Fork over the cash fatties

[nutmeg]

Quote from TGregg:

Curious you forgot the biggest contributor to higher prices of all - insurance. People get to go to the doctor without paying the full price.

I'll add to that. Your job. Call in sick, you need a note from your Dr. Then you need a return visit to Dr for a note saying you are well enough to return to work.

Drug tests for work, another insurance expense.

Regarding kids. You need a physical to enroll in school, another physical to play sports and yet another physical if you send the kid to summer camp.

Kids today, are not as physical active. So you send the kids out to play and he twists his ankle the first five minutes he is outdoors, gotta get it checked out.

 

[CaptainObvious]

I did not include insurance because the cost of insurance is driven by the cost of healthcare, not the other way around. Insurance, costly as it is, and abused as it is, is not the root cause of the problem.

Quote from TGregg:

Curious you forgot the biggest contributor to higher prices of all - insurance. People get to go to the doctor without paying the full price. So what are you going to do when your kid is sick? Treat him at home? Or take him to the doctor for a $5 copay? Then what's the doctor going to do? Kvetch at you for wasting his time with your kid who has the sniffles? Or order some tests just to be sure? And when it really is just a cold, then what? Tell you that you wasted your trip or write up a script for some drugs? Then, are you going to get the drugs? Of course, they are cheap. And the insurance company forks over a stack of Benjies for some kid with a little cold. Demand for health care increases. Naturally the insurance company can see this coming a mile away so they had raised their rates - passing the costs onto everyone.

And it is absolutely hysterical that the libs think the solution to cheaper healthcare is to give *everyone* insurance so we all can ride this pony. LOL. If something doesn't work, just do more of it until it does. If banging your head against the wall doesn't make you feel good, then bang harder!

 

[nutmeg]

Quote from nutmeg:

"Avoid the $600 annual surcharge," CVS warns its employees who use the company's health insurance plan.

Re Obamacare:

Starting next year, the law will block insurers from refusing to sell coverage or setting premiums based on people's health histories, and will reduce their ability to set rates based on age.

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So insurance cos cannot set premiums based on peoples health history, yet CVS is allowed a surcharge? Sounds illegal.

 

[TGregg]

Quote from nutmeg:


So insurance cos cannot set premiums based on peoples health history, yet CVS is allowed a surcharge? Sounds illegal.

I don't think so, at least from what I've read here. The law theoretically says you cannot charge based on age, health, existing conditions, etc. CVS is charging based on habits and activities. Which begs the question, are you a smoker or are you addicted to tobacco? Are you a couch potato or do you have some mental illness that makes you love ice cream and Oprah, and hate sweat? Given our societal direction away from personal responsibility towards a place where nothing is anyone's fault, you may prove to be correct. Eventually, anyway.

 

[Max E.]

Quote from Tsing Tao:

No, because if I got caught cheating, I'd have to explain that I actually knew someone who went to Katy Perry concerts. I'd be the laughing stock in my office.