I talked to a health insurance broker tonight, because I'm in the market.

[babylonsister]

She was nice, gave me quotes, we both are from NY.

At one point I yelled, "GO OBAMA! Give me a plan that doesn't include pre-existing conditions or recissions."

She told me it will never happen. Period. I naturally disagreed, but didn't pursue it.

This makes me wonder what kind of conversations she has with other people, considering she met someone who knew she was full of it.

[gateley]

1. I wonder what made her so certain? nt

[RoyGBiv]

7. She's a salesperson ...

Salespeople are *always* certain.

I've never known anyone in sales who would agree to anything a potential customer said that the salesperson perceived as a negative unless they had reached the point a some salespeople reach where she starts falling into an internal ethical dilemma that eventually either takes her mind or pushes her to some other line of work. It's the nature of the job.

It's also the nature of the job that they're wrong a lot, but they don't care because they don't acknowledge it.

I seriously doubt she had any more knowledge of anything than you or I do and would bet on quite a bit less.

[babylonsister]

16. You are very right. That's why I was never successful

at the one and only sales job I ever had.

I can't be that jolly 'all the time'. My sister has been involved in sales for years, and she's really good at it-personalities count. Outgoing ones.

:hide:

[RoyGBiv]

22. I quit my last job over sales ...

I wasn't hired as a salesperson, but our company did a business model shift and created a "sales culture" where everyone, from the janitor to the CEO, had a quota ... well, probably not the CEO, but I'm being literal about the janitor. Crazy stuff.

I was a "Hank Hill" type of salesman, and I made good, "sticky" sales. That is, my raw numbers were lower than average, but my long term numbers were well above average. People looking at quarterly profits don't care about long-term numbers.

My whole thing at the time was that I couldn't delude myself enough into believe our product was that much superior to one of our main competitor's for me to push the lies sales tactics they wanted. Some people can. I don't actually look down on them. They have a talent and are the kind of people that can do a lot of things when they set their minds to it.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

2. You were threatening her livelihood, and with so few jobs in this country now

I guess that's why she said it would never happen. Her wishful thinking.

But really, since there are no jobs out there thanks to all the jobs that have been taken overseas, her comment just a wish she wouldn't lose her job.

[babylonsister]

3. She 'assured' me she voted for Obama. But she flat-out said it ain't

gonna happen.

I mentioned her livelihood, too. I told her I was sorry! :rofl:

Maybe that's why she got defensive.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

4. :-) Good for you!

I sure doubt she voted for Obama. And if she did, well, she's truly scared of losing her job.

[Selatius]

10. It wouldn't be so bad with a left wing government. Such a government would nationalize her employer.

She would be switched over to the same government health care exchange that senators and congressmen have access to, as well as all other federal employees.

But Americans didn't elect another FDR, nor did they elect FDR/New Deal Democrats, so good luck to us getting real reform.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

11. True, but people are sooo ignorant nt

[babylonsister]

23. Isn't that what this healthcare fight is about?

Hey, I just lost my healthcare insurance. I already know Obama has helped people, like my s_i_l.

[DJ13]

5. Im sure the insurance industry has many contingencies already planned

to subvert any mandate about pre existing conditions.

This illustrates why a single payer system is the only real way to guarantee coverage for everyone.

[WestSeattle2]

20. Absolutely they do! Sure, they'll cover every condition and

just jack up their rates by 200%. Their CEO pay will not be reduced, their dividends to shareholders will not diminish, and their income will skyrocket. The only thing that will prevent this is a strong public option. The government cannot mandate that everyone buy insurance and that the insurance companies cover every condition. The cost of premiums will explode.

[eleny]

6. When people talk about how insurance industry workers will lose their jobs...

I'm going to remember this Miss High and Mighty who spoke to you like that. Her trying to demoralize turns my teeth to stainless steel and my heart to stone.

[SoCalNative]

9. "Her trying to demoralize turns my teeth to stainless steel and my heart to stone"

So you won't be needing that dental or medical coverage after all then, will you?

:rofl:

[eleny]

18. LOL!

Aw, now you made me laugh just when I was working up a good rant.

[Selatius]

17. "...my teeth to stainless steel and my heart to stone."

:thumbsup:

fiery words.

[Captain Hilts]

8. Keep us posted on how this works out for you. I even qualified for an 'extra healthy'

discount then they found out I was unemployed and wouldn't insure me.

I hope you are able to sleep these days.

[babylonsister]

14. I was asked the dreaded "pre-existing" condition question, and

the prices suck.

And surprising to me, they're almost half the price in TX than in GA. I'd like to know why. And this gal couldn't tell me, but she did spew off the states that were more expensive, for whatever reason. CA and NY being among them, but I should have been taking notes.

[Captain Hilts]

15. The disparity in the rates between states is REALLY interesting. I know

folks that moved from Fla. to NJ to get better healthcare rates.

They, too, had pre-existing conditions and their insurance in NJ is VERY expensive, but at least that have some insurance.

[prolesunited]

25. They denied you because you are unemployed?

If you can pay the premium, what does it matter how you come up with the money?

[Captain Hilts]

28. Yes. Being unemployed puts me in a different risk group. So, they said they would sell me

short-term insurance that has to be renewed, anew, every six months. In other words, it will help you if you sprain an ankle, but not really anything else.

And I was about to write the check.

This happened with more than one company.

[FormerDittoHead]

12. I'm sure she wanted to sign you up with a contract with all of the 'usual' provisions...

Do you REALLY think she was going to give you (lead you to) choices from companies that paid the LOWEST commissions?

I've had salespeople fucking lie straight to my face, WHOPPERS.

As others have said, she doesn't know anything the companies aren't telling her to keep selling THEIR policies...

[earth mom]

13. She's probably right. The insurance companies rule Obama & are spending millions if not billions

to get their way.

Which is just chump change to them in the long run.

[LiberalFighter]

19. Gee I wonder if federal employees are exempt from insurance

if they have pre-existing conditions?

[babylonsister]

21. No.

I'll do you one better. I'm currently married to a guy who retired from the military, and we have Tricare.

It costs $460/year for both of us, and my dr. co-pay is $12.

I haven't found one plan that compares in any way.

And I was NEVER asked about pre-existing conditions.

[phillysuse]

24. I just got off the phone with an insurance broker also

My son who is 29 and self employed applied for individual insurance and was turned down - get this - because he was too skinny. He's 6'2" and 150 lbs. My husband and his Dad are both built like that as is my other son. (I'm not - I'm short and a little chunky).

Anyway they turned him down because he was too tall for his weight or too skinny for his height.

With all the obesity in this country can you believe that?

Anyway, I was trying to find out which carriers were less likely to be picky about his weight.

It occurred to me he should weigh himself with a couple of lead weights - he can always say he lost weight - after all weight is not a pre-existing condition per se since it is subject to change.

Anyway, I told the broker I hope we would get a single payer system and he could find himself another line of work.

[babylonsister]

26. Wow. And I'm too old, have a pre-existing condition, or just not

good enough. Sigh.

When will normal people be 'good enough'?

[progressivebydesign]

27. the State of Washington has some type of pool in which those cases are grouped together.

I don't know how it works, because I don't have a pre-existing condition, but you have to fill out a State application in addition to the private application when getting private coverage. I was under the impression that there is a pooled insurance for those that would not qualify otherwise. Something like that would work for the US.

[jeanpalmer]

29. To cover pre-existing conditions

there has to be a mandate. Maybe she understands this and believes as I do that Congress will never vote for a mandate.