We were lucky enough to have the resources to start a new company (with at least one employee) and get insurance that way (see wj).

We had been planning to retire, but I think that will have to wait until we are old enough to qualify for Medicare.

The whole idea of insurance is to spread the risk, but the insurance companies only want the healthy people.

However, if you simply form a company (even a nominal LLC), you can get medical coverage without any questions about pre-existing conditions, and for a premium which depends only on your sex and age. A lot cheaper than getting it as an individual, too.

In short, the industry isn’t really offering that big a concession, for all that it is overdue.

Another thing is that I think giving everyone uninterrupted access to some pool that provides group purchasing power would be a very good thing.

It’s always shocking when you see what the inflated “most people don’t pay this number” costs are, and which are (IMO at least) too often charged to those in the worst position to foot that cost. I had a billing snafu, and got a bill for over $1400 for a cortisone shot from a podiatrist during a 20 minute office visit.

Hard to claim that aint insane.

And then folks often lose their group purchasing power when they lose their job, or soon thereafter, which is perverse.

I am suggesting that to the extent possible, by taking out the 3rd-party payer, you reduce the cost of healthcare and have greater freedom in making healthcare choices and, by removing the 3rd party payer, I think one tends to make better health decisions and are able to negotiate directly with healthcare providers.

It is certifiable pathetic and morally and intellectually bankrupt to argue a comprehensive healthcare strategy using nothing more classwarfare platitudes.

I’m very happy that you are able to do so well for yourself and your family. But here’s MY stipulation: Remember that you’re very fortunate and don’t forget many others are not there yet.

(right, yes, luck has nothing to do with it and you’re just very hard working…… because none of your advantages have to do with where you were born, natural intelligence, upbringing, or similar. You’d be just as successful do to hard work if dropped anywhere. Like a slum.)

I don’t rely on a third-party payer up to a point and once the stimulus plan kicks into high gear, as Justin promises, a significant portion of the population will be able to afford that (and many, many already do). If Obama wants to reduce medical costs, a good place to start would be removing the 3rd-party middle man from the transaction between doctor and patient (or at least marginalizing it to the truly desperate.)

As for those folks coming after me, I’m not sure what vintage of the federal health leviathan will emerge from the dark hearts of this administrations good-intentioned trainwreck. Perhaps they will come of after me, sign me up.

Those folks are coming for you.

only stipulation here is everybody has to be in the system.

So says you, I am perfectly happy with my HSA. It covers my family and me. We have about a 10K deductible, so it basically protects us from catastraphic medical expenses, but that’s all I need it to do. Beside, whatever I put into it is pre-tax and deductible.

So here’s my stipulation…worry about yourself. Some of us are perfectly capable of dealing with life without your nanny-state coming to our rescue and dimishing the quality of medical services that we currently have.