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Obamacare Could Help Fuel a Tech Start-Up Boom
dcblogs writes "The arrival of Obamacare may make it easier for some employees to quit their full-time jobs to launch tech start-ups, work as a freelance consultant, or pursue some other solo career path. Most tech start-up founders are older and need health insurance. 'The average age of people who create a tech start-up is 39, and not 20-something,' said Bruce Bachenheimer, who heads Pace University's Entrepreneurship Lab. Entrepreneurs are willing to take on risks, but health care is not a manageable risk, he said. 'There is a big difference between mortgaging your house on something you can control, and risking going bankrupt by an illness because of something you can't control,' said Bachenheimer. Donna Harris, the co-founder of the 1776 incubation platform in Washington, believes the healthcare law will encourage more start-ups. 'You have to know that there are millions of Americans who might be fantastic and highly successful entrepreneurs who are not pursuing that path because of how healthcare is structured,' said Harris"
If th e US has a civilized Health Care system, I would start my own business much easier. Or join a start up without worrying about health care.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
That simply doesn't wash. While I certainly want everyone to have coverage and to get the best treatment, the fact is, BY LAW in the United States, no hospital can refuse to provide essential care. I have a friend who had breast cancer, and who went through the entire course of treatment without paying a penny. I have another who suffered kidney failure and went through years of dialysis -- without paying a dime.
The real killer is *being*out*of*work. You're so sick, you can't work, so you have no income. For that, health insurance (whether Obamacare or something else) doesn't do a thing. You need coverage to pay the bills while you're out of work.
THAT'S why people go bankrupt.
Not taking sides either way, I'm just pointing that out. The fact is, also under the law, even if you have assets, as long as you pay the hospital what you can afford (even if it's only $5 a week), they can't do anything to you. If they take you to court, you can tell the judge: I was out of work for a year, I can afford to pay them $25 a month and that's it. The judge will almost always agree.
I've been in court and have watched it happen.
Again: you can make an argument for universal health care. But I just wanted to set the record straight about that.
Cogito, igitur comedam pizza.
If you say, have some disease, and it is cured, and you want health coverage, you are stuck in your present job with it's present health coverage. Change jobs, and ooopsies, it's a preexisting condition. So a friend of my spouse who had breast cancer, is stuck in her job. Because if it recurs, which isn't likely at this point, but possible, she is bankrupt.
And despite all the hate, there is a lit fuse in the present system. People without health care do get treatment for their illnesses and minor issues. They go to the Emergency room. There, they get the most expensive treatment available to people - emergency room care. Before my father passed away last year, he was in the emergency room three times. And it was a little strange. Most of the people there just seemed to have minor problems, like sore throats, colds, sick kids. I'd asked about that, and the eanswer was "it's poor folk with no insurance." But rest assured that it is paid for, by your's and my premiums, and by Government.
The problem is, as insurance costs go up, and people drop off the rolls, the emergency room will become more and more used for more and more people. A real positive feedback loop, Eventually no one except people who can pay for their medical bills out of hand will afford health insurance. Then, unless we are going to force peole to go without medical treatment, we'll have a bizzare form of universal coverage. Not a good idea at all.
Reading the opposition plan, it is some bafflegab about doing the same thing as we are doing now, except for more bafflegab about affordability.
The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
It also creates the exchanges, which ensure that you, as an individual can purchase healthcare at group rates.
Can't say that we've seen a tech boom here in Massachusetts, things were moving along rather well anyway, but speaking as someone doing a startup, right now, in the state, with access to exchanges...it's awesome.
This is just another case of conservatives (this time the slashdot variety, but that isn't terribly important) trying to jockey for position to take credit if the Health Insurance Company Bailout Act of 2010 works out well for anyone beyond just the insurance industry. They are planting the ideas of possible potential benefits so that they can say "we told you so" if they pan out. As much as they are bitching (read: exhibiting massive grandstanding) on capital hill right now, the conservatives put themselves in the ultimate can't-lose position here; if it works they can say it was based on what Romney did and if it doesn't they can say it was overreaching.
Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
Nevada is a poor example. Their taxes are low because the tourism industry heavily subsidizes the entire state budget. Tax collection is quite high, but it's not coming out of the pockets of the residents of the state. Sales tax and vehicle registration taxes are also quite high. As far as unemployment, Nevada (especially Las Vegas), has a very uneducated, unhealthy, and transient population. Many people moved there during the construction boom, and the economy of the state is not diverse enough to accommodate the bust.
Scott
Most people are healthy and only need to learn to stay healthy. Most are better off with a medical savings account than with medical insurance. Why give money away for someone else to make billions off of it while you get little more than weak promises that in the event something bad happens, you might get minimal care?
We live in such a debt financing society we've all completely forgotten how to save money for bad days. Does a credit card really substitute for a savings?
Well that's absolute proof then, that the program that starts tomorrow is so bad that it went back in time and caused your insurance company to raise your rates. Because insurance rates never went up until Obamacare was passed.
I feel your pain. My dog never had worms before and now he's got worms. Goddamn Obama...
Because you live in a state where the governor and legislature put their fingers in their ears since 2010 and said, "We're not going to obey the law". First they were waiting for the Supreme Court, and then they were waiting for Romney to get elected so it could be repealed.
Call your governor and ask why they haven't set up the exchanges yet. If you lived in my state, you'd be able to go sign up for care at less than your $187/month tomorrow morning.
You are welcome on my lawn.