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• http://twitter.com/DirigoBlue Gerald Weinand

  There is no waiting period for people who have never had insurance.

• http://twitter.com/DirigoBlue Gerald Weinand

  There is no waiting period for people who have never had insurance.

• 525_44

  http://www.kjonline.com/news/federally-backed-health-insurance-plan-seldom-used_2011-06-22.html
  ___________

  Still unaffordable for many.

• Anonymous

  Why is there a stipulation for a person going 6 months w/o any health insurance?  How would someone financially struggling who has a conditon like diabetes, COPD, or depression manage?

• Anonymous

  Why is there a stipulation for a person going 6 months w/o any health insurance?  How would someone financially struggling who has a conditon like diabetes, COPD, or depression manage?

• Anonymous

  Why is there a stipulation for a person going 6 months w/o any health insurance?  How would someone financially struggling who has a conditon like diabetes, COPD, or depression manage?

• Anonymous

  Why is there a stipulation for a person going 6 months w/o any health insurance?  How would someone financially struggling who has a conditon like diabetes, COPD, or depression manage?

• Anonymous

  Why is there a stipulation for a person going 6 months w/o any health insurance?  How would someone financially struggling who has a conditon like diabetes, COPD, or depression manage?

• http://www.facebook.com/people/Kathy-Stuart/100000378618564 Kathy Stuart

  As with most government funded plans that would actually help those who need it most, the information is not readily available. I am news junkie and I have yet to see, from ME or TX, (my home of the heart and the place I need to be right now, respectively), any info on the changes in health policy which are available. Yes, there were some news stories letting us know about the changes and when they “should” take effect. But after that, not so much.

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_Q4AP5EYCYRCGZGIJGWI6TLIUEA Tom

  Another rousing Dirigo success story!

• http://twitter.com/DirigoBlue Gerald Weinand

  Jay Angoff, Director of the Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight at HHS, was asked this very question (twice) at Netroots Nation last week:

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myVBkVtWwHw

  And:

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZGlVyUtfhU

• http://twitter.com/DirigoBlue Gerald Weinand

  More info on the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) is here:

  http://www.healthcare.gov/law/provisions/preexisting/index.html

• Anonymous

  Yes, if you haven’t got the money then you can’t buy health insurance no matter what the rules are.  We need universal healthcare.  Pay for it by applying what is currently being paid as premiums to insurance companies only without the “for profit” part.  Then stop medicare, medicaid, VA medical benefits, and apply that money to universal coverage.  Limit profits at hospitals and pharmaceutical companies (medical care is too noble a cause to be driven by supply and demand).  If someone wants to supplement their healthcare by purchasing additional insurance from a “for profit” enterprise then let them.  Oh, before someone replies saying that there will be death squads I suggest they look at current health insurance company’s records regarding denial of coverage.

• Anonymous

  If you were employed by Mardens you would have to work between 55 and 82 hours just to pay the premium on this plan.  The deductible would be on top of that.

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Tax All Liberals

  How is all that hope and change working out for you?

• Anonymous

  Yes, you are right…..you sure are.  And, none of this should come as any surprise.

• Anonymous

  Yes, you are right…..you sure are.  And, none of this should come as any surprise.

• http://twitter.com/TheHumbleFarmer Robert Karl Skoglund

  Who is this reader who dares to write below, “Yes, if you haven’t got the money then you can’t buy health insurance no matter what the rules are.  We need universal healthcare.”
   
  Doesn’t this sound to you like an example of that socialist, left-wing entitlement mentality?
   
  It does to me, and I’m a left-wing socialist.
   
    Hard not to be if you’ve lived for a while on the other side of the pond and visit your friends and relatives over there every year or so.  It helps if you read their newspapers, too, and see that they are scared to death of the American corporate/military machine which has borrowed and then stolen even more from what used to be an American middle class. Europeans know that when the US defaults on its debt, they will be pulled down with us.
   
  If you’ve read any European newspapers lately, don’t you find what they say about the professional robbers in our country to be rather depressing?
   
  My wife’s brother-in-law rents a castle down in Italy in the summer where his kids (with PhDs that they earned without borrowing) and grandchildren gather for a few weeks. He does this on a teacher’s retirement earned in a socialist country.
   
  Another buddy of mine worked in a railroad station, sweeping up and being helpful in general. Now retired, he visits us from time to time when he and his wife aren’t traveling around in some other part of the world. No one stole his retirement package because he lives in a socialist country. Every time I visit him over there he has a new car. Can’t you hear him laugh if I were to accuse him of being a left-wing socialist?
   
  Does their government pay for all these good things? Of course not. The left-wing socialist teachers and floor sweepers pay for their own retirement with higher taxes than we have here. The difference is that their wages are higher, they do not live under a debilitating war economy as we do, and they have regulations in place that keep financial cartels from looting the peoples’ treasury or privatizing their retirement funds.

  I was recently a guest instructor in a Maine high school.  I told the kids that if I were just getting out of high school, I’d spend the next half year or so with a knapsack on my shoulders, wandering about in Europe talking with the young people there. This is what is called getting an eye-opening education.
   
   If every kid in America were able to live in northern Europe for one year, when they came home and voted, which political party do you think would cease to exist?
   
  Every time my wife and I come back to the states and see the rusty cars, fallen down barns, and boarded up store windows in this state that is Open For Business, we shake our heads and wish that all our friends could have just a taste of that left-wing socialist lifestyle.  If I were 19 instead of 75 with a mortgage, we would be out of here.
   
  We’d probably come back to visit friends in the summer because Maine is really a great place to vacation.
   
  From what we read in letters to the editor, Maine looks even better if you’ve never been anywhere else.

  The humble Farmer

• http://twitter.com/TheHumbleFarmer Robert Karl Skoglund

  Who is this reader who dares to write below, “Yes, if you haven’t got the money then you can’t buy health insurance no matter what the rules are.  We need universal healthcare.”
   
  Doesn’t this sound to you like an example of that socialist, left-wing entitlement mentality?
   
  It does to me, and I’m a left-wing socialist.
   
