As a patriotic citizen, I applaud Trump’s move.
As a realist, I wonder what the heck kind of “association” I could join. An association for those not easily fitting into some sort of association?
Does anyone have any guesses what plans from associations may look like? (Premiums, deductibles, etc.?) You could lower premiums and deductibles 50% and my daughter & I would have still almost useless insurance whose premiums I could not afford.
I think we are too late (until Fall 2018) for my daughter and I to go on my wife’s plan where she works. If we could, the premium payments would exceed her salary - and mind you that plan is only a little better “coverage” than an Obummer-care bronze policy. But, we make too much to go on Medicaid.
So... As a realist I know the true problem is health care costs. I also know I’m getting to an age where even tho’ I’ve been an unusually healthy individual all my life, something serious is likely to crop up in the next several years. Despite working hard, making a decent (but certainly not “great”) middle-class income, living frugally, and in general saving, investing, and managing my $$ fairly well, I think... odds are I will be destitute at age 70 — because of our health care system.
This in some ways parallels my Dad and I watching him decline, knowing he was going to die. I have known for some time that the health care system in the US was unsustainable, and the worst for me personally would probably hit when I needed it. But if one thinks about it too much, it’s depressing and saps one’s spirit. So, I mostly try to put it in the back of my mind and hope for the best.
That’s shattered now. It is hard medicine. I know it is for the best, for the most people in the future, and for the country. I also know (to steal a line from Babylon 5) “sometimes the test is not to find the answer. It’s to see how you react when you realize there is no answer.”
I wonder if the Kurds would take a 60-something slightly overweight guy with no military experience...
Yep, that’s the way it is, isn’t it? Nice post.
Paul- my husband was a subcontractor (Insuarance agent no less) and needed coverage. We refused to put him on Obamacare and the rate on my insurance policy was extremely high. He joined Christian Ministries plan. It was not called health insurance, but has thousands of members. He paid $150 a month for their Gold plan I believe it was called. You are also required to make a donation toward others care as well. Not dictated to the donation amount, just whatever you can spare.
He had an incident that was a $14,000 hospital stay with Doctors for 2 days. According to their plan, $500.00 deductible, that entire bill was paid in 120 days just as the plan stated. Here is the catch, you must negotiate the bills with the hospital and doctors yourself. It was a very empowering experience! We no longer need the coverage, but for 1 1/2 years that was a God send.
There are other groups like that. Check Credit unions for instance.
Use the Internet to seek out information.
Hope this helps.
Here is an example, aka "Association of Home Building Contractors".
Fictitious, but appropriate!
I’m in the same boat as you. Have been waiting 40 years to be able to buy insurance that allows me to quit a soul crushing job. I’m hoping for all kinds of associations; for example, “association of people that live on Virginia’s eastern shore.” Why not?
“Despite working hard, making a decent (but certainly not “great”) middle-class income, living frugally, and in general saving, investing, and managing my $$ fairly well, I think... odds are I will be destitute at age 70 — because of our health care system.”
At 70? At 65, you can get Medicare. The costs are very low to the consumer, compared to the real costs of the healthcare.