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Post by Blue Meanie on Jul 24, 2018 0:40:44 GMT -5
No free ride overall, but a massive difference in how that pie gets distributed (citizens, doctors, pharmaceutical, and insurance companies, and not in that order), and the fairness thereof - in addition to the effectiveness of the system, and consequences (i.e. not being able to get timely appointments or close-by emergency care (?)). It's not 60% just towards healthcare. IDK what kind of social security/Medicare type system you have, but all that has gone up here, probably by 20% (?) over the past 20 years. As far as health insurance, there are people like me, who fell thru the cracks, with even catastrophic insurance (which means you get no benefit until you spend $7250 for the year, can cost $10,000 a year, more than they make at a given time). Guess what? I worked for a year & 1/2, quit, and they send me all this stuff that I suddenly qualified for Medicaid, which is basically free. $3 co-pays, same drugs, even includes dental. That was last Oct, and I never partook a single dime. Yet. lol But anyway, that is state -driven I believe. Bottom line, there seems a lot of inequity as to whom get "Affordable Act" benefits. What/who is Scott? I dont know about the medicare end I keep my insurance when I retire. And SS is something I can care less about really. I dont plan on getting it so if it there thats gravy. And being that I give the max it would be sweet to get some back lol. If I understand you correct you got better benefits after you stopped working? It mostly depends on your attained age, Right now you get more if you can wait until 67. But the age is going up again. You can probably just Google it.
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Post by divebitch on Jul 24, 2018 5:18:30 GMT -5
Did you know that if you are on ACA and the government subsidises some of your payment that you owe that back? If you get a raise you need to pay money back. If you die and own anything, its the governments now. Did you know that? What is ACA? If it's Affordable Care Act, I didn't qualify cuz I hadn't worked in a long time, thus not paying federal tax. How's that for a catch-22? Like if I can keep expenses reasonably low and live off my savings for awhile (that I already paid taxes on years ago), why should I be punished? How is that less worthy than a woman who has no chance at a decent, much less full-time job cuz she's popped out her 6th baby by the age of 25 - bleeding the Welfare coffers dry. And what do you mean by 'payment'? Is that for insurance cost or medical actual medical services?
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Post by divebitch on Jul 24, 2018 6:23:55 GMT -5
No free ride overall, but a massive difference in how that pie gets distributed (citizens, doctors, pharmaceutical, and insurance companies, and not in that order), and the fairness thereof - in addition to the effectiveness of the system, and consequences (i.e. not being able to get timely appointments or close-by emergency care (?)). It's not 60% just towards healthcare. IDK what kind of social security/Medicare type system you have, but all that has gone up here, probably by 20% (?) over the past 20 years. As far as health insurance, there are people like me, who fell thru the cracks, with even catastrophic insurance (which means you get no benefit until you spend $7250 for the year, can cost $10,000 a year, more than they make at a given time). Guess what? I worked for a year & 1/2, quit, and they send me all this stuff that I suddenly qualified for Medicaid, which is basically free. $3 co-pays, same drugs, even includes dental. That was last Oct, and I never partook a single dime. Yet. lol But anyway, that is state -driven I believe. Bottom line, there seems a lot of inequity as to whom get "Affordable Act" benefits. What/who is Scott? I dont know about the medicare end I keep my insurance when I retire. And SS is something I can care less about really. I dont plan on getting it so if it there thats gravy. And being that I give the max it would be sweet to get some back lol. If I understand you correct you got better benefits after you stopped working? How do you give the max? Didn't know there was more than one way to pay SS tax, it just comes out automatically. Why don't you plan on getting Soc Sec?!? The money won't be there, or you won't live that long? Or both? hehe Back to me me me... yes, free Medicaid is a massive improvement over just about anything. Working 'part time' for the State of PA (PLCB - PA Liquor Control Board) (they gave you 32 hours a week, technically P/T), they get away with offering the tiniest 'benefit' of insurance. It cost only 2% of your gross, but it was the Bronze Plan. No co-pay - you pay full costs of doctors visits, emergency room, etc. until you reach $7,250. Then you are covered 100%. It also covered annual 'womens wellness' exams (mammo and gyno), and a colonoscopy every 5 years. The plan was fine for me, bad for people with recurring conditions or diseases like diabetes or skin cancer. Funny, just a week or 2 after quitting, I was shocked to get all this in the mail, saying I was now eligible for Medicaid. Here's your Access card, your CVS Pharmacy card, and pick my plan (amongst 3!!!) and doctor. I chose Aetna, wow, incredible plan. It pays like 100% of almost everything. Now this is tough to wrap my head around, but it would cost me probably $1,200 - $1,500 a month at my age to get a policy on my own that would be not nearly this good. After taxes, pension deduction, and outrageous union dues, that was same or more $$$ than I made in a month. Dan, I forget what it is you do for a living, hope that's not too personal. It's great that you will get to keep your insurance. And don't care about Soc Sec. lol
