Weird news: Southerners love their health insurance
I love my native South, but I don’t always understand it. A new poll from Winthrop University highlights one of those areas that I find odd: Most Southerners say that are satisfied with their health insurance, including its costs. Huh?
First off, the South is the region in which people are least likely to have health insurance. In Georgia, for example, 25 percent of adults between the ages of 18 and 64 don’t have insurance. Even more Georgians would be uninsured if it weren’t for two government programs: Medicare, that monument to “socialism,” and the low-cost, government-subsidized PeachCare, which could be considered a “government option.”
Second, what kind of insurance do those with coverage have? How did they get plans they are so great?Are most of them exempt from the soaring costs of premiums? Have few of them ever been rejected because of pre-existing conditions? Have few ever had their coverage ended because they got sick?
As for me, my insurance coverage is pretty good. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is self-insured (through Cox) and the plan is managed by Aetna. That at least leaves out the profit motive. But costs are still soaring and the bureaucracy is stultifying.
If the coverage that Southerners have is so great, I have a suggestion for the Obama administration: Find out what insurers Southerners are using and make them available to the rest of the country.
From the poll: How satisfied are you with the COST of healthcare available to you and your family? Would you say you are very satisfied, satisfied, dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
|
All |
|
| Very Satisfied |
17.7% |
| Satisfied |
34.8% |
| Dissatisfied |
24.7% |
| Very Dissatisfied |
20.4% |
| Not Sure |
2.3% |
| Refused |
.1% |
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73 comments Add your comment
Common Sense
November 11th, 2009
12:19 pm
Ms. Tucker:
What does this have to do with the rights of Muslim terrorists? You are losing your touch!
Shawny
November 11th, 2009
12:22 pm
Cost of insurance is still good, but is getting worse by the year. Doesn’t mean we need health reform. Means we need to somehow get costs to stay in line. New procedures, new technology, etc. drive up costs. Covering more and more illegals also drives up costs. Only being able to choose Aetna in GA and only being able to choose Cigna in Ala drives up costs. Fix all those things and leave everything else alone and we are good.
By the way, those stats are also skewed by the fact that many young folks refuse to buy coverage because they don’t want it. Can’t blame them if they rarely go to the doc. Kind of like auto insurance which is a ripoff – paying premiums so that idiots that cause accidents don’t have to pay for everything themselves. More spread the risk/wealth policies.
Don’t confuse people not having coverage with the cost of coverage being too high. That is an assumption that isn’t proven out.
Inotavatocgon
November 11th, 2009
12:25 pm
Insurance is a good, not a right. Get it?
Profit motive?
You profit from the exchange of your labor for a check when you write this you greedy ba$tard. Likewise the AJC does as well, in a VOLUNTARY exchange. Of course they’ll wise up here soon.
You may as well be a banker, you ilk.
Common Sense
November 11th, 2009
12:26 pm
Question:
Should Muslim terrorists be required to purchase insurance (or be fined) under the proposed Congeressional plan in case they are injured during a terrorist attack?
Turd Ferguson
November 11th, 2009
12:27 pm
“…That at least leaves out the profit motive.” LOL…Im sure it does.
On another note perhaps many southerners are not whiners/complainers like those in the inner city, are happy to have decent insurance and understand the price of everything continues to rise.
Also if one views Insurance as a castastophic remedy, something not used for every sniffle, then certainly the price paid is worth it. Many people have nothing better to do then visit the doctor…mostly women, no offense intended.
Paying for insurance is should be viewed as a “cost of doing business”. Yet so many of the bottom of the barrel democrats are taught the entitlement theory by their democratic leaders and never realized its just another form of slavery cast onto them by the democratic party.
TnGelding
November 11th, 2009
12:29 pm
You failed to mention Georgians receivimg Medicaid. I’m sure they’re happy with the cost. Some employers haven’t passed on the increased costs to the employees yet, so I imagine that has something to do with the poll results. Many of our ailments are self-inflicted. We need lifstyle reform more than health care reform.
john
November 11th, 2009
12:56 pm
Cynthia,
I do respect your views but never agree. I like reading your articles though, it is good to understand what “takers” think. But on this topic you are correct we do like our policies, i am a self employed 30yrs. male who pays 135 a month for health care. When i lived in NY it cost me over 300 a month since NY state requires that insurance companies cover anyone no matter what condition, in turn it cost the healthy person more to obtain coverage in NY for that reason.
