The Hairy Reasoner

Doctor Daisy : benefits that don’t benefit
OK I probably shouldn’t complain about this because it’s a good thing I am happy and healthy, but every time I’ve been in a job with medical benefits, I see chunks of my pay check disappear every 2 weeks. […]

[L]ast November, I made sure that I would see the dentist, eye doctor, and “regular” doctor. Each one of these visits ending up costing me, even with my so called PPO plan. At the eye doctor, I had to pay for glasses, [a]t the dentist, I had to pay extra for the 2 cavities she found. But this “regular” doctor visit, I’m just learning, is costing me the most! I just received notices, now 7 weeks after the visit, that lab work and the initial visit weren’t fully covered and they’re wanting almost $400?!?!??!!?

What the hell? Why did I let my paycheck dwindle if I was going to just have to pay for it anyway? I’m sure the insurance would have come in handy if I were seriously hurt [again thank goodness I haven’t been], but the cost of these 3 routine checkups is absolutely ridiculous!

Can anyone explain this to me?

Dear Doctor Daisy,

Count yourself fortunate that any of your medical bills were covered by an employer policy, even one that you had to contribute to. A growing portion of our country is not even that fortunate and I have a feeling it is only going to get worse.

With businesses pressured from above to elevate stock prices, and below by unions or the necessity to compete for skilled labor, many are finding it difficult to continue paying their management the exorbitant compensation they’ve become accustomed to. Consequently, they are finding new ways to make up the difference from the bottom of their labor costs. For a while now, they’ve been shifting more and more of the expense for retirement and medical coverage to their employees. Now, many are ransacking their retirement funds, passing out bonuses to management, then declaring bankruptcy and dumping their obligations onto taxpayers. I’m pretty sure employer provided medical coverage will be next.

Wal-Mart has been busy testing to see how much they can get away with in shifting this burden onto states and with the current political climate, I’m surprised they’re meeting any resistance at all. Eventually, some type of state sponsored health care will have to come into being, but I doubt anything will happen until the economy collapses and voters finally wake up and throw the bums out.

Enjoy your health,
T.H.Reasoner

UPDATE: The Truth About Health Savings Accounts