Poll: Healthcare Insurance

[Punter 127]

I have an opinion, and you have yours. Anyway, I'll still buy you lunch next time you are in Bangkok. But no ladyboys, I promise.

Thanks,

I will probably be in Thailand soon but will be (hopefully) traveling with my Pinay GF and will stay in Jomtien, I don't think we'll have time for Bangkok.

I'm not angry, I'm just very passionate about freedom and the Republic.

[Rev BS]

I don't care if you and a band of Bangkok ladyBoys run the place, they still have homeless, their homeless just have less rights and freedom than the homeless in the USA.

Before you said:

Now your story changes. (How typical.).

And according to a BBC report in Feb of 2014, Singapore may be one of the wealthiest and most developed countries in the world, but poverty remains a worrying problem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQGTNyw9Rmk

I doubt the majority of Americans want the USA to become a Singapore, although there might be times when their (barbaric?) caning would be useful.

I can't figure out if you view yourself as morally superior to the rest of us, hence your condescending attitude or if you're just so insecure that you need the government to make all you decisions for you. But either way feel free to move to Singapore, don't worry about money I'm sure the government there will care for you.

I have an opinion, and you have yours. Anyway, I'll still buy you lunch next time you are in Bangkok. But no ladyboys, I promise.

[Punter 127]

The Peoples Action Party which has run Singapore from 1959 (Wikipedia): "The socialism practiced by the PAP during its first few decades in power was of a pragmatic kind. The party economic ideology has always accepted the need for welfare spending, pragmatic economic interventionism and general Keynesian economic policies. However, free market policies has been popular since the 1980s as part of a wider implementation of meritocracy in civil society. By the Seventies, the intellectual credo of the government rested explicitly upon a philosophy of self reliance, similar to the rugged individualism of the American brand of capitalism."

From 3rd world to 1st world, a matter of 65 years? At the start, by providing and creating high standards of basic needs, especially in housing & education, the PAP was able to propel Singapore on the road to first world status. And now with full stomachs and time for reflection, Singaporeans are starting to question the "whys" of existence. The PAP's popularity is recent elections is slowly eroding. Worried about the influence of western cultures, the PAP in 1995 passed the Maintenance of Parents Act in which parents can claim support from their children. Ah, very delicious to our AP gang, I am sure.

So in 2014, we have a Singaporean population that has been "prepared" by the PAP to be able to compete with the best in the world. Of course, not in everything, e.g. basketball or tango. But some of us know that nobody is born quite equal or have similar outcomes in life. And so no surprise, there are actually Singaporeans who are left behind for whatever reason. It is not because they cannot find work, because there are 1.3 million legal foreign workers. If you go to any public food centers, you will find senior Singaporeans still removing trash and wiping tables.

So the "homeless" in Singapore is not of the American variety. You will not be allow to stand in any busy areas, soliciting with signs for any length of time. Yes, there are people in Singapore who get old, sick and die with nobody caring for them. Singapore is not utopia, it is a country that has learn to survive without natural resources and emerge healthy in the war of the survival of the fittest.

I don't care if you and a band of Bangkok ladyBoys run the place, they still have homeless, their homeless just have less rights and freedom than the homeless in the USA.

Before you said:

And there is no homeless there.

Now your story changes. (How typical.).

And according to a BBC report in Feb of 2014, Singapore may be one of the wealthiest and most developed countries in the world, but poverty remains a worrying problem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQGTNyw9Rmk

I doubt the majority of Americans want the USA to become a Singapore, although there might be times when their (barbaric?) caning would be useful.

I can't figure out if you view yourself as morally superior to the rest of us, hence your condescending attitude or if you're just so insecure that you need the government to make all you decisions for you. But either way feel free to move to Singapore, don't worry about money I'm sure the government there will care for you.

[Rev BS]

No homeless in Singapore, really?

Out In The Cold: A documentary bringing light to the homeless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2NMoMceX9U#t=626.

http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2014...-the-homeless/

The Peoples Action Party which has run Singapore from 1959 (Wikipedia): "The socialism practiced by the PAP during its first few decades in power was of a pragmatic kind. The party economic ideology has always accepted the need for welfare spending, pragmatic economic interventionism and general Keynesian economic policies. However, free market policies has been popular since the 1980s as part of a wider implementation of meritocracy in civil society. By the Seventies, the intellectual credo of the government rested explicitly upon a philosophy of self reliance, similar to the rugged individualism of the American brand of capitalism."

From 3rd world to 1st world, a matter of 65 years? At the start, by providing and creating high standards of basic needs, especially in housing & education, the PAP was able to propel Singapore on the road to first world status. And now with full stomachs and time for reflection, Singaporeans are starting to question the "whys" of existence. The PAP's popularity is recent elections is slowly eroding. Worried about the influence of western cultures, the PAP in 1995 passed the Maintenance of Parents Act in which parents can claim support from their children. Ah, very delicious to our AP gang, I am sure.

