January 21, 20215 yr Just now, DrPhilly said: This is the classic topic of where one can draw the lines. Of course one could assert that there shouldn't be any lines at all. For example, in the car insurance market females used to get lower rates because they were females. I'm not sure if that is still ok in the US. If one gender/race/age/whatever has a lesser need for health care should the cost for them be less for any variable or is there a set of variables which cannot be used to set price? I am fine with no line, but that won't work. IMO, race shouldn't be a factor, despite the fact that there are differences. Gender is fair game, however, and does impact health insurance premiums. Men don't get pregnant, and women of child bearing age pay more. Age should 100% be fair game -- older people should pay more.
January 21, 20215 yr Just now, vikas83 said: I am fine with no line, but that won't work. IMO, race shouldn't be a factor, despite the fact that there are differences. Gender is fair game, however, and does impact health insurance premiums. Men don't get pregnant, and women of child bearing age pay more. Age should 100% be fair game -- older people should pay more. Why should gender be a factor but not race?
January 21, 20215 yr 9 minutes ago, vikas83 said: So then we just act like their will be consequences for bad life decisions until there are actual consequences? So we are the parent that keeps threatening to take away the iPad, but then never follows through. That works out well. Like I said, I get where you coming from, but I'm just not sure if it applies to this particular event. If the message is that you can be unhealthy and you'll live through a once-in-a-century pandemic, then I'm not sure it really matters that that lesson will be learned, since it'll never happen to them again.
January 21, 20215 yr 6 minutes ago, DrPhilly said: Why should gender be a factor but not race? I have no problem with race being a factor, as I wrote. I am just accepting the political reality.
January 21, 20215 yr auto insurance companies use statistical analysis of claims to formulate their premiums, no?
January 21, 20215 yr 23 minutes ago, DrPhilly said: You don't seem to understand that explaining the why/how about something isn't the same thing as defending it. Should Sweden have mandated masks in all indoor public spaces before October?
January 21, 20215 yr 9 minutes ago, VanHammersly said: Like I said, I get where you coming from, but I'm just not sure if it applies to this particular event. If the message is that you can be unhealthy and you'll live through a once-in-a-century pandemic, then I'm not sure it really matters that that lesson will be learned, since it'll never happen to them again. Anyone else surprised Van is pushing back hard on Vikas's idea that fat people should pay more for health insurance? Me neither.
January 21, 20215 yr 2 minutes ago, mr_hunt said: auto insurance companies use statistical analysis of claims to formulate their premiums, no? Yes, which is why younger males pay more. Health insurance companies do much less of it. But the biggest factor for health insurers is obesity, which they don't take into account. There should be an obesity surcharge.
January 21, 20215 yr 1 minute ago, Kz! said: Anyone else surprised Van is pushing back hard on Vikas's idea that fat people should pay more for health insurance? Me neither.
January 21, 20215 yr 1 minute ago, Kz! said: Anyone else surprised Van is pushing back hard on Vikas's idea that fat people should pay more for health insurance? Me neither. First round of vaccines - healthcare and frontline workers Second round of vaccines - those that get winded climbing a set of stairs
January 21, 20215 yr 49 minutes ago, vikas83 said: This is legitimately insane. Let's prioritize those that have made poor life choices and taken no responsibility for their health. This ties into the discussion on entitlements -- when you remove people from the consequences of their bad decisions, you get more bad decisions. This is even worse -- let's REWARD people for being irresponsible. #FATLIVESMATTER I take it your polos aren't XXXL. I've established that since I'm a middle-aged white guy who is in good health and not a front line worker I'm last in line to get the vaccine.
January 21, 20215 yr 12 minutes ago, vikas83 said: I have no problem with race being a factor, as I wrote. I am just accepting the political reality. Ok, right. Gender will be ok politically if males have to pay more but I don't think it will be accepted if females or other have to pay more.
January 21, 20215 yr 8 minutes ago, vikas83 said: Yes, which is why younger males pay more. Health insurance companies do much less of it. But the biggest factor for health insurers is obesity, which they don't take into account. There should be an obesity surcharge. agreed. it should work the same way as auto insurance. how obese are we talking though?
January 21, 20215 yr 2 minutes ago, DrPhilly said: Ok, right. Gender will be ok politically if males have to pay more but I don't think it will be accepted if females or other have to pay more. You really struggle with reading comprehension. I already wrote that women do pay more when they are of child bearing age. People accept it because it has always been that way.
