Healthcare poised to overwhelm median household income

[Indy Coug]

DISCLAIMER: This exercise is primarily for illustrating the effects of healthcare inflation and should not be interpreted as a financial forecast.

The average family annual health insurance premium is $13,375. Premiums have increased by 131% (8.73%/year) over the last 10 years compared to overall inflation rate of 28% (2.49%/year) during that same time period.

http://money.blogs.time.com/2009/09/16/health-insurance-premiums-up-131-in-last-ten-years/

The median household income in 2009 was $52,000.

http://www.mybudget360.com/how-565-million-households-live-52000-median-household-income-in-2009-crushed-by-a-decade-of-debt-a-decade-of-lost-wages-and-financial-debt-servitude/

Assuming those growth rates hold, health premiums will equal salary in just over 20 years.

Year	Med Exp	         Salary	        % of Salary
2010	 13,375.00 	 52,000.00 	26%
2011	 14,543.04 	 53,299.64 	27%
2012	 15,813.08 	 54,631.75 	29%
2013	 17,194.04 	 55,997.17 	31%
2014	 18,695.59 	 57,396.70 	33%
2015	 20,328.28 	 58,831.22 	35%
2016	 22,103.55 	 60,301.59 	37%
2017	 24,033.85 	 61,808.70 	39%
2018	 26,132.73 	 63,353.49 	41%
2019	 28,414.90 	 64,936.88 	44%
2020	 30,896.37 	 66,559.85 	46%
2021	 33,594.55 	 68,223.38 	49%
2022	 36,528.37 	 69,928.49 	52%
2023	 39,718.39 	 71,676.21 	55%
2024	 43,186.99 	 73,467.61 	59%
2025	 46,958.51 	 75,303.79 	62%
2026	 51,059.40 	 77,185.86 	66%
2027	 55,518.42 	 79,114.96 	70%
2028	 60,366.84 	 81,092.28 	74%
2029	 65,638.68 	 83,119.02 	79%
2030	 71,370.90 	 85,196.42 	84%
2031	 77,603.73 	 87,325.73 	89%
2032	 84,380.86 	 89,508.26 	94%
2033	 91,749.84 	 91,745.34 	100%
2034	 99,762.35 	 94,038.33 	106%
2035	 108,474.60 	 96,388.64 	113%
2036	 117,947.69 	 98,797.68 	119%
2037	 128,248.06 	 101,266.93 	127%

[RobinFinderson]

I think that 26% is crazy, especially for the crappy service that buys.

[Hallelujah]

I think that 26% is crazy, especially for the crappy service that buys.

Are you talking about crappy insurance service or crappy healthcare?

[Goatnapper'96]

I think that 26% is crazy, especially for the crappy service that buys.

You think it is crappy now, how is it going to get with the mandate to cover all with preexisting conditions but no real incentive for the healthy to get health insurance?

[LiveCoug]

13000 a year???? over 1000 a month? Ouch people!

I guess I shouldn't complain about our 250 a month we pay......

[Indy Coug]

I don't have any paycheck withholding for my health insurance. I seriously doubt my small-ish employer (120 employees) can sustain this benefit for much longer.

[RobinFinderson]

Are you talking about crappy insurance service or crappy healthcare?

Both. I'm talking about the whole American health care experience, everything from having to get doctors' visits pre-approved by non-medical insurance personnel in order to make a non-emergency visit; to having to drive way out of my way to see an 'authorized' doctor; to doctors offices that overbook patients, leaving them waiting for long periods of a work day, just so the doctor's office can maximize its profit; to the fact that for most patients they will be lucky to see a doctor at all, and more likely to see a PA; to the fact that most offices require trivial followup visits where they will charge you the full co-pay, and then they will charge the insurance company the full visit fee for both visits; to the fact that to see a specialist for a non-emergency issue will often require a 'Canadian-style' wait list; to the problem that our emergency rooms are so overcrowded by poor people for whom that is their primary access to health care that wait times in ER's can be HOURS for non-life-threatening problems (go bleed in the corner there, a doctor will see you some time between 3pm & 6pm); to the fact that somehow the health of our teeth and gums is not considered a 'medical' issue, and requires a completely different kind of insurance.

All of that great service for 26% of my salary. Thanks America!

[Hallelujah]

Both. I'm talking about the whole American health care experience, everything from having to get doctors' visits pre-approved by non-medical insurance personnel in order to make a non-emergency visit; to having to drive way out of my way to see an 'authorized' doctor; to doctors offices that overbook patients, leaving them waiting for long periods of a work day, just so the doctor's office can maximize its profit; to the fact that for most patients they will be lucky to see a doctor at all, and more likely to see a PA; to the fact that most offices require trivial followup visits where they will charge you the full co-pay, and then they will charge the insurance company the full visit fee for both visits; to the fact that to see a specialist for a non-emergency issue will often require a 'Canadian-style' wait list; to the problem that our emergency rooms are so overcrowded by poor people for whom that is their primary access to health care that wait times in ER's can be HOURS for non-life-threatening problems (go bleed in the corner there, a doctor will see you some time between 3pm & 6pm); to the fact that somehow the health of our teeth and gums is not considered a 'medical' issue, and requires a completely different kind of insurance.

