Ironic:No Healthcare for Nsg Homes

Specialties Geriatric

Published

  • Specializes in acute care and geriatric.

You are reading page 2 of Ironic:No Healthcare for Nsg Homes

hope3456, ASN, RN

1,263 Posts

Specializes in LTC, Psych, M/S.

good point junebug....however this article gave a poor example. nsg home employees in general are faced with much higher premiums for themselves and family - in my case $500+ dollars a month for 'bare bone' coverage.

Junebugfairy

337 Posts

Specializes in Gyn/STD clinic tech.

bare bone's coverage, which is mostly catastrophic care, i assume, is still better than nothing at all. it will protect a family from financial ruin.

the health department, planned parenthood, and other lower cost health resources can be used by individuals with catastrophic coverage.

i pay close to that for myself. i have asthma and i am bi polar. i bought my policy at age 18, though, so i was young and relatively healthy. paying 500$ for a family is not bad, considering what i pay for just myself.

waksbr

12 Posts

Our insurance is over $500/mo (family coverage) and we definitely don't bring home the big bucks. The extras like getting nails or hair done, or having dinner out occasionally have to be carefully budgeted in. Alot of times we can afford what we need if we limit our wants. The cost of not having insurance is not a chance I am willing to take.

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN

3,734 Posts

The union employees at my facility haven't had benefits for years...Yeah, great union. I don't know how a facility that is part of a large chain can do this and expect staff to stay when the next place down the road can offer benefits and the next place can offer even better benefits????

A lof of our staff get some form of public assistance When the staffing gets real tight due to call offs or burn out illness or injury or dismissals...the moral gets super low and OT (either signed up or force OT gets high) the call offs happen. Work to many hours and make to much and you can loose your public assistance/ benefits.

Horrible cycle...benefits = healthy/ happy employees

hope3456, ASN, RN

1,263 Posts

Specializes in LTC, Psych, M/S.

Work to many hours and make to much and you can loose your public assistance/ benefits.

BINGO!!

Back to the original post - due to health care reform these low wage workers are going to have to purchase the health insurance.....it is the employer (nursing home) not wanting to subsidize it....what a mess!

debRN0417

511 Posts

Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU, Psych, Med-surg...etc....

When I worked in LTC my insurance was about 400 a pay period which was 800 a month for family. This "so called" insurance had a total deductable of 2000 so unless we went to the doctor monthly, we paid out of pocket anyway. I was afraid not to have insurance because at least if someone had to be hospitalized or surgery, I wouldn't have to foot the whole bill. The prescription plan was a joke. It only paid a certain percentage of medications. So if you had to have a 150$ medication only about 15$ of it was paid. Also if you had a pre-existing condition, then you were sh*t out of luck for covering that condition, which was what most people need insurance for- something that is wrong with them! I was the DON. This took a BIG chunk of my salary each month. The majority of my staff could not afford it. One of the many reasons for my leaving LTC was insurance. I went to work at the hospital and had Blue Cross for 160 a pay period family plan with 25 dollar co-pay when we went to the doctor. After $500, we paid nothing. Prescriptions were tiered being 5, 10 or 20$. Now I work for the state and the insurance rocks! I understand the delimma of insurance. Everybody needs it, but not all can afford it. LTC usually cannot afford to get into large group insurance rates (Like with Blue Cross). That's why their premiums are so high. ....Unless they are a very large corporation and have the employee base to secure the best rates. Now lets talk about Dental Insurance in LTC- I think that is pretty much non-existant.

Chin up

694 Posts

Specializes in Med surg, LTC, Administration.
I am sure that if they could afford the $25 a month they would, as you point out, they could barely pay basic bills. Remember these are people who are staying out of unemployment by taking jobs that few others want. Shouldnt that be rewarded and encouraged?

Please excuse me for not crying for management who apparently also cant afford the $25 per employee.

Doll, it is not about crying for management. I despise abusive corporations with their wimpy managers. But in this instance, the contribution was fair and the home was contributing over 500 of the cost. We have 10 dollar an hour workers here too, they pay hundreds of dollars a month for bare bones and close to 70-100 weekly for top insurance. I am positive, they would feel relieved, paying 25 dollars a month and most would be grateful. No where does it say, we are entitled, because we make low wages. Although, i make substantially more than these workers, I make less than many others. I purchase what is important to me and sacrifice many wants. No where do i feel, i should have what those making more than me, have. The point, you pay for what is important to you. Obviously, they did not feel having insurance is important. I think pensions should be back as well as full 401k match. I would love free insurance for all workers, but reality says this is not so and not going to happen. I think that particular home was an exception and not the rule. I am sure the writer of the article, could have brought more realistic examples. We all agree with the lack of care and concern with profitable nursing homes, just not with this particular example. Peace!

