Our healthcare system sucks, and we can thank the politicians who take money to the industry (health insurers, prescription, etc.). Who Rules America is an old book from 1967, but sums it up perfectly. It was true then and is even MORE true now. Billionaires run America in Washington now. ‘G. William Domhoff’s Who Rules America? argues that a cohesive "power elite"—comprised of the top 1% of income earners, corporate owners, and executives—dominates U.S. government policy and the economy. Using empirical data, Domhoff demonstrates how this wealthy class influences politics through lobbying, policy-planning networks (think tanks/foundations), and campaign financing, often marginalizing the influence of average citizens. ‘
Profit margins for health insurers are low, but still the CEO’s and others at those firms make a lot of money.
But you are wrong because there clearly is a motive to deny claims. Just look at Medicare Advantage plans.
From AI: ‘
Yes, for-profit health insurers in the U.S. have a strong profit motive, operating within a market-based system designed to generate shareholder returns. While many insurers exist, for-profit entities often prioritize financial gains, leading to practices like denying coverage, limiting benefits, or increasing premiums to boost profits.
Key details regarding the profit motive in U.S. health insurance:
For-Profit Dominance: The U.S. is unique in having for-profit insurance as a central component of its healthcare system, which often prioritizes shareholder interests over patient care.
Profit Sources: Insurers generate profits through premiums and by managing care, with significant revenue growth coming from Medicaid enrollment and, increasingly, ACA marketplace plans.
Impact on Care: The focus on profit has been linked to higher, sometimes opaque, pricing, as well as incentives for insurers to restrict care to control costs.’
Also, only half of Americans work at large firms (500+ employees) and of those who work at smaller firms, only about 25% of them have self insured plans.
Vote out the politicians who bend the knee to the CEO’s who finance their re-election campaigns (although most if not all politicians rely on their money), and vote out those who pass bills their donors write for them. Especially in the healthcare field, which is why our healthcare system is so broken.
It depends on how much you need to call customer service. I’ve had good success with Vanguard’s customer service but I do not call them much. All 3 are good when it comes to investment costs. VG does not spend as much on custienr service but they also do not try to sell you products.
We have Fidelity and Vanguard brokerage accounts. We use Fidelity’s billpay to pay our bills. Each offer checking accounts and EFT capability. Not sure of any delay getting money out. Since May 28, 2024, the standard settlement cycle for most securities, including mutual funds like VUSXX, has been T+1 (one business day after the trade date), not T+2. Prior to this change, the standard was T+2.
When bond funds started losing money some years ago, we switched into money markets. Now all the fixed portion of our asset allocation is in the money market core account at Vanguard. If rates go lower in MMs then we may shift back into intermediate bond ETFs
I follow what the author says. Where you put your investments is very important.
Our equities and ETFs are in brokerage accounts. The fixed income part of our asset allocation is all in my IRA. When working I put my savings in tax deferred rather than Roth accounts (wasn’t available early on in lower earning days). I don’t think we qualified for Roths anyway because they had income limits.
The tax savings was great because of the higher tax bracket I was in. Now that I’m retired I’m in a much lower tax bracket so it turned out well. Converting to Roth accounts now would create too much of a tax consequence. The time to do it would have been after I retired and put off SS,which I did not do. I took it at FRA at 66.
In hindsight, I probably should have waited until age 70 and converted some IRA to Roth accounts. Our income is 2 SS checks and RMDs, along with capital gains (very moderate) generated from the taxable account, This is more than enough to pay our bills. We planned it so that we have no fixed bills other than our real estate tax. No mortgage, no auto loans, etc.
We are nowhere near the $212k IRMAA limit, which will be raised to $218k in 2026.
The taxable IRA is quite large, but we only take out the RMD requirement. When we pass, our kids will have to pay taxes on the inherited IRA, but our taxable trust accounts are much larger and all the gains will be tax free to them. In an ideal world they would be inheriting a Roth with no taxes.
