So Much for "Affordable"

I had insurance through my employer for decades, union job, Kaiser for me and my husband at very low cost. When I retired I was shocked to see the Cobra payments I had to pay out of pocket, and the costs went up each year from there. Was throwing my retirement savings right out the window, I was happy when the ACA kicked in. Now I just have one year until I can sign up for Medicare. Kaiser will keep me on the same plan and I don't have to do anything this enrollment period. The cost will go up around $30+ per month, not sure of the exact figure for the Silver Plan.
 

I too had health insurance through a previous employer. The rates were reasonable until my COBRA expired and they moved me into a retiree pool. The retiree pool had never been explained to me or others when we were going through our separation documents. The rates in the retiree pool were very high because it only contained the old and sick former employees. When ACA kicked in that gave me some relief and now I'm looking forward to Medicare eligibility.

I took a look at the 2017 rates for my individual ACA Platinum plan, $905.00/month with an estimated income based subsidy that will lower the monthly premium to $774.00/month that is up $109.00/month over 2016. Only a couple more years until I'm eligible for Medicare.
 
Aunt Bea said:
I too had health insurance through a previous employer. The rates were reasonable until my COBRA expired and they moved me into a retiree pool. The retiree pool had never been explained to me or others when we were going through our separation documents. The rates in the retiree pool were very high because it only contained the old and sick former employees. When ACA kicked in that gave me some relief and now I'm looking forward to Medicare eligibility.

I took a look at the 2017 rates for my individual ACA Platinum plan, $905.00/month with an estimated income based subsidy that will lower the monthly premium to $774.00/month that is up $109.00/month over 2016. Only a couple more years until I'm eligible for Medicare.
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I know insurance costs have gone way up but that sounds really high for a single person. Who is the insurance carrier? Is it some type of 0 deductible plan?
 

My 2017 ACA premium rate after subsidy actually went down because my earnings estimate will be lower. I'm very pleased with this program, the insurance plans, and the providers in my network. ACA allows me to retire early and get quality healthcare before I'm eligible for Medicare.
 
BlondieBoomer said:
I know insurance costs have gone way up but that sounds really high for a single person. Who is the insurance carrier? Is it some type of 0 deductible plan?
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The plan is from Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield and has an annual deductible of $2,000.00 with various copays. My premiums were higher than this, for a similar plan, prior to ACA. The only reason I'm mentioning my situation is to illustrate that the ACA is not just a program for expanded medicaid coverage or people with severe pre existing conditions who might be considered a drain on the system. I think many people that receive health insurance through an employer have an incorrect idea of the ACA and who actually uses it.
 
Aunt Bea said:
The plan is from Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield and has an annual deductible of $2,000.00 with various copays. My premiums were higher than this, for a similar plan, prior to ACA. The only reason I'm mentioning my situation is to illustrate that the ACA is not just a program for expanded medicaid coverage or people with severe pre existing conditions who might be considered a drain on the system. I think many people that receive health insurance through an employer have an incorrect idea of the ACA and who actually uses it.
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Wow, that amount of money per month is terrible. If you wanted to switch insurance companies would there be cheaper options? Even a family member who is a long term cancer survivor could get lower rates in California. I wonder if it's because California has a health care exchange? Are you in a state that doesn't have an exchange?
 
BlondieBoomer said:
When Obamacare was in the works and being negotiated we heard all kinds of stories about how dreadful single payer or socialized medince in Canada and England is and how Canadians were coming over the boarder in many cases for care that they couldn't get in Canada. We were told they had to wait months for care and sometimes died in the meantime. We heard about overcrowded ER facilities were people sometime had to wait for S days in terrible conditions to get care and that drugs that are available in the U.S. aren't available there.
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It apparently true that some people have to wait a while for treatment but I can attest to the fact that when the problem is life threatening there is no wait. I am alive because there was no waiting. I presented at the ER that took about 1/2 an hour it was decided to hospitalize me to see if the bleeding ulcer would stop it didn't I was given 4 units of blood, the next very early morning I had surgery and was given another 3 units of blood and spent the next 7 days in ICU, 3 more days in a regular room and finally went home.

Then I actually had the same surgery here and in the US. Half of my thyroid was taken out there I had 80% insurance I was in hospital less than 24 hours went home to recover. Then the bills came pouring in the total to us was twelve thousand dollars. remember that was after the 80% paid by the insurance company. Then half was taken out here, I was in hospital 2 days, then sent home they wanted to send me a housekeeper, I said no to that. They did send a nurse everyday to check on how I was doing. After a week I begged off she agreed I was doing well and really didn't need her. Cost to us ? Nothing.
 
BlondieBoomer said:
Wow, that amount of money per month is terrible. If you wanted to switch insurance companies would there be cheaper options? Even a family member who is a long term cancer survivor could get lower rates in California. I wonder if it's because California has a health care exchange? Are you in a state that doesn't have an exchange?
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We have an exchange and we have a handful of companies to choose from. Some of the companies that are available for the same coverage that I have are a little bit cheaper but, I chose this plan because Excellus tends to make it easy to use the insurance, don't dispute claims with lots of red tape, have excellent customer service, etc...

I think in the next few years a more workable less expensive way to provide health insurance will evolve with a single payer/medicare for all type program. IMO once the major employers in this country have a way to off load the burden of providing health insurance, as part of a benefit package, to the government it will snowball and we will have a large enough pool of people to make it work. We'll see!
 

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