Hey Bill, Hope you and the family are doing well!
I looked at the congressional testimony, and I have to tell you I was about to be impressed...........until I did as you said and dug a little deeper. There was only one person that testified in that paper by the Hudson Institute. I wondered about the Hudson Institute as well because I had never heard of them, while I was very familiar with The American Journal of Medicine. Turns out that the Hudson Institute is an ultra conservative think tank and the lady speaking has a long association with ultra conservative groups, and the conservative Bush Administration.
The study by the AJM also passes the smell test better as I know in my own case that our health insurance, being self-employed, is almost unaffordable, so I can see where many that are not as well off as we are, would not be able to afford health insurance. Then, if they have some major medical problem they are screwed financially.
So, thanks, but I will have to go with the study by the American Journal of Medicine over the this lady at the Hudson Institute.
Take care my friend!
We are doing well, thanks....
and you and yours?
You claim to be a liberal, let me guide you away from the left leaning dark side of politics, in the direction of the right leaning of the dark side, but not all the way, you need to stop in the middle, where we modern moderates live. We know that the truth does not exist without bias from either end of the bell cruve of politics, but in the middle.
Read both, listen to detractors, then use your intellect. I know you have some.....maybe not a lot to spare, but at least enough to see through a liberal who is pushing for Obamacare, and a conservative who is saying HELL NO WE DON'T WANT IT.
Each party has all the facts, but interpret them in their own ways. Who woulda thunk it? Self interest clouds our collective vision concerning what might be a good thing for us all, in the long run.
As for the cost of your insurance, I suggest shopping around...I had a short period of time where I was without employer provided insurance and age 60, when my Navy Reserve retirement and benefits kicked in. With a short history of colon cancer in the family, my father, and 3 of his kids having had precancerous polyps removed, I got a major medical policy for pretty cheap. It was just for me, of course, as my wife had her coverage where she worked. Adding me to her plan would have been very expensive, so I went to BCBS. My policy covered annual physical exam plus related lab work completely, no copay or deductible....but any actuall illness would have cost me $5K before they started paying.
I know people who willingly pay $1K per month for a policy with no copay, no deductible....even after being shown the expense is not needed. My son, works same school district my wife retired from, has his wife and 3 kids on a major medical policy for about $450 per month, $1500 deductible and no copay, then all is paid at 100%, and the oldest child is costing the insurance company plenty. She is the one with the brain tumors, the original or first one is inoperable, the new one was major surgery. Quarterly MRI exams are needed, and are expensive.
And remember, a salesman doesn't make much money selling you what you want or need, unless he has it.
So, most of the time, expect the salesman to steer you to what he has in stock, not what is best for you.