Ok, so I took the plunge.....I checked out the ACA website......got a quote...and

[clarice]

It's almost DOUBLE what my current insurance costs are for Health Insurance.
VERY disappointed.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. For roughly the same coverage?

The devil tends to be in the details.

[clarice]

2. Yes...for VERY similar coverage. nt

[karynnj]

49. Then why not keep your plan - if it is the same - it qualifies

Or -- is your plan via an employer that is paying part of the premium?

[clarice]

50. I am going to keep my plan. I was just looking for something cheaper. nt

[hedda_foil]

3. Did you qualify for government funding of a portion of the premium?

Does your company pick up some of your current costs? If so, how much is the 3rd party contribution compared to the part you have to pay?

[clarice]

4. I am self employed. The coverage is just for my immediate Family. nt

[hedda_foil]

10. Thanks. You don't qualify for a government subsidy then?

[clarice]

13. No, unfortunately, we don't nt

[hedda_foil]

16. Having been a small business owner myself, I feel your pain.

I had a couple of minor preexisting conditions, so I didn't qualify for private health insurance. I had to pay a fortune for coverage through a small association, and then to the state for its high risk pool insurance.

Medicare looked VERY good to me.

[clarice]

17. I'm so glad to hear that...the whole thing is just a MESS. nt

[pangaia]

77. You probably already know this, but in case not...

The local Chamber of Commerce where I live has a number of insurance plans with lower rates because they get group rates. The rates here, a few years ago, anyway, were quite a bit cheaper than one could find just shopping around.. And good plans as well... Or at least as good as 'good' might mean.. MUCH better than ACA..

[clarice]

78. Hmmmmmm I wonder if we have that here? Great suggestion, I DIDN"T know that. nt

[jamzrockz]

80. where is here?

If you give your location, maybe members can better help you to find a more affordable healthcare deal. Maybe someone knows about a deal for small business owners?

[clarice]

101. Texas....don't cringe. lol

[Trajan]

5. ACA = Third Way semi-conservative nonsense ...

More evidence as to why this situation is detrimental to the nation and needs to be stopped .. ACA, for all it's cheerleading here in DLC DU, is a fucking loser for the people ...

Bernie cannot come soon enough ....

[clarice]

19. Every time I hear ANY politician say "I'm firmly behind the small business person"....

I KNOW that it's true....because I can feel them back there, %$#ing me every day.

[dembotoz]

39. got that right...fellow very small business owner (as in me)

thank god spouse has family plan

[clarice]

40. Right on. nt

[treestar]

44. Small business owners are the very persons benefitted

You can get a plan on the exchange rather than one that is not subsidized and is a lot worse. I went from huge deductible to a much lower one with co-pays.

[clarice]

46. I guess that it wan't meant for me. Thanks. nt

[Docreed2003]

71. And usually...

Without the courtesy of a reach around...

[clarice]

76. I'll give YOU a reach around you big knuckle head. lol

[MADem]

102. And how is he going to change things? By decree? Please tell us how "Bernie coming" will

magically fix things? I really want to know.

[Scuba]

6. Medicare for all, including dental, optical, hearing aids and mental health services.

And yes, we can afford it. In fact, we can't afford NOT to have it.

[Ed Suspicious]

7. +1.

[leftstreet]

9. You would have us give up the Gerald R Ford Aircraft Carrier Program?

Name: Gerald R. Ford–class aircraft carrier
Builders: Newport News Shipbuilding
Operators: United States Navy
Preceded by: Nimitz class
Cost:
Program cost: $36.30 billion[1](FY15)
Unit cost: $10.44B[1](FY15)
Building: 1
Planned: 10[2][3]
Completed: 1 (awaiting commissioning)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_R._Ford-class_aircraft_carrier

Why do you hate America?

[SammyWinstonJack]

22. SMDH

[yardwork]

8. Can you stay with your current coverage?

[clarice]

11. Yes, luckily, I can. Thanks for asking. nt

[yardwork]

12. I'm glad to hear it.

[louis-t]

14. It still works for me.

$154 a month for a silver plan. I recently went to ER for heart issue. 100% covered for the ER visit. $1,500 deductible for major stuff. $10 copay for drugs. The subsidy I get is about $350 a month. A guy in my office who makes the same as I do loves to complain about his insurance going up. He refuses to go on the website, refuses the subsidy. Just loves to complain about how terrible it is.

