Obamacare nightmare

[QueenOfBlades 224]

So we went to the BlueCross BlueShield office today to see about getting me and my husband a joint health insurance plan. The agent told us the only plans that they could offer now are Obamacare policies which started from this January. We already tried to enroll in Obamacare a month or so ago, but never finished because of the terrible website and it being unable to verify my husband and they told him he had to send them off all ####### to verify who he is.

So anyway, she had to enroll us through the Obamacare website. It is the stupidest website in the world. At the end, despite us both saying we have $0 income right now, it told us to send proof off to their office to show our income. It also asked if I am a US Citizen, I said no, and entered my I-94 number. At the end, it asked me to send proof off that I am a citizen. It asked for our projected income for 2014, which I have no idea because we both plan to get jobs but right now, my mother-in-law is providing for us but if we add her income to it, it adds her as an enrollee for the health plan. So we are just going to send them a letter explaining our situation, and proof of my immigration status.

I agree with Obamacare in theory, as I think everyone should have access to healthcare and personally, I would support a system like the NHS where everyone has access to healthcare and never has to worry about it, like in my own country - however, the implementation of it has been terrible and the website is so ridiculously complicated to use.

[Boiler 45,510]

Welcome to America.

[QueenOfBlades 224]

Right now, it just seems like a lot of things are just more complicated. Granted, I am an immigrant so that always adds red tape to the mix, but I mean, even with the tax returns and that stuff and insurance and deductibles this and co-insurance that. I miss HMRC just sending me a new tax code every April and taking a nice stroll into my hospital's urgent care unit and them treating me without asking me hardly anything and then sending me on my way. It is definitely a learning curve.

[Boiler 45,510]

You will be surprised how many things are screwed up, Obamacare is a classic example.

[NikLR 13,227]

I agree with your assessment. I never understand the USA's health care system. It's capitalism at it's finest IMHO, which is spoken with more than hint of scorn. when health care is money instead of about health, something is wrong. I think they're trying to fix it, but it's like a toddler having a tantrum. I only hope it gets better as it goes along.

[Boiler 45,510]

Crony capitalism, maybe. Certainly not free market by about as long a stretch as you can get.

[LibCampFireClub 635]

Be real careful about using the socialist website or giving your personal information to someone who promises to help you with obamacare. The site is not secure and your information can be compromised. That includes driver's license number, passports, social security numbers, and so on. You're far better off to seek out the private sector for just about everything in America. Good luck.

[QueenOfBlades 224]

Well without a job, it's pretty much impossible to get something that isn't regulated by Obamacare now and have to go through all of that. She was an official insurance agent for BlueCross BlueShield, and she said she couldn't sell me anything non-Obamacare since January; people on existing plans have had theirs extended for a year, but even that will expire and they'll have to enroll on a ACA plan. They may choose not to get tax credits or help with a cheaper plan, but it'll still have to meet the mandates of ACA - and coming from a country where health care is never an issue and I am used to being able to see a doctor, having an insurance policy is more important to me than worrying about data protection on their website. I am all for Obamacare in theory as I don't think health care should be dictated by wealth, but the implementation is ####### and they should make it a lot easier to get insurance, especially for immigrants or those on low income.