Thanks to all who paid for my healthcare-not being sarcastic

whygohome

For four years while I was in graduate school and then teaching part time, I wasn't able to afford health insurance. It wasn't offered to me--even when teaching at a university--and while still a student, I simply couldn't afford it, even though I was working at a restaurant and at a hardware store. The best quote I was offered was $200 a month.
When something serious came up, I would go to a free clinic. So, I just wanted to extend my thanks to some of you who may have given me the opportunity to still go see a doctor when I was concerned about something, and for the opportunity to go to the emergency room should a reason rear its ugly head.

So, I am interested in what you all think about my past situation. Should I be required to enter the free market via an insurance exchange? Should my employers have provided insurance? Was I mooching off the system?

know1

I don't think employers should provide health insurance. If you want real healthcare reform, pass a law banning them from doing so.

whygohome

know1 wrote:

I don't think employers should provide health insurance. If you want real healthcare reform, pass a law banning them from doing so.

Say more. What's the alternative? Wouldn't the individual mandate provide relief for employers?

Godfather.

whygohome wrote:

For four years while I was in graduate school and then teaching part time, I wasn't able to afford health insurance. It wasn't offered to me--even when teaching at a university--and while still a student, I simply couldn't afford it, even though I was working at a restaurant and at a hardware store. The best quote I was offered was $200 a month.
When something serious came up, I would go to a free clinic. So, I just wanted to extend my thanks to some of you who may have given me the opportunity to still go see a doctor when I was concerned about something, and for the opportunity to go to the emergency room should a reason rear its ugly head.

So, I am interested in what you all think about my past situation. Should I be required to enter the free market via an insurance exchange? Should my employers have provided insurance? Was I mooching off the system?

were you raised in the states ? did your parents work and pay into the system ? if yes than no problem you're welcome.
I always support and encourage students.


Godfather.

know1

whygohome wrote:

know1 wrote:

I don't think employers should provide health insurance. If you want real healthcare reform, pass a law banning them from doing so.

Say more. What's the alternative? Wouldn't the individual mandate provide relief for employers?

Take the extra money you will have from you employer not having to pay such high premiums and take care of your own healthcare whichever way you deem best. As consumers and people, we have allowed too much of the decisions on our own care to be taken away from us....all in the name of convenience.

I would be rich today if I could have just had the money my employers have spent on premiums for me over the years and I managed my own healthcare myself.

lukin2006

Here in Canada we all have health insurance provided through taxes by the government...works pretty good...you do wait a while for elective surgery, but anything heinous is dealt with in a timely manner.

You did nothing wrong in my opinion...the last thing people should have to do is worry about payment when sick.

whygohome

Godfather. wrote:

whygohome wrote:

For four years while I was in graduate school and then teaching part time, I wasn't able to afford health insurance. It wasn't offered to me--even when teaching at a university--and while still a student, I simply couldn't afford it, even though I was working at a restaurant and at a hardware store. The best quote I was offered was $200 a month.
When something serious came up, I would go to a free clinic. So, I just wanted to extend my thanks to some of you who may have given me the opportunity to still go see a doctor when I was concerned about something, and for the opportunity to go to the emergency room should a reason rear its ugly head.

So, I am interested in what you all think about my past situation. Should I be required to enter the free market via an insurance exchange? Should my employers have provided insurance? Was I mooching off the system?

were you raised in the states ? did your parents work and pay into the system ? if yes than no problem you're welcome.
I always support and encourage students.


Godfather.

No. I was raised on Long Island... . And yes, my parents worked and payed into the system
As Bartles & Jaymes said, I thank you for your support.

maj4e

For a decade I had insurance and never used it except for a doc in the box shot here and there. Once you actually USE insurance you see how ridiculous it has become. Either put caps on cost or give free healthcare. Here's a case in point.

2006 my wife and I had a baby girl. Emergency C section, extra day in the hospital. 40 thousand dollars.
2009 we have a baby boy 35 thousand dollars
2011 after never being in a hospital in our lives my wife and i both have illnesses

her- appendix ruptured 40 thousand dollars
me- pneumonia and pleurisy 30 thousand dollars

Let's total it up

145 thousand dollars.

