Health Insurance, what do you pay?

[A Johnson]

I just picked up my paycheck today and my portion of the health insurance premium is $312 dollars a month. This also covers my wife and child. Total premium cost is @ $725. 00



I realize alot of people don't have insurance and in that respect I'm lucky I can afford it (barely).



I think at somepoint it is going to get so rediculous that the whole industry will go bust, and then it will be another tax like SS and medicare. I'm worried about this also as when the goverment gets ahold of anything, it usually really gets screwed up.



Any comments, what do you pay for your portion of a family premium?



A Johnson

 

[Motorhead]

I thank GOD that the Teamsters keep our health plan 100% paid at UPS. I have some friends that as soon as they turned 55yrs old, their health insuranse went up to $800. 00 a month!

 

[Ram4Sam]

I have a great employer!

I am fortunate to have a employer that provides my health insurance at no cost to me. It has great coverage and covers my wife and the kid. Part of the reason I went to work for them way back when was that they covered my wife, who has diabetes. You should see what the premiums for a diabetic are!



Sam

 

[illflem]

Working for the state of Montana I pay $3/mo for full medical, dental, vision, disability and $100k life for myself, each dependent is $36/mo each more for the same coverage. If I had to pay the going rate I probably wouldn't have insurance, at least not this good. The union claims that the same coverage for a single person would run $680/mo. on the outside market.

 

[WDaniels]

Wife works for Fred Meyers and she pays 22. 00 per month for dental, vision and medical to 95% which beats my civil service 120. 00 every 2 weeks with no dental, vision and only 80%.

WD

 

[Diesel Freak]

Single guy here with no dependants. I pay just over $45/ month for medical and dental. $10 co-pay for normal visits, and $25 for ER visits

 

[Dale Reed]

I am 67 and the Mrs. is 75 and neither of us have been to a doctor in decades. We do not have any sickness insurance, do not want any, and don't want to pay for anyone else's either.



Insurance is a kind of communism in that the insurance is paid to each according to his need.



Before voluntarily buying insurance a fast-talking salesman must convince you that you are unluckier, less careful, genetically deprived, not eating right... a loser is one way of saying it.



And we all know that folks that drive Turbo Diesels are not losers so how about all of you canceling those insurance policies and paying your own sickness bills?

 

[EMD Diesel Power]

I had decent coverage when I was with WI Central RR..... had a good benefit package and with upgrades (about $15 deduction per salary period--2 weeks). When I left there I was covered under the parents policy because I was a student at the UW.

Now Im back out in the workforce (academic suspension... hearing disablilty related) and working for a :--) Ford/GMC dealer..... can't afford the deductions for the insurance without losing the roof over my head..... so screw it... go without it.



Day is coming when medical field will get a taste of its own medicine... . just hope it doesnt kill off half the population because they couldnt afford decent health care... .







BTW... . working at the dealer has reinforced my stand on Cummins..... Once a Cummins man... . always a Cummins man. Oo. Oo. Oo.

 

[A Johnson]

Dale, I agree we all should pay our own sickness bills and we probably could if we weren't forced to pay for the insurance. Where I work you pay the premium whether you are union(mechanic) or non union(management) even though they are two different plans in some way shape or form the cost of them employing you goes to health insurance or the non union guys can get a portion of that cost into a 401k if they opt out. Either way there is no way to get that money into a medical savings plan. You can start a medical savings plan but this money comes out of your pay and if you don't use it in the current year you lose the money. (Thats the way I understood it to be. )

You are fortunate that you have good health and I hope it continues.



I was 24 years old, married 1 year, infant son and was told I had cancer. What caused the cancer? I was told most likely the chemicals I work with. Toluene, brake clean, used motor oil etc,. You try to protect yourself but there is no way around coming in contact with the stuff. I then spent 30,000 dollars for the surgery alone, not to mention the other related costs. Without health insurance I would have been sunk, and still paying off the local hospital/ doctors 21% interest on unpaid bills 11 years later. Granted, I know I have paid several times this in premiums, but with the pay a diesel mechanic makes there is no way to get far enough ahead to make my own savings plan and tell the insurance to go suck eggs.



Believe me I feel like quitting but I don't think it is right to make someone else pay my bills, as I see happens with some of the illegal aliens around here.



There has to be a better way, I just don't know what it is.



A Johnson

 

[Steve M]

We are self insured through our union. Our benifits are about $6. 00 an hour. I don't mind this method as there are no insurance companies involved. No profits to be gained. Just a pot to rely on and paid into based on yearly forecasts calculated on previous years medical costs. I would like to see the co-pay go up to prevent people from hauling their kids to the emergency room every time they sneeze. But not so high as to discourage someone seeking medical attention when they really need it. You never know when your heart might give out and need some work done on it. Far more than any working stiff can afford without some collective effort.

Dale, my wife is seven years older than me. I used to think it was highly unusual but I've found it to be not too uncommon. If women live seven years longer than men statistically, then we should cash in around the same time.

 

[wcaldwell]

Being retired Air Force, we have Tri-Care Prime. Costs $460 a year for the whole family regardless of size. Wife and I are covered until death. Each child is covered until they:



(a) get married (their coverage stops)

(b) turn 21 when their coverage stops if they are not enrolled

full time in college.

(c) turn 24 then all coverage stops.



This covers physical and mental health and prescriptions. Anything sent downtown, such as prostate exam and biopsy last year had a small co-pay. Eye and dental exams/work are "downtown" and paid under separate insurance premiums.



Even though we were supposedly promised "free" medical care for the rest of our lives, it never happened. $460 a year isn't bad - especially when I read what a lot of you guys are paying. I don't see how you survive - $400 - 800 a month medical, $500+ a month truck payment, $500+ a month car payment, $900+ house payments, groceries, utilities, clothing, school supplies, etc, etc, etc.

 

[Bigsaint]

For the last 16 years I paid $ 0. 00. We just settled our last contract and the arbitraitor awarded the town a new clause that states we now have to contribute 5 % of whatever it costs the town for our coverage. 5% = around $600. 00 per year for me. From what I understand, this is the way of the future. Health insurance is at a premium. Needless to say I'm not too happy. Could be alot worse, as I'm sure it will be in the upcoming years when they increase the % employees pay.



Scott W.

 

[Will24]

The wonderful Chevy dealer I work for pays for 100% of mine since I am single





-Will