My insurance just went up by 25%.

[OliverQ]

Wow. My insurance always goes up in May. Biggest jump I've seen in the like 10 years I've had this insurance. It's insane how terrible healthcare insurance is in this country. As though I wasn't struggling enough as it was.

/sigh

[leftstreet]

1. Medicare For All NOW! n/t

[Hoyt]

2. I'm for it. But, Medicare premiums, supplements and drugs go up every year too.

[leftstreet]

9. Single Payer NonProfit National Health Service NOW

obviously

But, "Medicare For All" is becoming a term that gets everyone's attention as a national health service

[Hoyt]

12. Somehow, I don't believe 20% of our economyl is going to straighten itself out

any time soon. Agree, there is no better time to start than now, but Medicare, Medicaid, and even some commercial insurers have already squeezed out a lot of excess in the system. Healthcare is just expensive, but there are better ways to pay and control it. But try convincing enough people. Even California, Vermont, and Colorado ran from having to tell people how much their taxes would have to increase. I know, we are already paying for it. But it’s been a hard sell.

[Blue_true]

18. I like the idea of allowing younger people to buy into Medicare.

A good policy for a single person can cost $900 per month. Even if Medicare charged $500 per month, many people would buy in. I believe the buyin helps everyone, healthy younger people get affordable healthcare coverage, Medicare gets more money into it's system. Personally, I would buy in just for the blanket of having coverage, and I would not need more than an annual physical.

[Hoyt]

23. Good luck. I actually wrote a paper for a state legislate encouraging Medicaid for all in early 80s.

Got nowhere, other than some halfassed thank yous. I worked for the state Medicaid agency at the time. Point is, I’ve been for this for over 30 years. But right now, it’s a pipe dream as California, Vermont, and Colorado found out.

I also think $500 is a bit optimistic unless the government subsidizes the premium, which of course is paid by someone (hopefully those better off, but that isn’t going to happen with this Congress).

[NCTraveler]

20. Verbiage means so much...

And I really like the increase of use in Medicare for All. I think we are hitting a point where the arguments against it are losing favor. When it’s attacked more and more people are thinking about how flawed their BCBS plan is. Medicare is a large program that’s been up and going for a long time.

Might not be exactly what I want but the term is solid and clearly in the right direction.

[helmedon1974]

29. He'll, "Medicaid" for all would be an upgrade for many.

[quartz007]

3. Change the insurance company!

Which insurance company do you have now?

[OliverQ]

5. Carefirst BCBS.

Can't change until November I think, but not many other options here. Kaiser and maybe Cigna are the only other 2 options.

[CreekDog]

8. if you can't change until November why is your policy changing prices in April?

I'm not following this.

[OliverQ]

10. The yearly increase is always in May, but I think open enrollment isn't until later in the year.

[Blue_true]

19. So, do they give an idea of the projected rate changes when people sign up?

The two insurers that you mentioned are decent. I think Cigna get you into a lot of HMOs, but they do a good job of selecting them, so the care you get is good. Cigna really push preventative medicine.

[trixie2]

24. If you are on the marketplace they can re-contract you at any time now

I was re-contracted 3 times last year. Every time they re-contracted me they wiped out my co-pay that I had already paid. It was back to zero each time. They are blowing up the Affordable Care Act from the inside out.

[trixie2]

25. You actually can change early

I had to last year under Humana. I just notified them and the market place that I could no longer afford their premiums, after they upped them 3 times over 5 months. At that point you can pick something else. You do have to give 2 weeks notice to the market place if you are on the Affordable Care Act.

I am so glad we can now talk about this. I have been screaming into my pillow that the ACA was being imploded since the last election.

[quartz007]

15. My wife has BCBS-IL and she is very happy with it.

Because her deductible is $400, and out of pocket max is $2800, and it pays 85% of bills until out of max is reached.

But her policy is through a large employer. So may be they can negotiate better deals. She is retired from her job, but not yet medicare age. She dreads going on medicare with high deductible and pays only 80% of hospital bills..

[trixie2]

26. Thank your lucky stars

They are now talking about taxing people who get good health insurance through their employers.

[hedda_foil]

39. Your wife needs to talk with Medicare

They pay 80% of a miniscule agreed amount (set by Medicare for providers. You pay 20% of the same miniscule amount. That's basic Medicare. You can buy a supplement policy to cover all of part of your share. Every company that offers these has to provide a set benefit level that's exactly the same. This is where you can get screwed because people just buy from AARP/United Health Care, which can literally cost you double than the lowest cost supplier for EXACTLY the same thing.

Finally, there's Medicare Advantage, which is basically privatized. Cheap but if you're hospitalized you have a bigger than expected cost.

[Turbineguy]

4. Repubs blame the cost rise on Obama

They cannot make the connection that republican politicians who want to destroy the program are related to cost increases.

The GOP contends that if there were more stupid people voting, they wouldn't have to get help from the Russians or cheat.

[bluestarone]

6. So Very True!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CreekDog]

7. why did it go up in April?

it must not be an exchange/healthcare marketplace (Obamacare) policy.

what kind of policy is it? is it an individual policy?

[OliverQ]

11. It's an individual policy. Never got it on the Obamacare exchange.

I've had it for a long time and I guess got grandfathered in.

[CreekDog]

14. well that sucks

there aren't the protections for individual plans as on the health care exchanges.

[quartz007]

16. BCBS on a group policy is better than any exchanges!

Deductible is $400 and out of pocket max is $2800.

[CreekDog]

40. he said it was an individual policy not a group policy

it may have been a group policy but if under COBRA, it can convert to an individual policy.

