Comments on: Response to Swine Flu school closures: Webinars? Try Paid Sick Days http://www.momsrising.org/blog/response-to-swine-flu-school-closures-webinars-try-paid-sick-days/ Where Moms and the people who love them fight for a better America Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:42:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Anita http://www.momsrising.org/blog/response-to-swine-flu-school-closures-webinars-try-paid-sick-days/comment-page-2/#comment-14886 Anita Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:15:04 +0000 http://www.momsrising.org/blog/?p=2324#comment-14886 We've noticed comments coming from your IP address that use different names and email addresses. This practice is known as sockpuppetry. It is a bannable offense because it undermines the trust required for honest conversation that we work to nurture on our blog. If we notice another instance of sockpuppetry from your IP address, we will ban comments from that IP address. Sockpuppetry violates our website's Terms of Use. Thank you for understanding. We’ve noticed comments coming from your IP address that use different names and email addresses. This practice is known as sockpuppetry. It is a bannable offense because it undermines the trust required for honest conversation that we work to nurture on our blog. If we notice another instance of sockpuppetry from your IP address, we will ban comments from that IP address. Sockpuppetry violates our website’s Terms of Use. Thank you for understanding.

]]> By: Trish http://www.momsrising.org/blog/response-to-swine-flu-school-closures-webinars-try-paid-sick-days/comment-page-2/#comment-14175 Trish Sat, 26 Sep 2009 14:25:25 +0000 http://www.momsrising.org/blog/?p=2324#comment-14175 Please try to remember that for every employee that calls in sick, someone else has to do that person's job. That might mean more work for someone who is already there, but in today's world the workers are already stretched by layoffs and the need to do more work than ever before. So, now you have to call someone else in to cover. If you pay the sick employee and then someone to come in, your staffing costs just doubled. Do it for the week that the school wants the child to stay out. If you are already struggling, how long can you afford to pay extra staff before you have to start swinging the layoff axe again? Please try to remember that for every employee that calls in sick, someone else has to do that person’s job. That might mean more work for someone who is already there, but in today’s world the workers are already stretched by layoffs and the need to do more work than ever before. So, now you have to call someone else in to cover. If you pay the sick employee and then someone to come in, your staffing costs just doubled. Do it for the week that the school wants the child to stay out.
If you are already struggling, how long can you afford to pay extra staff before you have to start swinging the layoff axe again?

]]> By: Trish http://www.momsrising.org/blog/response-to-swine-flu-school-closures-webinars-try-paid-sick-days/comment-page-1/#comment-14172 Trish Sat, 26 Sep 2009 14:12:51 +0000 http://www.momsrising.org/blog/?p=2324#comment-14172 I know that it's easy to say "cut back on the non-essentials and you can afford...", "your family comes first...", Take a really good look around, people are hurting. Mothers are going back to work, not because they can't do with out their weekly manicure! Our families have to eat. Some of our husbands have lost jobs, some of our families small businesses have failed or are failing. STOP TRYING TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE WE ARE PUTTING OUR SELFISH WANTS FIRST. I know that it’s easy to say “cut back on the non-essentials and you can afford…”, “your family comes first…”, Take a really good look around, people are hurting. Mothers are going back to work, not because they can’t do with out their weekly manicure! Our families have to eat. Some of our husbands have lost jobs, some of our families small businesses have failed or are failing. STOP TRYING TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE WE ARE PUTTING OUR SELFISH WANTS FIRST.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.momsrising.org/blog/response-to-swine-flu-school-closures-webinars-try-paid-sick-days/comment-page-1/#comment-11629 Anonymous Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:15:48 +0000 http://www.momsrising.org/blog/?p=2324#comment-11629 @Maryann Westfall, no misunderstanding of how health insurance works here-just a desire for the ENTIRE health care enterprise to work better for what we pay for it. Yes-people in other countries who receive paid sick days, government paid health care, better schools, and a host of other 'benefits', pay for it with higher taxes. But friends who live in theose countries LIKE it. I notice your family owns a business-I too, own a business. Of which, I am the sole employee-and have it much easier when it comes to caring for a sick child. I work from my home. I'm also one of the lucky few that can afford my $1500/month health insurance and to actually have other back up plans for unexpected healthcare expenses. But I also think it would benefit everyone if we had some mechenism in place to assure workers were able to care for a loved one without worrying about loosing their job(s). And I applaud you for offering health insurance and paid sick days to your employees-but not every one is so lucky. @Maryann Westfall, no misunderstanding of how health insurance works here-just a desire for the ENTIRE health care enterprise to work better for what we pay for it. Yes-people in other countries who receive paid sick days, government paid health care, better schools, and a host of other ‘benefits’, pay for it with higher taxes. But friends who live in theose countries LIKE it. I notice your family owns a business-I too, own a business. Of which, I am the sole employee-and have it much easier when it comes to caring for a sick child. I work from my home. I’m also one of the lucky few that can afford my $1500/month health insurance and to actually have other back up plans for unexpected healthcare expenses. But I also think it would benefit everyone if we had some mechenism in place to assure workers were able to care for a loved one without worrying about loosing their job(s).
And I applaud you for offering health insurance and paid sick days to your employees-but not every one is so lucky.

