Screwing the self-employed out of health insurance

From Michael Collins:

Flash!!! A potential twelve million or so fervent supporters of real health care reform and a public option. The self employed are the sleeping giant of health care reform. Spread the word, help is there if we ask for it. Cheers, Michael Collins

M. Collins: Screwing the Self Employed Out of Health Insurance

Excerpt:

If you work for yourself, you are screwed out of large sums of money every year for health insurance. There are few differences in cost based on region or state regulation. Ultimately, plans in Salt Lake City and Boston cost the same, about $17,000 a year (premiums plus deductibles). Despite the costs, many self employed are grateful just to have insurance, since, without it, a major acute or chronic illness can bankrupt a family, and the absence of care can be fatal.

[snip]

When your health insurance costs are so high they could buy you a home, you know they’re too high. What are the alternatives for the self employed? There are none. If you have insurance, you pay because you need at least some coverage and a hedge against catastrophic expenses. The self employed are trapped and have no viable choices.

The Congressional Democrats and Obama administration need all the allies they can get. How about serious health care reform with a public option. How about actually making an appeal to the self employed? It’s not too late.

Link: http://tinyurl.com/mrvumf

Michael Collins

Originally posted: Screwing the self-employed out of health insurance

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