[clarice]

15. I talked to a nurse friend of mine....

and I didn't realize all of the chaos the ACA is causing in the health care industry until I talked to her

[subterranean]

18. What kind of chaos?

Other than more patients and maybe more insurance plans to deal with, what kind of "chaos" is it causing? I'm just curious what your nurse friend had to say about it.

[clarice]

23. With out bashing the ACA......she more or less said.....

that there was a LOT of confusion ie paperwork, Doctors considering opting out of the plan,
insurance companies cutting their coverage back, drastically increased premiums, people having to switch
primary care givers. Now obviously, I am no expert on "The Plan" or it's ramifications, just relaying what she
said. BTW...she is a staunch Liberal.

[subterranean]

37. Thanks.

Not questioning your claim, and I'm not in the health care industry, but I'm pretty sure coverage cutbacks and rising premiums were happening before the ACA, too.

Personally, the premiums for my current exchange plan are also going up next year (not nearly double, though), so I'm shopping for a new plan. I expect there will be fewer and fewer "affordable" options available every year.

[Texasgal]

89. To be fair...

I am at the forefront of healthcare. I am a surgical nurse. Insurance has ALWAYS been difficult and hard to work with. It is constantly changing and it's always been a quagmire to deal with. ACA I do not believe made things more difficult, it is just another angle in this whole mess of healthcare in this country.

I'll tell ya what has been a mess... ICD-10! If you wanna talk about CRAZY changes!

On Edit: I am not completely happy with ACA either. My husband is on it and his premiums will rise over 100.00 dollars this year with no more help in subsidy and less income coming in. It's not prefect but it is all we have right now. Just thought I'd add that.

[clarice]

91. Thanks TG....and you are right....a complete mess.....

I'm sure that with your position...you have all kinds of nightmare stories.

[ismnotwasm]

104. Oh hell yes

The ICD-10. I have nothing to do with coding anymore but have I heard stories. The ACA is very successful up to a certain income level--the it becomes problematic. My premiums will rise just on my regular insurance, but I heard the ACA's had doubled in some instances. I'm a strong supporter of the ACA,(It's very successful in the state of Washington) but I also know it needs work.

I went to my Union convention this year, and nursing leaders are very aware that MD's may opt out, and there are less and less entering medical school. They believe Nurse practitioner's should fill that gap. There also believe that nurses should be a very strong part of any policy making with health care. (Well... Of course!)

So I'm going to nurses legislation day this year to find out what's up.

Keeping a eye on Colorado--see if they can get a successful single payer going

[csziggy]

114. I don't see any difference between our ACA policy and those from employers

When my husband worked and got insurance though his employer we were at the mercy of whatever policy the employer chose. Over his 15 years of working for the same employer they changed providers four times. Each time we had to consider whether to switch primary care givers or pay the difference for out of network providers. Sometimes the same insurance company changed coverage, changed premiums, changed which doctors and facilities they would cover. We never knew from one year to the next and had no say in what choices we were offered.

I just signed us up for our second year through the ACA. The insurance company we have this year is opting out so we had no choice. We had two companies to pick between - Blue Cross/Blue Shield and United Health Care. United Health Care only covers HMOs in this state, so we went with BC/BS.

This year our share of the premiums is $30 less per month, our deductibles are less, more of our medications should be covered, ALL of our doctors are covered and BC/BS is much clearer on what is covered/not covered than Assurant ever was.

The major improvement for us is that we had a choice unlike when my husband had to work to keep insurance for us.

[clarice]

115. I hear you. nt

[Kingofalldems]

28. Oh I get it.

[Facility Inspector]

51. hey, at least you got yours, right?

[louis-t]

70. And millions of people "got theirs" too.

But thanks for your concern.

[Liberal Veteran]

20. I am currently navigating the system as it were.

I have HIV and coronary artery disease and had Medicaid up until this month. I got a raise at work that pushed me out of medicaid eligibility and I ended up having to get a case worker to help me navigate my options for the year.

I do have insurance through work, but it sucks, badly (like I have extra money to put into an HSA). I can't afford the prescription coverage they offer. My only hope now is that between ACA and ADAP (aids drug assistance program) I can somehow manage to get medical coverage without being put into abject poverty.

It is stupid that one can work a full-time job and have to rely on assistance to make ends meet.

