Obamacare Nightmare

[[ed...]]

All I know is that the year before Obamacare took effect, the premium for the two of us was just under $300. Now it's over $1300.

[[wa...]]

All I know is that the year before Obamacare took effect, the premium for the two of us was just under $300. Now it's over $1300.

You mean you're employer dropped it so you were forced to go on Obamacare?  WBB

[[Be...]]

Many people have always been self-employed and are really getting screwed over now with premiums and deductibles.  For some, most of their pay is going towards paying for their required Obamacare.  It's not right.  Nothing left over for food, house payments, utilities, car insurances and other required stuff. 

[[lo...]]

problem is deeper then obamacare. obamacare was a way try to impose socialism on a profit driven medical system. designed to fail. here is where we need to start

- big pharma, can't be allowed to suck billions from taxpayers.

- choice - i should be able to go to any place, including naturopaths, etc. even abroad.

to start with

[[wa...]]

Yes - medical provider, hospitals and products are for profit and so is health insurance.  This is fine except it has to do with people's health and survival.  I say no more since the moderators will shut Becks thread down.  I don't want to do that but "Nightmare" is already a judgement on a controversial subject.  Myself, I do well with such distractions.  WBB

[[Be...]]

Why would the mods shut down this thread?  It's just a vent thread for people to express their frustrations with Obamacare.  I had my frustrations dealing with applying for it and being denied and needing affordable insurance.  I'm concerned about my friend who didn't get Obamacare now that he's unemployed and without insurance and with no income and a penalty he may have to pay and also my sister who has it and is paying higher premiums.  It's a nightmare for many people. No one's arguing with or being rude to each other here.  I don't see any forum rules being broken.  It's not political, etc.

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Hey - I agree with you Becks!  No argument from me!  WBB

[[Be...]]

Everything's ok with this topic, I think.  I really am interested in hearing other people's stories about their Obamacare experiences.  It worries me that so many people are having a rough time with it and paying so much and getting so little.  We have walk-in clinics around here that people would use who needed care and would pay out of pocket before Obamacare.  Many would go to the ER for care and pay for it out-of-pocket before Obamacare. 

[[ed...]]

All I know is that the year before Obamacare took effect, the premium for the two of us was just under $300. Now it's over $1300.

You mean you're employer dropped it so you were forced to go on Obamacare?  WBB

 

No, I have been self employed for a number of years. From the year before all individuals were required to purchase healthcare to this year, my premiums have more than quadrupled.

[[be...]]

When Obama care first started, my brother had to pay $800 a month for this exact same insurance that he paid $400 a month. So he stuck with the $800 for a while,  then went  to the same private insurance company, got the exact same insurance for $400 a month again. To me it seems like it should read Obama doesn't care.

[[At...]]

^^ You are correct.  it was designed to "blow up" in 2017 to make way for European style single payer health care.  Problem is that the election didn't go the correct way for that to happen.  Need to go back to a market based insurance with no state lines so that there is more competition. More competition = better prices for your personally tailored plan, yes?

[[wa...]]

Medicare (with overhead costs of 2 percent) is a more efficient insurer than private  (overhead of private Medicare Advantage plans is 14 percent). And multiple insurers means multiple contracts, with varying coverage, billing procedures, documentation requirements, etc. – all of doctors - documentors and hospitals waste billions more.  I was a provider, BTW and worked in hospitals.

 

I believe to fix it is to cut out the insurance middlemen and cover everyone under a single public program paid for by taxes – with equal coverage for all.  But the insurance lobby blocked that in Congress , so instead the untenable Affordable Care Act  - a total work around system.  My own BCBS - spends so much money on advertising  - those $$ could benefit subscribers instead of commercials but alas it has to compete.  Oops here comes the moderator. WBB

[[ed...]]

