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Obamacare - it's nice to have insurance

Posted: Mar 13, 2014

Being a long-time, self-employed contractor, getting medical insurance coverage was always a problem. Fortunately, I'm retired now and all those FICA payments are paying off now. I get about $1025 a month SSI.

I'm hearing horror stories about people losing insurance or it going up from $500 to $1500 and people formerly with insurance are now refusing to pay the higher costs. But for over 10 years I've been without insurance, keeping my fingers crossed I didn't need to go to the hospital. Once Obamacare came out, though and I was forced to look into signing up, I am now insured. The crazy thing about it is that at my fixed income and at 64 (maybe that had something to do with it too), I was able to get a good insurance plan, normally costing around $525 a month, but with a government SUBSIDY, I only now pay $3.75 a month! Essentially, the government is picking up my insurance. Basically, I'm getting Medicare early! So in my case, Obamacare is a huge blessing. My doctor's deductible is only $30. The big plus is that I have HBP, AOD and high cholesterol and now am on meds for that. With my plan I pay $0 for the meds.

I know other MTs are in my situation and just wanted to share that it's great to be insured after years of not being insured. I can't believe I went all those years without healthcare. Obamacare might crash one day as they predict, but for now, it's a lifesaver in more ways than one for me.

Lars

;

Those predicting the crash are HOPING - it will crash

[ In Reply To ..]
because if it does not, then the hysterical screaming about socialism, and communism etc., would have to cease.

What is so sad to me is that a large number of people, and most of the GOP, would prefer the system B4 ACA where tens of millions of people could NOT get, or afford health insurance. Stunning. and so funny coming from the party of 'family values.'

See, this is where you're - wrong.

[ In Reply To ..]
You just assume that because we don't like the ACA, we're against everyone having health insurance. There are better ways to make this happen and it looks like Obama and his admin. are seeing this too, considering they've exempted just about everyone. Everyone knows the system we had before was broken, we're just saying this isn't the best way to fix it - looks like we were right.

Where exactly was I wrong? - you made too many assumptions

[ In Reply To ..]
First of all who is "we" ? All the people on the board or just you? It's unclear.

And secondly you assumed wrong: my post clearly included a huge group of people that DO oppose ACA for the reasons I said. You don't have to agree with this. We can agree to disagree.

Please tell us the - best way to fix it

[ In Reply To ..]
Something, anything, I would like to hear. The Republicans were in power for 8 years and did nothing to change health insurance except make the insurance companies richer.

Please let us know your ideas about fixing the health insurance system.

And this isn't making the insurance companies - richer? (nm)

[ In Reply To ..]
*

Well, okay - how about single payer?

[ In Reply To ..]
Is that what you are saying? Because I'm all for that. Wait, somehow I don't think that would have flown with the current gerrymandered govt we have. Too many congress and senate indebted to insurance companies for one, ideological nonsense for two.

Saying the ACA still enriches insurance companies is true, but it is not an idea, is it. What is the much better alternative to Obamacare I keep hearing about?

We are not predicting or hoping it will crash. - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
The implosion is happening on its own. It is flawed. Even Nancy is now on a campaign begging house reps and senators up for re-election to stick by obamaScare. She knows its a failure, but she doesn't want to lose face and she doesn't want to lose more congressional members. This is the ONLY transparency I've seen in this government. They think the American people are stupid and won't see through this sham. Well, guess what? We see right through this mess.

Again, who is 'we'? - I think whoever it is, IS

[ In Reply To ..]
in the distinct minority.

I have to give you snaps though for the terms you guys come up with: Obamascare IS really funny.

Could you point me to one credible, just one, source which demonstrates the 'IMPLOSION' of ACA?

Who is 'we'? - Do you want names?

[ In Reply To ..]
LOL...

Implosion of obamaScare is my opinion (deductive reasoning) based on what I have heard and read by many media outlets, including radical leftist MSNBC.

I gave you a like simply because - you answered my question!

[ In Reply To ..]
is it comforting to note however that even you admit its an opinion, even though it was originally written as if it were fact.

Maybe I should go back to school to take - Creative Writing again.

[ In Reply To ..]
I have some questions for you.

If not based on fact, where or how would one form an opinion?

Did you not see Nancy Pelosi all over the TV yesterday trying to drum up support for Obama and telling her people not to shy away from the ACA?

"Implosion" is based on statistics of enrollees, the number of people who lost their insurance, the lies we were told, etc., etc. It is a flawed plan. The majority of Americans feels that way. I believe the number is 57% or 67%. (I can't remember which right now.)

