Monday, October 24, 2011

Is my health care plan better than Obama Care?

1. Tort Reform (Loser Pays) - This is not a silver bullet, but it will reduce costs. Even Obama has acknowledged this. Losers of lawsuits pay the opposing sides legal bills.



2. Open up the market nationally – Allow consumers to buy insurance where ever they can get the best plan for their family, whether or not it is in their state.



3. Make consumers of health care responsible for purchasing insurance – There is no reason my employer should select my insurance plan. I should be responsible to purchase insurance just like I purchase my car or home insurance. Insurance companies should be accountable to me, not my employer. Currently, if I am unsatisfied, I have no where to go. To this end, employers can drop insurance plans for employees, but they must pass on the amount they used to pay for health care to the employee. This solution would also remove the issue of insurance portability whenever an employee leaves. Also, insurance companies can charge more for lifestyle behavior which is proven to be more risky (smoking, etc).



4. Tax deduction for individual buyers of insurance, but not for companies – Since employees will now be responsible for their own health care, they will receive the same tax benefits employers currently have.



5. Reduce government regulation – Government should not regulate what will and will not be covered. Consumers should be allowed to choose their specific coverage based on their family needs. Insurance companies should provide a wealth of options in order to capture more business. However, people need to realize they will not be covered for care they have not previously selected (same as home and car insurance).



6. Change the way consumers view insurance – Currently, consumers expect insurance to pay for all health care. Consumers have stopped price shopping because they only pay a small portion of the total cost. Consumers should expect to pay for routine or planned for events like check ups and pregnancy). Imagine if car insurance paid for gas, oil changes, and tire rotations. How much would car insurance go up every year? The way to hold prices down is by having the consumers of health care shop for the best value. To this end, hospitals and doctors should be prepared to give prices for specific procedures, just like car repair shops. These estimates are required after initial tests. Suppliers will also need to justify when the cost is more than the estimate.



7. Preexisting conditions – At an early age (once off parent’s insurance), allow anyone to purchase insurance irregardless of preexisting conditions. If they opt to not purchase insurance, they can be turned down at a later time for preexisting conditions. However, allow them to buy in later by paying a lump sum “buy in” amount to be determined by the free market. Thus, if I wait till I am 30 to buy insurance, maybe I need to pay $3,000 to buy in. If I am 50 before purchasing insurance, maybe I pay $10,000 buy in. Let the market decide. For those who choose not to buy insurance and become seriously ill, they will need to pay for any services they receive.Is my health care plan better than Obama Care?Most likely it is but we're not even sure what all's in it because theres a different bill in the house and the senate and they're constantly being amended. But even if it is let me ask you this: If you're buying your own insurance do you really want to pay for someone else's with taxes? - (That's why I'm p.o'd about it)Is my health care plan better than Obama Care?1. Again, the best justice money can buy. Enough said.



2. In order to open the market nationally, the laws would have to be common throughout the land. This would mean that insurance law would become a federal responsibility. Isn't that what people are currently screaming about??



3. Uh, many have insurance - AFFORDABLE insurance - because it is offered through employers. It is called quantity purchases. We get breaks for groups purchasing from the same plan. And it allows many larger companies to be their own insurer. Target doesn't have an insurance company holding their insurance - they have a company that is the ADMINISTRATOR, or they basically use Target money to run Target's health insurance plan for the employees. Without this, insurance would SKYROCKET because every individual would have their own plan. There is nothing that says because insurance is offered by your employer you have to take it! So go out and buy your own if you think that you can get something cheaper and better, and more fit for you. Who in the hell told you that if your employer offered it you HAD to take it?



4. So no tax incentive for companies to provide insurance - many of them providing THEIR OWN?? Oh, see #3 for your short fall on that one.



5. Uh, if you want insurance to be nation wide, then the GOVERNMENT has to regulate it. It becomes federal when it is run across state laws. You kidnap someone in your state, it is a state crime. You cross the state line, it becomes a federal offense. Same thing here. See #1.



