Why aren't health insurance premiums prorated?

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

GasX

Lifer
Feb 8, 2001
29,033
6
81
Originally posted by: SaulbadguyOne of the only reasons I have health insurance.."just in case". Its BS that my employer has to pay 365 bucks a month (i'm glad I don't have to) for me to not use it. I go to the doctor maybe once a year. The cost of healthcare in America is just as at fault as the insurance companies are. It should not be ran like a business.
Should the government run it? Would that make things more efficient?

The reason health care is so fuxor3d is that there are too many leeches on the system. You have access to the best healthcare system in the world. Healthcare is expensive. If you can't live with that. Pretend you are an illegal Mexican in LA and get free healthcare courtesy of the taxpayers...

You can always put a poultice on your festering sores if the thought of paying for something is beneath you...

 

Saulbadguy

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2003
5,573
12
81
Originally posted by: Mwilding
Originally posted by: SaulbadguyOne of the only reasons I have health insurance.."just in case". Its BS that my employer has to pay 365 bucks a month (i'm glad I don't have to) for me to not use it. I go to the doctor maybe once a year. The cost of healthcare in America is just as at fault as the insurance companies are. It should not be ran like a business.
Should the government run it? Would that make things more efficient?

The reason health care is so fuxor3d is that there are too many leeches on the system. You have access to the best healthcare system in the world. Healthcare is expensive. If you can't live with that. Pretend you are an illegal Mexican in LA and get free healthcare courtesy of the taxpayers...

You can always put a poultice on your festering sores if the thought of paying for something is beneath you...

More efficient? Heck no...cheap..you betcha!

I'm not even paying for my insurance and I complain about it. Its way too expensive for something I do not use.
 

GasX

Lifer
Feb 8, 2001
29,033
6
81
Originally posted by: SaulbadguyMore efficient? Heck no...cheap..you betcha!
You seriously think the government will make healthcare cheaper?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA....

....


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH...

 

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
9
0
Originally posted by: Mwilding
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Originally posted by: przero
Marlin1975 - And if you get sick? We pay?


No. The chances of me getting VERY sick are very little. What it would cost would be a lot less then what health insurance cost over time. Kinda like a extended warrenty of a good item is not worth it.
BUT a extended warrenty on a unreliable item would be worth it, kind of like fat, lazy, smoking, etc... people it would be good for them to have health insurance. And it would be even better for them to have heatly people, like myself, pair for THEIR lifestyles.

I hope for your sake that you don't learn your lesson the hard way. I'd love to go without health insurance... I'm very healthy, haven't been sick in years, but it didn't stop me from getting a kidney stone a few years back.



Less then 10% of american will get Kidney stones and even then most will pass on their own.

Again I am not going to pay for lazy, fat, smokers, etc........
One bad car accident and you are broke for life...




That?s what car insurance is for, which I do have.

Its this type of crapp that try and scares healthy people like myself into paying for OTHERS lifestyles. Well it does not work on me.

I have only been to the hospital twice in my life?.
Last time was a bad motorcycle accident, NOT my fault and his insurance will be paying me big time
And before that was when I was born.

Have only had 6 prescriptions my whole life, all of those related to the motorcycle accident.

When I get a cold or flu it takes less then 3 days for me to heal from that. Strange how the human body heals itself if you are not fat, lazy, drinking, out of shape, smoking, etc? But I guess all the fear mongers here would not know anything about that would you. Instead you want to sit in a corner eating your McDonalds, complaining why YOUR insurance is so high, and telling everybody that is healthy the sky is falling and we better pay for YOUR lifestyle by buying into your insurance scam? I mean policy group. No thanks.


 

Saulbadguy

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2003
5,573
12
81
Originally posted by: Mwilding
Originally posted by: SaulbadguyMore efficient? Heck no...cheap..you betcha!
You seriously think the government will make healthcare cheaper?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA....

....


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH...

I take it you do not know what kind of money government workers make.
 

Saulbadguy

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2003
5,573
12
81
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Originally posted by: Mwilding
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Originally posted by: przero
Marlin1975 - And if you get sick? We pay?


No. The chances of me getting VERY sick are very little. What it would cost would be a lot less then what health insurance cost over time. Kinda like a extended warrenty of a good item is not worth it.
BUT a extended warrenty on a unreliable item would be worth it, kind of like fat, lazy, smoking, etc... people it would be good for them to have health insurance. And it would be even better for them to have heatly people, like myself, pair for THEIR lifestyles.

