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Real Name: Emily Hagedorn Member Since: April 08, 2006 Last Signed In: October 13, 2008 Profile Views: 9701 Blog Views: 50061 Ombudsman: Budget cuts hurt long-term care Kern's longstanding battle with the mosquito Read the complaint filed against Dr. Freesemann, others Tips to avoid hospital, school infections BPD: Drug cache found in Dr. Freesemann's home, motor home The budget dust settles: How did health programs fare? Prominent doctor arrested in drug investigation British campaign IDs nine types of heavy drinkers The latest budget compromise and health care Bako AIDS Project: $37,000 can go a long way August 06 September 06 October 06 November 06 December 06 January 07 February 07 March 07 April 07 May 07 June 07 July 07 August 07 September 07 October 07 November 07 December 07 January 08 February 08 March 08 April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08 September 08 October 08
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Would you give up Starbucks for health coverage?
I spent most of my night Thursday in Kern Medical Center's emergency department — not because I was sick or hurt but because I wanted to find out about the people who work there and the patients who go there for care. (Look for the story soon in The Californian.) While I was shadowing, one of the employees mentioned something interesting to me. He said that for what it costs someone to buy cigarettes for a month, that person could afford health insurance. This intrigued me. Is that true? And by forgoing the cost of what other comforts, could people afford health care? I know that after graduating college, I went without health coverage for about two years. I assumed it was too costly for my meager income, and besides which, I was young and invincible! Nothing was going to happen to me (and thank God it didn't). To test the KMC employee's theory, I first found the cost for individual health coverage not through an employer. According to a study released by the Kaiser Family Foundation this month (see the attached PDF), this ranges from $1,163 to $5,090 annually for single coverage and $2,325 to $9,201 annually for family coverage. Broken down by month, this is $96.92 to $424.17 for single coverage. This is equivalent to:
I probably could have afforded health care right after college now that I think about it. 17 comments from 10 users
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posted by
blognroll
on Feb 25, 2008 at 12:47 PM
The very reason I need health coverage is because I make so many trips to Starbucks. I guess that's why they call me the... Starbuckaroo words and music by Dr BLT copyright 2008 http://www.drblt.net/music/...
posted by
randomfactor
on Feb 25, 2008 at 12:50 PM
And that health coverage would continue until you actually used it. posted by
RosemarysAbortionist
on Feb 25, 2008 at 12:59 PM
But should people have to give up more and more and more each year, just to make more room for that tumor in the family budget to keep on growing? Or should we do something about that tumor known as spiraling health care costs? Do nothing about that tumor, and the advice above will make true the argument that health costs will drag down the economy. posted by
ChicoEsquela
on Feb 25, 2008 at 01:04 PM
Starbucks! <spits> Had better battery acid at A-1! Like my coffee like my wermens Hot, Black, Strong Just kidding They don't have ta be strong Got my health coverage through Red Cross! posted by
ghostriter
on Feb 25, 2008 at 01:17 PM
I don't do Starbucks, as a rule; however, I'll bet that someone could get great coverage with what we spend every month on liquor and pet food! (4 cats, one BIG dog, 100-gallon fish tank) posted by
woofwoof
on Feb 25, 2008 at 01:49 PM
What difference does it make, even if you have health coverage, if you can't get the help you need while waiting for friggin' eight hourse in the ER. My father in law DIED because the wait in the ER was that long....he went home. Got up the next morning to get the paper and died from an embolism. posted by
ghostriter
on Feb 25, 2008 at 02:08 PM
Wait two days in the ER? Thank an illegal. posted by
randomfactor
on Feb 25, 2008 at 02:51 PM
Why? *THEY* didn't design the country's rotten health-care-insurance system. posted by
anglo1
on Feb 25, 2008 at 04:04 PM
Our insurance increased by 27% or 28% this year alone. I think my spouse's share is over $500 a month [approx.] A couple of years like that and it is really going hurt. I think a more qualified Triage system would do wonders for improved ER times. Colds, skinned knees and the like should be sent home with a First Aid book. I have been on the bad end of the stick concerning an idiot for a triage nurse at Memorial and if I were an administrator there I would fire someone.
posted by
RosemarysAbortionist
on Feb 25, 2008 at 04:14 PM
If first aid kits had to be obtained through the health care system, they would be $500 apiece. posted by
randomfactor
on Feb 25, 2008 at 04:14 PM
Only four aspirin in 'em, I suppose? posted by
adampayne
on Feb 25, 2008 at 04:28 PM
Being able to afford coverage and getting coverage are two different things. Today any person applying for coverage can be denied health insurance due to a pre-exisiting condition. In America it is not about health, it is about profit margins. posted by
ehagedorn
on Feb 25, 2008 at 04:35 PM
Good point, Adam. posted by
caligirl08
on Mar 2, 2008 at 07:56 AM
NO the illegals in this state surely didn't design the health care system however, they MOST DEFINATELY are destroying it. I cannot understand HOW these people get "restricted MediCal" to have a baby..THEY ARE ILLEGAL!!! People whom are legal, American citizens with no health coverage cannot get that. Ever wonder how much it costs for the illegals to have a baby at KMC?? THOUSANDS... I don't get it...WHY are they allowed to stay? They get WIC...welfare etc for their illegally born American child. Birth control and stronger borders... posted by
randomfactor
on Mar 2, 2008 at 08:30 AM
Caligirl, perhaps it's because there's a baby involved. . Another poster on another board finds himself unwilling to execute "illegal immigrants" for their crime. How about just killing the baby, then--accidentally of course, through complications or such? Or perhaps the mother too? But they're not "really" people, are they? They're "illegal." They don't matter as much as *YOU* do. They certainly don't matter as much as people who have money do. If so, we'd have redesigned the medical system so there's enough care to go around, regardless of whether you have money, as *REAL* people do, or not. posted by
caligirl08
on Mar 2, 2008 at 08:20 PM
Well "randomfactor" you see when night after night when this county see's illegals having babies and the average age for them is 15-16 years old then there is a definate problem. For those of us who have gone through numerous legalities to stay here in this country LEGALLY and paid thousands of dollars to have a VALID green card then you can voice your opinion. I didn't say kill them off (like you did) I said BORDERS AND FOR GOD SAKES BIRTH CONTROL!! A 14 year old girl who is illegal from Mexico has ABSOLUTELY NO business having a baby "just so her parents and family can stay here". Give me a break. All I'm saying is SEND THEM BACK AND MAKE THEM IMMIGRATE LEGALLY THE WAY THE REST OF US HAVE TO. They can go and have their kids in Juarez just as easily as Bakersfield. We all pay such high taxes etc and for what? I, for one, am tired of Americans going without, just so we can have cheap labor in our fields. Perhaps if places like Rainbow Carwash and Bolthouse didn't hire illegals...and literally perpetuate and inflate our problem here..then they wouldn't have anything to sneak across for. posted by
ehagedorn
on Mar 10, 2008 at 02:15 PM
A column written by me, based off this post, ran today in the Eye Street section of the paper. Here is one comment I received, posted with the writer's permission.
Dear Emily:
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