Obamacare succeeding

[MysticSang'ha]

The favorable ratings I've heard from people I've known who had been denied coverage for years due to pre-existing conditions. People who already had medical bills twice the size of a hefty mortgage with little hope of ever paying them off.

The unfavorable ratings I've heard from people I've known are those whose insurance rates have gone up after the ACA implementation. Families who have been unable to afford deductibles when the **** hits the fan.

I see it as a mixed bag.

 

[4consideration]

This is a handy website with a health care cost calculator. I've personally known two people who have gotten insurance through this website and are happy with their coverage. There's also a link to get dental coverage as well.

I asked for a quote for a family of four who live in Florida, both non smoking and both 40 years old with a combined income of $30,000 a year. The kids are either covered for free or at a greatly reduced rate. I'm pretty sure that most families could afford this. You may have to wait a moment for the info to load.

Getinsured.com

Hi, Buttercup. Thanks for looking into it. I appreciate that. I'll check that one out.

Florida has a coverage program for children that provides good coverage, and all children can participate regardless of income -- just have to pay the full premium amount if family income is over approx. 45,000. We don't qualify for subsidy through the state plan and pay the full premium for the kids. It's $306, and worth it, IMO.

We both smoke, and I'm over 50. My problem is that in looking for coverage for us (parents,) we were getting premium estimates of $800-$1,200 a month for two of us (that would be usable,) with the estimated Obamacare subsidy, and 6,000/12,000 deductible. The medical facilities around us didn't even accept most of those, (I think I found 1 that is accepted about 30 miles away) so the best we could have done is pay nearly $1,000 a month, and not even have enough left over to pay for medical expenses to meet the deductible, if we actually needed to see a doctor at all. We could have cancelled the kids coverage and gotten much less coverage, in order to get more taken off the premium by including them in a family plan -- but their combined premium for a plan with small co-pays is less than 1 person's deductible in the other plans and their plan covers so much more. It just didn't make sense to severely reduce the kids coverage. So...we are paying penalties for the two parents.

 

[Buttercup]

Hi, Buttercup. Thanks for looking into it. I appreciate that. I'll check that one out.

Florida has a coverage program for children that provides good coverage, and all children can participate regardless of income -- just have to pay the full premium amount if family income is over approx. 45,000. We don't qualify for subsidy through the state plan and pay the full premium for the kids. It's $306, and worth it, IMO.

We both smoke, and I'm over 50. My problem is that in looking for coverage for us (parents,) we were getting premium estimates of $800-$1,200 a month for two of us (that would be usable,) with the estimated Obamacare subsidy, and 6,000/12,000 deductible. The medical facilities around us didn't even accept most of those, (I think I found 1 that is accepted about 30 miles away) so the best we could have done is pay nearly $1,000 a month, and not even have enough left over to pay for medical expenses to meet the deductible, if we actually needed to see a doctor at all. We could have cancelled the kids coverage and gotten much less coverage, in order to get more taken off the premium by including them in a family plan -- but their combined premium for a plan with small co-pays is less than 1 person's deductible in the other plans and their plan covers so much more. It just didn't make sense to severely reduce the kids coverage. So...we are paying penalties for the two parents.

I'd definitely look into and shop around although open enrollment is over. You may be able to still get coverage if you meet one of the criteria. My daughter is a health insurance account manager and she told me that deductibles can't be over $6250 now. You might check that too.

I'm still on my husband's insurance. I'm not looking forward to getting my own after our divorce, I have to say. I'll be paying at least $250 a month. That's light compared to some folks though.

 

[Revoltingest]

We both smoke.....

<shocked expression> I don't believe it! <aghast expression>

 

[Marisa]

I'm not seeing what's so wonderful about Obamacare, and I find it amusing that people that don't actually have to deal with it seem to see it so favorably.

Among many things to not like about Obamacare, I think there is a level of justifiable anger to be someone who is being penalized for not being able to afford coverage, and pay a penalty... so other people may have free, or subsidized coverage, and see people talk about you like you're some kind of cold-hearted, greedy sob for not liking it.

Even proponents of the ACA admit that it is flawed. This is largely do to what is demanded of the ACA. Were it allowed to be what it needs to be, which is a single payer system, many of theses "flaws" would cease to exist. IF healthcare is going to be administered on a "for profit" basis however, then there simply has to be a mandate.

Incidentally, the issue of mandated health coverage is what tanked "Hillarycare" in the 90's. It was first proposed then by republicans at the behest of insurance companies, and felt it would be unconstitutional and didn't want it. Given that Obama was largely advised on this legislation by those present in the Clinton administration, I'm reasonably sure that no one is more surprised than he is that the mandate held up to SCOTUS' scrutiny.

 

[4consideration]

I'd definitely look into and shop around although open enrollment is over. You may be able to still get coverage if you meet one of the criteria. My daughter is a health insurance account manager and she told me that deductibles can't be over $6250 now. You might check that too.

I'll check some more, (especially since I just got a part-time job offer that I accepted.)

I wasn't very clear when I wrote 6,000/12,000. I meant 6,000 per person, 12,000 for family. Do you know if that $6,250 is for family plans, or just for individuals?

 

[4consideration]

<shocked expression> I don't believe it! <aghast expression>

I know. I know. Cigarette smoking is a terrible addiction. It just happens to be the only addiction Obamacare policies allow insurance companies to even ask about. If it was a street drug addiction or alcohol addiction it wouldn't be held against us during open enrollment.