All of that great service for 26% of my salary. Thanks America!

I don't have time to address each of your complaints but let's start with visiting PA's. Why should a physician spend time with you when he has a PA on staff that is qualified enough to handle your cough and sniff or other minor issue.........especially in light of the reimbursements they get on Medicare patients. In your ideal world, you want the very best for no money. Life doesn't work that way. I want a BMW for a Saturn price. won't happen. ER's are also overcrowded by those who can't get in to see a doctor within a reasonable time. I'll let ERCoug try and explain how many of his patients either don't have insurance or didn't want to wait to visit their doctor. That isn't going away either with a physician shortage, lower reimbursements, etc.

[Indy Coug]

Both. I'm talking about the whole American health care experience, everything from having to get doctors' visits pre-approved by non-medical insurance personnel in order to make a non-emergency visit; to having to drive way out of my way to see an 'authorized' doctor; to doctors offices that overbook patients, leaving them waiting for long periods of a work day, just so the doctor's office can maximize its profit; to the fact that for most patients they will be lucky to see a doctor at all, and more likely to see a PA; to the fact that most offices require trivial followup visits where they will charge you the full co-pay, and then they will charge the insurance company the full visit fee for both visits; to the fact that to see a specialist for a non-emergency issue will often require a 'Canadian-style' wait list; to the problem that our emergency rooms are so overcrowded by poor people for whom that is their primary access to health care that wait times in ER's can be HOURS for non-life-threatening problems (go bleed in the corner there, a doctor will see you some time between 3pm & 6pm); to the fact that somehow the health of our teeth and gums is not considered a 'medical' issue, and requires a completely different kind of insurance.

All of that great service for 26% of my salary. Thanks America!

Your characterization above is nothing like the experience my family and I have. I even went into the ER for a severe finger laceration a couple of months ago and was in and out inside of an hour. We have had to increasingly rely on healthcare in recent years and have had virtually no problems seeing who we wanted when we wanted (other than trying to see a dermatologist).

[Hallelujah]

Your characterization above is nothing like the experience me and my family have. I even went into the ER for a severe finger laceration a couple of months ago and was in and out inside of an hour. We have had to increasingly rely on healthcare in recent years and have had virtually no problems seeing who we wanted when we wanted (other than trying to see a dermatologist).

Derm in Idaho Falls. Income: > $700K

And they are always in demand and the residencies are real difficult to get into. Don't expect to see the supply/demand curve to change anytime soon.

[RobinFinderson]

Your characterization above is nothing like the experience me and my family have. I even went into the ER for a severe finger laceration a couple of months ago and was in and out inside of an hour. We have had to increasingly rely on healthcare in recent years and have had virtually no problems seeing who we wanted when we wanted (other than trying to see a dermatologist).

Wow, that is so cool that your medical insurance includes dental care!

What I described was based on my own experience with the health care system. My best health care experiences happened in Utah. My worst health care experiences happened in CT. Health care in Los Angeles has been really mediocre, but it generally fits my description.

So health care differs significantly between states, and services differ significantly between insurance policies. A lot of people are having my experiences for 26% of their income.

[byu71]

Your characterization above is nothing like the experience me and my family have. I even went into the ER for a severe finger laceration a couple of months ago and was in and out inside of an hour. We have had to increasingly rely on healthcare in recent years and have had virtually no problems seeing who we wanted when we wanted (other than trying to see a dermatologist).

I agree. The service I get is great. My only complaint is they may test me for too many things. My latest venture ended up being walking pneumonia, I am all better now.

However, I mentioned some aches I have in my arm and leg. They had me do a blood test for possible thyroid problem.

I get all this great service for $168 a month. However, I know I don't deserve it and am glad Obama and the dems. are going to screw it up for me so more people can get health care and we can all wait in line for 2 hours for service. The sad thing is, even though I am doing this, the dems will still bitch and moan about the rich, (I define rich at a much lower threshold than the rest of you, that is why I refer to myself as rich).

[Jarid in Cedar]

13000 a year???? over 1000 a month? Ouch people!

I guess I shouldn't complain about our 250 a month we pay......

We pay just shy of $15,000 a year for our family

[LiveCoug]

We pay just shy of $15,000 a year for our family

Ouch. Fortunately for you, however, is that 15k is only 4% of your yearly salary.

[Jarid in Cedar]

Ouch. Fortunately for you, however, is that 15k is only 4% of your yearly salary.

One of the perks of pillaging Medicare and Medicaid