We pay 225/mo for family coverage that's 50 plus years of premiums. That means that every dental visit, every snotty nose, someone else is paying for it.
The system is horribly broken.

_

My pleasure.

To answer your question, I think we should have a single-payer system.

mikepegg44

whygohome wrote:

For four years while I was in graduate school and then teaching part time, I wasn't able to afford health insurance. It wasn't offered to me--even when teaching at a university--and while still a student, I simply couldn't afford it, even though I was working at a restaurant and at a hardware store. The best quote I was offered was $200 a month.
When something serious came up, I would go to a free clinic. So, I just wanted to extend my thanks to some of you who may have given me the opportunity to still go see a doctor when I was concerned about something, and for the opportunity to go to the emergency room should a reason rear its ugly head.

So, I am interested in what you all think about my past situation. Should I be required to enter the free market via an insurance exchange? Should my employers have provided insurance? Was I mooching off the system?

mooching ... no...utilizing what is out there is what you did...nothing wrong with that...I would encourage more states to start offering medical services in the form of low-cost sliding fee scale clinics.
no you should not be forced into an insurance exchange. that isn't and won't be a free market...
Employers can provide insurance, but don't have to...it should be their choice.
Single payer system is probably the best system overall costs wise, but has inherent problems as well. It is the largest benefit...but now that the cat is out of the bag here in the states it will be next to impossible to herd that thing back in...

whygohome

A single-payer FAQ from PNHP (Physicians for National Healthcare)

http://www.pnhp.org/facts/single-payer-faq#socialized

Blockhead

whygohome wrote:

For four years while I was in graduate school and then teaching part time, I wasn't able to afford health insurance. It wasn't offered to me--even when teaching at a university--and while still a student, I simply couldn't afford it, even though I was working at a restaurant and at a hardware store. The best quote I was offered was $200 a month.
When something serious came up, I would go to a free clinic. So, I just wanted to extend my thanks to some of you who may have given me the opportunity to still go see a doctor when I was concerned about something, and for the opportunity to go to the emergency room should a reason rear its ugly head.

So, I am interested in what you all think about my past situation. Should I be required to enter the free market via an insurance exchange? Should my employers have provided insurance? Was I mooching off the system?

Why were you not covered by your parents insurance when you were a student?

whygohome

Blockhead wrote:

whygohome wrote:

For four years while I was in graduate school and then teaching part time, I wasn't able to afford health insurance. It wasn't offered to me--even when teaching at a university--and while still a student, I simply couldn't afford it, even though I was working at a restaurant and at a hardware store. The best quote I was offered was $200 a month.
When something serious came up, I would go to a free clinic. So, I just wanted to extend my thanks to some of you who may have given me the opportunity to still go see a doctor when I was concerned about something, and for the opportunity to go to the emergency room should a reason rear its ugly head.

So, I am interested in what you all think about my past situation. Should I be required to enter the free market via an insurance exchange? Should my employers have provided insurance? Was I mooching off the system?

Why were you not covered by your parents insurance when you were a student?

It was graduate school, not undergraduate--I was in my mid-twenties.

Blockhead

whygohome wrote:

Blockhead wrote:

whygohome wrote:

For four years while I was in graduate school and then teaching part time, I wasn't able to afford health insurance. It wasn't offered to me--even when teaching at a university--and while still a student, I simply couldn't afford it, even though I was working at a restaurant and at a hardware store. The best quote I was offered was $200 a month.
When something serious came up, I would go to a free clinic. So, I just wanted to extend my thanks to some of you who may have given me the opportunity to still go see a doctor when I was concerned about something, and for the opportunity to go to the emergency room should a reason rear its ugly head.

So, I am interested in what you all think about my past situation. Should I be required to enter the free market via an insurance exchange? Should my employers have provided insurance? Was I mooching off the system?

Why were you not covered by your parents insurance when you were a student?

It was graduate school, not undergraduate--I was in my mid-twenties.

