"Wes" wrote in message
...
"Ed Huntress" wrote:

"A worker who owned and controlled his own plan would not be at the mercy
of
business managers and union leaders who agree to cut health benefits as
part
of a corporate rescue. And a worker who was unfortunate enough to be laid
off wouldn't have to worry about his family losing their health coverage
along with his job."

Uh...any idea how this witchcraft is supposed to work? If the guy's laid
off, and he's paying for his own health care, how is he going to *pay* for
his health care?

Well for that matter, if you are permanent reduction in force, how do you
pay for
continued health coverage under COBRA?

By robbing all your piggy banks. I was paying a COBRA plan at the rate of
$12,500/year (family of three), a year ago last summer. I felt like I'd
opened a vein. And I'd be paying the same right now if not for my wife's
plan.

It's murder for people who are unemployed or self-employed at a moderate
rate of income.

Oh, you save money against a rainy day. Cobra
wasn't an option for me when my employer of 20+ years folded so I fell on
the insurer of
last resort in my state that had to take me because I had a paper that
said group
insurance wasn't available under Cobra (former employer was in bankruptcy
and self
insured).

Currently we have a system consisting of Cobra and the fallback I paid
into for 8 months
while I was out of work. Failing to maintain continuous group coverage
scares the chit
out of me. That preexisting condition bravo sierra can kill you.

For three years I couldn't get insurance at ANY price because of it. And I
was only 31 years old at the time. Now, even without COBRA, I'd be in a
statewide pool. But the rate would be higher than $12,500 for a family of
three.

When you are working, don't spend everything you earn. I don't care what
you make, I bet
I can find someone getting by on less because they have to. You may have
to provide for
yourself and family.

We may in the end. But I think we'll have universal coverage in this
country...about the time I kick the bucket. d8-)

--
Ed Huntress