I think you have to realize there is the Euro crisis and then there is healthcare. Greece has had a long-term problem with tax-evasion and corruption. We are 50th on the list of longevity with our most expensive system in the world. Right next to Albania (the poorest country in Europe), and Cuba, a 3rd world country. Most of the complaints about the cost of the safety net come from corporations who want even higher record profits. Shredding middle-class jobs and opting for austerity has worked so well! We should keep listening to and heeding everything on the corporate wishlist! As far as 48% paying no Federal income tax: They pay FICA, they pay Medicare, Sales tax, excise taxes, license fees, FCC fees, State taxes. And many of them are working 2 jobs. They often pay a higher percentage of their income as taxes than do the millionaires. But flipping stocks should be taxed lower than say, writing code for IBM.
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--- In ibmpensionissues@..., KenSP@... wrote:
Yes you are right, I also believe that companies are going to start dropping Health Care.However, look at Greece, France and UK that have this programs.? Someone has to pay.? Either like Greece, one has to start cutting back on benefits and coverage and raise taxes on those who work.? France has increased it income tax rate to 75% and the rich are moving to Switzerland rather than supporting these social programs. In the US, 48% of people pay no federal income tax.? I live in France for five years and those who had government coverage, like myself, also bought and paid for high supplement insurance so they could go to private hospitals.? If you go to France on vacation, visit a French Hospital and see if you would want to go there for treatment. If you have no choice you will. Most of the French I worked with went to the American Hospital since their medical equipment was up to date while the French Hospitals had older and even out dated equipment since the government was controlling what they could or could not buy.? UK system also has it problem with death rates from cancer.? Just look it up and you will see it is far greater than US since they do not want to pay for the high cost of cancer drugs. Having been in the UK or France, you do not have a problem in getting medical services if you are willing to pay cash but it you tell them you have government coverage, you get inline and may not be satisfied.I do not have the answers and believe most of my money in the end will be spent on medical treatment.? I don't think relying on the government or private insurance companies who deny you treatment or drug coverage is going to work.A concern person who is not hopeful that there will be a solution in my lifetime.----- Original Message -----From: don_m64015@...: Friday, June 21, 2013 10:48 pmSubject: [ibmpensionissues] Re: Future Health AccountTo: ibmpensionissues@...> Just wait until the ACA (Obamacare) goes into full effect > starting next year. Employers are going to be bailing out of > Health Care Plans in droves. Individual premiums and co-pays > are going to start going ballistic, until they reach a point > where the vast majority of the public demands a SP-UHC plan, > much like other civilized nations have been using for years. > The simple fact that we pay twice as much for health care...yet > the Value of our plans places us barely in the top 20 > nations...should be telling us something. The Greed and Waste > in our present system will soon spell its doom. > > --- In ibmpensionissues@..., Just Puttin' > wrote:> >> > Almost daily, some one writes that changing a Health Care > benefit is illegal,,, I am amazed at the wide spread > misunderstanding that Health Care benefits carry the same > characteristics as a Pension Benefit.?? > > > > To my knowledge no business organization has Guaranteed Health > Care to employees.?? The federal government has changed benefits > many times.> > Health care is not and was not ever guaranteed.???? IBM, > Apple, Microsoft, HP, Google,,,, check them out.> > > > > > ??> > Dick> > Dance like there is no tomorrow> > > > > > >________________________________> > > From: Koz60 > > >To: ibmpensionissues@... > > >Sent: Wednesday, June 19, 2013 2:02 PM> > >Subject: [ibmpensionissues] Re: Future Health Account> > > > > >> > >> > >?? > > >I was 39 when they switched plans.. 18yrs of service but only > 39 so I got the new plan. Can't believe this is legal. Wouldn't > this be age discrimination? Met company requirements to retire > but they say not old enough to collect the medical money? > Telling me I have to wait till I'm 55 makes sense but forfeit it > all has to be against the law... Some law.. Anyone know if > anyone ever challenged this in court? I would suspect IBM had > it's attorneys lock this down but curious. I would bet that if > this got in front of a jury they would side with the employee.. > But guessing that will never happen. > > >> > >--- In ibmpensionissues@..., pvsutera > wrote:> >>> > >> This depends on whether you are on the old pension plan, > 1st or 2nd choicers could retire with 30 years and get their FHA > when they turned 55. Now with Cash-balance folks, born after > June 1959, they need to be 55 and 15 years service to claim > their FHA money. I believe if they are 54 and 14 years service, > they might be able to get a bridge to FHA eligibility, but maybe > not since with 30 years they are retirement eligible already. > This is why it is called the Future Hell Account. > > >> > > >> --- In ibmpensionissues@..., Bob Nelson > wrote:> > >> >> > >> > I retired with over 30 years but was not 55 and did not > lose my FHA account.> > >> >> > >>> > >> > >> > > > > >> > >> >> > >
