[jIM_Ohio]

Originally Posted by MonkeyMama

I agree with the comments.

Since we are privately insured (always have been. 75% of small business employers do not offer health coverage - can't afford it or get group policies & whenever I have had insurance offered - it sucked).

Anyway, when private insurance was our choice over employer coverage I never came across anyone who would shop around. They would take it for free even if it sucked and only saved them $20/month. Having always paid for our own health insurance I don't quite *get* the current system. PEople are unwilling to shop around and unwilling to pay more than a few dollars for medical care. It's absurd to me.

On the flip side, whenever the subject comes up, when people here how much we do pay for our medical insurance, they assume I am all excited about Obama and a possible government health plan.

Um, no. As long as I can afford private insurance I am keeping it. I have a lot of friends in the military and a lot of friends in Canada. They are a lot like Americans. The only good thing they can say about it is that it is free! Plus I am not naive enough to think that if it comes from the government it is free. Then it comes from our tax dollars. Then I will lose my choice. But seriously, Canada's healthcare has some SERIOUS issues. Try finding a doctor, for one.

Something has to be done, for sure. Government fixing it? Ugh.

HDHP has bee a little "too good to be true" since we don't mind paying for care when we use it. I love it, because we have savings, etc. We just paid $85 for a doctor visit for our son who was having an issue. A relative said "That was $20 well spent!" We just rolled our eyes. Pffft. I haven't paid $20 for a doctor visit since I was under my parent's insurance in college. But yeah, people freak out when you say you spent more than $20 at the doctor. I don't mind paying $85 for a DOCTOR. I am more concerned that our insurance premiums go up 10-40% every year. But so many people under the bubble of their employer don't *get* that.

What MM said.
People think $20 co-pays is a way to keep the system functioning. Some of our doctor visits for the kids are $200 if they get sick, but I am willing to pay that fee (we have $7000 budgeted for healthcare this year). Some of visits are free (the ones where they get shots).