Obamacare, or, I might be up a creek w/o a paddle

[Miss Cellane]

The advice part was to research the options more (by going on the exchanges, by talking to "navigators", whatever), that's the best possible advice anyone can give unless they are expert in the subject. Do research before catastrophizing. Not because laws or never unfair or because they might not get screwed (because I hold no such grand overarching beliefs about the infinite wisdom of the laws and the government or anything - my worldview doesn't require me to) but merely for the rational reason that nothing can be known with inadequate information!

That laws can be tough to navigate and adequate information difficult to find, I know. The advice was given very early on, I said these exact things, 9 pages on yea discussions turn to politics (and not by me - people post pages and pages of political stuff, making the whole thread about their politics which is always the same rant, and then object when anyone else becomes political in it), but the advise was: do the research. It's the best, most rational advise I know how to give. But then I don't consider my job to be some grand expert on Obamacare dispelling misinformation (my heavens, what would my qualifications be for that? what are anyones? reading some biased propaganda?), that's why I point to places were information might *actually* be found (ie go on the exchanges, talk to the navigators even if they aren't very good, and yea talk to the health insurance company and the employer as well, sure maybe even a CPA or a financial adviser might help although I'm not sure how qualified they are for that either).

Oh, I so agree with this. The rumors that are flying around--I work as a temp, with a lot of other long-term temps and contract workers. We will all be affected by this. I haven't had health insurance in 5 years. I've been to a walk-in clinic once in that time, when I had an abscess in my jaw so painful I couldn't sleep. It cost: $99 for the visit, $89 for the antibiotics (after they figured out a way to give me the same dose for less money--it was going to cost $110) and $11 for the Vicodin. That was pretty much my food budget for the month. Everything else, I've just toughed my way through.

But the rumors that are floating through my workplace are unbelievable. Every night I come home and go on the internet and find out that the latest rumor is false. Sometimes the exact opposite of the rumor is the truth.

Why people are relying on hearsay and gossip instead of getting on the internet or going to the library and reading the newspaper is beyond me. They are making themselves scared and anxious when, for most of them, there is no real reason to do so.

[gimmethesimplelife]

I don't know what the "tax credit" is?
This is for the regular plan through Kaiser Permanente, without subsidies.
We are getting a plan with a very high deductible and will start a health savings account.

The tax credit is the amount of instant subsidy you are granted by the Federal Government, which lowers the amount you have to pay for your monthly premium based on your income. Naturally, the lower your income, the higher the subsidy. I do think it is confusing to call this a tax credit but since the IRS is getting involved in this, maybe it does make sense. Rob

[flowerseverywhere]

One party created this one without a single vote from the opposition. Maybe if there was enough support from like minded citizens, they'd do a better job next time.

where was the oppositions plan? Surely all of those minds could have said early on, wait a minute, how about this plan that will help more people get insurance, control the skyrocketing premiums that people were facing and help those who were bumped off the rolls due to pre.existing conditions that wanted insurance? Or those who reached a lifetime max? Surely there was another plan they crafted?

[iris lilies]

I've been paying $300 a month for just myself. Oh the glories of employer provided insurance.

Why don't you opt out of it then?

We pay 100% of DH's health insurance, a plan that is available through my work. His friends, also self employed, have plans that are much cheaper. And besides, he is healthy and we could really get by just fine with a catastrophic plan. But I am content with this plan from work because I'm not experienced in reading health insurance plans/options/provisions and I know that my plan at work covers bunches of things, there are no hidden surprises. I like having something that is known to be very reliable and I'll just pay that upper cost for it, kind of like a newish cars vs an old beater.

Our plan doesn't cover dental or vision care (and this glasses are uber expensive) but that's fine, we pay for that out of pocket, it's not a big deal.

We could certainly save money on health insurance even at our advanced age, but the risk of moving to an unknown and lesser plan isn't worth it to me.

[iris lilies]

peggy, no matter where you go this is the discourse about the ACA.

I prefer to believe that it is fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of inadequate government, created by the media, fear of others again created by our media, fear of change. My assumptions may not be true but it helps me keep some equilibrium in this whole mess.

Most of the decisions we made over our career were about not losing health insurance and retirement. I remember decades ago telling other women that they had to consider protecting themselves since "spouses" were not in the same class as employees when it came to retiree health care. I was considered crazy. I also told them to be aware that their jobs could be done anywhere there was a phone and they needed to make sure they showed they were needed. I don't like seeing my predictions come true.

You are a very sensible person.

So were you acting out of "fear?" I think so. Fear that your job or spouse's job would go away. Fear that you or spouse wouldn't be covered by employer's health plan (and I've never worked for anyone that has "family" coverage so it's not exactly a fear, it's reality in my world.) Fear that without health insurance you loose wealth, retirement savings. Nothing wrong with that. Fear of having no money has driven many of my decisions as an adult.