6. You obviously are backwards. Preventative medicine is what keeps people healthy. If you stop people from getting breaks on preventative medicine, they are only going to see the doctor when they get sick. Many do that now. How are those medical costs?? Pretty high, aren't they?? And I hate to tell you, but even married couples have %26quot;accidental%26quot; pregnancies. I was on the pill (99.9% effective, so the pamphlet says). I paid out of pocket fully for that each month. And now, because I happened to get pregnant while BEING RESPONSIBLE and trying not to get pregnant until planned on, I should have to pay for the full pregnancy?? After insurance, my 4 year old daughter cost us $3,500.00. So I should have to pay the entire costs because the pill failed me??



7. Uh, there are many young people that don't feel the need. You gonna penalize someone for being young and not preparing for when they are 60? You know the average time a young individual starts a 401K for retirement? It sure as hell isn't 18 - 24 year olds, that's for sure. Good luck with that one. So you will have people that can't afford to buy in for their insurance, so they won't get it. And then they will not be able to pay the bill when they get sick and HAVE to get medical attention. And they will file bankruptcy. And then we - the insured ones - end up getting the costs passed onto us. . . Oh, wait a minute. Isn't that the problem right now??



I will give you kudos for trying, but no. It is no where near being in the same realm as the one currently being proposed. So obviously you need to figure something else out, and the rest of us can thank our lucky stars that you don't represent us or write bills.Is my health care plan better than Obama Care?your plan is much better.. too bad our legislators couldn't come up with one like that.



of course you didn't take into account how much they are making off this.. you know the big payoff etc.



That is why yours is better.. it makes sense.. God forbid government would make any sense!
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  • Can Bigger Rims Change Speedometer and Odometer?

    I bought a brand new car Toyota Matrix XRS, it comes with 18 inch low profile tires. I have external GPS and Anti COP Radar both of is showing lets say 35mph and car is showing 39mph. I tested it with my other car and if radar, and gps how 35 car is showing 35. Those RIMS came stock on that model car, do you think it has something to do with that. Also is it just speed that is incorrect or could it change the actual millage of the car? Should i take it to the dealer to calibrate speedometer?Can Bigger Rims Change Speedometer and Odometer?yesCan Bigger Rims Change Speedometer and Odometer?first, definitely get the speedo recalibrated if the speed is inaccurate. if those 18's are stock, then the speedo is definitely innacurate. milage can also be affected by the speedoCan Bigger Rims Change Speedometer and Odometer?Larger rims create a larger circumference for the tire so when the speedometer is reading 35 you are actually traveling a further distance at a greater rate of speedCan Bigger Rims Change Speedometer and Odometer?This should have been programed into your vehicles computer at the factory during production. It could have been over looked. This should not cost you anything at the dealership to have it checked since the vehicle is new.Can Bigger Rims Change Speedometer and Odometer?yes you will have to take it to a dealer to get it recalibrated because i kinda doubt you have the computer tool dealCan Bigger Rims Change Speedometer and Odometer?Every timeCan Bigger Rims Change Speedometer and Odometer?I remember sometime back a ruckus about Japanese makes having speedometers that were too fast from the factory. Warranties ran out quicker.



    Seems like another case of that.

    Do you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?

    To me the idea seems silly since most women don't even know how to change a tire or oil, so why should they get to pick out their own car? Besides, picking out a car is a man's job. Sometimes women get to into the looks of a car without knowing the mechanical reliability behind it. Am I right here?Do you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?Actually statistics have shown that over 75% of all car purchases made in the US are ultimately chosen by women. Their primary criteria (within their price range) in order of importance: safety, reliability, ease of maintainance, fuel efficiency (economy), utility, ergonomic design, power and handling and last %26quot;looks%26quot;. Men tend to be the ones to reverse these factors. Studies have shown that while men who purchase vehicles tend to only consider themselves, women consider the needs of the entire family including the children.Do you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?compromise?Do you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?Do you pick out your own clothes, even if you can't mend them?Do you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?only red neck make there wifes choicesDo you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?Are you for real?Do you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?It depends on the money situation.Do you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?If it is her car...absolutely. You can assist her but she is the one driving it. Do you think men should be able to pick out their food...most of them don't know how to cook. What about their clothes...most men don't know how to dress.



