Health Savings Accounts and Teachers in Ridgefield CT

I have mixed feelings about the rejection of a change to  HDHP/HSA insurance by three  unions representing the teachers and other school workers this week  Ridgefield Connecticut.  The plan would have saved the school system $400,000 at a time of intense economic pressure.
Basically, the unions did not want to open up their contract mid-stream, there [...]

Ten People Who Do Give Me Hope For Change

While I wish I was worldly enough to put forward a true TOP TEN list, I’m just not.  But there are some folks who do give me hope for change.
 
For anyone trying to create a brighter day I hope they will have an opportunity to pause and think about the things important to them.  And [...]

Cracked Up Cars and Health Savings Accounts

As I sit in the body shop of a local automobile dealer, I am reminded once again about why I have insurance.  It’s for the big stuff.
 
You see, taking care of a car is a little bit like one’s health, except for the fact that many folks take better care of their cars than they [...]

Joe Rogers Jr. – May I have a Waffle House Waffle With My Health Care Please?

Joe Rogers Jr, is a local boy and a man worthy of respect in my book.  He is the CEO of my favorite waffle joint, WAFFLE HOUSE, which, while delicious, is probably not the bastion of great health. That said, no one is saying “a waffle a day, keeps the doctor away.”  But a waffle every so [...]

Over 50% of Large Employers Will Offer Consumer Driven Health Plans This Year

Wow!  That’s a pretty high adoption rate.
An article by Tom Murphy in Business Week this week, picked up by the Associated Press, and finally by me offered an quick and interesting view into healthcare in the coming year.
While large employer based insurance is expected to rise in cost by 6% (smaller than in past years [...]

Health Savings Accounts, COBRA and Unemployment

Unemployment bites.  Well at least in my opinion it does.  And with unemployment come lots of challenges.  More specifically, if you find yourself, your spouse, a friend or family member unemployed one of the big challenges is health care.
 
Did you know that if you or your spouse have an HSA, there are a couple of [...]

Wal-Mart, Health Insurance And Health Savings Accounts

A few years ago Wal-Mart got skewered in the press for their stingy distribution of  health insurance to their employees.  From my perspective, I tended to agree, it indeed was pretty weak.
My perception of  Wal-Mart is that of a company with incredible focus.  Despite their large size, when they set their corporate minds to something, they [...]

Dawn Of The Health Care Hydra

If Congress and the President approach health care reform with the discipline, logic, forethought and bipartisanship as was applied to the “stimulus” package we are in for trouble folks.
Mythologically speaking, I should think we should expect something resembling the  Lernaean Hydra.  It will likely have many serpent-like heads and will be impervious to any traditional weapon.  If [...]

There’s No Free Lunch When It Comes To Health Care. No Matter What You Are Led To Believe.

Over the weekend, Bill Steigerwald, associate editor of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, did a nice opinion piece on the future of health care in America .  He interviewed John Goodman (not the actor) who is a leading policy expert on healthcare in America. 
We hear a lot about the European and Canadian health systems and there are those who [...]

Perhaps A Bit Of Mental Health? What is an HSA?

Early in my life I believed that there was great scope for rational analysis to improve the workings of government and the welfare of mankind, but over time I have come to appreciate how strong is the role of the irrational in all human affairs.
Albert Gladstone Sims (1917-2002)

As a fairly conservative guy scratching my head [...]