(UPDATED) Trying to stay out of the Obamacare debate...

Go Beavers · October 2013

grooveme wrote:

Yes, we have a high deductible plan and HSA. What I save on premiums I put in a HSA, tax deductible and with tax free earnings. We pay our routine medical expenses, and that's appropriate, in my opinion. Insurance should be for major events, not routine medical expenses. It is too expensive because people think that all health care is free, since they don't see the cost, so they overutilize services that they don't need, and they don't look around for better prices. Think how expensive auto insurance would be if it paid for oil changes, blown tires, tune-ups, etc.

There's several reasons it's expensive, but overutilization isn't necessarily the root. Overbilling/charging is a big problem, and a huge chunk is spent on care for people at the end of their lives. There also isn't much negotiation of prices happening.

Go Beavers · October 2013

know1 wrote:

Go Beavers wrote:

know1 wrote:

This is a complete kick in the teeth. High deductible plans are the ONLY plans that make any kind of sense so it's only natural our government would outlaw them.

I don't buy the "people just don't have $5000 sitting around" in case they have a medical emergency. That is THEIR problem and if I do happen to have the will power to keep $5000 in an emergency fund I shouldn't be PUNISHED because other people can't.

This whole thing makes me sick. Insurance IS THE PROBLEM. Anyone who thinks more insurance solves the problem CAUSED BY INSURANCE is either not very bright or is somehow biased to the insurance industry.

You think people not having an extra $5000 is a will power issue? You have an interesting reality.

Do you feel the same about car insurance?

If they have to essentially pay more than $5K in a year for the premiums on a low deductible plan, why can't they save up the difference in premium cost as they go along to have that $5K as an emergency fund in a year's time or so? That IS a will power issue.

Weren't we talking about a high deductable plan? It sounded like you were saying they should have an extra $5000 after paying say $3 to $5k on premiums each year. What are thinking are premiums for a high deductable plan right now?

dignin · October 2013

know1 wrote:

dignin wrote:

Glad your Wife is alright. But if she would have gotten sick where I come from (Canada), it wouldn't have cost either of you a dime.

So healthcare magically has ZERO cost in Canada? You're completely brainwashed if you think that's the case.

Yes....I'm brainwashed. Magical fairies pay for my healthcare.

Think about what I said. Completely different than what you are implying. I know you don't really believe what your saying, just trying to be dramatic.

Single payer, look it up.

know1 · October 2013

dignin wrote:

know1 wrote:

dignin wrote:

Glad your Wife is alright. But if she would have gotten sick where I come from (Canada), it wouldn't have cost either of you a dime.

So healthcare magically has ZERO cost in Canada? You're completely brainwashed if you think that's the case.

Yes....I'm brainwashed. Magical fairies pay for my healthcare.

Think about what I said. Completely different than what you are implying. I know you don't really believe what your saying, just trying to be dramatic.

Single payer, look it up.

Single payer means the government pays the bills. Where does the government get their money? To say that it wouldn't have cost either of them a dime is just wrong as far as I can tell.

lukin2006 · October 2013

know1 wrote:

dignin wrote:

Glad your Wife is alright. But if she would have gotten sick where I come from (Canada), it wouldn't have cost either of you a dime.

So healthcare magically has ZERO cost in Canada? You're completely brainwashed if you think that's the case.

It actually cost in the form of high taxes and very limited choices ... anyone that is looking at Canada's health care as a solution needs to get their head out of the sand.

Gern Blansten · October 2013

lukin2006 wrote:

know1 wrote:

dignin wrote:

Glad your Wife is alright. But if she would have gotten sick where I come from (Canada), it wouldn't have cost either of you a dime.

So healthcare magically has ZERO cost in Canada? You're completely brainwashed if you think that's the case.

It actually cost in the form of high taxes and very limited choices ... anyone that is looking at Canada's health care as a solution needs to get their head out of the sand.

Even though your system ranks much higher than the US system in terms of life expectancy, infant mortality rate, cost, etc?

The Canadian system puts the USA to shame

lukin2006 · October 2013

Gern Blansten wrote:

lukin2006 wrote:

know1 wrote:

So healthcare magically has ZERO cost in Canada? You're completely brainwashed if you think that's the case.

