Comments on: U.S. business, big and small, hurting because of our current health-insurance system http://augustafreepress.com/2007/10/12/us-business-big-and-small-hurting-because-of-our-current-health-insurance-system/ Independent news source for Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro, Va. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:13:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John R. Cole http://augustafreepress.com/2007/10/12/us-business-big-and-small-hurting-because-of-our-current-health-insurance-system/comment-page-1/#comment-91 John R. Cole Mon, 01 Sep 2008 11:43:41 +0000 http://augustafreepress.com/2007/10/12/us-business-big-and-small-hurting-because-of-our-current-health-insurance-system/#comment-91 I agree with Congressional Candidate Sam Rasoul (VA6D) on the Health Insurance issue. HR 676, the "Improved Medicare for All" bill is the correct choice. The present arrangement with private sector profit driven corporate entities as the sole source for medical insurance and drug production services for much of our economy has turned into a corrupt explotative monopoly. Human nature being what it is, where government establishes or allows a monoply, this always happens -- as with the trusts of the 19th Century. Then the trusts must then be broken up or "busted" like those of the 19th Century. Until this is done the economy, and population, will suffer great injury. HR 676 will prove an appropriate and timely reform. I agree with Congressional Candidate Sam Rasoul (VA6D) on the Health Insurance issue. HR 676, the “Improved Medicare for All” bill is the correct choice. The present arrangement with private sector profit driven corporate entities as the sole source for medical insurance and drug production services for much of our economy has turned into a corrupt explotative monopoly. Human nature being what it is, where government establishes or allows a monoply, this always happens — as with the trusts of the 19th Century. Then the trusts must then be broken up or “busted” like those of the 19th Century. Until this is done the economy, and population, will suffer great injury. HR 676 will prove an appropriate and timely reform.

]]> By: Health Insurance Information » Blog Archive » Do you agree with HUD’s decision to end their contract with Crescent (Health Insurance News) http://augustafreepress.com/2007/10/12/us-business-big-and-small-hurting-because-of-our-current-health-insurance-system/comment-page-1/#comment-90 Health Insurance Information » Blog Archive » Do you agree with HUD’s decision to end their contract with Crescent (Health Insurance News) Tue, 22 Jan 2008 01:34:11 +0000 http://augustafreepress.com/2007/10/12/us-business-big-and-small-hurting-because-of-our-current-health-insurance-system/#comment-90 [...] Augusta Free Press - Chrysler announced it would close two factories and do away with 13,000 jobs to reduce their health-insurance costs. Some companies, General Motors, for example, have cut benefits but still find their costs so high they cannot compete in today’s Read More [...] [...] Augusta Free Press – Chrysler announced it would close two factories and do away with 13,000 jobs to reduce their health-insurance costs. Some companies, General Motors, for example, have cut benefits but still find their costs so high they cannot compete in today’s Read More [...]

]]> By: Terry Holmes http://augustafreepress.com/2007/10/12/us-business-big-and-small-hurting-because-of-our-current-health-insurance-system/comment-page-1/#comment-89 Terry Holmes Sat, 13 Oct 2007 06:02:01 +0000 http://augustafreepress.com/2007/10/12/us-business-big-and-small-hurting-because-of-our-current-health-insurance-system/#comment-89 Mr. Rasoul, I whole heartedly agree with you. I offer a good policy for my employees with only a $500 deductible then it is 80/20 through Southern Health. To my employees $500 out of pocket plus the 20% deductible would push them over the edge so raising the deductible is not an option for them. They would be better off to let the state help out or just not pay their bills if anything major happens. The health insurance I provide for my employees has gone up on average 15% a year since 9-11. I have a young staff for the most part that are healthy and with very few claims. I spend over $3300 a month for insurance benefits for my employees and it is killing me. I try to be a responsible employer and to care for my employees but I am being price out of the market by providing insurance for my employees. This year I passed the increase off to my employees for the 1st time since I started coverage in 1999. My coverage for myself is nearly $800 a month; it is like a house payment. How will I ever be able to retire with these ever increasing premiums? I’m only 51 now but was hoping to retire in the next few years but I want be able to afford coverage. In the restaurant business at 51 years of age it is hard to work the 60 hours a week to maintain my business and I cannot afford to hire someone to cut back on my hours. There are only 2 options in the Valley for health insurance and that is Southern Health and Anthem. I think they fix the rates because there is no competition and they penalize small groups, they act like they don’t even want to insure you. You have to fight with them to get everyday medicines or procedures approved. Hell I’m ready to move to Canada to retire, I’m a small businessman but I wished we had socialized medicine Thank you, Terry Holmes Mill Street Grill Staunton, Va. 24401 Mr. Rasoul,
I whole heartedly agree with you. I offer a good policy for my employees with only a $500 deductible then it is 80/20 through Southern Health. To my employees $500 out of pocket plus the 20% deductible would push them over the edge so raising the deductible is not an option for them. They would be better off to let the state help out or just not pay their bills if anything major happens. The health insurance I provide for my employees has gone up on average 15% a year since 9-11. I have a young staff for the most part that are healthy and with very few claims. I spend over $3300 a month for insurance benefits for my employees and it is killing me.

I try to be a responsible employer and to care for my employees but I am being price out of the market by providing insurance for my employees. This year I passed the increase off to my employees for the 1st time since I started coverage in 1999. My coverage for myself is nearly $800 a month; it is like a house payment. How will I ever be able to retire with these ever increasing premiums? I’m only 51 now but was hoping to retire in the next few years but I want be able to afford coverage. In the restaurant business at 51 years of age it is hard to work the 60 hours a week to maintain my business and I cannot afford to hire someone to cut back on my hours.

There are only 2 options in the Valley for health insurance and that is Southern Health and Anthem. I think they fix the rates because there is no competition and they penalize small groups, they act like they don’t even want to insure you. You have to fight with them to get everyday medicines or procedures approved. Hell I’m ready to move to Canada to retire, I’m a small businessman but I wished we had socialized medicine
Thank you,
Terry Holmes
Mill Street Grill
Staunton, Va. 24401

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