More on health insurance changes

Marynb
Marynb Member Posts: 1,118
I finally spoke to someone at the health insurance company today. I was informed that as of January 1, 2014, the policy that I could buy today for $650/month will be $900/month due to the new law. So, I know many here have employer paid insurance and Are not worried about it. I buy on the direct market as an individual. All I can say is fasten your seat belts, lots of cancer patients are going to be effected by this in a very negative way, including me!

Comments

  • Lorikat
    Lorikat Member Posts: 681 Member
    I have a feeling the rest of

    I have a feeling the rest of us won't be far behind!

     

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    Marynb

    My husband and I fully expect our ins. premiums to go up at the beginning of the year, even though our ins. is through my husband's previous employer where he retired.  People who are paying for ins. right now and barely squeaking by financially are going to be up the creek when all this hits.

  • sephie
    sephie Member Posts: 650 Member
    oh no

    i buy my own  also.... it went up $150 per month just for this year..... i wonder how much for next year!!!!  will just mess us all up.....i already have huge out of pocket each year....some states have a high risk pool but louisiana 's is horrible.....sephie

  • Angela_K
    Angela_K Member Posts: 374 Member
    Texas Risk Pool

    I have already been given notice that I will no longer be covered under the Texas Risk Pool as of 1/2014 due to Obamacare. Policies will be available at guaranteed issue. I am paying $620 a month now.  Should it go up, I will not be able to continue and will have no insurance.  Worried.  No.  Where does worry get you?  All I can do now is take exceptional care of myself and hope for the best.

  • Marynb
    Marynb Member Posts: 1,118
    sephie said:

    oh no

    i buy my own  also.... it went up $150 per month just for this year..... i wonder how much for next year!!!!  will just mess us all up.....i already have huge out of pocket each year....some states have a high risk pool but louisiana 's is horrible.....sephie

    Insurance costs
    Well, I am working on the numbers. This new law gives a huge disincentive to work. If an individual makes less than 45k per year, health insurance is almost completely subsidized by federal government. If a person earns one penny more than that, the cost is close to 1k per month. This law is the worst solution to the problem. It allows the cost of health care to continue to go up unchecked and allows insurance companies to profit from all the new government subsidies. The people who are really hurt the most are hard working middle class individuals. I feel that single people are really being discriminated against with all these government programs. There is no recognition that single people have to pay the same rent or mortgages! When I die, my social security will not go to my child, or anyone. It goes to the pool.

    It is one thing not to worry, it is another to stick your head in the sand and do nothing because it is not your problem. This law is wrong. I was for universal coverage, but this is not that! More working individuals will not be able to afford insurance!
  • sephie
    sephie Member Posts: 650 Member
    Angela_K said:

    Texas Risk Pool

    I have already been given notice that I will no longer be covered under the Texas Risk Pool as of 1/2014 due to Obamacare. Policies will be available at guaranteed issue. I am paying $620 a month now.  Should it go up, I will not be able to continue and will have no insurance.  Worried.  No.  Where does worry get you?  All I can do now is take exceptional care of myself and hope for the best.

    ridiculous

    you are right about worry.... wish i could let go and let God.... i try.....this is such a mess for us.....if middle class does not work , how can we pay rent or taxes on home or gas etc.....it will help a lot of folks under 45K ( of which , i do have relatives that make under that amt. in Louisiana)..... but i bet there are hidden traps..... all the senators and reps do not have to take this ..... not fair....Nancy Peloski does not have to sign up for this..... so we have to be wealthy and pay lots  or we are trapped in a mess.....i take good care of myself but i stilll have multiple problems.... when younger, never had health issues.....oh well.....used to live in dallas so knew they had a great risk pool but what a shame you can not stay in it....or hopefully you can find something.... sephie

  • Bill158
    Bill158 Member Posts: 19
    I was on the state's

    I was on the state's pre-existing condition insurance plan that was supposed to be in effect until December 31st this year but they discontinued it in June and I was switched to the federal PCIP insurance--i was paying about $600 per month, and now it is $694 per month.  I had met my deductable and my max yearly out of pocket of about $5K by June, but when they switched me over my deductable and yearly out of pocket restarted.  I think my yearly out of pocket max is now $3000.  I have Blue Cross for my  two high school kids and that is nearly $400 per month now.  Insurance is such a pain.

  • Marynb
    Marynb Member Posts: 1,118
    Bill158 said:

    I was on the state's

    I was on the state's pre-existing condition insurance plan that was supposed to be in effect until December 31st this year but they discontinued it in June and I was switched to the federal PCIP insurance--i was paying about $600 per month, and now it is $694 per month.  I had met my deductable and my max yearly out of pocket of about $5K by June, but when they switched me over my deductable and yearly out of pocket restarted.  I think my yearly out of pocket max is now $3000.  I have Blue Cross for my  two high school kids and that is nearly $400 per month now.  Insurance is such a pain.

    Bill
    That is actually pretty inexpensive compared to the prices that have gone up on the new exchange. Everything will change January 1 due to Obamacare. I still don't have real answers. I understand that they have now put off the out of pocket maximums until 2015. I am an attorney and have tried to read through all of the information I can get my hands on. The law and regulations are poorly written and are a tangled mess! Not many people really understand it all.
  • Lorikat
    Lorikat Member Posts: 681 Member
    Marynb said:

    Bill
    That is actually pretty inexpensive compared to the prices that have gone up on the new exchange. Everything will change January 1 due to Obamacare. I still don't have real answers. I understand that they have now put off the out of pocket maximums until 2015. I am an attorney and have tried to read through all of the information I can get my hands on. The law and regulations are poorly written and are a tangled mess! Not many people really understand it all.

    I so aagree with you!  I'm

    I so aagree with you!  I'm not an attorney but helped put government-eze into understandable English for the government retirement system when they added 2 extra retirement programs and a thrift savings program during he 80's.  That was very difficult to explain to lay people.  THIS is impossible to understand so forget explaining.  Scarey....

  • Bill158
    Bill158 Member Posts: 19
    Marynb said:

    Bill
    That is actually pretty inexpensive compared to the prices that have gone up on the new exchange. Everything will change January 1 due to Obamacare. I still don't have real answers. I understand that they have now put off the out of pocket maximums until 2015. I am an attorney and have tried to read through all of the information I can get my hands on. The law and regulations are poorly written and are a tangled mess! Not many people really understand it all.

    I really don't understand the

    I really don't understand the health insurance at all--I got a letter yesterday stating that the federal pre-existing condition insurance program is ending december this year, and it says I can start applying for insurance on the exchanges in October---that should be very interesting.

  • Marynb
    Marynb Member Posts: 1,118
    Bill158 said:

    I really don't understand the

    I really don't understand the health insurance at all--I got a letter yesterday stating that the federal pre-existing condition insurance program is ending december this year, and it says I can start applying for insurance on the exchanges in October---that should be very interesting.

    Exchanges
    Each state has its own exchange with plans that follow basic federal guidelines. I have been trying to figure it out.....to no avail. What a nightmare! In my states, the prices for those above 4x the poverty level have gone up drastically!!! By drastically, I mean a 40% increase! I am trupy sick about it and for the first time in my life I have hit that point where it is not financially advantageous for me to work. If this administrarion had the goal of creating a dependent population, mission accomplished! Wish I could take my vote back!