Politics Obamacare

Ace, I dont know the specifics in NC, but it sounds like your old plan was only available off exchange. Those plans still had to meet the new mandatory essential benefits and consumer protections and you could have purchased directly from Blue Cross (or a broker) unless you were applying for a subsidy.

In the fist year, the on exchange plans from the big carriers in some states had narrower networks as those carriers held back and offered fewer choices given that they had no previous experiences with the pool of the newly insured. That is changing in most states for 2105 now that there is on exchange experiences from which to rate plans and many are offering wider networks next year.

When you say you got screwed, it might because you didnt do your homework and ask all the right questions before jumping onto an on exchange plan.

But again, the specifics are a bit fuzzy.

 

I don't recall using that terminology.

I have stated previously that I am sure the Obamacare counselors are good well intentioned people, I will not blame them. However, going through the process it was not uncommon to get different answers to the same question. It was not uncommon to speak to counselors who were not properly trained. It was not uncommon to speak to counselors who did not understand the subject matter.

In addition, medical professionals and office managers have been figuring out how many of the rules and regulations impact their practices on the fly. For you to suggest I failed to do my homework, illustrates a problem with those who have not gone through the system - not with those who have. I am not saying it is all bad, and I am sure for some things have worked without incident. My main point is that the law is a mess and what was promised is not what we are getting. If you tell me this is the system and this is how it will work - fine. I prefer not to be sold on what they knew was b.s.

Right. I go to the doctor, show them my new card, they copy it, say everything is o.k., then weeks later they say it is not, talk to Blue Cross they say talk to the Obamacare folks, the Obamacare folks are clueless, etc., etc., until I finally get someone who knows what the problem is several weeks later, after a multitude of calls, etc. And it is still not clear to me and my doctors office is trying to figure out why they are on one list and not the other - in the mean time a new doctor for me and my family.

 

Ace, I can only respond to the details you provided and it appears you went from a Blue Cross Options Plan to a Blue Cross Value Plan, or from off exchange to on exchange...and the fact (or my humble opinion) that you entered in the process with an attitude so opposed to the ACA that it will suck, no matter what.

Granted, I have not gone through the process, but I have conducted a number of webinars with city officials for residents of their respective cities with the focus being on understand the options. The audience was primarily those applying for subsidies so their options were far more limited.

As I read it, you made the choice to go on exchange and perhaps with less available information than should have been provided. Your were not required to do so. You can blame confusion among providers and I certainty wont disagree, but you are one who always says it is the consumers responsibility to know the facts (regardless of the product/service being purchased).

Open enrollment will begin again next month.

 

More ACA success that those on the right will deny.

12 million newly insured is great and another 10+ million expected in 2015. But we wont see universal coverage until the country is ready to make that bold move to a single payer type system.

 

And even more success that "free marketeers" should appreciate:

 

More failed predictions from the right

Key Study on Obamacare 2015 Premium Rates Is Out and You Won't Believe What's Going to Happen

More insurance companies, more plans, more choices ---> average premium increases at 4%, lower than pre-ACA.

 

Or spending money... On their agenda items that is.

Defense Cuts Stirring Republican Congress Confronting New Budget - Businessweek

 

More good news.

 

Maybe they are waiting for the 2016 campaign season to put it out there, but I can think of one or two plans that the GOP could come up with, but I'm not going to do their job for them. Let's just say the poor and unemployed won't be doing too good if they implement it.

I'm not sure what happened in Vermont and why their single-payer plan didn't work. Except that maybe too many doctors would leave the state to make more money elsewhere and too many sick people would move in. That might not be an issue if it happened nationwide, but you need to figure out how to deal with people who live hours away from any medical care and don't need it feeling like they are paying for something they will never use.

I'm sure it will be a big issue in 2016, let's hope both sides get their talking points ready and are able to explain why giving lower income workers healthcare and making people who are making money buy it is a good thing.

 

When I see ACA I see another hit on any possible tax return for me this year. Just checked on a website and according to that the penalty for me not having insurance should be in the $95-15o range.