ObamaCare Info

[luvmy3]

You do understand that you're paying for people who don't have healthcare now, don't you? All those ER visits and critical illness due to postponed treatments are passed onto the insurance consumer and taxpayer.

That was a very strange double post.

But since I'm back and saw Eliza's post I just want to clarify something in case anyone got the wrong impression. I am in no way saying that "I don't want to pay for all the lazy people...." (although its not really a bad thing to not want too )
I'm just having a little pity party because once again our family doesn't qualify for something just because on paper we look a certain way and in reality there are many reasons why we are just like (some of) those that do.
I realize that this program does benefit people who are in most in need, and I have no problem with that. I don't even have a problem paying our fair share to ensure that. My problem is that we continue to pay in, but are never allowed the benefit of getting something out, or its extremely minimal because we are "fortunate" enough to not need it. Well we are fortunate enough but that didn't come without financial hardship and sacrifice. And well I just find that very unfair because all that matters is this household makes X amount of dollars. But, it is what it is and I accept that, just a little pity party

 

[eliza61]

Yes of course I do but that isn't what this about. Its about the "fairness" of who gets to take advantage of this particular government program.
Like I said its just disappointing that on paper we make to much to be able to, but in reality we are in a position where it would be very helpful for us financially the same way it would be for many others that are actually able to take advantage of the program.

but that's always been the case. unless we go to universal H.C. which brings out the pitchforks, some one at some income level is going to be excluded.

I totally feel your disappointment, on paper we will never qualify for college tuition help and like many here I live in a high col area so a high salary on paper looks great. In reality my family is definitely not living "la vida loca" and two kids in college at full tuition is ridiculous.

although I will say this, after 20 years volunteering with the poor in Camden NJ, sorry I'll take door number one with the insurance premiums.
The ones my church works with have really sad lives. It can be frustrating and I don't think the ACA is addressing the root of the cause. Now, I'm a universal Health care supporter simply because I do work with the poor and I don't think the quality of your health care should ever be tied into how much money you have.

 

[ZoeBell]

Have you actually looked, or are you just believing the debate in the media?

The income limits for the subsidies are pretty high, high enough to provide some relief to most of the middle class. And the premiums aren't out of line with comparable coverage now; it is only the subsidy that makes it in any way affordable.

The income limits, for those who are interested. It really isn't a misstatement to say that most Americans will qualify.

$11,490 to $45,960 for individuals
$15,510 to $62,040 for a family of 2
$19,530 to $78,120 for a family of 3
$23,550 to $94,200 for a family of 4
$27,570 to $110,280 for a family of 5
$31,590 to $126,360 for a family of 6
$35,610 to $142,440 for a family of 7
$39,630 to $158,520 for a family of 8

Does my family of 5 still count as a family of 5 even though 2 of my children are adults? One lives at home. One lives on her own. Both are still on my husband's insurance.

 

[luvmy3]

but that's always been the case. unless we go to universal H.C. which brings out the pitchforks, some one at some income level is going to be excluded.

I feel your disappointment, on paper we will never qualify for college tuition help and like many here I live in a high col area so a high salary on paper looks great. In reality my family is definitely not living "la vida loca" and two kids in college at full tuition is ridiculous.

Oh I know, it would just be nice to once be included

 

[ZoeBell]

Oh I know, it would just be nice to once be included

Same here. After I pay full tuition, full school lunches, my gas and electric bills with no heap program and many other programs I end up having about as much money as someone who makes about half of what we make.

My friend went back to school at a community college and is eligible for federal and state aid. Neither of my kids qualified for any kind of federal and or state aid. She told me with her grant money she can buy anything in the college book store, including Vera Bradley wallets and bookbags and she also gets a refund if she doesn't use all her grant money. Meanwhile my kid can't get $50 towards a book.

 

[TwoAtDisney]

Interesting comments; thank you; I still hope the info helps some.

My advice (although most don't want it ) - Anyone wanting/needing info, October 1 - check the site, chat the chat line, call the number, call your U.S. Congressperson for the real facts. Research. Get multiple answers & decide which sounds correct. Then make your decision.

Just some of my thoughts, even though many will not agree, which is obviously ok with me, or I wouldn't post it!

1. "Keep your current plan" - That quote was part of information regarding "will the government force me to switch to ObamaCare". The answer is "No"; the government will not "force" anyone to drop their current health care plan. I know as a fact the context of the quote because I heard it many times on TV by many different persons. Now - Can the government force employers to keep offering their current plan? No (at least not at this time). So that statement, "keep your current plan" was not a lie by those discussing what ObamaCare requires.

