General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMy insurance just went up by 25%.
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
(36,097 posts)Hoyt
(54,770 posts)leftstreet
(36,097 posts)obviously
But, "Medicare For All" is becoming a term that gets everyone's attention as a national health service
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)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 its been a hard sell.
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)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
(54,770 posts)Got nowhere, other than some halfassed thank yous. I worked for the state Medicaid agency at the time. Point is, Ive been for this for over 30 years. But right now, its 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 isnt going to happen with this Congress).
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)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 its attacked more and more people are thinking about how flawed their BCBS plan is. Medicare is a large program thats 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
(92 posts)quartz007
(1,216 posts)Which insurance company do you have now?
OliverQ
(3,363 posts)Can't change until November I think, but not many other options here. Kaiser and maybe Cigna are the only other 2 options.
CreekDog
(46,192 posts)I'm not following this.
OliverQ
(3,363 posts)Blue_true
(31,261 posts)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
(905 posts)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
(905 posts)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
(1,216 posts)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
(905 posts)They are now talking about taxing people who get good health insurance through their employers.
hedda_foil
(16,371 posts)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
(37,285 posts)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
(16,851 posts)CreekDog
(46,192 posts)it must not be an exchange/healthcare marketplace (Obamacare) policy.
what kind of policy is it? is it an individual policy?
OliverQ
(3,363 posts)I've had it for a long time and I guess got grandfathered in.
CreekDog
(46,192 posts)there aren't the protections for individual plans as on the health care exchanges.
quartz007
(1,216 posts)Deductible is $400 and out of pocket max is $2800.
CreekDog
(46,192 posts)it may have been a group policy but if under COBRA, it can convert to an individual policy.
quartz007
(1,216 posts)rip you off. What this country really needs is a nationwide group policy available to individuals.
CreekDog
(46,192 posts)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
(1,216 posts)Medicare covers my flu shots and PSA every year. But currently I am trying out a Medicare Advantage plan. So theoretically off Medicare.
CreekDog
(46,192 posts)people who get things for free don't usually say they got a "price break".
and you don't have Medicare?
quartz007
(1,216 posts)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
(46,192 posts)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
(905 posts)They put your grandfather clause in a casket and buried it.
democratisphere
(17,235 posts)for your 25% increase in insurance costs. It is outrageous!
quartz007
(1,216 posts)..of Health insurance companies gouging individuals?
democratisphere
(17,235 posts)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
(31,261 posts)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
(34,401 posts)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
(1,216 posts)we load up on medications, at half price. Same brand names!
mvd
(65,155 posts)Even if we have to get to it in steps, now is the time to get things rolling.
lunasun
(21,646 posts)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
(31,925 posts)He doesn't take BS from his patients. Ask an American doctor how long they would last if they did that....
lunasun
(21,646 posts)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
(31,925 posts)I guess you may not have seen those episodes (most). American doctors would love that freedom.
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)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
(135,778 posts)area51
(11,893 posts)duforsure
(11,884 posts)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
(1,216 posts)during Trump.
CreekDog
(46,192 posts)come on now, keep up.
CreekDog
(46,192 posts)the subsidies will rise to cover the increase.
and profits are limited.
A HERETIC I AM
(24,360 posts)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.