More Obamacare fuckups

[ClydeR]

U.S. officials for the first time disclosed insurance prices that will be offered through new federally run health-care exchanges starting Oct. 1, showing that young, healthy buyers likely will pay more than they do currently while older, sicker consumers should get a break.

The plans, offered under the health-care overhaul to people who don't get insurance through an employer or government program, in many cases provide broader coverage than current policies.

Costs will vary widely from state to state and for different types of consumers. Government subsidies will cut costs for some lower-income consumers.

More...

A graphic in the article lists basic rates for states that have opted to let the federal government run their exchanges. Specific plans and rates for states on the federal exchanges will be released on October 1 at healthcare.gov.


And another article..

Wednesday's report is the latest review of exchanges' rates and policies from HHS and various states. Most have shown lower rates than anticipated, as more insurers have entered the markets and pegged their prices to capture more customers. The Obama administration estimates that 7 million uninsured Americans will use the exchanges to buy insurance in the six-month enrollment period that starts next week and ends March 1.

"Individual markets in way too many markets were dominated by one or two insurers," HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said, adding that they now have an average of 53 plans to choose from. "The bottom line is that January 1 will be a new day for millions of Americans."

More...

[ClydeR]

Frankly, CBO has already stated that Obamacare will cost at least 2x what originally was promised.

A lot of people would like to read that, if there is a link.

[Back]

Here is a tool you can use to calculate your healthcare cost. It gives the estimate based on the Silver level. We also have Gold (more expensive) and Bronze (less expensive) options.

http://kff.org/interactive/subsidy-calculator/

If you already have healthcare from employment, or buy your own, you do not need to change anything.

[Methais]

If you already have healthcare from employment, or buy your own, you do not need to change anything.

[kutter]

So let me see if I understand, it will cost $10000 a year to cover my wife and I if I wanted in on this little experiment, and that is only at a 70% coverage rate, God only knows what the Gold plan would cost.

That is completely absurd, that would be something like 30 doctors visits a year to equal that. Since my wife and I typically go to the doctor about once a year, that hardly makes any sense. Especially when Docs give a HUGE discount on out of pocket payers. Compared to out of pocket it would be more like 60 office visits a year. I know, I know, 'But what if you have to go to the hospital?' Catastrophic insurance is a much better solution than this goat rope. If I did not already have health insurance, I would definitely rather pay the fine than buy the insurance.

I was curious so I looked up health insurance rates, I can get a $0 deductible plan with a $35 co-pay and pay the fine and still cost less than obamacare, yeah, obamacare sounds like it makes a lot of sense.

[Jarvan]

So let me see if I understand, it will cost $10000 a year to cover my wife and I if I wanted in on this little experiment, and that is only at a 70% coverage rate, God only knows what the Gold plan would cost.

That is completely absurd, that would be something like 30 doctors visits a year to equal that. Since my wife and I typically go to the doctor about once a year, that hardly makes any sense. Especially when Docs give a HUGE discount on out of pocket payers. Compared to out of pocket it would be more like 60 office visits a year. I know, I know, 'But what if you have to go to the hospital?' Catastrophic insurance is a much better solution than this goat rope. If I did not already have health insurance, I would definitely rather pay the fine than buy the insurance.

I was curious so I looked up health insurance rates, I can get a $0 deductible plan with a $35 co-pay and pay the fine and still cost less than obamacare, yeah, obamacare sounds like it makes a lot of sense.

It's simple. Don't get it. Pay the fine.. er.. penalty, and IF you get seriously sick/injured. Buy insurance then.

Problem solved.

[Back]

So let me see if I understand, it will cost $10000 a year to cover my wife and I if I wanted in on this little experiment, and that is only at a 70% coverage rate, God only knows what the Gold plan would cost.

