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> Many European countries have free healthcare, I wish this socialist trope would die. I have never heard of a US programming job that didn't include staff hea

> Many European countries have free healthcare, I wish this socialist trope would die. I have never heard of a US programming job that didn't include staff healthcare, plus some dental and eyewear. Some US companies also include family healthcare, for some there's a fee.

addicted 6y ago
How is this socialist trope? A lot of planning involves “what happens if I lose my job”, or “my current workplace is hell, and between that and taking care of kids I can barely even start looking for another job, and I can’t afford to take a couple of months off because that would mean I need to go on the private insurance market for a few months which would be ridiculously expensive with my special needs kid”. Even if you’re in an ideal scenario, with a cushy job that provides great employer insurance, it’s not close to being as good as having high quality healthcare irrespective of whether you have a good job, terrible job, or no job.
- RhysU 6y ago
  But wouldn't one avoid the private insurance market for those months by using COBRA?
  - codegeek 6y ago
    COBRA is equally or even more expensive than private insurance at times. COBRA just guarantees that you get to keep the same insurance/coverage that you had with your employer but now you pay all costs out of pocket including employer portion which usually is a lot. To add to this, some employers charge an admin fee of 1-2% because they are managing this for you even after employment. So in total, you could pay upto 102% of the total cost of premiums.
    - RhysU 6y ago
      102% of the premiums for 100% of the benefits for 0 time negotiating with the private market and with guaranteed coverage seems... fair?
      - danielscrubs 6y ago
        ” New study finds 45,000 deaths annually linked to lack of health coverage” https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2009/09/new-study-finds-45000-deaths-annually-linked-to-lack-of-health-coverage/ https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2009/09/new-study-fin...

addicted 6y ago

How is this socialist trope? A lot of planning involves “what happens if I lose my job”, or “my current workplace is hell, and between that and taking care of kids I can barely even start looking for another job, and I can’t afford to take a couple of months off because that would mean I need to go on the private insurance market for a few months which would be ridiculously expensive with my special needs kid”. Even if you’re in an ideal scenario, with a cushy job that provides great employer insurance, it’s not close to being as good as having high quality healthcare irrespective of whether you have a good job, terrible job, or no job.

RhysU 6y ago
But wouldn't one avoid the private insurance market for those months by using COBRA?
- codegeek 6y ago
  COBRA is equally or even more expensive than private insurance at times. COBRA just guarantees that you get to keep the same insurance/coverage that you had with your employer but now you pay all costs out of pocket including employer portion which usually is a lot. To add to this, some employers charge an admin fee of 1-2% because they are managing this for you even after employment. So in total, you could pay upto 102% of the total cost of premiums.
  - RhysU 6y ago
    102% of the premiums for 100% of the benefits for 0 time negotiating with the private market and with guaranteed coverage seems... fair?
    - danielscrubs 6y ago
      ” New study finds 45,000 deaths annually linked to lack of health coverage” https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2009/09/new-study-finds-45000-deaths-annually-linked-to-lack-of-health-coverage/ https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2009/09/new-study-fin...