I feel ill - my health plan is going up by over 500%

Sigh.

I don't have any coverage right now, at all. Lost my pleasant/stressful public-library job, right about the same time the local high school became the local "middle high school."

Yeah - it does cost a good amount - but when you need it works well.

This year with a new doctor (my doctor moved out of state) - she sent me to eye doctor ($20); mammo (no cost); dermatologist ($20) and for a echogram some such thing (no cost); lab for a variety of blood tests (no cost); her well care visit ($20).

So, it's not 500%? It's 37% increase?

Yes sir re - the table that showed the new rates were "*" and the "*" stated weekly contributions...." so of course instead of fully reading it, I jumped to the conclusion these rates were weekly rates.

And prior to reading this chart we received an email suggesting using the high deductable health plan as the other plans were going up significantly, I was prepared for the worse. However, upon reading the entire note which continued "...are calculated by ..." Basically the rate that was in the chart was the monthly. So maybe it was for the best - now a 37% increase looks good.

Most of us don't think this is a good idea. We just don't have any politicians who have the balls to fix this. Not even the ones in there now.

Employer based HC is horrible.

My company got rid of all other HC providers this year. We only have one company to choose from. And we are not a small company (we employ over 20,000 people). We do have 2 plans to choose from though, so that's something I guess.

Dear President Obama: A Modest Medicare Proposal by Thom Hartmann
http://magginkat.wordpress.com/2009/08/20/dear-president-obama-a-modest-medicare-proposal/

Obama doesn't have the courage of his convictions; so this has zero chance.

I'm glad to hear it. Just to put it into a little more perpective for you-- Last year my health insurance through work went up 67%. Very painful.

Thanks - that's tough - everything is going up except people's salaries it seems. The best thing is to look where you can cut costs - we are out reviewing our home/auto right now - we found another company that the costs will go down with the same coverage about $15/month - every little bit helps out.

I also took a look at the flexible saving plan - where certain items are taken out prior to taxes related to health care costs - like copays, prescription and many non-prescritption drugs, prescription glasses, dental work, etc. I could save about $1k a year potentially just on this tax savings.

I'm good with a buck-- I also have a part-time job in addition to my full-time job and so I'm able to put some into savings too. I don't have a TV or a computer at home not only because of the expense, but because I don't want the distraction! I get all my books from the Public Library, bring and make my own coffee at work...well, you get the idea.

I've done flexible spending for years, it really helps. The consolation to the 67% health care increase is how cheap the Yoga classes are: $57 for four months, unlimited. That is wickedcheap and makes me happy.

You sound as if all the President has to do is sign his name on the dotted line and it's a done deal.
Nothing is that simple in Washington or anywhere else for that matter. Get real.