Yes I still Smoke Cigarettes and I am addicted to the smoking habit - support and chat thread.

[ShariR]

I agree with that in many cases, though it depends on the union. I know at GM that since their bankruptcy new employees don't get paid anything like before. Starting salaries are around $14/hr and benefits are different. The union took over a lot of GM itself. A lot of people got screwed in that fiasco. Same type of thing with the airlines. Federal employees seem to have it the best, followed by state workers, teachers, fire and police and cities. Of course, except for the cities filing bankruptcy to get out from under their obligations.

A lot of retirees worry, they hope the aren't the ones getting the cuts. It is usually the new hires that see the most drastic changes.

As a retired union worker big unions are getting much smaller and the insurance is getting quite a bit worse.

 

[FinallyQuit]

Oh, lovely Bic lighters, with your shiny pretty pictures. And you, plain jane but still serviceable little sisters. Oh, you have served me well over the years. You did let me down a couple of times with your sticking rollers, or your busted flints. But for the most part you were this smoker's 2nd best friend. Now you've been sitting idle in the bottom of my purse with the leftover breath mints and the lint. It is time to free you from servitude, and reward you with your earthly pressure. May you all 5 rest in peace.

My neighbors looked at me like I was crazy!! Now I'm all sweaty and grinning from ear to ear like this guy and I need a shower and it's back to mixing.

Hope you're all having a great day!!

 

[ShariR]

insurance is a ripoff and I don't see it getting any better anytime soon. I had coverage for me and my full time employees through the chamber of commerce. I had opted for the best plan they offered and was paying over $300 a month per employee. Once I screwed up my knee I was told I was too overweight for replacement and it wouldn't be considered until I lost weight. 100 pounds later I was told I was too young and had to wait 2 years. 2 years later I was canceled because my "group" was too small and I didn't have enough employees. I was denied individual coverage due to pre existing conditions so were my employees. It's all a big scam and if Karma doesn't catch the evil insurance companies I'm sure satan has a nice new circle of hell waiting for them

Alas, your story is more typical than any would like to admit. It is the ins co. job to find a way to not pay, or not renew a policy if they are not making money. Too this, you fix it so now it is too that. Or you reached your limit of XXX, # of visits, $ spent per year, etc. Obamacare will help some, but too few and puts a burden on many small businesses.

I had been hired at two jobs out here years ago, small law firms. Praised my work, etc. till week 2 and all of a sudden I was not a fit. Would not give a concrete reason. It was that BC/BS got back to them with how much their insurance would go up if they kept me. Could not prove it though. Watched and saw they had a pattern about every four months they would advertise and hire someone and a couple weeks later, they did not "fit." Finally got a college girl they kept. All can not be proved and the employer has the right to fire for any reason. Wish they would just be honest about it. I would have stayed with no insurance, but way the laws are written if one is covered all must be covered in some cases.

 

[Karen N Daytona]

oh the Eulogy was so beautiful!

 

[ShariR]

Yes, you are right. There are many other ways around that provision. Like your position becoming obsolete and bye bye job. Or the firm drops insurance for all, too expensive. Your hours get cut to 29 per week and you don't qualify for ins anymore. Many others that we will hear about in the coming months.

Did you know that a prison inmate is guaranteed an organ transplant, but if an individual does not have ins to cover it, or has no ins. You can not get on the donor list unless you can demonstrate you have funds to cover at least $100,000 for the procedure? Can't even get on the donor list in some cases. I am sure that there are more factor involved. But that stark fact is frightening too me.

Pre existing conditions can't be held against you under Obama care. That story, your story sucks tho!!

 

[daleron]

I was here to witness FQ
Now I'm going to bed.


Hey Alisa, been missing you

 

[aikanae1]

It always makes me mad when we send so much to other countries to fix their problems before addressing our own. I understand the reasons why we do this, it doesn't make it any easier to swallow.
When I owned my old homes, I paid taxes for schools, I didn't have children, but I knew that it was good to pay the taxes so that kids would get what they needed to grow up to contribute to society. I paid federal taxes all my life and this past year was probably the last time I will have to . I was happy to pay, feeling that I contributed to various services that we all need. Now, when people pay taxes it seems that more and more our money leaves our shores.
I get really hurt when I read that people from other countries can come here and get free medical services that I need. I paid taxes they didn't how is that fair? These are the things that are hurting our country and causing resentment. I come from a family that is extremely intermingled with people from many cultures, there is no prejudice. I just wish that the government would see that taking care of their own before worrying about what is happening elsewhere, might actually do some good. I am not talking about welfare, I am talking about the medical care and services.