January 21, 20215 yr Being an old lady (almost) now, older people DO pay more. Remember just the art of aging is increasing your risk of multiple health issues. I have spent/paid ALOT on medical. This is my 1st year of opening an FSA. Never had to do that before.
January 21, 20215 yr 1 minute ago, mr_hunt said: agreed. it should work the same way as auto insurance. how obese are we talking though? It should be up to the insurance company. I'd personally look at the relationship between BMI and health outcomes, and maybe set it at anything over 30, which is defined as obese.
January 21, 20215 yr 5 minutes ago, DrPhilly said: Ok, right. Gender will be ok politically if males have to pay more but I don't think it will be accepted if females or other have to pay more. women already get a break on car insurance. let them pay more for heath insurance. srsly, i might be dead wrong but it seems like women have a sheetload more medial appointments than men...fwiw.
January 21, 20215 yr 1 minute ago, mr_hunt said: women already get a break on car insurance. let them pay more for heath insurance. srsly, i might be dead wrong but it seems like women have a sheetload more medial appointments than men...fwiw. Why the hell do the worst drivers get breaks? I did not know this. I just figured there was an asian lady over 50 surcharge of $10k.
January 21, 20215 yr 13 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said: Should Sweden have mandated masks in all indoor public spaces before October? As a central strong general recommendation yes but not a general central policy mandated everywhere no. We rely on the recommended policies which I think are good enough here though that might not work in some countries/regions. Some establishments require a mask though to come in which is fine with me. Also, I'd support a mandate for any public space that can't enforce distancing. I'd also support a mandate generally for regions of outbreak above a certain threshold (don't know what that threshold is per se). btw - When you say "mandate" is there any teeth behind it? Fines? etc. For it to be an actual "mandate" I'd expect actual enforced fines and not just $10. Say $500 minimum as was done in Spain/France. Get some teeth in there or the "mandat" aspect is worthless and you're far better off with a recommendation.
January 21, 20215 yr 4 minutes ago, mr_hunt said: women already get a break on car insurance. let them pay more for heath insurance. srsly, i might be dead wrong but it seems like women have a sheetload more medial appointments than men...fwiw. Not if you’re currently maintaining good prostate and colon health.
January 21, 20215 yr 47 minutes ago, DrPhilly said: You don't seem to understand that explaining the why/how about something isn't the same thing as defending it. If you say "I generally support the strategy" I am left with little else to take away.
January 21, 20215 yr 5 minutes ago, mr_hunt said: women already get a break on car insurance. let them pay more for heath insurance. srsly, i might be dead wrong but it seems like women have a sheetload more medial appointments than men...fwiw. Well I'm ok with it but I don't think it will be acceptable politically on the left. Also, what to do with the "other" category?
January 21, 20215 yr Sooooooooo surprised Report: Biden Admin Discovers Trump Had Zero Plans For COVID Vaccine Distribution As they were settling into the White House on Wednesday, Biden administration officials were reportedly stunned to discover that President Joe Biden’s predecessor didn’t have a plan with regards to distributing the COVID-19 vaccine.A source told CNN on Thursday morning that the new administration will "have to build everything from scratch” thanks to former President Donald Trump’s reported lack of strategy with the vaccine rollout. "There is nothing for us to rework,” they said. Biden will have to start from "square one,” said another source, who called Trump’s nonexistent distribution plan "just further affirmation of complete incompetence https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/report-biden-admin-discovers-trump-had-zero-plans-for-covid-vaccine-distribution
January 21, 20215 yr 5 minutes ago, DrPhilly said: As a central strong general recommendation yes but not a general central policy mandated everywhere no. We rely on the recommended policies which I think are good enough here though that might not work in some countries/regions. Some establishments require a mask though to come in which is fine with me. Also, I'd support a mandate for any public space that can't enforce distancing. I'd also support a mandate generally for regions of outbreak above a certain threshold (don't know what that threshold is per se). btw - When you say "mandate" is there any teeth behind it? Fines? etc. For it to be an actual "mandate" I'd expect actual enforced fines and not just $10. Say $500 minimum as was done in Spain/France. Get some teeth in there or the "mandat" aspect is worthless and you're far better off with a recommendation. Mandate meaning by law, and with penalties via fines, yes. Anything less than a mandate is insane given what we know about this virus and how it spreads. Your policy makers over there have clearly failed you. Don't interpret that as an implication I think US leaders have fared any better here, but mandates are low-hanging fruits and basically no-brainers from a public policy standpoint. I can't wrap my head around why people would ever say otherwise.
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