Obamacare

SleevePlz

I keep hearing from politicians and political ads about the outrage over having to change doctors or plans (even though he said you wouldn't have to). It occurred to me that I don't know anyone at all that was actually affected by the implementation of Obamacare. My insurance didn't change (the premium actually dropped about $50/month) and I was wondering if anyone here, not so and so's second cousin from Idaho, but an actual member of this forum that had to change insurance as a direct result of this legislation. And if so, why? I have to imagine I know someone affected by this considering how big of a deal everyone makes of it.

pelirrojo

We changed providers at work and it raised the premium for my boss(over 60, previous heart trouble, etc...) and lowered my(under 30, no health issues) premium by about $20 a paycheck or $480 a year. Whether it had anything to do with ACA I'm not sure, but it's alright with me!

MorganGeo

I didn't have to change doctors or insurance carrier my premium went up 25% for family coverage and my employers portion by 35%. Other than that I have seen no change in my service I receive.

Lee.mcglynn

My insurance that I pay from my pocket went up and coverage went down!! As I agree everyone should have insurance why hurt us that actually have to pocket pay? I hate it right now and do see it both ways but it is not at all looking out for the little guy.

Martel

MorganGeo

Darktower007

I'm not very political but it just pisses me off. My sister and her husband are self employed. Her blue cross plan was dropped all togather because of Ovamacare. She was paying $750 a month for family of 5. Deductable was $1200 and $3000 out of pocket max.. It's now $1200 or so deductable went to $5000 and out of pocket max before 100% is over $10,000. Don't get me wrong preexisting conditions coverage etc is a good thing,but the whole thing is designed to fall on its own weight to form a single payer system like Medicare, ran by the num skulls at the VA. Elections have consequences. Bush wasn't any better, at least Clinton knew what he was doing. I don't affiliate with any party really I just want to succeed or fail on my own, and I don't want someone else to tell me what they think is good for me or my family. Just wait until the 2.5% of income penalties kick in, people are gonna love it then.

wwhwang

0patience

Puff_Dougie

This isn't about coverage, but Obamacare has also created some issues for those who sell plans. A good friend of mine is a health insurance broker. He is now looking for other employment options because the implementation of the ACA has turned him, in his words, into a "seasonal worker." He used to be able to sign people up for plans year round, but now is limited to the specified open enrollment periods. Medicare supplements aren't enough to keep him going, so he's gotta find something else to do.

Martel

Darktower007:

I'm not very political but it just pisses me off. My sister and her husband are self employed. Her blue cross plan was dropped all togather because of Ovamacare. She was paying $750 a month for family of 5. Deductable was $1200 and $3000 out of pocket max.. It's now $1200 or so deductable went to $5000 and out of pocket max before 100% is over $10,000. Don't get me wrong preexisting conditions coverage etc is a good thing,but the whole thing is designed to fall on its own weight to form a single payer system like Medicare, ran by the num skulls at the VA. Elections have consequences. Bush wasn't any better, at least Clinton knew what he was doing. I don't affiliate with any party really I just want to succeed or fail on my own, and I don't want someone else to tell me what they think is good for me or my family. Just wait until the 2.5% of income penalties kick in, people are gonna love it then.

Our plan, part of which is payed by the employer, is $385 per check (every two weeks) for a family of 4, with a $5000 OOP Max, in-network. Then again, all the employees work in TN and live in TN, AR, or MS, three of the least healthy states in the country. Simply put, I'd probably take your friend's plan if I could get it.

honorknight7

blutattoo

My employer pays 100% of my cost and while their portion didn't change that much to insure us the level of coverage was dramatically reduced. From what our broker/benefits company said it is because the plans have to comply with the ACA. Bronze, sliver, gold, and platinum offerings. We get the gold for free, but have to absorb a small cost if we want to upgrade to platinum, but even the platinum has much higher out of pocket expenses than our previous plan. Higher co-pays, higher deductibles, higher prescription costs, etc. Luckily my wife has great benefits through the University (which is somehow exempt from the ACA plans) so I declined coverage this year and I'll see an extra $100 bucks in my paycheck. This will cover the cost for my wife to add our son and I to her policy with a few extra bucks for cigar money.

webmost

raisindot

ejgorman

Amos Umwhat

SleevePlz

Can I say, I really appreciate the open, honest discussion without the needless political BS that usually derails these discussions. Since this was something that wasn't impacting me, I was really curious to hear how it was affecting others without political banter included. Thanks for that

jd50ae

SleevePlz

I spoke too soon.

Gray4lines

We just moved and changed insurances right as this went into effect. Our payment went up by about $50 a month, and also the deductible went up and not quite as much is covered, same ins co, but different state. However, we had some med issues come up and the no denial for per existing conditions really helped. We were about to get really screwed over by insurance companies. The hardest bunch of people to deal with.....

Chuck N

My insurance premiums were going up at a rate of over 20% to 30% each year before. Now its at rate of about 5% increase. I like it. Ive Kept my plan, kept my Doctor. Its saved me money.