2. Hi Cost of Living Areas (COLA) - The law is 2700 pages, as touted many times. Like Medicare, Medicaid, & Social Security, it needs a lot of tweaking through the years - there were big national uproars about those plans too & the Civil Rights Laws & the Disability Laws, etc. I don't know whether COLA are addressed in the law & I don't know if local governments will "do their own thing" to help their constituents. If I were in a COLA, I would be talking to my local & state governments - "we are different than most of the country, we pay higher taxes to our state & local governments than most of the country, you guys need to do something to help us"!

3. Exchanges & ObamaCare are choices, not onlys, & not requirements. The major requirement with ObamaCare that many don't like is the requirement to be a responsible adult & responsible American & insure themselves - just like with car insurance, house insurance, rental insurance, etc. The rest of us don't want to continue to pay the bills of those who don't want to pay their own way. Being healthy today means nothing except it's a good day, maybe. No one knows what tomorrow brings for their health or the health of a family member. Lower middle class & below, I understand your need. Those in the middle class with unusual circumstances, I understand your need. The rest of us probably have a lot of "fat" in our spending - not by today's standards, but health care is more important than some middle class trappings.

4. There is another option - don't get health insurance at all & pay the tax (oops, penalty). Accept that the government raised our taxes to try to "force" everyone to be a responsible American adult.

5. It's not working now & hasn't been working for too many decades! I wish some Americans would quit saying "Why" & start saying "Why Not" (give it a try). How can we be the "exceptional" nation, the "greatest" nation & not have everyone provided with health care like the rest of developed countries?

6. It will not bankrupt the nation - that is a fact! The U.S. government brings in enough money to provide health care to us all - a fact. However, the U.S. government (Republicans & Democrats) chooses to spend our tax dollars elsewhere. And when some of us believe that money should be spent on the quality of life of Americans, even some of those Americans complain! Why shouldn't our tax dollars be spent on us instead of on the wars of other countries, "nation building" in other countries, lining pockets of other country leaders, lining pockets of warfare corporations (like Haliburton, etc.) ....on & on. Americans, quit complaining about what is being spent on you & us & start complaining about what is not being spent on us - & just as loudly!

7. McCain gave an excellent speech on the Senate floor yesterday - I wish everyone could hear it. Step by step he explained the passing of ObamaCare. He explained how months were spent in committees & how almost 300 changes were made by Republicans. He explained how nay-sayers should accept that it is law & the majority of the American people clearly made their views known during the last 2 elections.

It is the law. It is an attempt to try & fix a national disaster for the American people. The American people deserve to have some tax dollars spent on them. IMO, everyone should believe it is a human right to receive health care - not just for those who can afford it. ObamaCare doesn't get us "there", but it's one step.

 

[pryncess527]

Standing Ovation for TwoAtDisney

Very well said. I completely agree with your post, especially the part about everyone watching McCain's speech. This law is not perfect, but perhaps it could be better if lawmakers would stop burying their heads in the sand and voting over and over for a repeal that will not pass. But unfortunately politicians these days don't seem interested in solving problems, they just like prolonging the fight. And why shouldn't they, they are living high on the hog without having to do the difficult work of governing and very little reason to think voters will hold them accountable.

 

[Chris the CPA]

There are several amendments to the constitution where the American people did not just go along when something is wrong.

 

[Colleen27]

I'm using my "middle" for my family.
The problem with defining the middle class is that you cant just do it by household income and number of family members.
I live in a high COL area, our household salary doesn't stretch the way it would if I lived in some small town in Nebraska.
We make too little to be considered upper middle class here, but we make too much to take advantage of the tax benefits/breaks or other government programs others can.
It is what its, I accept that, doesn't mean I have to be happy about it. It is disappointing knowing that our insurance premiums will go up, coverage will go down, and because on paper we make X amount of money we are SOL with finding something more affordable under Obamacare. Wasn't that program supposed to make insurance affordable for all?
I am glad for the people who will benefit from it, but lets be honest, someone has to be shut out in order for that to happen and unfortunately its "my" middle class.

That's a problem with all federal programs, and I'm not sure there is a good answer to it. It must stink to always be caught up in it, but with any rule there's the exceptions and the broad eligibility category at least attempts to address it.

However, all this focus on the exchange is overlooking the provision that may very well help families like yours... The fact that insurers will have to pay 80% of what they take in as premiums out on claims. That's significantly more than some are paying now, so they're going to have to deny fewer claims, expand coverage, or lower premiums to meet the new regulations. And if they don't meet the target, they have to refund the difference back to their members.

