50+ thread

now THAT sucks!!

 

whats with the empty spot?

 

no! get a job and buy your own!!

 

I've got a Snap On 10 drawer roll away filled with tools

 

Uhh yeah !!!

 

Thoughts and prayers for the Pup!

 

So what's the hurry you've already won the battle you know which ones you want just wait for them instead of getting something else and regretting latter, been there done that

 

Hell I went to the ortho doc today he said the MRI wasn't good enough now have to go for a different one. Worried about the dog I've been there a couple of times breaks my heart

 

Tim, hope your procedure goes well tomorrow

 

Been there and done that many times LOL!! , I've had to return to the radiology dept at the VA quite a few times for redoing x rays or the doctor wanting a better MRI resolution

 

^ ...... This

 

cleaned all the lights and fans in the house. had a nap. now back to the 8 pm bedtime thing!

 

3 1/2 years ago I retired at age 60 having planned things out well enough that I didn't have to go to work every day anymore, unless I chose to. One important aspect of that planning was my health, which by the good fortune of my parents having had decent genes, and the attention I've given to staying healthy over the years meant that I was likely ok. So, first year retired (really first 7 months since my retirement started in May) my health insurance was an affordable $170 a month. Then the Affordable (in name only) Health Care Act went into place and my health care costs doubled in Jan of 2014. Understand this was for the 'low' cost option, essentially a high deductible plan that only pays when I'm out of pocket about 6k. In 2015 my cost went to around $450, still ok but not what I wanted. In 2016 the cost jumped to $590 monthly and the benefits decreased. Now, for 2017 my costs for a plan that has over a 7k annual deductible, with nearly 13k out of pocket stop loss will cost me over $750 a month. Remember that I'm blessed with good health (partly due to my genes, partly due to my exercising and practicing other healthy habits) and have cost the insurance companies only very modest amounts over the years (since 2013 my health care costs other than premiums have been less than $1000). So right now I'm considering simply rolling the dice and paying for my own health care (which barring something very extraordinary will likely be the cost of an annual physical) and paying the tax penalty (a few thousand dollars) rather than paying $9000 in premiums for something that I don't really use. I understand and agree with the concept of the Affordable Care Act where everyone gets in the pool so that those with high costs have the impact spread to those with better health. However, Congress forgot about the 'Affordable' aspects and costs have run rampant, as have the profits of the health insurance companies and providers. I'm torn as I want to be part of the solution to help those too poor to afford health insurance and those too sick to be rated according to their condition. However, I'm balking at over 400% increases in premiums in 3 1/2 years with declining benefits. Without any aspersions cast to one political party or person, anyone got thoughts on the matter?

 

I don't have too many thoughts. One thing I was smart enough to catch onto was seeing what my dad had as a retired service member so, even though it's not the best medical care, it is affordable. So with my military retirement I have my and my wife's medical for a little better than $430 a year. But seeing as how this new healthcare is going to crap in a hand basket, it really wasn't unexpected. The fines for not having health care are way cheaper than what the program costs. If you can afford to get your own, I'd say go for it. Affordable Health Care was brought to be by people who don't have to use it so it wasn't thought out as good as it should have been but, like the VA programs, if they can call it a success they will regardless of the actual result.

 

I was using that one

 

Knowing a few people in your boat I do not know what I would do with out my State BCBS / VA medical coverage but with how you laid it out I would be inclined to do the same thing bank the savings for little medical things and the fine and call it a day. I am not sure but I had heard the fine increases exponentially every year but that was when the AHEM "Affordable Care Act" came out is that still true today ?
Have you run this https://www.healthcare.gov/exemptions-tool/#/ to see if you can get exempted?

I found this but there is no mention of exponential increases. I am sure you probably did your homework but figured why not let everyone else possibly facing this see it.

The fee for not having health insurance in 2016 & 2017
The fee is calculated 2 different ways – as a percentage of your household income, and per person. You’ll pay whichever is higher.

Percentage of income

• 2.5% of household income
• Maximum: Total yearly premium for the national average price of a Bronze plan sold through the Marketplace

Per person

• $695 per adult
• $347.50 per child under 18
• Maximum: $2,085

Paying the fee

• Using the percentage method, only the part of your household income that’s above the yearly tax filing threshold ($10,300 for individuals, $20,600 for couples filing jointly in 2015, the most recent year available) is counted.
• Using the per-person method, you pay only for people in your household who don’t have insurance coverage.
• If you have coverage for part of the year, the fee is 1/12 of the annual amount for each month you (or your tax dependents) don’t have coverage. If you’re uncovered only 1 or 2 months, you don’t have to pay the fee at all. Learn about the “short gap” exemption.
• You pay the fee when you file your federal tax return for the year you don’t have coverage.

It does appear in your health and such it would be cheaper just to do your own bank account for medical stuff. I found this article http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/04/us/many-see-irs-fines-as-more-affordable-than-insurance.html?_r=0 and thought it was pretty good read it to the end though there is something there I would never have thought of... Increasing your personal injury on your auto insurance

Ms. Kulus, who works for a small marketing firm outside San Diego, paid about $300 a month for an exchange plan. But when she injured her back and wanted physical therapy, she was offended to learn she would have to pay for it in full because of her plan’s $6,000 deductible.

“I just went on YouTube and tried to figure it out on my own,” she said. She added that her auto insurance included personal injury protection, so “anything catastrophic will hopefully happen in the car.”

Ms. Kulus estimates that she will pay a penalty of $750 for flouting the individual mandate last year, and $950 in 2016.

“I know I’m not alone in this,” she said.


Cypher

 

Naptime ehh !!!

 

I don't qualify for any exemption. I don't qualify for any subsidy (not a bad thing as it means I can afford the insurance). My penalty would be between 2 and 3k for 2017, substantially less than the 9k premium. My issue is less about paying the money, than it is about giving obscene profits to the insurance companies. If my money went to help children or the poor who had no insurance get it, then I'm ok with paying more. However, where it is going is for increasing the profits of the health insurance companies and providers first, then secondarily to insuring the poor (and a very far secondary result). United Healthcare, one of the largest if not the largest insurers in the country, has had profits increase over 30 percent annually for the last several years, yet they threatened to pull out of several state exchanges because they said they were unprofitable. I'm not what I would consider wealthy. My first new car since 1975 was the Tacoma I bought. I saved, worked, planned and by luck and the grace of the good lord I have had more than I probably deserve. Yet rather than either spread the costs around or implement cost controls our Congress has punted and left the burden of paying for the "affordable" health care act disproportionately to those in a situation like me, while at the same time doing nothing to limit what I think are excessive profits by the insurers. It pisses me off because it creates a moral dilemma for me. Do I contribute as a responsible citizen and member of the society to helping the needy in this country (realizing that by doing so I am also enriching the greedy insurers) or do I just drop out and go my own way (which might be best for my family)? Congress doesn't have to make such a choice so why should I?

 

He's handsome!

 

^^^^ Like he said