Susanna J. Sturgis   Martha's Vineyard writer and editor
writer editor born-again horse girl

Return to Archives

My Health Insurance Plan

August 20, 2006

My state's health-insurance scheme is back in the news. (For background see My Terrorist State, my blog on the subject from April 9.) Thursday's Boston Globe reported: "Lower-income uninsured residents would have to pay up to 6.6 percent of their income to buy health coverage under a state panel's recommendation, an amount that is more than is typically paid by higher-income people with employer-provided insurance."

The heaviest burden is likely to come down on the people at the high end of the "lower-income" scale, which the schemers have set at 300 percent of the federal poverty level. This amounts to about $30,000, which is about my annual income; my total income is just above, my adjusted gross is just below. 6.6 percent of $30,000 is $1,980. Right. Just happens I have $1,980 stashed under my mattress, or in my freezer, or . . . somewhere. Where did I put that wad anyway?

State regulators were supposed to vote on the plan Thursday, but the vote was deferred to September 1.

On Friday, August 18, the Globe editorialized:

The authority [that would be the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector -- sounds like a link to the Big Dig, doesn't it?] in charge of expanding health insurance coverage in Massachusetts is in the midst of making its first important decisions about what people with limited incomes will pay for their policies. It ought to make sure that monthly premiums are affordable so that as many people as possible will be covered with this essential of modern life.

But health insurance is only one of many necessities. Thomas Trimarco, a member of the authority board and Governor Romney's top fiscal aide, erred yesterday when he said that since many people near the poverty line can afford cellphones, they ought to pay more than a nominal amount for their insurance. Cellphones are no longer luxuries; millions of Americans use them exclusively. Trimarco's dismissive comments were out of touch and out of line.

True, but they were also thoroughly in line with Republican economic cluelessness. (Forewarned is forearmed: if this bluest of blue states could elect a rich Republican governor, it could surely happen where you live -- unless you're lucky enough to live north of the border or east of the Atlantic.)

I considered raising my hand: "Mr. Trimarco! Mr. Trimarco! I don't have a cell phone!" Before my hand got as high as my shoulder, I remembered: I have a horse. Woops. Not only that, I've spent uncounted hours writing a novel and trying to sell it and write other stuff -- all time that could have been better spent doing something constructive like flipping burgers at McDonald's. I could explain: "See, writing and having a horse keep me healthy. When did I last show up in the free-care pool? Here, read my blog about Risky Behavior."

But these policy wonks don't like to be messed up with facts, never mind crackpot theories that aren't backed by a significant campaign contribution, and besides, we all know that this scheme isn't about promoting health, it's about promoting health insurance. Face it, Susanna: you'll never be a poster child for the uninsured.

But I will give credit where credit is due. In "My Terrorist State" I had some fun with one John McDonough, executive director of Health Care for All, a Boston-based advocacy group. Back in April Mr. McDonough was so excited about this brave new experiment that he didn't understand why we, the un- and underinsured lab rats who were being forced into the maze, were less than enthusiastic. Thursday's Globe story quoted him as saying: "The concern is that lots and lots of people under 300 percent of the poverty level are not walking around with extra money in their pockets. Not only are they not walking around with extra money, they are walking around under the crushing burden of debt. They're living pay check to pay check."

Mr. McDonough seems to have learned a bit about life among the lab rats. I don't have extra money in my pockets, or in my freezer either. I'm living pretty much pay check to pay check, but I'm not walking around under a crushing burden of debt, although it's true, after the unexpected expenses of this summer -- truck repair, dentist bill, new mattress, new contact lenses, new glasses, and a whole bunch of tests to find out why Rhodry wasn't feeling well -- my credit card balance is a tad higher than I'd like, my truck insurance premium is due next week, and I still haven't paid my second-quarterly tax installment to the feds.

Eureka! As a single person making about 300 percent of the federal poverty level, I'm eligible for just about no tax deductions. No mortgage, no kids, no major medical expenses (thank the stars, my horse, my dog, and my unsold novel). I can't even deduct for "office in home" expenses on my Schedule C because I can't afford an apartment with an extra room that I could designate as my office: my workspace shares a room with my not-quite-kitchen. I forked over $7,044 to the IRS for tax year 2005; $2,751 was self-employment tax (social security), and $4,293 was from the tax tables. That's $587 a month. If I weren't paying that much to the feds, I could afford health insurance. Easily.

OK, Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector, here's my plan. You tell me what I can afford. I'll read the fine print and if the coverage is decent I'll sign right up -- as long as I can deduct the premiums from my federal taxes. Not from my taxable income, mark you: from my taxes.

Not bad for an amateur policy wonk, eh? Maybe the Great and Glorious Commonwealth would like to hire me as a consultant.

With benefits, of course.

 

Home - Writing - Editing - About Susanna - Bloggery - Articles - Poems - Contact

Copyright © Susanna J. Sturgis. All rights reserved.
web site design and CMI by goffgrafix.com of Martha's Vineyard