I also think that there's another aspect to this law that isn't being talked about, likely because it is difficult if not entirely impossible to quantify: the increase in worker mobility made possible by weakening the connection between employment and health care. How many people in this country have decided not to start a business, change jobs, go back to school, or take on other challenges that would be a net gain for their community and the economy because they had to stay put to keep their health insurance? How much of the "big box"/chain dominance of our era and the much-lamented death of the Mom & Pop stores can be laid at the feet of employees going where the benefits are better, and entrepreneurial spirit reined in by issues like pre-existing conditions and access to care? "Obamacare" is likely to provide a real but hard to predict stimulus for our economy in the long run by freeing people to take/make new opportunities rather than settling for dead-ends that offer benefits.

 

[RadioFanatic]

what I also don't understand is that, if I go "silver" for example, there are five different insurance cy's I can go with that range in price from 588 for my family of three to over a $1000 - why? oh, and I'm $52 over the highest cost of $78,120 thank you very much.

 

[Marie17]

But from everything that I have read it states if your employer offers "affordable" heath insurance which means that it does not cost more than 9.5% of your annual income for the EMPLOYEE's portion you would not be subsidized on the healthcare exchange.

What happens when the employer's coverage does not offer any contribution (meaning they do not pay any portion of that part of the spouse/children's premium) to that employee's FAMILY coverage and then the cost is more than 9.5% of annual income for that worker?

Is there any sort of fix in the works for this stipulation for families that are only one-income families?

 

[dhardawa]

Can someone clarify something for me? If I select the silver plan, which covers 70%, are there co-pays and deductibles with that? Or is it just - they cover 70% and we cover 30%, right from the start?

No, that's just an estimate. It means that for all enrollees in a typical population, the plan would pay 70% of expenses. There will be deductibles and copays.

 

[dhardawa]

what I also don't understand is that, if I go "silver" for example, there are five different insurance cy's I can go with that range in price from 588 for my family of three to over a $1000 - why? oh, and I'm $52 over the highest cost of $78,120 thank you very much.

There still may be differences in benefits, but a lot comes down to contracting efforts between insurance companies and providers.

 

[Robbi]

Our state opted out. We have a charity hospital system plus private hospitals have to treat everyone.

 

[manning]

And the Iron Lady once said. "Eventually the government runs out of the people's money"

 

[Poohbear5]

And the Iron Lady once said. "Eventually the government runs out of the people's money"

It's coming..

 

[pryncess527]

what I also don't understand is that, if I go "silver" for example, there are five different insurance cy's I can go with that range in price from 588 for my family of three to over a $1000 - why?

Because it's a free market and any private insurance company can participate. It encourages competition, which drives down prices.

That point gets lost when people accuse this of being a government takeover of healthcare. It's not a government takeover at all -- that would be the single payer system many in this country still want -- private insurance is alive and well and they are competing for your business in the insurance exchange. Some states have way more choices, depending on how their legislature structured things.

 

[mrsclark]

I listen to a lot of public radio. There was an interesting topic on last weekend's Marketplace Money by APM. Basically the show created a database called Income Upshot where you can plug in your annual household income and your zip code. It then tells you within your zip code where your income ranks plus a lot of other interesting information. I thought some people might be interested based on the discussion of what is and what is not middle class and how your income level to be middle class relates to where you live.

Here is the link, the Income Upshot calculator is in the middle of the page.

http://www.marketplace.org/shows/marketplace-money

 

[DMLewis75]

I'm using my "middle" for my family. The problem with defining the middle class is that you cant just do it by household income and number of family members. I live in a high COL area, our household salary doesn't stretch the way it would if I lived in some small town in Nebraska. We make too little to be considered upper middle class here, but we make too much to take advantage of the tax benefits/breaks or other government programs others can. It is what its, I accept that, doesn't mean I have to be happy about it. It is disappointing knowing that our insurance premiums will go up, coverage will go down, and because on paper we make X amount of money we are SOL with finding something more affordable under Obamacare. Wasn't that program supposed to make insurance affordable for all? I am glad for the people who will benefit from it, but lets be honest, someone has to be shut out in order for that to happen and unfortunately its "my" middle class.

My family is right there with you. I couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[Colleen27]

But from everything that I have read it states if your employer offers "affordable" heath insurance which means that it does not cost more than 9.5% of your annual income for the EMPLOYEE's portion you would not be subsidized on the healthcare exchange.

What happens when the employer's coverage does not offer any contribution (meaning they do not pay any portion of that part of the spouse/children's premium) to that employee's FAMILY coverage and then the cost is more than 9.5% of annual income for that worker?

Is there any sort of fix in the works for this stipulation for families that are only one-income families?

Unfortunately, no. Our so-called leaders are too busy bickering and trying to undo the whole thing and they'd rather throw the baby out with the bathwater or bring the entire government to a screeching halt than act like reasonable adults and address specific issues, fixes, and compromises that need to be made.