OBAMA/TRUMPCARE MEGATHREAD

[Soxbadger]

For the same level of coverage?

 

For me yes. Its the exact same plan from last year. The lowest plan this year costs about the same as the best plan last year.

[CrimsonWeltall]

For the same level of coverage?

 

Services/providers/copays stayed the same. Premiums more than tripled. Deductibles went up, but I don't recall by how much.

[CrimsonWeltall]

Right, so it wasnt Obamacare that caused my premium to go up so drastically.

 

No, not yours. But mine and LittleHurt's did.

[Soxbadger]

No, not yours. But mine and LittleHurt's did.

 

And Im not denying that at all. Rabbit was trying to blame the increase on Obamacare, when in my case it wasnt Obama.

 

(edit)

 

The more important point was that we can make healthcare better. But it requires not "destroying" what we have, and instead "fixing" it.

 

Its my personal opinion that every American should have access to affordable healthcare and that no one should lose everything because of sickness/illness.

 

(second edit)

 

From a personal standpoint Obamacare probably did little to nothing to help me. But I know there are a lot of people who now have insurance because of it, so I still support the idea, even though I know it could be implemented better if Republican's would help.

Edited October 13, 2017 by Soxbadger

[Dick Allen]

How insured are you if you have a couple thousand in the bank and a 10K deductible?

Trump promised lower deductibles, better care, and coverage for everyone.he doesn't lie. It's the media, except for Fox News. TFake news says he goes golfing all the time. He doesn't have time to golf. He is in the White House making great deals. No one has done so much in so little time than him. He really is great.

 

If you have a 10k deductible, and your hospital bill is over 100k, the plan helps you out a bit. My friend who passed away a few years ago after an accident, once was complaining about his shoulders aching when we were at Cork and Kerry after a Sox game. He drove me home and the next day his shoulders were still sore so he went to the hospital. They did some tests and determimed he had a heart attack. He stayed one night, and had a stent placed inside him. The bill was $68,000. For one day.What if it longer and he had no insurance? He would have been ruined. He did ask the doctor if he had many patients his age who had heart attacks, he was in his mid 30s decent shape, non smoker, but bad family history. Doctor said yes but most of them smoked crack.. He had insurance through his employer so he was OK. But I would rather owe $10k than 68k.

Edited October 14, 2017 by Dick Allen

[StrangeSox]

A heck of a lot more insured than having no insurance aka infinite deductible.

 

If I have a 10k deductible and not that much cash, I'm going to be in a bad financial spot if something happens but much, much better off than not having insurance and needing hundreds of thousands in treatment for cancer.

[Soxbadger]

How insured are you if you have a couple thousand in the bank and a 10K deductible?

 

 

10k is nothing compared to millions in medical bills. Not to mention if someone is making very little money then they would qualify for free insurance through the govt.

 

And it sounds like you are advocating for a cap on deductibles, that would be a great idea, I bet that if Republican's worked with Democrats they could easily amend Obamacare to do that.

[StrangeSox]

It's actually conservatives who generally push for high deductible catastrophic plans that don't really cover much outside of that major illness or accident.

 

They're still allowed in some circumstances under the ACA but they're greatly reduced iirc.

[Jerksticks]

A heck of a lot more insured than having no insurance aka infinite deductible.

 

If I have a 10k deductible and not that much cash, I'm going to be in a bad financial spot if something happens but much, much better off than not having insurance and needing hundreds of thousands in treatment for cancer.

Yes but people who NEED 10k worth of medical care EVERY year AND make a bit more than the subsidy levels (the vast majority of Americans) are getting crushed with 10k a year they can't afford. Basically having a family, an ok job, and a house becomes near impossible. This is what most of America is going through since ACA.

[StrangeSox]

Who Can Buy Catastrophic Health Plans Under Obamacare?

Posted Jan 02, 2014 by Jenifer Dorsey

 

In December, the Obama administration announced it would relax the rules on catastrophic coverage. Americans whose health insurance plans or polices were canceled by their insurance carriers are now eligible for a hardship exemption that allows them to buy catastrophic coverage. Previously, the Affordable Care Act only allowed individuals under 30 suffering a financial hardship to qualify for such coverage.

 

 

I guess it depends on what you consider "greatly" reduced to mean but they're definitely more limited than they used to be pre-ACA.

[StrangeSox]

Yes but people who NEED 10k worth of medical care EVERY year AND make a bit more than the subsidy levels (the vast majority of Americans) are getting crushed with 10k a year they can't afford. Basically having a family, an ok job, and a house becomes near impossible. This is what most of America is going through since ACA.

ACA is a half-measure and Medicare-for-all would be a vast, vast improvement.

 

Plenty of people were left in just as bad or even worse situations pre-ACA, though. It's not like ACA kicked off the trend of increasing deductibles and premiums.

[Soxbadger]

Yes but people who NEED 10k worth of medical care EVERY year AND make a bit more than the subsidy levels (the vast majority of Americans) are getting crushed with 10k a year they can't afford. Basically having a family, an ok job, and a house becomes near impossible. This is what most of America is going through since ACA.

 

That simply isnt true. Its not "most" of America. Some people are "better" off, some people are "worse".

 

You can look at this board as an example. There are a few people who have stated that when Obamacare was enacted things got worse for them. Most of the people on this board did not have a similar experience.

 

In the same vein, I am "worse" off now that congress destabilized insurance this year. There may be some people who are "better".