    Hard not to be if you’ve lived for a while on the other side of the pond and visit your friends and relatives over there every year or so.  It helps if you read their newspapers, too, and see that they are scared to death of the American corporate/military machine which has borrowed and then stolen even more from what used to be an American middle class. Europeans know that when the US defaults on its debt, they will be pulled down with us.
   
  If you’ve read any European newspapers lately, don’t you find what they say about the professional robbers in our country to be rather depressing?
   
  My wife’s brother-in-law rents a castle down in Italy in the summer where his kids (with PhDs that they earned without borrowing) and grandchildren gather for a few weeks. He does this on a teacher’s retirement earned in a socialist country.
   
  Another buddy of mine worked in a railroad station, sweeping up and being helpful in general. Now retired, he visits us from time to time when he and his wife aren’t traveling around in some other part of the world. No one stole his retirement package because he lives in a socialist country. Every time I visit him over there he has a new car. Can’t you hear him laugh if I were to accuse him of being a left-wing socialist?
   
  Does their government pay for all these good things? Of course not. The left-wing socialist teachers and floor sweepers pay for their own retirement with higher taxes than we have here. The difference is that their wages are higher, they do not live under a debilitating war economy as we do, and they have regulations in place that keep financial cartels from looting the peoples’ treasury or privatizing their retirement funds.

  I was recently a guest instructor in a Maine high school.  I told the kids that if I were just getting out of high school, I’d spend the next half year or so with a knapsack on my shoulders, wandering about in Europe talking with the young people there. This is what is called getting an eye-opening education.
   
   If every kid in America were able to live in northern Europe for one year, when they came home and voted, which political party do you think would cease to exist?
   
  Every time my wife and I come back to the states and see the rusty cars, fallen down barns, and boarded up store windows in this state that is Open For Business, we shake our heads and wish that all our friends could have just a taste of that left-wing socialist lifestyle.  If I were 19 instead of 75 with a mortgage, we would be out of here.
   
  We’d probably come back to visit friends in the summer because Maine is really a great place to vacation.
   
  From what we read in letters to the editor, Maine looks even better if you’ve never been anywhere else.

  The humble Farmer

• Anonymous

  For all intents and purposes, we do have ‘universal health care.’ People can’t be denied care. I believe you might have been trying to say ‘universal health insurance.’

• http://www.facebook.com/sweetbebeblues Donna Stevens

  You could list a link where people can go get more infomation or research if they have one of the 37 conditions that would make them eligible.

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_OLKR3A5PPIEHCG2HRJOGOOYWUY Joe

   Right on dude – stick it to the man!!!   Your wit is absolutely amazing, you and Ann Coulter should get together and go on a Zing-the-liberals tour!   OMG, you are so funny, I’ve never heard that one before ever.    Now, if only liberals would just wake up and realize how treasonous they are for wanting affordable hearlthcare then we could be living in Nirvana.    Keep up the good fight!!

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GAV5BCVXZYAR4EOOBIWVOB2PJA Joseph

  We must be one of the fourteen or so This insurance does help some it has high deductibles.  Without it we would not be able to afford my wife’s insulin and other meds.  the premium is somewhat affordable since the only income we have is my disability from ss all the other insurance providers wanted at least three quarters   if that check which just barely pays the bills when things are going right let alone when something goes wrong.

• Anonymous

  ” The Federal Center” is trying to get the word out. I bet that would be challenging.  If they wanted to buy airtime on TV they would have to compete with GIECO, Allatate, Progressive, and ECT…. These large insurance companies seem to have all of the advertising time tied up.  Well, maybe it is just as well they don’t get on TV. I don’t think I could stand another dim-witted insurance advertisement

• Tax All Liberals

  Its not too late for you to sign up. 

• Anonymous

  In Maine as in most states for as long as I can recall (decades) if a person moved from one plan to another there was no waiting period. The pre exisiting condition clause did not apply. It only came into play if the person previously had no insurance and then only for a year. The idea was if someone waited til they got sick to purchase insurance they were basically getting a free ride at others expense. Basically for Maine residents Obamacare means 6 months have been wiped off the previous year wait and then only for  those 37 conditions. Don’t you love the way Obamacare has made things so clear and understandable and so very free?

• Anonymous

  In Maine as in most states for as long as I can recall (decades) if a person moved from one plan to another there was no waiting period. The pre exisiting condition clause did not apply. It only came into play if the person previously had no insurance and then only for a year. The idea was if someone waited til they got sick to purchase insurance they were basically getting a free ride at others expense. Basically for Maine residents Obamacare means 6 months have been wiped off the previous year wait and then only for  those 37 conditions. Don’t you love the way Obamacare has made things so clear and understandable and so very free?

• Anonymous

  In Maine as in most states for as long as I can recall (decades) if a person moved from one plan to another there was no waiting period. The pre exisiting condition clause did not apply. It only came into play if the person previously had no insurance and then only for a year. The idea was if someone waited til they got sick to purchase insurance they were basically getting a free ride at others expense. Basically for Maine residents Obamacare means 6 months have been wiped off the previous year wait and then only for  those 37 conditions. Don’t you love the way Obamacare has made things so clear and understandable and so very free?

• Anonymous

  In Maine as in most states for as long as I can recall (decades) if a person moved from one plan to another there was no waiting period. The pre exisiting condition clause did not apply. It only came into play if the person previously had no insurance and then only for a year. The idea was if someone waited til they got sick to purchase insurance they were basically getting a free ride at others expense. Basically for Maine residents Obamacare means 6 months have been wiped off the previous year wait and then only for  those 37 conditions. Don’t you love the way Obamacare has made things so clear and understandable and so very free?

• Anonymous

  In Maine as in most states for as long as I can recall (decades) if a person moved from one plan to another there was no waiting period. The pre exisiting condition clause did not apply. It only came into play if the person previously had no insurance and then only for a year. The idea was if someone waited til they got sick to purchase insurance they were basically getting a free ride at others expense. Basically for Maine residents Obamacare means 6 months have been wiped off the previous year wait and then only for  those 37 conditions. Don’t you love the way Obamacare has made things so clear and understandable and so very free?