You were in graduate school for 4 years??? how? I am assuiming this was to get your Master for Education, as you wanted to be a teacher? What were your other expensese during graduate school. $200 a month sounds like a great quote, considering you had two jobs.

whygohome

I'm currently still in school getting my PhD. 2 years in school for my MA, where I bartended at a Country Club for $8 an hour and no tips and also worked at a hardware store for $7.50 an hour--not at the same time though. I later waited tables also. I never made more than $1,000-$1,100 a month. With all the work that goes into graduate studies--despite the stereotypes--the time I was able to devote to part-time jobs is a bit limited.

The other 2 years after receiving my MA, I taught at a university--4 classes per semester-- and in the second year also at a community college, which added two more classes per semester. My yearly salary came out to a whopping $16,000. Ask anyone who has held an adjunct instructor position--it does not pay well.

Other expenses included:
rent, utilities, gas, car insurance, car maintenance, food, books and university fees (though financial aid covered this), credit card debt.
Whether or not $200 a month is a good quote, I simply could not fit it into my budget.
Was not paying the $200 a month my choice? Yes. But, that was not the purpose of this thread

_

whygohome wrote:

A single-payer FAQ from PNHP (Physicians for National Healthcare)

http://www.pnhp.org/facts/single-payer-faq#socialized

:thumbup:

Blockhead

whygohome wrote:

I'm currently still in school getting my PhD. 2 years in school for my MA, where I bartended at a Country Club for $8 an hour and no tips and also worked at a hardware store for $7.50 an hour--not at the same time though. I later waited tables also. I never made more than $1,000-$1,100 a month. With all the work that goes into graduate studies--despite the stereotypes--the time I was able to devote to part-time jobs is a bit limited.

The other 2 years after receiving my MA, I taught at a university--4 classes per semester-- and in the second year also at a community college, which added two more classes per semester. My yearly salary came out to a whopping $16,000. Ask anyone who has held an adjunct instructor position--it does not pay well.

Other expenses included:
rent, utilities, gas, car insurance, car maintenance, food, books and university fees (though financial aid covered this), credit card debt.
Whether or not $200 a month is a good quote, I simply could not fit it into my budget.
Was not paying the $200 a month my choice? Yes. But, that was not the purpose of this thread

So you had no issues pursuing your dreams of getting a Masters/now PHD to better YOUR future while putting your health care cost on other people?

whygohome

Post deleted by Admin. Personal attacks/name calling are not ok. See the Posting Guidelines

_

Blockhead wrote:

whygohome wrote:

I'm currently still in school getting my PhD. 2 years in school for my MA, where I bartended at a Country Club for $8 an hour and no tips and also worked at a hardware store for $7.50 an hour--not at the same time though. I later waited tables also. I never made more than $1,000-$1,100 a month. With all the work that goes into graduate studies--despite the stereotypes--the time I was able to devote to part-time jobs is a bit limited.

The other 2 years after receiving my MA, I taught at a university--4 classes per semester-- and in the second year also at a community college, which added two more classes per semester. My yearly salary came out to a whopping $16,000. Ask anyone who has held an adjunct instructor position--it does not pay well.

Other expenses included:
rent, utilities, gas, car insurance, car maintenance, food, books and university fees (though financial aid covered this), credit card debt.
Whether or not $200 a month is a good quote, I simply could not fit it into my budget.
Was not paying the $200 a month my choice? Yes. But, that was not the purpose of this thread

So you had no issues pursuing your dreams of getting a Masters/now PHD to better YOUR future while putting your health care cost on other people?

Her good education creates a better future for all of us, and it's well worth society's investment in her healthcare. She paid and will pay for her own healthcare through taxes anyway, so I wouldn't even say she put her healthcare costs on other people.

whygohome

And so everyone in this thread is aware--since I am now being attacked--I only went to the "free" clinic 3 times in 4 years. I try to take good care of myself, but some things are out of my hands.

_

whygohome wrote:

And so everyone in this thread is aware--since I am now being attacked--I only went to the "free" clinic 3 times in 4 years. I try to take good care of myself, but some things are out of my hands.

Sometimes I hope some of these people never have to face that reality. But sometimes I hope they do...