[clarice]

24. I am so sorry to hear of your difficulties. My heart goes out to you. nt

[Freddie]

21. My brother just signed up for a plan

$600/month for silver, just himself. Was more than he was expecting. He earns too much for the subsidy.
BUT...he's 62, a self-employed cancer survivor. He was on his wife's work plan but she's now on SSDI and gets Medicare. Back in the "good old days" he couldn't have gotten a private plan for any amount of $$. He's grateful this is available.

[clarice]

25. Yes....that is a good thing. nt

[valerief]

26. I'm paying $600 a month and that's with a credit, but I could get something

a lot cheaper. However, I'm not ready to gamble with that. I'm paying now what I was paying for my COBRA.

Who needs retirement savings?

[clarice]

27. Well said. nt

[valerief]

29. And yet, I'm glad to have it. Of course, I'm a single payer fan. Always was.

For-profit health coverage is a racket, just like war.

[Kingofalldems]

30. Got any proof of your claim?

[clarice]

31. Does not deserve a reply. Thanks Lantern Waste. nt

[Kingofalldems]

32. Don't understand what Lantern Waste has to do

with my question.

[clarice]

34. Aren't the two of you the same person? nt

[LanternWaste]

45. if we are one person, could you loan me $20 bucks for lunch today?

An undisciplined mind may often believe that a request for evidence supporting a premise is specific to only one person. As I've requested as much in the past (possibly to your accuser... I don't keep track of names, merely respond to the absurd and the irrational), it could easily be inferred by the mentally lazy that we are indeed, one and the same.

However, if we are one person, would you please sit at my desk for the afternoon so I may leave early and pretend to be someone else? My predilection for this afternoon's guise will be some sad sap concern-trolling over health insurance...

[clarice]

55. Thanks lanternwaste. nt

[clarice]

57. Sorry, I meant KingdomofFallen. No you've got ME confused.lol.

[Kingofalldems]

62. Having 2 accounts claiming to be one person is against the rules.

I would go to the admins if I thought this was happening.

My name is Kingofalldems by the way.

[clarice]

64. I believe you. nt

[Kingofalldems]

60. Hey buddy. Nice meeting you.

[clarice]

61. fooling no one. nt

[Kingofalldems]

63. Go to Skinner now with that accusation.

Or I will.

[clarice]

65. alright...alright...no need to tattle. I believe you. nt

[CreekDog]

121. bullshit, you got called on it

you will never go to Skinner with that accusation, because not only is it made up, the last thing you want are the admins looking at your account.

and furthermore, you accused me and KCR (I don't know who the second one is, I actually do know who Lanternwaste is) of being Lanternwaste.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7790307

you're out of control. grow up and post proof before throwing around accusations.

[clarice]

122. Called on what? Never mind...I just realized who you were.nt

[CreekDog]

123. accusing three of us real, live posters on DU of being fake

kingofalldems, kcr, and me

and accusing one poster (Lanternwaste) of pretending to be the three of us.

[clarice]

124. Now I'm REALLY confused...run that by me again?nt

[CreekDog]

125. here are the posts where you accuse 3 of us of being Lanternwaste

Here's where you accuse me and KCR of being Lanternwaste:

clarice (4,324 posts)

49. Too all concerned....don't be fooled. Lanternwaste also posts as Creekdog and KCR. FYI. nt

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7133892

And as you know, here's where today, you accused Kingofalldems of being Lanternwaste:

clarice
102. Hi Kingdom !!!!!! I've missed you...where have you been?.....

I haven't heard from Lantern or Randi for a while.... have you?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027787529#post102

[clarice]

126. Ohhhhh That was the bad crazy Clarice.... I had to kill her off.nt

By the way... how have you been?

[CreekDog]

129. enjoy your stay

at least that would make one person who does.

[clarice]

130. I would NEVER leave.... I have way too many friends here....

It seems to me that you are the one left out in the cold....come to think of it... that would explain EVERYTHING.

I am curious though.... what inspired you to bring all of this up now?

[clarice]

127. What is a sock puppet? And how do YOU use it?nt

[CreekDog]

120. you've accused me and KCR of being Lanternwaste too

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7133892


but like your trollish post about the "IRS lady" these accusations are just as bullshitty.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027116575

[treestar]

43. These claims are never true

and if that's the case, just keep the current coverage. no problem seen here.

