LETTER: What if you can’t afford insurance?

By Joyce Johnson/Oakland
Tuesday, Nov 10, 2009 - 10:35:11 am CST

My husband and I are wondering how the president is going to get health insurance coverage for everyone? What if people can’t afford it?

There are many people who have lost their jobs because of the economy but also their insurance. We understand all this greatly. My husband lost his job March 23 - no insurance. We have to find help with medicines, can’t go to the doctor because you can’t afford $95 for the visit.

And if you’re on a medicine that you need blood work done regularly - we’re in trouble, the hospital gets upset - they want their money, too. And if you stop the medicine, you could die?

There are free clinics in Omaha and Lincoln for people to get medical and dental help. But then there’s the gas to get there. And do the doctors really know you? No.

How can people with no or low income afford this insurance President Obama is trying to get signed? We all need help equally.

My husband was finally lucky to find a seasonal job after seven months and two days with no work. Thank God for this.

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Umm...
Nov 10, 2009 1:50 PM
....I guess you will go to jail. That is in the bill you know. But don't worry, I'm sure they have good doctors.

I'm glad your husband was able to find work. You may also try your local churches. There may be help there. Also, the Fremont Hospital just had a blood draw this morning that was cheap. Tough times require creativity.
Hiya
Nov 10, 2009 4:41 PM
I think the question answers itself. This healthcare plan is meant for those who are uninsured, underinsured or simply are scraping pennies to be insured. People with no or low income won't have to afford the insurance, because they'll get it for free.

As for the costs, yes, it's $1 trillion, over 10 years. That means $100 billion every year, divided by 300 million (less than the current population, which is over that number, but I rounded down), which would be about $333 per year per person. Or 27.75 a month. Or about $6.41 per week. Or 91 cents a day. In taxes. Our school systems add MUCH more than that to our taxes every time they up the budget.

What's also great is that people like your husband who are being laid off and losing jobs left and right won't have to panic. They'll be covered even in the jobless times.

And when the doctors want their money, it'll be the government who will be footing the bill. So no, jail won't be a consequence.
Brian
Nov 10, 2009 7:12 PM
I am sorry for you and your family for the tough times you went through this year. Glad hubby got a job and hopfully things will start to get better.
I dont know your entire financial picture, If your income & liquid assets are low enough and you have children, you may qualify for gov assistance. Contact your county's department of health and human resources and they will walk you through the process and see if you are eligible for any help.
Caesar
Nov 10, 2009 7:40 PM
Joyce - difficult to determine the tone of your letter, but my answer is that the proposed health care bill is directed at helping people in your position/similar situation, while forcing employers and those with affordable insurance to subsidize your situation and health insurance. In short, ignoring your ethical position, you should be for this plan if basing your decision solely on health care.
Dude
Nov 11, 2009 3:02 PM
Hiya,

The government has NEVER done anything according to budget. In fact this year Obama has run the annual federal decifite over 1 Trillion dollars alone. That is far higher then any president in the 223 history of the US and that includes evry year of the past 8 Bush years. So the projected 1 trillion over 10 years will end up being many times higher. So the 91cents per day you claim will be way off as well.
Sean
Nov 12, 2009 3:20 PM
I'm guessing he could return our manufacturing base so we could restart creating our own wealth rather than being China's biggest welfare case. He could also stop the flow of tens of millions of illegal wage-chopping cash exporters to make room for actual Americans to make a better living. These two things would be a good start, then perhaps we could talk about reforming healthcare once the people are in a better position to pay for their own.
BOHICA
Nov 13, 2009 12:48 PM
Here's a simple three step plan that many have used to help in these situations:
1) Spend all your income on tattoos, peircings, gambling, cigarettes, cell phones, alcohol and cable TV.
2)Allow the taxpayer to pay for your groceries, rent, healthcare so you have money for #1.
3)Repeat.
Brian
Nov 13, 2009 1:07 PM
Sean,
Good Post, but sadly it wont happen with this president and his allies in Congress. Obama is more concerned with being a citizen of the world rather than president of the US. In HIS view of immigration is practically total amnesty.
Bernanke actualy was quoted on a business channel recently wanting our government to demand China fix this recession by forcing their citizens to consume more! Excuse me, I want the US to build a manufacturing, job creating base and I want our citizens to be more responsible with saving instead of living on credit like they did the past several decades. Credit abuse CAUSED this mess. Its not up to the US to stand back and let China lead us out of this mess, its up to the US to do it and I dont see Obama trying to do that.
Have a good weekend.
Sean
Nov 13, 2009 1:32 PM
Think I'll add more to my last. This country is not generating wealth anymore and it's the fault of both parties over the past several decades. We are a country of consumers with no ability to pay for what we consume. Billionaires and corporations are blessed with the ability of transferring the middle class to other countries and feeding off of them there at lower costs leaving the rest of us to dry on the vine. It was the American middle class that generated the wealth that has been sent overseas by the government at the behest of hyper-capitalist faceless corporations. Did Bush enable this? Yup, and so is Obama and there is no excuse or explaining it away other than they are all corrupt.
Andy of Fremont
Nov 16, 2009 10:09 AM
We will have to play by their game and if we don't we will be punished. It seems to be getting to be a dictatorship and not a country of the free. One of the great Freedoms we have is the Freedom of choice and that is being taken away from us. Right now there is help out the if you don't have insurance. All you have to do is look for it. E#ven free meds for the low income and I don't mean the $4.00 meds.
The Drug compans are nor raising the prices of med's because of this health plain. It will still cost us a bundel. As a Vet with the VA will we be forced to join it??
areamike
Nov 19, 2009 5:53 PM
Hiya,

You are sorely mistaken in your post. Government will pay for free insurance for those who cannot afford it? Where do you think the Gov. will get that imaginary money? From the Federal Reserve. And what will that result in? Higher taxes for people who actually work.
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