I got the dreaded letter from my health insurance company. I was overwhelmed

[indie9197]

with Relief. I can keep my current policy for another year at $169.44 per month or go to an ACA compliant policy next year for $347.90.

The two policies are identical except that my current deductible is $5000 and the ACA one is $2500. The ACA also has the required "essential health benefits" which may be a step up but I don't know much about that.
Anyway, I don't have to deal with Healthcare.gov unless I think I can get a better deal. I am sure I won't get subsidies.
My insurance is Humana and I am a 52 yo male in Utah. I am just posting this so people can see some more real life situations.

[OKNancy]

1. I'd check the website anyway.

It would not be in Humana's interest to quote you a lower priced policy.

[stopbush]

3. Agreed. Humana isn't going to outline every option you have through the ACA.

Their goal is to keep you as a paying customer.

What could it hurt for you to visit the Obamacare website, especially now that it's working?

You may find out that your "dreaded letter" was filled with lies.

[indie9197]

11. Good idea. Will do it tonite. Can't hurt. N/t

[superpatriotman]

2. There are ACA plans with higher deductibles

which may get your premium lower.

The "essential health benefits" include physicals, etc.

It is worth comparing ACA plans for costs alone.

Cheers.

[indie9197]

12. Yeah, the ACA plans I believe have much better

Emergency room and ambulatory care coverage.

[MattBaggins]

17. Awesome

You get to keep your insurance that won't cover a single thing if you actually get sick.

Pretty good deal. I'm really happy for you. At least you won't have to use that crappy ACA stuff.

[customerserviceguy]

4. What are you going to do a year from now

when the ACA policy is three times the one you used to have, and you are no longer allowed to keep the current policy?

[CreekDog]

7. obvious cat is obvious

[11 Bravo]

10. And of course you have evidence that this will be the case, right?

[left on green only]

5. Shop! At least you'll never have to worry that you will regret having not. n/t

[jberryhill]

6. "which may be a step up"

That's the 200 dollar question, as it were.

It looks like the difference in premiums is pretty close to the reduction in deductible, before getting into "what's covered and what's not". But if you are on any prescription medications, or had a pre-existing condition in relation to your current policy, then it deserves a close look in relation to whatever you may have spent on healthcare last year.

[Marrah_G]

8. I think it's silly that you haven't checked on what subsidies you qualify for.

I have insurance for the first time in years starting Jan 1st and I am looking forward to being able to take the medicine I need for my painful health issues again.

[LynnTTT]

9. Just a few questions for you

How do you know what the ACA premium would , if you don't know if you are eligible for subsidy?

We see that the annual deductible is more, but are all the co-pays the same?

And keep in mind, the ACA policies are really not meant for people who already had affordable , good insurance. The program is primarily for people who didn't have and couldn't afford policies. People with pre-existing conditions etc. No one said every person in the country could get a cheaper plan.

[hedgehog]

13. Currently you're paying $2033.28 plus a $5000 deductible for a total of $7033.28 before you get a

penny back.

The ACA policy offered by your insurance company would cost $4174.80 plus a $2500 deductible for a total of $6674.80 before benefits start kicking in.

The ACA policy is a better deal unless you never go to the doctor and never will. It also has those required "essential health benefits" like lab fees, prescription drugs, emergency care and rehab, which your current policy may not have. On top of that, you should compare co-pays.

I note that this is comparing two policies from your current insurer. It's well worth the time to go out on the Exchange and see what else is out there.

[indie9197]

14. I never use my current policy. That is why it is reasonable.

I have no doubt that if I started going to the doctor a lot they would jack up my rates. That, to me , is the biggest benefit of the ACA is that your premium is not based on your medical history. That is correct, right?

[hedgehog]

15. Absolutely correct.

At age 52, it would be worthwhile to get a full check-up to ensure that high blood pressure or incipient diabetes aren't going to cause you trouble further down the road.

[Indykatie]

16. Why Not Price ACA Plan With The Same Higher Deductible You Have Now - It Might Be Cheaper

You're not doing apples to apples comparison. Who provided this comparison for you if it didn't come from Healthcare.gov site?

[indie9197]

18. I wonder why they didn't quote me a $2500 deductible policy?

I assumed you couldn't have it with ACA but now I think they are trying to sell me something I don't want. The letter I got had the side by side comparison but no mention of a higher deductible.

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

19. Just for the heck of it went to healthcare.gov and

selected Utah as my state, entered my age as 52, and randomly selected a county.

Since Utah is a low population state I wasn't expecting much.

Lo and behold...

First county I picked had 45 (Fourty Five, yes, FOURTY FIVE) different policy options for a 52-year-old, ranging from $6,000 deductible to $1,000 deductible.

And I got to the policy listing in less than 30 seconds.

Hmmm.

[indie9197]

20. Yeah, I found a better plan than I have now

for $301 per month. $5000 deductible but full coverage after that, $6000 max, reasonable copays and $150 ER visit. Much safer bet than the 70% coverage after deductible that Humana had for $169.

I'm glad I posted here. Thank you all for your input and advice!

[bhikkhu]

22. That's good to hear!

I'm 48 myself, and while I haven't been to a doctor for 15 years and am pretty healthy, I'm also about the age where preventative care and check-ups can really make a difference in life expectancy. My father and both of my grandfathers died in their 50's from things that could have been caught and stopped early, if they'd gone to the doctor...so getting health insurance myself will be a big relief.

[LynnTTT]

21. same scenario I had

Having lunch in Savannah Georgia in late September. Woman saying she went the web-site (this was before the actual roll out) and at her age (late 40's) the cheapest plan for her and her husband would be
$ 18,000. So when I got home, I checked out the site and found that there was a plan for $ 18,000 but it was the very highest premium among about 50 plans. Plans went as low as $ 3,000.