I've been away...

[Richctdude]

great pics

[SarahG]

Do you know what it costs to buy private health insurance (i.e. Cobra)? Its not cheap at all for individuals, if she can find a decent policy for $500 a month I'd be surprised.

Yes I do. From 2001 to 2002, after I left a full-time job, I paid for COBRA. Back then it was around $350 for me. Not cheap, but I did it, as do millions of others.

Melissa said escorting was the best money she ever made. No idea how much she charges her customers, but it might be worth seeing 3 or 4 more customers a month (3 or 4 hours) and use that money to pay for insurance.

How much do we all pay for internet and or cable access each month?

Sure millions of others do it, but many millions more have no way in hell of paying for it.

The lil things like cable, isps etc add up but, individually they're really not much. If I had no roommates splitting bills it would only cost me $30 a month for my adsl connection, but if I had no roommates I also wouldn't have stuff they use (that I don't use) like cable tv.

I have no idea what her situation is like, but if she's stretched so far thin via credit card debt that the constable is stopping by to take her in to either a) make a payment or b ) go to jail, then she's probably not going to be able to cut enough out of her monthly costs to pull off cobra...without first tackling the big burdens (like carpayments, creditcard debt etc) and for her that might require bankruptcy.

And even then, if that bankruptcy means having garnished wages, assuming she declares what she earns, she still might not have enough left over for it.

But again I am just playing devils advocate I have no idea what her month to month economics are.

[flabbybody]

braverman:
unless you work for a company that offers a group plan via salary deductions, health insurance is not a viable option under the current system. that's why 45 million Americans are without coverage. Many earn decent livings but have to prioritze their spending on things like food and shelter. Does your shitty comment to Melissa also apply to all the people who take their uninsured sick kids to hospital emergency rooms? They are the real burdens on your precious taxpayers.

You have just made the case for universal affordable coverage for every person in the USA.

[melissacarter]

Do you know what it costs to buy private health insurance (i.e. Cobra)? Its not cheap at all for individuals, if she can find a decent policy for $500 a month I'd be surprised.

Yes I do. From 2001 to 2002, after I left a full-time job, I paid for COBRA. Back then it was around $350 for me. Not cheap, but I did it, as do millions of others.

Melissa said escorting was the best money she ever made. No idea how much she charges her customers, but it might be worth seeing 3 or 4 more customers a month (3 or 4 hours) and use that money to pay for insurance.

How much do we all pay for internet and or cable access each month?

Sure millions of others do it, but many millions more have no way in hell of paying for it.

The lil things like cable, isps etc add up but, individually they're really not much. If I had no roommates splitting bills it would only cost me $30 a month for my adsl connection, but if I had no roommates I also wouldn't have stuff they use (that I don't use) like cable tv.

I have no idea what her situation is like, but if she's stretched so far thin via credit card debt that the constable is stopping by to take her in to either a) make a payment or b ) go to jail, then she's probably not going to be able to cut enough out of her monthly costs to pull off cobra...without first tackling the big burdens (like carpayments, creditcard debt etc) and for her that might require bankruptcy.

And even then, if that bankruptcy means having garnished wages, assuming she declares what she earns, she still might not have enough left over for it.

But again I am just playing devils advocate I have no idea what her month to month economics are.

Sarah and braveman are both correct. Yes, I should be putting money aside for insurance but it is quite costly and no, they still do not cover the major expenses of HRT, augmentation, bloodwork, etc...I've received a quote of $600/month for a good Blue Cross plan. I've lived without insurance, as many of us have, for years straight. Right now I don't have the money but that may change. First and foremost I'm trying to save my credit rating and pay off these cards. And for my upcoming implant surgery.

And Sarah is also correct about NJ motor vehicle requirements for female designation. However, the doctor's letters work and it is more a statement on the lack of thoroughness on the part of DMV staff. They simply cannot differentiate the terms feminization surgeries and sex reassignment surgery. I'm only taking advantage of government incompetency, technically I do not have the necessary documentation to have the gender changed. But why should that stop me?

[SarahG]

Do you know what it costs to buy private health insurance (i.e. Cobra)? Its not cheap at all for individuals, if she can find a decent policy for $500 a month I'd be surprised.

Yes I do. From 2001 to 2002, after I left a full-time job, I paid for COBRA. Back then it was around $350 for me. Not cheap, but I did it, as do millions of others.

Melissa said escorting was the best money she ever made. No idea how much she charges her customers, but it might be worth seeing 3 or 4 more customers a month (3 or 4 hours) and use that money to pay for insurance.

How much do we all pay for internet and or cable access each month?

Sure millions of others do it, but many millions more have no way in hell of paying for it.

The lil things like cable, isps etc add up but, individually they're really not much. If I had no roommates splitting bills it would only cost me $30 a month for my adsl connection, but if I had no roommates I also wouldn't have stuff they use (that I don't use) like cable tv.

I have no idea what her situation is like, but if she's stretched so far thin via credit card debt that the constable is stopping by to take her in to either a) make a payment or b ) go to jail, then she's probably not going to be able to cut enough out of her monthly costs to pull off cobra...without first tackling the big burdens (like carpayments, creditcard debt etc) and for her that might require bankruptcy.

And even then, if that bankruptcy means having garnished wages, assuming she declares what she earns, she still might not have enough left over for it.

But again I am just playing devils advocate I have no idea what her month to month economics are.

Sarah and braveman are both correct. Yes, I should be putting money aside for insurance but it is quite costly and no, they still do not cover the major expenses of HRT, augmentation, bloodwork, etc...I've received a quote of $600/month for a good Blue Cross plan. I've lived without insurance, as many of us have, for years straight. Right now I don't have the money but that may change. First and foremost I'm trying to save my credit rating and pay off these cards. And for my upcoming implant surgery.

And Sarah is also correct about NJ motor vehicle requirements for female designation. However, the doctor's letters work and it is more a statement on the lack of thoroughness on the part of DMV staff. They simply cannot differentiate the terms feminization surgeries and sex reassignment surgery. I'm only taking advantage of government incompetency, technically I do not have the necessary documentation to have the gender changed. But why should that stop me?

bcbs wouldn't cover hrt or bloodwork? That is very, very odd. I know a lot of girls where BCBS's hmos and ppos have no problem at all covering it.

I don't either Sarah. I'm just going by what she wrote. She's making good money, she's her own boss, sets her own hours. Don't know if Melissa owns a car or not, but that can't be cheap, but she still manages to pay for it from her earnings. What I'm saying is, health insurance, if you are working and making the "best money" you've ever made, should be your responsibility. Just a thought.

For some people "best money you've ever made" isn't enough for health insurance, hence why so many millions in our country don't have it.

Suppose she manages to get health insurance from the state under some kind of social welfare program... it isn't hard at all to argue that it is cheaper in the long run.

The way this works is that people who have no health care, or really really bad health care, don't get preventative care (physicals and the like) and thus put off going to see someone until its a major problem. But when that happens, it is more likely to lead to avoidable emergency procedures which end up costing far more.

And I say this as someone who is adamantly opposed to universal health care in the United States.