i thought everything was supposed to be just ducky now.....

health insurance premium increase.......$1,200

35% over last year. largest for me before was 12%, last year it dropped 6%.

the only positive thing....at least i got renewed for another year. if i employed people, i'd be making a lot of changes, including laying off people and outsourcing.

i suspect this increase heavily has to do with the political climate vs. actual costs going up. premiums were cooked before the laws were passed.

and where were was the state insurance comission.......that has to approve this, and did?

Speaking as someone that works in a clinic it is going to get far, far worse. And I will leave it at that.

One of my mothers pills that she has to take costs $600.00 per month. There is no generic. It was shocking! She is already in the donut hole.

My insurance at work did not offer the better one that they have had for the last nine years. Now everything is much higher. I am sorry Marc, I know how you feel.

I also agree with Brent.

Ours is going up 11% for our employee's. We were very happy with that. A friend of mine had his go up 35%. Tough on him being retired and on a fixed income.

not happy about this trend....

so, i guess all of this can kiss this duck's ___________. (fill in blank).

got a good picture of this pretty mallard today (note, she's banded, right leg).

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Great pic! Our little fluff ball will look like that if it's female. If it's male then he will be getting the green head and neck. So we shall wait and see.

There is a pair of ducks that have taken over our complex's swimming pool. I see them every day, sunning themselves right next to the pool. No one is using it yet as it doesn't open till June 1 so they are safe from the horde of children. They are just so cute.

thanks guys...

here's the other duck that was hangin' out with the girl duck (lol).

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i'm waiting to officially get my renewal packet to see what the changes are. i'm loving all the stuff you see on the news about "tax breaks" for small business to encourage growth, and for new ones to open.

small biz needs CASH to start, not tax-breaks....you don't make money for the first 3 or so years. then you carry back.

gosh, this stuff makes it rough on the little guy. as things are projecting out from what i'm seeing, it's a heck of a lot cheaper to pay the fines for a company than it is to provide insurance, which is a benefit.

Love the pictures. Hate the insurance.