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Post by divebitch on Jul 24, 2018 7:08:44 GMT -5
I dont know about the medicare end I keep my insurance when I retire. And SS is something I can care less about really. I dont plan on getting it so if it there thats gravy. And being that I give the max it would be sweet to get some back lol. If I understand you correct you got better benefits after you stopped working? It mostly depends on your attained age, Right now you get more if you can wait until 67. But the age is going up again. You can probably just Google it. IMO, your 'retirement age', that 66 & 8 months crap, doesn't even mean anything. You start collecting anywhere from 62 and 70 & 1/2. For every month in that range, the amount you'll receive is on a sliding scale. IOW, you could call the 'retirement age' 63.5 or 69. If you choose 66 & 8 months, you'll get the same thing as it is now - there is no magic number where your benefits significantly improve over the month before. That said, I believe there is a magic number at which you break even. IDK if it's exactly the same for all, but I've done the math, and that age is roughly 82 if I recall correctly, that's another matter. lol Simple math. Example... Say you retire at 62, and get $1,000 a month. So that is 4 years and 8 months, or 56 months, or $56,000 before the age of 66 & 8 months - where if you started receiving benefits there, it might be $1,400 a month. So the math is like how many extra $400s does it take to meet and surpass the $1000 a month? Here's my thinking though.... 1) Unless there are significant cost of living increases, which is unlikely, that 4 yr & 8 month (or longer) wait reduces the value of that set payout. 2) That money could be working for me in my own account, making more. Over the last 4 or 5 years, some of my investments have grown over 40% (the diff between that $1,000 & $1,400). Mine are more aggressive than they should be, but hey it's paid off. So barring a major crash, pretty good strategy. 3) If you don't make it to 82, you've left money on the table. lol Screw that, I'm not living to 100. I wanna do the fun stuff that costs $$$ while I can still enjoy it. But like I reasoned in #2) if your money is working for you, that 'break even point' could be closer to 85 - 90 yrs old.
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Post by danb6177 on Jul 24, 2018 7:21:47 GMT -5
I dont know about the medicare end I keep my insurance when I retire. And SS is something I can care less about really. I dont plan on getting it so if it there thats gravy. And being that I give the max it would be sweet to get some back lol. If I understand you correct you got better benefits after you stopped working? How do you give the max? Didn't know there was more than one way to pay SS tax, it just comes out automatically. Why don't you plan on getting Soc Sec?!? The money won't be there, or you won't live that long? Or both? hehe Back to me me me... yes, free Medicaid is a massive improvement over just about anything. Working 'part time' for the State of PA (PLCB - PA Liquor Control Board) (they gave you 32 hours a week, technically P/T), they get away with offering the tiniest 'benefit' of insurance. It cost only 2% of your gross, but it was the Bronze Plan. No co-pay - you pay full costs of doctors visits, emergency room, etc. until you reach $7,250. Then you are covered 100%. It also covered annual 'womens wellness' exams (mammo and gyno), and a colonoscopy every 5 years. The plan was fine for me, bad for people with recurring conditions or diseases like diabetes or skin cancer. Funny, just a week or 2 after quitting, I was shocked to get all this in the mail, saying I was now eligible for Medicaid. Here's your Access card, your CVS Pharmacy card, and pick my plan (amongst 3!!!) and doctor. I chose Aetna, wow, incredible plan. It pays like 100% of almost everything. Now this is tough to wrap my head around, but it would cost me probably $1,200 - $1,500 a month at my age to get a policy on my own that would be not nearly this good. After taxes, pension deduction, and outrageous union dues, that was same or more $$$ than I made in a month. Dan, I forget what it is you do for a living, hope that's not too personal. It's great that you will get to keep your insurance. And don't care about Soc Sec. lol SS has a cap each year as to how much you give. And yes I am prepared for the money not to be there. This way I wont be upset/not prepared if it is not and if it is well Ill throw a party. Our healthcare system can be better no doubt. I feel like most skilled workers and union workers would not be complaining about healthcare, I know I don't. But I suppose that it screws a lot of people as well. Medicaid is basically our form of universal healthcare right? Just for older people. Or is that Medicare? I get them mixed up. That is good tho that you are getting taken care of now. Its a nice piece of mind. I am a union power plant operator to answer your question. I am the senior plant operator in my plant.