Now as you know the fed. govt is trying to force us younger healthy people to pay for people who make bad life choices. Why do i have to pay for someone who smokes, eats or drinks too much, i work hard and stay in shape, its your body do not make it other peoples problems, lay off the fried chix, triple beef burgers and junk from gas stations. Either way i am not concerned since it will not pass, since it will bankrupt us and it will not get through the supreme court.
I say no social welfare programs unless the person is disabled, elderly, vet or has paid into soc. sec.
I love Obama would love to grab a beer with him, but he is clueless and lets the unions and Nancy run our country since he really does not have any work history in anything other than helping organize people.
Also, we need to get rid of the unions involvement in gov’t work they will bankrupt every level of gov’t in due time from the local all the way upto the federal with their pension plans and lack of work and no fear of job loss. They need to join the real world, what a joke.
People who are on social welfare programs should be required to do community service, or work in our gov’t offices to receive help, we have plenty of people who “take” but do not help or give back in anyway. Plus if we put people on welfare into gov’t job and run the unions out of gov’t, guess what we will have..profitable towns and cities with workers who care about their jobs and work hard to keep them.
Either way 2010 is almost here, soon there will be checks and balances again, both parties stink and make me sick, i wish we had more than a two party system, we cannot let either of these parties have total control ever again.
Jack
November 11th, 2009
1:06 pm
You’ll notice that Tucker thinks that “profit motive” is a bad thing. She wouldn’t think that if she ran a business.
Adam
November 11th, 2009
1:12 pm
“Doesn’t mean we need health reform. Means we need to somehow get costs to stay in line. New procedures, new technology, etc. drive up costs.”
Yeah, I hate all this newfangled medical stuff. Ah, for the Golden Age of Leaches and Cholera.
say what?
November 11th, 2009
1:14 pm
Interesting that Southerners are satisfied with their medical insurance. Yet in this same paper today, Southerners want the government to come in and save jobs and help more. This is a red state, so you are on your own if you think that the government will care about you and yours. Only time your interest are interesting is leading up to election time.
jconservative
November 11th, 2009
1:16 pm
The same poll showed that most Southerners apparently are Socialist at heart. See the following from the same poll:
“The poll of 866 people in 11 states found nearly three quarters of people wanted new government programs to create jobs and nearly two thirds thought states in serious financial trouble should get federal aid.” From AJC article.
Question: how are southern socialist different from northern socialist?
Just kidding.
say what?
November 11th, 2009
1:24 pm
Hey Cynthia, how about writing about the loss of jobs coming to the areas south of I-20 when the US Postal Service closes 3900 Crown Rd? It makes no sense to move 1900 jobs to Gwinnett where there is a lack of water, lack of affordable housing for workers earning $50k (contrary to belief that postal workers make a lot of money), lack of traffic plan, and further movement away from Hartsfield where most mail is flown out of Atlanta.
how will this move affect East Point, and other small towns attempting to redevelop after the loss of Ford. With all the cuts the USPS is contemplaiting, why not move the North Metro factory to the South side? South side has water, little traffic, affordable housing, and schools that are improving. Write about the impact of 1900 jobs being loss in the cities of Atlanta, East Point, hapeville, Fayetteville,riverdale, etc because in reality when people decide that driving 40-80 miles one way 6 days a week to the post office is not viable, the replacements won’t come from these cities, they will come from Gwinnette and Hall counties.
bart
November 11th, 2009
1:33 pm
We are the only civilized country in the world that does not provide some form of basic health care to its citizens! And we call ourselves a Christian nation?
jconservative
November 11th, 2009
1:39 pm
bart
Matthew 25:31-46?
ck hall
November 11th, 2009
1:46 pm
Better yet–Find out what Insurance Congress has and have the same for all Americans!
PS–What’s your take on the Islamic Terrorist at Ft Hood? Maybe racial profiling might be a good thing, instead of political correctness?