Bbo.W

86 Posts

The *funny* thing is, a lot of people end up with dangerous, debilitating diseases in their old age because of a lack of preventative care. That is the sad part.

achot chavi

980 Posts

Specializes in acute care and geriatric.
Doll, it is not about crying for management. I despise abusive corporations with their wimpy managers. But in this instance, the contribution was fair and the home was contributing over 500 of the cost. We have 10 dollar an hour workers here too, they pay hundreds of dollars a month for bare bones and close to 70-100 weekly for top insurance. I am positive, they would feel relieved, paying 25 dollars a month and most would be grateful. No where does it say, we are entitled, because we make low wages. Although, i make substantially more than these workers, I make less than many others. I purchase what is important to me and sacrifice many wants. No where do i feel, i should have what those making more than me, have. The point, you pay for what is important to you. Obviously, they did not feel having insurance is important. I think pensions should be back as well as full 401k match. I would love free insurance for all workers, but reality says this is not so and not going to happen. I think that particular home was an exception and not the rule. I am sure the writer of the article, could have brought more realistic examples. We all agree with the lack of care and concern with profitable nursing homes, just not with this particular example. Peace!

Chin up,

1) For starters, I am not your "Doll", in our facility it is considered verbal abuse to call a patient "Sweetheart" or "Grandpa" etc. and I expect at least as much professional courtesy from my allnurses community.

2) I respect your opinion, and am entitled to my own, others in the allnurses feel the same way as per a parallel thread under Nursing News: https://allnurses.com/nursing-news/nursing-homes-seek-566371.html.

3) While I used to agree with Junebug, in my younger, more judgemental days, I have mellowed with age and experience. It is not for me to judge how someone uses their "disposable income". If it is important for someone to support their smoking or cosmetic needs, this is America and not other countries where it is decided for you how you must act, live etc. This is still a free country. As you wrote one pays for what is important for them. I might wish that everyone had my value system and would prioritize their budgets in a healthy manner, but I will fight for their right to decide not to. Perhaps we should be using our energies convincing others on the importance of purchasing health insurance etc.

4) I do know that there are good and bad in every "profession" and I know many great CNA's who work as angels, are supporting their families honestly, paying their taxes etc. and making minimum wage (or close to it). I know that management is in a more comfortable position, some fat cats making millions upon millions , so with all due respect, my sentiments go with the CNA's.

I see more instances of management taking advantage of CNA's than the other way around, and if so, management has the power to fire the CNA (and rightly so), the CNA is usually dependent upon the job and has less recourse ( yes, I know they can quit, but we all know that they need the job).

5) Bottom line is, if management appreciated their CNA's they wouldnt make a big deal out of the $25 which (believe me) is pittance for them)

Schmoo1022

520 Posts

Grrrr...This health care issue is a huge deal with me. I love where I work, but the health insurance is awful....if you are even "qualified" for it. We only have a few full time employees..everyone else is considered per diem and do not qualify for health insurance. These poor CNA's work their butt off 5 days a week waiting to be considered full time. Single health insurance is $36.00 a week...family is OVER $200.00 a WEEK! Who can afford that???

Most of the CNA's that are mothers, qualify for state assistance and it's very reasonable, so they go that route. As a nurse with 3 young kids, I can't get health insurance through my job because I am considered per diem and even if I qualified...could I afford the $800.00 a month?

I am on the fence about this..My co-workers would be thrilled to only pay $25.00 a month ...even the ones who make $9.00 an hour. It is better than $36.00 a week! I also think it's sad that the company can"t spring for the $25.00 a month...

Specializes in Geriatrics.

I live in Ma., here we have universal Health Care. As I work per-diem (only job I could find) I don't get ins. or any benefits. I applied for HealthCare with the state, knowing they will charge me for the coverage, so I am not fined at the end of the year. First I recieved a letter stating I was approved, then I WAS TURNED DOWN!!!! After filling out all the paperwork they asked for they said I didn't give enough information. What more they want I don't know. So now I have no insurance, and am facing a fine at the end of the year. I have to wonder, I refused to put my race in the "optional" box, and when I spoke to the woman at the Ins. office (after not recieving the ins. cards) and she asked my race I told her American (born here 5th generation), she pressed and demanded to know if I was caucasian, I finally said yes, shortly afterwards I recieved the turn down notice. Really makes me wonder.....

My Life-Partner wanted to put me on his ins., we were told no because I am not the same gender as him :confused:. So if we were homosexual we could share the plan but because we are not we can't?? I often wonder just what they are thinking!!

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