]]> By: Maryann Westfall http://www.momsrising.org/blog/response-to-swine-flu-school-closures-webinars-try-paid-sick-days/comment-page-1/#comment-11614 Maryann Westfall Mon, 31 Aug 2009 05:11:33 +0000 http://www.momsrising.org/blog/?p=2324#comment-11614 @Lynna Spencer, There are so many counterpoints, confusion about the problems and solutions offered, lack of understanding of how insurance works, and new arguments added to the original posts, that it is non-productive to continue this thread. Suffice it to say that we disagree on paid sick days. @Lynna Spencer, There are so many counterpoints, confusion about the problems and solutions offered, lack of understanding of how insurance works, and new arguments added to the original posts, that it is non-productive to continue this thread. Suffice it to say that we disagree on paid sick days.

]]> By: Fern http://www.momsrising.org/blog/response-to-swine-flu-school-closures-webinars-try-paid-sick-days/comment-page-1/#comment-11610 Fern Mon, 31 Aug 2009 01:23:47 +0000 http://www.momsrising.org/blog/?p=2324#comment-11610 I love that Arne thinks all children have access to iPods and the internet! There are SCHOOLS in some communities that don't even have computers or school nurses! And he thinks an ill child is going to do school work while trying to heal......well. Some have mentioned the schools teaching kids how to be healthy, HA! They are too busy trying not to leave any one behind-even if they SHOULD be left behind. (It's like playing soccer and not keeping score so no one's feelings get hurt when the other team wins.) And the health education that does exist in the schools is more focused on preventing teen pregnancies and mono than keeping generally heathy. I love that Arne thinks all children have access to iPods and the internet! There are SCHOOLS in some communities that don’t even have computers or school nurses!
And he thinks an ill child is going to do school work while trying to heal……well.

Some have mentioned the schools teaching
kids how to be healthy, HA! They are too busy trying not to leave any one behind-even if they SHOULD be left behind. (It’s like playing soccer and not keeping score so no one’s feelings get hurt when the other team wins.) And the health education that does exist in the schools is more focused on preventing teen pregnancies and mono than keeping generally heathy.

]]> By: Lynna Spencer http://www.momsrising.org/blog/response-to-swine-flu-school-closures-webinars-try-paid-sick-days/comment-page-1/#comment-11598 Lynna Spencer Sun, 30 Aug 2009 21:46:47 +0000 http://www.momsrising.org/blog/?p=2324#comment-11598 @Maryann Westfall, What do you think auto insurance is for?!?! You think the car is going to wreck itself?!? Acts of the driver refers to those unforseen accidents that cause those 'unexpected expensive losses'-and the law does NOT "cover" or prevent people from doing stupid stuff in their cars. It only says you not supposed to do certain things and doesn't pay the victims in an accident. Yea, I know a tree limb could fall on my car or hail could ding the hell out of it but auto insurance should not be compared to health insurance. They are completely different things. And they have auto insurance policies that DO cover preventive maintenance on you car, they're called extended warranties. Do you think people are gonna do something to cause themselve to get cancer or require an organ transplant on purpose-no, but they do drive idiotically every day-on purpose. If they are insuring AGAINST illness, wouldn't it make sense for insurance to cover preventive health care? If they did, the cost of insurance would go down and more people could afford it (ours is $1500 a month for 4 people) because they would have fewer sick claims-this is one reason they don't want regulation and don't want to cover preventive measures. And what happens to the money you pay every month and don't use-does your family get a rebate at the end of your life for unused premiums-no it goes to employees who are given bonuses for denying claims and keeping people from using thier benefits that they've paid for through thier premiums. My auto insurance sends me a check at the end of each year, it's not a refund but more of a dividend-liken to investment dividends-health insurance could easily do this too. oh, wait, their loobyists and employees would loose out on those bonuses. Another rip-off in insurance is that my very healthy family has to pay the same premiums as the unhealty, smoking, drinking, won't take care of themselves people next door! If I'm a good driver, I get a discount-how 'bout if I'm healthy I get a discount. Oops, again someone looses a bonus if I'm not paying as much as the unhealthy man next door! Again, we need education, the health AND insurance industries and the participation of communities to help prevent the spread of flu, colds, pinkeye, etc. Paid sick days are the norm in other 'civilized' countries-and we've had to work hard just to get maternity leave for mothers. It all boils down to ME, ME, ME! You can't have a decent life because I want more! @Maryann Westfall, What do you think auto insurance is for?!?! You think the car is going to wreck itself?!? Acts of the driver refers to those unforseen accidents that cause those ‘unexpected expensive losses’-and the law does NOT “cover” or prevent people from doing stupid stuff in their cars. It only says you not supposed to do certain things and doesn’t pay the victims in an accident. Yea, I know a tree limb could fall on my car or hail could ding the hell out of it but auto insurance should not be compared to health insurance. They are completely different things. And they have auto insurance policies that DO cover preventive maintenance on you car, they’re called extended warranties. Do you think people are gonna do something to cause themselve to get cancer or require an organ transplant on purpose-no, but they do drive idiotically every day-on purpose.

