YOUR COMMENTS

Mariah from Manchester: You sound and write like someone who is themselves on public assistance. What these people need to do is purchase other insurance for themselves (not this Starbridge Cigna crap) like they have been doing. The State Department of Insurance has specified that they will help search for insurance close to what they were paying before. Self-sufficiency should be encouraged, not reliability on the taxpayers. Don't place the burden of supporting babies on the public's money; that is the easy, lazy, and selfish way out. If you choose to have a kid, then make sure you are financially able to do so without anyone else's help. Make more responsible choices and life will be easier for all of us.
- Sarah, Littleton

these people need to apply for state medicaid.the ones with the babies will def.get it
- mariah, manchester

Perhaps we should look at the real problem here. Health insurance coverage is extremely expensive. Who decides the price for personal/family coverage? My guess? The insurance companies.

With that in mind, who pays for the commercials you see on TV for prescription drugs? The people that buy them, I would think. You can't buy prescriptions without a doctor. Shouldn't your doctor know which is best for you? If you are lucky enough to have coverage, you are lucky enough to see a doctor.

While I duck for cover, think about who profits from all this and who is getting the shaft.

Affordable health care for all should be a top priority for anyone who votes.
- Peg, Concord

Zizzy, you're right, cancer treatment in this country is superior to anything I'd find Costa Rica. But only if I have enough insurance.

However, if I lived in Costa Rica, Cuba, or to be honest, just about every single other civilized country in the entire world, period, they would treat my cancer to the best of their ability regardless of if I had insurance, or even a job, period.
- Mike, Derry

It amazing me how quickly people want to blame the individuals involved when most of these responses sure seem like the people didn't even read the article carefully. Having worked IN the insurance industry for years now I can understand these employees perspective. They did not do anything to cause this situation and they sure didn't have much choice in it either. To all those compassionless people who choose to condemn these employees - I hope YOU are not subject to the same when things don't go well in your lives.
- Kitt, Manchester, NH

As I read some of the comments that some of you have written about me and my wife please let me make one thing very clear. Number one im not the young man working 37 hours a week in Derry there are 2 PEOPLE IN THIS STORY. Also me and my wife are not complaining about a lack of income yes I work for Applebee’s But yes I work hard and at 25 I make well over 50,000 a year. You don’t know what I do there, my complaint wasn’t against my job nor my hours or my title. I DON’T HAVE BARE BONE COVERAGE but because my insurer offers that to employees that don’t qualify for my insurance the state of new Hampshire is pulling MY FAMILY’S and others away READ CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU MAKE REDICULAS COMMETS
- GREG, NASHUA

Another question that needs to be asked again and again is - why must health insurance be tied to your job? If I change jobs, I don't need to change auto insurers or life insurers. I don't rely on my employer to subsidize my homeowners insurance. The assumption that health insurance must be a job benefit is outdated. That is a holdover from the days of wage and price controls. That was back in the Nixon administration! Health insurance is expensive for individuals to buy on their own for one reason - too much government regulation. Allow people to buy as much or as little coverage as they want from whomever they want and watch the price drop fast. The plan that Applebee's offered apparently was just fine for these employees. The State of NH has no business telling them it isn't good enough. It also has no business telling me I can't buy health insurance from a company in North Carolina if I want to. What if a law was passed that said you could only make online purchases from New Hampshire companies. Would you stand for that? But you will accept that for your health care? Hello?!
- Mark, Amherst

But is insurance even something he should be wanting? He was paying close to $6000 per year in premiums. Add to that any copays and deductibles and who knows how high he's going. With the benefit of hindsight, I wonder if he'd've been better with no insurance and just paid the costs of doctors/hospital visits. Of course, those without insurance have to really fear the catastrophic event or illness, but, in this case with "limited benefits" I wonder if he even had any decent protection to that.
- Ken, Bedford