I hope for your sake that you don't learn your lesson the hard way. I'd love to go without health insurance... I'm very healthy, haven't been sick in years, but it didn't stop me from getting a kidney stone a few years back.



Less then 10% of american will get Kidney stones and even then most will pass on their own.

Again I am not going to pay for lazy, fat, smokers, etc........
One bad car accident and you are broke for life...




That?s what car insurance is for, which I do have.

Its this type of crapp that try and scares healthy people like myself into paying for OTHERS lifestyles. Well it does not work on me.

I have only been to the hospital twice in my life?.
Last time was a bad motorcycle accident, NOT my fault and his insurance will be paying me big time
And before that was when I was born.

Have only had 6 prescriptions my whole life, all of those related to the motorcycle accident.

When I get a cold or flu it takes less then 3 days for me to heal from that. Strange how the human body heals itself if you are not fat, lazy, drinking, out of shape, smoking, etc? But I guess all the fear mongers here would not know anything about that would you. Instead you want to sit in a corner eating your McDonalds, complaining why YOUR insurance is so high, and telling everybody that is healthy the sky is falling and we better pay for YOUR lifestyle by buying into your insurance scam? I mean policy group. No thanks.
Thats a good point. I guess, if you get hurt at work, you have workers comp. Just stay safe when you are home, and don't do anything stupid to get yourself hurt.
 

GasX

Lifer
Feb 8, 2001
29,033
6
81
Originally posted by: Saulbadguy
Originally posted by: Mwilding
Originally posted by: SaulbadguyMore efficient? Heck no...cheap..you betcha!
You seriously think the government will make healthcare cheaper?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA....

....


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH...

I take it you do not know what kind of money government workers make.
You want your healthcare delivered by an undereducated underpaid union slob who will sue his employer at a moments notice if he gets "offended" by something a coworker says at the water fountain?

If you for one minute think that putting ANYTHING under government control other than a power grid will make things more efficient and cost effective, you are utterly delusional.

The only thing this would accomplish would be huge tax hikes and an economy permanently in the crapper.
 

Saulbadguy

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2003
5,573
12
81
Originally posted by: Mwilding
Originally posted by: Saulbadguy
Originally posted by: Mwilding
Originally posted by: SaulbadguyMore efficient? Heck no...cheap..you betcha!
You seriously think the government will make healthcare cheaper?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA....

....


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH...

I take it you do not know what kind of money government workers make.
You want your healthcare delivered by an undereducated underpaid union slob who will sue his employer at a moments notice if he gets "offended" by something a coworker says at the water fountain?

If you for one minute think that putting ANYTHING under government control other than a power grid will make things more efficient and cost effective, you are utterly delusional.

The only thing this would accomplish would be huge tax hikes and an economy permanently in the crapper.
Well, it would be nice if it was regulated tighter by the government, and not under total control. I also said I did not think it would make more efficient. Also, I don't know what you are talking about when you talk about a "union slob who will sue his employer". Here in Kansas, its very difficult to sue the government.
 

dartworth

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
15,200
10
81
Originally posted by: Mwilding
Originally posted by: Saulbadguy
Originally posted by: Mwilding
Originally posted by: SaulbadguyMore efficient? Heck no...cheap..you betcha!
You seriously think the government will make healthcare cheaper?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA....

....


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH...

I take it you do not know what kind of money government workers make.
You want your healthcare delivered by an undereducated underpaid union slob who will sue his employer at a moments notice if he gets "offended" by something a coworker says at the water fountain?

If you for one minute think that putting ANYTHING under government control other than a power grid will make things more efficient and cost effective, you are utterly delusional.

The only thing this would accomplish would be huge tax hikes and an economy permanently in the crapper.



nice stereotype asshole
 

dartworth

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
15,200
10
81
Originally posted by: Mwilding
Originally posted by: dartworthnice stereotype asshole
Want some fries with that waaaaahmburger?


riiight....
rolleye.gif
 

Thegonagle

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2000
9,773
0
71
MMMMMM. I'm eating Lays potato chips, drinking coffee, and smoking a Camel light right now. I also get all the free beer and pizza I can handle at work.

Thank you for your contribution. :)

Actually, my health premium is pretty expensive, despite the fact that the company pays 75%. I think it is prorated according to the group I work with: a lot of women (pregnancy and lady-doctor costs) and crazy-riding crash-prone fixed-gear bicyclists (ER visits).
 

WHipLAsh13

Golden Member
Jan 17, 2001
1,719
0
76
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Originally posted by: Mwilding
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Originally posted by: przero
Marlin1975 - And if you get sick? We pay?