So, those are the facts and the opinions and "we" stick by them, i.e., by we, I mean like-minded people. Of course, I cannot speak for everyone, but I would bet a lot of conservatives agree with me because what I state is true.

Are you serious? I cannot even believe what I am - reading!

[ In Reply To ..]
You wrote: I have some questions for you.

If not based on fact, where or how would one form an opinion?

Are you seriously suggesting you do not know the difference between OPINION and FACT?

One can have an opinion that is NOT based on fact as in "I believe the sky is usually green."

OR one can have an opinion based on known fact: "I believe the sky is usually a shade of BLUE"

And of course one can have opinion that is PARTIALLY informed...

I really hope you think a bit more about this - people form opinions all the time WITHOUT bothering to check the known facts.

As to Pelosi? I could not care less whether she is cheerleading for the president or the ACA! What else would you expect her to do?

I DO CARE that millions (nearly 5 million) to date NOW have insurance they did not have before.

I do agree that 'what you state is true' but it is ONLY true for you and others who share your opinion.

Of course I'm talking about facts. - Don't split hairs.

[ In Reply To ..]
My mind doesn't go where yours goes with regard to opinion not based on fact.

Why was it so hard to get insurance? - Truthhurts

[ In Reply To ..]
When I was an IC, I had insurance and for 2 of us, it was $600 a month. When I went with a national, their insurance for the 2 of us was $400 a month. Not much of a difference.

Why was it so hard for you to get insurance? How and why did you get disability? I'm not trying to be nosy, but isn't it a long process, taking up to 2 years and usually denied the first time?

I'd love to try disability for myself but I don't think I'd make it two years or more due to the stress of dealing with the government. Did that before and I don't relish going through that kind of h**** again.

Not poster on SSI but...SM - Old Anon

[ In Reply To ..]
I think you are confusing SSI, which is what some call Social Security (as in your retirement check) with SSDI which is Social Security Disability Income. If you are on SSDI, I would think you'd be eligible for Medicaid or something similar at the state level. I think the poster meant she was on straight Social Security and took it early at 64. I took mine at 63 but kept working for the health insurance until I turn 65, next month.

Possibly - NK

[ In Reply To ..]
the poster could not afford to spend half of his or her $1025/month on health insurance. Perhaps he or she had a preexisting condition which would have rendered the insurance useless for at least a year. One of the "junk policies" that some people are so enamored with now. In my experience, $478/month for a policy with a $5000 deductible that in 7 years paid zero on a claim.

I know how relieved the poster is to now have insurance that is affordable and can actually be used for medical care. I wish him or her well.

Why is it hard? Because last year as an MT - I made about $900 a month in -

[ In Reply To ..]
take-home pay. My rent is $700/month, gas, food, electricity and internet made up the rest, and then I was in the hole, usually. There isn't one thin dime to buy insurance.

The government is not picking up your insurance - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
the taxpayers are. The government is not a revenue producing entity.

And the taxpayer also - picked up

[ In Reply To ..]
Anyone who ever went to the ER and got treatment and couldn't pay their bill. This also resulted in the ridiculous premiums and terrible uncomprehensive insurance most of us have, until late, been subjected to.

Ask someone from another country how much they pay, go ahead, and if you think their care is so much worse, go there and get sick. In most countries even foreigners get treatment and it costs much less than here, or even free.

Believe me, this is a much cheaper and fairer way of spreading the pain. It controls costs and reduces the ability to gouge and engage in fraudulent practices favored by insurance companies. The ACA also reduces the incentive to over-test and admit people and keep them there unnecessarily.

The govt is the recipient of our taxes. This is a good way to spend them, IMHO.

Paying for health care - Renee

[ In Reply To ..]
I knew a college professor (an American) who went to France to do some research. While there, she got pneumonia and had to be hospitalized for several days. When she was discharged, she went to the administrative offices to see how much she owed. They said "But you don't have to pay." She said, "I am not a French citizen." They said, "You still don't have to pay." And she didn't. This was several years ago, in college, but I always rememebered it.

When I looked it up, my income as an MT - qualified me for Medicaid.

[ In Reply To ..]
I didn't even qualify for the cheapest Obamacare because of my low income.

Obamacare - it's not nice to be out of insurance I had - before this came along.

[ In Reply To ..]
But hey, thanks for the "I got mine *blank* the rest of you, especially those who no longer have insurance".

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