Obama wins, saves economy single-handedly while defeating economy-hating Republicans

[KrazyHorse]

How MANY, Albert? How MANY can't borrow 1200$ on relatively short notice? If a 23 year-old graduate student with 0 credit history and an 18k a year job can borrow 1500$ on demand, then how many American workers CAN afford a few hundred dollars a year in premiums but CAN'T afford 1200$ in borrowing?

[Al B. Sure!]

How MANY, Albert? How MANY can't borrow 1200$ on relatively short notice? If a 23 year-old graduate student with 0 credit history and an 18k a year job can borrow 1500$ on demand, then how many American workers CAN afford a few hundred dollars a year in premiums but CAN'T afford 1200$ in borrowing?

It's a lot easier to pay out $360/year in weekly installments of just under $7 than to afford $1200 in one go.

I know a lot of people who work who are unable to borrow except from check cash-in paycheck loans or maybe credit cards that charge 28% per annum.

[Ben Kenobi]

My point is that there are clearly people and circumstances in which dental insurance makes sense.

Well sure, but that's not the argument here. KH will readily concede that there's always exceptions. The point KH is trying to make is that insurance only makes sense for catastrophic cases which cannot be foreseen. Say life insurance, or disability. It makes sense to insure for either because they will have a profound impact on your future earnings capacity. Some medical as well.

Dental insurance? Not so much. Insurance for repeated events is simply not worth it.

[Al B. Sure!]

I guess you all don't get the warranty

[Jon Miller]

No, well, I have on things like laptops.

I keep minimal insurance unless I plan to be using it.

JM

[MikeH]

Alby, when even Ben gets it...

[Al B. Sure!]

Alby, when even Ben gets it...

Please provide something from somewhere that isn't Apolyton that shows that dental insurance is useless.

I've been googling terms like "dental insurance useless" "dental insurance pointless" "purpose dental insurance" "dental insurance shouldn't exist" "dental insurance worthless" and I'm getting nothing.

I fully understand the whole dilemma with it and most uses of health insurances in that claims are usually paid out for small routine things and not catastrophic events. Duh.

But it still exists and gets used so it's got to be more complex than just a tax deductible.

[Hauldren Collider]

If I had a vehicle currently then I wouldn't insure it against collision damage. The fraction of my lifetime earning plausible losses would inflict upon me would be similar to the fraction of earnings that the median worker would suffer due to the lack of dental insurance.

15k would be unpleasant to lose, but not catastrophic.

But you need to be insured against medical liabilities, because those have essentially no upper bound (which is stupid).

It's a lot easier to pay out $360/year in weekly installments of just under $7 than to afford $1200 in one go.

I know a lot of people who work who are unable to borrow except from check cash-in paycheck loans or maybe credit cards that charge 28% per annum.

Which is why you get a loan, and pay out $360/yr plus interest.

And wow, you don't have to put it on a credit card. There are other kinds of loans you know.

No, well, I have on things like laptops.

I keep minimal insurance unless I plan to be using it.

JM

Getting the extra warranty on laptops is the same mistake as dental insurance, minus the tax advantage.

[Jon Miller]

I don't have the money to buy a new laptop every 2 years.

JM

[Al B. Sure!]

I don't have the money to buy a new laptop every 2 years.

JM

These rich boys seem to think that that is a possibility... or that the pittance that you pay for the extended warranty somehow is the present value of a laptop in 2 years.

[Jon Miller]

Actually, what I have ended up doing is buying netbooks, because I can replace them after 2 years.

JM

[Dinner]

I for one am laughing at people with bad teeth.

Of course, I have dental insurance but other then my two yearly cleanings I never need it.

[Hauldren Collider]

Hiring workers in third world countries is not exploitation unless slavery is involved.

It is in fact improving their lives. Yes, even Nike workers.

[Ninot]

Philippines mention? YES!

You could provide such cheap dental insurance for them it's laughable, they all brush their teeth 20 times a day.

[Ninot]

Pay them in rice and jeepney fare. Anything more then that you can hold back until they make middle management.