The last health care question anyone needs to ask

Lots of people outside Congress are “allowed” to have pensions. It’s not Congress’s fault some people choose careers that don’t include them. On the other hand, those who have them generally contribute to them, so you can take the $$ you save not doing so and invest them in a 401(k).

https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-richest-california-lawmakers-20180305-story.html

As a reference point, here’s an article showing the net worths of the CA congressional delegation, which one would think would be among the highest. Mean is under half a mil, and many have a negative net worth, some in the millions. Many (like Feinstein) are wealthy due to their spouses’ income/holdings. Several incoming freshmen were millionaires before they were elected.

Who says you can’t have a pension?

If your job doesn’t offer one, maybe you should find a better job.

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For the record, I am opposed to single payer.
But instead of asking why they don’t just give us the same plan they enjoy, maybe the question should be, why don’t they lead by example and accept the medical care that’s available to their average constituent?

You seem to have missed where it was explained that members of Congress are literally the only people in the country who are required by the ACA to purchase their health insurance thru the ACA exchanges. You want what they have, you got it.

If you don’t accept what’s in the proposed bills then I don’t understand the point of the OP.

Because they thumb their noses at us and give it to themselves. They claim to have the same insurance as us, but a helluva a lot of people have the crappy bronze plan in the ACA and I bet none of them do.

It’s a plan anyone can get if they want, gold. The difference between the metals is the balance of deductibles vs premiums. Do you feel Congress should be required to have no choice?

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No, I’m just wondering how people who can barely afford a crappy used car are expected to handle an eight thousand dollar deductible. If we are going to insure them on the public dime, we shouldn’t condemn them to financial collapse should they use it.

As to congress, I can’t help feeling dubious that they aren’t up to the BS they pulled in the early days of the ACA. I don’t have a problem with them paying for good insurance from their own pokers. ‘Course, they’ll just vote themselves a raise if they think it’s getting too expensive. :wink:

Congress hasn’t had a raise in 12 years.

My heart bleeds.

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Yes, one question does remain. When are we getting single-payer healthcare guys, gals and gender neutral-pals?

I’m voting sooner rather than later.

Let’s go.

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Wrong vacation. It’s Christmas time:

NationalLampoonsChristmasVacation-Still5

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If they say that they will, will you believe them?

I agree and that’s why I prefer a single payer system. The various metal levels of the ACA are based on the pre-ACA system where you could choose between plans that ranged from high to low deductibles. It’s the same thing with other forms insurance. It’s essentially gambling.

Congress insurance payments are partially subsidized so they clearly aren’t financially hurt by the program. My expectations (not assumptions) is that in the very unlikely chance that single payer were to become law, everyone would be on the same plan with perhaps some special vet only plans.

That eight thousand dollar deductible only applies if you have medical expenses that high, not including the preventive care that’s required to be covered without deductible. I don’t think it’s going too far out on a limb to say most people will never pay anything near that, and many that do will be glad they’re only $8K in the hole rather than financially wiped out forever.

If you see a specialist of any kind, you pay up to the deductible. Need an ear, nose and throat specialist? Pay out of pocket. Podiatrist? Pay. Basically, if primary care physician can’t fix it, you pay.

Bloodwork diagnostics. Pay

X rays, CT scans, MRI scans etc. You pay up to the deductible.

Here is a screenshot of the 2020 Florida Blue bronze plan as offered by the ACA for people making under a certain amount or you can pay for it if you make over whatever the threshold is.

Yup. That’s pretty much what i said, and how pretty much all insurance works. Is this a surprise to you?

No, it’s not. I thought you were suggesting that it paid for more stuff than it does, my mistake.