It actually cost in the form of high taxes and very limited choices ... anyone that is looking at Canada's health care as a solution needs to get their head out of the sand.

Even though your system ranks much higher than the US system in terms of life expectancy, infant mortality rate, cost, etc?

The Canadian system puts the USA to shame

What I'm saying is there are better single payer systems than us ... look to some countries in Europe. Our system has been in a steady decline. 2 huge problems here are far to many people have no family doc relying instead on ER and walk-in clinics ( I was one of those who didn't have a family doc for years), trust me the service you get from having a family doc is far better and I'm grateful that I found a family doc. Problem number 2 far to long to wait for elective surgery, no big deal if everything works fine, but if your waiting for surgery living in pain and are unable to work then you just might be receiving assistance of some sort which those cost aren't factored.

The one good thing about our system is your never to poor to be sick, but I wish our government would look overseas to see what other countries are doing, not just patching leaks.

Shawshank · October 2013

Has ANYONE on here signed up at healthcare.gov and received rates? Has anyone you know been able to? Tried again a couple of times this morning and still can't sign in.

Go Beavers · October 2013

Shawshank wrote:

Has ANYONE on here signed up at healthcare.gov and received rates? Has anyone you know been able to? Tried again a couple of times this morning and still can't sign in.

I'd wait awhile and let the smoke clear.

Its Evolution Baby · October 2013

Health Insurance has never been convenient in my life time. I had a car accident that left my back in pretty banged up shape but I needed a doctor's visit before I could get prescribed physical therapy. It took me 45 days to get an appointment in Santa Barbara which made the car insurance company I was dealing with come to the conclusion my injuries couldn't be that bad, which then led me to have to lawyer up.

I think all the insurance companies and lawyers are working together to create this gridlock as it means more money for all of them in the long run.

I think if we let the Affordable Care Act take hold and then amend the parts that don't work, we'll be on our way to a much better system then what we have now. The system we have now is one of the worst health care systems in the world. We as Americans should demand better which is why I'm shocked so many people prefer the status quo.

Leezestarr313 · October 2013

I am from Germany and have moved to the US. I was employed in Germany and the cost for my health care was taken out of my salary every month. I could see the amount in my paycheck. It was around 230 Euros a month, if I remember correctly. My employer had to pay a certain amount too.
I never felt unsafe when it came to my health in Germany. I knew I was covered whenever I needed medical care. My sister had three children during her time as a student and this didn't bring her to the poor house. She was covered. I needed surgery for a cyst, it didn't cost me an extra dime. I needed a night guard for my teeth, and got it for free from the dentist, cause it was covered (here, I was told it would be 300 dollars). Now living in the States, I pay for a basic health care option as a self-employed person. I pay a little less every month than I paid in Germany. Yet, I don't really feel insured. I don't wanna get in deep debt because my health declines. I am scared to get pregnant because I know that my insurance doesn't cover maternity. Everytime something doesn't feel right with my body, I get paranoid because I fear the costs. I lead a healthy life style, and I excercise. I love living in America, but the health care system makes me sick.

I tried to find something that explains the German system a little better than I can, cause I'm really no expert. http://www.thelundreport.org/resource/g ... are_debate

This was interesting too http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media ... ief_v2.pdf

MotoDC · October 2013

Leezestarr313 wrote:

I am from Germany and have moved to the US. I was employed in Germany and the cost for my health care was taken out of my salary every month. I could see the amount in my paycheck. It was around 230 Euros a month, if I remember correctly. My employer had to pay a certain amount too.
I never felt unsafe when it came to my health in Germany. I knew I was covered whenever I needed medical care. My sister had three children during her time as a student and this didn't bring her to the poor house. She was covered. I needed surgery for a cyst, it didn't cost me an extra dime. I needed a night guard for my teeth, and got it for free from the dentist, cause it was covered (here, I was told it would be 300 dollars). Now living in the States, I pay for a basic health care option as a self-employed person. I pay a little less every month than I paid in Germany. Yet, I don't really feel insured. I don't wanna get in deep debt because my health declines. I am scared to get pregnant because I know that my insurance doesn't cover maternity. Everytime something doesn't feel right with my body, I get paranoid because I fear the costs. I lead a healthy life style, and I excercise. I love living in America, but the health care system makes me sick.

