ObamaCare Info
- Thread starter TwoAtDisney
- Start date
I dont think you are committing to anything but I DID NOT LIKE that you have to "submit" an "electronically signed" application just to get pricing.
I didn't bother with checking for subsidies as currently i dont think i'm eligible so I'm not sure if it asks what you contribute from your employer. But i do know that it has a mechanism to upload things like paystubs for a human to review if need be.
BTW-
day 3 of trying to get pricing from the website. This mornings error message when i tried to log in was :
I'm a glutton for punishment, but now that i saw the BCBS website prices I'm panicking that instead of paying almost 20% of my income on healthcare in recent years it will be much worse in 2014....
day 3 of trying to get pricing from the website. This mornings error message when i tried to log in was :
I'm a glutton for punishment, but now that i saw the BCBS website prices I'm panicking that instead of paying almost 20% of my income on healthcare in recent years it will be much worse in 2014....
The college does require a supplemental plan if their area is not covered, that's about 1300 a year now additional which we did waive, but it doesn't cover enough to be a stand alone. It also wouldn't cover NJ. Can't put him separate because then I would lose the college deduction and he has no income except scholarships that aren't taxable.
I just worry that if you can't go out of network at all and they severely limit the in network doctors/hospitals, then if a really huge medical problem arises, you are stuck with the lowest tier. That peace of mind is important.
I did find another plan from AmeriHealth that does have out of network, it's called Premium Silver NTL POS+. Cost would be 1232.55 a month, so about the same as the most expensive BCBS.
Our current plan is a group plan for our business (sounds like your plan deductibles), with my DH just starting Medicare, so we can still keep it until our next renewal next year. Somehow I thought the exchange would be less because they said the age differential would be lessened (I'm 63) but it doesn't look like it. Thank goodness I only have to be ripped off for 2 more years until Medicare myself. Then I can stop taking one for the team and instead receive the team benefits!
Muushka
<font color=red>I usually feel like I just stepped
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I was going to try to have my Pollyanna attitude and say that you are getting alarmed over nothing.
But what you are bringing to light is very serious.
Right now people don't care because it affects 'the other guy'.
The IRS going after certain groups is all right because it is 'them'.
'Them' today may be YOU tomorrow.
Thanks for posting this. I definitely have some comparison shopping to do, but just from looking at the list there really isn't a provider that will offer us much savings if we switch from dh's employer's and since we don't qualify for any subsidy we may just leave well enough alone.
Maybe next year after all the guinea pigs have done it
lauradis
DIS Veteran
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Sucks Hun shocking.
Aca wasn't written to benefit you or me. We are meant to pay our fare share to provide for others.
Keep trying their has to be loop hole somewhere.
yep.
to tell you the truth I do consider my family fortunate and as I age I'm more and more willing to pay "my fair share". I try to put myself in others shoes and see how they may need a hand. But i hate waste and frankly when I don't think it's fair I get my shorts in a bunch.
Fair doesn't need to be equal (as an absolute dollar or even as a percentage)- but it makes no sense that someone who is right about the median income in the northeast should pay 20% of their income when so many other folks seem to get help to 9.5% or lower. If we were less fortunate we'd get a subsidy. If I made twice what i make then I'd be down around 9.5% but like much lately seems that the fortunate end of middle class is taking it for everyone. And just to add insult to injury they jacked the out of pocket deductible to 10% from 7.5.
It's like pile on the upper middle class. The democrats take care of the 47% that the republicans complain dont pay any taxes. The Republicans take care of the top 2% that Democrats love to vilify. But what about the MAJORITY that's left over? 51% of us starting from the middle get the shaft all the time.
