> For someone who has no choice or very little, something like the FEP would
> be a hell of a lot better. It's true there is no sliding scale on premiums
> based
> on salary.
>
> By the way, all out of pocket $$$ plus the premiums you pay with after-tax
> dollars
> are deductible, if you are able to itemize deductions.
>
> I do agree that at the end of the day, as I pointed out in my post, that
> those with low pay can't easily afford health insurance, even if it is group
> coverage, even with subsidies, because work doesn't pay.
Max, Yep, something would be much better than nothing. I wasn't necessarily arguing against you, but just taking the opportunity to point out that even the Federal employee plan isn't much different than anything you can get with a private sector employer.
Probably the best health insurance I have ever had was thanks to class struggle waged through the Teamsters against UPS when I worked for them. It seemed to pay for just about everything with only a $20 copay here and there.
Except when I took my baby boy in for vaccinations, then I go hit with a $400 bill. I could have gone to the county health center and paid $90. I got lulled into a false sense of security and didn't read the plan, only to find out that nothing preventative was covered. This shit just doesn't make sense some times.
Take care, Sheldon