• Anonymous

  whats up ith the high prices at mardens?never any good deals anymore for a surplus and salvage store.6 inch heels 47.95 @ mardens thats no bargain.

• Anonymous

  whats up ith the high prices at mardens?never any good deals anymore for a surplus and salvage store.6 inch heels 47.95 @ mardens thats no bargain.

• Anonymous

  This is just another sign that the ACA is falling apart.  Legal challenges that likely will mean the law will not survive the Supreme Court. Waivers on people numbering in the millions including a large number of union insurance plans. Yesterday we find out some middle class families will be eligible starting in 2014 —wiping millions from from the role of actual payers. Now we find many folks aren’t even availing themselves of parts of the plan that might help them.
  What a mess!!!

  This is Dirigo on an epic scale.

• Anonymous

  Just a couple quick points.
   You do understand that our living “under a debilitating war economy” allows Europe not to have to.  We have had the burden of protecting Western Europe from aggression for decades. They could hardly do it themselves.
   
  Hell they can’t even finance a fight against a third rate Libyan military without dragging us into it to do the heavy lifting. (Illegally I might add.)

  Further evidence. They can’t even prevent a massacre of 8,000 Bosnians at Srebrenica with Dutch soldiers standing guard at the gates.

  If Europe ever  paid a proper percentage of their own defense they could not afford all the happy luxuries they have.  We have paid the for keeping peace in Europe that they have not.

  Even then there are cracks at the edges of their economies. UK France Spain Italy Greece and even spendthrift Germany has made adjustments to their spending and alterations to the retirement of their citizens. Look at what happened in France over the issue. 

  I think its a great idea for every kid to spend a year in Northern Europe as long as they get the full story about how that socialist paradise came into being and what allows it to continue to exist.

  If the complete truth were told which party which party then would be close to extinction?

  The humble Pragmatist

• Anonymous

  Just a couple quick points.
   You do understand that our living “under a debilitating war economy” allows Europe not to have to.  We have had the burden of protecting Western Europe from aggression for decades. They could hardly do it themselves.
   
  Hell they can’t even finance a fight against a third rate Libyan military without dragging us into it to do the heavy lifting. (Illegally I might add.)

  Further evidence. They can’t even prevent a massacre of 8,000 Bosnians at Srebrenica with Dutch soldiers standing guard at the gates.

  If Europe ever  paid a proper percentage of their own defense they could not afford all the happy luxuries they have.  We have paid the for keeping peace in Europe that they have not.

  Even then there are cracks at the edges of their economies. UK France Spain Italy Greece and even spendthrift Germany has made adjustments to their spending and alterations to the retirement of their citizens. Look at what happened in France over the issue. 

  I think its a great idea for every kid to spend a year in Northern Europe as long as they get the full story about how that socialist paradise came into being and what allows it to continue to exist.

  If the complete truth were told which party which party then would be close to extinction?

  The humble Pragmatist

• Anonymous

  Just a couple quick points.
   You do understand that our living “under a debilitating war economy” allows Europe not to have to.  We have had the burden of protecting Western Europe from aggression for decades. They could hardly do it themselves.
   
  Hell they can’t even finance a fight against a third rate Libyan military without dragging us into it to do the heavy lifting. (Illegally I might add.)

  Further evidence. They can’t even prevent a massacre of 8,000 Bosnians at Srebrenica with Dutch soldiers standing guard at the gates.

  If Europe ever  paid a proper percentage of their own defense they could not afford all the happy luxuries they have.  We have paid the for keeping peace in Europe that they have not.

  Even then there are cracks at the edges of their economies. UK France Spain Italy Greece and even spendthrift Germany has made adjustments to their spending and alterations to the retirement of their citizens. Look at what happened in France over the issue. 

  I think its a great idea for every kid to spend a year in Northern Europe as long as they get the full story about how that socialist paradise came into being and what allows it to continue to exist.

  If the complete truth were told which party which party then would be close to extinction?

  The humble Pragmatist

• Anonymous

  Just a couple quick points.
   You do understand that our living “under a debilitating war economy” allows Europe not to have to.  We have had the burden of protecting Western Europe from aggression for decades. They could hardly do it themselves.
   
  Hell they can’t even finance a fight against a third rate Libyan military without dragging us into it to do the heavy lifting. (Illegally I might add.)

  Further evidence. They can’t even prevent a massacre of 8,000 Bosnians at Srebrenica with Dutch soldiers standing guard at the gates.

  If Europe ever  paid a proper percentage of their own defense they could not afford all the happy luxuries they have.  We have paid the for keeping peace in Europe that they have not.

  Even then there are cracks at the edges of their economies. UK France Spain Italy Greece and even spendthrift Germany has made adjustments to their spending and alterations to the retirement of their citizens. Look at what happened in France over the issue. 

  I think its a great idea for every kid to spend a year in Northern Europe as long as they get the full story about how that socialist paradise came into being and what allows it to continue to exist.

  If the complete truth were told which party which party then would be close to extinction?

  The humble Pragmatist

• Anonymous

  Just a couple quick points.
   You do understand that our living “under a debilitating war economy” allows Europe not to have to.  We have had the burden of protecting Western Europe from aggression for decades. They could hardly do it themselves.
   
  Hell they can’t even finance a fight against a third rate Libyan military without dragging us into it to do the heavy lifting. (Illegally I might add.)

  Further evidence. They can’t even prevent a massacre of 8,000 Bosnians at Srebrenica with Dutch soldiers standing guard at the gates.

  If Europe ever  paid a proper percentage of their own defense they could not afford all the happy luxuries they have.  We have paid the for keeping peace in Europe that they have not.

  Even then there are cracks at the edges of their economies. UK France Spain Italy Greece and even spendthrift Germany has made adjustments to their spending and alterations to the retirement of their citizens. Look at what happened in France over the issue. 

  I think its a great idea for every kid to spend a year in Northern Europe as long as they get the full story about how that socialist paradise came into being and what allows it to continue to exist.

  If the complete truth were told which party which party then would be close to extinction?

  The humble Pragmatist

• Anonymous

  Just a couple quick points.
   You do understand that our living “under a debilitating war economy” allows Europe not to have to.  We have had the burden of protecting Western Europe from aggression for decades. They could hardly do it themselves.
   
