When my wife gave birth to our daughter, the daughter stayed in NICU for 2 weeks. (She wasn't sure she wanted to stay on this planet!) Anyhoo...the medical bills for my wife's C-section and stay, and the NICU bill came out to around $100,000.
No insurance? We would have been bankrupt for sure. And the other thing is this: the same procedure costs more if you have no insurance. A hospital official told me that the uninsured bill would have been closer to $150,000.
Think I'll take the insurance.
Health Insurance
Discussion in 'Polls Forum' started by FriendofSpurgeon, Jun 11, 2008.
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No, I do not have any coverage currently.
7 vote(s)12.1% -
Yes, I am covered via my employer.
23 vote(s)39.7% -
Yes, I am covered by via spouse's employer.
12 vote(s)20.7% -
Yes, I am covered under an individua policy.
5 vote(s)8.6% -
Yes, I am covered by Medicare or federal government program.
3 vote(s)5.2% -
Yes, I am covered by Medicaid or another state program.
2 vote(s)3.4% -
Yes, I am covered under COBRA.
2 vote(s)3.4% -
Yes, I am covered under another program.
4 vote(s)6.9%
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love,
Sopranette -
FriendofSpurgeon Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
The costs for premature infants often exceed $500,000 or more. Actually, $100,000 is rather low.
Yes, insurance companies receive significant discounts off the "billed charges" -- based on their contracts with various medical providers - usually much more than 20%. -
I praise God that I can have a job that has health insurance.
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We have United Health Care through my wifes job. We pay 20% and a $20 copay for doctors visits and $50 for emergency. My daughter had rods put in her back two years ago and it seems like we're still getting bills for our 20%. We don't remember seeing half the doctors that are billing us. -
FriendofSpurgeon Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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FriendofSpurgeon Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
One of the reasons why private healthcare is so expensive is due to Medicare & Medicaid. (Don't forget that over 40% of healthcare in the US is already government funded.)
By law, both Medicare & Medicaid pay only a small percentage of the billed charges. Typically, their payments do not come close to the actual costs of the medical provider. As a result, hospitals, physicians, etc. increase their costs to the general public (you and me). -
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We have a personal policy for our family that i think we pay way too much for...but it is better than the last policy we had which had rates going up each year with declining coverage.
Anyone using SBC annuity board/guidestone insurance? I tried to get on their policy back in seminary and was turned down without a question due to having HBP issues in the past. Not sure if they are still that way or not. -
FriendofSpurgeon Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
How can you be a Baptist preacher and NOT have high blood pressure???
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Problems:
- Ridiculously expensive. when I switched to Blue Cross (individual policy, mind you), my premiums went down by half. 5 1/2 years later...I'm only now coming close to what I paid then.
- Stupid policies: For instance: well-child checkups were not covered for a while; and they did not cover immunizations at all...so, if my son got polio, they'd pay to treat him...but they wouldn't pay to immunize him.
- Numerous paperwork errors.
- BCBS has been more customer-service friendly (!) to me than the Annuity Board.
Caveat: I do use the Annuity Board's retirement plan, and that has been fine. Their health insurance was another story. -
Bump. Good thread...
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When I hear the president saying he wants to provide affordable health ins. to everyone, I think yea, that's great, but what about all the enormous costs that ins. won't cover? -
Got none here in EnZed but have some coverage in Oz:type:
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I am currently on COBRA coverage. I am the only one with health insurance in my household (wife, mother-in-law). The only reason I have it is because I needed surgery and had to have insurance for it. The only reason I can keep it is because my folks (both retired) are paying for it. :(
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For sure, Lebuick.
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Just received information from Medi-Share and Christian Healthcare Ministries. Anyone have either, and what are the pros and cons? Is it even worth considering?
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Health "insurance" is the reason that medical costs are high. It is NOT INSURANCE. It does not conform to traditional insurance principles. It is a pre paid medical billing service!!!!!!!!!!
Before WW2 no one had medical plans yet people had access to doctors. Medical "insurance" began as group company benefits to get around a wage and price freeze. They met insurance principles because:
1. company employees were statistically healthier than the general population
2. only emergancies, over night hospital stays, and the "seven dread diseases" were covered
3. pre-existing conditions including pregnancy were not covered.
If medical insurance is such a wonderful thing . . . no point to being healthy if one has no food. How about a pre-paid food payment plan? Take prescription from doctor, go to grocery store . . . .
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