My experience with ACA
Just had a h#ll of an afternoon, trying to deal with my state's health care marketplace. I am still without a plan as of almost 6 pm this evening. My current policy expires on the 31st of this month, I am unemployed, and I am scheduled for surgery in October. Even with the unemployment, I still make too much money for the state low-income assistance program, because they figure in the GROSS benefits; well, I don't receive the part of the gross amount that then goes for taxes, now do I, so how can that be income?
As I qualifed for a 73% tax credit discount, there were then no plans that "fit" me.
The lady helping me said I should just go to a broker. She had become just as frustrated with the system as I was. But I already had talked to a broker, and it was ridiculously expensive.
Since I had no choice, I drove over to a different broker to see what (s)he could do. He did come up with something, but it was still a little steep. He told me that because of ACA, that there was a new rule that policies bought in the second half of the month don't go into effect until the following month (so in this case, October). So regardless, I have one month with no health insurance. The agent was actually sympathetic, and even seemed weary of a for-profit system of health care, himself.
I have half-heartedly accepted the ACA; I much prefer single-payer. More people are covered, and existing conditions now play no role in determining coverage, and that is good. But D#MN, people! This is ridiculous!
The main thing is, once again, like so many others, I have come face-to-face with the naked greed of the Insurance Industry and hence am reminded (as if I needed reminding) of the sheer evil of a health care system based on capitalism. We are not a civilized country as long as profit is being made on the backs of the sick.
I kept muttering to myself this afternoon, "I hate this f#@$ing country", but actually, it is the capitalist system that needs to be changed.
= new reply since forum marked as read
YMMV, but it takes some effort.
First, we don't have single payer, but we also don't have merciless providers who can say no.
Which is not to say that they can't make life miserable, but in the end the have to provide insurance.
If what you accepted includes the 73% credit, count yourself among millions who will actually have insurance who didn't have it before.
Of if they could get it, are now getting it at as much as 75% of or greater.
Do be sure to read the details, stay in network, and continue to work with your ACA rep(s) and don't depend on the actual carrier, in my case Anthem, who tried to exclude legitimate claims.
The dust hasn't settled, but my ~$600,000 brain surgeries may come in at under $6,000.
That's worth the premium, but it takes effort.
Like Obama said, he can't do this without us.
is worth every penny. Carry on, NYC-SKP. 
Thanks so much.