  Hell they can’t even finance a fight against a third rate Libyan military without dragging us into it to do the heavy lifting. (Illegally I might add.)

  Further evidence. They can’t even prevent a massacre of 8,000 Bosnians at Srebrenica with Dutch soldiers standing guard at the gates.

  If Europe ever  paid a proper percentage of their own defense they could not afford all the happy luxuries they have.  We have paid the for keeping peace in Europe that they have not.

  Even then there are cracks at the edges of their economies. UK France Spain Italy Greece and even spendthrift Germany has made adjustments to their spending and alterations to the retirement of their citizens. Look at what happened in France over the issue. 

  I think its a great idea for every kid to spend a year in Northern Europe as long as they get the full story about how that socialist paradise came into being and what allows it to continue to exist.

  If the complete truth were told which party which party then would be close to extinction?

  The humble Pragmatist

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_OLKR3A5PPIEHCG2HRJOGOOYWUY Joe

   It’s never too late to be a real American hero

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_OLKR3A5PPIEHCG2HRJOGOOYWUY Joe

   yeah, Obamacare sucks.   It was so easy and cheap to get health insurance before.

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_OLKR3A5PPIEHCG2HRJOGOOYWUY Joe

   WHAT!!!???   We are fighting wars so that Western Europe commies can have a socialist paradise?   Something doesn’t seem right here…..oh, got it.    Socialist paradise’s don’t exist.  That is a myth perpetrated by the lefty enemies what is right and good.    Europe is full of evil commies that want nothing more then to lounge around and get a free ride.
  In fact, I can’t believe you just said that….didn’t you get the memo?

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_OLKR3A5PPIEHCG2HRJOGOOYWUY Joe

   WHAT!!!???   We are fighting wars so that Western Europe commies can have a socialist paradise?   Something doesn’t seem right here…..oh, got it.    Socialist paradise’s don’t exist.  That is a myth perpetrated by the lefty enemies what is right and good.    Europe is full of evil commies that want nothing more then to lounge around and get a free ride.
  In fact, I can’t believe you just said that….didn’t you get the memo?

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_OLKR3A5PPIEHCG2HRJOGOOYWUY Joe

   WHAT!!!???   We are fighting wars so that Western Europe commies can have a socialist paradise?   Something doesn’t seem right here…..oh, got it.    Socialist paradise’s don’t exist.  That is a myth perpetrated by the lefty enemies what is right and good.    Europe is full of evil commies that want nothing more then to lounge around and get a free ride.
  In fact, I can’t believe you just said that….didn’t you get the memo?

• Tax All Liberals

  You’ve martyred yourself on the ashes of your own wisdom.

• Tax All Liberals

  You’ve martyred yourself on the ashes of your own wisdom.

• Tax All Liberals

  You’ve martyred yourself on the ashes of your own wisdom.

• Tax All Liberals

  You’ve martyred yourself on the ashes of your own wisdom.

• Tax All Liberals

  You’ve martyred yourself on the ashes of your own wisdom.

• Anonymous

  They are rioting in the streets of Greece to preserve it.

  http://www.3news.co.nz/Greek-riots-political-chaos-hammer-markets/tabid/417/articleID/215294/Default.aspx

  From Obama’s Secretary of Defense.

  http://townhall.com/columnists/austinbay/2011/06/15/robert_gates_blunt_reality

• Anonymous

  A well-written knowledgable post!

• Anonymous

  You don’t suppose the under-utilization has something to do with Penguin and his cronies threatening to kill Dirigo do you? 

• Anonymous

  You don’t suppose the under-utilization has something to do with Penguin and his cronies threatening to kill Dirigo do you? 

• Anonymous

  You don’t suppose the under-utilization has something to do with Penguin and his cronies threatening to kill Dirigo do you? 

• Anonymous

  LOL…..the only problem with the fantastical utopia you have outlined above is central banking and the absolute FACT that the system will fail.  It’s only a matter of time.

  Oh yeah, and at 75, if you still have a mortgage, your credibility regarding economics is at just about zero.  but hey, if you truly want to leave, go ahead.  I’m sure the Federal Reserve will take care of your mortgage balance…..yeah, they’ll just print some more money, that will work, right?……right?

• Anonymous

  You want affordable health care?  The rollback to the system we had prior to 1965.  Otherwise, get ready to pay more dude.

• Anonymous

  If you think health insurance will be cheaper once Obamacare is fully implemented, you are simply fooling yourself. 

• Anonymous

  With about five million borrowers behind on the mortgages, more foreclosures are coming. “Its starting up here 2011, but it’s really a back log,” said Leila Blair. Blair, with Smokey Mountain Mortgage, says even foreclosures from last year have overflowed into the current market, but she says the worst is yet to come . Health insurance is not radar.

• Anonymous

  Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan: Maine
  Eligible residents of Maine can apply for coverage through the state’s Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan program run by Dirigo Health Agency.
  To qualify for coverage:
  You must be a citizen or national of the United States or residing in the United States legally. You must have been uninsured for at least the last six months before you apply. You must have a pre-existing condition or have been denied coverage because of your health condition.
  The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan will cover a broad range of health benefits, including primary and specialty care, hospital care, and prescription drugs.  All covered benefits are available for you, even if it’s to treat a pre-existing condition.
  Premium:$438 to $658 per month, rates vary by regionDeductible:$1,750 or $2,500Out of Pocket Limit:$3,500 for the $1,750 deductible plan $5,600 for the $2,500 deductible plan.

  So premium is 438 to 658 a month I’m sure most people with a pre-existing condition can afford that.

• Anonymous

  Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan: Maine
  Eligible residents of Maine can apply for coverage through the state’s Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan program run by Dirigo Health Agency.
  To qualify for coverage:
  You must be a citizen or national of the United States or residing in the United States legally. You must have been uninsured for at least the last six months before you apply. You must have a pre-existing condition or have been denied coverage because of your health condition.
  The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan will cover a broad range of health benefits, including primary and specialty care, hospital care, and prescription drugs.  All covered benefits are available for you, even if it’s to treat a pre-existing condition.
  Premium:$438 to $658 per month, rates vary by regionDeductible:$1,750 or $2,500Out of Pocket Limit:$3,500 for the $1,750 deductible plan $5,600 for the $2,500 deductible plan.