So in 2014, we have a Singaporean population that has been "prepared" by the PAP to be able to compete with the best in the world. Of course, not in everything, e.g. basketball or tango. But some of us know that nobody is born quite equal or have similar outcomes in life. And so no surprise, there are actually Singaporeans who are left behind for whatever reason. It is not because they cannot find work, because there are 1.3 million legal foreign workers. If you go to any public food centers, you will find senior Singaporeans still removing trash and wiping tables.

So the "homeless" in Singapore is not of the American variety. You will not be allow to stand in any busy areas, soliciting with signs for any length of time. Yes, there are people in Singapore who get old, sick and die with nobody caring for them. Singapore is not utopia, it is a country that has learn to survive without natural resources and emerge healthy in the war of the survival of the fittest.

[Punter 127]

No homeless in Singapore, really?

Out In The Cold: A documentary bringing light to the homeless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2NMoMceX9U#t=626.

http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2014...-the-homeless/

[Rev BS]

You started with the greater good concept which translates to out of your pocket into someone else's pocket, but don't you dare touch my pocket. Why would anyone agree to this concept unless they are one of the ones getting the free goods? Until liberals understand that government is the problem, not the solution to the problem, there is nothing to agree on.

And the a.

First, the article's main reference was that Mississippi Governor Bryant blamed Obama for his state's rise in uninsured rate, after he rejected ObamaCare. It reminds me of my brother who was not paid by an angry father when he delivered a girl, and not a boy.

Not sure about my brother's tax rate, but probably around 50%. But as all tax crybabies KNOW, there are deductions, and then, there more deductions. And so my brother moaned softly a few times, lost on a bunch of tax write offs & deals, and made out well with others. He was able to sent his 2 kids to Ivy League schools, shop in Paris every year, safari in South Africa, ski in Whistler, bought a condo in NYC for his kid, etc. Even had a Rolls Royce once. And whenever we have lunch, he would try to stuff some $100 bills in my pocket. Ah, what a great country! At 74, he is still working full blast, his SS pocket change. So yeah, I think we can change a few things about Social Security.

Next, government is the problem, but don't you think that they could be the solution, too? Again, we can talk about Singapore, touted as one of the best places to live in the world, and to do business. But not to the "AP Gang That Could Not Shoot Straight". Too many laws, too many restrictions, too much social engineering. I could easily live there, but unfortunately, I cannot afford it. I still jaywalk there whenever I go, but it's not a problem for me not to litter or to smoke weed. Check what it cost to buy a car in Singapore, you might rupture a kidney there. And there is no homeless there. I agree with you about people needing to be re-educated, retrained if they are receiving welfare benefits and paying back with volunteer service.

Well, back to "mind-set". It's very simple. Happy people give, and unhappy people don't. Always remind me of the kid who has the only soccer ball in the neighborhood. Whenever he decided to stop playing, he refuse to loan us the ball even when he could see a whole bunch of dejected kids. He is much better as a grown up, but I still kick his ass and make him pay the bill whenever I see him these days.

So guys, grow up!!!

[Dccpa]

I talk about Integrity before, and got shot down. So to repeat, American integrity is at a all time low. Everyone of us know of someone who is scamming the system.

If the country is to move forward, we need to find areas where we agree on, and take action. Not to roadblock just to see the other side drowned. Somehow, we never learn from the past. Each big step that America has undertook, a big chunk of the population has to be drag screaming and crying from the dark into the sunlight.

You started with the greater good concept which translates to out of your pocket into someone else's pocket, but don't you dare touch my pocket. Why would anyone agree to this concept unless they are one of the ones getting the free goods? Until liberals understand that government is the problem, not the solution to the problem, there is nothing to agree on.

You want social security? Fine, but it was set up as when people lived an average of 3 years past retirement, not decades. Now most people get far more out of social security than they pay into it. Change the social security retirement age to 75 and we can agree it is an equitable, sustainable system.

You want more people on medicaid fine? Make them work, attend job training or classes. Unless someone is truly disabled, permanently drawing money to do nothing and getting more money if you produce children is wrong and has fostered decades of lost families that know nothing other than government dependence.

Lastly the article you cited doesn't really apply as you didn't provide any evidence that the persons mentioned were not receiving government assistance and medical care.

And the a.

[Rev BS]

Has anyone noticed that the lower labor force participation has been matched by a large increase in disability claims? People cannot find a job and they suddenly decide they are disabled.

I talk about Integrity before, and got shot down. So to repeat, American integrity is at a all time low. Everyone of us know of someone who is scamming the system.

If the country is to move forward, we need to find areas where we agree on, and take action. Not to roadblock just to see the other side drowned. Somehow, we never learn from the past. Each big step that America has undertook, a big chunk of the population has to be drag screaming and crying from the dark into the sunlight.

