Health Insurance

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by cdcox

So to me, this kind of plan makes a lot of sense. Insurance should cover catastrophic expenses that can not be easily absorbed by a normal person/family. The kind of expenses you are talking about (a few hundred a month at most) should easily be handled by a single guy with a good income. You don't really need insurance to cover those costs. If you were to be in a major accident or contract a major disease, you would need insurance to cover those costs. It may not be as good as the plan you had before, but I think that will be true for everyone as employers, individuals and the nation seek to control health care costs. Still your plan protects you from significant financial risk from virtually any medical situation that would come your way -- which should be the basic function of insurance.

Of course I can absorb the additional cost. I am extremely healthy and take care of myself. If insurance is only going to cover catastrophic events (i.e. major accident or disease) then my premium should be much lower. Yet I pay the same amount as someone who eats crap, doesn't exercise, and has all types of health problems. Then they get coverage for those health problems at 100% because they term it "preventative" which is complete BS. Preventative should mean preventing that condition from occurring, not treating the existing condition with drugs.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

Of course I can absorb the additional cost. I am extremely healthy and take care of myself. If insurance is only going to cover catastrophic events (i.e. major accident or disease) then my premium should be much lower. Yet I pay the same amount as someone who eats crap, doesn't exercise, and has all types of health problems. Then they get coverage for those health problems at 100% because they term it "preventative" which is complete BS. Preventative should mean preventing that condition from occurring, not treating the existing condition with drugs.

You hit the nail on the head, the insurance companies need to bring their product into this century. The young healthy guys like you, have to pay for the ones that actually need the medical care, thus it is insurance. Spreading the liability over more people. When I was young like you, I blindly paid it, but never went to the Dr., hardly ever.

Since my heart stints 4 years ago, I have improved dramatically in all facets you mention. Especially diet and exercise, because I want to live.
But the insurance companies don't really care, they lump me together with the fat SOB, that sets on his couch eating sausage and cheese.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

Of course I can absorb the additional cost. I am extremely healthy and take care of myself. If insurance is only going to cover catastrophic events (i.e. major accident or disease) then my premium should be much lower. Yet I pay the same amount as someone who eats crap, doesn't exercise, and has all types of health problems. Then they get coverage for those health problems at 100% because they term it "preventative" which is complete BS. Preventative should mean preventing that condition from occurring, not treating the existing condition with drugs.

You pay more than you should now, in order to able to pay less than $43K per year when you get old. At least that is the way I think it should work. Assuming you live long enough, you will eventually be in a high risk group. You won't want to pay the full actuarial cost of your health insurance then.

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by cdcox

You pay more than you should now, in order to able to pay less than $43K per year when you get old. At least that is the way I think it should work. Assuming you live long enough, you will eventually be in a high risk group. You won't want to pay the full actuarial cost of your health insurance then.

Maybe, maybe not. I am making choices now that I believe will greatly reduce my likelihood of being in the high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetic old-person club.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

Maybe, maybe not. I am making choices now that I believe will greatly reduce my likelihood of being in the high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetic old-person club.

Those choices you are making now will help you be healthier now and then, but unless things change, they will not lower you insurance rates later in life.