Slashdot Mirror
Ask Slashdot: IT Contractors, How's Your Health Insurance?
An anonymous reader writes "In the tech industry, as the economy continues its downturn, IT folks in my circles who were either laid off or let go are turning to contract work to pay their bills. Layoffs and a decline in tech jobs has affected older IT workers the most. Many of us find it more lucrative and enjoyable in the long run and leave the world of cubicles forever. However, there is much to be said for working for a large company or corporation, and health insurance is one of the benefits we value most. But what happens to those who find themselves in this position at mid-career or later in life? Hopefully they have accumulated enough savings or have enough money in an HSA to survive a major medical emergency. Unfortunately, many do not and some find themselves in dire straits with their lives depending on others for help. I have been working IT contracts mostly now for the past 11 years and I've done very well. I belong to a group insurance plan and the coverage is decent, but as I get older, premiums and copays go up and coverage goes down. If you work contracts exclusively, what do you think is the best plan for insurance? Any preferences?"
At least bother to clarify that this is really a question aimed at US contractors. For the rest of us (a majority of slashdotters?) this is a non-issue.
Yeah, of course: moving to a country with a civilized public health system. Each and every first world country but USA, that is.
Rightly or wrongly, most Brits see health care as a right, not a privilege.
Wrongly, as obviously, in a free society, you can not have a right to force other people to pay your healthcare bills any more than you can have a right to own slaves.
Negative moral value of force outweighs the positive value of good intentions.
Comedian Tom Green actually traveled FROM Canada to get his cancer surgery. He was still a Canadian citizen, but when they told him the wait time was 9 months, and there was a 10% chance he might be dead by that point, he went to the U.S. In typical factory-style efficiency the U.S. performed the surgery in mere days. Hence showing why an open market with multiple choices (yes I'm pro-choice) is better than a monopoly/single payer market.
BTW why does everyone always assume government is the only answer? Here's what I propose: - People too poor to afford health insurance, say below $25,000, can get Medicare benefits regardless of their age. Just as they are eligible for food stamps or housing assistance.
- Everyone else (that's us) can just buy it directly the same way we buy the other necessities of life (food, water, shelter) directly. I pay a mere $120 a month for my insurance. That's cheaper than some CATV services.
- I pay for doctor visits, pills, etc and the insurance company pays when the total cost exceeds $20,000.
My AC stalker: " I personally agree with your posts most of the time, but that won't keep me from modding you troll"
This country does "give a fuck" about the health of its citizens. That's why it doesn't want the government to takeover and turn the local hospital into the mindfuck that is the MVA.
Or Amtrak (40 years consistently losing money). Or Social Security (giving you a measly 500 a month so you can buy dogfood). Or the post office (also losing money). Most intelligent Americans look at how Congres has F'd up all the other programs they touched, and don't want them Fing up the hospital too.
My AC stalker: " I personally agree with your posts most of the time, but that won't keep me from modding you troll"
You do have a right to access to health care....you do not have the right to have me or anyone else PAY for it for you....
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........