Mostly I HATE HATE HATE that this whole process did not in any significant way deal with the rising costs of healthcare to actually make it affordable. It just HID the unaffordability by subsidizing those most in need of a hand. In fact some portions of the act might just encourage waste and rising rates. So many unintended consequences. "Affordable Care Act" is a lie- should have called it the "Subsidized care act"
Basically it's just dumping 10-15% more people into a BROKEN system. I dont think anyone knows what is going to happen but from what i see so far in the rates showing up is this is just a stop gap like so much else the politicians do of late. It's just putting off actually fixing the cost side of things for later and in the mean time the country will spend tons on a broken system. My friedns and family with insurance from their government jobs or large employers dont even understand how broke things are- they complain when their rx copays go from $10 to $15 and think that's an issue. I've had asthma my whole life, presently it's under control with Advair- the copay was $78. Before i hit my deductible it costs ~$200. 2 of my kids also have asthma- same deal with them. This isn't for viagra, or plastic surgery, or something. (and still I count my blessings every day- there are times were i seriously wonder if 50 or 100 years ago without todays medicine if I/we would have lived. Even a poor kid in the U.S. goes to the ER and can get the asthma medicine they need. What about the kids in 3rd world countries- do they just die if they get bronchitis and have asthma? I'm afraid that's entirely possible that it happens every day. We're so lucky in the USA)
As more and more people go from paying 2,3,5% of their income to the 9.5% cap they'll start to see that this is not really fixing the root of the issue but just a symptom.
And I'll be pefectly honest- I dont know the silver bullet to fix things. But I'm not going to lie and pretend this is the be all and end all. I have some ideas for some incremental things- maybe there needs to be many incremental things.
But something is very wrong and this is just hiding it.
(sorry for the 5 page essay- it's just upsetting to me all around- again i have to circle back and realize I' complaining on the Disney info boards where we're all very fortunate to be able to plunk down the cash to afford WDW... )
DVCcurious
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I don't want to start a whole stink here but I am very disappointed in the cost of the plans.
I was told we would have FREE healthcare. I just spent last night looking at coverage options and I can tell you it's NOT FREE.
Even crappy plans that only cover 70% are not even cheap.
Very disappointed. I guess I'll still be going without coverage because the fine is much cheaper than the "free" insurance Obamacare has given us. Just hope I don't get a disease or something until they can work together to fix this and give us the free healthcare we were promised back in 2008.
Free means $0 per month. $200 per month is not $0 per month.
I was told we would have FREE healthcare. I just spent last night looking at coverage options and I can tell you it's NOT FREE.
Even crappy plans that only cover 70% are not even cheap.
Very disappointed. I guess I'll still be going without coverage because the fine is much cheaper than the "free" insurance Obamacare has given us. Just hope I don't get a disease or something until they can work together to fix this and give us the free healthcare we were promised back in 2008.
Free means $0 per month. $200 per month is not $0 per month.
wdwfanatic316
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Muushka
<font color=red>I usually feel like I just stepped
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Nothing is free. Someone has to pay.
Its too bad there are many more like you that are going to have a rude awakening.
Welcome to the real world.
did you see if you can get a subsidy of some sort? If you qualify for a tax credit apparently the IRS will mail a payment each month to the insurer for you.
Also there are 'catastrophy' plans- they basically pay for nothing until you nail the 6,350 individual/ 12,700 family maximum then they kick in 100%. If you can find one of those maybe it would be "free" and if nothing else you would not have to worry about something yucky happening.
Also- double check the penalty. it is apparently NOT just $95/person that's most widely reported- that's the lowest it can be. Its actually 1% of your income. And it rises each year till it gets to, I think, 6.5% of your income. So something more to look forward to.
GOOD LUCK- fingers crossed for you.
njcarita
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where did u ever hear it was going to be free???????? its suppose to be affordable........ why would the goverment ( or the taxpayers) be responsible for 100% of your medical responsibility????............
Mike, I completely agree with your whole essay. Nothing about this is affordable, especially when they added all the required essential parts. They did not across costs nor make it more affordable for the middle class, just the opposite.
No, I don't need maternity at 63,
but it's required. I don't need eyeglass or dental for children under 19, since my DS is 19 and not covered, but I have to pay for it anyway. The emergency services is a joke, if I need an ambulance across the bridge, it's not covered due to out of network.
I use Advair, too, but over the last year I've been weaning myself off due to the cost (we gave up our prescription plan a year ago since it was more expensive than we got benefit from). My DH is on Flovent, and at $ 262 or so, has also decided to try to get off. But I still hear people complain about their 15 co-pays.