  So premium is 438 to 658 a month I’m sure most people with a pre-existing condition can afford that.

• Anonymous

  Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan: Maine
  Eligible residents of Maine can apply for coverage through the state’s Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan program run by Dirigo Health Agency.
  To qualify for coverage:
  You must be a citizen or national of the United States or residing in the United States legally. You must have been uninsured for at least the last six months before you apply. You must have a pre-existing condition or have been denied coverage because of your health condition.
  The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan will cover a broad range of health benefits, including primary and specialty care, hospital care, and prescription drugs.  All covered benefits are available for you, even if it’s to treat a pre-existing condition.
  Premium:$438 to $658 per month, rates vary by regionDeductible:$1,750 or $2,500Out of Pocket Limit:$3,500 for the $1,750 deductible plan $5,600 for the $2,500 deductible plan.

  So premium is 438 to 658 a month I’m sure most people with a pre-existing condition can afford that.

• PaulNotBunyan

  You wrote: “If every kid in America were able to live in northern Europe for one
  year, when they came home and voted, which political party do you think
  would cease to exist?”

  How about both of them? I can’t see how a real socialist could support either party. That would be like a pacifist supporting Obama.

• PaulNotBunyan

  You wrote: “If every kid in America were able to live in northern Europe for one
  year, when they came home and voted, which political party do you think
  would cease to exist?”

  How about both of them? I can’t see how a real socialist could support either party. That would be like a pacifist supporting Obama.

• PaulNotBunyan

  I thought public service announcements were free. Did they eliminate that?

• Anonymous

  Indeed, kind of like a conservative supporting the liberal known as Bush.

  Hey, how did socialism work out for the USSR by the way?  It sounded like it was an abysmal failure and looking at other socialist nations, such as Greece, and the austerity measures on their horizon, I am curious as to how your support of such a system corresponds to a prosperous approach to government for our children.

• Anonymous

  Indeed, kind of like a conservative supporting the liberal known as Bush.

  Hey, how did socialism work out for the USSR by the way?  It sounded like it was an abysmal failure and looking at other socialist nations, such as Greece, and the austerity measures on their horizon, I am curious as to how your support of such a system corresponds to a prosperous approach to government for our children.

• Anonymous

  Indeed, kind of like a conservative supporting the liberal known as Bush.

  Hey, how did socialism work out for the USSR by the way?  It sounded like it was an abysmal failure and looking at other socialist nations, such as Greece, and the austerity measures on their horizon, I am curious as to how your support of such a system corresponds to a prosperous approach to government for our children.

• Anonymous

  I’ve gone without health insurance for 20 years, probably if I applied I’m sure I’ll have pre-existing conditions.  I’ve saved a few pennies for the undertaker just in case.

• Anonymous

  I’ve gone without health insurance for 20 years, probably if I applied I’m sure I’ll have pre-existing conditions.  I’ve saved a few pennies for the undertaker just in case.

• Anonymous

  Ok , but who’s going to run it. The federal government? They are a bunch of theives that have robbed the people of this country .

• Anonymous

  People are routinely denied care.  Hospitals are only required to perform emergency procedures.  They do not cover treatments.  There is a case of a 12 year old boy who died because he did not have insurance and could not get his tooth extracted in time to save his life because he had to wait until it was an emergency to get it taken care of. 

• Anonymous

  People are routinely denied care.  Hospitals are only required to perform emergency procedures.  They do not cover treatments.  There is a case of a 12 year old boy who died because he did not have insurance and could not get his tooth extracted in time to save his life because he had to wait until it was an emergency to get it taken care of. 

• Anonymous

  People are routinely denied care.  Hospitals are only required to perform emergency procedures.  They do not cover treatments.  There is a case of a 12 year old boy who died because he did not have insurance and could not get his tooth extracted in time to save his life because he had to wait until it was an emergency to get it taken care of. 

• Anonymous

  People are routinely denied care.  Hospitals are only required to perform emergency procedures.  They do not cover treatments.  There is a case of a 12 year old boy who died because he did not have insurance and could not get his tooth extracted in time to save his life because he had to wait until it was an emergency to get it taken care of. 

• Anonymous

  People are routinely denied care.  Hospitals are only required to perform emergency procedures.  They do not cover treatments.  There is a case of a 12 year old boy who died because he did not have insurance and could not get his tooth extracted in time to save his life because he had to wait until it was an emergency to get it taken care of. 

• Anonymous

  People are routinely denied care.  Hospitals are only required to perform emergency procedures.  They do not cover treatments.  There is a case of a 12 year old boy who died because he did not have insurance and could not get his tooth extracted in time to save his life because he had to wait until it was an emergency to get it taken care of. 

• Anonymous

  People are routinely denied care.  Hospitals are only required to perform emergency procedures.  They do not cover treatments.  There is a case of a 12 year old boy who died because he did not have insurance and could not get his tooth extracted in time to save his life because he had to wait until it was an emergency to get it taken care of. 

• Anonymous

  People are routinely denied care.  Hospitals are only required to perform emergency procedures.  They do not cover treatments.  There is a case of a 12 year old boy who died because he did not have insurance and could not get his tooth extracted in time to save his life because he had to wait until it was an emergency to get it taken care of. 

• Anonymous

  People are routinely denied care.  Hospitals are only required to perform emergency procedures.  They do not cover treatments.  There is a case of a 12 year old boy who died because he did not have insurance and could not get his tooth extracted in time to save his life because he had to wait until it was an emergency to get it taken care of. 

• Anonymous

  People are routinely denied care.  Hospitals are only required to perform emergency procedures.  They do not cover treatments.  There is a case of a 12 year old boy who died because he did not have insurance and could not get his tooth extracted in time to save his life because he had to wait until it was an emergency to get it taken care of. 

• Anonymous

  People are routinely denied care.  Hospitals are only required to perform emergency procedures.  They do not cover treatments.  There is a case of a 12 year old boy who died because he did not have insurance and could not get his tooth extracted in time to save his life because he had to wait until it was an emergency to get it taken care of. 