Dick
November 11th, 2009
2:00 pm
1-dude at Ft Hood was a member of a sleeper cell for terrorism.
2-many soutthers work and secure heatlh insurance either thru employer or individual policies. Many of my insureds edno’t sit on the fronty porch rocking, expecting the nth baby fathered by a dude that won’t pull his pants up while walking. My insureds don’t expect teh government to feed them like some do.
mmm, mmm, mmm, Barack the LIAR Obama
November 11th, 2009
2:12 pm
Gee, what a suprise. Borders endorses Reed for ATL mayor
Snafu
November 11th, 2009
2:12 pm
Oh,here we go with the southern mentality, everyone else is wrong but we ignants are always right. Anyone who is claiming that the premiums paid in insurance is fair is a candidate for free mental health screening. Yes, companies are in business to realize a profit but in the case of insurance companies your contract is for them to pay for YOUR health care…get it.YOU ARE PAYING for them not to deny you health care but to pay for it. A lot of southerns are ignorant and will go along with anything these dumb politrickans tell them to.
This is in one part why this country is the way it is because of the PEOPLE..don’t read, don’t care to read and will parrot anything a dumb politrickan puts out without researching it for themselves.
DICK..yes you are..The Muslim was enlisted in the ARMY by way of your government who will provide healthcare for him because he is still a soldier who has not been discharged. An if he is a sleeper for terrorism then he was in the cell already called the military. The military trains them to kill and when they kill they are labeled as terrorist in this case because he is Muslim. To the ignorant like DICK, there have been Christians, Baptist, Jews etc that have killed in other service members , where is the outrage there. Oh wait, its only muslims that can be considered terrorist right?
Majority of southerners are on medicare or medicaid, along with their children, so no they would not be complaining because most of them don’t pay jack.
Sunshine and Thunder
November 11th, 2009
2:13 pm
Cindy,
The profit motive is responsible for you having a job, dear.
Gordon
November 11th, 2009
2:23 pm
“That at least leaves out the profit motive. But costs are still soaring and the bureaucracy is stultifying.”
You think government being involved with help with the bureaucracy problem? You must be kidding.
Costs will continue to soar. We will simply borrow more money we don’t have to make it seem like it isn’t, and will ultimately pay a very high price for that. Government WILL NOT make costs go down or the healthcare industry more effecient – name one area where they have done that. Just one.
Why am I wasting my time trying to explain this to Cynthia Tucker?
ctucker
November 11th, 2009
2:26 pm
John, You seem to think that you will never get sick as long as you make good choices. Tell that to all the people who’ve never smoked and controlled their weight yet developed cancer. Tell that to all the people who were diagnosed with MS or Lou Gehrig’s, despite a lifetime of running and eating vegetables. Tell that to all the people who found they had inherited a weird liver or kidney ailment.
I truly hope you will continue to be healthy, but there are no guarantees about that, no matter your choices. My father quit smoking in his 30s, maintained a healthy weight, got an annual physical and exercised regularly. yet he died of cancer (not lung cancer) at the age of 57, with isn’t that old.
go to www.atlshirt.com
November 11th, 2009
2:28 pm
She hasnt even read the bill… she thinks this health care reform is going to lower the cost of health care LMAO !!!! Actually, it is going to raise the cost.. and No one will get FREE insurance LMAO !!! You gotta pay for it LMAO!!! If you do not pay for it, you will be incarcerated LMAO…
This bill is going to raise premiums by 1700.00 a year per adult… over 3,000 a year for a family of 4, and you liberals think that this is the greatest thing since sliced cheese LMAO,, how dumb!!
Who has that kind of money ?? There are no JOBS !!! There will not be any JOB creation for years and years to come… if ever !!! Too bad you are not allowed to own animals that are considered live stock in city limits.. all of the city folk gonna starve !!! All praise be unto OBama!!