Nice pun.

Since we're going all anecdotal here, I'll add that I've never had a bad experience with my various providers of healthcare and/or insurance in the US. I've had major reconstructive knee surgery, a child (well, technically speaking my wife did that part, but you know what I mean), among other things. Never had an issue, always covered, have a huge selection of doctors to choose from. I pay less than the EUR230/month that you used to pay, though I do have a small deductible. There are good insurance plans and bad ones -- if yours doesn't cover maternity, well, it's probably the latter. Keep shopping.

Leezestarr313 · October 2013

MotoDC wrote:

Nice pun.

Since we're going all anecdotal here, I'll add that I've never had a bad experience with my various providers of healthcare and/or insurance in the US. I've had major reconstructive knee surgery, a child (well, technically speaking my wife did that part, but you know what I mean), among other things. Never had an issue, always covered, have a huge selection of doctors to choose from. I pay less than the EUR230/month that you used to pay, though I do have a small deductible. There are good insurance plans and bad ones -- if yours doesn't cover maternity, well, it's probably the latter. Keep shopping.

Well, we did shop around and I could have it covered. If I pay 500 dollars a month more. Which would raise my monthly insurance payment up to around 700 dollars. If I go with this, I would also have to wait a year before I could get pregnant. Something isn't right here. Or at least it feels like that to a German.

Cosmo · October 2013

Shawshank wrote:

2 things that are extremely frightening about this...first, my wife nearly died last year because of an issue with her thyroid that ended up causing what they call a thyroid storm. If you've never experienced that, consider yourself lucky. It basically puts your heart in a cocaine like overdrive and cannot be stopped. She was cardioverted (you know...CLEAR and then shocked) 4 times...while she was conscious and without anesthetic. It was horrible. I never knew they did that to people who were alive.

Anyway, she was in the hospital for a month, and they got everything sorted out, even though it nearly destroyed her heart. Our insurance was great. I carry a high deductible, around $7,500, but it kept the monthly premiums reasonable at around $400 for both of us, and it was really only intended for emergencies. After all the madness of last year, we expected to get reamed on our premiums, but were surprised to only see them go up $25 per month.

...
This is probably WHY your Insurance company dropped you. They don't want people with health problems on their plans... they only want healthy people who will pay premiums and never use them.
This could have happened to you... even if there ws no such thing as Obamacare. Insurance companies dropped people who were costing them money... and no other company would pick you up without you having to pay an unaffordable premium because of your wife's, now... pre-existing condition.
...
This is also WHY access to Health Care coverage needed to be overhauled. Because Insurance companies are in their businesses to make money... not to spend it on people who'll actually need them.
Everyone blames the government for this... but, if the Insurance Companies weren't in the business of making money and raising the price of their stocks so their executives could receive annual incentive bonuses.. then, the government would not have had to step in and tell them quit being such greedy assholes.
...
P.S. I'm glad your wife is alive. and i hope all the best works out for the two of you.

Shawshank · October 2013

Cosmo wrote:

Shawshank wrote:

2 things that are extremely frightening about this...first, my wife nearly died last year because of an issue with her thyroid that ended up causing what they call a thyroid storm. If you've never experienced that, consider yourself lucky. It basically puts your heart in a cocaine like overdrive and cannot be stopped. She was cardioverted (you know...CLEAR and then shocked) 4 times...while she was conscious and without anesthetic. It was horrible. I never knew they did that to people who were alive.

Anyway, she was in the hospital for a month, and they got everything sorted out, even though it nearly destroyed her heart. Our insurance was great. I carry a high deductible, around $7,500, but it kept the monthly premiums reasonable at around $400 for both of us, and it was really only intended for emergencies. After all the madness of last year, we expected to get reamed on our premiums, but were surprised to only see them go up $25 per month.

