UGH!!! Health Insurance! How Much Did Your Premiums Go Up?

[tvguy]

Insurance for 3 went up $20 a month.
Deductible went up from $2,000 per person to $3,000 per person.
DD turns 26 next year, so last year on our policy.
Our big hit came 3 years ago. Whoever named it officially the "Affordable" Healthcare Act certainly had a sense of humor.

 

[Ngwira]

We don't pay for our healthcare (DH's employer does), but our ER non admitted copay went up from $30 last year to $100 this year. Our copay for primary visits also went from $10 to $15 and specialist visits are now $20 from $15.

 

[Dakota731]

We don't pay for our healthcare (DH's employer does)

And we can't forget that these companies are taking a hit too. If you aren't being charged for your healthcare then you employer is paying big time. My husband's company is only hiring temp workers now because they can no longer afford to pay for health insurance for full-timers. Other companies have been forced to lay off or pass the high premiums onto their employees.
I hate to be a conspiracy pundit but I wonder if this plan was ever meant to succeed. I sometimes think it was planned to fail so our country would go to a socialized medicine plan. Especially after hearing the architect of Obamacare state it was only because of the stupidity of the American voter that it was able to pass... hmmm http://nypost.com/2014/11/13/obamacare-architect-catches-heat-for-calling-voters-stupid/

 

[bb-8]

Mine only went up by about $6...but I'm also single.

 

[kamik86]

And we can't forget that these companies are taking a hit too. If you aren't being charged for your healthcare then you employer is paying big time. My husband's company is only hiring temp workers now because they can no longer afford to pay for health insurance for full-timers. Other companies have been forced to lay off or pass the high premiums onto their employees.
I hate to be a conspiracy pundit but I wonder if this plan was ever meant to succeed. I sometimes think it was planned to fail so our country would go to a socialized medicine plan. Especially after hearing the architect of Obamacare state it was only because of the stupidity of the American voter that it was able to pass... hmmm http://nypost.com/2014/11/13/obamacare-architect-catches-heat-for-calling-voters-stupid/

I think a plan like this CAN work. I think this one is on a really large scale and has alot of problems in execution though.

A plan like this seems to work in MA though. We have had it for a while... We have issues getting doctors in our side of the state but its because its the middle of no where, I dont think Boston has that issue (we also have trouble getting alot of professionals for non medical services in our area so I dont' think its just a healthcare thing)

 

[Dakota731]

I think a plan like this CAN work.

Then I guess Obamacare did what it was supposed to do - being so horrible that people are considering socialized medicine as a cure totally ignoring how disastrous these plans have been in Europe and Canada. The waiting lists for basic procedures, the out of pocket expenses and prescriptions they still have to pay for, the lack of doctors and hospitals, the high taxes, sure let's just jump from the pot to the frying pan. I just read an article about a Canadian celebrity's child's cancer diagnosis and how he is being brought to the US for treatment. So the wealthy will do ok with government healthcare as will those who don't work, and as usual the middle class will foot the bill.

 

[kamik86]

We don't pay for our healthcare (DH's employer does), but our ER non admitted copay went up from $30 last year to $100 this year. Our copay for primary visits also went from $10 to $15 and specialist visits are now $20 from $15.

A lot of insurances did that with ER visits because they wanted you to really need to go to the ER before you did. My area did that as soon was we got urgent care centers to stop people who reallyhad urgent care center complaints from using the ER which was much more expensive.

Because really that $70 in a real emergency room situation isn't going to stop anyone from going to the emergency room.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

A lot of insurances did that with ER visits because they wanted you to really need to go to the ER before you did. My area did that as soon was we got urgent care centers to stop people who reallyhad urgent care center complaints from using the ER which was much more expensive.

Because really that $70 in a real emergency room situation isn't going to stop anyone from going to the emergency room.

I believe that. Our old insurance did just that. Went from $50 to $150. We've only ever been to the hospital twice: an appendectomy was the result of one and pneumonia in my then 5 year old. Constant fever, vomiting , sprained foot etc. and we head to urgent care.

I have family who post on FB about a check-in to the hospital at least once a month for one of their kids or themselves. They're on government assisted insurance - is it encouraged to go to the hospital rather than urgent care or the doctor? Most of the time they get sent home with a diagnosis of a tummy ache or a bandage on their finger. I just can't imagine going to the hospital even if it didn't cost a lot for 3-5 hours to be sent home with nothing wrong .

 

[Ngwira]

And we can't forget that these companies are taking a hit too. If you aren't being charged for your healthcare then you employer is paying big time. My husband's company is only hiring temp workers now because they can no longer afford to pay for health insurance for full-timers. Other companies have been forced to lay off or pass the high premiums onto their employees.
I hate to be a conspiracy pundit but I wonder if this plan was ever meant to succeed. I sometimes think it was planned to fail so our country would go to a socialized medicine plan. Especially after hearing the architect of Obamacare state it was only because of the stupidity of the American voter that it was able to pass... hmmm http://nypost.com/2014/11/13/obamacare-architect-catches-heat-for-calling-voters-stupid/

Yes, his employer pays around $30,000 a year for our family of 4 and we barely use our health insurance. I pulled this number from my husband's w-2 so it's pretty accurate.

 

[Ngwira]

A lot of insurances did that with ER visits because they wanted you to really need to go to the ER before you did. My area did that as soon was we got urgent care centers to stop people who reallyhad urgent care center complaints from using the ER which was much more expensive.

Because really that $70 in a real emergency room situation isn't going to stop anyone from going to the emergency room.

Yes, we use urgent care now. Much faster wait times! We have at least 10 in a 10 mile radius of our house.

