Health care costs were going up 8 to 10 0% a year for many years.... Before they blew up the economy, how to regulate Heath Care was the major issue in the election for both Ds and Rs.
Hospitals and the system pay for the uninsured ... One of the ACA's solutions was to expand Medicaid... If your state refuses to take the money... you get hit by a double wammy. Same number of uninsured that the system will have to pay for... AND they cut off the Fed medicaid uninsured payment that paid for it in the past. So... your insurance company raises the rates to pay for it. Tell your gov to take the medicare expansion... your rates will stabilize.
Prior to the ACA.... you pay the insurance company or go without. Now, you have four choices. Pay the company, or you can buy a high deductible policy on the federal insurance exchange for much less money ... or See if the comparable federal exchange group rate is better then your small group rate plan that you have now (same insurance company... different group plan) ... Or pay the fine.
The most dangerous thing you said was wait and see if i get sick... then buy something.. Huge mistake... just like your current insurance... they still have an open season... You have to enroll or change during open season. You can't wait till you need it... You will pay the fine... get treated and still owe the bills... Sure, the next open season will come up in a year and then let you purchase a plan, irrespective of your pre existing condition... but the past bills don't go away.
Thanks Mark
I already had a high deductible plan which worked fine for me as I just paid for the times I needed medical care, but the new law changed my plan to a lower deductible and doubled my rates. The higher deductible is no longer an option. If I go on the government health care I can never go back to private. The government can just up the rates and I have no choice and if I don't get good care no choice again. Several of my friends are getting the same 100% increase. I have already contacted my government officials and yes cost are going up but 100% for one year to the next is a little tough.
Hi David and all -
Good topic --Central to the Govt. shutdown is the desire to have a discussion about Obamacare as it is called in general media . As I understand it the current president refuses to discuss debate or negociate the issue with the congress.
Funny -but my basic understanding of our system of government with its checks and balances and debate of ideas was intended to promote discussion of issues and debate of those issues .
An interesting juxtapose to the refusal to discuss or negociate the health care issue by Obama is foriegn policy in which the president will negociate with ---ohh --one example -- a foriegn dictator such as Assad in Syria who according to the UN has used chemical weapons to kill his own civilian population inc womon and children --gassed to death .
Yet he is unable to negociate or refuses to discuss the issue with the other political party in the US and all those they represent --about half the population . I thought a president was supposed to represent ALL of us --not one party .
That said --the simple minded arguement that insurance cos drive the cost of health insurance is --well --just that .
There are so many factors driving costs {too many to list here} It seems very few cost reduction factors were actually addressed in O CARE --perhaps it was due to the complete lack of debate -negociation --concent of the minority party --and the ability or intent to insure ALL people are represented fairly and do indeed have a voice and perspectives that need to be heard .
Daves is an excellent example of what is already going terribley wrong with the extreme change to the system --they really should have expanded Medicare -Medicaid -and improved the existing system --over time adapting elements that work . They have not done so .
A final note --once politicians get you to attack others for having a different perspective --life experiences --and resulting opinion than your own ----well --it is what power mongers have done since human history begane isn't it ? turn people against one another to promote themselves and gain power and control .