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Post by Blue Meanie on Jul 24, 2018 7:36:39 GMT -5
Medicaid is a health insurance program for people below a certain income level. Medicare is a program for people over 65. Both are considered part of the “Safety Net” designed to keep people from falling into the abyss.
If the Repugnuts keep trying to destroy these programs, it is possible the consequences could be servere. A significant portion of the poor in the country are well armed. The National Guard has already refused to go into some parts of Chicago because they know they are out gunned. This has the potential to take a turn like we have never seen before.
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Post by divebitch on Jul 24, 2018 7:57:31 GMT -5
SS has a cap each year as to how much you give. And yes I am prepared for the money not to be there. This way I wont be upset/not prepared if it is not and if it is well Ill throw a party. Our healthcare system can be better no doubt. I feel like most skilled workers and union workers would not be complaining about healthcare, I know I don't. But I suppose that it screws a lot of people as well. Medicaid is basically our form of universal healthcare right? Just for older people. Or is that Medicare? I get them mixed up. That is good tho that you are getting taken care of now. Its a nice piece of mind. I am a union power plant operator to answer your question. I am the senior plant operator in my plant.
Uh no, lol, Medicaid is for the poor, that's what they gave me. I never applied for it, never got it before. Medicare is for the elderly, and some people with long-term disabilities (tons of fraud on the latter). Not all unions, nor all contracts are created equal. At 32 hours, I had no benefits whatsoever outside of that shitty Bronze Plan. I got zero vacation or sick time. UFCW Local 881. That included Acme (supermarket). Guess what? The job I got a month later was also a state job, different union (AFCSME). Only 20 hours a week, so my benefits accrued at 1/2 speed, but good vaca, sick, holiday, O/T, and great health plans (including dental) - a bit expensive cuz I was part time. Full timers would pay maybe half. I forget the exact figures. Anyway, with Medicaid, I turned down their insurance. I'd be curious as to how you'd answer my reply to Blue.
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Post by danb6177 on Jul 24, 2018 9:00:45 GMT -5
Uh no, lol, Medicaid is for the poor, that's what they gave me. I never applied for it, never got it before. Medicare is for the elderly, and some people with long-term disabilities (tons of fraud on the latter). Not all unions, nor all contracts are created equal. At 32 hours, I had no benefits whatsoever outside of that shitty Bronze Plan. I got zero vacation or sick time. UFCW Local 881. That included Acme (supermarket). Guess what? The job I got a month later was also a state job, different union (AFCSME). Only 20 hours a week, so my benefits accrued at 1/2 speed, but good vaca, sick, holiday, O/T, and great health plans (including dental) - a bit expensive cuz I was part time. Full timers would pay maybe half. I forget the exact figures. Anyway, with Medicaid, I turned down their insurance. I'd be curious as to how you'd answer my reply to Blue. Yes I get em mixed up lol. What union job did you have? I am not sure what you do.
To what you said to blue I cant really comment. I don't know a lot about the intricacies of retirement plans other than my own. Sorry I cannot say more about it.