    Sound ridiculous right? Get over it and let her pick out her own car. Control freak!Do you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?Yes they should. Sexist asshole.





    Have fun being single forever.Do you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?its going to be her car, she should chooseDo you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?yes I do, this is not the dark ages!!!Do you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?Women are smarter than you think. I do my research before I shell out a lot of money for something. I look into what the car offers and the safety. I check out the blue book value to make sure that I am not paying too much. You can suggest going with her to pick out the car but try not to take over. You can give your advice but over all it needs to be her decision.Do you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?I think the woman and the man should pick out the car together. You are correct about a woman not knowing all the details about a car, but if it is her car, then why not let her have say? Some women DO know how to change a tire or the oil. Men and women should be treated equally.Do you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?in less you are a master tech she has as much right to pick a car as you doDo you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?Did you know that it's the 21sy century? Eisenhower is no longer the President. We can actually fly now! Guess what? You'll need to sit down for this one....Women can vote!!!!Do you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?hahahaha...while you are at it, mr. husband of the year, why not drag her by the hair and make her do the dishes?Do you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?Have her look at her car's ratings for reliability on the internet as posted by an independent rating company.



    Really, if you aren't doing the work and buying the parts, why should you care? Methinks the real problem is your need to control things.



    So... you're wrong for not extending the option. You only wish to do the choosing. It is a man's job to lead his household, not to be a hardass.Do you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?See.......this is how problems start. As a male lucky enough to be married, I have learned that even when you wife %26quot;might%26quot; be wrong (about a major purchase purhaps) you NEVER say things like, this is the mans job, or you don;t know how to make this decision.



    Case in point, my Mrs and I did go car shopping. She did fall in love with some cars that lacked practicallity for our situation. For example, purchaing the cute little red toyota wasn't the best option since the car would eventually need to haul around a baby in a car seat. So instead of just telling her she was wrong, I talked through the pro's and con's of the vehicle with her (making sure the cons were indeed winning) and let her make the decision. She chose a better fit and she didn't at all feel like I was being a jerk.Do you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?Are you trying to solicit a bunch of responses from outraged women? If your wife in particular doesn't know much about cars and you do by virtue of your, uh, birthright then you should assist her in shopping for a car. Regardless of how much she knows about maintenance, she is bound to have an opinion on what she would like her car to look like, how big it should be, and other things. Stop worrying about who is right and help her make an informed decision.Do you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?ah yeah. I have to drive it every day I'll pick it out. oh and I know how to change a tire and the oil. You are not right here! All of my women friends are the ones who do the research on the vehicle prior to purchase. Most men I know go for looks not mechancial reliablity. get your head out of the sand. It will be the coldest day in hell when my husband tells me what vehicle to drive.Do you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?Yes, we should. The only reason I didn't pickout my car was because it was a surprise present. I woke up with keys on my husbands pillow and a 2007 Mercury Mariner in my driveway. I was so excited, my husband did a perfect job of picking it out for me. I picked out the last 2 cars we bought, so it is a fair trade.Do you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?It is her car is it not? So what if she doesn't know how to change a tire or oil----men have to be good for something!!Do you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?you cant do this major thing together?? seems a couple kind of thing...a car isnt exactly coke or pepsi unoDo you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?You are sooo wrong. If she can pick out a husband she can surly pick out a car.



    If it's her car then it's none of your business and unless she's an idiot she's perfectly capable of going on the Internet and doing some research.



    I feel very sorry for your wife if this question is about her.Do you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?mmm.. amazing what a lady can do these days better than some boys..!!..

    If you have a wife..and you don't trust her decisions....now.!!..