No. The chances of me getting VERY sick are very little. What it would cost would be a lot less then what health insurance cost over time. Kinda like a extended warrenty of a good item is not worth it.
BUT a extended warrenty on a unreliable item would be worth it, kind of like fat, lazy, smoking, etc... people it would be good for them to have health insurance. And it would be even better for them to have heatly people, like myself, pair for THEIR lifestyles.

I hope for your sake that you don't learn your lesson the hard way. I'd love to go without health insurance... I'm very healthy, haven't been sick in years, but it didn't stop me from getting a kidney stone a few years back.



Less then 10% of american will get Kidney stones and even then most will pass on their own.

Again I am not going to pay for lazy, fat, smokers, etc........
One bad car accident and you are broke for life...




That?s what car insurance is for, which I do have.

Its this type of crapp that try and scares healthy people like myself into paying for OTHERS lifestyles. Well it does not work on me.

I have only been to the hospital twice in my life?.
Last time was a bad motorcycle accident, NOT my fault and his insurance will be paying me big time
And before that was when I was born.

Have only had 6 prescriptions my whole life, all of those related to the motorcycle accident.

When I get a cold or flu it takes less then 3 days for me to heal from that. Strange how the human body heals itself if you are not fat, lazy, drinking, out of shape, smoking, etc? But I guess all the fear mongers here would not know anything about that would you. Instead you want to sit in a corner eating your McDonalds, complaining why YOUR insurance is so high, and telling everybody that is healthy the sky is falling and we better pay for YOUR lifestyle by buying into your insurance scam? I mean policy group. No thanks.

I think people who ride motorcycles should have to pay higher premiums too since you are at much greater risk of injury than in a car.


 

GasX

Lifer
Feb 8, 2001
29,033
6
81
Originally posted by: dartworth
Originally posted by: Mwilding
Originally posted by: dartworthnice stereotype asshole
Want some fries with that waaaaahmburger?


riiight....
rolleye.gif
My experience with government workers:

Politicians
DMV
DOT
Bus Drivers
Unemployment Office
Police
Fire

With the exception of the local finest and bravest, these are not the most magnanimous, cheerful hardworking groups of people one gets to meet. Yes there are exceptions, I have met some lucid and polite people at the DMV, but they aren't the norm.

And btw, stereotypes are only bad when you assume an individual will be a cookie cutter representative for whatever label you apply to him.
 

Dulanic

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2000
9,968
592
136
Should people who get diagnosed with a disease get higher premiums too? Hell health insurance companies already DO base their premiums based on your health, I could NEVER get never get health insurance on my own. It is contract's companies have with health insurance companies, the health insurance companies cant pick and choose which employees they will cover and which they wont with most big companies because of the contracts they have. It's hard enough as is with the way the insurance companies are..... I am already stuck with one company because I would be screwed if I ever lost my health insurance. This is what insurance is for, some people may rarely use it, some people get unlucky and have to use it alot.

You may say this is unrelated, but by your idea... I promise health insurance companies would try to blame everything on other things, what about things we don't know the cause? Health insurance companies would find ways to get out of more things then they already do.

Maybe I am misunderstanding what you are saying, and you only mean for smokers etc... but you do also know some obese people really do have MEDICAL problems that cause them to be like that? Do we charge them more for something they can't control?

I may be taking this rather personally, because I depend on health insurance, and my life is limited BECAUSE of health insurance. I currently have to live apart from my fiance BECAUSE of the fact I CAN'T leave my current job because of a disease I have. Everyday I wonder will I ever lose my job? Will I be screwed and no longer beable to take medication for my disease?
 

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
9
0
Originally posted by: WHipLAsh13
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Originally posted by: Mwilding
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Originally posted by: przero
Marlin1975 - And if you get sick? We pay?


No. The chances of me getting VERY sick are very little. What it would cost would be a lot less then what health insurance cost over time. Kinda like a extended warrenty of a good item is not worth it.
BUT a extended warrenty on a unreliable item would be worth it, kind of like fat, lazy, smoking, etc... people it would be good for them to have health insurance. And it would be even better for them to have heatly people, like myself, pair for THEIR lifestyles.

I hope for your sake that you don't learn your lesson the hard way. I'd love to go without health insurance... I'm very healthy, haven't been sick in years, but it didn't stop me from getting a kidney stone a few years back.



Less then 10% of american will get Kidney stones and even then most will pass on their own.

Again I am not going to pay for lazy, fat, smokers, etc........
One bad car accident and you are broke for life...




That?s what car insurance is for, which I do have.

