Under fire, 'Obamacare' going live _ with glitches

[kev_n_jena 89]

I have more information on the effects of the ACA. My 18 month old son had a pediatrician appointment today. On the wall of the doctors office was a notice. BOTH of his pediatricians are leaving their private practice! The elder is retiring and his son is going into homeopathic medicine.I asked the PA if the ACA had anything to do with it an she replied that she believed it did. They are leaving October 31st 2013.

The PA also told me that her insurance premium is going from $600 per month up to over $800 per month!

Another lady I talked to was told her rate is rising from $350 per month to over $1200 per month!

We have contacted the federal exchange and they are supposed to be sending us a packet with prices for my wife and child. I mentioned that we need to know before 12/15/13 so we can make a descision and the lady kind of laughed and said she hoped we would get it by then.

What a freakin nightmare!

Edited October 5, 2013 by kev_n_jena

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I have more information on the effects of the ACA. My 18 month old son had a pediatrician appointment today. On the wall of the doctors office was a notice. BOTH of his pediatricians are leaving their private practice! The elder is retiring and his son is going into homeopathic medicine.I asked the PA if the ACA had anything to do with it an she replied that she believed it did. They are leaving October 31st 2013.

The PA also told me that her insurance premium is going from $600 per month up to over $800 per month!

Another lady I talked to was told her rate is rising from $350 per month to over $1200 per month!

We have contacted the federal exchange and they are supposed to be sending us a packet with prices for my wife and child. I mentioned that we need to know before 12/15/13 so we can make a descision and the lady kind of laughed and said she hoped we would get it by then.

What a freakin nightmare!

Are you aware that there is plenty of information online, on official websites?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Are you aware that there is plenty of information online, on official websites?

Yeah but why bother with that when you can read all these nice little fairy tales right here on VJ?

[kev_n_jena 89]

Yeah but why bother with that when you can read all these nice little fairy tales right here on VJ?

Nothing that I have written here is a "fairy tale". Every claim I have made is from first hand accounts direct to my ears from the person effected except for one. That one was second hand and it came from my father who knows the woman personally.

As an aside, I don't consider myself a Republican and I'm not posting these first hand accounts as an attack on any politcal party or person. I'm just trying to figure out how to protect my family and not go bankrupt. This new law is making it hard to do that.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Nothing that I have written here is a "fairy tale".

sure, sure...

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

If you make less than $94,200 a year for a family of four, you will be eligible for subsidies to help pay for insurance.

[kev_n_jena 89]

If you make less than $94,200 a year for a family of four, you will be eligible for subsidies to help pay for insurance.

We're not eligible for a subsidy since my employer offers a qualified plan to dependents. Unfortunately the qualified plan will cost me about $850 per month for my 2 healthy dependents. I already discussed it with the representative from the 800 federal number this afternoon.

Mr. Big Dog,

What do you think that I have written is a "fairy tale" specifically? I've always tried to be truthful on VJ in all my posts.

[RGinWA 816]

We're not eligible for a subsidy since my employer offers a qualified plan to dependents. Unfortunately the qualified plan will cost me about $850 per month for my 2 healthy dependents. I already discussed it with the representative from the 800 federal number this afternoon.

Mr. Big Dog,

What do you think that I have written is a "fairy tale" specifically? I've always tried to be truthful on VJ in all my posts.

So your employer is scr#wing you in essence?

I've never heard of an employer offering a medical plan that cost as much as a house payment and then the employee actually becomes convinced that the ACA really scr#wed them?

I'd discuss the situation with your benefits department because that's more loansharking than an actual healthcare plan. Just saying.

Maybe look for an employer that actually wants to offer "benefits" (meaning to be beneficial to the employee) to it's employees. Because what you're explaining I wouldn't call a benefit...that's the opposite of a benefit. Sounds like a Mafia run business that sells you a policy from their cousin Louie's medical insurance plan.

Edited October 5, 2013 by RGinWA

[kev_n_jena 89]

So your employer is scr#wing you in essence?

I've never heard of an employer offering a medical plan that cost as much as a house payment and then the employee actually becomes convinced that the ACA really scr#wed them?

I'd discuss the situation with your benefits department because that's more loansharking than an actual healthcare plan. Just saying.

Maybe look for an employer that actually wants to offer "benefits" (meaning to be beneficial to the employee) to it's employees. Because what you're explaining I wouldn't call a benefit...that's the opposite of a benefit. Sounds like a Mafia run business that sells you a policy from their cousin Louie's medical insurance plan.

It's a small company with about 25 employees. I've worked for the owner for over 22 years. The insurance company is Health Alliance. My employer pays my insurance %100 and always has. We have to pay for our depends and always have. I chose to find private insurance since my cost was much less($335 last year). Next year it will go up to $506. The policy we had will no longer be legal.