Cinga would be stupid not to cover them for a period of time after this UL article. All they have to do is give them some basic, but legal health coverage. Everyone wins, Cigna is seen as a savior in the public eye, and the family has security for a few months utill this mess gets straightened out.
- DL, Manchester, NH

I feel for this young family and I’m embarrassed with some of the UL reader responses. When I read this article, I see a young family working hard and making ends meet. Some UL readers speculate that the family is uneducated and irresponsible because they are expecting another child when the head of house works in the food industry. I don’t see the connection—but how about this one. The family is having another child and their ‘ok’ insurance is being canceled—could this be concern for other companies in the future.
- Ruthie S., Manchester, NH

I am amazed at how stupid people are. This family is not complaining because they can't afford to raise their children they are complaining because they had insurance and that they liked at an affordable cost and now the government says they can't have that insurance. Where in this article does it say they can't afford to raise their family.
Maybe he is only working 37 hours a week because he is going to college maybe he is only working 37 hours week because he makes enough money in those hours to comfortably support his family and then still has time to actually spend time with his family. Never does it state any thing about him having the state pay to raise his children.
You people need to go back to school and learn the basics of reading comprehension.
- Maggie, Manchester

This young couple reminds me of my son and daughter-in-law. Although my son has insurance coverage through his work, his wife can only work part-time due to children. Thus, my son works 60 to 70 hours a week to keep up with the bills and apartment rent. I cannot imagine them having to pay $1300 a month for medical insurance. This article is just another example on the assault on the middle class.
- Paul, Bedford

OK. So you mean to tell me this guy signed up for a bare-bones insurance plan just to have some type of coverage for his family... and then he and his wife got pregnant again before getting themselves into a better financial position? And he is whining about having to work 37 hours a week? Yeah, it's too bad about him losing his coverage, but he and his wife should have made better decisions.

Here's a tip: if you don't have the money in your budget to sign your family up for a decent health plan, you also don't have the money to bring another mouth to feed into the world.

I don't have enough room in my budget to support a child, so I never had one. I don't know why there are so many people who are so selfish as to have kids they can't afford. It makes me sick.

Now, because I unfortunately work in Mass, I get to help support them with my tax money on the Mass state plan. Thanks a lot.
- DJ, Manchester

If they were illegal aliens, from a third world country, they wouldn't have to worry about heath care cost.
I wonder if they sneak into Mexico, maybe they could get good health care for free.
- Steve, Raymond

WOW so many uncompassionate people here. Evidently you have never had to raise a family without health insurance. This couple owns their own condo, both are working, trying to raise a family, and you all bash them. They could be just sitting at home procreating and living off the system. But they are NOT...
Why not complain about the company for not investigating the states guidelines.
- Virginia, Manchester

I'm with Brian from Exeter. Susan and Holly and Robert W, times are rough for EVERYONE. Brian is right, babies do not just appear. How about being financially responsible before having kids?

Moving to MA just to get on the dole for the MA Healthcare programs? Just four more heads for the taxpayers of MA to support. Get a better job Sherman and stop whining.
- Annalisa, Kingston

Some of you people are unbelievable...this guy is trying to do right by his family and working as much as he can, and it doesn't sound like he's having babies hopeful for a free ride. Oh, and btw, he owns a home, so they aren't total freeloaders.

The company is responsible for disclosing the details of the plan, and for ensuring that what they offer meets the state and fed DOL requirments. I don't recall reading that he or his wife aren't educated, and knowing a bit about the job market in NH right now, getting choosy about a job isn't a option for most folks. In this area, one full time opening will yield 50+ applications. Back off this guy and his family. It's not his fault his employer didn't bother to follow the law.
- Kate, Manch

I am constantly amazed at the number of cruelly judgmental people who respond to articles such as this! Are the people of New Hampshire (well, maybe just UL readers) this insensitive?

This couple is working and raising a family and is NOT on the dole. They just had the rug pulled out from under them. Decent health care should be a basic, human right, not a for-profit venture in which hospitals and health insurance companies gouge working families to line the pockets of stockholders and CEOs.