Its this type of crapp that try and scares healthy people like myself into paying for OTHERS lifestyles. Well it does not work on me.

I have only been to the hospital twice in my life?.
Last time was a bad motorcycle accident, NOT my fault and his insurance will be paying me big time
And before that was when I was born.

Have only had 6 prescriptions my whole life, all of those related to the motorcycle accident.

When I get a cold or flu it takes less then 3 days for me to heal from that. Strange how the human body heals itself if you are not fat, lazy, drinking, out of shape, smoking, etc? But I guess all the fear mongers here would not know anything about that would you. Instead you want to sit in a corner eating your McDonalds, complaining why YOUR insurance is so high, and telling everybody that is healthy the sky is falling and we better pay for YOUR lifestyle by buying into your insurance scam? I mean policy group. No thanks.

I think people who ride motorcycles should have to pay higher premiums too since you are at much greater risk of injury than in a car.

I agree, and we already do. Basic liabilty is VERY cheap on a bike as it can do very little damage in a accident. BUT add full coverage and the price goes through the roof, even more so then a lot of sport cars. The biggest reason is mediacl cost if you, the rider, get hurt.

Like I said, I agree. There is a greater risk for injury on a bike and my and other rider insurance should be higher then those that only have a car. And I think bikers that dont wear helmets should pay even more or not be covered at all.

 

dartworth

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
15,200
10
81
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Originally posted by: Mwilding
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Originally posted by: przero
Marlin1975 - And if you get sick? We pay?


No. The chances of me getting VERY sick are very little. What it would cost would be a lot less then what health insurance cost over time. Kinda like a extended warrenty of a good item is not worth it.
BUT a extended warrenty on a unreliable item would be worth it, kind of like fat, lazy, smoking, etc... people it would be good for them to have health insurance. And it would be even better for them to have heatly people, like myself, pair for THEIR lifestyles.

I hope for your sake that you don't learn your lesson the hard way. I'd love to go without health insurance... I'm very healthy, haven't been sick in years, but it didn't stop me from getting a kidney stone a few years back.



Less then 10% of american will get Kidney stones and even then most will pass on their own.

Again I am not going to pay for lazy, fat, smokers, etc........
One bad car accident and you are broke for life...




That?s what car insurance is for, which I do have.

Its this type of crapp that try and scares healthy people like myself into paying for OTHERS lifestyles. Well it does not work on me.

I have only been to the hospital twice in my life?.
Last time was a bad motorcycle accident, NOT my fault and his insurance will be paying me big time
And before that was when I was born.

Have only had 6 prescriptions my whole life, all of those related to the motorcycle accident.

When I get a cold or flu it takes less then 3 days for me to heal from that. Strange how the human body heals itself if you are not fat, lazy, drinking, out of shape, smoking, etc? But I guess all the fear mongers here would not know anything about that would you. Instead you want to sit in a corner eating your McDonalds, complaining why YOUR insurance is so high, and telling everybody that is healthy the sky is falling and we better pay for YOUR lifestyle by buying into your insurance scam? I mean policy group. No thanks.



What happens if you have children? Who pays for those hospital bills?

What happens when the uninsured driver hits you?

What happens when you get hurt at the gym?

Lots of things can happen. The whole system in messed up. People should focus less on blaming a "group" of people and look for ways to fix the problem. Healthcare cost are out of control, this isn't the fault of "lazy, fat, smokers...etc" people.
 

T2T III

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
12,899
1
0
Why should people that take care of themselves have to pay higher premiums to support the health care costs of those who don't?

This is not entirely true. For examply, my daughter has asthma and acid reflux. We pay a higher premium because of her condition. Also, it all works out in the end. By the time you get older, you could get cancer -- and end up costing your insurance company $300,000. Keep in mind, insurance is all about risks.
 

GasX

Lifer
Feb 8, 2001
29,033
6
81
Exactly, the fact that you spend $300 a month on health insurance and go to the doctor once a year, doesn't mean you are over paying. You are amortizing the cost of your total lifetime healthcare bill which can easily run from $100,000 to several $million.

Even if you live a healthy risk free lifestyle, you still have to have a plan for unexpected costs. Assuming you don't want to pay health insurance, you can make sure you have an available line of credit just in case. This could be an unused credit card with a high limit or a home equity credit line or even a substantial savings account (that isn't earmarked for retirement).

Thinking you aren't ever going to get sick is just saying you want to government/taxpayer to pay when you do get sick and can't afford it.
 

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
9
0
Originally posted by: dartworth
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Originally posted by: Mwilding
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Originally posted by: przero
Marlin1975 - And if you get sick? We pay?