Weird news: Southerners love their health insurance | Cynthia Tucker | You Insurance
November 11th, 2009
2:28 pm
[...] Link: Weird news: Southerners love their health insurance | Cynthia Tucker [...]
mikey
November 11th, 2009
2:31 pm
we are also a nation that is consumed with sloth and procrastination. If the leeches in our society would pull their own weight just some of the time, we would be in much better shape financially. All these give-aways are going to weaken and destroy our nation. Americans are suppose to work, not lay around getting free stuff from those who do.
go to www.atlshirt.com
November 11th, 2009
2:33 pm
Here’s a classic example of one of my most used Black & Rightisms: “Liberals come up with programs so wonderful, they have to force you to use them.” Obama dissed Hillary during the campaign for wanting to nationally implement the Massachusetts health care plan that fines people who choose (or can’t afford) not to acquire health insurance. So Nancy Pelosi’s plan goes one better: no insurance, go to jail.
“H.R. 3962 provides that an individual (or a husband and wife in the case of a joint return) who does not, at any time during the taxable year, maintain acceptable health insurance coverage for himself or herself and each of his or her qualifying children is subject to an additional tax.” [page 1]
“If the government determines that the taxpayer’s unpaid tax liability results from willful behavior, the following penalties could apply…” [page 2]
Here’s the good stuff….
Criminal penalties
Prosecution is authorized under the Code for a variety of offenses. Depending on the level of the noncompliance, the following penalties could apply to an individual:
• Section 7203 – misdemeanor willful failure to pay is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.
• Section 7201 – felony willful evasion is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment of up to five years.” [page 3]
— Joint Committee on Taxation
It’s no wonder Speaker Pelosi decided not to release the bill for public inspection before the attempt to ram it down our throats.
It may not be Constitutional but what’s a simple, insignificant piece of paper when bully Democrats have their eyes on the prize.
Gordon
November 11th, 2009
2:33 pm
Yes, Cindy, but the cost John pays for his insurance is lower because of how he lives his life. He isn’t saying he will never get sick, he just wants his insurance rate to reflect the risk he poses. His rate will go up to cover people who don’t make good choices. So once again people who make bad choices are rewarded (now covered where they weren’t before, paying lower rates if they were covered), and people like John are punished (paying higher rates).
john
November 11th, 2009
2:48 pm
Cynthia,
Thank you for your response. As Gordan said i do understand my premiums will rise as i get older to better reflect my risk. I am fine with that and will plan my budgets based on this additional expense i will incur. Hopefully i will also earning more money to cover these expenses. My main point was that i feel we need reform, but gov’t should be stepping in to takeover the industry, as past examples of gov’t run business prove to us they do not work and cost way more than expected. I trust if we place regulations on the industry, tort-reform, take down the state by state insurance pools and give the companies the option to spreed the risk over all the states it will help lower cost way more than anything our gov’t runs. Sorry that you lost your father at a young age to cancer, that disease gets the best of the best.
TRUTH
November 11th, 2009
2:55 pm
This is a dumb argument. Healthcare Reform IS A MUST. You flipping idjuts are fighting something that will HELP YOU AND YOUR KIDS. My GOD, how dumb can you be?
Example: You have coverage now through your employer. You pay the average family premium of about $150 a pay period, $300 monthly.
Your child gets sick. No problem you take him/her to the doctor. Pay your co-pay, $25. The doctor recommends lab work because something isn’t quite right or, worse, it’s more than what was initially thought. Lab $25. You go home.
Two months later, the same child gets sick again. You rush him/her to the emergency room (Ambulance – ??? [depending on your coverage, might be covered might not]). Emergency Room visit = $50. Your child’s previous ailment has now worsened, the ER doctor orders a series of tests to further identify the issue ($25 every time you go to the lab or they come to your childs bedside). The treating physician hs determined your child will require surgery and treatment to run for a protracted period of time to better the child.
Now here is the truth, damn this thing about a beauracrat getting in the way, the insurance company, while all of this has been going on, refuses treatment because it is out of the scope of your childs coverage, or worse, they drop them. All while collecting your premiums that you pay faithfully (normally deducted out of your check).
That’s happened. It continues to happen. Every day. The results are people die. People die while carrying “good” insurance and the government beauracrat that is not in the way right now because healthcare has not passed, wasn’t there. It was the very people you had been paying to provide coverage that stood in the way.
