When a company decides to “cut costs,” it’s the human resources department that is invariably stuck with doing the dirty work of hacking away at the health plan. But as premiums and deductibles go up, they go up for everyone – even HR managers.

Michele in Milford, CT, our first story stop on the Cover America Tour, is a wonderfully animated woman with a whole family who greeted us with a “c’mon in” kind of welcome. She wrote to tell us about her high premiums, the $45 co-pays for each prescription and doctor visit, and the inability to afford health coverage for her husband.

Sitting on her back porch though, I heard about more than just premiums. Michele is an HR manager who has watched costs rise for employers as well as employees year after year everywhere she’s worked. She’s been on both sides of the costs, as the raise-er and the raise-ee. About a year ago when she lost her job, the high costs fell squarely on her shoulders to continue her coverage through COBRA. It cost so much she couldn’t insure her husband any longer.

But we picked a great day to show up: that very morning Michele was offered a job as an HR manager at a company and she was so happy because... sure the pay is good, but the BENEFITS…

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comments (3)

Comments

1 Posted by Pat at 05/31/08 04:26 AM

I work 2 jobs and cannot afford healthcare. I am very frightened if I become ill. I was attacked by a dangerous dog and couldn't afford to get an antibiotic an had to ask my former doctor's office for help. They didn't charge me for their fee, but the antibiotic was $90. That was food for the month.

Once I pay off my bills, I hope to eventually have medical coverage.

2 Posted by Darla Paulson at 06/03/08 06:44 PM

I graduated from college with honors, then went to graduate school. While in graduate school, I got very sick, and had to leave and could not work for a few months. Knowing I was getting too sick, I took out extra student loans to cover Cobra, which was over $200/mo. when I was making nothing. Then I went back to graduate school, only to become sick again, but this time I could not afford to not work because of health care costs. I worked a full-time job against the advise of my doctor. Then, six weeks after surgery, I was passenger in a car that was in a serious accident. I was told by medical professionals that although for my health, I should take time off work, I should not do it because jobs often fire people who take time off work, and there is no legal protection, other than FMLA, which is restrictive, and only covers someone with over a year of tenure. So I went back to work, and the injury that should have healed sooner is still not gone 5 years later. Luckily, I worked for a company that let me go part-time for three years to deal with this, but I had to beg my MD to write for me to work 20 hours per week so that I could have health care. Many companies don't provide health-care to part-timers. Things could have been worse. But I had to go against my better judgment, and the judgment of the doctors, in order to keep health care. My graduate degree is now five years behind schedule. We need single-payer health care, not tied to your job. Anyone can get in an accident, and oh yeah, car insurance? I had the typical recommended amount, and it only covered 11 months of treatment (I needed 4 years of treatment). Car insurance also only covers expenses directly related to auto accidents, and not other health costs. I had to sue the insurance company, and still didn't get all of my medical bills paid. I paid so much out of pocket.

3 Posted by Jan Foulk at 06/04/08 11:34 PM

I am (not voluntarily) self-employed, and pay 100% of my health insurance premiums. While I have been under this health insurance (4 or 5 years), I have made no claims. Not one.

My premiums keep rising anyway, and sharply. At this point, I can only afford a policy with $2500.00 deductible. Costs for my preventative annual exam (pap smear and breast exam) keep going up, too, and I pay all of the cost. This makes no sense to me, as I feel completely on my own. The CEO of the health insurance company makes a huge yearly income, too.

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