| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Poll: Do you have health insurance? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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Henry Hinds 
United States
Local time: 22:58
English to Spanish
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In memoriam
I have Medicare provided by the US Government because I was fortunate to live long enough to become eligible. Before that all I had was private insurance that was expensive and not very good, but there were no serious health problems. In general the US is not a good country for being sick.
| | | | | I totally agree | Aug 10, 2011 |
Serdar Domurcuk wrote:
Every person needs to see a doctor some day or the other. Personally I'd feel very uncomfortable if I wasn't insured, even though it's been ages that I have seen a doctor.
it would scare me to death not to have any, especially in this country (US)
But I definitely know people who don't have any or have way less coverage than what they need.
| | | | Jenn Mercer
United States
Local time: 00:58
Member (2009)
French to English
I have it in the classic American way - as part of a family plan through my spouse's employer. I don't know what we would do if we were both freelancers. Luckily, his profession (IT Security) tends towards having larger employers with decent benefits.
| | | | Williamson
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:58
Flemish to English
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| Universal healthcare | Aug 10, 2011 |
Henry Hinds wrote:
I have Medicare provided by the US Government because I was fortunate to live long enough to become eligible. Before that all I had was private insurance that was expensive and not very good, but there were no serious health problems. In general the US is not a good country for being sick.
Isn't universal healthcare is socialism and socialism is bad (according to Tea-Party members).
As for me, I don't have one, because I don't need one.
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Jenn Mercer wrote:
I have it in the classic American way - as part of a family plan through my spouse's employer. I don't know what we would do if we were both freelancers. Luckily, his profession (IT Security) tends towards having larger employers with decent benefits.
Same here. Thank goodness! Paying for decent health insurance otherwise would eat up about half of my freelancing income.
| | | | Marcelo Silveyra
United States
Local time: 21:58
Member (2007)
German to English
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Williamson wrote: Henry Hinds wrote:
I have Medicare provided by the US Government because I was fortunate to live long enough to become eligible. Before that all I had was private insurance that was expensive and not very good, but there were no serious health problems. In general the US is not a good country for being sick. Isn't universal healthcare is socialism and socialism is bad (according to Tea-Party members). As for me, I don't have one, because I don't need one.
What on earth does that have to do with what Henry said? When I see these forums, it never ceases to amaze me that some of the posts reflect the critical thinking skills of an eleven-year-old posting on a video game forum, complete with incessantly annoying troll behavior minus the excuse of the posters being eleven years old. Ugh.
[Edited at 2011-08-10 18:14 GMT]
| | | | | Lucky indeed | Aug 10, 2011 |
Jenn Mercer wrote:
I have it in the classic American way - as part of a family plan through my spouse's employer. I don't know what we would do if we were both freelancers. Luckily, his profession (IT Security) tends towards having larger employers with decent benefits.
This is one of the main reasons why I won't consider moving back to the US. Just in the last year, my family probably cost French social security and arm and a leg... my husband has numerous health issues, he underwent surgery three times in the last year and is scheduled for another (minor) one later this year. We also had a baby last year - I stayed in the hospital for 5 days after the birth - I shudder to think of what that would have cost us if we had been in the States! Of course, I pay a large % of my earnings towards health care contributions, but it is absolutely worth it to have total peace of mind. I know a few freelancers in the US who pay a large % of their earnings towards health insurance, but still have lousy coverage, compared to France.
| | | | Michael Harris
Germany
Local time: 06:58
Member (2006)
German to English
and have never really needed it. I pay about €600,00 / month into the government system which is, even if it is a heck of a lot of money (tax deductible) is better than being insured privately in Germany. If anything does happen, I am also insured for the period I am on the sick, after 21 days. It does annoy me a bit when I hear my sister is insured privately in the UK for the same amount in one year what I pay per month though.
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Valeria Fuma
Argentina
Local time: 01:58
English to Spanish
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| Yes, of course... | Aug 10, 2011 |
... and precisely yesterday I found out that from this month on I'll be paying 50% more. And that's not because my age or anything, but due to the lovely ongoing, non-stop inflation we have in Argentina.
| | | | | Yes - and I'm very blessed | Aug 11, 2011 |
In addition to Medicare, I still have insurance from the organization I early-retired from (as a full-time staff translator) in 1992. Of course, I pay a premium; the supplemental costs about $100 a month.
Medicare covers any physician, most test, and most in-hospital expenses. It pays the provider first, and if there are any charges left, the other insurance picks up the balance. There is never a co-pay for any service covered by Medicare.
In addition, the employer in... See more In addition to Medicare, I still have insurance from the organization I early-retired from (as a full-time staff translator) in 1992. Of course, I pay a premium; the supplemental costs about $100 a month.
Medicare covers any physician, most test, and most in-hospital expenses. It pays the provider first, and if there are any charges left, the other insurance picks up the balance. There is never a co-pay for any service covered by Medicare.
