0 I Traded My Home for Healthcare

I Traded My Home for Healthcare

Really?  Well, pretty much.

Four years ago McCrabby and Mrs. M were having some financial issues; when the investment counselor (using that term loosely) lost hundreds of thousands, the business hit the skids, a frivolous lawsuit from a fired employee cost thousands to fight, and the economy tanked, it seemed best to cut expenses (Politicians take note).

McCrabby and Mrs. M sold their house (didn't walk away - paid off the mortgage), and moved to the town where they grew up (high school sweethearts).  

That saved them a mortgage payment, $6,000/year in property taxes, and overall just lowered the cost of living (cheaper being in a small town).

Then, came the Affordable Care Act (the biggest misnomer around).  McCrabby's Blue Cross policy, which he was not allowed to keep (see previous posts here), increased from $364 to $841 per month, for lesser coverage.  Now, as December 15 looms, McCrabby has to change policies again.  The cost, starting this month, is now $1,278/month, about what the mortgage used to be in McCrabby's last home.

So, let's review a couple things McCrabby has heard about the Affordable Care Act:

• "That can't be right (regarding McCrabbys' insurance costs)" -- have heard that a lot from people on Medicare, but it IS correct; it might not be right, but it's correct (McCrabby is pretty good at examining all options -- this one is the best he can even come close to affording, and offers less coverage than the one he had two years ago, which cost less than one third of today's plan).

• "Well, at least more people are insured" -- really?  at what cost?  As these costs continue to skyrocket, less people can afford insurance so the government pays for it.  How long can that go on?  And, how can the 10% who can afford it, pay for the 90% who cannot?  And more people are insured, because the government is paying for them.  They could have done that without screwing up the programs for those that pay.  It's always easy to take a handout, but how long can that last?  We're bankrupting our country

• "It's leveled the playing field for all" -- well, at least for the 90% that won't be able to afford insurance (it will get to that number eventually) -- yep, we're all getting socialized medicine.

• "Pre-existing conditions don't limit your coverage" -- that's nice, but why is McCrabby paying for maternity care and pediatric dental care, without getting dental care for M and Mrs. M?  The McCrabbys' baby girl is now 35, and seems past the age of wishing for a baby sister, now that she has three kids of her own.  But her kids will still be paying for today's healthcare 50 years from now.

• "This system is more fair than what we had" -- to whom?  See above.

• "But, at least gas prices are down" --  Really???  15 or 20 cents?  Maybe, 50?  Since McCrabby is such a numbers guy, he did some ciphering, and this is what he found. McCrabby and Mrs. M drive about 1,200 miles per month, between their two cars (less driving in a small town).  Having cars that get reasonable gas mileage, that translates to about 50 gallons of gas per month (24 MPG average).  So, if gas goes down 15 cents per gallon, it saves the McCrabbys about $7.50 that month.  The McCrabby health insurance bill, is going up $400+ per month this month, after going up $400/month in January/2014, when the McCrabbys could NOT keep the plan they had.  To have the same impact as two years of health insurance increases, gas would have to go up to more than $19 per gallon.  Do you think that would make the news?

And, do you want to hear a real irony.  McCrabby let one of his term life insurances lapse, because with the expense of healthcare, he had to make a decision.  That's a scary choice.

Well, I guess McCrabby better get back to work now; after all, we have to pay the mortgage  healthcare bill.

McCrabby

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Detail: I Traded My Home for Healthcare