Wake up people. We need healthcare reform. We need it now. We need a viable and robust public option. Not another advancement of the insurance companies.
go to www.atlshirt.com
November 11th, 2009
3:00 pm
I agree, reform is needed, but a government option ( another word for takeover) is not the answer.. The insurance companies need to be regulated, not put out of business!
Gordon
November 11th, 2009
3:00 pm
John,
You give common sense solutions to solve most of the problems in the health care industry. They involve the government regulating, not participating. But this isn’t about solving problems, its about government getting its foot in the door, driving private health care out of business, and moving health care to single payer. Once there, decisions on health care will be political, we will add to our already unmanageable debt, and health care will be worse and more expensive for almost everyone.
It is hard to fathom how bad this bill is, or how utterly ignorant people are about what is going on.
Gordon
November 11th, 2009
3:07 pm
Truth,
Does it help my kids to heap debt on them? Do you really think things are free if we borrow money to pay for them? Very few people argue that health reform is not needed. The problem is that the only 2 options being presented are 1) do nothing, or 2) swallow this crap sandwich which adds dozens of new government agencies. The problems we have could be solved without turning them over to a government that has proven time and again it cannot solve problems or manage costs. If the track record were different, it would be reasonable to consider.
Joan
November 11th, 2009
3:13 pm
Healthcare reform would be welcome–but government takeover of health care is NOT. There are numerous reforms that could be enacted, like interstate competition, tort reform, and standardized and computerized patient records, but that would be the cheap way out, and wouldn’t put Congress in your pocket–like they will be if this passes. All this is a a “full employment for government workers” bill, and most of the government workers I know, I certainly would not hire for a profit making company. But, then, I forget–profit is a dirty word to this administration, where we are all supposed to be poor and dumb.
bob
November 11th, 2009
3:16 pm
Bart, what is medicaid ?
Dick
November 11th, 2009
3:21 pm
There is NO ONE in WAshington that has the mentality to read and understand 10 pages of a bill, much less 2000 pages. If a politician said he read the bill and understood it, tell him Ole bryer eating Jimmy Carter was a great president.
Dick
November 11th, 2009
3:21 pm
There is NO ONE in WAshington that has the mentality to read and understand 10 pages of a bill, much less 2000 pages. If a politician said he read the bill and understood it, tell him Ole bryer eating Jimmy Carter was a great president.
bob
November 11th, 2009
3:26 pm
Anyone wanting a good explaination about the dems plan should google “youtube Robert Reich on the public option” . Innovation dies along with granny.
Jimmy62
November 11th, 2009
3:28 pm
Thanks to that profit motive you find so evil, lots of people have jobs. Get rid of that profit motive, and unemployment will skyrocket. Allow the profit motive and free market to work without undue government influence causing problems (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac starting an economic crisis, for instance), and lots more people will have jobs and be able to afford insurance.
Joan
November 11th, 2009
3:33 pm
Jimmy62, you are on to something. But it wasn’t Fannie Mae and Freddie, so much as it was the Community Redevelopment Act, ACORN and Obama’s enforcement of it, the lack of application of federal regulations because Barney Frank’s lover was the head of Fannie or Freddie (forget which), and because those two institutions had Frank, Dodd and Reid in their pockets. The reason for the whole mess is too many regulations, and most of them unenforced when enforcement is required.
Joan
November 11th, 2009
3:39 pm
The government has never run anything efficiently. Obama cited Medicare as a good example of a well run program, and in the next breath said there was an awful lot of corruption in it leading to an $800 billion dollar (give or take) deficit. If that is well run, I am gorgeous (and I assure you I am not). This is a full employment program for government workers, pure and simple–and that will last so long as profit making companies stay in the United States and pay taxes–and when they leave, the government workers, and the rest of us, can kiss our b.. goodby.
ERVIN MANN
November 11th, 2009
3:40 pm
I HAVE HEARD SOME DUMB THINGS BUT ARE YOU NUTWINGERS LOST YOUR MINDS INSURANCE GROUPS TURN YOU DOWN EVERY DAY AND YOU LIKE IT !!!!!
