UPDATE: Today is November 1st, so I just re-enrolled. The 2025 rate for the equivalent Healthcare.gov plan with Moda puts us at $1,808 per month for me, my wife, and our 24-year old daughter. So, the cost did go up from $1,605 when I posted this.
For those interested in the what the 2025 plan looks like, the docs are here:
It's pretty sad when those numbers are considered a good deal. Relative to what?
This is one of the many reasons why we're moving to Spain. The idea that the healthcare premium costs that much and then, you have to pay costs on top of that, is criminal really.
No kidding, Rocco. I remain disappointed that there isn't the political will here to move to a single-payer healthcare system in the US. It's even more shocking to me that there are really forces within the government (fortunately a minority) that want to "go back" to a world before the Affordable Care Act.
Single payer will never happen, simply because of the steady stream of disinformation and outright lies emanating from the right and their state TV, Fox News.
If you advocate for it, you’re a “Communist”; a “Leninist”; a “socialist”
Funny thing about socialism:
We already have it.
I like to ask ppl who take that position:
“Did your kids go to public schools?
Do you plan on taking Social Security?
Medicare?
Ever been laid off and take unemployment?
Do you have a family member who’s getting SSDI?”
Those are ALL socialist programs, as are many other things that are fundamental parts of American life
There are thousands (hundreds of thousands? Millions?) of those covered by the ACA (Obamacare) who wanted it killed because they bought into these lies.
Literally, advocating against the best interests of themselves and their families.
There's a whole different argument. As a capitalist, I can tell you that the last thing I want to do as an executive leader is to spend time in our executive staff meetings, our company "all hands" meetings, and focused group sessions having our People leader talk through the intricacies of various health care plans and costs. That's valuable time we're not spending on how we please customers or delivering unique value above our competition.
It's also something I don't want to have to worry about when we have to part ways with our employees. One of the hardest things about letting people go when they don't fit into the particular business environment is to worry about their next steps and basic wellbeing.
I think we could be both more humane and better capitalists by adopting a different philosophy, treating healthcare as a right and not a privilege.
It's a shame, really. Social Security quotas are not cheap in Spain, but it includes all of your benefits and it appears there are very few and mostly small out-of-pocket costs. I'll report back when I'm paying into the system next year!
UPDATE: Today is November 1st, so I just re-enrolled. The 2025 rate for the equivalent Healthcare.gov plan with Moda puts us at $1,808 per month for me, my wife, and our 24-year old daughter. So, the cost did go up from $1,605 when I posted this.
For those interested in the what the 2025 plan looks like, the docs are here:
https://www.modahealth.com/-/media/modahealth/shared/plans/OR/2025/individual/affinity/SOB/Moda-Health-Affinity-Bronze-HDHP-7500-SOB-2025-OR.pdf
https://www.modahealth.com/-/media/modahealth/shared/plans/OR/2025/individual/affinity/SBC/Moda-Health-Affinity-Bronze-HDHP-7500-SBC-2025-OR.pdf
It's pretty sad when those numbers are considered a good deal. Relative to what?
This is one of the many reasons why we're moving to Spain. The idea that the healthcare premium costs that much and then, you have to pay costs on top of that, is criminal really.
No kidding, Rocco. I remain disappointed that there isn't the political will here to move to a single-payer healthcare system in the US. It's even more shocking to me that there are really forces within the government (fortunately a minority) that want to "go back" to a world before the Affordable Care Act.
Single payer will never happen, simply because of the steady stream of disinformation and outright lies emanating from the right and their state TV, Fox News.
If you advocate for it, you’re a “Communist”; a “Leninist”; a “socialist”
Funny thing about socialism:
We already have it.
I like to ask ppl who take that position:
“Did your kids go to public schools?
Do you plan on taking Social Security?
Medicare?
Ever been laid off and take unemployment?
Do you have a family member who’s getting SSDI?”
Those are ALL socialist programs, as are many other things that are fundamental parts of American life
There are thousands (hundreds of thousands? Millions?) of those covered by the ACA (Obamacare) who wanted it killed because they bought into these lies.
Literally, advocating against the best interests of themselves and their families.
Anyway, sorry to get political here.
Great post by you
And I had no idea of your health challenges
Hope you’re well.
There's a whole different argument. As a capitalist, I can tell you that the last thing I want to do as an executive leader is to spend time in our executive staff meetings, our company "all hands" meetings, and focused group sessions having our People leader talk through the intricacies of various health care plans and costs. That's valuable time we're not spending on how we please customers or delivering unique value above our competition.
It's also something I don't want to have to worry about when we have to part ways with our employees. One of the hardest things about letting people go when they don't fit into the particular business environment is to worry about their next steps and basic wellbeing.
I think we could be both more humane and better capitalists by adopting a different philosophy, treating healthcare as a right and not a privilege.
It's a shame, really. Social Security quotas are not cheap in Spain, but it includes all of your benefits and it appears there are very few and mostly small out-of-pocket costs. I'll report back when I'm paying into the system next year!
Great explanation of what seems like the most complicated part of retiring. Thanks for the detail.
Thanks for reading, Lisa!