[Dccpa]

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_a...ured_some.html

I know that you are tired of the same old rhetoric, but nothing can really go forward in this country until you guys can see that there is a need for a "greater good" mindset. We are talking about common sense, not ideology. We have seen the amazing strength of the American economy as it pull itself up from the 2007 financial disaster. This, despite the "enemy" within our own ranks who vowed to oppose Obama at every step of the way. Especially using the "patriotic" thumping of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

What rights? When you don't have a job, and your family is hungry, do you really care about "rights"? Oh yes, of course you do, I can hear you. Why do you always have to shout? But it's like honesty, finding & returning $100 and $10.000, quite a difference in how your mind will rationalize your actions. Action speak louder than words, I was told.

What is the point of this article? That the people are receiving treatment for healthcare? I must have missed that. That the people are not receiving food stamps? I didn't see that. That the people aren't working so that they can stay on Medicaid? Didn't see that either, but it wouldn't matter. We have the lowest labor force participation rate in 40 years and the people being written about are the least likely to get hired.

The income levels mentioned in the article do seem low, but what other assistance are these people already receiving? Subsidized housing? Food stamps? Getting subsidized by the government should be hard. Has anyone noticed that the lower labor force participation has been matched by a large increase in disability claims? People cannot find a job and they suddenly decide they are disabled.

[SteveC]

I think Dickhead's recent travails show that the ACA still has teething problems, to say the least, but that doesn't say its not an improvement on the previous system. (I know that you Ayn Randists and libertarians will groan at that, but so be it). The ACA is still based on the system initiated by Romney in his Massachusetts health reform law, but the european systems have to be better. I've never known anyone go bankrupt seeking health care over there, and the general level of care is better IMHO. But, I just saw this about the right wing's favourite black doctor. Is he the hypocrite of the year? Talk about taking advantage of the system and then pulling up the ladder for the next generation.

Interesting facts about Dr. Ben Carson, Conservative Icon:

1. raised by a single mother.

2. raised in public housing.

3. fed with food stamps.

4. supported with welfare wasnt-dependent-on-government.

5. kept healthy with medicaid.

6. educated in public schools.

7. got eyeglasses from state agency.

8. benefited from affirmative action to enter college.

9. used federal loans and Pell grants in undergrad school.

10. Benefited from affirmative action to enter medical school.

11. Med school paid for with grant from USPHS*.

12. Said: "The disintegration of the family unit and the welfare state are enslaving African-Americans and ruining their futures. ".

[Rev BS]

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_a...ured_some.html

I know that you are tired of the same old rhetoric, but nothing can really go forward in this country until you guys can see that there is a need for a "greater good" mindset. We are talking about common sense, not ideology. We have seen the amazing strength of the American economy as it pull itself up from the 2007 financial disaster. This, despite the "enemy" within our own ranks who vowed to oppose Obama at every step of the way. Especially using the "patriotic" thumping of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

What rights? When you don't have a job, and your family is hungry, do you really care about "rights"? Oh yes, of course you do, I can hear you. Why do you always have to shout? But it's like honesty, finding & returning $100 and $10.000, quite a difference in how your mind will rationalize your actions. Action speak louder than words, I was told.

[Dickhead]

The best deal I have found is to keep your income under 200% of the FPL because then you qualify for "additional cost sharing" (actually you get some "additional cost sharing up to 250% of the FPL, but not nearly as much). I'm selling appreciated stock up to where my dividends and capital gains are equal to $10,150, which is the sum of the standard deduction and the personal exemption. Then I take another $10,150 out of my traditional IRA. So that is $20,300 in income for purposes of calculating the subsidy or 177% of the federal poverty level. BUT I pay zero federal tax on the capital gains and dividends, then I pay zero state tax because my state has a $20,000 pension exclusion starting in the year you turn 55. Then I get a $399 a month subsidy towards my health insurance. Obviously I can't live on $20,300 in the US so the rest comes out of my Roth IRA, totally tax free and not counted as income for purposes of the subsidy.

So the subsidy almost completely pays for my beer and weed, especially since we are having price wars on the weed here right now. I'd like to thank all of you who are still working for that. I will twist one up now and open a beer in honor of the hard-working US taxpayer.

[Dccpa]

It has now been nine months and eleven days since I completed the application for the insurance coverage, and although I do finally have coverage as of July 1, it's still all fucked up. CIGNA is now attempting to extort six months' worth of back premiums for coverage that never existed. This is apparently due to an error by the state exchange. So now I can't pay the August premium because CIGNA will apply it to January. Today in a conference call both parties acknowledged the error but neither would commit to any timetable for correcting it. This was call #4 to resolve the current situation (I. E. , this month's particular fuck up). Overall it was call #11, including four international calls. Also I discovered that they had my county wrong, and my subsidy should have been $22 a month higher since health insurance costs more in this county than in the one they thought I lived in. I bet everybody in my zip code is getting ripped off like that (the city I live in used be in three different counties but is now its own city and county).

