Low enrollment numbers confirm administration's worst fears -

[R Glass]

www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50159112n

[brice1967]

Thanks for the link.  Its pretty similar to what our employers provide for my wife and myself.  It's almost a little like trying to read braille.  One thing that caught my eye that we had a bit of a struggle with some time back was that "some procedures needed to be pre-approved".

I had an umbilical hernia repaired some years back.  I went through all of the channels by consulting my primary physician who then sent me to a specialist/surgeon.  We scheduled a date.  I called my insurance company to inform them that this was going to happen and they told me that they would not pay......  They eventually did, but it was a mess to get it all taken care of.

[Proactive]

It is so different state to state, our governor would prefer a single payer system..understand, my state is way out there on the socialist scale. One of, if not the first to jump right on the bandwagon, heck,we  hired CGI (same company responsible for the fed site! (g) {I try and find some humor in the whole fiasco}
(Our governor ) "Shumlin said he has wanted to ``strangle’’ CGI executives for their failures, and has been on the phone frequently with the company’s top executives."  He has talked about "performance" clause in the contract were not met--looking for a deduction (g).

Here's the platinum policy  ( not sure how I managed to get this link-wasn't easy (ha).opinions are welcomed-please.
https://portal.healthconnect.vermont.gov/VTHBELand/pdf/1014728_BCBSVT_StandardPlatinum.pdf

[brice1967]

I don't know the validity of this, but I heard a couple of people talking this morning about existing policies not involved with the ACA are having their deductibles raised.....  If that is indeed the case, I wonder how many people like me are going to find the ACA, not so affordable???

I guess I can't worry about that until it happens.

I do like the pre-existing condition thing as well as being able to keep children on their parents account until they are 26.  

[Proactive]

I know what you're saying. My old policy would meet the requirements, but I don't want to continue to pay $620/mo for it (Just me-huge part of my income), and don't know if I still even have the option. We have expensive insurance here, always have. There are only 2 companies offering health insurance.

But, you also have to keep in mind that the state has to approve their premium rates. I can get (if things worked right) the BCBS platinum EPO plan for $582.50 with no subsidies. Sounds great until you read more into what the copays are now (on major stuff)..

off on a tangent--

All totaled, my new(5 yo) hips cost $157,000, my copay for the hospital/surgery(Dartmouth-3 days)/ambulance to 2nd(local) hospital for 7 days of inpatient therapy etc. was $2,000. Now I believe it is 10% copay I believe (there might be a cap in there-still studying)...I was told that I would out live my hips and need them replaced again :(
My back is shot, so I can see down the road expenses for that as well for sure.
( I have every copy of every xray(s),catscan(s), radiologist report, etc on CD disks for both my hips and back(spine))...

End with a little humor from my Dad---
Add in those 72 weeks of hep c treatment(@ Dartmouth), $100,000+?(--now capped at $1250/yr for drugs copays out of pocket--nice for those treating.)

Dad would say's--they'll never get even on you-don't complain (lol)

[Barb135]

Fortunately, I retired from the Public School system in my county, and I was able to retain that insurance when I retired, at "high, but manageable" cost.  just myself.  When my husband's cobra ran out and he was unable to get insurance anywhere, due to high cholesterol levels, I was even able to add him to  my policy, at which time the premium jumped to $950+/month.  This year, it went up to $1000+, which really takes a bite out of the budget.  

Even though I'm covered, I worry about those who have pre-existing conditions and don't have coverage, and of course, I worry that my policy may yet be cancelled, if it doesn't meet ACA standard.  

On the other hand, it really makes me angry that everyone is, totally, focused on having insurance and nothing is being done to rein in the cost of care.  When I think of "Affordable Care", I think of being able to go to the doctor and actually pay for it myself.  My concept of affordable care does not include relying on insurance or the government to pay for my basic care, or be bankrupt if I have a serious illness - that's not affordable care; that's highway robbery.

[Proactive]

Wish I could help you regarding pre-existing conditions. I'm lucky in that respect, my state has had a law in place already protecting those with pre-conditions (such as myself) prior to the ACA. So in that respect, the ACA didn't change anything for us here. Here,your rates don't change regardless of medical history.

I'm still holding out a bit of  faith they'll get the site(feds) up and operable, but we'll see. Without the free flow of info between the IRS,SSA and the state exchanges, still kind of dead in the water.

[Barb135]

Even Harry Reid called the ACA a train wreck.  

I just wish Ted Cruz and the other Tea Party brats wouldn't have tied it to the debt ceiling.. the ACA could have unraveled itself.

The only good part I've seen so far is that those with pre-existing conditions will be able to get insurance.  I am beginning to wonder, though, how much that will cost them.   If  my friend, who has no medical issues, beyond getting older and her premiums are jumping from $400+ to $700 +, what will it be like for someone with pre-existing conditions - like myself, for instance?

[brice1967]

"Cautiously optimistic".....  I was going to say that's how I feel but I just don't know about that.  Seems as if some of the things that republicans were being cry babies about is happening, and it is affecting some democrats and they don't like it....  I've got a bad feeling that this is going to be a slow moving train wreck.  

[Barb135]

CAN you renew your BCBS on a monthly basis? *AND* what happens if your BCBS plan is one that ends up getting axed because it doesn't meet stipulations in the ACA, which is what's happening to so many people.

A friend of mine had a $443/mo policy that she was really  happy with and that fit her budget;  she got a notice that her policy didn't meet the standards for ACA, and the new plan she has to take is $770/mo.

