The publishers were kind enough to send a review copy to me. It's a good book, so here's a review! (No other strings except the complimentary copy of the book.)
Fred Brock's Health Care on Less Than You Think
Well, to replace the work subsidized health insurance I have now, I would be shelling out probably close to $30,000 per year — if I could get covered at all! If not, then I'm out of pocket on the whole deal. Talk about a wet blanket! Worst case, I'd need to earn well into six figures to feel as comfortable about my family's health coverage as I do now. Long and short, I'm not quitting anytime soon, and neither are a lot of other Americans. It's too risky.
Among the factors governing today's health care situation, here are some that stuck out for me:
- We pay more for, and get less of, health care than other industrialized countries.
- Seemingly minor pre-existing conditions can make you uninsurable.
- Employee-funded plans are taking the place of employer-subsidized plans, like 401(k)s are replacing pensions.
- Hospitals (like airlines) have as many different fees as they do customers, making it almost impossible to compare services.
Having set a rather grim stage, Brock discusses the ins and outs of Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) coverage, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and others. He talks about which states have the best deals on prescriptions, and which states will guarantee you some kind of insurance. Chapters are dedicated to dealing with the insurance paperwork deluge, planning for government health care assistance programs, and defending yourself against losing all of your retirement savings to health care expenses.
Health Care on Less Than You Think
It's from the New York Times, so how much basis can it have in reality?