I went to see a doctor last week and I asked her about the new preventive care that must be covered for free and she looked at me kind of sideways dog-head and did not know shit about it. So I'm going to research that and make them give me every single cock sucking test and so forth that's covered (except of course the one where they stick that big hose where the sun don't shine) and see if I can get them to do it all in a single appointment. They made a big deal about their holistic care and how they cover everything from birth to death but they didn't know shit from apple butter in actuality.

Every marginal dollar that I earn reduces my subsidy by over 13 cents and that is sure a substantial disincentive to work in my book. Income tax and OASDI would eat up another 22.28 cents on the dollar and of course there is the cost to commute. But I can earn up to $6500 and put it in a conventional IRA and my subsidy won't be reduced. Thus that is what I plan to do for the next 8 years until I turn 65. Earn $6500 as fast as possible every year and then choke the chicken. So I am working 8 hours a week at something I can do totally baked. I mean I can literally do this job with my eyes closed. This frees up a full-time job for some zit-faced millennial.

Sorry about your problems Dickhead. Esten is likely behind your insurance troubles. Either that or you live in Oregon.

Some clarifications for those not as familiar with Obamacare:

1. All retirement plan contributions that reduce your income help towards the subsidy calculation. I use 401 k and IRA contributions. For someone over 50 who made $50 k in a year, they could potentially put $23000 into a 401 k and $6500 into a deductible IRA and reduce their income to $20500. That would qualify the person for a substantial insurance subsidy. Of course, you have to be able to live off of the reduced income.

2. The subsidy appears to have levels like the tax brackets. I ran one calculation where a $1 increase in income caused about $160 increase in annual premiums.

3. Household income is how the subsidy is calculated. So if someone lives in your home like a spouse, even if the spouse has coverage at work, they count the spouse's income against you for purposes of calculating your subsidy. And social security income counts against you.

For some in many states, you don't want to reduce your income too low as you will not qualify for medicaid or for a subsidy. For example, $17 k income might qualify you for a 91% subsidy, but $15 k would exclude you subsidy coverage as too low for Obamacare subsidies and too high for medicaid coverage. Makes a lot of sense doesn't it?

[Tiny12]

Every marginal dollar that I earn reduces my subsidy by over 13 cents and that is sure a substantial disincentive to work in my book. Income tax and OASDI would eat up another 22.28 cents on the dollar and of course there is the cost to commute. But I can earn up to $6500 and put it in a conventional IRA and my subsidy won't be reduced. Thus that is what I plan to do for the next 8 years until I turn 65. Earn $6500 as fast as possible every year and then choke the chicken. So I am working 8 hours a week at something I can do totally baked.

The federal government should encourage work instead of discouraging it. I haven't slowed down to the extent you have but my thinking is similar.

I hope you're able to get the problems with your insurance straightened out.

[Dickhead]

It has now been nine months and eleven days since I completed the application for the insurance coverage, and although I do finally have coverage as of July 1, it's still all fucked up. CIGNA is now attempting to extort six months' worth of back premiums for coverage that never existed. This is apparently due to an error by the state exchange. So now I can't pay the August premium because CIGNA will apply it to January. Today in a conference call both parties acknowledged the error but neither would commit to any timetable for correcting it. This was call #4 to resolve the current situation (I. E. , this month's particular fuck up). Overall it was call #11, including four international calls. Also I discovered that they had my county wrong, and my subsidy should have been $22 a month higher since health insurance costs more in this county than in the one they thought I lived in. I bet everybody in my zip code is getting ripped off like that (the city I live in used be in three different counties but is now its own city and county).

I went to see a doctor last week and I asked her about the new preventive care that must be covered for free and she looked at me kind of sideways dog-head and did not know shit about it. So I'm going to research that and make them give me every single cock sucking test and so forth that's covered (except of course the one where they stick that big hose where the sun don't shine) and see if I can get them to do it all in a single appointment. They made a big deal about their holistic care and how they cover everything from birth to death but they didn't know shit from apple butter in actuality.

Every marginal dollar that I earn reduces my subsidy by over 13 cents and that is sure a substantial disincentive to work in my book. Income tax and OASDI would eat up another 22.28 cents on the dollar and of course there is the cost to commute. But I can earn up to $6500 and put it in a conventional IRA and my subsidy won't be reduced. Thus that is what I plan to do for the next 8 years until I turn 65. Earn $6500 as fast as possible every year and then choke the chicken. So I am working 8 hours a week at something I can do totally baked. I mean I can literally do this job with my eyes closed. This frees up a full-time job for some zit-faced millennial.