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Anybody have any idea why NPR is going ape-**** with their coverage of the evil Obama's website rollout? Are they competing for listeners with talk radio, or what? It is not news to me that a government website would have difficulty getting up and running. Yes, this is a deliberate troll, but a serious question.
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Yay!...(Drool)
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I'm sorry, this thread is too political. This forum is only for snarkily discussing TTips members, its (former) members, and their combined failings. -
"Snarkily"? A village in Scotland?Yay!...(Drool)
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My guess would be due to the fact that it shut down the government. That and nobody walked into a school with an automatic weapon this week.
I've been watching this CNN International channel on my Roku some this week. They were more focused on the NSA hearings and the German response to being spied on.Comment
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My wife's employer has been in the middle of some harsh labor negotiations and health insurance has been a major topic. I thought I'd check out this website after your post, BillK. Turns out we could get the same insurance we get through her employer for a fraction of the cost of our group plan. Something's gotta give on the whole healthcare front. We either have to adopt this system and give it a chance OR find an alternative. Our system seems to be in near paralysis right now. For the record I saw a doctor today so I'm a little sensitive about the whole thing
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Yeah, it's a mess. I've got a group plan through work and it's a great plan, but I wish they'd just give me the cash and i could get my own cheaper.
I think you're right about the gov't shutdown influencing press coverage of the website rollout...I hadn't thought of that.Yay!...(Drool)
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A lot of group plans for big groups like a school district have outrageous premiums. So you actually pay taxes on your "total compensation" which includes the part of the premium they pay for the policy that's 7 or 8 times what you may pay. I asked a representative of an insurance company about this today and she said they do actually pay those premiums based on their historical claims. It seems this is part of the problem with the current healthcare reform as insurers, employers, and employees are not sure what the ramifications will be. In essence my wife could get a raise of more than 25% of her salary if the union allows the school system to simply pay an allowance for health insurance. The union doesn't want to cave because they aren't sure if their employees who would pay high premiums or who previously would not have been able to find coverage will be covered by the legislation as we move into the future. A lot of people are scared that if they lose health insurance as a benefit if it will ever be regained when the political winds shift.Comment
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No, you don't. (At least not now, in 2013) What your employer pays for your healthcare, you do not pay taxes on.
In 2014 and later there is, I think, a tax imposed on "solid gold" (McCain's term when he proposed this) health plans offered by employers, but I'm not sure if it's imposed on the employer or employee. This is because guys like Ted Cruz get $20k tax free in the form of a really great healthplan. (Through his wife, from Goldman Sachs)Comment
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Tax law is not my specialty. I remember last year when I filed for us as a couple there being some discrepancy with my wife's pre-tax income. I thought that the greater number they submitted was due to their side of the group plan premiums. Anyway you cut it, they claim that as part of her compensation. So they are claiming they pay nearly a grand a month for insurance that we could easily obtain for $150/month.Comment
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The devil is in the details here, in terms of copays, limits, etc. And especially whether the $150/month number you see for 2014 includes tax credits.
My employer pays more than the cheapest obamexchange plans, but also the plan offers more-- free preventive care regardless of deductible. Cheaper coverage after the deductible is exhausted, etc.
The biggest thing I see on the exchange is that 1) The plans aren't cheap. and 2) They *all* suck. They all have high deductibles, and the bronze plans have high deductibles coupled with high coinsurance after the deductible.Comment
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I think they *all* suck is the new reality. This plan that we're on that supposedly costs nearly a grand a month entails a $500 deductible per person and then 80/20 up to $2500 out of pocket per person. So with an income at the poverty line the assumption is that you have five grand laying around if you and your child or spouse gets sick.Comment
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$500 per person deductible's not "high." It's a helluva lot lower than a lot of the exchange plans. That price seems about right.Comment
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Since this post is already in WOT...
Duh!
No, the PLAN is that after "they" TAKE the 5k from you, you WILL be at the poverty level. And remember, the Supreme Court ruled it was a tax, so try convincing the IRS you don't have to pay it. With "them," guilt is assigned, not earned, and need not be proven.
ain't no turn like tele!Comment
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