I don't know any of you guys, as I usually just lurk here and pick up knowledge about fish related things. but, this is a topic that really bothers me. $93 a year, and you can't afford that? $1.79 a week. the goal is to get you to realize that you need health insurance, and under "obamacare", there are subsidies available for anyone who earns up to 400% of the poverty level. nobody wants to pay for health insurance. . . . until they're diagnosed with cancer, or they fall and break their arm and need emergency treatment, perhaps surgery. if you can't afford insurance, can you afford a half million dollars of cancer treatments, or $25,000 hospital bill for treatment of a broken limb when you slip on the ice? need back surgery? figure $100,000+ easy.
if you're single, which I would guess you are, you qualify for a subsidy if you earn less than approx. $45,000 a year. as long as your income is less than that, your premium is capped at 9.5% of your income for a decent health insurance plan. that would work out to approx. $363/month at an income of $45,000, less than $250/month at $30,000.
nobody wants to pay for insurance, but virtually all of us with employer based insurance pay a percentage of the premiums, and I'm sure many pay hundreds of dollars a month.
what happens when you do have an injury or illness? one of three things happens: you don't get treatment -- I don't believe many uninsured are going to choose that option when given a cancer diagnosis, or told they'll never walk again without surgery. second, the government, who is screwing you, pays for your care, or third, the rates for the rest of our plans are raised to cover the unreimbursed costs of the providers, since the hospital will never receive the $250,00 from you. in other words, I'm paying for your care, either thru my taxes or increased premiums for my health insurance. so much for individual choices.
you insure your house, but you hope you never lose your house in a tornado or fire. you insure your car, but you hope you never total it, injure yourself or others, or cause damage to someone else's property -- you need to insure your health, while hoping that you never have to use it.
i'll get off the soapbox, and please understand that I mean no ill will toward you, and hope you remain healthy and strong forever, but health insurance isn't a luxury, and I hope you never find out the hard way.
