document hours per week and payroll with a quarterly tax & wage statement that is submitted to ODJFS

Some insurance carriers are more lenient than others and do not require a tax and wage statement; however, they reserve the right to ask for one in the future.

Insurance carriers in Ohio tend to be cautious about two people groups.

I have placed two small groups like this in the last two years. One group was fine, the other was audited for payroll documents after one year and was then terminated when the group (an accountant group) could not produce the appropriate proof for wages being earned.

We can start the process as soon as I have your tax ID number and incorporation status.

End of Reply

To All;
We're out sailing and heading for Florida and Bahamas for the winter. I don't think that I could operate a business on board but in the spring I might try to build a speaking and writing business around my newly published book about how to stop smoking and make it stick.

Also, you are all correct that I jumped the gun with retirement. In 26 months, I'll be on Medicare and I'll only need to insure my wife. I wasn't forced to leave but for the past 42 years I have operated the heart lung machine. It was my job to keep the patient alive while the surgeon had the heart and lungs shut down for repairs. Heart surgery has declined in our hospital from 600 procedures per year to about 150. I was giving my few cases away to the younger perfusionists (that's our title) so they would stay sharp. As a result, I was not staying sharp and decided that I shouldn't put patients at risk just to keep my job so I retired before my time. I plan to work again in the spring but for now we're playing on the waterways.

The great thing about sailing (well one of many) is that we can offset the cost of COBRA or any other expense by spending more nights at anchor instead of marinas, fish, crab, and cook on board instead of seeking restaurants. Now if I could only get my shower to work, I wouldn't smell so bad.

Thanks again to Danjark for a brilliant idea.

[danjarch]

I hope it works out. Will let you keep your wife covered even after your covered by medicare. Similar thing happened to a customer of mine in FL. I think Florida has better laws on this so you might see about incorporating in Fl instead of Ohio. You could use a marina address as your home and use a P.O. box for the business. As an added bonus, no income taxes in Fl. You'd be able to blend in with all the other snow birds down there.

[Yamsailor]

Originally Posted by PBzeer

In general, that's why I feel we need to move to an individual based policy system rather than an employer based one. Then a change in job status, doesn't affect your insurance coverage.

Your problem though, is the here and now of course. (Which isn't addressed in a timely manner for you in any of the current legislation, and you'll be eligible for Medicare by the time it is)

I think, allowing retirees over 60 to buy into Medicare until eligible is not a bad idea, though I don't know how workable it is. Also, if there was a nationwide pool of pre-existing condition (which I assume your meds are for) people (selling across state lines), I would expect some company would fill that need. Though certainly at a higher premium.

Alternately of course, you could've kept working till 65.

I do not see how this solves the problem of an insurance company dropping someone by being proactive and controlling his condition. Portability means nothing of the company drops for the reasons stated above or did I miss something?

[scottyt]

i have a question for all of the pro universal health care people.

my wife is a diabetic as i have discussed here before. well she just spent 4 days in the hospital due to a flare up of DKA. i dont have health ins, nor will i any time soon. total cost for this will be god knows what as the 4 days where in a step down icu. my guess is it will be around 10 k. now the question is how would you feel is i forced you to carry my wifes health ins or the cost of the hospital bill, as that is what universal health care is

its telling all of those who have ins or pay taxes that they have to cover those who dont.

now for the good part she is fine, the flare up was caused by a minor case of food poisoning.

the other good part, the hospital will probably forgive the bill just by asking. the hospital knows they will not get any money because we dont have any, and they will just write it off. they dont turn it over for collection, they just know they wont get it, they doit all the time just by asking.

the reality of the last part, if universal health care becomes a reality do you think they will just forgive and bill that the .gov or an ins policy will pay