No. The chances of me getting VERY sick are very little. What it would cost would be a lot less then what health insurance cost over time. Kinda like a extended warrenty of a good item is not worth it.
BUT a extended warrenty on a unreliable item would be worth it, kind of like fat, lazy, smoking, etc... people it would be good for them to have health insurance. And it would be even better for them to have heatly people, like myself, pair for THEIR lifestyles.

I hope for your sake that you don't learn your lesson the hard way. I'd love to go without health insurance... I'm very healthy, haven't been sick in years, but it didn't stop me from getting a kidney stone a few years back.



Less then 10% of american will get Kidney stones and even then most will pass on their own.

Again I am not going to pay for lazy, fat, smokers, etc........
One bad car accident and you are broke for life...




That?s what car insurance is for, which I do have.

Its this type of crapp that try and scares healthy people like myself into paying for OTHERS lifestyles. Well it does not work on me.

I have only been to the hospital twice in my life?.
Last time was a bad motorcycle accident, NOT my fault and his insurance will be paying me big time
And before that was when I was born.

Have only had 6 prescriptions my whole life, all of those related to the motorcycle accident.

When I get a cold or flu it takes less then 3 days for me to heal from that. Strange how the human body heals itself if you are not fat, lazy, drinking, out of shape, smoking, etc? But I guess all the fear mongers here would not know anything about that would you. Instead you want to sit in a corner eating your McDonalds, complaining why YOUR insurance is so high, and telling everybody that is healthy the sky is falling and we better pay for YOUR lifestyle by buying into your insurance scam? I mean policy group. No thanks.



What happens if you have children? Who pays for those hospital bills?

What happens when the uninsured driver hits you?

What happens when you get hurt at the gym?

Lots of things can happen. The whole system in messed up. People should focus less on blaming a "group" of people and look for ways to fix the problem. Healthcare cost are out of control, this isn't the fault of "lazy, fat, smokers...etc" people.


1. Average cost of having a child is less then $2500 , a lot less then paying years of overpriced premiums

2. AGAIN, I have car insurance and that is what underinsured if for. Only cost like $10 extra a year or so

3. I rarely use free weights and when I do I have a spotter, been working out for MANY YEARS. I know what I am doing.

I am not talking about healt care, and neither is this topic. We are talking about why should healty people that are NOT lazy, fat, drinking, etc... pay the same as people that are. Hence the reason I tell people unless you fall into one of those groups don't get healt insurance, you are just paying for others lifestyles.




 

GasX

Lifer
Feb 8, 2001
29,033
6
81
Originally posted by: dartworth
LOL...I would like to see where the average cost for having a child is $2500?
When you get taken to the hospital by a volunteer ambulance corps and give birth in the ambulance...

 

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
9
0
Originally posted by: dartworth
LOL...I would like to see where the average cost for having a child is $2500?


The only site I could find that gave a answer was one that was prced in NewYork. Here in NC familys I know it cost high 1000's to low 2000's for a one day stay, which is most birth today.


Cost of Birth in NewYork $2500-3000

"I called a few hospitals in New York and found that the cost of a normal vaginal birth for a self-pay patient with a one-day stay ranged from $2,500 to $3,000."
 

GasX

Lifer
Feb 8, 2001
29,033
6
81
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Originally posted by: dartworth
LOL...I would like to see where the average cost for having a child is $2500?


The only site I could find that gave a answer was one that was prced in NewYork. Here in NC familys I know it cost high 1000's to low 2000's for a one day stay, which is most birth today.


Cost of Birth in NewYork $2500-3000

"I called a few hospitals in New York and found that the cost of a normal vaginal birth for a self-pay patient with a one-day stay ranged from $2,500 to $3,000."
factor in pre and post-natal care and you haven't scratched the surface...

 

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
9
0
Originally posted by: Mwilding
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Originally posted by: dartworth
LOL...I would like to see where the average cost for having a child is $2500?


The only site I could find that gave a answer was one that was prced in NewYork. Here in NC familys I know it cost high 1000's to low 2000's for a one day stay, which is most birth today.


Cost of Birth in NewYork $2500-3000

"I called a few hospitals in New York and found that the cost of a normal vaginal birth for a self-pay patient with a one-day stay ranged from $2,500 to $3,000."
factor in pre and post-natal care and you haven't scratched the surface...


Fine, I backed up what I said with proof, please show me something on what you are saying?

Also I don't plan on having a kid every 9months. So factor in the savings by NOT having insurance and I am still WAY ahead of all the fat, lazy, drinking, smokers, etc...