Medical insurance practical

[offroad]

So was looking at the costs to take advantage of obamacare in my state. If you have the BRONZE plan which is $5000 deductible. You might spend $350 per month per person. So $4200 yearly just for medical insurance. But most will get a subsidy-grant-free discount to drop your costs down. Have read stories about those with dirt cheap poverty income getting the insurance down to $100 per month, or $1200 per year. Of course you need $5000 in the bank or just be ready to go $5000 in debt.

Funny thing about the BRONZE level is that you only get a percentage of your medical paid. Not everything. Hope I have that wrong. Would think after deductible you get everything paid

 

[Luisafernandes]

The same government that bankrupted the postal service, medicaid, the VA and so on, is now in charge of our health care. Just wait till 2015, the worst is yet come, unfortunately.

 

[my_vantasy]

I'm still uninsured. My accountant said I will probably owe $300-$500 at tax time because I am noncompliant. However, Obamacare would cost me that much per month, so I'm still ahead. I recently went to a doctor and paid cash. Guess what? My visit cost less than a coworker who has health insurance. I paid $45 and her co-pay was $60. Wacky!

 

[offroad]

So true those comments. Until you get cancer or get saved from a heart attack. The treatment and recovery will be stupid expensive. Chemotherapy or heart bypass. Know many are live free or die (go New Hampshire!!). But die is likely unless you just go to ER and then to charity for cancer and heart treatments. Not if. When at 55 to 80. Or you could need hip or knee transplant. ---- unless you just ignore those medical issue and native american style. Crawl into the woods.

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Think many here are self insurance persons. And will pay out of pocket for ambulance and emergency bypass or urgent chemo. When those are $100k to $200k. -- or just ignore and have a beer. lol.

 

[LeeRevell]

So far after retiring in July, I have kept my HMO plan from my ex-employer. A bit expensive per month but my meds and copays are cheap. I'll need a job soon to keep it up. Planned on that anyways. My choice.
I will avoid o-care like the plague scam it is.

 

[Zil]

I lived. Now I'm on medicare, Bit over $100 month. I have AARP supplement for about $130 more per month. My prescription is $26 month. Deductibles and copay added to premiums, I pay out about $4000 per year. Medium amount of medical visits, I did go into doughnut hole with drugs. Thyroid, heart, PT, and dermatologist. I can't complain.

 

[Kristineandthepups]

I'm paying $62 per month for silver level Blue Cross insurance. My deductible was $175 and my max was $500. Reached that max this month and theoretically my meds are now free til January 1st. I don't think I will be making enough this year to qualify for the subsidy option. Likely will be forced onto Medicaid. It might not be that bad because my doc accepts Medicaid and my co pays for meds would be cheap. But I'm nervous anyway. Unfortunately I found a therapist that specializes in anxiety issues and have had three amazing sessions. It's made a huge difference in my quality of life so far in a few weeks. But she does not accept Medicaid. Further, I planned to register vehicle in South Dakota in January but then I don't think I could see either my primary doc nor my new therapist if I go that route. I'm just bumping 40 year, lived a very active lifestyle and never smoked and haven't had red meat in 25 years. Nonetheless, having had no insurance for ten years and a very high tolerance for pain and discomfort ( that is now dwindling) issues are creeping up on me. It's great to get X-rays next month and I had full blood work. Nervous about this upcoming year. Self employed on Obamacare rules is intimidating. Already had a scare after needing to submit proof of income and business ledger stuff. Looking forward to watching this discussion.

 

[concretebox]

I'm in Illinois. I work part time and earn about $800/month. I'm 32. Before ACA, I was completely uninsured and never saw a doctor or dentist. After ACA I qualified for Medicaid. My current plan costs me nothing, no co-pay, no deductible, no-cost prescriptions.

 

[jeanontheroad]

DH's recent knee replacement was over 100k. That's a lot of money. How many here have that in their piggy bank? A friend's heart attack cost even more.

 

[offroad]

Thanks for these points jean.

 

[LeeRevell]

DH's recent knee replacement was over 100k. That's a lot of money. How many here have that in their piggy bank? A friend's heart attack cost even more.

Yep, health insurance really pays off in an emergency! Two years plus ago, I had a health problem - blood clots in my legs went to my lungs, and breathing was difficult, and stamina was gone! I got to panting and weak just walking to the bathroom! Went to the hospital.
Spent a week there, and the bill was $32,000 and change. My out-of-pocket was less than $280. Works for me! Without the insurance, I could not have paid the bill, and would have been borrowing from family.
My blood thinner med costs some $240/month retail, but my cost through the plan is $30/month. Diabetic med is $7, and my BP med is free. I pay $20 copay for my doctor, and $40 for specialists. Got my eyeglasses with half off due to being diabetic (borderline so no insulin). Were I to change to a 'cheaper' plan via o-care, these costs would all be much higher. And I have NO deductible.

 

[offroad]

Lee - what insurance do you have?

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Lee - what insurance do you have?

In another thread, Lee mentioned that he retired from the Florida State Education Dept.

Insurance plans for state workers are always top notch, heavily subsidized by the state, and impossible for non-state workers to get into.

Regards
John

 

[LeeRevell]

I have Capital Health Plan. It's an HMO with many different 'flavors' depending on your situation. Mine is quite different from my Mother's. She pays far less monthly, but more for copays and meds. The State here has other options too, for those who want Blue Cross or Humana, for instance.
You have to check the company's offerings and see if it is right for you. You can do the grunt work yourself without putting on the gilded chains of ocare.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

I make 19k a yr, the silver plan costs me 50 a month, it has a 500$ deductible. Doesn't cover eye or dental...i don't think any subsidized plan does.

The gove is subsidizing 275$ to make my rate 50=325. Nearly the same plan with more coverage before aca if i bought it independently was 235$ from the same ins company. Cant imagine why they would increase the plan rate by 100 and lower coverage once it was mandated

If i had taken the bronze with 5k deductable it would have been 11$ a month. But the plan was nearly useless. Even after deductable they only pay 40%, cover little, and give you nothing 'free'.

 

[jeanontheroad]

Yes, Lee, insurance is great in an emergency, and we are all eventually going to have one. When you have just been hit by a car and are in a body cast in the hospital is a bad time to be trying to sign up. If your knees or back need surgery, an insurance company is going to make you dither around in pain for months of useless braces or steroid shots before they will authorize that surgery.

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That's dithering around for months after your sign up date.

 

[LeeRevell]

Which is why I do want to keep my plan - no nonsense, and I like my doctors.

 

[Zil]

Some of these stories sound like a plus for ACA. I have medicare, aarp, and union "D" plan. Docs and surgery covered well, but Rx can be very expensive on the newer drugs.

 

[offroad]

Dazar- good note about avoiding the bronze plan. That's a trap that is useless and should not be offered. Silver is the minimal plan to buy it looks like. Will plan accordingly with relatives who need advice. --- if government wants to fix obamacare to save face they can fix bronze and get rid of it.

 

[planet-beaver]

I can't believe people are against Obamacare and bashing the plan. It is perfect for low income people (most van/RV dwellers) that are looking to retire at 40,50,55.

If couple make under 17K, they pay no taxes and have healthcare for free. How can that be bad