Hi Guys been a while

[Marslet]

I have been so busy furnishing my Woman Cave (where I can escape Fox News) that I haven't been on here. I have a wonderful place to do my Arts and Crafts and to sew. I bought an Embroidery machine and have been so busy sewing for Savannahh. I am having a ball.
It is hard to believe she will be 19 months old on the 15th. Getting to be such a big girl. She is my delight.
I will be flying to San Francisco on the 8th and meeting up with Candi so we can plan our trip. We will be leaving on the 10th heading back to Louisiana. Can you say ROAD TRIP??? We had great plans for the Sequoias and Yosemite and the Grand Canyon, but Washington nuts stopped that plan. It will be Candace, Savannah, me, and 2 dogs. I would like all my friends to pray for us to have a safe trip back here. Thanks in advance.
Now I have to tell you about my contribution to this Obama Health Care mess. As a retired schoolteacher, I have been able to carry my insurance, which I have paid for 31 years with Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Louisiana. Jim and I are both with Medicare too and carry the Blue Cross as our suppliment insurance. Remember, "You can carry your insurance with you, it won't affect you" W E L L -- Was informed by the school board that I could keep my Blue Cross with a llittle increase in premiums. Jim and I have been paying $149 month for the supplimental insurance for 3 years So now, they tell me I can keep the same insurance policy, but it will cost us $498 a month!!!!!!! I am afraid that a lot of people are gonna be totally shocked. Oh, and by the way, I would have maternity and new born care too. Hell, I am almost 68 years old, I sure do hope I wont ever need that coverage. lol
Well I have left you something to ponder and think on. Send those prayers up for us please. Will try to post as we travel.

[Colliemom]

Welcome back, great to see you again. Certainly hope that your trip back will be fun for all of you and maybe by then you will get to see some of the places you had hoped. But it sounds like you have been keeping very busy as well.

Sorry about the "hit" on the insurance. I guess I must be one of the ones who lucked out in that I was able to change my Blue Cross over to a way better coverage with less money to fork out. I was notified last month that my current coverage is not longer going to be carried as of December 31st cause it doesn't meet the new Healthcare Law. Well, after doing some checking with Blue Cross, I found a better policy and they also told me that I qualify for the subsidy, so that made it even better in that I will actually be paying less for my new coverage and having more stuff totally covered, then I did on my current plan. I will only be on this one for 5 months as Medicare will kick in for me and then I will have to change to Blue Cross Medicare insurance for the medigap coverage. I think those of us who pay for our own insurance and are not covered by our current or former employers, may come out better than those who are covered as employers are going to have to adjust their costs and pass it on or drop it altogether. Time will tell I guess.

[cpatinjones]

Enjoy your road trip!

As for medical care, we were told our health insurance meets the Obamacare regulations, so I am able to keep what I have. Don't know if it will cost me more, yet. Annual enrollement is this month.

[JudyJB]

There are lots of really beautiful state parks that I hope you can enjoy. Also, if you go through Phoenix, they have some very nice regional parks near there also. My favorites are Lake Pleasant and Usery Mountain.

Good luck and have fun even without the national parks. I had to miss Yosemite, but am looking forward to Bodega Bay next week.

[BirdbyBird]

State Teacher Retirement Service in Ohio discontinued supplementing spouse's medical care over 10 years ago. Luckily Dennis was also an educator and he can carry his own policy. I have always just been thankful that I have been able to carry insurance through work and into retirement. But even with my deductibles, etc. I pay over $200/month......but I pay to get prescription, eye and dental coverage. I am knocking on wood here because in the past 8 years I seldom have managed to get past my deductible and I consider myself lucky for that...considering the alternative.....

I think the best part of having insurance is when I look at the bills for my lab work that is charge at over $100+ and through negotiations with the insurance company the amount owed suddenly become $17.....