In addition, the employer insurance also covers prescription drugs, dental benefits, eye glasses, acupuncture, chiropractic, some long-term care, etc., for which there are co-pays.
This arrangement is possible under Medicare for anyone who formally retires from a company or organization that alllows its employees to continue with the same insurance program.
I wake up every morning and thank my lucky stars. ▲ Collapse
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Russia. State (only one here)-financed health care, although, as far as I know, few international private insurers operate as well.
Guaranteed survival in case you catch cold. Also at any time you are able to know the composition of your blood, etc. So, you are alive and informed.
[Edited at 2011-08-11 05:13 GMT]
| | | | Williamson
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:58
Flemish to English
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Marcelo Silveyra wrote: Williamson wrote: Henry Hinds wrote:
I have Medicare provided by the US Government because I was fortunate to live long enough to become eligible. Before that all I had was private insurance that was expensive and not very good, but there were no serious health problems. In general the US is not a good country for being sick. Isn't universal healthcare is socialism and socialism is bad (according to Tea-Party members). As for me, I don't have one, because I don't need one. What on earth does that have to do with what Henry said? When I see these forums, it never ceases to amaze me that some of the posts reflect the critical thinking skills of an eleven-year-old posting on a video game forum, complete with incessantly annoying troll behavior minus the excuse of the posters being eleven years old. Ugh. [Edited at 2011-08-10 18:14 GMT]
A reference : Henry mentioned: The US is not a good country to get sick.
Why? An expensive insurance made up for the benefit ($) of the insurance-company, not for the benefit of the insured. Aren't the American insurance companies not the only ones which have/had a specialist whose job it was/is (?) to look for a previous condition.
If you had been treated for a sore on your toe and now you have a heart-condition, you risk to lose your insurance even if you paid your hefty contribution? And getting a bill of thousands of $.
Is paying a small contribution to get a quality universal health-care coverage not a lot better than the previous/current (?)US-system? In some European countries health-care is free.
In other Europea countries, the government guarantees a quality treatment and introduced a maximum invoice, where you pay depending on your income and get reimbursed immediately or a year later, also depending on your income.
Government distributes the wealth and that ain't bad at all.
And a bit of irony does not hurt anyone, does it?
[Edited at 2011-08-11 17:29 GMT]
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In Greece the public health system is an absolute disgrace (long waits, disrespectful staff, shabby buildings most of the times lacking necessary equipment etc.) and many people opt for the private health system (even though we are obliged to pay contributions to the public health system). You pay a lot of money, but at least you get the required services back. Even though you are more treated like a "customer" rather than a "patient". However, how could anyone in Europe (or anywhere for that m... See more In Greece the public health system is an absolute disgrace (long waits, disrespectful staff, shabby buildings most of the times lacking necessary equipment etc.) and many people opt for the private health system (even though we are obliged to pay contributions to the public health system). You pay a lot of money, but at least you get the required services back. Even though you are more treated like a "customer" rather than a "patient". However, how could anyone in Europe (or anywhere for that matter) live without a health insurance? ▲ Collapse
| | | | Steven Capsuto
United States
Local time: 00:58
Member (2004)
Spanish to English
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| Oh, please.... | Aug 11, 2011 |
Marcelo Silveyra wrote: Williamson wrote:
Isn't universal healthcare is socialism and socialism is bad (according to Tea-Party members).
As for me, I don't have one, because I don't need one.
What on earth does that have to do with what Henry said? When I see these forums, it never ceases to amaze me that some of the posts reflect the critical thinking skills of an eleven-year-old
Clearly it was an ironic comment meant as a joke. Not sure how you missed that.
| | | | Marcelo Silveyra
United States
Local time: 21:58
Member (2007)
German to English
+ ...
| You're barking up the wrong tree | Aug 11, 2011 |
[quote]Williamson wrote:
[quote]Marcelo Silveyra wrote:
[quote]Williamson wrote:
Henry Hinds wrote:
Is paying a small contribution to get a quality universal health-care coverage not a lot better than the previous/current (?)US-system? In some European countries health-care is free.
In other Europea countries, the government guarantees a quality treatment and introduced a maximum invoice, where you pay depending on your income and get reimbursed immediately or a year later, also depending on your income.
Government distributes the wealth and that ain't bad at all.
[Edited at 2011-08-11 17:29 GMT]
I've always been a believer in social democracy, and am well aware of how the system works in many European countries. What I don't appreciate is the endless ironic barbs, both from left-wing and right-wing posters on Proz, that pepper the forums without serious adult discussion. This "oh, look, I'm special and I make fun of the tin-foil-hat loonies on a forum that has no impact on anything except my sense of self-esteem" nonsense is what I find annoying. It's like I'm reading the comments section in an LA Times article.
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