...
This is probably WHY your Insurance company dropped you. They don't want people with health problems on their plans... they only want healthy people who will pay premiums and never use them.
This could have happened to you... even if there ws no such thing as Obamacare. Insurance companies dropped people who were costing them money... and no other company would pick you up without you having to pay an unaffordable premium because of your wife's, now... pre-existing condition.
...
This is also WHY access to Health Care coverage needed to be overhauled. Because Insurance companies are in their businesses to make money... not to spend it on people who'll actually need them.
Everyone blames the government for this... but, if the Insurance Companies weren't in the business of making money and raising the price of their stocks so their executives could receive annual incentive bonuses.. then, the government would not have had to step in and tell them quit being such greedy assholes.
...
P.S. I'm glad your wife is alive. and i hope all the best works out for the two of you.

Thanks. Your theory makes sense and I would consider that a possibility if I hadn't talked to 4 other people in the last 2 days who had the exact same issue. 2 of them had plans with the same company I did and they never even used their coverage. No Dr. visits at all. Just deductibles that were too high. So it wasn't just us being singled out.

Shawshank · October 2013

Still not able to log in, and getting a bit nervous about some of the feedback I'm hearing. Had a friend of ours in a similar situation. He was dropped and he never even used his policy in the 3 years he had it. Since he had a deductible similar to ours he just paid for the few Dr. visits and scripts he had in cash. Ended up being charged less as well by doing it that way.

Anway, they bypassed the website and just toughed it out on hold for an hour waiting to talk to an actual human. They went over everything with him. His premiums through the exchange are DOUBLE what he was paying before, and now he has a co-pay, where he didn't before (once he hit his deductible of course). So he's screwed because you can't just stick with the policy you once had, because it no longer meets the guidelines. I swear my head will explode if I end up having the same situation, but I don't see how it could be much different. This isn't looking good at all...for ANYONE...except insurance companies. :evil:

xavier mcdaniel · October 2013

I went through the New York State one. It's called NY State of Health and saw one for myself for 307 per month with a deductable that wasn't over 3,000. I didn't apply for it just yet since I wanted to do some more researching and so on.

Leezestarr313 · October 2013

Try to stay on the website, eventually you will be able to log in. We got it working, but haven't decided on anything yet.

I saw an interesting video about the costs of health care in America yesterday:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSjGouBmo0M

Best of luck to all of you to find something appropriate and not too expensive. Stay healthy, people!

otter · October 2013

Shawshank wrote:

So I was casually going through the mail late this evening, and I noticed two pieces from our health insurance company, one for myself and one for my wife. I open them and it is a cancellation notice. It says something to the effect that since my current plan doesn't fall under the new healthcare guidelines, that the policy is being terminated, however they are "gracious" enough to continue my coverage until the end of the year. This is a company wide cancellation of the insurance certificate, not just for us, but for everyone on the plan. I now will be one of those that has to go to healthcare.gov in the morning to see if I can find a plan.

2 things that are extremely frightening about this...first, my wife nearly died last year because of an issue with her thyroid that ended up causing what they call a thyroid storm. If you've never experienced that, consider yourself lucky. It basically puts your heart in a cocaine like overdrive and cannot be stopped. She was cardioverted (you know...CLEAR and then shocked) 4 times...while she was conscious and without anesthetic. It was horrible. I never knew they did that to people who were alive.

Anyway, she was in the hospital for a month, and they got everything sorted out, even though it nearly destroyed her heart. Our insurance was great. I carry a high deductible, around $7,500, but it kept the monthly premiums reasonable at around $400 for both of us, and it was really only intended for emergencies. After all the madness of last year, we expected to get reamed on our premiums, but were surprised to only see them go up $25 per month.

So now with our policy being cancelled, I'm worried about what options we are going to have. I was perfectly fine with the coverage I had, and I'm still not 100% sure how it didn't meet the upcoming mandates within the new laws. I'm hoping that if nothing else we can have the same type of coverage for roughly the same cost. I just don't know if I'll be that lucky, but who knows. If I end up having to pay more for insurance now, especially with my wife's issues from last year, I'm going to be wicked pissed. :evil: :evil: :evil:

"If you like your insurance plan; you can keep it" Obama

"Our insurance was great" You and me

Shawshank · October 2013

Oh my god I'm finally in! I was finally able to log in, I can't believe it. I will post an update with what plans I find as soon as I can.

(UPDATED) Trying to stay out of the Obamacare debate...

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