[rshoffer]

How many of you out there are a) under 65 and don't qualify yet for Medicare and b) are not on a retirement benefit health plan and c) had to purchase health insurance when you moved here? BTW, the question describes me and my wife. We both decided to keep working part-time in our careers and, as long as one of us works 30+ hrs a week we get health care benefits. Now we're talking of "phasing into retirement" which means less than 30 hrs and no more health benefits. What options exist to purchase health insurance coverage?

[molddude]

This has been one of our biggest concerns. We would need coverage for the next 10 years and more. My wife is Type 1 diabetic and will not be quoted. We have been looking into this: http://www.guaranteed-health-insurance.com/index.htm

Not the best, but at least something. The owner of this firm is named Unger and seems to be a straight shooter.
You can "stack" a few plans for decent coverage.
WE are also waiting for the new: "cover Florida" plans. New laws, passed this year, and 9 firms have submitted quotes.

http://www.bradenton.com/business/story/818370.html

I will be listnening too


Marty

[molddude]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/co...xsvc=7&cxcat=6

Just looked at my email and found this one

Marty

[ConeyIsBabe]

If you have any preexisting health issues - finding and being accepted for private health insurance is a nightmare ordeal, not to mention very expensive :yikes:

[gonzy]

We did the cobra from my wifes teaching job for about a year but it was an hmo and very expensive upwards of $1600/ mo. We recently switched to United American Ins Co. for about $550/mo but nowhere near as comprehensive coverage. We tried many other companies but were rejected due to pre existing conditions. Took us at least 3 months to find someone who would take us. Every company makes you pay the first months premium when you apply then when they reject you it takes 3 months to get your money back go figure. Not a fun experience.

[rshoffer]

Yea... and who in the world in their late 50's doesn't have a pre-existing condition? Our countru HAS to fix this problem!!!

[Shirleevee]

I will not move here permanently because I have BC/BS NY which I pay a forture for. I have a pre-existing condition and my monthly medications would cost me more than the $800. plus I pay for healthcare. I have checked and cannot find anything cheaper here.
Thank God my husband has SSD. All options are costly. Do I think that the new regime will help...........nooooooooooo.....

Shirleevee

[tkret]

Children in some sections of our country go to bed hungry EVERY night, seniors wonder how to pay for needed medications, parents spend life savings to send their kids to college. Homes are destroyed by natural events and residents wonder if the government cares.
Never could understand why so many of our citizens take a back seat.

Ah, but someone is a foreign country gets an ingrown toenail and our politicians send billions just as fast as they can.

"The Mouse That Roared"

[Shirleevee]

So sad.....it makes me angry.

[rshoffer]

Folks,(and I'm as guilty as the rest of us), we need to make more political noise about this mess. There is going to be an ever increasing number of American citizens due to the boomer wave who have worked their tails off for the past 35 to 40 years, who are not yet 65, who "retired" and now have no health insurance. They've done everything right in life but now are prisoners of our health insurance mess. Sadly, we've allowed this issue to disappear from this elections headlines. It amazes me how 4 years ago this was a hot button issue. All it took was for gas to hit 4 dollars a gallon and healthcare was no longer a hot topic. The inequities are so unfair. If you were a gov't worker your set for life. Why is that? I was/am a very successful professional and worked 50+ hrs a week and paid a fortune in taxes for decades but now I have to grovel and beg for health insurance coverage. How in the hell did this happen and why isn't everyone 50 years old and older really po'd about it?

[Becky]

I am so glad to see this topic. Only reason I am not fulltime in TV is health insurance. Tried every way to get private insurance but because of pre-existing it's a no go. Hopefully this issue will be raised more and something done about it.

Molddude thanks for the links! Well research them more!

Becky

[rshoffer]

A pathetic twist in our society is that the "elite" have been re-identified not by degrees, education, business accomplishments... but rather by the good fortune to have landed a government job that came with a golden parachute of endless health coverage after retirement. These are the new elite in our culture.

[rjrex]

Originally Posted by rshoffer

A pathetic twist in our society is that the "elite" have been re-identified not by degrees, education, business accomplishments... but rather by the good fortune to have landed a government job that came with a golden parachute of endless health coverage after retirement. These are the new elite in our culture.

I doubt that 20 years in the military would make anyone part of the "new elite". You are so unhappy.

[ConeyIsBabe]

And then there are the illegal aliens who are DEMANDING hospital care for free :dontknow:

[rshoffer]

Originally Posted by rjrex

I doubt that 20 years in the military would make anyone part of the "new elite". You are so unhappy.

I spent 9 years in the US Army and I am NOT referring to servicemembers who earned all of their benefits and deserve them all. However, you are correct that there are a LOT of VERY unhappy people who also have worked very hard, perhaps harder than the town clerk who put in 25 years in Podunk USA and now has taxpayer funded healthcare till age 65... Yep, were not only unhappy... were furious,