If they are insuring AGAINST illness, wouldn’t it make sense for insurance to cover preventive health care? If they did, the cost of insurance would go down and more people could afford it (ours is $1500 a month for 4 people) because they would have fewer sick claims-this is one reason they don’t want regulation and don’t want to cover preventive measures. And what happens to the money you pay every month and don’t use-does your family get a rebate at the end of your life for unused premiums-no it goes to employees who are given bonuses for denying claims and keeping people from using thier benefits that they’ve paid for through thier premiums. My auto insurance sends me a check at the end of each year, it’s not a refund but more of a dividend-liken to investment dividends-health insurance could easily do this too. oh, wait, their loobyists and employees would loose out on those bonuses.

Another rip-off in insurance is that my very healthy family has to pay the same premiums as the unhealty, smoking, drinking, won’t take care of themselves
people next door! If I’m a good driver, I get a discount-how ’bout if I’m healthy I get a discount. Oops, again someone looses a bonus if I’m not paying as much as the unhealthy man next door!

Again, we need education, the health AND insurance industries and the participation of communities to help prevent the spread of flu, colds, pinkeye, etc. Paid sick days are the norm in other ‘civilized’ countries-and we’ve had to work hard just to get maternity leave for mothers. It all boils down to ME, ME, ME! You can’t have a decent life because I want more!

]]> By: Maryann Westfall http://www.momsrising.org/blog/response-to-swine-flu-school-closures-webinars-try-paid-sick-days/comment-page-1/#comment-11586 Maryann Westfall Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:52:51 +0000 http://www.momsrising.org/blog/?p=2324#comment-11586 @Lynna Spencer, Traditional health insurance is designed to insure an individual against health costs that the average person cannot afford, in the unlikely event that they had a serious illness. This would be for things like cancer treatments, surgeries, organ transplants, etc. Based on actuarials, statistics and our own common sense, it would be impractical for us to save up for any of these. Since many people pay a good bit towards this insurance, and don't normally need cancer treatment or an organ transplant, they tend to forget its purpose, and want to use it whenever possible to get something out of it. But that is not its purpose. For preventive health care and minor medical treatments, there are the newer health spending accounts — basically, savings that can be used for any health-related items. Many self-employed people have these, but they are available for anybody who wants to participate. Many insurance companies offer additional dental and eye plans that include preventive maintenance. Another way to manage the cost of preventive care is to open a personal savings account at a bank, and use it for self-specified items such as dental appointments. Not only do you keep whatever money is in the account if you don't spend it, but you may even earn interest! Like health insurance, auto insurance is designed to insure against unexpected expensive losses. It is not intended for prevention. Thus, you would not be able to pay for an oil change, or NoDoz, or a car seat with it. And it does not cover the acts of the driver (state, local and federal law covers that). It covers damage to the driver, the car, personal property, others, depending on what components an individual purchases in the policy. @Lynna Spencer, Traditional health insurance is designed to insure an individual against health costs that the average person cannot afford, in the unlikely event that they had a serious illness. This would be for things like cancer treatments, surgeries, organ transplants, etc. Based on actuarials, statistics and our own common sense, it would be impractical for us to save up for any of these. Since many people pay a good bit towards this insurance, and don’t normally need cancer treatment or an organ transplant, they tend to forget its purpose, and want to use it whenever possible to get something out of it. But that is not its purpose.

