23 Oct 2009 11:36am | Posted by WCBI News Director | News Director Blog
Some Things I Think I Know
Have you ever wondered why there's so much controversy and discussion about the Obama plan to cut the pay of executives whose companies took taxpayer dollars for a bailout?
Seriously, you expect us to help you fight off bankruptcy (to the tune of billions of dollars), and yet you think your top execs should make millions in bonuses?
Here's what I heard as the reasoning. "If we don't pay these people top dollar, we can't keep them. They'll go to work for someone else." Now, let's take a look at that. Why, in heaven's name, would you want to keep them, anyway? Aren't these the same people who couldn't run your corporation in the first place? Aren't these the same folks who set up your businesses to fail? Aren't these the same people who threw your company into bankruptcy? Aren't these the...well, I think you get the picture.
I've got to tell you I'm just a little appalled that anyone is against the plan to limit compensation packages to bailed-out companies. Are you serious? You would condone a corporation taking your hard-earned tax dollars to help make it solvent, and then sit by idly while they pay people multi-million dollar salaries and bonuses? I don't know about you folks, but I don't even make a million a year.
Now, here's a personal experience with the health care issue.
When I came to Columbus three years ago, there was a three month waiting period before I could join the group plan the company offers. So, I had to COBRA the plan I had at my last place of employment. I had to do this because of some preexisting conditions.
Well, guess what? The COBRA plan wasn't accepted anywhere in a 100-mile radius of Columbus. This meant that I was paying the $325 per month premium for three months (nearly $1000), for coverage I had to have, but couldn't use. So, when I went to the doctor for a maintenance visit, I paid for it out of pocket, about $300.
When I was eligible to join the plan here, premiums were lower, but it's more of a wellness plan, which works out okay. So, since our plan covers one well-visit physical checkup per year, I took advantage of that.
Now, here's the part that concerns health care reform. The insurance company wouldn't pay the doctor, because of the way the doctor's office coded the visit. The insurance company said it wasn't a well-visit, even though I had made the appointment six months in advance. As far as I know, only God above knows who's going to be sick that far in advance.
So, a call to the doctor's office informed me that they code visits according to insurance company guidelines. I called the insurance company, whose representative told me they pay based upon the coding the doctor's office uses. Huh? "That's the way it is, Mr. Geller."
Long story, short, I ended up having to pay.
So, do I think there should be health care reform? Of course. I don't support any plan in Congress at this point. I just want to get what I pay for.
Make it a great day, everyone.
