McCain's Health Care Plan

#1
W

WA_Vol

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#1
Listening to Clark Howard's Radio Show (he's an independent) he was discussing McCain Health Care Plan.

McCain is calling for eliminating the Tax Credits for Corporations who offer health insurance to their employees. Do doing this allowing the people to choose their own health coverage instead of falling under the umbrella of the company they work for.

I've heard praise for his idea from the few I've heard discuss it:

Why McCain has the best health-care plan - Mar. 11, 2008

Thoughts?
 
#2
#2
McCain's is the best plan because the consumer remains in charge of their medical care.

Look at how laser eye surgery is marketed. It's gotten cheaper even while the technology has increased and the accuracy of the results. A prospective patient knows what the fees will be and are never sold on a false promise, either they're a good candidate for the procedure or they're not.

Granted, lasik is a voluntary procedure, but why can't other more acute services be market based as well?
 
#3
#3
Let me preface with saying something needs to be done. Our healthcare system is terrible.

McCain's plan will increase taxes in the middle class and make a big assumption that individual policies will be affordable and manageable. Right now we have the power of corporate support in battling HMO's. If we get sent out as individuals the HMO's will feast away.

This looks like a big boost to the big business of HMO's, removing a burden on big employers, and squeezing middle/low class Americans for more taxes and health care money.
 
#4
#4
actually, individual policies are affordable, they just won't cover a trip to the emergency room when your kid has a runny nose and croupy cough.
 
#5
#5
MG1968 said:
actually, individual policies are affordable, they just won't cover a trip to the emergency room when your kid has a runny nose and croupy cough.
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Are you sure about this? Call up a Cobra plan and ask them how much a policy is.
 
#7
#7
i know alot of people have healthcare problems...fortunatly working for a Fortune 500 company gives me very good insurance but one thing i do know is that in america we can give the best care to an abused animal and the same day turn a sick person away from care because they can't afford insurance. something's not right
 
#10
#10
OrangeEmpire said:
How about call someone else than Cobra?
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:good!: If people shop around they can choose the provider and policy that suits their needs. In the end by shopping around they would force providers to compete for your business and in theory this competition should make it more affordable.
 
#11
#11
I40VOL said:
Cobra plans are outrageously priced. someone unemployed would spend their whole check on premiums
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I know. If I wanted to continue the insurance I currently have I would need to purchase a Cobra plan. I could find an individual policy company cheaper, but like the say - you get what you pay for. Affordable individual policies provide a fraction of the medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage I enjoy today.
 
#13
#13
KB5252 said:
:good!: If people shop around they can choose the provider and policy that suits their needs. In the end by shopping around they would force providers to compete for your business and in theory this competition should make it more affordable.
Click to expand...

Make one trip to the ER with a low-cost provider and get ready for a decade of headaches that generally ends with you fighting for your credit rating. I like having my employer between me and the insurance provider.
 
#16
#16
UT IE 95 said:
That's a joke right? Why would I want to purchase one of those plans for about 300% more than what I pay today?
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how much of your premium does your employer pay? I'd bet they pay probably 85%. Now imagine that money in YOUR hands, with the insurance companies having an incentive to compete for your money.
 
#17
#17
UT IE 95 said:
Make one trip to the ER with a low-cost provider and get ready for a decade of headaches that generally ends with you fighting for your credit rating. I like having my employer between me and the insurance provider.
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Oh, I have been there and done that with no coverage at all my friend. There are many problems with our health care system. One of the biggest is the price of this care. I had to have around 75 stitches in my arm. When I left the hospital they gave me some sterile bandages. When I got my bill they charged me $120.00 for three bandages! I could have gotten twice that amount for $8.00, they rake you over the coals. But I do understand they do this to offset the cost of those who do not pay.
 
#19
#19
UT IE 95 said:
Make one trip to the ER with a low-cost provider and get ready for a decade of headaches that generally ends with you fighting for your credit rating. I like having my employer between me and the insurance provider.
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That is part of the reason health insurance is so high.
 
#20
#20
UT IE 95 said:
Make one trip to the ER with a low-cost provider and get ready for a decade of headaches that generally ends with you fighting for your credit rating. I like having my employer between me and the insurance provider.
Click to expand...

your employer is going to look at you and laugh when you show up with an unpaid medical bill in your hands. He'll continue to laugh til about the time the collection agency starts calling him wanting to know when you're going to pay them.
 
#21
#21
I have great coverage now so I'm not really in a position to complain. However, I think people are just scared of having to do a little legwork to find the policy that fits them. Right now the employer presents 4 options, you choose 1, get a card in the mail and the money comes out of your check. Not really a difficult thing to handle.

The thing I worry about are the people who wouldn't really understand what they are getting. There would still need to be rules for protection (like were pointed out in the article). Work those out and it should be much easier.
 
#22
#22
MG1968 said:
your employer is going to look at you and laugh when you show up with an unpaid medical bill in your hands. He'll continue to laugh til about the time the collection agency starts calling him wanting to know when you're going to pay them.
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Absolutely not. I had an emergency appendectomy years ago. Because of billing problems (over-billing, wrong dates, etc) I had a balance of about $10K. I tried to resolve the issue with the hospital, but in the end, they turned it over to a collection agency because I was not paying. I took the bill to my HR department, and within a week, I received a letter from the hospital saying all debts were gone and they were sorry for my inconvenience.
 
#24
#24
UT IE 95 said:
Absolutely not. I had an emergency appendectomy years ago. Because of billing problems (over-billing, wrong dates, etc) I had a balance of about $10K. I tried to resolve the issue with the hospital, but in the end, they turned it over to a collection agency because I was not paying.
Click to expand...

in that case, you're within your rights as a consumer to dispute the charges.
 
#25
#25
when i was unemployed a couple of years ago i bought a blue cross healthcare plan for $40 a month that didn't really cover basic doctors visits but after a $2k deductable payed up to $2 mil in hospital and doctors costs. i don't feel sorry for idiots who don't have insurance.
 
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