One of these days all of you people on your high horses will fall off. Good luck when you do.
- Susan, Raymond

Guidance to this mess comes from a December 2007 strike resolution in San Fransciso where low paid security workers with a similar limited benefit plan negotiated for and received a comprehensive health plan that they could afford. Likewise a resolution was effected with maintenance workers at Harvard a few years ago. The state has a responsibility to help those who cannot help themselves by mandating minimum creditable coverage. It is then the responsibility of both employee and employer to sit down and hammer out an agreement that is satisfactory to both sides. It can be done as evidenced by the examples above and this is soon to be affirmed again with talks now taking place with security workers and their employers in Minneapolis and Washington, D.C..
- dave coltin, newbuyport, ma

We are guaranteed by our government life, liberty and the PERSUIT of happiness. Nowhere in the aforementioned statement do I see the promise of healthcare. Nobody ever said Sherman couldn't find another employer who won't exploit its workers. As far as sympathy goes, what about the responsible folks who work but do not fell than can afford a family at this time? Robert W, babies just don't appear; how about a little accountability.
- Brian, Exeter

To the people that are making nasty comments about this guy supporting his family....grow up!!! At least he has a job and he did have insurance until the state decided to cancel it, not his fault. Times are hard for people right now so I have to commend him for at least working and providing for his family, he should be looking elsewhere and find a job that offers better benefits but at least hes trying. Good luck to the family!
- Holly, Manchester, NH

Can we stop pointing the finger at this young family and instead congratulate them for being proactive enough to NOT be on the state funding or medicaid. Everyone starts somewhere and not everyone can have or afford a fancy degree, have you checked out the price of college lately? They thought they were doing good and providing for their family and now this blow comes. I hope they get coverage and soon, healthcare is not affordable for anyone paying for it on their own.
- Amy, Deerfield

Shouldn't take this out on the employees.

There should be heavy fines levied against CIGNA and Applebees for issuing illegal policies and charging unsuspecting workers for it. Wonder how much Applebees saved by switching ther former health insurance to CIGNA?

Maybe if their didnt microwave everything made to order they'd be more profitable and be able to offer better coverage.

Maybe they should get rid of the low quality items like those nasty fat and cartilage laden bombs, riblets.

Maybe more people would eat there and workers wouldnt have to eat the cost of horrendous management.
- Chris, Allenstown

A small part of me feels sorry for these people, but another part asks why this couple (with one full-time worker and one part-time worker with jobs that most likely don't pay a lot) are having more babies? I guarantee once baby #2 is born, it will only be one full-time worker in the household and then the additional taxpayer-funded benefits will begin. According to the story, there are two other pregnant women at the Applebees location. Here's an idea - why not establish yourselves first (ie. education and career) and then think about bringing kids into the world?! I'm sure taxpayers aren't happy to support you every step of the way (Medicaid, WIC, Food Stamps, subsidized housing, etc.) while at the same time trying to make our OWN ends meet. Don't be so selfish on having an instant family that you can't afford - use your young brains and THINK more.
- Amy, Concord

The problem is that people feel entitled to insurance, and because of that the cost of medical care is out of control. Endemnity plans were the way to go, with people paying for minor and routine visits and insurance only picking up major surgeries and treatments. People now go to the doctor for absolutely anything (hangnail) because they know insurance will pick it up.

