Comments on: Oh stimulus, where art thou? http://www.oculon.org/blog/?p=367 value over replacement blog Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:06:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: Ocu-Master http://www.oculon.org/blog/?p=367#comment-76449 Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:53:23 +0000 http://www.oculon.org/blog/?p=367#comment-76449 Yeah, I'd read a lot about how this is a temporary provision targeted at the current economic crisis which cuts a lot of folks out of this, but don't worry, soon mother government will give health care to all of us! :p This is such a complicated domain of public policy that I don't claim to have any answers. I do know that I can't stand the current opposition party falling on the crutch of ideology rather than recognize and deal in good faith with the suffering that's in our healthcare system for those who don't have cushy insurance. Drill-baby-drill I guess, that is, unless you're in the dentist's office. Yeah, I’d read a lot about how this is a temporary provision targeted at the current economic crisis which cuts a lot of folks out of this, but don’t worry, soon mother government will give health care to all of us! :p

This is such a complicated domain of public policy that I don’t claim to have any answers. I do know that I can’t stand the current opposition party falling on the crutch of ideology rather than recognize and deal in good faith with the suffering that’s in our healthcare system for those who don’t have cushy insurance. Drill-baby-drill I guess, that is, unless you’re in the dentist’s office.

]]> by: amy http://www.oculon.org/blog/?p=367#comment-76448 Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:45:48 +0000 http://www.oculon.org/blog/?p=367#comment-76448 Robert, I've been dealing with this for nearly two decades now. I pay divorced-lady COBRA; $450/mo for single health/dental. The thing about the stimulus wuddayacall is that it works only for a very narrow band of COBRA-payers. Only those laid off within certain dates from jobs where the employer covered their insurance. Doesn't help those laid off before, those in my situation, or those who're on a spouse's policy and paying sizeable bucks for that. I've heard no estimate of how many laid-off workers this effort covers, but I bet it's not more than a sizeable minority. Robert, I’ve been dealing with this for nearly two decades now. I pay divorced-lady COBRA; $450/mo for single health/dental.

The thing about the stimulus wuddayacall is that it works only for a very narrow band of COBRA-payers. Only those laid off within certain dates from jobs where the employer covered their insurance. Doesn’t help those laid off before, those in my situation, or those who’re on a spouse’s policy and paying sizeable bucks for that. I’ve heard no estimate of how many laid-off workers this effort covers, but I bet it’s not more than a sizeable minority.

]]> by: Ocu-Master http://www.oculon.org/blog/?p=367#comment-75323 Sat, 14 Feb 2009 00:59:20 +0000 http://www.oculon.org/blog/?p=367#comment-75323 Yeah, health care is totally screwed up right now. I've heard just awful stories from my dad of people navigating the health care system without insurance. It's dreadful what happens to them financially. Tear your ACL? That could easily be a 50k medical bill. No shit. Yeah, health care is totally screwed up right now. I’ve heard just awful stories from my dad of people navigating the health care system without insurance. It’s dreadful what happens to them financially. Tear your ACL? That could easily be a 50k medical bill. No shit.

]]> by: Maggie http://www.oculon.org/blog/?p=367#comment-75319 Fri, 13 Feb 2009 23:37:51 +0000 http://www.oculon.org/blog/?p=367#comment-75319 As someone who has navigated the wily waters of being independently insured, I can tell you that $350 a month sounds like a deal and a half for a great health plan...all of which reaffirms my once and current outlook: health insurance is one giant scam. The whole system is a giant mess and it becomes completely apparent (as you've discovered) when you look at how tough it is to have insurance when you don't have a job that provides it. I hope there's something in the near future that's going to alleviate all of this because, for now, it's looking like we're all on little canoes with a single paddle out in the middle of the ocean, you know? As someone who has navigated the wily waters of being independently insured, I can tell you that $350 a month sounds like a deal and a half for a great health plan…all of which reaffirms my once and current outlook: health insurance is one giant scam. The whole system is a giant mess and it becomes completely apparent (as you’ve discovered) when you look at how tough it is to have insurance when you don’t have a job that provides it. I hope there’s something in the near future that’s going to alleviate all of this because, for now, it’s looking like we’re all on little canoes with a single paddle out in the middle of the ocean, you know?

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