Recent content by Freein05

I agree with the idea of paying out of pocket for primary care. All of the cost associated with third parties is the big down fall of our health care system. These third parties provide no health care but eat up a lot of dollars. One doctors group I visited had 4 doctors and about 5 clerical...

If you are over 60 try getting health insurance at any price if you have a preexisting condition. Remember why Medicare came into existence. It came into existence because insurance companies would not insure the elderly. Somehow cost of health care in this country must be brought under...

I love Medicare. I went on it last year in June and my health care costs are less than half of what they were in a private plan and I have more choices of doctors and hospitals.

I went on Medicare last June. I was on my wives private insurance plan through her employer. It was a large group plan and I paid about $700 a month plus $20 when you visited a doctor or had lab work. I too felt overwhelmed by all of the various supplemental plans and Medicare Advantage plans...

I am going to Germany for 4 weeks this year and I am looking for a travel health insurance company. I am on Medicare which does not cover me out of the country. Can anyone recommend a company?

I would vote for Yosemite as my favorite. I also like Mt. Lassen which nobody has mentioned. My first time there was 2 years ago. We hiked to the top of Mt Lassen it is about a five mile around trip with a 2,000 feet elevation gain. When we got to the top a Dutch guy was there with a mini-keg...

And we complain about the people in government and big business who cheat the taxpayer. I looks like there are criminal thoughts in a lot of peoples minds.

We live in snow country and like it. The big reason being retired we just seat around the fire until the roads are plowed. I get out my trusty Honda snow blower clear the driveway and we can go if we want to. I do feel sorry for the people around us who have to work. I am glad I do not have to...

My 5th year is coming in March. I feel better and also have lost weight not 80lbs but about 40. It is so nice to have your time and life belong to you and not the man. I am so happy not to have to go to work. My wife and I, every once in a while will ask each other if we miss work and the...

Unfortunately I just got paid off on my smartnotes. They matured. The interest rate on them was little over 7% and I had bought them at a discount a couple of years ago so the overall return was better than the 7%. They paid interest monthly which was nice. I would not be afraid to hold more...

Regional banks may not have been involved in subprime lending but they may have been financing local builders who or either stuck with property or have cut way back on lending. Either one will reduce earnings. Also regional banks depend a lot on commercial/business lending for their income. With...

I moved my accounts to Smith Barney for the same reasons. I hold mostly individual stocks or bonds. I buy and hold so the fees are generally a one time event. Their bond offerings and pricing are better than most discount brokerage firms. Depending on how much money you have with them all fees...

Hamlet I don't disagree with what you say I was just pointing out if you don't want to lose your money stick with the big banks. Also those chasing high dividend yields better be careful because they can be cut in a second. You may be wrong about Wells Fargo they are one of the largest real...

10% increase and an increase in copay form $10 to 20. Our premiums under COBRA are now $1,100 per month. So those of you that have employer subsidized health insurance that is what it will cost you if you are over 60 but not eligible for Medicare in California.

Jarhead we are neighbors and feel the same way about Northern California. We built our home in the Sierra Nevada's about 27 years ago and retired to it 3 years ago and love it. We are on highway 4 east of the small town of Arnold. I must say if we had not built it 27 years ago we could not...