• Anonymous

  Health insurance is cheaper and with better outcomes in countries with Universal coverage.

• Anonymous

  Health insurance is cheaper and with better outcomes in countries with Universal coverage.

• Anonymous

  Health insurance is cheaper and with better outcomes in countries with Universal coverage.

• Anonymous

  Health insurance is cheaper and with better outcomes in countries with Universal coverage.

• Anonymous

  Health insurance is cheaper and with better outcomes in countries with Universal coverage.

• PaulNotBunyan

  You wrote “your support of such a system” but I never said anything in support of such a system. Wasn’t that part actually a question for Mr. Skoglund?

• Anonymous

  Doesn’t this sound to you like an example of that socialist, left-wing entitlement mentality?
   The US is the only industrialized country without universal health care. WE have a lot of weapons.

• Anonymous

  USSR was communist.

  The US is fascist. Socialists actually receive something back from their taxes.

• Anonymous

  USSR was communist.

  The US is fascist. Socialists actually receive something back from their taxes.

• Anonymous

  A good citizen is pro war and anti universal health care. The anti war protesters are watched by the FBI. People like Quakers. Says a lot about our country.

• Anonymous

  A good citizen is pro war and anti universal health care. The anti war protesters are watched by the FBI. People like Quakers. Says a lot about our country.

• Anonymous

  A good citizen is pro war and anti universal health care. The anti war protesters are watched by the FBI. People like Quakers. Says a lot about our country.

• Anonymous

  A good citizen is pro war and anti universal health care. The anti war protesters are watched by the FBI. People like Quakers. Says a lot about our country.

• Anonymous

  So true watchdog.

• Anonymous

  So true watchdog.

• Anonymous

  Vt. has Universal Health Care.

• Anonymous

  Vt. has Universal Health Care.

• http://twitter.com/DirigoBlue Gerald Weinand

  Oddly, the banks that made the bad loans are not being asked to make any sacrifices – just the people of Greece.

  Socialize the risk, privatize the profit.

• Anonymous

  Very well put.  If people could somehow teleport to Europe, and see how good everyone has it the mixed economies (capitalist-socialist), they’d see why Forbes Magazine ranks a number of these countries as the happiest in the world.

  But Limbaugh and other GOP servants of corporate unhealth inc. keep the brainwash on high all the time.

• Anonymous

  Very well put.  If people could somehow teleport to Europe, and see how good everyone has it the mixed economies (capitalist-socialist), they’d see why Forbes Magazine ranks a number of these countries as the happiest in the world.

  But Limbaugh and other GOP servants of corporate unhealth inc. keep the brainwash on high all the time.

• Anonymous

  This entire post seems to be a fantasy that the USA is altruistically defending everyone for nothing, or even that the US is defending everyone period.

  If you want to talk about incompetence, the Afghanistan war is the longest in US history and counting.  And Bush said the Iraq War would be over in a matter of months…

• Anonymous

  This entire post seems to be a fantasy that the USA is altruistically defending everyone for nothing, or even that the US is defending everyone period.

  If you want to talk about incompetence, the Afghanistan war is the longest in US history and counting.  And Bush said the Iraq War would be over in a matter of months…

• Anonymous

  LOL…..the Union of Soviet SOCIALIST Republics.  You probably don’t even know the difference between the two.

  Now as far as the US being facist.  How do you reconcile the fact that the US is a federation of 50 sovereign states with a national authority to govern amongst them providing for a common defense with the concept of nationalism, which denotes an inherent presence of a strong central authority?  Of course folks of your mindset wish the U.S. was one nation, with no  differences amongst the states, but that is most certainly NOT how the U.S. Constitution is constructed, and rightfully so.  Therefore, those that believe in a strong national government and all of its command and control programs (e.g. supporters of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Obamacare, etc.) are more facist than those who simply believe in the liberty of the individual and the sovereignty of each individual state.   

• Anonymous

  indeed it was…..my sincere apologies for the misinterpretation of your post.  The more people who stand opposed to the inherent failures of socialism, the better, in my opinion. 

• Anonymous

  humble socialist farmer ??
  See ya.
  Good bye.
  Dont let the screen door hit you in the ass on the way to Europe.
  You might get brain damage.

• Anonymous

  Either that or politicians making promises that they can’t keep.

• Anonymous

  Please keep your imagination in check I did not say that at all.

• Anonymous

  Actually health insurance was very cheap before the state government got involved in the early 90′s. Now Maine has one of the highest rates in the country with fewer choices available.

• Anonymous

  Humble,  thank you for your plain speaking.  Unfortunately, the “well-indoctrinated” cannot hear the truth in what you are saying.   The biggest truth of all:  travel broadens the mind and gives lie to all those things we assume to be true.  Peace.

• Anonymous

  But you confused the dictators of the Soviets with the democratic socialism referred to in the original post.

• Anonymous

  More likely is due to the cost of the premium.

• Anonymous

  More likely is due to the cost of the premium.

• Anonymous

  More likely is due to the cost of the premium.

• Anonymous

  More likely is due to the cost of the premium.

• Anonymous

  More likely is due to the cost of the premium.

• Anonymous

  More likely is due to the cost of the premium.

• Anonymous

  More likely is due to the cost of the premium.

• Anonymous

  More likely is due to the cost of the premium.

• Anonymous

  More likely is due to the cost of the premium.

• Anonymous

  More likely is due to the cost of the premium.

• Anonymous

  More likely is due to the cost of the premium.

• Anonymous

  More likely is due to the cost of the premium.

• Anonymous

  More likely is due to the cost of the premium.

• Anonymous

  More likely is due to the cost of the premium.

• Anonymous

  More likely is due to the cost of the premium.

• Anonymous

  We all had high hopes, but got no change.  Which may be an unstated point made in the original post.