That is completely absurd, that would be something like 30 doctors visits a year to equal that. Since my wife and I typically go to the doctor about once a year, that hardly makes any sense. Especially when Docs give a HUGE discount on out of pocket payers. Compared to out of pocket it would be more like 60 office visits a year. I know, I know, 'But what if you have to go to the hospital?' Catastrophic insurance is a much better solution than this goat rope. If I did not already have health insurance, I would definitely rather pay the fine than buy the insurance.

I was curious so I looked up health insurance rates, I can get a $0 deductible plan with a $35 co-pay and pay the fine and still cost less than obamacare, yeah, obamacare sounds like it makes a lot of sense.

The way I read it is $5070 for two adults. Thats $211 a month per person. If you make less you get more tax credit. If you earn more you can probably find insurance cheaper. If you buy your own you pay no penalty.

[kutter]

Actually in Louisiana for two adults, a 47YOM and 54YOF it is almost 10K a year in obamacare. But you are correct, if I bought the private policy, I would not have to pay the fine, which begs the question, why do we need obamacare in the first place. The private sector can do it better and cheaper, but that would mean people would have to accept responsibility for their actions and take steps to prepare for eventualities, instead of relying upon someone else to do it for them.

Jarvan stated the reason it will never work though. If I am 23, just graduated college and am healthy, why would I buy insurance. When I was that age the only reason I went to the Doc was because Uncle Sam said I had to, the military is funny that way. And if you get sick, just buy it then. How is it ever going to get payed for that way? It is a money pit, the likes of which the US has never seen.

[Back]

Actually in Louisiana for two adults, a 47YOM and 54YOF it is almost 10K a year in obamacare. But you are correct, if I bought the private policy, I would not have to pay the fine, which begs the question, why do we need obamacare in the first place. The private sector can do it better and cheaper, but that would mean people would have to accept responsibility for their actions and take steps to prepare for eventualities, instead of relying upon someone else to do it for them.

Jarvan stated the reason it will never work though. If I am 23, just graduated college and am healthy, why would I buy insurance. When I was that age the only reason I went to the Doc was because Uncle Sam said I had to, the military is funny that way. And if you get sick, just buy it then. How is it ever going to get payed for that way? It is a money pit, the likes of which the US has never seen.

Well, the ACA is designed to help people with low income and no health insurance through their jobs. If you have insurance and can already afford insurance you don't need to apply.

And ugh about LA. I was using national average which came up as half. I'd talk to Bobby Jindal about that.

As to the other part about young people... they can still get involved in their parent's plans, if their income is low the cost would be subsidized, and the fine is so low that it is cheaper to pay the fine and forget about it if that is their choice.

Also, when more people use the exchange the rates should go down for everyone.

[ClydeR]

It's simple. Don't get it. Pay the fine.. er.. penalty, and IF you get seriously sick/injured. Buy insurance then.

Problem solved.

That is good advice if you know in advance that you won't get sick until the annual open enrollment period.

If you don't already have coverage through your job, your spouse's job or your parent's insurance, then you can apply for coverage on the exchanges, but only during the annual "open enrollment" period, which for the first year only is six months starting on October 1 and for every later year is approximately two months starting in October. There are some special exceptions for major life changes, but you should not count on qualifying for those.

If you apply for coverage outside of the open enrollment period, you won't be able to use the exchanges to find coverage and you'll have to deal directly with the insurance companies. Even then, Obamacare prohibits most insurance plans from denying coverage based on preexisting conditions, but you will not qualify for any premium subsidies, even if your income is low enough that you would owe the minimum 2%, which might be the case if you are sick. The premium subsidies are available for people with an income below 400% of the poverty level.

If you do not buy at least a silver plan through the exchanges, then you will not be eligible for the "cost sharing reductions" available to some low income people. The cost sharing reductions reduce your deductible and out-of-pocked amount, if your income is below 250% of the poverty level.

If you do not want to buy the basic bronze plan, then you could consider a "catastrophic plan," which will be available to people under age 30.

You'll be able to see your options with the actual true dollar amounts starting Tuesday at http://www.healthcare.gov