People Lose Their Employer-Sponsored Insurance Constantly • Hacker News Board

Re: People Lose Their Employer-Sponsored Insurance Constantly

#11

Post by naravara » Wed, Apr 17, 2019, 4:48 PM UTC

terryschiavo22 wrote: post #2

Yes, people do lose their insurance constantly when they switch jobs...and then immediately sign onto their new plan. Is the argument that switching insurance plans is stressful? What's stressful is remaining uncovered. Switching plans is hardly comparable to the transition to a Medicare-for-all program.

>Yes, people do lose their insurance constantly when they switch jobs...and then immediately sign onto their new plan.

Unless they lose their jobs. Or change to a job that doesn't offer coverage/start a new business. Or have their hours cut to be >Switching plans is hardly comparable to the transition to a Medicare-for-all program.

Why? It would be a one-time switch. Switching costs would be exactly the same as the switching costs you pay every time you change jobs, except you only pay it one time in your life and you don't have to shop around in some silly healthcare exchange or open enrollment process where you get to weigh which absurdly high premium you want to pay despite deductibles being so high that barely any of your routine health costs will be compensated.

And then there is the joy of making sure all your care providers are covered by your new plan. AND hoping your providers don't drop your plan because of insurance company negotiations.

Re: People Lose Their Employer-Sponsored Insurance Constantly

#12

Post by dmead » Wed, Apr 17, 2019, 4:50 PM UTC

aNoob7000 wrote: post #5

Health insurance in the United States is a shit show. The Medicare for all that Bernie is proposing is a reaction to the inability of Congress to meaningfully fix the issue. I personally would prefer a market based approach to fixing the issues with obtaining medical care, but Congress can't do anything because there's just too much money and influence involved.

using the word 'inability' is obfuscating the issue. they are actively working against it.

Re: People Lose Their Employer-Sponsored Insurance Constantly

#13

Post by benatkin » Wed, Apr 17, 2019, 4:52 PM UTC

terryschiavo22 wrote: post #2

Yes, people do lose their insurance constantly when they switch jobs...and then immediately sign onto their new plan. Is the argument that switching insurance plans is stressful? What's stressful is remaining uncovered. Switching plans is hardly comparable to the transition to a Medicare-for-all program.

How about having to switch doctors, or having to go a couple weeks without an insurance card, but hey, you still have insurance and you can pay up front and get reimbursed later? Big fucking deal, right?

Re: People Lose Their Employer-Sponsored Insurance Constantly

#14

Post by bluejekyll » Wed, Apr 17, 2019, 4:55 PM UTC

aNoob7000 wrote: post #5

Health insurance in the United States is a shit show. The Medicare for all that Bernie is proposing is a reaction to the inability of Congress to meaningfully fix the issue. I personally would prefer a market based approach to fixing the issues with obtaining medical care, but Congress can't do anything because there's just too much money and influence involved.

> The Medicare for all that Bernie is proposing is a reaction to the inability of Congress to meaningfully fix the issue.

Wouldn't expanding Medicare to all also require an act of Congress? Bernie will have the influence of the White House, which is important, but it doesn't change the fact that Congress is still the body that would need to fix this.

I've always felt like the Affordable Care Act was a bandaid almost designed to point out the breaking points in the existing system, and force something like Medicare for All, to come along and "fix" the situation permanently.

Re: People Lose Their Employer-Sponsored Insurance Constantly

#15

Post by dragontamer » Wed, Apr 17, 2019, 4:57 PM UTC

terryschiavo22 wrote: post #2

Yes, people do lose their insurance constantly when they switch jobs...and then immediately sign onto their new plan. Is the argument that switching insurance plans is stressful? What's stressful is remaining uncovered. Switching plans is hardly comparable to the transition to a Medicare-for-all program.

> Yes, people do lose their insurance constantly when they switch jobs...and then immediately sign onto their new plan.

Lets say you payed for insurance, but were healthy for the 90s. So ~10-years of paying insurance. Around 2005, you are diagnosed with Diabetes, so your insurance pays for your care.

Around 2007, the recession happens and you lose your job. You immediately find a new job, but you need to get new insurance. Diabetes is now a "pre-existing condition", so your insurance no longer covers your condition.

Its important to recognize that changing health-plans is a regular event, that shouldn't punish people with chronic conditions. Diabetes is lifelong, once you get it, you live with it for the rest of your life. Insurance companies don't want to pay for that kind of issue. With all talk about "Repeal and Replace", its important to recognize the tradeoff.

As long as "pre-existing conditions" are banned in the USA, I don't think its a big deal to lose employer sponsored health care (at least, compared to pre-Obamacare). We should build a world where it is easy to lose (and regain) health coverage... compared to the pre-Obamacare world where it was a big risk to lose coverage. Hopefully laws of the future make it easier to switch health care plans without problems.

Re: People Lose Their Employer-Sponsored Insurance Constantly

#16

Post by dd36 » Wed, Apr 17, 2019, 5:00 PM UTC

bluejekyll wrote: post #14

aNoob7000 wrote: post #5

Health insurance in the United States is a shit show. The Medicare for all that Bernie is proposing is a reaction to the inability of Congress to meaningfully fix the issue. I personally would prefer a market based approach to fixing the issues with obtaining medical care, but Congress can't do anything because there's just too much money and influence involved.