Jon but not Jon Voight
November 11th, 2009
3:43 pm
“A new poll shows Southerners are fretting about job loss and the economy, and don’t think the federal government is doing enough to help.” When you figure out Southerners – let me know.
john
November 11th, 2009
4:01 pm
Truth,
I understand your point. But, the fed. cannot even balance a budget??? will not cut any programs to balance a budget. The only other option is to raise taxes?? that is not going to help our economy in any way.
WE NEED REFORM, just not the reform that Nancy/Obama desire. It makes no sense to anyone and is being rushed through. This should be a slow process with baby steps. The healthcare industry is a huge part of our overall economy. If you want gov’t run everything goto Cuba, they seem to be the paradise that our gov’t wants.
Skip
November 11th, 2009
4:10 pm
Dick, that’s funny coming from someone who can’t figure out how to post.
Larry
November 11th, 2009
4:13 pm
This may come as a shock to some and will be denied by others – but the truth is, as group, we Southerners ain’t too smart! We will cutoff our nose to spite our face every time.
We hate unions – the boss told us unions are bad and are the first step to communism. And if we try to join he’ll close down and put everybody out of work.
We hate liberal politicians cause they want to take our money and give it to the sorry people who are just too lazy to work. We don’t mind when the republicans take our money and give it to the idle rich playing golf on Hilton Head.
But we are patriotic, we’ll send are kids off to die in some place we can’t spell or find on a map.
So, polls say Southerners are satisfied with their insurance – sounds about right to me!
samuel
November 11th, 2009
4:17 pm
The U.S. is the only economically advanced country that does not provide universal health care to its citizens. At the same time we have much higher health care costs than any other economically advanced country. As Ms. Tucker pointed out, no matter how diligent you are in maintaining your health, at some point you will get sick and die. You could die at 42 (my age), or you could die at 108 (my great-grandmother’s age). I’m always annoyed at people who think that death is an unnatural occurence that the person who is sick and dying can be blamed for. As for “takers”, there are relatively few mentally and physically healthy people who try to game the system. Most people who need public assistance are not clever (devious) enough to game the system. They are simply unfortunate people who need help. Universal health care makes perfect sense, because in the long run costs will go down, people will get healthier, and the country will be better off.
john
November 11th, 2009
4:17 pm
just so everyone understands, you will still have to PAY FOR INSURANCE if the gov’t takes over. This is not free healthcare.
So weather you and i pay for it or our grandkids someone is and i can promise you it will cost a whole lot more when you get gov’t and unions involved in your healthcare than companies that compete for your business. There are other solutions through regulations that could do way more to lower cost than letting the gov’t take it over. But they are not interested in anything other than us become dependent on the fed. gov’t.
Also, guess what, if the gov’t is making the decision of saving a life of a person who pays taxes every year or a person who collects welfare…..does not take a rocket scientist to figure out which person they will save.
Bill Clinton
November 11th, 2009
4:22 pm
Before Clinton calls anybody a “teabagger” he needs to choke on my “Lewinski”.
Hershell
November 11th, 2009
4:23 pm
One thing is eveident. The Southerners on this blog are idiots, and more than likely OVER WEIGHT.
DT
November 11th, 2009
4:23 pm
How does having insurance through Aetna rule out the profit motive? What did I miss? They are not a 501c3 (not for profit) the last time I checked.
john
November 11th, 2009
4:30 pm
i am not a southern i moved here a few years ago, the 1st thing i did notice was how fat people are down here. It is nuts, if they do have reform i pray they tax the heck out of junk food and fast food like the do with cancer sticks. If you want gov’t to run your healthcare lets also let them choice what we can put into our bodies since we are going to be forced to assume to cost of these choices people make.
go to www.atlshirt.com
November 11th, 2009
4:33 pm
it is going to hit the fan, real soon !!!!!!!!
Dont have 60 in the Senate
November 11th, 2009
4:51 pm
Pull the plug on Obamacare.
Kill the Bill !
Kill the Bill !
Kill the Bill
Die Pelosicare !!!!!!!!!!!!
Dont have 60 in the Senate
November 11th, 2009
4:55 pm
Just saw a video of Nancy Pelosi next to The Grinch. They look identical ! LMAO !