Fear of unintended consequences of Nanny G meddling in society is, in my mind, a reasonable outlook. Call it "fear" or common sense observation of consequences of an "inadequate government" because guess what, that happens. I live two blocks away from a social experiment that turned me from voting lefty to righty. The gubmnt really can f*ck things up like no one else.

[Suzanne]

" And I'm always just: ok how does anyone actually afford to live with kids (and especially with a non-working spouse). Haha, if that was me, I'd me I'd tell the spouse: get a job with health insurance or get out of the house! "

So, if you lost your job and couldn't find another before your benefits ran out, you would immediately and voluntarily leave the house to spare your still-employed spouse the costs of your health insurance???

[ApatheticNoMore]

So, if you lost your job and couldn't find another before your benefits ran out, you would immediately and voluntarily leave the house to spare your still-employed spouse the costs of your health insurance???

What I've always tried to actually do when unemployed - get on CORBA, now CORBA is expensive (although not that much more than my current plan), and because I forgot one payment last time I was on CORBA (yes fine I missed a payment, therefore consequences, I didn't go on and on about it, but I will say it's a harsh system that being late for one payment can permanently cut you off - and it doesn't matter if you want to pay the full amount you owe now plus interest - you were late - bye bye forever), I lost the CORBA and was without health insurance for awhile. So yea I was without insurance. So I don't know I suppose if I had a spouse I'd try to do the exact same thing go on CORBA (or now the ACA depending on which was a better deal). A social safety net that applies to everyone in the country equally? Sure. But relying on a spouse, but I was brought up to be a feminist ...

[Zoebird]

accidental double

[Zoebird]

ANM,

No, I hear you.

A friend of mine owns a small company that employs 12 people. He has always provided a premium insurance package for families of his employees. Right now, the company gave him the costs for her current plan per individual and per family (based on the people currently enrolled), and it's so cost prohibitive, that in order to remain viable, he'd have to let go of two employees.

So, his options are to decrease their coverage and increase their contribution -- both of which are crappy, but the best he can do.

And I said that the options are actually better. He can keep the benefit as is, increase their contribution, and if that's more than what they would pay ont he exchange, then they can stay, and if it's more, than he can recommend they go on the exchange and anyone who does go on the exchange can get a match in their monthly pay checks.

He did the numbers, and is talking to a lawyer today. It might fit within the guidelines.

Also, you might discover if you do go independently, particularly on the exchange, that you might get a better deal.

[peggy]

What I've always tried to actually do when unemployed - get on CORBA, now CORBA is expensive (although not that much more than my current plan), and because I forgot one payment last time I was on CORBA (yes fine I missed a payment, therefore consequences, I didn't go on and on about it, but I will say it's a harsh system that being late for one payment can permanently cut you off - and it doesn't matter if you want to pay the full amount you owe now plus interest - you were late - bye bye forever), I lost the CORBA and was without health insurance for awhile. So yea I was without insurance. So I don't know I suppose if I had a spouse I'd try to do the exact same thing go on CORBA (or now the ACA depending on which was a better deal). A social safety net that applies to everyone in the country equally? Sure. But relying on a spouse, but I was brought up to be a feminist ...

Ok, see, that is the beauty of Obamacare. The insurance company CAN'T just arbitrarily kick you off! That's it! You get it! Or maybe you don't realize you get it. But all the health care horror stories I'm reading here are the VERY ISSUES OBAMACARE IS TRYING TO ADDRESS!
People being kicked off for no good reason, losing their life savings/going bankrupt from health costs, spouses being screwed for being, well, spouses. These ARE the issues Obamacare addresses. Despite all the scare-mongering the right is throwing out (and they are DESPERATE now) The ACA is more just a set of regulations for the insurance industry than anything, coupled with personal responsibility for everyone to accept at least a small portion of their health care costs, even if it's just a small part.

I would urge everyone to cut through the BS flowing from those who have a vested interest in the ACA NOT being fully implemented, and seek the truth. Go to the gov sites and see for yourself. And while you are there, check out the nifty little chart that compares your state to other states. Especially those of you who have republican legislatures who refuse, and actually throw up roadblocks, to you getting the best deal/health care available. Keep in mind that these people are so bent on their hatred of Obama, and keeping Obama from achieving anything, at all, they are willing to toss their own citizens of their states under the bus. They want them to have as much trouble getting affordable health care as they can. They WANT them to be miserable. Think about that. And remember it. But do the comparison.

Neil deGrasse famously said that the best thing about science is that it's true, whether you believe it or not. The same goes for facts. Get the facts.