I did my "open enrollment" today.

[moriah]

My plan goes up from $83 to $97. Unlike the estimates, I was shown a plan that was the exact same as my current plan, with the exception of including prescription medications in the deductible. Prescription copays stay the same, where the estimates showed they were significantly higher.

So January and February will be hard months. I'll still hit my $1200 max out-of-pocket, probably faster because of the $500 deductible. I didn't touch my actual deductible this year and still managed to hit it. I have been trying to put some money in a savings account for next year's deductible, but moving made that difficult. Next year I will try to get enough in savings to cover the deductible.

But otherwise, I can still pay my rent and get food to eat, because the 1.7% COLA increase on my SSDI benefits is more than enough to make the difference, even though my premium is going up 15%.

Whew. Sigh of relief. And gratitude that I at least have health care.

-----

Now, let's start working to improve the ACA, by opening up subsidies to families who are paying more than 9% of their family income for family coverage, instead of just 9% of family income for individual coverage.

[still_one]

1. Actually I thought it was more than 8% of their income. However, your point is right on. There are

folks out their whose costs for premiums are unaffordable to them, and they need to be subsidized

Unfortunately, a lot of this talk is going to be dependent on the SC decision regarding subsidies, in states that do not have an exchange

[moriah]

2. Either way, yeah, there are folks making $45k supporting a family of 4....

... like teachers in my state. The individual coverage is $45.00, but coverage for a family is $350.36 a month on the "bronze" plan with a huge deductible. Going up to a silver plan, with only a $1000 deductible, makes family coverage go to $750 a month. Gold is over $1000 a month with no deductible.

[still_one]

3. Another problem, which is maybe what you are saying is that someone who is just slightly over the

income level for a subsidy by a couple hundred dollars, could be paying a significant higher premium, and that needs to be rectified

[moriah]

5. They phase out the subsidy at that level, so it's not much at 400% of the poverty line.

For the same family of four, it's only $100 difference if they make $95,400 compared to if they made $95,401.

[still_one]

8. A lot of issues need to be corrected, and they are all doable.

[brer cat]

11. Do you by any chance know if

ACA allows families to purchase individual policies for each member rather than a family plan? My daughter just started a new job which offers coverage so she is no longer in ACA. Initially she didn't think she could afford the family plan but she found that she could buy a plan separately for each daughter that cost a lot less. One daughter takes an expensive medication, the other has no ongoing medical needs. She bought one plan that had a low deductible & copay for rx coverage so her daughter's meds will be covered 10 months of the year. For the other child, she has basically catastrophic coverage, although she does get a routine exam each year that is covered.

Sometimes a little creativity can help. I know very few young families that can afford 750-1000 a month plus deductibles & copays.

[VanillaRhapsody]

14. families of 4 making up to $90k a year are going to be subsidized.

[moriah]

18. Not if their employer's insurance only charges less than 9% of their income for an individual....

.... doesn't say squat about family coverage, which as you can see from the examples I gave for teachers in Arkansas, exceeds individual premiums by a significant amount.

[VanillaRhapsody]

19. Uh teachers are making $90,000 a year?

in Arkansas?

and its about the ENTIRE amount including the deductibles not just premiums...

[moriah]

20. It's the "family glitch". Surely you remember it?

I never said teachers in Arkansas were making that much, as a matter of fact from context I estimated about $45k. That may be generous.

And edit to add, here's Al Franken arguing for an act to fix it. http://www.franken.senate.gov/files/documents/140605FamilyGlitch.pdf

[VanillaRhapsody]

21. Okay I get it...and yes that needs to be fixed.....

but we have our work cut out for us now getting "fixes" our way......this last election did not make it any easier...

[moriah]

22. Fixing it would have wide support from middle-class voters being squashed by high insurance prices.

That was one of the main objections to the ACA among my friends who are less liberal than I am, that it didn't cover them and they were paying outrageous amounts. With the "family glitch" fixed, it would cover them.

[VanillaRhapsody]

23. But voters aren't going to get that on a referendum....

and there are no more elections for 2 more years...I hope President Obama will Executive order it...

[moriah]

24. Someone needs to get Change.org or something set on writing all members of the Senate Finance ....

... Committee to get Al Franken's bill through the committee, too.

When they see that their people support the bill, to open up the ACA to them, too, it would help some in getting it at least out of committee and to the floor.

[shenmue]

4. My plan is going up by $50 a month

if I stay with the same one. I know it's Humana's decision, unconnected to the amount of my subsidy, but still. I only have a part-time job through January, and I work 20 hours a week at $8.25 an hour. I may have to drop insurance altogether. Before anyone asks- I've been rejected by Medicare several times before. I live with my folks, and they seem to assume Mom and Dad are rich. They are not.

[moriah]

6. It'd be Medicaid if you were a non-disabled, non-elderly adult. Did they not expand in your state?

I'm sorry they didn't. That level would make you eligible for Medicaid here in Arkansas.

[shenmue]

7. I live in Flory-dah, land of pRick Scott

Nobody's getting anything done until Mr. Almost a Felon is out of office.

[VanillaRhapsody]

15. Your folks shouldn't effect it....you need to go back to the Exchange and try again...

[Arger68]

9. My current plan went from $287/mo to $322/mo.

$6000 max out of pocket, 40% co-pay up to that. about an 11% increase, which historically is about average. I went on the exchange and am seeing a different plan, $6000 max out of pocket with $3000 deductible then 50% co-pay up to the $6000 max. It ain't the best plan in the world, but I can afford it and hopefully won't have any more medical issues for a while. Also, I'm self-employed and if I have a bad year I'm eligible for a subsidy if my income falls low enough. The plan I had before the ACA was a flat $10,000 deductible with no co-pay. I paid $30,000 out of pocket between 2008 and 2012, and couldn't lower my deductible due to pre-existing conditions. I got a letter from my insurance co. last year saying I could keep my plan but the premium was going from $185/mo to $227/mo. "Obamacare" isn't single-payer like I'd really like to have, but it's a hell of a lot better than before!!

[steve2470]

10. My unsubsidized premium is going up 24.6%, BC&BS of Florida...

Hopefully with the 2015 subsidy I can still afford it. Otherwise, I'll have to downgrade coverage. Pisses me off that it is going up so much, that's the most my premium has ever increased.

Best wishes to everyone and good luck with healthcare.gov.

[moriah]

12. Try to stay if you can with a Silver plan, they have the cost-sharing help.

I feel for all of you guys in Florida, I really do.

[steve2470]

13. thanks for kind thoughts !

I'm pretty sure I can stay with a silver plan. It just blows my mind that my unsubsidized plan premium went up 24.6% in one year.

[VanillaRhapsody]

16. I went from Employer BC/BS to Exchange BC/BS Silver plan....

exactly the same coverage...I was unemployed a few months and got a subsidy and my premiums were only $61 a month

[steve2470]

17. that's very awesome !

I'm so glad people can get great subsidies, and coverage for all conditions without worries about pre-existing conditions. Trust me, the blame for this price increase rests solely at the feet of Florida BCBS. Without the ACA, I would be forced to downgrade my coverage and increase my out-of-pocket and deductibles. With the ACA, I can maintain my coverage in the same class of plans.

[riderinthestorm]

25. Waiting for Glitterati to check in...

[Liberal_in_LA]

26. glad its working for you

[moriah]

27. Me, too. I wish it could work for others, too.

Obamacare would have had far more widespread support when it started if the "family glitch" had not been in effect.

I hope that they are able to fix it soon.