You’re a mean one Ms Pelosi……. La, la, la, la, la
Dont have 60 in the Senate
November 11th, 2009
5:00 pm
Now Pelosi says she hopes we have a bill, a Christmas present for Americans…… Blah, blah.
A Christmas present is a GIFT not a Forced Government Takeover of our lives, privacy, individual choice,
This woman is bats*** crazy !!!!
Stay out of my chimney Nancy…. I’m building a fire.
Trudy
November 11th, 2009
5:11 pm
It is NOT a government takeover, you morons! Idiot redneck GOP hypocrites!
clyde
November 11th, 2009
5:11 pm
52.5% love it or put up with it.45% don’t like it or absolutely loathe it and 2.3% don’t know which way up is.
It doesn’t seem to me that Southerners actually love their health insurance.
17.7% are very satisfied.Those ones,like Cynthia,have their premiums paid by their employer.They have full coverage for everything.
34.8 % are satisfied.These people get employer sponsored health insurance but have to kick in on part of the premium from their pocket.
24.7% dissatisfied.-these people have to pay a good part of their premiums and have large deductibles that have to be satisfied,plus their insurance only pays about 80%.
20.4% are very dissatisfied.-These ones pay their entire premiums out of pocket,they’ve chosen the cheapest plan available and it only pays about 20% of any bill.
2.3% don’t know. In any survey a number of this same magnitude always appears.This is the percentage of the population that doesn’t have a clue about anything.Every one of them has been in a check-out line ahead of me at one time or another.Some days two at a time.
Dont have 60 in the Senate
November 11th, 2009
5:18 pm
It’s a TAKEOVER you wacky, moonbat liberal !!!
GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER
That’s exactly what it is! It ain’t your free lunch Trudy!
Don’t have 60 in the Senate!
Praise the Lord !
booger
November 11th, 2009
5:26 pm
This is not a southern thing. Most people in the country like their health insurance. The govt. and the media seem to be the only one,s with a problem. This is why the repubs. say leave the insured alone, and fix the problem of access for everyone who doesn’t have it. A fix is needed, not reform.
But you and I know that this is not the govt’s objective. They want to control 17% of the US economy. this on top of the banks, and auto industry.
GaPeach1st
November 11th, 2009
5:39 pm
Cynthia. You don’t get it . . it say AJC has a self-insured plan (a non-profit plan) . . . in self-insured plans. . the premiums have to cover the cost of claims paid. Technically it isn’t a profit making plan, but the insurance company (third party administrator) that processes the AJC claims is a “profit-making” entity.
You have to work really hard to come up with why the poll you mentioned resulted in a majority of people being happy with their insurance. 1st I would bet since a very large number in the South is either on Medicaid, PeachCare, Medicare and a large number of self-insured plans, i.e., state goverment workers and folks like Ms. Tucker . . that would account for the numbers in the poll!!!!
getalife
November 11th, 2009
6:02 pm
Get ur guvmint hands off my Medicare!
booger
November 11th, 2009
6:27 pm
Gapeach,
I know no one who is unhappy with their insurance. You and I must run in different circles if you can’t understand why people would like their insurance. The people I run with like their insurance.
scott
November 11th, 2009
6:39 pm
cindy is right just get out of a job and have a prexisting condition..southerners most are so backwards and depend on the likes of rush limbaugh and sean stupid insane hannity for their information most are 2 paychecks away from poverty ..the south has always trailed the rest of the nation in thinking ..with the exception of florida..and now progressive north carolina…
WILLIAM H.
November 11th, 2009
6:54 pm
EXTREMELY SATISFIED WITH THE COST OF MY HEALTH INSURANCE. I AM ON MEDICARE AND MY GAP INSURANCE IS COVERED BY THE INSURANCE PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY FROM WHICH MY WIFE RETIRED. MY MEDICARE PART “B”" PREMIMUNS ARE ALSO REFUNDED, AND THIS INSURANCE IS COMPLETELY COMPANY PAID!
What if?
November 11th, 2009
7:08 pm
If this healthcare bill passes what will happen if some one on the govt plan gets shot by a gun.
Will the government somehow “find” the authority to go after firearms because they might hurt people?
