Radio employees find out they have no health care
Tags: James Crystal Radio, James Hilliard, Pompano Beach, United Healthcare, West Palm Beach, WFTL, WJNO, WRMF
| Thursday 23 July 2009 12:05 pm
Here’s a fresh round of ammo for Prez Barack Obama’s health care reform.
The good folks who work at radio stations WFTL-850 AM and WFTL-640 AM — including well-known on-air personalities like anti-immigration afternoon talker Joyce Kaufman, sports’ Jeff De Forrest, morning guy Russ Morley and newsman Gerrard Campbell – recently found out they’ve had no health insurance for nearly two months.
The stations’ owner, James Crystal Radio, just didn’t pay their premiums, according to this internal memo.
Oooops!
“One of us tried to fill out a prescription and was told none of us had coverage,” an insider said.
About 30 employees work for Crystal, which is owned by the legendary radio mogul James Hilliard. Hilliard once owned some of the most successful West Palm Beach area stations, including WJNO-1490 AM and WRMF 97.9 FM.
“We’re hitting a wall, like most in the media,” Hilliard said, “but employees will get their benefit back when the check clears. It’s been tough. Some years, the insurance premiums go up by 40 percent while the advertising revenues in radio keep going down. For employees who are paid lower salaries, the premiums equal their salaries. I’m a small business owner and most small business owners in this country are having the same problems.
“I do believe that health insurance is the single most important thing a company owner can do for his employees. But there may be a time when we can’t afford it.”
Still, Hilliard says the country doesn’t need Obama health.
“That would make health care even more expensive,” he said. “And those fines to people who don’t have health care? The government would make everything worse.”
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The survey question in misleading. My understanding is under the Obama proposal, employers would still be providing private health-care policies. If the premium was not paid the coverage would still lapse until someone enrolled in a different plan. You will not automatically get health care for free.
They need to set up a HRA where each individual can purchase the private coverage that fits thier needs. A one policy for all is a bad idea, everyone has different needs. Employeer dedicates a dollar amount for each employee and they buy what they need. A lot cheaper for everyone!!!
David Meeks
261-3761
Sounds like health insurance is expensive. Sounds like if there was more competition in the market the price would go down. Hussein Obuma will make health care worse and insurance more expensive. The government never solves any problems. They only make things worse. We have the best health care and the best health care providers (doctors and nurses) in the world. We have an insurance problem (lawyers and government) that needs to be fixed. I want to go to the doctor and the hospital to get my necessary care. Not the Obuma Gubment.
I’d rather die a slow painful death than accept commie socialized medicine.
single payer public option is the only hope for reforming healthcare. the profit motive should not be part of the equation. those who would defame the public option are either ill informed or profiting from the status quo….
why is the United States the only major western industrialized nation that ignores the social AND economic inequalities of for profit health insurance?
our elected leadership accepts socialized medicine for themselves… even the right wing fearmongers…
need we say more
single payer public ption is the only real reform. only the ill informed or those profiting from the status quo should be opposed. the profit motive needs removed from our helthcare system. it is immoral to profit from the misery of your meighbors
our elected leaders ALL accept socialized medicine for life… even right wing fearmongers.
need we say more
Ted, amen brother. Comments like #3 & #4 show that fearmongering still works well to keep the misinformed voting against their own best interests. Best health care in the world? You must like being denied coverage because of a pre-exsisting condition. Unbelieveable…
The amazing part to this story is Hilliard’s lack of communication with his own people…finding out you are without insurance at the drug store is pathetic, and Mr. Hillard should be ashamed of himself. Guess the obnoxious hater Joyce Kaufman isn’t pulling revenue as big as her foul mouth is………