Have you considered not signing up for health care insurance under the new healt

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   ThompsonPenposted 10 years ago

   Have you considered not signing up for health care insurance under the new health care reform?
   
   We had an agent come in and talk with us the other day at my job (which does not supply insurance), and he told us that the fine we get if we fail to sign up is 1% of our annual income. If I have an annual income of $20k, that's only $200, vs the plans I saw which had me paying $101-$250 per month with a $30-$50 dr visit co-pay and a $6,0000 deductible. Hmmmmm

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   junksellerposted 10 years ago

   When you say "plans you saw," does that mean from the agent? Or from the actual healthcare site? If you aren't looking at the healthcare site, than you may not be seeing discounts for being low-income. Even though the site had problems at first, it was working well when I was last on it, and it is a nice site when working. Everyone should at least take a look at what is available.
   
   The fees, as I understand it, are the greater of $95 or 1% of one's income for the first year, but those go up. The second year, they are the greater of 2% or $325, the third year it is 2.5% or $695, and then after that are adjusted to cost of living. There are also additions for dependents, maximum amounts, and exemptions. It is not a simple calculation. And even if fees end up being cheaper, you aren't getting anything for them.
   
   If you are at 20k a year then you should be able to find a plan with much better numbers. I'm at 17k and my plan is $70/month, $10 doctor visit, and a $175 deductible. If someone is showing you plans with a $6,000 deductible, than they are probably a Republican.

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      ChristinSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with this.  Don't go through an "agent" - do the research yourself.  If your state has an exchange, you can get very reasonable rates and actually have coverage instead of paying a fine and hoping nothing catastrophic happens to you.

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      watergeekposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Do the insurance plans you've seen so far include therapeutic massage or anything useful to people who are already healthy?

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      junksellerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      There is a non-discrimination clause in the AFA meant to protect alternative practitioners and there is supposed to be some emphasis on wellness, but it wasn't something I was looking at, so can't really say how that translated into reality.

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   duffsmomposted 10 years ago

   We currently have good health insurance but as of Nov. 2014 we will lose that and I will be in the market for good insurance. We'll see then how it's going.

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   watergeekposted 10 years ago

   I was seriously considering not signing up at all. I use that money to keep myself healthy, so I don't need medical treatment, insurance, surgeries, medication etc. Considering I haven't had insurance for over 20 years, have not been to a doctor, take no medication except iboprofen once/yr average, I am 63 and very heathy. I was resenting even the thought of giving all my wellness money to enrich insurance companies. I've started seeing it as the medical establishment's way of thwarting the growing wellness lifestyle and related economy, i.e. their competition. I may change my tune, once I start researching it for a hub, but this is key information to know, so thank you.

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      ThompsonPenposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I see you and I have similar ways of thinking. I'd much rather use that money on the organic and healthy foods I eat and taking care of myself over all!

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