So how much is your insurance going up due to Obamacare?

[iris lilies]

To some degree I do consider this a caste system. Yes, I truly do. When I say this I don't mean quite the extreme of how caste systems work in India - but Alan, you strike me as being well read and up to date on things. You probably are aware of recent research ranking the US dead last in the developed world for upward social mobility - and heavily socialistic countries like Denmark - which was #1 in upwards mobility in the developed world - come out on top. I think it's a good thing that not a lot of folks on my end of the scale are aware of this and how it affects them. Good thing - this is the stuff revolutions are made of.

Deep down for me anyway, much of how things are in the US don't work especially well, no. Not your point I guess but it is my truth. Rob

I gotta point out, Rob, that in the victim game--you are a college educated white man. You are The Enemy as identified by any number of feminist and race thinktanks and sources that are embodied in gubmnt programs.

I, OTOH, am a downtrodden female. I am also in another protected class, older-than-40.

I. Beat. You.

so there!!!! hahaha. Where' my gubmnt money?

[gimmethesimplelife]

I haven't signed up yet on the exchange, but it looks like our will go down $2K a month for a much better policy.

I've noticed this, too. Some people who sign up on the actual exchanges and won't get Medicaid will be getting a better deal and some won't. I think (?) this may have to do with location to some degree - some markets such as Arizona are more competitive due to having to many insurers in the first place due to so many seniors living in the area. And I have even seen advertising here - I really have - get this - stating - YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO MEXICO We will work with you on fees. Wow. I was blown away when I saw this - to me it's proof the US system doesn't work when even advertising is addressing the insane costs.

But I'm digressing. It also seems that people who live in rural areas may be getting clobbered due to lack of competition, and also those with catastrophic policies will get clobbered as those rates with the skimpy coverage will be no more if you are over 30. I feel for the rural folks, I really do, as urban life is not for everyone, I have problems with it too after all these years in it. For the catastrophic coverage folks I'm 50/50 on - especially since if this policy is all they could afford, with the federal credits towards your policy based on income, some will be paying less for better coverage. Rob

[ApatheticNoMore]

I've gotta point out, Rob, that in the victim game--you are a college educated white man. you are The Enemy as identified by any number of gubmnt programs.

I don't have any of that, not a degree, not a male. I'm definitely most oppressed-es.

[Lainey]

Agree that we cannot say the rise in health insurance premiums is strictly due to Obamacare coming online. The inability to rein in costs, along with the amazing technological advances in medicine, is certainly two of the bigger factors.

Just anecdotally, I'm amazed at the people I know in my extended circle who have had hip and knee replacements, laser eye surgery, extensive fertility treatments, expensive pharmaceuticals for various ailments, extreme treatments for terminally ill family members in their last months, etc. etc. All these things that were mostly unknown to our parents and grandparents, yet are now expected to be provided and available to everyone. That costs money.

[iris lilies]

I don't have any of that, not a degree, not a male. I'm definitely most oppressed-es.

La-dees and Gentlemen, we have a winner! ding ding ding!

[gimmethesimplelife]

I gotta point out, Rob, that in the victim game--you are a college educated white man. You are The Enemy as identified by any number of feminist and race thinktanks and sources that are embodied in gubmnt programs.

I, OTOH, am a downtrodden female. I am also in another protected class, older-than-40.

I. Beat. You.

so there!!!! hahaha. Where' my gubmnt money?

Funny thing IL is that I DON'T consider myself to be a victim per se - The same truth I am living and experiencing a great many others are, too. I am certainly not being singled out for anything - America is just like this for many of it's citizens now. But lol I'm also in your older than 40 protected class, I'll be 47 in a few weeks.

I'm actually flattered in a strange way that ANYONE could blanketly cast me in the role of the enemy. Seriously. I may be the college educated white male but whatever privilege that is supposed to mean or grant me just didn't pan out in my case. Those folks you refer to in the thinktanks may be making better money than I do - or at least in the area of my income. If anything I speak their language better than they do - my twist on it is that I don't really blame anyone but those at the very top who are completely above their actions having any consequences anyway. And as to your government money - did Missouri expand Medicaid? I'm not sure but I think it was one of the states that didn't? Make what I make and get yourself to a state with expanded Medicaid and you too can have this government money - no one is stopping you if this is your wish. Rob

[iris lilies]

.... All these things that were mostly unknown to our parents and grandparents, yet are now expected to be provided and available to everyone. That costs money.

Well, no chit. Here is the crux of the problem.

Can hardly wait for the death panels to be assembled, yet--oh, wait. Here in the US of A no one will make those decisions. Do you actually see anyone in Congress supporting limits on ANY kind of health care? I do not.

[Alan]

....Just anecdotally, I'm amazed at the people I know in my extended circle who have had hip and knee replacements, laser eye surgery, extensive fertility treatments, expensive pharmaceuticals for various ailments, extreme treatments for terminally ill family members in their last months, etc. etc. All these things that were mostly unknown to our parents and grandparents, yet are now expected to be provided and available to everyone. That costs money.

The biggest expense for our company plan are all related to obesity, mainly knee & hip problems, and our workforce is relatively young, mostly 30's and early 40's. In order to save money, we invest quite a bit into wellness incentives, healthy eating, on-site exercise facility, cash payouts for involvement in regular exercise activities, on-site food subsidies in our cafeteria, etc. Our insurance provider gives us credits for all those things, but I'm not convinced they've helped much.

[gimmethesimplelife]

Well, no chit. Here is the crux of the problem.

Can hardly wait for the death panels to be assembled, yet--oh, wait. Here in the US of A no one will make those decisions. Do you actually see anyone in Congress supporting limits on ANY kind of health care? I do not.

Here I agree with you. All this care that was not available for earlier generations is now expected and it all costs money. To keep offering this level of care to those 65 and over, and to those entering the Medicaid system via the expansion, we have to burrow obscene amounts of money to finance the whole charade. This is yet another reason I feel uneasy about the future of the US - I may be a liberal but I also understand that this burrowing is not sustainable for the long term. What is the answer, seriously? The only sane answer I see is leaving the US - can anyone think of another one, really, this is practical and would work? I'm all ears and I mean it sincerely. Rob

[Alan]

...You probably are aware of recent research ranking the US dead last in the developed world for upward social mobility - and heavily socialistic countries like Denmark - which was #1 in upwards mobility in the developed world - come out on top.

No, I'm not aware of that "research". What I am familiar with is this country's fairly unique trait of allowing virtually everyone to rise from poverty to relative prosperity if they desire to do so.