 

[Bree]

I think a plan like this CAN work. I think this one is on a really large scale and has alot of problems in execution though.

A plan like this seems to work in MA though. We have had it for a while... We have issues getting doctors in our side of the state but its because its the middle of no where, I dont think Boston has that issue (we also have trouble getting alot of professionals for non medical services in our area so I dont' think its just a healthcare thing)

I'm a MA native. We just moved to FL two years ago.

Obamacare was designed by the guy who created RomneyCare (Mitt Romney a Republican who served as our governor for those who don't know). It worked at a state level IMO, but isn't quite succeeding at a national level.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Then I guess Obamacare did what it was supposed to do - being so horrible that people are considering socialized medicine as a cure totally ignoring how disastrous these plans have been in Europe and Canada. The waiting lists for basic procedures, the out of pocket expenses and prescriptions they still have to pay for, the lack of doctors and hospitals, the high taxes, sure let's just jump from the pot to the frying pan. I just read an article about a Canadian celebrity's child's cancer diagnosis and how he is being brought to the US for treatment. So the wealthy will do ok with government healthcare as will those who don't work, and as usual the middle class will foot the bill.

Every person from Canada and England I've talked to on here said they're happy with their socialized medicine programs.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Every person from Canada and England I've talked to on here said they're happy with their socialized medicine programs.

Right, b/c when they really need help, they can still hop across the border and get US medicine. My sis, when she was in Germany, loved that she had that option...so, she only paid when she REALLY needed it...it's nice that the US is free enough and nice enough to allow medical tourism to those in need from these socialized nations.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

Every person from Canada and England I've talked to on here said they're happy with their socialized medicine programs.

The only Canadians I know personally are doctors so maybe their opinion is biased but they said the healthcare system is awful. They also somewhat regret becoming doctors because they can hardly afford a middle class lifestyle. That is just one experience though so I can't speak for all.

 

[Dakota731]

We all know how well the government did with Obamacare so let's have them try again! If we are that stupid, we deserve just what we get.

Interesting link here from a Canadian's perspective http://americanvision.org/6618/a-canadian-perspective-of-socialized-medicine/

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

Then I guess Obamacare did what it was supposed to do - being so horrible that people are considering socialized medicine as a cure totally ignoring how disastrous these plans have been in Europe and Canada. The waiting lists for basic procedures, the out of pocket expenses and prescriptions they still have to pay for, the lack of doctors and hospitals, the high taxes, sure let's just jump from the pot to the frying pan. I just read an article about a Canadian celebrity's child's cancer diagnosis and how he is being brought to the US for treatment. So the wealthy will do ok with government healthcare as will those who don't work, and as usual the middle class will foot the bill.

When I read about that I wondered too, but the parents are actually 2 different nationalities and I think they might reside where the mother is from...not sure they are based in Canada. I wouldn't read too much into them seeking treatment in the US.

Not sure I want a single-payer plan, but something has to give. How can people afford the premiums that have been listed on this thread and still afford to buy groceries? Healthcare is going to bankrupt our economy if increases keep coming at these rates.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Right, b/c when they really need help, they can still hop across the border and get US medicine. My sis, when she was in Germany, loved that she had that option...so, she only paid when she REALLY needed it...it's nice that the US is free enough and nice enough to allow medical tourism to those in need from these socialized nations.

Hmmm...I've not heard anything like that from them at all. I guess different people have different experiences.

 

[SirDuff]

Right, b/c when they really need help, they can still hop across the border and get US medicine. My sis, when she was in Germany, loved that she had that option...so, she only paid when she REALLY needed it...it's nice that the US is free enough and nice enough to allow medical tourism to those in need from these socialized nations.

No one I know in Canada has "hopped across the border" and we are all still happy with our system.

I'm not saying no one does (the most recent estimate was about 1.3% -and having studied the report (part of my job), we know that that is an overestimate and a significant portion was elective (plastic surgery)) but no one I know does. Also, a fair number of Americans cross the border and get treated in Canada (either they don't have insurance, the issue isn't covered by insurance, or their portion after insurance is still very high). It is nice that Canada is free enough and nice enough to allow medical tourism to those in need from those nations without a single payer system

Always happy to know that we're a "socialized nation" (a term only ever used by Americans when they are criticizing us, in my experience).


ETA - I do NOT think that the Canadian system is perfect. I don't actually think any system is perfect (I work in health system research, so do actually know about health systems). I just think some of the comments made about it are incorrect.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

No one I know in Canada has "hopped across the border" and we are all still happy with our system.

I'm not saying no one does (the most recent estimate was about 1.3% -and having studied the report (part of my job), we know that that is an overestimate and a significant portion was elective (plastic surgery)) but no one I know does. Also, a fair number of Americans cross the border and get treated in Canada (either they don't have insurance, the issue isn't covered by insurance, or their portion after insurance is still very high). It is nice that Canada is free enough and nice enough to allow medical tourism to those in need from those nations without a single payer system

Always happy to know that we're a "socialized nation" (a term only ever used by Americans when they are criticizing us, in my experience).


ETA - I do NOT think that the Canadian system is perfect. I don't actually think any system is perfect (I work in health system research, so do actually know about health systems. I just think some of the comments made about it are incorrect.

Can Americans just go to Canada and get medical care for free even though they aren't in the Canadian system? That seems crazy to me!

 

[SirDuff]

Can Americans just go to Canada and get medical care for free even though they aren't in the Canadian system? That seems crazy to me!

Sorry, didn't mean to imply it was free. It is not covered by the provincial health insurance, but if you don't have insurance/good insurance it can be cheaper to pay OOP (even with travel costs etc.) in Canada than in the US.