Health Subsidies

RajinCajin asked:


Allowing for subsidies to help with the cost.

Is this going to help? Is this the best plan the Democrats have?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070917/ap_on_el_pr/clinton_health_care;_ylt=Ap79AAi7EvsMRwgrY71BSe.yFz4D
If your a democrat, do you support this plan?

Josiah

zaxxon asked:


Ok, my last day was today (7/7/06) but I have a job lined up that starts 7/31/06), but my new medical benefits kick in 30 days after my starting day. So… I am covered by my old employer until 7/31/06 but have no coverage 8/1/06 until 8/30/06. The way I understand it, my old employer will send an election notice within 14 days after my coverage expired 7/31/06. So, does this mean I am covered by COBRA regardless for those 14 days? What about if I need medical care on day #2 and the election form has not arrived in the mail? Is this like a grace period?
If this is the case, then I am thinking I would only be without coverage 8/15-30 when my new insurance kicks in. Does this sound right?
Finally, I hear that COBRA is an if-you-need-it-you-can-pay-it thing. Example, I can elect not to have COBRA, but if I need medical care until my new insurance kicks in, I can “change my mind”, pay the fee and use it. If I don’t use it, no harm. Is this true? Thanks!

Joe

John S asked:


We had a baby 3 months ago, but I am looking for health insurance that is good and affordable for my wife. Any suggestions?

Estella

NM asked:


I know running burns more calories in the same amount of time, but if I just take up walking, how do the long-term health benefits compare? Is running more heart-healthy, or are they about the same? What are the pros and cons of each?

Leona

justagirl asked:


An analysis of McCain’s plan by four professors from Columbia University, Harvard, Purdue and the University of Michigan:

Eliminating the tax exclusion would greatly reduce the number of people who obtain health insurance through their employers. This decline would be driven by three factors: the effective price of employer-sponsored coverage would increase, the nondiscrimination rules would no longer apply, and low-risk employees would have less incentive to remain in employer-sponsored groups.

Elasticity estimates from published studies can be used to predict the coverage reduction caused by the effective price increase. Anne Royalty provides an estimate that is typical of those found by researchers in this area: her results suggest that eliminating the income tax preference for health insurance would result in a 17 percent decrease in the share of workers who are offered health insurance by their employers. This translates to a net decrease of twenty-eight million Americans (one out of every six people with employer-based coverage) covered by employer-provided health insurance. …

Studies suggest that many employers would be quick to drop health benefits in response to a major policy change, such as the McCain plan, that greatly altered the business case for offering benefits. Also, as we note above, these estimates account only for the price effect of eliminating the tax preference; they do not account for the number of low-wage workers who might lose employer-sponsored insurance when employers are no longer bound by the nondiscrimination rules, nor do they capture the impact of breaking up existing risk pools.

http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/full/hlthaff.27.6.w472/DC1

Jacquelyn

lil miss ray of sunshine asked:


If you lived in the state of Georgia and could not afford medical insurance are there any free benefits that can be claimed or would you need to hire a lawyer to apply for them from the government? I’m working on some coursework in the UK and I would appreciate some help.

Wallace

Myself asked:


Does kaiser get 100%medical benefits? I am interested in being an employee.

Tracey

Learning2 asked:


I have the option of COBRA with subsidy for my old group health plan (somewhat expensive for me now) or a standard Blue Cross HMO for free. The BCBS HMO only lasts ten months versus the 18 months COBRA lasts. This is in Massachusetts. I can’t really pay the subsizided premium, but I don’t want to lose coverage sooner either. Thoughts?

Rupert

billdyer76 asked:


When a company grants medical (dental and vision as well) benefits to domestic partners, it adds the value of that benefit as if it was paid in cash to each paycheck. So, if you make 10$ per hour and you work 40 hours (400$) and your company values the benefit being granted to your partner as 100$ - you will be taxed as if you were paid 500$ - even though you only receive 400. I’m just wondering if this can be claimed or credited somewhere when I file this year…

Pauline

Dr. Vargas asked:


Will it decrease the pay of those employees working in the medical field? Will we loose benefits?

Terrance