I read an article this morning, but I can't remember where it was that said the insurance companies are doing exactly what ACA (the government) wanted: pricing compliant policies so high that people can't afford them and will have to buy from the exchanges.

[Proactive]

I can't tell you from own experience that some of these low numbers are a direct result of failure on the federal end, even for a state run exchange as mine. Due to the lack of federal verification (income ,SSA etc.) I can't complete the purchase"shopping cart" process.---Verification pending is the hold up. Left in limbo..renew my existing BCBS policy for a couple of months or hope and pray my state exchange gets the job done?

[teko]

And the republican plan is to allow anyone who wants to continue purchasing these plans to do so and ignore the 10 step preventatives required under the plan, therefore gutting the plan....Again, a delay for a year as opposed to undercutting the entire thing. Do we think Obama will sign it into law? Something is telling me, not likely.

I dont think he should have given an extension either, but that is me.

[Barb135]

"The president offered a one-year extension to more than 4.2 million people whose current individual policies are being canceled by insurers to make way for more comprehensive coverage under the law. This move by the White House was intended to smooth a disruption for which his administration completely failed to plan."

http://apnews.myway.com//article/20131116/DAA3N03O2.html

It's a stipulation in the law that's causing insurance companies to cancel policies.

[specialmom]

I am no longer optimistic.  Sure, my insurance company is the one to raise the premiums but they had NOT done so in the past 3 years but about 5 percent.  They held steady.  We had to re-enroll due to Obamacare---  couldn't just keep our plan as we've always done.  And it IS more expensive.  It WILL cost us more to be insured with the ACA and we WILL begin to be taxed at higher rates trying to pay for all of this.  Can't wait for my third prediction which is the quality of heath care will go down.  

Are we to not take the benefits of our employers in order to go on these exchanges?  Those rates don't look so hot.  And we'll see what happens with doctors/health care providers and these exchanges.  Some docs don't take Medicaid and try to stay away from Medicare because they are so horrendous to deal with.  By the way, My governor/state was mentioned in Obama's speech yesterday.  He's Republican but he seems to be working with Obama and in fact, our governor was given praise by Obama yesterday.  

I don't think we can brush these glitches under the table as ordinary.  They are pretty huge.  The dang web site doesn't work!!  I mean, really----  in this day and age, with graphic design and computer's and web sites at the level they are at, they couldn't even get that right?  That does not instill confidence.  

Notoriously liberal NPR had a program today discussing whether the entire ACA will implode.  For many reasons.  I'm out on the 'give it a chance' line of thinking I was doing.  I am very displeased.  And you are hard pressed to find anyone that is happy at this point.  Even those this was supposed to benefit.  

I feel extra crabby about it because in all honesty, I was trying to believe it was going to be alright.  I was trusting.  I encouraged my husband to just be patient and believe that those guys in Washington were smarter than we gave them credit for.  I was prepared to be content with the new healthcare even knowing I'd be paying more taxes to help it along.  But no.  It's a freaking mess and is costing me a LOT more.  and you can tell me to be mad at my insurance company for raising our rates---  but we've had the same insurance for many years and my relationship/thoughts about them have been just fine.  What's happened is in response to Obama and his law.  And his law is a freaking mess.  

I am going to do my darndest to not discuss this anymore. Primarily because it really upsets me but also, I'm not sure there is much more for me to say.  I will just be told I'm wrong for feeling this way anyway.  So, I will consider these few posts on this thread as my chance to vent.  

[teko]

Premiums have been rising over the years a substantial and unsustainable amount and will continue to do so until this plan kicks in, and it has not as of yet. So as of right now, its on your insurance company that is the reason  the rates are going up. It is this very reason that makes the ACA necessary.

If you live in a republican led state that has refused to set up exchanges or expand medicaid, you will get no relief. Something to keep in the back of your mind.

There are glitches in everything new. There were glitches when medicare was implemented, there were glitches in the romneycare implementation of their website as well, and I heard there were only 120 that signed up for that the first month.
There were glitches in medicare part D implementation and so on and so on.

I am cautiously optimistic that these things can and will be resolved. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

[specialmom]

Well, so far as far as my personal experience---  the ACA stinks.  And it looks that way for the masses as well.  I was shocked at the sad numbers the president spouted in his speech yesterday.  That is absolutely pathetic.  What a joke!  And when congress wanted a one year extension . . .  they should have taken them up on it as clearly they were not ready to go with this.  geez.  And once again "I didn't know" crops up.  He and his minions wanted this so bad that they didn't care if there were glitches.  I bet it is someone's full time job to figure out how they can blame the web site debacle on the Republicans.  

I've now lost faith.  It's been brewing but his speech brought it home and then we did our health care choices last night.  This year was different than other years thank you very much ACA.  

Blah, disgruntled citizen.  But I know I don't matter because I'm not Obama's target audience.    

[el_em_en_oh]

The needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many...

Or something like that.

[specialmom]

Awesome news---  our health care costs have gone up 35%!  Isn't that awesome.  They were stable the past couple of years but with this wonderful new healthcare law . . .  our premiums are 35% higher for the EXACT same plan.  

Gotta love that, right?  

Our taxes will go up AND we get to pay more!  How much more?  Enough that I'm upset and it eats into our budget.  

I've really tried in recent times to be supportive and reserve judgment.  I'm over it.