 

[Buttercup]

I'll check some more, (especially since I just got a part-time job off that I accepted.)

I wasn't very clear when I wrote 6,000/12,000. I meant 6,000 per person, 12,000 for family. Do you know if that $6,250 is for family plans, or just for individuals?

Ack. Just asked and she said the 6250 is for an individual and it IS12k is for a family with any amount of children. Wow. Is that way higher than before ACA or ?? Maybe you could post here what you find out for others to know. I'd be interested in the premiums you find as well.

EDIT: I should note that our insurance hasn't changed at all since the ACA. Our premium portion is about $250 a month for just Rick and I. The other $250 of premium is paid for through his FAA retirement. However, we've always had deductibles of $350-450 per person a year. Each kid was the same as well.

 

[Revoltingest]

I know. I know. Cigarette smoking is a terrible addiction. It just happens to be the only addiction Obamacare policies allow insurance companies to even ask about. If it was a street drug addiction or alcohol addiction it wouldn't be held against us during open enrollment.

Some addictions are more socially acceptable (the "Kennedy Effect").

 

[Wirey]

Ack. Just asked and she said the 6250 is for an individual and it IS12k is for a family with any amount of children. Wow. Is that way higher than before ACA or ?? Maybe you could post here what you find out for others to know. I'd be interested in the premiums you find as well.

EDIT: I should note that our insurance hasn't changed at all since the ACA. Our premium portion is about $250 a month for just Rick and I. The other $250 of premium is paid for through his FAA retirement. However, we've always had deductibles of $350-450 per person a year. Each kid was the same as well.

Are you people insane? Our deductible is zero fro an individual, and zero for a family. And my taxes pay for it instead of bailing out a banker who used my life savings at the craps table of Wall Street. You guys need to wake up and look at how the civilized world handles this. The frigging people in Luxembourg puzzled it out.

 

[Revoltingest]

Are you people insane?

Yes.
Look at whom we elect.
Look at what they do.
And we reelect'm.

 

[Buttercup]

Are you people insane? Our deductible is zero fro an individual, and zero for a family. And my taxes pay for it instead of bailing out a banker who used my life savings at the craps table of Wall Street. You guys need to wake up and look at how the civilized world handles this. The frigging people in Luxembourg puzzled it out.

When we finally divorce, I'll be better off now than as a single person before ACA even though premiums are based on income and I make good money. My dental insurance will be cheaper and better too than before the ACA. I've already gotten quotes for this stuff.

Still, I have always envied your medical options in Canada. But, if you mention the words "socialized healthcare" in 'Merica, you could get shot. It's utterly ridiculous and embarrassing.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I'm not seeing what's so wonderful about Obamacare, and I find it amusing that people that don't actually have to deal with it seem to see it so favorably.

Among many things to not like about Obamacare, I think there is a level of justifiable anger to be someone who is being penalized for not being able to afford coverage, and pay a penalty... so other people may have free, or subsidized coverage, and see people talk about you like you're some kind of cold-hearted, greedy sob for not liking it.

You also need to take into consideration those who make too much to qualify for subsidies and make too little to pay the mandated costs that is needed for food, housing and transportation costs and such.

I fall into that category and suspect there are millions that do as well. The middle class once again gets ****** up the *** and makes already a financially precarious situation even worse than ever before.

 

[Mycroft]

When it comes to healthcare, one must make an obligatory EGADS! GENTLEMEN! THINK OF THE CHILDREN! post

 

[Twilight Hue]

Yes, I also think the NHS is a great thing. My point is, Obamacare isn't taken out of tax, it's a separate health insurance scheme.

Of course. Honestly, I'd much rather have seen a tax increase that covers the entire program, but I'm sure everyone knows or at least suspects why it was not done that way. Sneaking little *******'s.

 

[4consideration]

You also need to take into consideration those who make too much to qualify for subsidies and make too little to pay the mandated costs that is needed for food, housing and transportation costs and such.

I fall into that category and suspect there are millions that do as well. The middle class once again gets ****** up the *** and makes already a financially precarious situation even worse than ever before.

We fall into that category, too. I agree millions probably fall into it as well.

 

[Buttercup]

We fall into that category, too. I agree millions probably fall into it as well.

If you don't mind me asking, have you and your husband been without health insurance? I'm not sure of your employment situation but it's pretty rare for an employer to not at least pay a portion for health benefits for their full time employees.

 

[4consideration]

If you don't mind me asking, have you and your husband been without health insurance? I'm not sure of your employment situation but it's pretty rare for an employer to not at least pay a portion for health benefits for their full time employees.

My husband is self employed. He's excellent at what he does, and makes good money. We're responsible for our own coverage, self-employment taxes, etc.

The two of us have been without coverage for a while, paying medical expenses out of pocket. We don't go to the doctor a lot.

 

[Buttercup]

My husband is self employed. He's excellent at what he does, and makes good money. We're responsible for our own coverage, self-employment taxes, etc.

The two of us have been without coverage for a while, paying medical expenses out of pocket. We don't go to the doctor a lot.

That's kind of what I thought. I'm in the same boat by being self employed. Still, the numbers you quoted for just the two of you seem unusually high. My daughter said to check out the calculator on this site, too. Homepage | Get Covered AmericaGet Covered America

 

[Mister_T]

Sad part of it all is I'm not really against a universal healthcare system.

And we almost had it too. Sadly, Congress decided it was better to serve the insurance companies instead of the people and the end result is what we have now: A big giveaway to the insurance companies.