As someone who is probably going to be without health insurance soon, I have an idea to share. A family plan for me right now costs about $20,000/year. That's more than my wife and I make.
First, for people who can't afford health insurance, make the doctors and hospitals accept the same reimbursement as they would get from Medicare. Medicare wouldn't pay them, I would, but I don't like paying about twice as much as an uninsured person as Medicare pays and about 30% more than an insurance company pays.
Second, if I can't afford to pay it all right away, the government gives me a low interest loan to pay the bill and I pay the government back over time.
This wouldn't cost or make the taxpayer anything. The interest charged should just be enough to cover the administration costs of overseeing the loan. The government wouldn't really be providing insurance to compete with private insurance companies.
It would provide me some piece of mind. I used to have a great job with good pay. My wife and I raised our kids, helped put them through college and paid off our debts. Now I find myself unemployed because of the economy and when the COBRA runs out, uninsured also. I don't want a free ride, but I don't want one serious accident or illness to make me loose my home or force me into bankruptcy. My above proposal would give me the protection and need and not cost the government anything.
Bye for now. Doug
Friday, September 18, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
BioChar 7: Sustainable Land Development International (created 9-1-09)
Terry Mock submitted a comment to the BioChar 6 post. I thought it was so informative that I am posting it as a individual blog. I don't think everyone reads comments.
Terry, thank you for your comment. It is encouraging that this is being accomplished. And thank you for the links. I am already checking them out. More to learn. More to dream. Doug Iverson
From Terry,
Sustainable Land Development Goes Carbon-NegativeSLDT Magazine - August, 2009http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sldt/0809/#/18 Located in the headwaters of the Port Orford Community Stewardship Area in Southern Oregon, Ocean Mountain Ranch (OMR) overlooks the newly-designated Redfish Rocks Marine Reserve and the largest remaining old growth forest on the southern coast in Humbug Mountain State Park. OMR is planned to be developed pursuant to a forest stewardship management plan which has been approved by the Oregon Department of Forestry and Northwest Certified Forestry under the high standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). OMR is also serving as a pilot program and is expected to achieve carbon negative status through the utilization of low impact development practices, energy efficient buildings, renewable/clean energy systems, distributed waste management systems, biochar production, and other practices.
The land development industry is uniquely positioned to utilize best management practices to take advantage of emerging ancient and new biochar technologies to help address a multitude of pressing environmental, social and economic concerns by balancing the needs of people, planet and profit – for today and future generations. Sustainable Land Development International - www.SLDI.org
August 29, 2009 7:58 AM
Terry, thank you for your comment. It is encouraging that this is being accomplished. And thank you for the links. I am already checking them out. More to learn. More to dream. Doug Iverson
From Terry,
Sustainable Land Development Goes Carbon-NegativeSLDT Magazine - August, 2009http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/sldt/0809/#/18 Located in the headwaters of the Port Orford Community Stewardship Area in Southern Oregon, Ocean Mountain Ranch (OMR) overlooks the newly-designated Redfish Rocks Marine Reserve and the largest remaining old growth forest on the southern coast in Humbug Mountain State Park. OMR is planned to be developed pursuant to a forest stewardship management plan which has been approved by the Oregon Department of Forestry and Northwest Certified Forestry under the high standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). OMR is also serving as a pilot program and is expected to achieve carbon negative status through the utilization of low impact development practices, energy efficient buildings, renewable/clean energy systems, distributed waste management systems, biochar production, and other practices.
The land development industry is uniquely positioned to utilize best management practices to take advantage of emerging ancient and new biochar technologies to help address a multitude of pressing environmental, social and economic concerns by balancing the needs of people, planet and profit – for today and future generations. Sustainable Land Development International - www.SLDI.org
August 29, 2009 7:58 AM
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