[clarice]

59. Never was a "problem". Just a factual observation. nt

[Waldorf]

72. Why is it that when somebody posts how much they like the ACA it's always accepted as gospel, but

when somebody posts that they dislike it because of its cost (no subsidy) or high deductible it's dismissed as a lie? I know it has helped a lot of people but I also know it can be very expensive for people on limited income.

[City Lights]

98. That is odd, isn't it? I've witnessed the same and

it always leaves me scratching my head.

[onehandle]

33. An acquaintance of mine was complaining about the same thing.

He was railing about what a failure the program was and how his quote was 2x his current plan through his work.

This person makes about 80 grand a year.

I told him that this system was not designed for him.

Then he told me that Obama should go 'back to Russia.'

[clarice]

35. lol. nt

[Freddie]

52. "2x his current plan at work"

...because his employer pays for most of it!
I'm a benefits manager and everyone is shocked when they ask about COBRA. They have no idea that that amount is what your employer is paying for your coverage every month! Now with the ACA you can get something a bit cheaper than our COBRA so fewer people are taking it, a good thing.

[Facility Inspector]

53. 80G a year?!?!?!

wow, he's practically a millionaire!

[Kaleva]

54. That's about 7 times what I get a year.

[ileus]

36. and the Rx coverage is worse...much worse.

[Kaleva]

38. ACA is great for low income families and individuals

To satisfy my own curiosity, I went to the site, filled out the required info and got a message saying I qualified for Medicaid.

I won't though as I have Medicare and VA health care.

Edit: Using the quick subsidy calculator at the site, my max monthly premium for a silver plan would be no more then $33.00.

[Frustratedlady]

67. We don't have to make any changes if we are satisfied with our coverage, do we?

I am also on Medicare and VA coverage. I don't remember having to sign up each year for either coverage. I'm sure I just let it ride, but thought I'd best ask.

[Kaleva]

68. People who aren't satisified with their coverage can work to make changes if they wish.

But it's entirely up to them to make the effort.

[Frustratedlady]

69. Thanks! I have no complaints, so I will stay with the program I have. eom

[treestar]

41. You might want to call them

and they will help you - mine said a lot more than it turned out to be.

[clarice]

42. Really? Good idea. Thanks. nt

[Throd]

47. I'm self-employed. The costs just keep rising.

If I was single, I would probably just say "screw it" and hope for the best.

[clarice]

48. I KNOW !!!! It's ridiculous. nt

[Travis_0004]

84. Im sure a lot do

Its amazing how easy it is to avoid the fine.

'Forget' to pay a utility bill for 90 days.

They send a letter threatning to shut of your utilities if you don't pay up.

boom, no penalty.

[City Lights]

99. My husband is also self-employed and I agree with you.

The plan we had for the past year and a half is being cancelled by BCBS at the end of this year. The new one they have, which is as close as possible as the old one, is about $400 more per month. It's for myself, my husband and two kids. While I am thankful to have insurance, the cost is just outrageous. Our new plan will cost about $1800/month.

[clarice]

106. City, did you read my post #100? What do you think? nt

[clarice]

107. Throd....did you read my post #19? Do you agree? nt

[Throd]

119. Pretty much. I live in CA which has a pretty unfriendly climate towards business.

When my parents pass on I will be looking to relocate elsewhere.

[alarimer]

56. We were sold a bill of goods on the ACA

Companies enticed people to sign up with their plans the first year, then jacked up their rates for subsequent years, while pleading "poverty". Notice they pay their CEO's millions of dollars and amount of overhead is outrageous. Granted, some of that confusion is because of government rules.

We need single payer and we need it yesterday. This system that we have is ludicrous.

For example (I get good insurance through work...for now), I recently had surgery, which will be covered under my plan. But some of the tests and technicians who read those tests were "out of network." Now, those technicians work at the very same offices as the ones who were "in network", so why should that be? I have not yet received the final "explanation of benefits" with the surgeons, anesthesiologist, etc., on there but I fear one or more of them may have been non-network as well. How is a sick person supposed to determine who is network or not? And why should we expect someone working at a particular hospital, which is in network, to be out of it? It's fucking ridiculous.

I am not an ACA cheerleader. I think, in the end, our system is going to collapse, ACA or not.