    ..and all the future family ..you expect to have.....

    you might as well kiss it all good bye..now..

    all it takes is patience to teach.!! ..what can she teach you..!!..

    about being ignorance..as such.. and having respect equally..Do you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?i think a wife should be able to pick out her own car if you dont think the car is mechanical sound you should tell her and if your relatioship is right she will respect what you say in the same since you should allow her to pick out a cute car

    maybe you should pick it out together//you look at the mechanical part and she pick out all that girl stuff

    together you should come up with a car that you both will be happy with

    good luckDo you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?Your right on fixing the car, but that is why there is this thing called MECHANICS. Every women should pick their own car

    especially if they are paying for it. They work hard for what they

    are getting and NO MAN should have to choose for them. We

    don't choose a car for our man, so why should they pick for us.

    If the girl is getting it as a present then go ahead and pick, because your buying and that would make it a gift. Now I'm

    I right here? YEAH DUDE!! Oh just to let you know I do know

    how to change my tires and do and oil change. I'm a little disabled

    so I can't do it myself. I know how to do a radiator flush, change

    my lights on my car when they burn out. add fluids to my car.

    I can learn but with my disability it is stopping me from doing

    the things I want to do with everything and anything.Do you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?okay, there are many women who can perform car services and so because of them we other women are able to pick out our card. and why should we let you men pick out some manly car for us women to drive... would you like it if we made you watch some women sport or cook??? i think not so... dont be sexist!Do you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?hm believe me not all women lack the ability to do some work on cars. I was married to a man who had no idea of how to change a flat tire. My dad was a excellent mechanic and living out of state I'd call him if I had a problem with our cars and he'd describe over the phone what I needed to do or replace to fix the problem. Worked for me every time. And my ex never lifted a finger to help me. So I'd say I'd be pretty upset had he told me I couldn't pick my own car. ;o)Do you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?Seems to me if she was able to choose a husband she could choose a car!

    Nothing personal, but why don't you consider your %26quot;daughter%26quot; presenting you with the same notions...get with the new millenium. I am 50 and can ride a Harley, dock a boat, change my oil, maintain my own car, apply for a loan...etc. Gone are the days when ONLY a man can do this or that. Yes it is very nice to have someone who can-but if you died-where would she be?

    If you are so concerned that she is so superficial, why not just use a list of most important virtues in the new car---like 4w/d or not, economy or not, mileage-lease/own, stick/auto...does she commute or haul kids or both? Do you let her pick out the vacuum cleaner?Do you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?Think about the things you trust your wife with? She is probably very capable in many areas, especially since you married her. My husband and I always start with my reasoning for wanting a specific car - we then do very diligent research to determine if it will be a good buy or not. Don't discount her opinion because she is a woman, she has to drive it, and should have some input.



    Instead of trying to be right, be helpful. If your wife chooses a car that isn't good quality, show and tell her why. Guide her to a better vehicle, and value her voice in the matter. You would want the same respect. Work together!Do you think a wife should be able to pick out her own car?dude - can you even imagine how wonderful you will make your wife feel for having complete confidence in her.... Hello.... I won't even go into the whole chauvinistic thing but I bet some of your responses from women won't be so kind......



    Remember to mean it when you let her know her car is her car and that means pick it and drive it - of course offer to help if requested...

    How long does it take to learn about cars?

    i am a novice and i only know how to check my oil. How long does it take to check oil change tires, change auto parts, and fix things without going to the mechanic?How long does it take to learn about cars?A lifetime, technology changes all the time. Every car manufacturer is different, you'll never stop learning.How long does it take to learn about cars?I'm 45 years old bought my first car at 13 own more cars than I remember, and worked on everyone of them.

    I'm still learning about cars and how fix them.

    when you get a car read the owners manual on each that should be a good startHow long does it take to learn about cars?really you never stop learning I'm 38 and everyday i learn new things

    Auto-mechanics...how much do you like your career?