The owner was told by the insurance company that the company policy will go up %8 for the rest of our term. After that, next February it will go up %35. He hasn't decided what he's going to do but if I was him I would quit offering insurance all together and make us all go on the federal plan. He might be able to offer us about $200 per month to offset our costs.

[Jacque67 7,328]

You never heard of PwC? Wow.

Exactly. Has he heard of Wall Street, one wonders?

[himher 634]

To be sure, the individual mandate actually IS their idea. It originated in the halls of the Heritage Foundation and was the centerpiece of Newt Gingrich's 1993 health care reform initiative.

They discontinued to promote personal responsibility the moment Obama had signed onto the idea.

The individual mandate is not the problem. It is a broke-a$$ government who (1) expanded medicare and (2) offered to pay premiums to buy coverage for people who can not pay for it.

Where does the money to supplement the insurance premiums come from? A family of 4/two children make 51000 (us median, us average number of children). They pay $1761 in annual income taxes. Their silver premium is $8975. Government pays $5466 as a "tax credit" for taxes never paid in the first place to supplement that premium.

Q: Where does that money come from? A: Borrowing

No wonder democrats panic when their borrowing is curtailed. You do know that this is impossible to sustain don't you? Nah, you probably don't.

Edited October 5, 2013 by himher

[himher 634]

I just did some research online. For Juliet and myself it's likely that health insurance will take about 43% of my income but that's assuming a gold/platinum plan.

Juliet's young and I'm an older male--both categories provoke higher premiums. I was looking at premiums of ~$1400-2700/month--yikes.

It's quite strange actually. If I took a lower paying job--or no job then health insurance would be very, very cheap--but in the state of Massachusetts the subsidized insurance does not have some coverage that I want so I need to avoid taking a job that pays too low.

It seems odd that now, since I'm unemployed and looking for a job--I want to see the benefits package even before I consider applying, which usually is not available. It's quite possible that by taking a job that pays $25,000 less/year that has good insurance coverage will be a better deal than taking a much higher paying job.

I'm wondering if many in my position (unemployed) will simply opt to stay unemployed.

Our medical system is so screwed. I had shoulder surgery in April. Total amount billed was over $50,000 but what amazed me was that my insurance only paid about $28,000 as they have "agreements." This means that any person who has the same surgery will pay almost double what my insurance company pays. That is so wrong--to make people with no insurance pay double.

Presumably the ACA (Affordable Care Act) will remedy this--but I have read that there will be millions in many states who will still have no coverage since their states have not created a plan for the impoverished.

At this point I really can't tell if ACA is a good thing or not...I guess time will tell.

Welcome to life of hope and change under democrats dude. Opens a world of options for you and your family!

Edited October 5, 2013 by himher

[Juliet and Steve 93]

Are you aware that there is plenty of information online, on official websites?

Your comment may be true for most people, but it certainly is not for me.

I used Massachusetts Health Connector for a few hours yesterday trying to figure out which was the best policy to go with. What I found was (in Massachusetts--but I'm assuming this is true in other states) there are excluded categories--ok, I'll go with that--those are not covered, that's clear such as elective cosmetic surgery. But then there were other what I'll call "weasel words" such as:

Excluded: A service or supply not described as a covered service in your Health Plan member benefit document.

Other Covered Services (This isn’t a complete list) Check your policy or plan document for other covered services and your costs for these services.) Please note: certain coverage limits may apply.

It's simple math to compare plans. Especially if a person or dependent has some condition and you can estimate approximate cost. But here's the catch: "Check your policy or plan..."

Guess what? You cannot get your policy or plan documents until after you have purchased the plan.

In short, which ACA tries very hard to say that the consumer can compare plans, for (some of) those who know that they need specific services--they cannot. For most, the summary that is given will suffice--for me the most important part--whether or not certain needs that I have will be covered as a covered service and if those needs are excluded or not, and whether or not certain coverage limits may apply.

The simple fact is that after spending a few hours trying--I still don't know exactly what is covered, at what rate, and what is excluded and where coverage limits apply.

To me this is a form of dishonesty--but then, at these times--it's hard to find any honesty anywhere.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

No answer when the real stories from real people come out and no answer when the question of where the money comes from to fund it are asked.

Real stories from real people.

You right wingers have been crying wolf and have been caught telling and spreading lies for as long as Obama has been in office. Now you're telling real stories?

And here you're quoting a right wing website with your "facts" without revealing the source.

[Karee 4,191]

Q: Where does that money come from? A: Borrowing

Nobody cares about that as long as they get their piece of it. Screw the children who have to pay for it. Both parties think it's fine to take out payday loans on their kids future earnings.

All the slackers in this country should walk up to every 6 year old they see and say "thank you"