[clarice]

58. It's disgraceful.nt

[Docreed2003]

73. Sorry to hear about your issues..

The out of network stuff is just infuriating to me as a provider. Here in RI, an insurance plan dropped all of the surgeons in the state except for one facility, practically overnight. I had several patients, some of whom requiring regular postoperative follow ups for things like cancer, that could no longer see me. Ironically, the plan didn't drop the hospital. So those patients could be seen at my hospital, but I couldn't treat them surgically...it's maddening

[lancer78]

74. Results vary

My 31 y/o girlfriend got a silver plan with $35.00 a month premium and a $500 deductible/$500 Max out of pocket with no charge for anything above the deductible.

[clarice]

75. wow....how can that be? That sounds way cheap. nt

[lancer78]

85. 232 a month subsidy n/t

[clarice]

92. oh...ok. nt

[lancer78]

95. I assume you are older

Those older and making good incomes tend to get charged a lot under ACA. But, of course the older you are, the more services you intend to use.

[clarice]

96. Yes, over 50....respectable income. nt

[lancer78]

97. yeah

My dad is 60. His insurance if self bought would be about 1800 a month. Just sucks, but the older you are, the higher rusk you are. Thing with insurance, everyone hates to pay for it until they have to use it. My dad had cancer 4 years ago. Total cost was 300,000. He basically got his money back with just that.

[clarice]

100. I hear you.... I was wondering if in the long run...

it would be cheaper to buy a "catastrophic" high deductible plan
and pay for Doctors apps and prescriptions out of pocket.
Luckily we are all in good health.

[City Lights]

110. We thought the same thing.

I only saw one catastrophic plan when I looked, and it wasn't much cheaper than the ones with broader coverage. It was disappointing, as I thought it would be a viable option for us. Seems like it would be worth delving deeper to see what else is out there.

[clarice]

111. Did you look through ACA for catastrophic or an insurance company? nt

[City Lights]

112. I'm pretty sure it was the ACA because, IIRC, only one company offered one. nt

[clarice]

116. I'm pretty sure that you can get one through a private insurer...or am I wrong?

[City Lights]

118. I would think so, but I haven't checked. nt

[SickOfTheOnePct]

79. I went to the ACA site

just out of curiosity, as I'm fortunate to have great insurance through work (federal employee). Very similar coverage was ~$4500/year more than my current coverage.

***edited because my initial math sucked balls.

[lancer78]

88. does that figure

Account for the government's share of your premium as well?

[SickOfTheOnePct]

90. Yes it does

But I don't actually think that $4500/year more is all that bad, considering that the federal government has huge bargaining power when it comes to the number of employees covered.

[clarice]

93. That's a LOT of beer money !!! nt

[ScreamingMeemie]

81. My costs went up last year (Humana sucks) but they dropped this year

with better coverage. I was able to go gold even.

[PowerToThePeople]

82. I currently get expanded medicaid for myself and child.

If I were to make lower middle class wages again (which I hope to) I would probably go back to an employer benifit plan again.

[lumberjack_jeff]

83. Of course it is more expensive, especially for working-age men, because

1) insurance companies are prevented from cherry picking
2) stuff that wasn't covered before is covered now (see "women's health&quot
3) companies must offer coverage even to those who couldn't get access at any price before.

But that reality is frequently used to exaggerate the impact on individual customers. It is wholly appropriate to take unsourced claims with a grain of salt.

[JoePhilly]

86. My premiums are going up $6 a month.

Its the smallest increase I've had in the last 20+ years.

[Kalidurga]

87. I just want to point out that pointing out a problem with the ACA is not bashing...

The ACA. This is pointing out a problem. And I think that going toward Medicare for all is a better move.

[clarice]

94. Thanks K. nt

[Marrah_G]

103. You should get in touch with a group that helps you navigate the ACA

You may have missed something important that would give you a subsidy. Also, just something to think about, you already have an extremely negative view of the ACA, make sure that does not have a hand in making you find what you expect to find. Yes, you could be one of the small part of the population that the ACA does not help and hurts instead or, you might have missed something while checking out plans.

[clarice]

105. Thanks Marrah...I'm not really negative about it....more disappointed. nt

[Marrah_G]

108. I know there are non profits out there that can look at your situation

Good luck Clarice, I hope you find a better option

[clarice]

109. Much appreciated. nt

[tabasco]

113. No details, no specifics.

You sure waited a long time to "check out the ACA." LOL.

[clarice]

117. And your point is ??????? nt

[Trajan]

128. WTF?

Geez ... You really posted that?

Absurd ....You are SO fucking gone ...