> The Medicare for all that Bernie is proposing is a reaction to the inability of Congress to meaningfully fix the issue. Wouldn't expanding Medicare to all also require an act of Congress? Bernie will have the influence of the White House, which is important, but it doesn't change the fact that Congress is still the body that would need to fix this. I've always felt like the Affordable Care Act was a bandaid almost…

If Bernie wins running with it as his primary issue, it’s a lot easier to get Congress on board.

Re: People Lose Their Employer-Sponsored Insurance Constantly

#17

Post by will_brown » Wed, Apr 17, 2019, 5:03 PM UTC

terryschiavo22 wrote: post #2

Yes, people do lose their insurance constantly when they switch jobs...and then immediately sign onto their new plan. Is the argument that switching insurance plans is stressful? What's stressful is remaining uncovered. Switching plans is hardly comparable to the transition to a Medicare-for-all program.

>Is the argument that switching insurance plans is stressful?

I think it’s clear the article is promoting universal coverage, and simply highlight how ridiculous it is that healthcare is a benefit of employment by highlighting nearly 1/3 of employment based plans are discontinued within 12 months.

I’m not sure how you can conclude switching private insurance plans is hardly comparable to a transition to Medicare-for-all, when millions of people make the jump from private insurance to Medicare every year and you don’t hear much complaining from that group. Not to mention a 1 time transition compared to nearly 33% of the workforce going through this annually.

Re: People Lose Their Employer-Sponsored Insurance Constantly

#18

Post by identity-haver » Wed, Apr 17, 2019, 5:04 PM UTC

crooked-v wrote: post #4

terryschiavo22 wrote: post #2

Yes, people do lose their insurance constantly when they switch jobs...and then immediately sign onto their new plan. Is the argument that switching insurance plans is stressful? What's stressful is remaining uncovered. Switching plans is hardly comparable to the transition to a Medicare-for-all program.

> Is the argument that switching insurance plans is stressful? It absolutely is stressful, because every single time you have to carefuly inspect the documentation to figure out what conditions and care (if any) you're "allowed" to have without going bankrupt.

For non-Americans and confused Americans reading this, this isn't precisely true. Any employer with over 50 employees has to cover all pre-existing conditions from your previous employer. But there is no guarantee that your old providers will be in your new network, so you may have to switch providers, with all the bureaucratic headache that entails. Also, if you are getting care for that condition that isn't 100% standard and established you may not get it, or have to spend a bunch of extra money while it gets re-approved. Also, your deductible will reset, so if you switch jobs in the middle of the year you could potentially be paying thousands more out of pocket.

Re: People Lose Their Employer-Sponsored Insurance Constantly

#19

Post by dd36 » Wed, Apr 17, 2019, 5:04 PM UTC

naravara wrote: post #11

terryschiavo22 wrote: post #2

Yes, people do lose their insurance constantly when they switch jobs...and then immediately sign onto their new plan. Is the argument that switching insurance plans is stressful? What's stressful is remaining uncovered. Switching plans is hardly comparable to the transition to a Medicare-for-all program.

>Yes, people do lose their insurance constantly when they switch jobs...and then immediately sign onto their new plan. Unless they lose their jobs. Or change to a job that doesn't offer coverage/start a new business. Or have their hours cut to be >Switching plans is hardly comparable to the transition to a Medicare-for-all program. Why? It would be a one-time switch. Switching costs would be exactly the same as the s…

It’s not just when you change jobs. My wife handles large employer groups and the insurance companies ask for a 15% rate increase every year so the employers have to threaten to switch every year to negotiate down then actually switch every other year. It’s a wasteful, useless game. Even if you stay at same employer, your insurer and networks will regularly change.

Re: People Lose Their Employer-Sponsored Insurance Constantly

#20

Post by dv_dt » Wed, Apr 17, 2019, 5:07 PM UTC

bluejekyll wrote: post #14

aNoob7000 wrote: post #5

Health insurance in the United States is a shit show. The Medicare for all that Bernie is proposing is a reaction to the inability of Congress to meaningfully fix the issue. I personally would prefer a market based approach to fixing the issues with obtaining medical care, but Congress can't do anything because there's just too much money and influence involved.

> The Medicare for all that Bernie is proposing is a reaction to the inability of Congress to meaningfully fix the issue. Wouldn't expanding Medicare to all also require an act of Congress? Bernie will have the influence of the White House, which is important, but it doesn't change the fact that Congress is still the body that would need to fix this. I've always felt like the Affordable Care Act was a bandaid almost…

After Obama ran on hope and change and won, one thing he did was shut down his very capable campaign organization without transitioning it to something else. It was maybe one tactical reason that later midterms became a mess for Democrats.

It's pretty clear the Bernie's organization, as well as the loose independent collective of progressive organizations around similar national and local causes who have also sprung up, will continue full bore to change congress as well as keep pressure on congress to make, well, progress.