So what is it to you? People ask. I am a negotiator for our local teacher's union. Every year for the past 8 years there were two big questions that faced us at the table. What is the state going to provide to the district in the way of support. Also what was our Health Care plan going to charge us in the form of an increase for our health care and who was going to pay for it.
In the past 5 or 6 years the healthcare cost has significantly increased beyond the cost of living. The cost of living is the amount the state can reasonably collect in state taxes to support the cost of education.
Two years ago there was a significant jump of our costs compared to other members of the healthcare pool. We went to the source and discovered that we were cut out of the experience pool of the larger group because our costs had risen higher than others in the pool. We were in our own pool. With a little digging we discovered that the main reason was that our county pool was not shopping wisely. Our members were headed north and were getting services in the with the Sutter Health Care providers that were costing the plan much more than the providers south in the Fresno area. As much as 1/3 difference.. with much better results across the board.
We have been working to advertise this difference among our members. This cost savings has led to one hospital withdrawing from our choices in the North. Turlock's Emmanual Hospital is no longer serving our members.
Would this happen with single payer.. probablly not.
Our district support for every employee is 9200 dollars a year. That should buy the health plan.. shouldn't it.. well no.. It takes another 4000 dollars to get the standard plan with some co pays and limits.
We pay another 525 so that we don't have co pays and don't have to fight with the pharmacy about formulary.. etc. Also who is covered with a co pay and who is not..
The pharmacy techs are always amazed at our insurance.. maybe they wouldn't if they were paying out of pocket 6k for the priviledge... and their employer were kicking in 9.2K a year.
You could say I am pretty passionate.
: ) Pat
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When my employer was negotiating to get help for me in the coming year, he found a speechie that was willing to come one or two days a week, and they agreed on EVERYTHING, except health care benefits. It was the deal breaker. Not all are created equal and when you are patching coverage from two or more employers, it gets crazy. One of the more crazy ideas to combat the tax debit problem in California is to have the state taxing health benefits. As if we aren't paying enough in taxes! Still, I feel blessed to have health coverage... even though I pay the 20percent to bring my coverage up to 100%. For awhile, I was paying $400 to include Dr. R. on my coverage as well.... knowing that we are just one job loss away from losing health coverage. Surprisingly, it was my friend, Bonnie who is against single payer health plan. She has MS and can't afford the drugs that would slow the neurodeterioration. She is worried, though, because she watches CNBC constantly, that this would mean that everyone would have nothing. Seems like somehow the big media is invested in keeping healthcare where it is. What's up with that?
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