This, THIS is what is wrong with insurance today! When I read this story I was truly shocked. My son was a chunky jovial healthy baby, and he also was approximately 17 lbs at four months. Although the insurance company eventually acquiesced and covered the baby, that they even DARED to deny at all should outrage us all. Why should it require media attention for American citizens to obtain decent health care coverage.
A Taste of Things to Come–No COLA for Seniors
It seems that the Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment will elude senior citizens for the first time in 3 decades. Stagnant prices which are the basis for the COLA associated with Social Security will prevent the increase.
President Obama has suggested a one time payment of $250 to offset the annual raise which usually comes in January each year. In a good year the cola is about 5%. Disabled Americans would be eligible for the same $250. The cost of this one time payout is estimated to be at least $13 billion dollars.
The Washington Post reports:
An increase in benefit checks each January has been a yearly ritual since the mid-1970s, when the government moved to ensure that its subsidies to retirees, pension recipients and others who receive Social Security benefits kept pace with inflation. Thursday’s announcement by the Labor Department will mark the first time that the federal formula used since then, which is tied to the consumer price index, will translate into no increase at all. That is because consumer prices have remained stagnant in the weak economy — a sharp reversal from this past year, when Social Security checks grew by 5.8 percent, an unusually large amount.
Congress and President Obama seem to be scrambling to make this all happen and to at least make it look like they haven’t forgotten the seniors. To me, it seems $250 is like pissing in the ocean.
Will Congress get a raise this year? What is their raise based on? Performance? (Bwwaaahahahahahaha) Is there some formula that determines what their raise will be? How about benefits? Do you suppose they pay as much for their health care as say a senior citizen living on social security does? Just Medicare Plan B costs about $100 a month now. They just snip that right out of the social security check as a courtesy, to save the seniors from buying stamps. Then there are the bridge policies and the rx policies. People I have talked to pay at least $300 a month. That’s getting pretty steep. I am willing to bet Congressmen and Senators don’t pay this much. I wonder how one would find out?
If people thought there were pissed off seniors before, they ain’t seen nothing yet.
Kids Get First Shot at H1N1 Vaccine
The line opened at the mall near sears at 3 pm. By 5 pm people were being turned away because the line would close at 7:30 pm. Right now efforts are being made to get kids vaccinated because they and pregnant women seem to be the most at risk.
Clinics are being held at Manassas Mall and at Hillendale Fire Station Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, from 3-7:30 pm. There is a clinic on Saturday from 12 noon- 4 pm. The Manassas clinic began today. Hillendale begins Wednesday, October 21.
The following are being vaccinated first:
—Pregnant women;
—Those who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age;
—Health care and emergency medical services personnel;
—Children older than 6 months through young adults up to the age of 24;
— Those aged 25 through 64 who are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.
The vaccines are free.
More information:
http://www.pwcs.edu/News2/swineflu-update2009-10.html
Do most people plan on getting the H1N1 vaccination? Do you feel it is safe? What would make someone not get it? Is this all hype? Should kids get to go first? What about the people who have to work in crowds?