I'm sorry to be a drag but I do believe in facts. No one comes to the US for healthcare. We (US) go to other countries for healthcare. We are the world's "illegal's" when it comes to medical care.

The US has become the number one fraud in Canada and Mexico. UK and France, everywhere has had to tighten restrictions against US. I've watched it happen. There are parking lots full of charter buses at the border every day of people going to Mexico for medical care. A US citizen can sign onto their UNIVERAL healthcare plan for $1200/year - and they recently tightened it up with exclusions because we were straining their system. My big regret is that I waited to sign up until it was too late. No body even wants our studies anymore. The US doesn't even produce good research anymore (conflict of interest). It's BS and always has been BS that people come here for healthcare. This has been going on for over 10 years.

They've had Medicaid "outreach" programs for over 30 years because Mexican nationals would NOT sign up LEGAL children for healthcare. The parents would rather risk taking them back to Mexico were they felt the healthcare was better and free. Go to any expat board and you'll hear the same things about many countries, including Mexico. I think I'd rather have a heart transplant there.

Nobody in the world wants US healthcare. Not even for free. The rich go to Thailand. Angola is rated with better healthcare. The Phillipines are #1 for orthopedic surgery.

 

[Karen N Daytona]

I am uninformed and will research. still proves we have the wrong priorities. I just have my own experiences here in Florida, my family from other countries come here and get free healthcare.

 

[ShariR]

Wow! Beautiful euology FQ! Brought a tear to my eye. Ok, let's party!

And a chorus line for you:

And of course the band:

Good group here, we should take a pic.

Let there be cake!

Love ya, FQ! Congratulations on your 30 days and the touching ceremony.

Oh, lovely Bic lighters, with your shiny pretty pictures. And you, plain jane but still serviceable little sisters. Oh, you have served me well over the years. You did let me down a couple of times with your sticking rollers, or your busted flints. But for the most part you were this smoker's 2nd best friend. Now you've been sitting idle in the bottom of my purse with the leftover breath mints and the lint. It is time to free you from servitude, and reward you with your earthly pressure. May you all 5 rest in peace.

My neighbors looked at me like I was crazy!! Now I'm all sweaty and grinning from ear to ear like this guy and I need a shower and it's back to mixing.

Hope you're all having a great day!!

 

[ShariR]

Lots of warts on those frogs. Don't look under the hood. And don't read the bill before you pass. Give every business 4 years to change their rules before the rules take effect. And exempt big business and the unions from it. Let individual states opt out. Let Congress not fund it. What is wrong with this picture? Your average Joe screwed again. Yeah, this is working real good.

One of the small insurance companies Obama mentioned by name in his big speech - holding them up as a wonderful example of a company that cares and is doing it right was MY insurance company. Although I was still covered at the time by the group rate and in a "grace" period - they illegally denied me a personal policy based on pre existing conditions. So yeah I have a lot of faith in the presidents great plan

 

[aikanae1]

I am uninformed and will research. still proves we have the wrong priorities. I just have my own experiences here in Florida, my family from other countries come here and get free healthcare.

I'm not trying to stir up anything. I did a lot of work trying to get some form of useful reforms put into place and I'm not happy with the outcome, but had to accept it as a start rather than nothing. I'm open to new information. The bulk of my research is my own.

I do get tired of "death panel" like lies and phoney front groups spreading blantant and obvious misinformation. There is quite a campaign going on now in some areas (like in the SE) so that people who need healthcare the most, won't sign up to get what there is. It's cruel.

This is just probably not the place to get into these discussions, yet letting comments go is the way the way misinformation gets spread.

 

[aikanae1]

Oh, lovely Bic lighters, with your shiny pretty pictures. And you, plain jane but still serviceable little sisters. Oh, you have served me well over the years. You did let me down a couple of times with your sticking rollers, or your busted flints. But for the most part you were this smoker's 2nd best friend. Now you've been sitting idle in the bottom of my purse with the leftover breath mints and the lint. It is time to free you from servitude, and reward you with your earthly pressure. May you all 5 rest in peace.

And now you live in a smoke free home with a smoke free car and can mix up a banquet of liquids to enjoy vaping! Are you mixing up a special reciepe today?

 

[jessermay]

Great job FQ! So proud of you & a beautiful farewell to the lighters!

 

[FL Lori]

Sorry I'm late. Took forever to complete this.