Also, it would help if the individuals in this story were a little more choosy about their employers. I know there are many companies in the area that provide excellent benefits for entry level positions. If Applebee's isn't cutting it to provide for your family, find a job that will support you. Be proactive about your situation.
- Frank, Manchester

Do any of you that are making the nasty comments regarding this guy not making enough money to support his family know how to read? He never once said he did not make enough money to support his family. He is complaining that the insurance policy that worked for him has been cancelled and now he is looking at paying an extra $833 a month for insurance. The policy he had worked for his family and the government has told him tough you have to spend more money on a policy or not have a policy. How many of you would not complain about spending an extra $833 dollars a month for some thing. It is way past the time for the government to GET OUT OF OUR PERSONAL LIVES
- Patti, nashua

Brian from Exeter,
What gives you the right to question who can have a family. Look at how many people have unplanned pregnancies and get untold number of state help. at least Sherman is trying to provide, it was his company that screwed the pooch, not him. Many people need assistance because of the lack of adequate health care services in our country.
Look at what happened in Glouster, who is going to pay for those children's insurance. What we need as citizen's is to take a stand against big brother and start forcing our governments hand, to make it easier for all to have equal coverage. Untill then good luck Sherman, keep trying and you will succeed
- Robert W, Manchester,NH

Poor Sherman,

Why did you have children if you cannot afford them? How about getting a better job that will enable you to provide for your family, instead of seeking the states sympathy. Many people work jobs they are not fond of solely for the benefits, suck it up. Working 37 hours a week, way to apply yourself.

Brian
- Brian, Exeter

Wait a minute - these people have insurance coverage - albeit limited, but still coverage - but since the great minds of the State says "it's not good enough" is going to cancel it. Therefore, these folks now will be without coverage, and most likely forced onto the State's medicare roles, thereby having the taxpayers pay?

I guess that's one way to force folks into universal health "care".
- Bess, Concord

Good luck with cancer treatment in Costa
Rica Mike.
- Zizzy, Manchester

Okay...so their insurance isn't good enough, so let's drop the coverage so they are not covered at all....can someone explain how this makes sense?!?!
- Shawna, Manchester

This is just another example of why government is the problem, not the solution. Why is it any business of the State of NH what health plan Applebee's or any other business provides for its employees? So now, because the state doesn't deem this plan acceptable, the employees have this benefit taken from them? Why? How does this help anyone? You want to know what is wrong with health care? There's your answer - get the government out of the way!
- Mark, Amherst

The state over-regulates the insurance industry by telling them what they must include and what the consumer must pay for - whether they want it or not! It inevitably drives the premiums up and often out of reach for many working people. While the intention may be to "protect" people what they are actually doing is creating more and more uninsured in this state.

When we make insurance policies available to the individual rather than to the employer of that individual, it will create added competition and allow more people to be able to purchase insurance.

Allowing the consumer to purchase what they want from whichever company they want is really the only solution to so many people remaining uninsured. It's not about getting the government more involved - it's about getting them less involved.
- Tammy, Manchester

Do people prefer that companies not offer health insurance to their employees? The higher the cost of insurance the less likely that companies will provide insurance.

Do people want more choices in health insurance?

People and businesses should be allowed to buy into Medicare or a health insurance plan similar to what members of Congress have.

People and businesses should be allowed to buy health insurance plans sold in other States.
- Ken Stremsky, Manchester, NH

Stop making babies you cant aford and get a second job. Maybe if you had a better education you would have had a better paying job. DAH.
- Robert, Gloucester

This is yet another example of government intrusion into free markets limiting the ability of individuals to make decisions for themselves.

While NH regulates insurance providers to a lesser degree than most states (resulting in increased affordability and high percentages of an insured populace), there is still plenty of room for the state to get out of the way and allow insurers to offer options that people want. Consumer driven health care plans will create insurance niches that appeal to and are affordable to more families, individuals and small businesses.
- JC, Newmarket

People need to take responsibility for their own action. You sign up for a lousy health care plan with high premiums and low benefits and you live with the consequences.
- Brian, Farmington

This is precisely the reason that the World Health Organization ranks the US as having the 37th best health care system in the world.

37th!?!?!?!?

We clearly have the best doctors and hospitals in the world, but only a certain class of citizen has access to them. We're ranked behind Dominica and Costa Rica, one spot ahead of Slovenia and 2 spots ahead of Cuba.
- Mike, Derry