patrick.net

I’m wondering if other individuals

My individual plan (PPO with BlueShield) started at $170/mo for a $1700/yr deductible in 2008.

Now it's $170/mo for a $4500/yr deductible.

Thank you Republicans for blocking the public option in the cynical attempt to make reform Obama's "Waterloo".

High deductible with HSA not a bad idea probably.

I'm not sure how you're buying your health care, but less than 10 employees puts you at their mercy really. Most companies that size use an HR company. I'm guessing someone at your company is "using" the insurance, thus they can jack up your rates to get rid of you, while they can't do that as easily with an HR company because of the sheer number of people involved there.

They still jack up rates insanely anyways. Higher copays + flex spending helps. By 2018, you'll probably be able to find another provider to dodge that. But realistically, yoy increases on any provider is going to be a problem. If 33% puts you over the limit now, that means even if you had a 4% increase yoy, it would basically put you into the same boat in 7 years.

thunderlips11 says

how on earth an MRI costs $300 in Tokyo but $2000 in Tampa

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120545569

I think someone mentioned here that joining with your chamber of commerce, might allow you to buy into their health care package?

I'm not sure if that's for individuals, or if small businesses could benefit from that.

they can pretty much charge what they want, using non-discriminatory things such as costs, age of employees & health status, etc. You're totally screwed. Sorry. A public option would have been nice but unfortunately healthcare will continue to soar upward.

Think of it this way... I had a credit card at 9%. It was raised to 19% when the cc reform was suggested, then 29% with a small monthly rebate after it passed but before it took effect.

"reform" is certainly not reforming...

Does this mean physician salary will go up?

Nah more likely it keeps going down / staying stable and patient premiums keep going up. I wonder where it's going to? Oh yeah I know 1) HMO CEOs and administrative cost (private and govt) 2) "self-pay" aka no-pay patient cost coverage

Thanks Troy. My wife if an MD so perhaps she has some insights here...

cheers.

https://x.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/1852039026456285455

https://x.com/KimDotcom/status/1852306377504608646

@Rin cocktail for infections, lift to defer frailty in old age. Other than that, do the opposite of what grlobohomo is telling you to do:

!00% grass fed beef from local farms - it's a complete nutrient (100%). It's the same for fatty fish (salmon), seals, and any other fatty animal.
Saturated fats are your friends - butter, cream, lard, suet, etc.
Seed oils are the devil - Olive and Peanut in moderation, maybe coconut or avocado, but these are almost expensive as pure lard and suet.
No sugar or processed carbs which are converted immediately to sugar by the amylase in your saliva.
Tubers like potatoes and sweet potatoes are good, as well as vegetables that taste good. If a tomato tastes like nothing, it's shit. Remember - our sense of taste evolved to let us find the tastiest and most nutritious forage.

stereotomy says

our sense of taste evolved to let us find the tastiest and most nutritious forage.

True, but only stuff that is naturally scarce, which is why sugar taste so sweet.

HeadSet says

stereotomy says

our sense of taste evolved to let us find the tastiest and most nutritious forage.

True, but only stuff that is naturally scarce, which is why sugar taste so sweet.

The sense of taste is not just for sugar. Why do you think humans think clad coins are stinky - they reveal the scavenger origins of our ancestors. Oxidizing metals in the blood of slain animals being carried in the wind.

stereotomy says

they reveal the scavenger origins of our ancestors

Ugh. I would rather think of my ancestors as fierce hunters who brought down and barbequed mammoths rather than ghouls who competed with buzzards for carrion.