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_OLKR3A5PPIEHCG2HRJOGOOYWUY Joe

  Did I say that in my post above or are you just making crap up?     I don’t think anyone has a clear idea on the impact of costs from Obamacare, and if you claim that you do know then you are a pompous walking Dunning-Kruger effect.   Even more problematic is that over the next few years the Republicans will point to data showing it doesn’t work and Democrats will point to data showing it does work.    People like you and Cheesecake will blissfully listen to the republicans and High five yourselves because you are right and the Democrats are wrong.    Well guess what…..they are both wrong.     Reducing such a complicated problem to two outcomes: It’s more expensive for everyone or it’s cheaper for everyone, is a logical fallacy.     I’m personally looking forward to some aspects of Obamacare that looks like it will benefit me and my family over the next few years.  

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_OLKR3A5PPIEHCG2HRJOGOOYWUY Joe

  Causation vs Correlation.   You have no proof that insurance costs went up because state government got involved.  In fact, there is a lot of evidence to suggest that costs have gone up largely because of the technological advances.    First step – be intellectual honest with yourself.   You don’t want government run healthcare, fine…stick with valid arguments rather then completely unfounded and meaningless conjectures such as the above.

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_OLKR3A5PPIEHCG2HRJOGOOYWUY Joe

   You may be right and all that, but I’d suggest you stay away from statements like:

  “the absolute FACT that the system will fail. It’s only a matter of time.”

  In all honesty, no one can predict the future.    Making statements like that only show that you have a grossly misinformed view of what a FACT is.   Because it hasn’t happened yet, you strictly cannot claim it is a fact.   That is a logical fallacy.

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_OLKR3A5PPIEHCG2HRJOGOOYWUY Joe

   You may be right, but giving a single unsourced anecdote isn’t very compelling.    I’d like to know if this really is a problem, but it’s difficult to sort through the noise and get some good data on this issue.

• Anonymous

  Yes I do have proof. I have the invoices in my storage. I paid the insurance payments for my company before the event. I paid them after the event and I pay them now.

   You are completely mistaken. That event was a little thing the Democrats brought into the state called the “community rating system.”  As a result our premiums increased by an average of 20-22% annually for the next 5 years. 

  Before this went into effect our company paid for our employees coverage and their family at 100%.  Eventually we had to make the employees cover their own families and eventually asked them to pick up a share of the premium themselves. All the while we paying more for less coverage. 
  If there has been an increase in the number of uninsured  over that period you can look to the state of Maine as the culprit.
  I know there have been increases because of the higher cost of medical care. But that does not account for me having to pay twice the amount for the same insurance product than our neighbors in New Hampshire or Connecticut do.   I’ll repeat it a different way to help you get a fix on it. If my business was located in Hew Hampshire my employees could get twice the coverage for the same dollars.

  That State of Maine has hurt my business, my family, my employees and their families.

  Before you go spouting off about about I am being dishonest you produce the invoices and insurance quote history that I can. You don’t have the first clue.

  Here is some information. The states that have community rating systems have insurance premiums well above the national average. Here is some information.

  http://www.familiesusa.org/issues/private-insurance/rate-regulation-43-adjusted.html

• Anonymous

  Yes I do have proof. I have the invoices in my storage. I paid the insurance payments for my company before the event. I paid them after the event and I pay them now.

   You are completely mistaken. That event was a little thing the Democrats brought into the state called the “community rating system.”  As a result our premiums increased by an average of 20-22% annually for the next 5 years. 

  Before this went into effect our company paid for our employees coverage and their family at 100%.  Eventually we had to make the employees cover their own families and eventually asked them to pick up a share of the premium themselves. All the while we paying more for less coverage. 
  If there has been an increase in the number of uninsured  over that period you can look to the state of Maine as the culprit.
  I know there have been increases because of the higher cost of medical care. But that does not account for me having to pay twice the amount for the same insurance product than our neighbors in New Hampshire or Connecticut do.   I’ll repeat it a different way to help you get a fix on it. If my business was located in Hew Hampshire my employees could get twice the coverage for the same dollars.

  That State of Maine has hurt my business, my family, my employees and their families.

  Before you go spouting off about about I am being dishonest you produce the invoices and insurance quote history that I can. You don’t have the first clue.

  Here is some information. The states that have community rating systems have insurance premiums well above the national average. Here is some information.

  http://www.familiesusa.org/issues/private-insurance/rate-regulation-43-adjusted.html

• Anonymous

  Yes I do have proof. I have the invoices in my storage. I paid the insurance payments for my company before the event. I paid them after the event and I pay them now.

   You are completely mistaken. That event was a little thing the Democrats brought into the state called the “community rating system.”  As a result our premiums increased by an average of 20-22% annually for the next 5 years. 

  Before this went into effect our company paid for our employees coverage and their family at 100%.  Eventually we had to make the employees cover their own families and eventually asked them to pick up a share of the premium themselves. All the while we paying more for less coverage. 
  If there has been an increase in the number of uninsured  over that period you can look to the state of Maine as the culprit.
  I know there have been increases because of the higher cost of medical care. But that does not account for me having to pay twice the amount for the same insurance product than our neighbors in New Hampshire or Connecticut do.   I’ll repeat it a different way to help you get a fix on it. If my business was located in Hew Hampshire my employees could get twice the coverage for the same dollars.

  That State of Maine has hurt my business, my family, my employees and their families.

  Before you go spouting off about about I am being dishonest you produce the invoices and insurance quote history that I can. You don’t have the first clue.

  Here is some information. The states that have community rating systems have insurance premiums well above the national average. Here is some information.

  http://www.familiesusa.org/issues/private-insurance/rate-regulation-43-adjusted.html

• Anonymous

  Yes I do have proof. I have the invoices in my storage. I paid the insurance payments for my company before the event. I paid them after the event and I pay them now.

   You are completely mistaken. That event was a little thing the Democrats brought into the state called the “community rating system.”  As a result our premiums increased by an average of 20-22% annually for the next 5 years. 

  Before this went into effect our company paid for our employees coverage and their family at 100%.  Eventually we had to make the employees cover their own families and eventually asked them to pick up a share of the premium themselves. All the while we paying more for less coverage. 
  If there has been an increase in the number of uninsured  over that period you can look to the state of Maine as the culprit.
  I know there have been increases because of the higher cost of medical care. But that does not account for me having to pay twice the amount for the same insurance product than our neighbors in New Hampshire or Connecticut do.   I’ll repeat it a different way to help you get a fix on it. If my business was located in Hew Hampshire my employees could get twice the coverage for the same dollars.