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Post by danb6177 on Jul 24, 2018 9:02:37 GMT -5
Medicaid is a health insurance program for people below a certain income level. Medicare is a program for people over 65. Both are considered part of the “Safety Net” designed to keep people from falling into the abyss. If the Repugnuts keep trying to destroy these programs, it is possible the consequences could be servere. A significant portion of the poor in the country are well armed. The National Guard has already refused to go into some parts of Chicago because they know they are out gunned. This has the potential to take a turn like we have never seen before. Do the republicans take all the blame for this one too? Nothing to the abusers of the system for spiraling things a bit out of control?
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Post by Blue Meanie on Jul 24, 2018 9:18:11 GMT -5
Medicaid is a health insurance program for people below a certain income level. Medicare is a program for people over 65. Both are considered part of the “Safety Net” designed to keep people from falling into the abyss. If the Repugnuts keep trying to destroy these programs, it is possible the consequences could be servere. A significant portion of the poor in the country are well armed. The National Guard has already refused to go into some parts of Chicago because they know they are out gunned. This has the potential to take a turn like we have never seen before. Do the republicans take all the blame for this one too? Nothing to the abusers of the system for spiraling things a bit out of control? Well, there are a lot of those at all levels. From individuals to Medicare fraud and so on. But there does seem to be one party hell bent on taking it all down, rather than two working together to fix it.
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Post by danb6177 on Jul 24, 2018 9:21:04 GMT -5
Do the republicans take all the blame for this one too? Nothing to the abusers of the system for spiraling things a bit out of control? Well, there are a lot of those at all levels. From individuals to Medicare fraud and so on. But there does seem to be one party hell bent on taking it all down, rather than two working together to fix it. Or 1 party opposing it and one not opposing it. Gotta keep them voters and all. We can probably agree that neither side is being helpful.
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Post by divebitch on Jul 24, 2018 11:06:41 GMT -5
Yes I get em mixed up lol. What union job did you have? I am not sure what you do.
To what you said to blue I cant really comment. I don't know a lot about the intricacies of retirement plans other than my own. Sorry I cannot say more about it.
It is not just a retirement plan. It is our Soc Sec system, which the vast majority of U.S. citizens are currently entitled to receive starting at age 62. Maybe you're not depending on it, but surely you've heard of it. lol My comments to Blue were just outlining my different take on the optimum time to start taking benefits. I was trying to make the point that age 66 and X months is an artificial target age put forth by the gov't, aimed to delay as well as bamboozle the public to wait, when it is really not necessarily in their best interests, despite the fact people are living longer. I tend to agree, at least some of that money may not be there for future generations, perhaps coming sooner than some think or hope. I'm not counting on it solely, although admittedly, I'd have a lot less to worry about, not having to dig into 401k and savings too early. But the vast majority are counting on it. In fact (and I have no proof of this), way fewer % of people approaching retirement have the savings, pensions, or options they had years ago. The system cannot be eradicated in our lifetime, or at least mine - hopefully. lol EDIT: Oh, had to go out for awhile, forgot to answer this. I had corporate white collar jobs from high school til I was 50. Decided a few years ago that I needed to go back to work for a lot of reasons. But the jobs I'd had either no longer existed, or my skills were rusty. I scored very high (98) on a test to work for the PLCB. Base pay was good, benefits of a State job were appealing to a lot of people. Oh, I was a clerk, meaning ya did everything from cashier, taking delivery, stocking shelves, customer service, displays. The last job I got and quit after 3 months was food service worker at a State Veteran's (Nursing) Home. Pay was good and the hours were great (2 or 3 8-hour days a week - 40 hrs every 2 wks), especially compared to the liquor store. Worst job experience of my entire life. I'm done now.
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Healthcare
Jul 24, 2018 12:09:43 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by danb6177 on Jul 24, 2018 12:09:43 GMT -5
Yes I get em mixed up lol. What union job did you have? I am not sure what you do.
To what you said to blue I cant really comment. I don't know a lot about the intricacies of retirement plans other than my own. Sorry I cannot say more about it.