For preventive health care and minor medical treatments, there are the newer health spending accounts — basically, savings that can be used for any health-related items. Many self-employed people have these, but they are available for anybody who wants to participate. Many insurance companies offer additional dental and eye plans that include preventive maintenance. Another way to manage the cost of preventive care is to open a personal savings account at a bank, and use it for self-specified items such as dental appointments. Not only do you keep whatever money is in the account if you don’t spend it, but you may even earn interest!

Like health insurance, auto insurance is designed to insure against unexpected expensive losses. It is not intended for prevention. Thus, you would not be able to pay for an oil change, or NoDoz, or a car seat with it. And it does not cover the acts of the driver (state, local and federal law covers that). It covers damage to the driver, the car, personal property, others, depending on what components an individual purchases in the policy.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.momsrising.org/blog/response-to-swine-flu-school-closures-webinars-try-paid-sick-days/comment-page-1/#comment-11566 Anonymous Sun, 30 Aug 2009 13:56:08 +0000 http://www.momsrising.org/blog/?p=2324#comment-11566 @Maryann Westfall, Let’s see, auto insurance covers the acts of the driver-not the car. Health insurance is there to help you pay for health care, which should include proventive medicine. If it did cover preventive medicine they would have fewer sick claims! It’s rediculous that insurance costs so much and we hardly get anything for it. We barely get a teeth cleaning (preventive medicine) every year. Wait ’till you get sick and have to pay hundreds, if not thousands of dollars out of pocket just to meet you deductible. Washing your hands is not enough of a preventive measure to keep people from getting sick, we need education, the medical community, insurance and the participation of the community to help cut down the spread of more than just the flu. So no, saying that health insurance should cover preventive health is not like saying oil changes should be covered by auto insurance. @Maryann Westfall, Let’s see, auto insurance covers the acts of the driver-not the car. Health insurance is there to help you pay for health care, which should include proventive medicine. If it did cover preventive medicine they would have fewer sick claims! It’s rediculous that insurance costs so much and we hardly get anything for it. We barely get a teeth cleaning (preventive medicine) every year. Wait ’till you get sick and have to pay hundreds, if not thousands of dollars out of pocket just to meet you deductible. Washing your hands is not enough of a preventive measure to keep people from getting sick, we need education, the medical community, insurance and the participation of the community to help cut down the spread of more than just the flu. So no, saying that health insurance should cover preventive health is not like saying oil changes should be covered by auto insurance.

]]> By: Lynna Spencer http://www.momsrising.org/blog/response-to-swine-flu-school-closures-webinars-try-paid-sick-days/comment-page-1/#comment-11565 Lynna Spencer Sun, 30 Aug 2009 13:54:57 +0000 http://www.momsrising.org/blog/?p=2324#comment-11565 Let's see, auto insurance covers the acts of the driver-not the car. Health insurance is there to help you pay for health care, which should include proventive medicine. If it did cover preventive medicine they would have fewer sick claims! It's rediculous that insurance costs so much and we hardly get anything for it. We barely get a teeth cleaning (preventive medicine) every year. Wait 'till you get sick and have to pay hundreds, if not thousands of dollars out of pocket just to meet you deductible. Washing your hands is not enough of a preventive measure to keep people from getting sick, we need education, the medical community, insurance and the participation of the community to help cut down the spread of more than just the flu. So no, saying that health insurance should cover preventive health is not like saying oil changes should be covered by auto insurance. Let’s see, auto insurance covers the acts of the driver-not the car. Health insurance is there to help you pay for health care, which should include proventive medicine. If it did cover preventive medicine they would have fewer sick claims! It’s rediculous that insurance costs so much and we hardly get anything for it. We barely get a teeth cleaning (preventive medicine) every year. Wait ’till you get sick and have to pay hundreds, if not thousands of dollars out of pocket just to meet you deductible. Washing your hands is not enough of a preventive measure to keep people from getting sick, we need education, the medical community, insurance and the participation of the community to help cut down the spread of more than just the flu. So no, saying that health insurance should cover preventive health is not like saying oil changes should be covered by auto insurance.

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