<p>“I don’t understand your post. No one over age 65 is eligible for subsidies – at that age they are supposed to be covered by Medicare/ So which “some” are you talking about for getting subsidies?”</p>
<p>That would be people who are under 65 that are eligible for subsidies. I consider the terms “senior” and “elderly” to be a vague term, not a specific title for someone who is exactly 65 or older.</p>
<p>lerkin, your husband is a very smart man!</p>
<p>First off…</p>
<p>Why would we apologize? You have taxpayer subsidized employer backed insurance. It is not an opinion. It is a fact.
What kind of insurance I have is irrelevant. I could also have employer backed insurance, but that doesnt change the fact you do have taxpayer subsidized employer backed insurance.</p>
<p>My wife and I buy our insurance in the individual health insurance market. I havent had employer backed insurance insurance since 1981 and my wife hasnt since 1984 or 1985.</p>
<p>I was using the word we as taxpayers…</p>
<p>^^You obviously aren’t a Stephen Colbert fan, or you wouldn’t actually think I was asking you to apologize…it’s humor.</p>
<p>So everybody subsidizes everyone else’s personal or company tax breaks, okay, I get it. I guess what I should have said initially was that if I blew my checkride, you all would get to PAY for my healthcare, not subsidize it. Of course, my husband would have to blow it too. It would be a very bad year if we both blew it that bad.</p>
<p>I like Stephen Colbert.</p>
<p>I didnt realize you were trying to be funny like Stephen Colbert. Sorry. I am going to look for that in your posts now.</p>
<p>If you’re going to read the Pew about the disparity, ay a well read this one, too. [RealClearMarkets</a> - Forget the Wealth Gap, It’s the Age/Income Gap](<a href=“http://www.realclearmarkets.com/articles/2011/11/10/forget_the_wealth_gap_its_the_ageincome_gap_99360.html]RealClearMarkets”>Forget the Wealth Gap, It's the Age/Income Gap | RealClearMarkets) But what I’d want to know is the wealth gap among the elderly.</p>
<p>That cracks me up. After all these years of posting, you didn’t realize that I’m pretty much always laughing, humorous in poor taste, and trying to be funny? I obviously must not be doing it very well.</p>
<p>It is funny, but sarcasm doesn’t come through well, here. No matter how many winky faces you use.</p>
<p>Also, I think it depends on how close to pre-flight busdriver is. She s exponentially funnier when she isn’t working. ;)</p>
<p>I know you are being funny busdriver. You frequently make me laugh. </p>
<p>I’m glad people are starting to talk about the wealth gap. I’ve been alarmed by it for several years. Just as an FYI the younger generation is starting to notice. </p>
<p>Laws can absolutely be changed and I’m not sure how much grandfathering you will get from a group that feels ripped off.</p>
<p>Carry on</p>
<p>True about getting closer to preflight samurai, as the closer you get, the more you have to sober up. I consider using emoticons, but then I’d end every sentence with a :D</p>
<p>It would be interesting to have a look into the future and see how this all shakes out. I guess we can always have a peek back at this thread to remind us what we were thinking when it started.</p>
<p>“Laws can absolutely be changed and I’m not sure how much grandfathering you will get from a group that feels ripped off.”</p>
<p>I wonder about that also.</p>
<p>
I wonder about it, too, especially as employment-based plans become ungrandfathered.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I agree with this. </p>
<p>I wish they tax employer provided health benefits and spread out the pain of taking on 50 million previously uninsured people. As it is, only people who pay tax on helath insurance are self insured with income over 400% poverty level. How’s that fair? Why is it that we bully them when they complain.</p>
<p>I think we all feel ripped off even the riches. Maybe not 0.01%-ers but certainly many 1%-ers. We don’t feel like taking one for the team anymore. Something is wrong here.</p>
<p>New York won’t be allowing people to keep their old plans. </p>
<p>[Cuomo</a> Bucks Obama, Won’t Revise Health Care Exchange Rules | TIME.com](<a href=“http://swampland.time.com/2013/11/18/cuomo-bucks-obama-wont-revise-health-care-exchange-rules/]Cuomo”>Cuomo Bucks Obama, Won't Revise Health Care Exchange Rules | TIME.com)</p>
<p>Yes, I have to say I find some of the attitude to be offensive, Igloo. Many of us who had really great insurance deals before were wildly sympathetic to those with pre-existing or those who were basically uninsurable without employment.</p>
<p>It’s kind of nasty the “So there” attitude I’ve encountered on this thread. Interestingly, this thread is dominated by a completely different attitude than is being found in most of the country. If you were an alien and only read this thread, you would think this was a very popular change. It’s actually not, and for various reasons, not the least of which is “We know what is best for you” attitude of those who are not impacted yet.</p>
<p>However, the impact for everyone is coming, Igloo. All of the experts are starting to talk about what is going to happen in the employer market, including dropped spousal coverage and the caps on most employer coverage.</p>
<p>^^I’m a little slow this morning. (Well ok, I’m slow most mornings…)</p>
<p>But what is the 'tude to which you are posting, p-grl? (I’m not sure what direction that it is taking…)</p>
<p>the fact that my insurance premiums have gone up 3X for less coverage, and I have been told that I was “being subsidized” before, now, though my rates were based on health and health care use, not “need,” and that I should feel lucky to pay this much AND to be healthy, etc., etc., etc.,</p>
<p>Thankyouforlettingmepaymoreforless, please raise my taxes, too. Like that. 
Which my taxes will be going up, as will many unsuspecting people here, as well.</p>
<p>As I have said, I understand I need to pay more. I’m stunned by how “you were lucky to only have to pay such a low rate before just because you happen to be lucky enough to be healthy.”</p>
<p>LOL</p>
<p>Here is an email I just received from a friend. She is someone who takes her health very seriously, has a family background that causes her concern about her health, and is willing to pay quite a bit for quality healthcare:</p>
<p>“My health insurance was cancelled and finding anything that will let me use my old doctors is impossible. Have hired an insurance broker to explore options. No matter what I am willing to pay there seems to be no options for something other than Group Death” or community health.”</p>
<p>For those that think it’s just great that so many people’s insurance is being cancelled, for their “substandard policies”, those who have serious health issues and want to keep their doctors will disagree. This stinks. Making someone’s policy have maternity coverage (who is too old to have kids) and changing the co-pay from $20 to 0 for routine visits is trivial compared to losing access to their doctors.</p>
<p>I’ve noticed the insulting attitude towards those whose insurance is going up, also. </p>
<p>Maybe when the employer market is affected, the attitude will change.</p>
<p>“I think we all feel ripped off even the riches. Maybe not 0.01%-ers but certainly many 1%-ers. We don’t feel like taking one for the team anymore. Something is wrong here.”</p>
<p>There goes the wealth argument. :)</p>
<p>I thought adding maternity coverage to insurance plans helps the young. :)</p>