Health Insurance – Should we HAVE to have it?

President Obama's mandate to provide health insurance for nearly all Americans is going to come with a hefty price tag — and many of us are going to be paying for it.

Right now, health insurance is not a right for all Americans. In fact, it’s a pricey privilege. The average American family of four pays $3,354 a year for coverage — double what they paid nine years ago. And the reason it's even that low? Because most American now take out high deductible plans.

Add in deductibles, and doctors that sometimes just won’t take your insurance — and health care is a slow leak from our bottom lines. For those who earn just minimum wage, now $7.25 an hour, even that amount can seem impossible.

So many are hoping to see some kind of reigning in of the health insurance industry so that we can continue to have coverage — and maybe keep a little bit more in our pocketbooks. Or, frankly, start getting coverage for the first time.

I don’t want to dissect the plans being bounced around on Capital Hill right now. I’m actually hoping to hear about moms and what they are doing about health insurance: Do you have it? Do you not? What it’s costing you? And do you think it’s worth it.

I’ll just say right off the bat that I favor some sort of mandated coverage. I believe a country that can’t provide health care for its people is not a place I want to live. Running to the emergency room for an emergency is fine. But what about a mom who uses the ER because she can’t afford a pediatrician? I don’t blame the mom — I blame a system that gives her no other choice.

Yes, mandated health insurance will cost us. But yes, I think we need it.

And you?

Tags: barack, family, health, income, insurance, lauren, mandate, obama, president, tmbusiness

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Comment by Lauren Barack on August 5, 2009 at 10:43am: Hey all, thank you so much for your comments. Karen, I think your perspective is so valuable considering your work. Thank you for your perspective. And Stephanie, your story rings so true. It's awful isn't it that we have insurance for disasters, but then end up not being able to use it for preventative or for basic concerns. And Forum4Women, that C-section anecdote is troubling. On many levels. And Lea, I think any involvement is wonderful. I wish there was a good scenario here - I am hoping some reform will help at least more people.

Comment by Lea Curtes-Swenson on August 4, 2009 at 7:45am: We do need change in our health care system, without a doubt! Fixing this problem won't be easy or cheap, but it must be done. I'm with you, Lauren - I want to live in a country that can provide for its people. I have yet to dissect or get involved with what's going on in D.C., but I sign every petition put in front of me by our president, MoveOn, etc. I guess that's a start...

Comment by Forum 4 Women on August 2, 2009 at 10:00pm: Something definitely needs to be done. Unfortunately, instead of the right way, this bill is riddled with bad ideas.

Things will only get worse if nothing is done. Companies are changing over to plans with higher deductibles and covering less and less each year. The supply and demand way as it is now doesn't really work, because there aren't enough hospitals and providers to drive down the cost. In rural areas fees are less, but in cities, doctors have so many patients, they can't take anymore.

I just don't think they thought everything through when they thought up this bill. The coverage of illegal immigrant alone will such a huge incentive for them to get over the border.

I used to work for a company that reviewed procedures aka case management. There were literally thousands of C-sections not approved or covered. Every C-section had to be pre-approved, and they were only approved if the mother's life was in jeopardy. Women would call literally screaming, because they were so upset.

Imagine that on a grand scale and procedures are only covered if it's a life or death situation. Not good.

Comment by Stephanie on August 2, 2009 at 4:47pm: I think we should pass HR676 and not the plan being batted about right now. You can learn more about HR676 here. http://www.citizensforpatientsrights.org

Massachusetts currently has mandated insurance and it's not working. We have to take the profit factor out of medical care otherwise nothing will work, in the long run.

We have what is considered the best insurance you can get in the State of Alabama since my husband works for the state. But, I find the co pays, the uncovered areas, the fighting with the insurance company, to be unaffordable. We often do without care to avoid the cost of the co-pays and deductibles however we are very thankful we have what we have in case of a serious illness.

Comment by Karen Reynolds on August 2, 2009 at 6:24am: I work for a major insurance company, but believe me I am not bias in any way. Especially knowing they are part of the problem!!! I work for an insurance company and have the worst insurance benefits because they are too cheap to provide better coverage.

Trust me, the insurance companines and the health insdustry are part of the problem.

In my humble opinon, if you make enough money to self insure yourself, then no you should not be forced to carry insurance, but that amounts to about 2% of the American population.

Look at this way, you are paying for it now anyway. Part of the reason your rates are so high is the fact you are paying for the unisured. Most hospitals will not turn patients away, if they can't afford to pay, who is paying the bill? You are, in those high premiums. Why does one tylonel cost you $10.00 in the hostipal, cause you're paying for the other 9 people who can't.

If more people are insured, there is an other provider, other than the private insurers, more regulation in the both industries, more competition, it will drive costs down. That's the theory anyway.