 

[charmschool]

Hey guys & gals! I don't post here often, but I am still one of us, and may well always be. However, since I'm only smoking one per day, I still feel the need to celebrate how long it's been since it was a PAD, and track how much money I haven't spent on cigs. I finally found a banner I can use, without feeling guilty and thought I would share. Just plug in how many you're NOT smoking per day, and how much you were spending per pack, and viola! Here's the URL http://electronic-cigarettestarterkit.com/signature-banners/
Use the "banner 001" type to display your savings.

 

[ShariR]

If you can afford the mediocre plan offered. They pulled it months ago to gear up for the exchange signup scheduled to start in October. It is unaffordable to most. And forget it if you smoke or are over weight. And they can only charge you double (or triple) the standard premium for your pre-existing condition. I think it is triple. The deductables are high, copays on average, but it still limits # of visits to physical therapy, certain drs and procedures, and hoops to jump through. But you get a free physical and mamogram each year and hospitals won't get paid if you get readmitted for same problem in a certain timeperiod. And they removed the max out of $ spent by ins co in lifetime. Most can't afford it, but it will be there. Before they pulled it earlier this year, it would have cost me just under $500 per month with $2500 deduct and $500 deduct on meds and $25 copays and higher on many things including MRI and CT Scans and PT, lots hoops to jump through to get the care, like Lox was talking about with his knee. Oh it's there. $1k a month for the privledge to try to meet the deductable and then copays and restrictions and unimpressive RX forularies for the meds you are allowed, which you can get cheaper at Walmart. No pain meds on formulary - they are not covered. Nope, I will roll the dice. Not enough money for half assed coverage for which lots of rules are not written for yet and the insurance companies are a few steps ahead. Cancer coverage but limited or no access to all but the most rudimentary procedures and meds to treat it. Yeah, great plan - not. US has some of the best health care in the world - if you can afford it out of pocket over and above what the ins pays.

My brother in law, who has lung cancer that has moved into his liver, just spent $3000 to send 20 vials of blood to Greece (of all places) to be tested to see what specifi chemo will be best effective to treat his cancer. The chemo he got the last round here showed up as 20% effective, a different one was found that is supposed to be 80% effective. They do not do that testing here in the US. He has money and could get it done outside of his insurance. You and me, we are screwed and would not even be told of that option, probably. This just happened this month.

I thought the preexisting was in place already.

 

[FL Lori]

Oh, lovely Bic lighters, with your shiny pretty pictures. And you, plain jane but still serviceable little sisters. Oh, you have served me well over the years. You did let me down a couple of times with your sticking rollers, or your busted flints. But for the most part you were this smoker's 2nd best friend. Now you've been sitting idle in the bottom of my purse with the leftover breath mints and the lint. It is time to free you from servitude, and reward you with your earthly pressure. May you all 5 rest in peace.

My neighbors looked at me like I was crazy!! Now I'm all sweaty and grinning from ear to ear like this guy and I need a shower and it's back to mixing.

Hope you're all having a great day!!

I'm so sorry I missed the ceremony. So proud of you. I wish I had a 30 day coin for you. Keep it up ODAAT.

 

[FL Lori]

Hey guys & gals! I don't post here often, but I am still one of us, and may well always be. However, since I'm only smoking one per day, I still feel the need to celebrate how long it's been since it was a PAD, and track how much money I haven't spent on cigs. I finally found a banner I can use, without feeling guilty and thought I would share. Just plug in how many you're NOT smoking per day, and how much you were spending per pack, and viola! Here's the URL http://electronic-cigarettestarterkit.com/signature-banners/
Use the "banner 001" type to display your savings.

Thank you. I was looking for something similar the other day. Nice to meet you charm.

 

[Mr.Mann]

Hey guys & gals! I don't post here often, but I am still one of us, and may well always be. However, since I'm only smoking one per day, I still feel the need to celebrate how long it's been since it was a PAD, and track how much money I haven't spent on cigs. I finally found a banner I can use, without feeling guilty and thought I would share. Just plug in how many you're NOT smoking per day, and how much you were spending per pack, and viola! Here's the URL http://electronic-cigarettestarterkit.com/signature-banners/
Use the "banner 001" type to display your savings.

Congratulations of your tremendous success!

 

[daleron]

Hey guys & gals! I don't post here often, but I am still one of us, and may well always be. However, since I'm only smoking one per day, I still feel the need to celebrate how long it's been since it was a PAD, and track how much money I haven't spent on cigs. I finally found a banner I can use, without feeling guilty and thought I would share. Just plug in how many you're NOT smoking per day, and how much you were spending per pack, and viola! Here's the URL http://electronic-cigarettestarterkit.com/signature-banners/
Use the "banner 001" type to display your savings.

Nice one Charm

Oooo Loved the ILY hand Aik!