Obamacare

1. 67

   Shileyposted 10 years ago

   How has Obama care actually effected you?  For myself Nothing has changed as we are covered under my husbands medical insurance.  But I was wondering how it is affecting other people good or bad.

   replyreport
   1. 95

      wildernessposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I haven't bought it yet, but already know that the end result will be that I am forced to spend my limited funds (along with some of yours) to purchase insurance so that I have nothing left to pay copays and deductibles with. 
      
      Bankruptcy from medical costs is actually more likely under this fiasco as it will now come with a couple of years of moderate costs instead of a major illness/injury.

      replyreport
   2. 0

      HowardBThinameposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I have a private policy and the premiums will be about $90 a month higher now. I haven't used the policy in years and I certainly did not need maternity coverage.
      
      I'm seriously considering dropping it and not having any insurance as a show of support for the millions of others who cannot afford the more expensive premiums - or any premiums - and face fines because they do not have enough money. Or because they choose to feed their children rather than line the pockets of the private insurance industry.

      replyreport
2. 0

   Scott P Williamsposted 10 years ago

   A friend of mine says that her rates have gone up substantially. She and her husband own their own business so that makes a huge difference. While shopping around for lower rates, she also says that it is extremely hard to pass the initial medical clearance now. Not sure if that is anything new under Obama care or not but that is what I'm hearing.

   replyreport
3. 60

   kerrymkrzenskiposted 10 years ago

   I am 23 years old, have one full time job at home depot, and always looking for extra work more extra money to pay all the bills. For the last few years, I have received low cost-income based insurance through the State of New Mexico, where I have only ever payed $3 per prescription, and nothing else, so its been very helpful since I have experienced some crazy health issues even while being so young- for example, my primary care doctor had mis-diagnosed me with Krons, which led to a Colonoscopy at the age of 19, and an Endoscopy after that, and I had to pay nothing for it. Now all of a sudden, I receive a letter in the mail from the insurance company saying that my coverage would end in January because now all of a sudden I make too much to be able to receive the income based insurance- my income from my job has not changed!! And now I am scrambling trying to figure out what I am going to do, because I take daily meds, and the insurance I could get through home depot would take 25% out of EVERY paycheck every 2 weeks just to cover the basics, not my meds. And with the site being difficult, its hard for me to find time to research, and what I've found from other insurance companies, is that's its way out of my affordability to get the coverage that I need. I understand that its good that everyone needs/ gets insurance, but its caused a little bit of a hassle for me, when I was already covered and nothing changed for me as far as how much I make. We'll see what happens I guess. Might have to get a 3rd job just to stay healthy.

   replyreport
4. 67

   Shileyposted 10 years ago

   So basically it sounds like people are being asked to pay higher premiums.

   replyreport
   1. 77

      Kathryn L Hillposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      my insurance increased from $450 to 500. ouch. I pay for it myself.

      replyreport
      1. 59

         Josakposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         What was your insurance limit before? It's unlimited now. Unlimited insurance for 50$ more is pretty amazing for the vast majority of plans (unless your plan was one of those very few unlimited ones).

         replyreport
         1. 95

            wildernessposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            As the odds are pretty high (1 in 50,000 maybe?) that you will actually USE that unlimited feature, $600 per year is pretty stiff.

            replyreport
            1. 59

               Josakposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               Actually the odds are much much much higher than that there was a Harvard study I am trying to find again that found it cost tens of thousands of lives yearly.
               
               Of course now the insurance covers kids to age 26 if you have them, offers absolute protection against being kicked off your plan for getting sick, protection from laboratory charges, gives you free preventive care and has controls on rate increases from now on etc.
               
               Also any of these you didn't have you do now with unlimited coverage:
               
               ambulatory patient services; emergency services; hospitalization; maternity and newborn care; mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment; prescription drugs; rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices; laboratory services; preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management; and pediatric services, including oral and vision care.
               
               There is actually a hell of a lot more with co-payments, co-insurance, and deductibles eliminated for essential services.
               
               Seems pretty good for 50 bucks.
               
               To be honest is goddamned amazing for $50.

               replyreport
            2. 60

               Silverspeederposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               We in the UK pay an average of £2000 a year (its a different system of course) out of our income. We also have very little choice in the matter unless you are wealthy and can afford private treatment. Although the system works quite well despite all the problems.
               
               After reading some of the US accounts I am still unsure as to what you may be covered for by your insurance, in principle we are covered for everything and everything is free at point of use, except for prescriptions which cost £7.85 per item unless you live in Scotland.

               replyreport
               1. 60

                  Disappearingheadposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                  Of course national health is an anathema to the American mindset, it sounds like communism to them. Happy they are that their taxes pay for roads, parks and high school education, but healthcare too? What a silly idea?
                  
                  I live in Wales and my prescriptions are free too.

                  replyreport