[quartz007]

48. Individual policy is gift to the insurance outfit to

rip you off. What this country really needs is a nationwide group policy available to individuals.

[CreekDog]

43. You said you were almost 80, yet you said that you paid for your flu shot

Medicare covers flu shots 100%

Now you were also bad mouthing flu shots, saying you got them but you still got the flu so you weren't going to get them anymore.

Something is a little odd with this one.

[quartz007]

49. Not me, my wife, who is not yet 65..nt

Medicare covers my flu shots and PSA every year. But currently I am trying out a Medicare Advantage plan. So theoretically off Medicare.

[CreekDog]

50. you said you get a "price break" because of your insurance --that doesn't sound free

people who get things for free don't usually say they got a "price break".

and you don't have Medicare?

[quartz007]

51. Once you are on Medicare, you can opt out towards

what they call Medicare Advantage plans. These are offered by private companies such as Humana and AARP. Overall it is better service and pays more than 80% Medicare pays. So, theoretically, I am not on Medicare this year. I can rejoin Medicare during the switching period. For example if I end up in hospital, I will pay $700 copay and out of pocket maximum. With Medicare, I will be paying 20% of hospital bills, which could easily be 10 times bigger amount than $700.

[CreekDog]

52. you didn't answer the question

you either got the shot for free and called it a "price break"

or you didn't get it for free, but Medicare plans, including Medicare Advantage plans, provide flu shots for free.

[trixie2]

27. That's the point

They put your grandfather clause in a casket and buried it.

[democratisphere]

13. You can thank the American Criminal Enterprise Healthcare System

for your 25% increase in insurance costs. It is outrageous!

[quartz007]

17. I thought ACA had fixed that problem?

..of Health insurance companies gouging individuals?

[democratisphere]

21. The OP doesn't have ACA Healthcare.

The cost of Healthcare in America is outrageous regardless of who is or is not paying for it. Some entity ultimately gets the outrageously high bill for whatever services are provided. The ACA does not address the insane cost of Healthcare in the USA.

[Blue_true]

22. Under Trump, and with a majority.

Republicans are slowly undoing the ACA. This is what some people voting stupidly get us, and I don't mean only people on the right.

[spooky3]

28. We pay the highest drug costs in the world by far.

Other developed countries have varying systems to control these. And many of our other costs are way out of line with those in the rest of the world. Thanks, lobbyists and Republicans.

[quartz007]

36. Very true! Whenever we are visiting Mexico,

we load up on medications, at half price. Same brand names!

[mvd]

30. We need Medicare For All

Even if we have to get to it in steps, now is the time to get things rolling.

[lunasun]

31. Our deductibles doubled on a work place group plan ...one way or another

Everyone always tells me I can't believe you are in to that show...doesn't seem like you, but I liked this British comedy Doc Martin on Netflix . I agree it's not something I would be matched with but I love the doc!
People who are hermits, dead beats , laborers and travelers every episode someone like that has a serious medical episode.
Though there is drama over the illness NOT once is the issue of how this is going to break the bank or how will they pay now, or forget it I can't afford to be treated come up for these folks not so well off in life.
Maybe how will I get to town or I don't think I can get off work , who will look after the farm etc. comes up but NEVER is paying for a doc visit or hospital stay mentioned as a drama

This is an AMERICAN problem and yes other places too but we are a developed country of wealth

Oh yeah I forgot concentrated wealth ....

[former9thward]

38. Are you forgetting something about Doc Martin?

He doesn't take BS from his patients. Ask an American doctor how long they would last if they did that....

[lunasun]

44. I've haven' heard of many Brits wishing they had our health system even though theirs is not perfect

Martin often tells pts there are other options in nearby towns if they have had it with him. I have changed doctors in U.S. insur networks i do not like, but I am sure the doctors i left behind are still employed

The National Health Service spends less than half of what Americans spend per person on health care, and yet life expectancy is higher in Britain.

https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2018/03/07/591128836/u-k-hospitals-are-overburdened-but-the-british-love-their-universal-health-care

[former9thward]

45. He often tells patients to get out of his office and stop bothering him with nonsense.

I guess you may not have seen those episodes (most). American doctors would love that freedom.

[LanternWaste]

47. And in Salem's Lot, the doctor was a vampire hunter!

And in Salem's Lot, the doctor was a vampire hunter! American doctors would love the freedom to treat vampires!

Or kill them.

Fiction is fun!

[spanone]

32. that's that beautiful insurance trump promised

[area51]

33. Single-payer/comprehensive Medicare for All

PNHP FAQ

[duforsure]

34. The ACA

From Trump and republicans changes is expected to increase 90% within 2-3 years. Drug prices also typically go up 300-400% under gop controls. Oil normally increases under republican control as its already increased from $40-42 up to now $68-70, which is dramatically higher . Their economy will crumble like it did under W , then we'll see recession, or worse, depression . All while the wealthy still get their huge tax refunds yearly when many of our deductions are eliminated and we get nothing.

[quartz007]

37. Prepare really well for a nasty recession/depression coming

during Trump.

[CreekDog]

41. It's not an ACA policy

come on now, keep up.

[CreekDog]

42. also, people getting subsidies already are shielded from those increases

the subsidies will rise to cover the increase.

and profits are limited.

[A HERETIC I AM]

46. Ummmmmm.....

"All while the wealthy still get their huge tax refunds yearly"

That's not really how it works.

Let me rephrase.....

That's not at all how it bloody well works!

If you are in an income category that is largely impacted by the decrease in the top marginal rate, the last thing you are concerned about is a tax "refund". That's not how such benefits are realized.

[Vinca]

35. Everything old is new again. I'm so thankful to be a geezer on Medicare.