Posted on 06/08/2005 10:58:34 AM PDT by QQQQQ
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Health insurance premiums will cost families and employers an extra $922 on average this year to cover the costs of caring for the uninsured, according to a report released on Wednesday. With the added cost, the yearly premiums for a family with coverage through an employer will average $10,979 in 2005, said the report from consumer group Families USA.
By 2010, the additional costs for the uninsured will be $1,502, and total premiums will hit $17,273. In 11 states, the costs of the uninsured will exceed $2,000 per family.
For individuals, the extra charge this year is estimated to be $341 on average, rising to $532 in 2010. Total premium charges for individuals will be $4,065 in 2005, and $6,115 in 2010.
"The stakes are high both for businesses and for workers who do have health insurance because they bear the brunt of costs for the uninsured," said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA.
Nearly 48 million Americans will lack health insurance for 2005, the report said.
Uninsured patients pay about one-third of the costs of their care provided by doctors and hospitals, the report said.
The remaining costs -- more $43 billion in 2005 -- are considered "uncompensated care." The government picks up part of the tab and most of the rest is added to insurance premiums for people with health coverage, the report said.
"Ironically, this increases the cost of health insurance and results in fewer people who can afford insurance - a vicious circle," the report said.
The costs for people with insurance vary by state based on a number of variables, including the percentage of uninsured in a state and the amount local, state and federal governments contribute.
The report was based on data from the Census Bureau, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the National Center for Health Statistics and other sources.
Sure people didn't have health insurance back in the 1400's.. but if you were saved.. you were saved.. it didn't matter if you died when you are 40.
Our obsession with living forever is costing alot.. not just in having to work for it.. lost time with family.. degenerating family values.
Of course it's not just healthcare.
To heck with technology!
As much as I don't like to say this, I think the government will need to require people to carry insurance. Obviously the costs of insurance today are way too high for many people to pay, so a "Pay What You Can" system may help to offset rising insurance costs. Here's how:
This will basically create a two tiered health system, one public and one private. The option will be available as to which one you want to participate in.
If you chose private, you are under no obligation to pay taxes into the public system, but each year when you submit your taxes you must also submit that years "Health Insurance Statement" to prove that you are covered.
The public system would be a system in which you pay what you can based upon income that you earn, something like the tax system now. Employers would actually be required to pay the insurance for each of their employees, but they (the employer) would be permitted to withhold that payment from their employees' paycheck in order to recoup that payment (sort of like withholding SS, or FICA). At the end of the year the employee would receive a statement like a 1099, or a W2 that would act as their "Health Insurance Statement" to be submitted with their year end taxes.
I think that this would no doubt create a two tiered system. Those opposed to this idea would call it "second class health care" and "unfair treatment" for those who couldn't afford the private rates, but as it stands right now there is no treatment at all for such people. Which is worse?
To address the illegal immigrant population and its drain on social services like health care, maybe we could tie it into the real estate market. In order to rent an apartment, or buy a house, you must show your "Health Insurance Statement" before being allowed to sign a lease or contract. Should a landlord or lending institution be found violating this rule, then fines are imposed. Those fines would of course be rolled into the public health system. Illegal immigrants would be allowed to pay into the system and receive benefits from the system, so long as they could prove their income. How to prove their income? Require the renters' agreement to see how much rent they pay, cell phone bills, phone bills, cable TV bill and utility bills, and make a reasonable assessment as to how much they are making. If they (the illegal immigrant) are unhappy with the assessment, they could always prove how much they are making by submitting cash declarations and paychecks. Of course if their numbers didn't add up, they wouldn't be able to pay their bills and you would know they were lying.
As I said I'm no genius and I am also NO expert on health care, but I thought I would throw this out there for discussion.
Mine does not and very few others around these parts supply anything but coverage for the individual employee; if that.
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