I wish I knew the answer to more affordable healthcare, but this Obamacare is not it. I wasn't really disappointed with the plans because I had set my expectations so low. I really wonder how many people will really sign up, subsidies are one thing but as a previous poster said, the co-pays, deductibles and out of pocket are still too high. With NJ rates being some of the highest in the nation, we are truly screwed. Anybody want to buy my NJ house?
No, I don't need maternity at 63,
but it's required. I don't need eyeglass or dental for children under 19, since my DS is 19 and not covered, but I have to pay for it anyway. The emergency services is a joke, if I need an ambulance across the bridge, it's not covered due to out of network. I use Advair, too, but over the last year I've been weaning myself off due to the cost (we gave up our prescription plan a year ago since it was more expensive than we got benefit from). My DH is on Flovent, and at $ 262 or so, has also decided to try to get off. But I still hear people complain about their 15 co-pays.
I wish I knew the answer to more affordable healthcare, but this Obamacare is not it. I wasn't really disappointed with the plans because I had set my expectations so low. I really wonder how many people will really sign up, subsidies are one thing but as a previous poster said, the co-pays, deductibles and out of pocket are still too high. With NJ rates being some of the highest in the nation, we are truly screwed. Anybody want to buy my NJ house?
eliza61
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LOL. why in god's name did you think it's free?
something I really do not understand (and perhaps someone can explain it to me), is if this program was instituted to help the uninsured, or those that have what the government deems as 'insufficient insurance', and be especially helpful to making insurance attainable/affordable for families with children-why oh why did they create this whacked out formula that just looks to (if a person is employed or retired and employer offers benefits which employees have to pay a portion of) the primary insured's share of cost of their plan (vs. whole family) compared to THE ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD'S INCOME????
this is nuts, it makes no sense, and in looking at the recent open enrollment packet I received I can see where employers are working with their insurance companies such that they (employers) can meet the mandates while premiums continue to increase for the employee
what I can see on my plan is while premiums have increased insanely, the chart shows that the cost for just the primary insured's portion is quoted as a minor amount of the premium as a whole (so my employer meets their requirement for their mandates).
if the formula were to look to what it costs me for my family of 4 to be insured (pretty crappy plan, but it's the only one i'm offered) and compare it to our entire household income-they would come to the quick realization that our household would have to be bringing in over $17,500.00 per month
so I guess i'm stuck-because my (former) employer provides insurance, and my share is under that magic 9.5%, I don't qualify for any tax credits to help offset what will now take close to 30% of our income...oh wait-then tack on about another $6000 in deductibles, co-pays, and other items that have increased this year as well so lets just make it 40%
this is nuts, it makes no sense, and in looking at the recent open enrollment packet I received I can see where employers are working with their insurance companies such that they (employers) can meet the mandates while premiums continue to increase for the employee
what I can see on my plan is while premiums have increased insanely, the chart shows that the cost for just the primary insured's portion is quoted as a minor amount of the premium as a whole (so my employer meets their requirement for their mandates).
if the formula were to look to what it costs me for my family of 4 to be insured (pretty crappy plan, but it's the only one i'm offered) and compare it to our entire household income-they would come to the quick realization that our household would have to be bringing in over $17,500.00 per month
so I guess i'm stuck-because my (former) employer provides insurance, and my share is under that magic 9.5%, I don't qualify for any tax credits to help offset what will now take close to 30% of our income...oh wait-then tack on about another $6000 in deductibles, co-pays, and other items that have increased this year as well so lets just make it 40%
goodfood4ursoul
DIS Veteran
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It is my understanding that there is a 1-800 number you can call for help with the ACA.
Here it is (no joke): 1-800-F1UCKYO.
Try it.
And no, I am not making this up.
Colleen27
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I support the ACA but I agree completely with everything you said. I don't think it is partisan either. It is a straightforward consequence of a campaign and lobbying system in which money talks - no health insurance reform could possibly get through Congress, regardless of who is in control, without first earning the approval of the insurance industry. So rather than meaningful cost containment or discussions about the feasibly of a for-profit insurance model, much less honest conversation about some form of single payer (even on a catastrophic basis that would co-exist with private insurance), we got a plan that forces everyone to buy what the insurance industry is selling. I do feel like it is better than nothing because it at least creates a path to access for those who couldn't previously afford it, but it is far from a realistic solution.
