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Originally Posted by KellyJef  My situation is this:
I lost my job in 2001 after 36 years when my company closed its doors with absolutely no warning (I actually worked in Human Resources so I was privy to a lot of confidential information and supposedly we were only going to have a major layoff -- not a closure).
Due to some serious, chronic health problems at the time I lost my job, I was only able to find periodic work as a temp from then on. I have had to pay for private, direct pay for my health insurance for the last 8-9 years. Originally, I was paying about $350 a month and it has gone up every year to the point where it will be $1,138 in 2010.
About a year ago, I found a permanent, part-time job that allows me enough flexibility that I am able to work around my health issues. But because it's part-time, I am not entitled to any benefits. Between my salary and my small pension, I can pay my medical premium -- and I am very grateful that I can. BUT that is only because my DH's social security takes care of the rest of our bills.
I just wish that I had retiree medical benefits from my company (like soooo many people have). I have to admit that I am very jealous of my MIL who worked for the school system: she has the best retiree medical coverage. She pays $5 for prescriptions and then gets $6 reimbursed!! That's just nuts.
DH is disabled and gets medical care from the VA. |
I'm really sorry, KellyJeff. You're the perfect example of why some sort of reform is needed.
And I hear you about the 'that's nuts' w/school systems. Our retirees from that system have benefits like that as well, and they love it... but our district is in really, really dire straits right now, cutting programs for students right and left because the budget has to cover benefits for former employees. That's partly why I don't like the thought of a government takeover. I see what it's doing to other necessary things to provide such hefty benefits for employees who sometimes just put in 20 years and were fully vested.
I was visiting with my mom about this last night, and she mentioned not having any health insurance at all until they were done having kids. She said medical care was so cheap because there really weren't nearly so many things a physician could or would do. Yes, they could deliver your baby... but they didn't do home visits afterward, didn't do all the various tests immediately after birth, etc..
We do have such advanced capabilities... but they come at a very, very high cost.