  That State of Maine has hurt my business, my family, my employees and their families.

  Before you go spouting off about about I am being dishonest you produce the invoices and insurance quote history that I can. You don’t have the first clue.

  Here is some information. The states that have community rating systems have insurance premiums well above the national average. Here is some information.

  http://www.familiesusa.org/issues/private-insurance/rate-regulation-43-adjusted.html

• Anonymous

  Yes I do have proof. I have the invoices in my storage. I paid the insurance payments for my company before the event. I paid them after the event and I pay them now.

   You are completely mistaken. That event was a little thing the Democrats brought into the state called the “community rating system.”  As a result our premiums increased by an average of 20-22% annually for the next 5 years. 

  Before this went into effect our company paid for our employees coverage and their family at 100%.  Eventually we had to make the employees cover their own families and eventually asked them to pick up a share of the premium themselves. All the while we paying more for less coverage. 
  If there has been an increase in the number of uninsured  over that period you can look to the state of Maine as the culprit.
  I know there have been increases because of the higher cost of medical care. But that does not account for me having to pay twice the amount for the same insurance product than our neighbors in New Hampshire or Connecticut do.   I’ll repeat it a different way to help you get a fix on it. If my business was located in Hew Hampshire my employees could get twice the coverage for the same dollars.

  That State of Maine has hurt my business, my family, my employees and their families.

  Before you go spouting off about about I am being dishonest you produce the invoices and insurance quote history that I can. You don’t have the first clue.

  Here is some information. The states that have community rating systems have insurance premiums well above the national average. Here is some information.

  http://www.familiesusa.org/issues/private-insurance/rate-regulation-43-adjusted.html

• Anonymous

  Yes I do have proof. I have the invoices in my storage. I paid the insurance payments for my company before the event. I paid them after the event and I pay them now.

   You are completely mistaken. That event was a little thing the Democrats brought into the state called the “community rating system.”  As a result our premiums increased by an average of 20-22% annually for the next 5 years. 

  Before this went into effect our company paid for our employees coverage and their family at 100%.  Eventually we had to make the employees cover their own families and eventually asked them to pick up a share of the premium themselves. All the while we paying more for less coverage. 
  If there has been an increase in the number of uninsured  over that period you can look to the state of Maine as the culprit.
  I know there have been increases because of the higher cost of medical care. But that does not account for me having to pay twice the amount for the same insurance product than our neighbors in New Hampshire or Connecticut do.   I’ll repeat it a different way to help you get a fix on it. If my business was located in Hew Hampshire my employees could get twice the coverage for the same dollars.

  That State of Maine has hurt my business, my family, my employees and their families.

  Before you go spouting off about about I am being dishonest you produce the invoices and insurance quote history that I can. You don’t have the first clue.

  Here is some information. The states that have community rating systems have insurance premiums well above the national average. Here is some information.

  http://www.familiesusa.org/issues/private-insurance/rate-regulation-43-adjusted.html

• Anonymous

  Yes I do have proof. I have the invoices in my storage. I paid the insurance payments for my company before the event. I paid them after the event and I pay them now.

   You are completely mistaken. That event was a little thing the Democrats brought into the state called the “community rating system.”  As a result our premiums increased by an average of 20-22% annually for the next 5 years. 

  Before this went into effect our company paid for our employees coverage and their family at 100%.  Eventually we had to make the employees cover their own families and eventually asked them to pick up a share of the premium themselves. All the while we paying more for less coverage. 
  If there has been an increase in the number of uninsured  over that period you can look to the state of Maine as the culprit.
  I know there have been increases because of the higher cost of medical care. But that does not account for me having to pay twice the amount for the same insurance product than our neighbors in New Hampshire or Connecticut do.   I’ll repeat it a different way to help you get a fix on it. If my business was located in Hew Hampshire my employees could get twice the coverage for the same dollars.

  That State of Maine has hurt my business, my family, my employees and their families.

  Before you go spouting off about about I am being dishonest you produce the invoices and insurance quote history that I can. You don’t have the first clue.

  Here is some information. The states that have community rating systems have insurance premiums well above the national average. Here is some information.

  http://www.familiesusa.org/issues/private-insurance/rate-regulation-43-adjusted.html

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_OLKR3A5PPIEHCG2HRJOGOOYWUY Joe

  Sorry, but using one business as ‘proof’ of your world-view is not valid.   If everyone is healthy then you would see a rise in your premiums, because you are subsidizing others with potential health issues.   Personally see this as a good thing.  The premiums for my wife are 2x the cost of the rest of the family because if her pre-existing condition.  Giving high premiums to those with pre-existing conditions puts a burden so high that many go without getting health insurance at all.   Healthy people stop complaining once they actually need insurance.
  From what I’ve read the Community Rating System works pretty well.     Your conclusion that the CRS solely has increased your cost is simplistic.    There are many more differences between state insurance regulation then just this and to arbitrarily pick this as THE cause of higher premiums is naive. 

• Anonymous

  If you call pricing some people out of the market and  then getting less coverage for a higher price then CSR is a rousing success.

  However the proof is in the numbers. Compare the same plan sold to Mainers and that sold to new Hampshire or Connecticut or Pennsylvania. The fact remains Maine insurance premiums are consistently in the top 5 nationally and has been for over a decade. Its just math my friend.

  You say that my reasoning is simplistic but you respond with “From what I’ve read” and that my 25 years experience is “not valid”.  Your retort qualifies as the definition of simplistic.

  You even have the arrogance to say “Healthy people stop complaining once they actually need insurance.”  Well I have spent $100′s of thousands of my insurers money over the years and I am still complaining over the damage that Democrats have done to health care system. Take that!!

  You have not yet explained, if  the CSR is not responsible, why it costs more to insure someone in Maine, Pre-exisiting condition or not, than our neighbors right next door in New Hampshire.

  BTW you are misusing the term “pre-exisiting conditions”.  It refers to circumstances and time frames. Look for my explanation above.