    I'm about to start at a tech school and study automotive technology. I don't know squat about cars other than changing tires and changing oil, but i've helped others fix their cars even though I didn't know anything and it was always fun. Also, i'm interested in the industry because i'm sure of the sense of accomplishment you have after a day's work. I just want to learn a skill that's hands on, where you can work alone mostly, and have that sense of accomplishment after working. How much do you like your career? Any suggestions about my schooling?Auto-mechanics...how much do you like your career?many jr colleges have an automotive section where you can learn a lot about autos. what you should do in addition is find a mentor, some one who can help you in addition to the school you will receive. A mentor can also help you understand management and what it takes to get into management.Auto-mechanics...how much do you like your career?it is very much a hands on field. if you do not mind getting dirty, and cut all of the time. i am an ase certified master tech. but with the way that the market is going i can not find a job that i have training in. what i am saying is this, think about it long and hard, if you do go into this field i wish you the best of luck. btw the price of tools alone is just astronomical. Auto-mechanics...how much do you like your career?I just graduated from Universal Technical Institute in January. Its not a bad idea to go through a tech school before trying to make it into the automotive industry. Once you graduate if your grades are atleast a 3.4 people will be calling you. No more calling for interviews. Theyll call you. If the school you choose has a manufacture program like nissan, ford, toyota, etc. Id suggest taking that as well. More education more money.

    Practical skills for kids?

    There was a question in adolescence that listed some practical skills (see below) and asked teens how many of them they could do. Most could do at least a few, some could do all or nearly all, some could do none. I thought it was kind of interesting to see, but it was a short and incomplete list (can't blame him for not making the survey 200 questions long, though!) So parents, as far as PRACTICAL skills go (i.e. not %26quot;learning to treat others with compassion), what would be added (or cut) from the list to make it more complete in your opinion?

    Here's the list he gave:

    Cook (I don't mean ramen or easy mac, I mean a real meal)

    Drive

    Drive stickshift

    Change the oil in a car

    Do CPR

    Change a tire

    Do laundry

    Shoot a gun

    Build a fire

    Put together a resume

    Use jumper cablesPractical skills for kids?My only cut would be shooting a gun.



    Add: internet search

    washing dishes

    grocery shopping

    paying bills/budgeting/ balancing a checkbook

    job interview skills

    BASIC MANNERS

    good sportsmen ship

    making a telephone call to a place of business ( I know this one sounds silly, but was surprisingly hard for me when I first moved out)Practical skills for kids?Read a compass or GPS.

    How to look for your car properly if you've lost it in a parking garage.

    Vacuum behind the door in the corner. :PPractical skills for kids?house cleaning

    basic yard work(how to work a mower and deal with weeds)

    balancing a checkbook and financially appropriate decisions.

    How to use public transportationPractical skills for kids?Mend clothes.....yes, a bit 17th/18th century but very useful all the same, particularly for boys who are out and about doing all the lovely things they do to tear up their clothing.Practical skills for kids?I'm assuming this is all BY age 18. Some things I would expect a young child to know how to do, others would probably not be learned until the late teens.

    I would agree with all of those, along with really all other car maintenance, first aid, changing a diaper (not rocket science, but I've seen people botch it before and it can be very messy), some basic ways of figuring out directions, swimming, dancing (just enough to have one dance at your wedding without making an *** of yourself), all other householdy skills, how to use public transportation, how to read maps, how to speak your native language properly, the names and functions of the major tools, an understanding of credit, taxes, insurance, etc., how to write a research paper and cite sources, how to back up your hard drive, how to paint a wall...

    There's more, I'll come back to this.

    EDIT: Lady Morgaine is right, you should be able to mend a tear or sew a button back on.

    G8R mommy: do you just take your car to the shop and change the oil there then? Because it's definitely a necessary part of car maintenance, but I know shops will do it for you. Never met anyone who didn't do it at home though.Practical skills for kids?I would remove:

    shoot a gun

    change the oil on a car



    I can't imagine needing to do either of those. The rest I think are all good skills to have, And admittedly, I don't think I could change a tire if my life depended on it. All the rest, minus the two I listed above, I can do.



    ETA:

    Yes, both DH and I take our cars in to have the oil changed. It's 30 bucks. I never met anyone that did it at home. I really see no need to do it yourself when it is so cheap to have it done. Most apartment complexes (assuming that is most likely where an 18-25yo would live as I did when I was that age) won't allow it to be done on property anyway.Practical skills for kids?Cleaning, self defense, organizationPractical skills for kids?Cook.

