For all you people in your 40s and have private healthcare plans for you or your family,

[busterbrown]

the nightmare will begin ( just on the premium side) 2 months before you turn 50.
I’m talking just premium increases here, will average 15% as high as 25% until you reach 65.if
you think switching to a lower deductible plan will help? It might, but we just got hit for a minor
in and out hospital operation which out of pocket cost $7,000. So its a gamble...

No matter who you have as an private insurer, they all stink, you better be concerned right now
about getting our govt. to get into the single payor healthcare business. If not, be prepared to pay at
least $1,000 per month when you hit 60 with 15-25% increases per year until 65. And this only
applies to people who have had a clean bill of health for 20 years like us.... until that operation I
mentioned above. In short, the 60’s before Medicare kicks are awful if you rely on private healthcare, The minimum amount for a single person from years 60-65 will be around $75,000 per person. This
is based on my own experience, with lots of healthcare shopping experience.

Get involved now!

[OKNancy]

1. Yup. I carried Blue Cross until

it got to be 35% of our income. We dropped and are now hoping for the best and waiting for Obamacare/ Medicare
( I turn 65 in Jan of 2014, but husband is 4 years younger)

[busterbrown]

2. Really, I wish both of you nothing but good health.

[democrattotheend]

3. When you say private, do you mean self-insured, not through employer?

If so, how did you get coverage for a family of 4 for $1,000 a month? Not to sound insensitive, but my parents are self-employed and pay almost twice that for just the two of them.

That said, I agree with everything you are saying. Raising the Medicare age makes absolutely no sense...it will push costs onto individuals and employers at a time when they can least afford it. But I guess it's better than the cuts the Republicans want, which would turn the whole system into a voucher.

[busterbrown]

4. Wasn’t written well. Self insured for sure. My girlfriend and I. I’m 65 she’s 62!

Just received Medicare, thank God. She’s now paying 450 per month with a 7,000 out of pocket
per year.

[Honeycombe8]

8. "Self-insured" means you pay for all med. yourself. You mean as you said: "private" policies.

Or individual policies.

[Dorian Gray]

10. When I was paying for myself

I was paying $1200 per month. Luckily I went on my husband's plan.

This is state by state, and prices vary immensely!

[pnwmom]

5. It's not true that this "only applies if you have a clean bill of health for 20 years."

Under Obamacare, insurance rates won't be affected by your health status; only by your age and the type of plan you choose.

Your experience isn't based on Obamacare, and it's based on individual policies (as opposed to the group rates that will now be available to individuals), so it isn't very predictive. It also omits the fact that lower income families will be getting subsidies.

Were you aware that residents of all states will in 2014 have access to at least two of the health plans that US government employees can choose to belong to?

[busterbrown]

6. I can’t wait for Obamacare.......

My experience is based on 25 years with Blue Cross.. Awful!

[pnwmom]

7. Me, neither. I'd have preferred single payer, but Obamacare will be much better

than the status quo. No one will be denied insurance or have to pay higher rates because of preexisting conditions, and no one will be kicked off of insurance because they develop a serious condition. And the insurance companies will be required to put most of the premium into actual medical care rather than overhead.

[Honeycombe8]

11. I think the ins. can charge more based on health condition...

they just can't charge those extremely high "high risk" category prices. It's confusing, but that's my understanding.

For individual policies, the insurer will have to spend at least 80% of its premiums on paying claims. (85% for group policies)

[pnwmom]

15. You're not the only one who thinks that -- but you're wrong. The Rethugs have succeeded

in confusing millions of people about the provisions of the Act.

Starting in 2014, insurance companies can consider only two factors in pricing individual insurance policies: the age of the person and the type of plan chosen (gold, silver, etc.). Gender and health status cannot be considered.

http://www.healthcare.gov/law/timeline/full.html

2014
NEW CONSUMER PROTECTIONS


Prohibiting Discrimination Due to Pre-Existing Conditions or Gender. The law implements strong reforms that prohibit insurance companies from refusing to sell coverage or renew policies because of an individual’s pre-existing conditions. Also, in the individual and small group market, the law eliminates the ability of insurance companies to charge higher rates due to gender or health status. Effective January 1, 2014. Learn more about protecting Americans with pre-existing conditions.

[Honeycombe8]

17. Oh, thanks for that clarification. That is good news! nt

[Ya Basta]

9. There's also Mexico.

Quality health care in Mexico cost much less. If I needed medical care and my insurance wasn't sufficient. I will go to Mexico.

[Honeycombe8]

12. If it's so great, why do so many leave Mexico to come here? nt

[Ya Basta]

13. I wouldn't claim to know that any more than I do the Americans who leave the US to go live in Mexico

If you don't know Mexico has quality health care and don't wish to believe they do. Certainly that is your prerogative.

[Honeycombe8]

14. Questions get some people nervous, don't they? nt

[xmas74]

16. From what I understand

we have more experimental services and newer meds. For routine it's cheaper in Mexico, according to a few friends. Cosmetic is cheaper, dental is much cheaper, etc.

I know one person who had an estimate of nearly $20,000 for dental work here in the US. They had their work done in Mexico and paid well under $4000. They also had vision surgery done there in the hundreds compared to here which would be in the thousands. I also knew a transsexual years ago who was presurgery and picked up meds there, along with breast augmentation and even full body hair removal and a nose job. She said it was much more affordable there and the work was good.

[flamingdem]

18. Just got a 20% increase

However I understand that there will be subsidies starting in 2014, isn't this the case?

It's a decent percentage from what I've seen.