"Caroline" <caroline10027remove[at]earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:1pCMb.6721$zj7.861[at]newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
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I agree.

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It is huge. Often second only to income taxes. When health insurance is
greater than housing, something is wrong, IMO. I just moved a family of
seven from a plan that was going to run $1,200 per month to one that is just
under $700 per month. Their income was right under $100,000 (and as business
owners, they'd have to earn about $125,000 to have the same lifestyle
working for someone else). The premium was just too high, but they can't go
without, because they are self-employed with assets to protect. Health
insurance is designed to keep one out of bankruptcy, not pay nickel and dime
claims.

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I sell group insurance to businesses and individuals. I've been doing it
since I was 20, and I have more experience that most who have 2-3 times as
much time in the business, by virtue of exposure. I sell a lot, because I
prospect a lot. Plus, I study history and can discuss why we have the
problems we have today with local academics at the university, and they
learn things they've never heard of, much less considered. A few have
totally changed their way of thinking, which isn't a small feat. Academics
know everything, afterall. But, I make a strong case, and back it up with
facts.

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Shutting down a thread on health insurance because we drift into politics
and health care issues is akin to shutting down a thread on mutual funds
because of politics and business issues of managing money for others in a
'for profit' system. They are bound together.

To make informed decisions, one must know how things work. Most people don't
understand mutual funds, but they understand them better than they do health
insurance. Most of what I tell people they've never heard before. A lot of
older agents don't bother, because they think I'm wasting my time.

I can't change the world by keeping my mouth shut. =)

Brent D. Gardner, ChFC
Chartered Financial Consultant
http://members.cox.net/brentdgardner1378/

"Be ever questioning. Ignorance is not bliss. It is oblivion. You don't go
to heaven if you die dumb. Become better informed. Learn from other's
mistakes. You could not live long enough to make them all yourself." - Hyman
George Rickover (1900-86), Admiral, US Navy, advocated development of
nuclear subs & ships

The Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Chartered Financial Consultant
(ChFC), designations owned and exclusively offered by The American College,
signify the highest standards of academic study and professional excellence
in the financial services industry.

"Brent D. Gardner, ChFC" <bgardner20[at]cox.net> wrote
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I submitted the following for posting in the original thread but it was
rejected. I am rying again, as I agree with Brent's words above and think the
point is very important.

I hoped the moderators would recognize this thread's latest gist very much has
to do with long-term medical needs, changing the status quo, the likelihood of
this, and thus how to best financially plan.

The more people know about the way the U.S. health care system works, the better
equipped they will be to plan financially.

Also, my sense is health care expenses are now a much bigger proportion of
consumers' yearly budgets.

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Are you one of the former (one who knows the truth) or one of the latter (a
person who thinks he is much smarter than he actually is)? ;-)

Michael Wing's tale and its related tangents are intriguing. Learning the ins
and outs of the health insurance system is extremely important to financial
planning.

I regret the thread was shut down.

Brent D. Gardner, ChFC <bgardner20[at]cox.net> wrote:

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I think the Moderator simply requested that discussions in this
group focus on the FINANCIAL aspects of health insurance rather
than the MEDICAL aspects. (And, although he didn't say it, I
presume that a discussion of the POLITICAL aspects would be
similarly "off topic.")

MTW

Anyone who thinks that health insurance, and a discussion related to, isn't
a financial planning issue, they aren't truly an active, successful
practitioner of the craft.

Health insurance, for many families, costs as much as housing. In some
cases, it is second only to income taxes, as an annual expense. A real
financial advisor must be well versed in this area, and a discussion on
health insurance, and related issues, is DEFINITELY one for this board.

As anyone who knows the truth can see, plenty of mythology and ignorance in
this area, including people who think they are much smarter than they
actually are.

Brent D. Gardner, ChFC
Chartered Financial Consultant
http://members.cox.net/brentdgardner1378/

"Be ever questioning. Ignorance is not bliss. It is oblivion. You don't go
to heaven if you die dumb. Become better informed. Learn from other's
mistakes. You could not live long enough to make them all yourself." - Hyman
George Rickover (1900-86), Admiral, US Navy, advocated development of
nuclear subs & ships

The Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Chartered Financial Consultant
(ChFC), designations owned and exclusively offered by The American College,
signify the highest standards of academic study and professional excellence
in the financial services industry.