What if?
What if?
November 11th, 2009
7:12 pm
What if someone on the government plan wants to ride a motorcycle?
Obviously, riding a bike involves a higher chance of serious injury……
PS,
I ride a motorcycle.
Just thinking……
What if?
What if?
November 11th, 2009
7:24 pm
What if someone on the government plan wants to go skiing or skydiving?
What happens if their “risk” ends up costing the “system”
What if?
Do y’all understand what I’m saying?
They already tax us into oblivion. They’re going to pass taxes on “fat” foods soon. This will never stop unless they get fired.
PLEASE —– Stop this madness!
Call, email, fax, write a letter by hand.
Tell them NO !!!!!!
War Eagle
November 11th, 2009
8:29 pm
Since 1999, kidney transplant, cardiac arrest(pacemaker), five remissions from cancer(Melomona, 4-Lymphoma), other side effect from drugs and a 1.3million dollars of invoices just from Piedmont, my out of pocket was $340.00. I am a southern and very satisfied with my insurance.
Of course, if I was a radical and racist who had it in for society, I could bitch.
Michael H. Smith
November 11th, 2009
8:54 pm
Comrade Cynthia, do tell what other means via “private option” or “public-private option” (non-government cooperative healthcare) do people who (must) rely on the Socialist Medicare program have available to them as healthcare insurance, apart from being among the independently wealthy that self-insure?
As for this Southerner who also loves his native South (indigenously so) I’m inclined to agree with your Southern counter-part, Jim Wooten: Government dependence is akin to a drug addiction, once they’ve got’ya, you’re hooked for life!
Socialist Medicare as with the other big government cradle-to-the-grave “nanny state” Socialist Healthcare programs, they are truly “NOT OPTIONS” and neither will this so-called “Public Option” be optional should it ever become the law of the new Obama transformed land – the United Socialist States of America.
The answer to this seeming healthcare conundrum is available but so far neither the Socialist left (Democrats) or the Laissez faire right (Republicans) are willing to surrender power and control back to “We the People” over our own unalienable endowment.
Joan
November 11th, 2009
8:55 pm
Polls say 85% percent of Americans are satisfied with their insurance, but that doesn’t fit with the Democrats “takeover” agenda, so it really doesn’t matter. This bill is to buy votes from welfare dependents, and illegal aliens (because the next bill up will be one for granting them amnesty as sure as I have lived 68 years!).
Sunshine
November 11th, 2009
9:09 pm
Its Simple People. 1. Stop giving medical care to illegal aliens Period!. Tell them to go back to their native country for health coverage. If that be known, I rather doubt we would have a lot of illegals in this country. 2. Tie the amount the medical profession can increase charges each year to the CPI. I don’t think it takes a rocket scientist to figure this thing out.
Truth
November 11th, 2009
9:12 pm
From today’s AJC, “Report: 10 states face looming budget disasters.”
I’ve taken the liberty of noting how each of these states voted during the 2008 presidential elections. Anyone notice a trend?
How’s that for fiscal responsibility? How’s the nanny state working our for you now?
These are the people who want to dictate, by proxy, how my health care is run and how my tax dollar are used? I don’t think so.
Arizona – McCain
California – Obama
Michigan – Obama
Florida – Obama
Illinois – Obama
Nevada – Obama
New Jersey – Obama
Oregon – Obama
Rhode Island – Obama
Wisconsin – Obama
Michael H. Smith
November 11th, 2009
9:17 pm
Um, Sunshine… we all know its simple and agree with you but our government simply doesn’t agree with all us.
Richard
November 16th, 2009
4:39 pm
The government was established to govern, regulate, and provide defense. End of story. Stop all the nonsense about the government needs to provide “us” healthcare. We need to stop being victims and understand little blue pills, green pills, and two white pills will make not make us happy or generally healthier. It is now coming out that over the counter niacin is just as effective as some (expensive) cholestrol pills. Let’s all wake up and take responsiblity to the best we can for our own health care and well being. Let’s force our government to give common sense and succinct health care regulations and then move on. If we do that, we can then provide the truly needy (less than 5%) of the population with proper subsidies.