So you're disappointed because you didn't bother to find out what the act really does? Gah, sometimes I hate the internet and all the misinformation it breeds.
something I really do not understand (and perhaps someone can explain it to me), is if this program was instituted to help the uninsured, or those that have what the government deems as 'insufficient insurance', and be especially helpful to making insurance attainable/affordable for families with children-why oh why did they create this whacked out formula that just looks to (if a person is employed or retired and employer offers benefits which employees have to pay a portion of) the primary insured's share of cost of their plan (vs. whole family) compared to THE ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD'S INCOME????
this is nuts, it makes no sense, and in looking at the recent open enrollment packet I received I can see where employers are working with their insurance companies such that they (employers) can meet the mandates while premiums continue to increase for the employee
what I can see on my plan is while premiums have increased insanely, the chart shows that the cost for just the primary insured's portion is quoted as a minor amount of the premium as a whole (so my employer meets their requirement for their mandates).
if the formula were to look to what it costs me for my family of 4 to be insured (pretty crappy plan, but it's the only one i'm offered) and compare it to our entire household income-they would come to the quick realization that our household would have to be bringing in over $17,500.00 per month
so I guess i'm stuck-because my (former) employer provides insurance, and my share is under that magic 9.5%, I don't qualify for any tax credits to help offset what will now take close to 30% of our income...oh wait-then tack on about another $6000 in deductibles, co-pays, and other items that have increased this year as well so lets just make it 40%
This is a known issue without a known fix. When the language about affordability was written the language wasn't specific, and now there's no fixing it for the time being because of the current political climate regarding the whole subject.
johde
DIS Veteran
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Day 3 here as well. I'm getting ready to leave for my 2nd job so this will need to be quick. So far I haven't been able to log into the healthcare.gov site although supposedly I have a login but it doesn't recognize my password and the system is too backed up to let me change it.
I have found "some" information at http://www.valuepenguin.com/ , and http://ehealth.com/ , and various insurer websites.
1) As of right now, the closest plan in terms of benefits to mind is $80 a month more with subsidy ($220 more without subsidy). The deductible is the same but the coinsurance is worse and the out of pocket maximum is worse. Also, my Dr, nor the local hospital are currently considered "in network". In town currently only 3 primary care physicians are in this plan.
2) the second cheapest plan in my region, which my subsidy is based on is available in only 1 county in the region (not mine).
3) A Bronze plan may be insurance, and it may keep me legal, but it doesn't really provide protection.
4) If I would become a little bit poorer (under $2,500 less in MAGI a year), I could possibly have insurance for about what I'm paying now maybe a little more or less depending on the exact plan, better coverage, and give a really, really, really big thank you to the rest of America for subsidizing me out the wazoo.
5) Deciding to drop insurance and become uninsured and pay the penalty is not off the table. But, right now the least likely decision.
I have found "some" information at http://www.valuepenguin.com/ , and http://ehealth.com/ , and various insurer websites.
1) As of right now, the closest plan in terms of benefits to mind is $80 a month more with subsidy ($220 more without subsidy). The deductible is the same but the coinsurance is worse and the out of pocket maximum is worse. Also, my Dr, nor the local hospital are currently considered "in network". In town currently only 3 primary care physicians are in this plan.
2) the second cheapest plan in my region, which my subsidy is based on is available in only 1 county in the region (not mine).
3) A Bronze plan may be insurance, and it may keep me legal, but it doesn't really provide protection.
4) If I would become a little bit poorer (under $2,500 less in MAGI a year), I could possibly have insurance for about what I'm paying now maybe a little more or less depending on the exact plan, better coverage, and give a really, really, really big thank you to the rest of America for subsidizing me out the wazoo.
5) Deciding to drop insurance and become uninsured and pay the penalty is not off the table. But, right now the least likely decision.
lauradis
DIS Veteran
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Yep I have been saying just this about million times.
How about 3rd job to pay for health insurance or the new tax?
Reality check ouch, Just because you have insurance doesn't mean you will get health care
Hope it works out for you, don't give up you might find something better
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