    Establish and stick to a budget.

    Drive - stick shift included.

    Swim.

    Change a tire.

    Run a load of laundry.

    Spell.

    Speak correctly, including saying please and thank you.

    CPR.

    Use Jumper Cables.

    Write a Resume.

    Interview for a job.

    Balance a checkbook.

    Understand how credit works - credit cards, mortgages, etc.

    Basic child care - diapering, washing, feeding a baby.

    Basic computer use.

    Use a condom.

    Read a map.



    Let's be honest - most people will never have to know how to make a fire in their lives. It's handy, but it's not essential. There are many people who will never shoot a gun, and again, it's handy to know but not essential.Practical skills for kids?I am 30 and can't do CPR never learned keep meaning to take a class, Change oil on a car my dad did not know and so I never learned, shoot a gun again my dad never believed in guns we were not even allowed water guns as kids. I have never even touched a gun, I guess I know how to build a fire but i need matches to start it never was a boy scout, and drive a stick never had one so no where to learn. I would remove those :)

    I would add



    This may seem simple but kids need to be taught professional phone etiquette



    How to use public transport (which includes reading a bus schedule and getting on connecting buses in case their car is in need of repair and they don't have a rental or back up)



    Basic lawn maintenance (mowing pruning of shrubs without killing them)



    Basic home improvement (changing a washer on a faucet etc)

    Read a map your GPS might break and you need a paper back up



    I think also the knowledge and confidence that if you don't know know where to go and ask/find out or ask for help

    For example I put in a new sink and vanity in the bathroom. That was not something My parents taught me but I got a book and was given step by step instructions that coupled with my basic knowledge of tools that they did teach me I was able to do that on my ownPractical skills for kids?I would never allow any of this at all in my house under age eight-teen.



    Most of them require licenses or parental guidance unless over eight-teen.



    Cajunmama- I could say it any better.
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  • The steering wheel on my bmw 316i n reg is sitting squint, how do i straighten it as it has an air bag.?

    the front drivers side tyre was changed and 6 months prior to this the passanger side one was changed but the car was only driven a few hundred miles between tyres which makes me thinlk that the tread on the tyres aint an issue, it is sitting about 25-30 degrees out and as it has an airbag i don't know how to go about sorting this.The steering wheel on my bmw 316i n reg is sitting squint, how do i straighten it as it has an air bag.?Sounds like a front-wheel alignment is in order.



    Don't try to do this yourself, aligning the front wheels requires specialized, sensitive equipment to achieve the precise alignment specs required by the manufacturer, and besides, it doesn't cost much (usually about 40 USD here in the States). Improper alignment can cause improper tire wear, tracking problems (as you already know), and evil handling characteristics.The steering wheel on my bmw 316i n reg is sitting squint, how do i straighten it as it has an air bag.?The correct way to get it sorted is to take the car to your local tyre garage. Ask then to re-set the alignment of the steering wheel. They will turn it straight and set the alignment back on the wheels.

    Ja.The steering wheel on my bmw 316i n reg is sitting squint, how do i straighten it as it has an air bag.?Like Ron says, it's the track rod ends that need adjusting equally on each side (in on one side %26amp; out on the other)- that way you don't need to undo the steering wheel at all.The steering wheel on my bmw 316i n reg is sitting squint, how do i straighten it as it has an air bag.?Your tracking needs sorting...ANY tyre place can do this,by keeping your steering wheel central then adjust your tracking accordingly.The steering wheel on my bmw 316i n reg is sitting squint, how do i straighten it as it has an air bag.?Take the car for an alignment, they will usually true up the steering wheel as part of the process. You can mention it when you bring it in to be sure.The steering wheel on my bmw 316i n reg is sitting squint, how do i straighten it as it has an air bag.?Adjust the track rod ends (out on one side and in on the other)



    Move them equal turns on each side to maintain tracking.



    The wheel should straighten a bit each 1/4 turn of the rod ends. (provided you are moving them in the right direction.



    If you don't know what track rod ends are, then take it to a service centre and have it done.