Medicare (with overhead costs of 2 percent) is a more efficient insurer than private  (overhead of private Medicare Advantage plans is 14 percent). And multiple insurers means multiple contracts, with varying coverage, billing procedures, documentation requirements, etc. – all of doctors - documentors and hospitals waste billions more.  I was a provider, BTW and worked in hospitals.

 

I believe to fix it is to cut out the insurance middlemen and cover everyone under a single public program paid for by taxes – with equal coverage for all.  But the insurance lobby blocked that in Congress , so instead the untenable Affordable Care Act  - a total work around system.  My own BCBS - spends so much money on advertising  - those $$ could benefit subscribers instead of commercials but alas it has to compete.  Oops here comes the moderator. WBB

 

So you know your way around. Why do you suppose my premiums went up over 4X in just a few years? ACA or coincidence? Or insurance companies blaming ACA to gouge the consumer?

[[Be...]]

When Obama care first started, my brother had to pay $800 a month for this exact same insurance that he paid $400 a month. So he stuck with the $800 for a while,  then went  to the same private insurance company, got the exact same insurance for $400 a month again. To me it seems like it should read Obama doesn't care.

 

Instead of going through the ACA marketplace for his insurance, he just contacted the same insurance company directly and got the same coverage for half the price?  How does Obamacare get away with that? 

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I look at it this way.  Throughout history what has Gov't ever run efficiently?

It's a power-grab. IMO Gov't shouldn't be in the business of our personal information (healthcare), infact as a country we let that behemoth into too much of our personal business.

[[Be...]]

I hate big government.  Try calling one of the clerks at the Obamacare headquarters and see how it goes.  They don't know what they're doing.  I didn't even get Obamacare and they wouldn't stop sending me robocalls about it.  They finally stopped.  I worked for a state government agency and it was totally effed up.  Unionized.  Can't get rid of people because of unions, so the incompetents get to stay and keep the chaos going.  I worked for a bipolar mentally ill boss who was insane.  It led me to taking the benzo's. 

[[At...]]

Becks, you are 100% correct! Gov't is too big and too intrusive.

My wife works for a state hospital and sees exactly what you mentioned and she HAD TO join that union. She likes her job, but hates the workplace politics.

Keep up the good fight for a leaner, less Intrusive Gov't!

[[Be...]]

Becks, you are 100% correct! Gov't is too big and too intrusive.

My wife works for a state hospital and sees exactly what you mentioned and she HAD TO join that union. She likes her job, but hates the workplace politics.

Keep up the good fight for a leaner, less Intrusive Gov't!

 

I don't know if federal workers are all in unions or not? 

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I don't know if federal workers are all in unions or not?

 

Sure are.  One right off the top of my head are the Postal workers.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Federation_of_Federal_Employees

[[Be...]]

Both my parents worked for the federal government, but I don't know if they were in unions.  It was back in the sixties and seventies.  Maybe there weren't unions back then, IDK. 

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Don't know when it started, but it's there.

[[be...]]

I just wish a was a federal employee so I'd be set for life. I wonder if their insurance is a fed deal and they get the same insurance like both houses do?

[[Be...]]

I got a career position with the federal US Postal Service years ago and quit.  Stupid me.  I scored high on the postal exam. 

[[be...]]

I feel sorry for them. Rain and snow and all that. That's why we give ours a nice bit of cash every Xmas.

[[Fl...]]

I hate big government.  Try calling one of the clerks at the Obamacare headquarters and see how it goes.  They don't know what they're doing.  I didn't even get Obamacare and they wouldn't stop sending me robocalls about it.  They finally stopped.  I worked for a state government agency and it was totally effed up.  Unionized.  Can't get rid of people because of unions, so the incompetents get to stay and keep the chaos going.  I worked for a bipolar mentally ill boss who was insane.  It led me to taking the benzo's. 

 

I have probably gotten 50 emails from obamacare since I stated looking into it early this year. "Last chance!" "Act now!" Seems like they are desperate to get people to sign up