Rain

I feel like when you name a thread "Obamacare", you're asking for political bs ;)How many people actually know it's really called "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" Yes, I googled that.To stay on topic...my healthcare has not changed at all.

ejgorman

SleevePlz:

Can I say, I really appreciate the open, honest discussion without the needless political BS that usually derails these discussions. Since this was something that wasn't impacting me, I was really curious to hear how it was affecting others without political banter included. Thanks for that

If my memory is accurate, people here call you Teach so I think you'll appreciate this. I feel the same about the ACA as most teachers I know feel about Common Core. Government needs to let doctors doctor, nurses nurse and teachers teach. I've been in practice for just over 7 years, but even in that relatively short amount of time I've seen a trend towards higher co-pays, higher deductibles and less coverage for services. More and more of the people I treat are choosing to pay cash for services simply because their insurance has become increasingly more difficult to utilize. Granted, I'm not in a profession that insurance companies smile upon, which seems ironic considering the cost effectiveness and outcomes of chiropractic care when properly utilized compared to other alternatives for musculoskeletal conditions. Not all of these changes can be blamed on the ACA however. Our understanding of health, a lack of focus on disease prevention, peoples' readiness to run to the ER, an inaccurate understanding of the insurance system, corporatization of healthcare, abuse and fraud of government sponsored programs (providers are mostly to blame for this) and HMOs along with government intervention have pushed us down this path.

SleevePlz

ejgorman:

SleevePlz:

Can I say, I really appreciate the open, honest discussion without the needless political BS that usually derails these discussions. Since this was something that wasn't impacting me, I was really curious to hear how it was affecting others without political banter included. Thanks for that

If my memory is accurate, people here call you Teach so I think you'll appreciate this. I feel the same about the ACA as most teachers I know feel about Common Core. Government needs to let doctors doctor, nurses nurse and teachers teach. I've been in practice for just over 7 years, but even in that relatively short amount of time I've seen a trend towards higher co-pays, higher deductibles and less coverage for services. More and more of the people I treat are choosing to pay cash for services simply because their insurance has become increasingly more difficult to utilize. Granted, I'm not in a profession that insurance companies smile upon, which seems ironic considering the cost effectiveness and outcomes of chiropractic care when properly utilized compared to other alternatives for musculoskeletal conditions. Not all of these changes can be blamed on the ACA however. Our understanding of health, a lack of focus on disease prevention, peoples' readiness to run to the ER, an inaccurate understanding of the insurance system, corporatization of healthcare, abuse and fraud of government sponsored programs (providers are mostly to blame for this) and HMOs along with government intervention have pushed us down this path.

I also have a feeling that ACA will get blamed for any increase in health care costs for the next several years whether it is responsible or not. We are all going to pretend that those costs haven't been skyrocketing for several years before the implementation of the ACA, but now all increases MUST be because of this legislation. Thankfully, on a side note, the Common Core doesn't affect me nearly as much as many other teachers. However, don't get me started on what our Governor is doing to us. It's comical hearing him try to spin that his education cuts aren't covering his corporate tax cuts.

Bigshizza

SleevePlz:

I spoke too soon.

Ohhh yeah... Lol

phobicsquirrel

Our provider has been denying prescription meds for my wife. Started this year. They even fight the doctor on it. Hours dealing with them. Premiums still going up but that's been the norm for years. The ACA was a joke, it's a big give away to the insurance companies while giving the impression it's good. If our officials were serious about us they would have slowly expanded Medicare while tweaking it. Maybe someday but right now it's a mess.

Gray4lines

phobicsquirrel:

Our provider has been denying prescription meds for my wife. Started this year. They even fight the doctor on it. Hours dealing with them. Premiums still going up but that's been the norm for years. The ACA was a joke, it's a big give away to the insurance companies while giving the impression it's good. If our officials were serious about us they would have slowly expanded Medicare while tweaking it. Maybe someday but right now it's a mess.

It seems like any kind of step by step process would be logical. Make a change, see the effect, keep it or change again. But, instead we have a gigantic change all at once and when something doesn't work there is no way to say, "oh, it must have been this policy or rule that caused it." When will we take a step back and see that an overhaul is probably the dumbest way to fix anything that's so complex and huge.

jadelt

For a mere $1,463 a month I now get a nice policy with a measly $6,000 deductible for me and wifey. I was paying $960 a month with $5,000 deductible before. Funny thing is, it is the same BCBS basic policy but now at our ripe old age we get maternity benefits! Cant wait to use those! (just my personal experience, YMMMV)

phobicsquirrel

jadelt:

For a mere $1,463 a month I now get a nice policy with a measly $6,000 deductible for me and wifey. I was paying $960 a month with $5,000 deductible before. Funny thing is, it is the same BCBS basic policy but now at our ripe old age we get maternity benefits! Cant wait to use those! (just my personal experience, YMMMV)

That really blows. I know if there was a law that made all the insurance companies join the "exchange" prices would be much lower but there isn't so it sort of damages the impact of the "exchange". I have a family member who had a somewhat expensive plan but didn't cover much. I remember them complaining about how they got a letter saying it would be canceled when we had a get together. Funny thing is that they never could use it when they needed too because of the deductible was so high and it didn't cover much so they paid out of pocket anyway.