It is not just a retirement plan. It is our Soc Sec system, which the vast majority of U.S. citizens are currently entitled to receive starting at age 62. Maybe you're not depending on it, but surely you've heard of it. lol My comments to Blue were just outlining my different take on the optimum time to start taking benefits. I was trying to make the point that age 66 and X months is an artificial target age put forth by the gov't, aimed to delay as well as bamboozle the public to wait, when it is really not necessarily in their best interests, despite the fact people are living longer. I tend to agree, at least some of that money may not be there for future generations, perhaps coming sooner than some think or hope. I'm not counting on it solely, although admittedly, I'd have a lot less to worry about, not having to dig into 401k and savings too early. But the vast majority are counting on it. In fact (and I have no proof of this), way fewer % of people approaching retirement have the savings, pensions, or options they had years ago. The system cannot be eradicated in our lifetime, or at least mine - hopefully. lol EDIT: Oh, had to go out for awhile, forgot to answer this. I had corporate white collar jobs from high school til I was 50. Decided a few years ago that I needed to go back to work for a lot of reasons. But the jobs I'd had either no longer existed, or my skills were rusty. I scored very high (98) on a test to work for the PLCB. Base pay was good, benefits of a State job were appealing to a lot of people. Oh, I was a clerk, meaning ya did everything from cashier, taking delivery, stocking shelves, customer service, displays. The last job I got and quit after 3 months was food service worker at a State Veteran's (Nursing) Home. Pay was good and the hours were great (2 or 3 8-hour days a week - 40 hrs every 2 wks), especially compared to the liquor store. Worst job experience of my entire life. I'm done now. I would disagree with the artificial target of 66 also. I’ve never even heard of that. Here we talk about 60. Some even 55. But at 55 people do the SS leveling. Which means they leave early and take less annuity and compinsate for the loss by drawing early from SS. It’s a good deal. Then at 62 when SS kicks in you don’t get as much so it’s level. So back to the benefits. You are correct there are many different unions and many different contracts. I was referring to skilled workers. Like Iron workers. Operators welders pipe fitters etc. Skilled union workers often have great benefits due to the natural dangers of their jobs. You should see the life insurance I get for 8$ a month lol. I’m surprised my wife doesn’t off me and collect. Other unions don’t necessarily have skilled workers. They have regular workers that are trained to do specific tasks and these unions are usually not very good and employees are treated more like at will employees.
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Post by Doc on Jul 24, 2018 17:03:50 GMT -5
I decided to give you all a new thread to discuss that stuff, and moved it all here.
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Post by divebitch on Jul 24, 2018 22:01:16 GMT -5
I would disagree with the artificial target of 66 also. I’ve never even heard of that. Here we talk about 60. Some even 55. But at 55 people do the SS leveling. Which means they leave early and take less annuity and compinsate for the loss by drawing early from SS. It’s a good deal. Then at 62 when SS kicks in you don’t get as much so it’s level. So back to the benefits. You are correct there are many different unions and many different contracts. I was referring to skilled workers. Like Iron workers. Operators welders pipe fitters etc. Skilled union workers often have great benefits due to the natural dangers of their jobs. You should see the life insurance I get for 8$ a month lol. I’m surprised my wife doesn’t off me and collect. Other unions don’t necessarily have skilled workers. They have regular workers that are trained to do specific tasks and these unions are usually not very good and employees are treated more like at will employees. www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/ageincrease.html Hate to break it to ya, but the "full" retirement age of 66 & change is common knowledge - if that's what you mean by 'disagree'. If you're actually agreeing that this 'target' date is artificial, I surely get that. Wow, I thought my old company was strange in offering this 'leveling' you talk about. I almost did that, but sat on it. For the company, there was also a 'break even point'. But it was hard to figure out cuz you'd still get a little something once you hit 62. The deciding factor was wanting to get out of corrupt Philly before I started collecting anything. Flat tax higher than the State. Yeah, the liquor store state job was basically unskilled, pretty much 'at will'. You just had to be pretty smart, which there is not a shortage of. And oh yeah, be physically able, and willing to put up w/crappy hours, and always working weekends. But paying 40% better than minimum wage, these jobs in a place like Philly (where minimum wage is still $7.25) are coveted and easily filled.
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