 

But the main issue that we have to decide is: "Does every American deserve good/affordable health insurance." Or do we believe "Health insurance is a luxury of the wealthy."

 

I think health insurance should be for everyone.

[pettie4sox]

Soxbadger is a commie socialist bastard. He probably doesn't even have a job and smokes grass in his parent's basement.

 

Stop trying to get free s***, loser!

[Quin]

That simply isnt true. Its not "most" of America. Some people are "better" off, some people are "worse".

 

You can look at this board as an example. There are a few people who have stated that when Obamacare was enacted things got worse for them. Most of the people on this board did not have a similar experience.

 

In the same vein, I am "worse" off now that congress destabilized insurance this year. There may be some people who are "better".

 

But the main issue that we have to decide is: "Does every American deserve good/affordable health insurance." Or do we believe "Health insurance is a luxury of the wealthy."

 

I think health insurance should be for everyone.

 

Yeah, my dad likely won't be able to have health insurance until he turns 65 next November. So my small business owning, cancer-surviving father who works out everyday to stay healthy is going to be hot hard by this.

[greg775]

That simply isnt true. Its not "most" of America. Some people are "better" off, some people are "worse".

 

You can look at this board as an example. There are a few people who have stated that when Obamacare was enacted things got worse for them. Most of the people on this board did not have a similar experience.

 

In the same vein, I am "worse" off now that congress destabilized insurance this year. There may be some people who are "better".

 

But the main issue that we have to decide is: "Does every American deserve good/affordable health insurance." Or do we believe "Health insurance is a luxury of the wealthy."

 

I think health insurance should be for everyone.

Health insurance MUST be for everyone because of the abuses in the system that has made it unaffordable for all but the rich. But it never will be socialized medicine. The rich won't go for it. Doctors won't go for it. Doctors need to make zillions of dollars and the only way they can is the way we pay now.

That's why we had to elect Bernie. He was our only hope for a fair system.

[pettie4sox]

Health insurance MUST be for everyone because of the abuses in the system that has made it unaffordable for all but the rich. But it never will be socialized medicine. The rich won't go for it. Doctors won't go for it. Doctors need to make zillions of dollars and the only way they can is the way we pay now.

That's why we had to elect Bernie. He was our only hope for a fair system.

 

Bernie would have the same problems Trump has passing his terrible health care bill. He's trying like the dickens though.

[StrangeSox]

They're also ending cost sharing payments, so that likely means many many thousands losing insurance and possibly kicking off a death spiral in a lot of markets.

 

There was a biparstian plan in the Senate to continue the CSR's for two years that Trump initially indicated he would support, but now he's rejected that and he's back to deliberately undermining the ACA and causing harm to millions simply to spite Obama.

Edited October 18, 2017 by StrangeSox

[Brian]

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/201...-premiums-trump

[Soxbadger]

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/201...-premiums-trump

 

Yep this is what BCBS said when we asked about our premium increase of almost 50%. They said that due to the uncertainty of insurance laws that they had to basically price everyone in to the worst possible outcome.

 

Is it what it is. But obviously stings to see your premium go up that much when you have never had a single insurance claim in almost 10 years of having the policy.

[StrangeSox]

You haven't seen a doctor in 10 years?

[Soxbadger]

You haven't seen a doctor in 10 years?

 

Besides for a check up, I havent needed to.

 

(edit)

 

I meant a claim as in, surgery, xrays, etc. A check up is a few hundred dollars.

Edited October 18, 2017 by Soxbadger

[Balta1701]

Yep this is what BCBS said when we asked about our premium increase of almost 50%. They said that due to the uncertainty of insurance laws that they had to basically price everyone in to the worst possible outcome.

 

Is it what it is. But obviously stings to see your premium go up that much when you have never had a single insurance claim in almost 10 years of having the policy.

Can you switch to a "Gold" plan if you're in the private market? The CSR payments only affect the standard silver plan. The cost on a "Gold" plan is higher, but the subsidies are also higher and that can help balance it out. Basically you'd wind up paying somewhat more, the government would wind up paying a lot more, and you'd get better coverage overall?

[Dick Allen]

I am like Soxbadger, I have rarely used the health insurance. I am a huge total net loss when it comes to payout vs. service, but a couple of years ago, our HR department actually sent an email complaining that the employees were using the insurance too much and that rates were going to skyrocket.

[Soxbadger]

Can you switch to a "Gold" plan if you're in the private market? The CSR payments only affect the standard silver plan. The cost on a "Gold" plan is higher, but the subsidies are also higher and that can help balance it out. Basically you'd wind up paying somewhat more, the government would wind up paying a lot more, and you'd get better coverage overall?

 

My plan is the gold PPO plan. I could drop down to a worse plan, but even the silver plan is hundreds of dollars more than my gold plan was last year.

 

(edit)

 

Its not the CSR payments. Its that health insurance companies have no idea what to predict is going to happen, so they are just increasing rates everywhere just in case. And since congress/ President Trump wont pass meaningful legislation we are all going to be stuck in a cluster.

 

I mean how controversial is a bill that would limit premium increases to X% a year as long as you have continued insurance and keep the same plan.

Edited October 19, 2017 by Soxbadger

[Soxbadger]

I am like Soxbadger, I have rarely used the health insurance. I am a huge total net loss when it comes to payout vs. service, but a couple of years ago, our HR department actually sent an email complaining that the employees were using the insurance too much and that rates were going to skyrocket.

 

This happened with our dental plan last year. Met life jacked up our rates so we went to Delta Dental.