Comments
Our healthcare system sucks, and we can thank the politicians who take money to the industry (health insurers, prescription, etc.). Who Rules America is an old book from 1967, but sums it up perfectly. It was true then and is even MORE true now. Billionaires run America in Washington now. ‘G. William Domhoff’s Who Rules America? argues that a cohesive "power elite"—comprised of the top 1% of income earners, corporate owners, and executives—dominates U.S. government policy and the economy. Using empirical data, Domhoff demonstrates how this wealthy class influences politics through lobbying, policy-planning networks (think tanks/foundations), and campaign financing, often marginalizing the influence of average citizens. ‘
Post: When $2100 is not what it appears. The Medicare Part D trap
Link to comment from February 7, 2026
Profit margins for health insurers are low, but still the CEO’s and others at those firms make a lot of money. But you are wrong because there clearly is a motive to deny claims. Just look at Medicare Advantage plans. From AI: ‘ Yes, for-profit health insurers in the U.S. have a strong profit motive, operating within a market-based system designed to generate shareholder returns. While many insurers exist, for-profit entities often prioritize financial gains, leading to practices like denying coverage, limiting benefits, or increasing premiums to boost profits. Key details regarding the profit motive in U.S. health insurance:
- For-Profit Dominance: The U.S. is unique in having for-profit insurance as a central component of its healthcare system, which often prioritizes shareholder interests over patient care.
- Profit Sources: Insurers generate profits through premiums and by managing care, with significant revenue growth coming from Medicaid enrollment and, increasingly, ACA marketplace plans.
- Impact on Care: The focus on profit has been linked to higher, sometimes opaque, pricing, as well as incentives for insurers to restrict care to control costs.’
Also, only half of Americans work at large firms (500+ employees) and of those who work at smaller firms, only about 25% of them have self insured plans.Post: When $2100 is not what it appears. The Medicare Part D trap
Link to comment from February 7, 2026
Vote out the politicians who bend the knee to the CEO’s who finance their re-election campaigns (although most if not all politicians rely on their money), and vote out those who pass bills their donors write for them. Especially in the healthcare field, which is why our healthcare system is so broken.
Post: Laid Off
Link to comment from February 7, 2026
Regardless, CEO’s make a fortune.
Post: Laid Off
Link to comment from February 7, 2026
You can’t have joint tax advantaged accounts (IRA, 401k) accounts in the US either
Post: The High Cost of Financial Advice: A Tale of Two Portfolios Revisited
Link to comment from February 7, 2026
It depends on how much you need to call customer service. I’ve had good success with Vanguard’s customer service but I do not call them much. All 3 are good when it comes to investment costs. VG does not spend as much on custienr service but they also do not try to sell you products.
Post: Schwab or Vanguard?
Link to comment from January 17, 2026
Keep some can in your house. Problem solved. Then use your credit cards and online payments as usual
Post: Cash Ain’t Trash
Link to comment from December 27, 2025
They could put it in a money market and have more than they want
Post: What is the standard advice for someone who wants guaranteed income in retirement?
Link to comment from December 27, 2025
We have Fidelity and Vanguard brokerage accounts. We use Fidelity’s billpay to pay our bills. Each offer checking accounts and EFT capability. Not sure of any delay getting money out. Since May 28, 2024, the standard settlement cycle for most securities, including mutual funds like VUSXX, has been T+1 (one business day after the trade date), not T+2. Prior to this change, the standard was T+2. When bond funds started losing money some years ago, we switched into money markets. Now all the fixed portion of our asset allocation is in the money market core account at Vanguard. If rates go lower in MMs then we may shift back into intermediate bond ETFs
Post: Where to Keep Cash
Link to comment from December 6, 2025
I follow what the author says. Where you put your investments is very important. Our equities and ETFs are in brokerage accounts. The fixed income part of our asset allocation is all in my IRA. When working I put my savings in tax deferred rather than Roth accounts (wasn’t available early on in lower earning days). I don’t think we qualified for Roths anyway because they had income limits. The tax savings was great because of the higher tax bracket I was in. Now that I’m retired I’m in a much lower tax bracket so it turned out well. Converting to Roth accounts now would create too much of a tax consequence. The time to do it would have been after I retired and put off SS,which I did not do. I took it at FRA at 66. In hindsight, I probably should have waited until age 70 and converted some IRA to Roth accounts. Our income is 2 SS checks and RMDs, along with capital gains (very moderate) generated from the taxable account, This is more than enough to pay our bills. We planned it so that we have no fixed bills other than our real estate tax. No mortgage, no auto loans, etc. We are nowhere near the $212k IRMAA limit, which will be raised to $218k in 2026. The taxable IRA is quite large, but we only take out the RMD requirement. When we pass, our kids will have to pay taxes on the inherited IRA, but our taxable trust accounts are much larger and all the gains will be tax free to them. In an ideal world they would be inheriting a Roth with no taxes.
Post: Asset Location Decisions
Link to comment from November 29, 2025