Maybe this is a clever ploy to demonstrate that if even millionaires like Hillary can’t afford health insurance for their employees we must need Hillary’s nationalized program.

Buy Danish on March 31, 2008 at 3:36 PM

It may not be the intention, but that is the way to play it. Even the best employers with the best of intentions can’t possibly keep up with the health care needs of their employees, so it simply must fall to the government to take care of these folks.

What’s that old line? You think it’s expensive (and unresponsive) now, wait until it’s “free”.

Hillary Clinton sure seems to be in favor of universal health care. Her campaign, on the other hand, seems less than faithful about paying its health care bills, though.

Among the debts reported this month by Hillary Rodham Clinton’s struggling pres…

As for the insurance needing $15,000, what the heck company is THAT?

mjk, in some states that is not an unusual premium – especially for “family” coverage including both parents and 2 children. The money’s NOT going to the Dr.’s. They get significantly less (30% or more less) from insurance plans that we would pay as individuals for the same service. The insurance companies get the $.

As for the insurance needing $15,000, what the heck company is THAT? Are you sure it wasn’t the hospital/MD charging that? If your insurance company is expecting that much in premium, I suspect you should look for another one.

Starlink on March 31, 2008 at 4:59 PM

Wade on March 31, 2008 at 5:12 PM

Interesting. I had a totally different experience with COBRA. I kept trying to cancel and they kept giving me grace periods and increasing the balance. It went of for three months before I got it straightened out. But I guess that’s the difference between consumer and business owner. Also, I’m sure it’s different from state to state.

Cutting Hillary 90 days + is an “arrangement” and as any small business will tell you, we do not get these types of float, especially from insurance companies. We get letters at 15 days past due, 31 days, and 45 days is termination.

Starlink on March 31, 2008 at 4:59 PM

This is true. I once had a bank issued check get lost and bingo. Canceled. Took 3 weeks to get the account straightened away. This was United Health Care and they did not take bank transfers from Bank of America (Bill Pay), and still don’t. So the bank issues a check and sends it through the post office. Then someone has to key in the check at United Health Care accounts receivable. And we wonder why health care costs so much.

I think what Aetna is doing is standard. It doesn’t really cost them anything to “cover” them while they’re in default and they stand to gain hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments. If someone gets sick and tries to get treatment, I don’t think Aetna would have to pay for it because the account is in default.

Spolitics on March 31, 2008 at 4:27 PM

This is not standard. 31 day grace period is all you get, and they have had all kinds of legal issues continuing “cover” during a default period. The letters are clear, you do not have coverage, and they go out.

Cutting Hillary 90 days + is an “arrangement” and as any small business will tell you, we do not get these types of float, especially from insurance companies. We get letters at 15 days past due, 31 days, and 45 days is termination.

Spolitics on March 31, 2008 at 4:37 PM
You can get a $5,000 deductable policy for $50-75/month.

I am looking for a deal like that. My current cost per month for me and the wife is $1570

Maybe it’s tort reform ….jmarcure on March 31, 2008 at 4:31 PM

That is a damned good start.

jmarcure on March 31, 2008 at 4:31 PM

In most states, you can safeguard yourself with a high deductable policy just to cover you against an emergency. You can get a $5,000 deductable policy for $50-75/month.
The real pisser… I just heard MA’s new connector banned those policies… exactly the kind of policy that makes the most sense for a healthy person between jobs.

I am recently unemployed after working for a company for 13 years. I also live in MA where it is illegal to not have health insurance. Being unemployed has given me new insight into healthcare and what I see is pretty dismal. Unemployment will pay me 650 dollars a week and mandatory health insurance will cost me 1329 dollars a month which is more than half my months unemployment and that’s not counting dental which is about another 350 a month. What I realize is that few of us really understand how much of our income goes to insurance, be it auto, health or home all of which is illegal not to have here in MA. I now believe a great many of us work to pay insurance and I’m beginning to wonder why? Last year I paid over $15000.00 into health insurance and when my son was hurt I had to fight them to cover a lousy 700 dollar medical fee. Is universal health care the answer? I don’t know but I do think something has to be done to put some controls on insurance. Maybe it’s tort reform or maybe something different. All I know is that at 53 years old it’s going to be tough to find a job and even tougher to pay the bills. There goes the savings and retirement.

JiangxiDad on March 31, 2008 at 3:55 PM
Del Dolemonte on March 31, 2008 at 4:16 PM

I think what Aetna is doing is standard. It doesn’t really cost them anything to “cover” them while they’re in default and they stand to gain hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments. If someone gets sick and tries to get treatment, I don’t think Aetna would have to pay for it because the account is in default.

This should have had the big red Tee bone label on it!

Wade on March 31, 2008 at 3:59 PM

I just looked at the article you linked. Is she a total idiot? Most people without insurance are between jobs. What wages does she plan to garnish?

How interesting that Aetna continues the coverage month after month without payment.

My health insurer has made it VERY clear that if my payment is wrong, or a day late, that my policy is subject to cancellation.

JiangxiDad on March 31, 2008 at 3:55 PM

Obviously Hillary has an FBI file on the CEO of Aetna.

Right.