My experience with Obamacare

[Joe Bacon]

Had to go see the Doctor on Jan 2.

Changes:

1) Lab tests now cost ZERO!
2) The Pantoprozole that used to cost $128 now goes DOWN to $20!
3) Infusions I used to have to pay $100 now goes DOWN to $10!
4) Copay to see Dr. went up from $15 to $20, but do you think I'm complaining????

THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT!

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. Honest question. When did you sign up? I signed up in October. No card. No bill. No record

of me at Humana. Put in a call to ACA, and they have me registered. Have now logged 2.5 hours on "hold" with Humana without speaking to a human.

I'm just interested. Thrilled I was able to sign up. Bummed I'm not able to get my heart meds yet.

[Joe Bacon]

2. What state are you in?

California is working OK for me!

[ScreamingMeemie]

3. I don't think it matters (it's a multistate plan).

My father signed up for his Medicare change (he recently moved here from Michigan) two months after me and already has his info.

In other words, I'm thinking states who went on their own are being screwed. I'm rather depressed about the whole thing at this point, but really happy for you.

[snot]

18. I'm in a state that went its own way, and have enrolled in Obamacare . . .

F.w.i.w., here's my take.

I used to have insurance through my employer. For a while it was Human, for a while it was United Healthcare. My experiences dealing with those companies was not great. Especially with the latter, there were problems getting claims paid properly, and once incident where, in order to obtain coverage for a device, I was required to buy something from an in-network provider that was more expensive and inferior in quality to what could have been obtained out of network, which led me to believe there must be some kind of kick-back from or other economic interest of UHC in the provider -- the effect being to provide more expensive, inferior care, which cost me nothing up front but doubtless increased the premiums paid for the insurance.

So before Obamacare, when I had to replace my employer-provided insurance, I researched the companies selling insurance in my area and found that, while BCBS had had problems in some states, in mine, it seemed to be the best of the lot in terms of how it treats insureds, etc.

So when it was time to sign up for Obamacare, I only looked at the BCBS plans. They may have been more expensive than other options for all I know, but they were still hundreds of dollars cheaper than what I had had though my employer and provided better coverage, and I feel I'm dealing with a company that will treat me better, too.

And in fact, even though I signed up in Dec., I've received my card and everything seems to be on track.

Given the time wasted trying to get the proper coverage $$ from the other companies, not to mention coverage $$ I simply gave up on ever receiving even if I were entitled to them, I didn't mind the possibility that I might be paying more for BCBS.

But again, I understand people in other states have NOT had such good experiences with their BCBS – I think there are separate divisions for each state – so be sure to do some research regarding to your area.

[ScreamingMeemie]

19. I had BCBS and they kicked me off (had it for years through my husband's work).

Unfortunately, the closest BCBS doctor is 50 miles away.

Humana was the option with doctors close by. I spent a good deal of time researching. It is what it is unfortunately.

[babylonsister]

4. I'd say Humana is screwing you,

perhaps unintentionally. The ASA rep I spoke to told me to be vigilant w/Humana and make sure I am registered with them. I just signed up last week, so no worries yet. BUT, I am one of the people whose whole premium is covered because I make so little the subsidies cover me; got a call yesterday from Humana telling me I'm not eligible until I pay my premium.
I was given a number which I called and was told it's their error; maybe they're making a lot of them. Here's the number I was given to talk to a Humana rep (a real person!) in case you don't have it:
1-888-543-2058
Hours: Mon-Sat., 7am-6pm CST.
Good luck!

[pangaia]

5. Humana is just another shit assed profit drven corporation.

They own insurance, hospitals, doctors.... bottom line is what counts, along with share holders...
Sorry for your problems. Hope thins work out for you..
I'm lucky enough to have a pretty darn good not-for-profit insurance company here in western NY...

[cynzke]

7. Signed up with Kaiser

on December 20th. Received a bill from them on December 29th due Jan. 10th. The delay with Humana is troublesome.

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. The woman from ACA was very helpful and said to call back right away if there were further troubles

with Humana so they could get to the bottom of it.

I'm going to give the call and hold one more shot and then I'll call Healthcare.gov back. I was impressed by their response time.

[SoapBox]

14. Ugh...Humana.

Offish topic...
Humana bought out my Mom's Medicare insurance plan/company in 2012. The devil was in the details as they raised various costs, copays, max out of pocket levels, etc. Needless to say, I picked another plan for 2013.

I had to change plans, again, for 2014 for her...

Called Humana for info for Medicare plans TWICE...never got it.

Fuck them...I will never contact them for anything again.

And yes, I did read online (and they had raised various charges again) but find hard materials easier to work with, highlighting and making notes.

[ScreamingMeemie]

16. It was the only plan with doctors within 30 miles, it also offered good bennies

even after reading the fine print. If I could access it that is.

[Kingofalldems]

6. Pure communism.

Muslim too!

[catbyte]

9. You forgot Nazi too, LOL

[Warren Stupidity]

17. Muslin.

[Zorra]

10. I had a wellness exam and labs done yesterday. Cost: $0.

Eat your hearts out, Republicans!

[SheilaT]

11. I have coverage through my job,

and it's pretty good so far as I can tell. I don't need to use it much, lucky me.

Back in the summer I needed a physical because I was getting a new life insurance policy, in the course of which my high blood pressure was uncovered and needed to be dealt with before the policy could be issued. So I now take a very low dose diuretic, cost $10/month. Also, a couple of months ago I got a refund check because I should not have been charged one of the office visit co-pays. Nice.

Better yet, a couple of weeks ago I got the shingles shot, and there was no charge to me at all. Not sure if my insurance plan would have covered it anyway, or if that's now one of those "preventative medicine" things that are now covered.

[Paper Roses]

12. Happy to hear that the plan is working for you. Do you have Dental?

There are many of us on Medicare who have no Dental coverage and have heard that the ACA provides this care at a reasonable cost. Anyone know about this provision?

I am happy for all those Americans who have signed up for this coverage. As former self-employed, my late husband and I paid full freight for health insurance. It was the final straw in our decision to close our business. There were no options for us.

There seem to be options in the ACA that are available and more reasonable than the Medicare options(Dental, specifically). Anyone familiar with this?

[ScreamingMeemie]

13. I did sign up for dental at a quote of 23.18. The bill came in last week for $45, so I called

and told them to chuck it. I can do better on my own researching policies. Delta is (in my opinion) using it as a way to make a bit of $.

[Walk away]

15. I have to come up with $750 up front for my deductable...

then my co-pays are lower but I have to pay a 20% co-insurance on almost everything. Before I paid nothing out of pocket.

However, once my deductibles and co-pays add up to $2,000, I am covered !00% for the rest of the year.

When you crunch the numbers, I am paying about the same into a policy that used to run out of prescription coverage at $500 per yr and will now cover every penny once I meet my Out of Pocket max. The same for insurance that only covered $500 in testing per year (bloods, x-ray MRIs etc) and now will pay for everything 100% once I reach that $2,000.

And there is NO lifetime limit and no one can dump me because, after 40 years of paying for health insurance, I finally got old and sick.

Last year I ran out of testing money in February. My Endocrinologist said that treating me with my old insurance was like practicing medicine in Somalia. At best a challenge, at worse a crap shoot. I can't wait to see him next week.

[NOVA_Dem]

20. Generic prevacid had $10 copay. Refilled on Jan 1st and now costs $60.

I now have a $300 prescription deductible.