Was Obamacare good for you or was it a "disaster"?

[jpak]

Very good for me - know of no disastrous effects

[taught_me_patience]

1. A mixed bag

My wife is a primary care physician and I calculate that it cost her approx 20k in income. Needless to say, we're not very happy about that.

[still_one]

11. Why is that?

[taught_me_patience]

130. ACA plans reimburse 20% less than comparable PPOs

Approx 15% of her patients converted to ACA plans, which meant a 3% loss in revenue. Fee for service reveneue approx 600k... thus 3% is a 20k loss to revenue. There was no change to cost (same amount of work), thus the loss in revenue directly translated to a 20k loss income. In addition, Aetna left the California market due to the ACA and the requirements. Aetna provided low cost PPOs and the loss meant some of the patients transferred to HMOs (which my wife doesn't take)... which meant a loss of patients.

[still_one]

137. Thanks, I just wanted to understand why. You didn't have to provide that

much detail, but appreciate you taking the time

[Hassin Bin Sober]

138. Aetna lied about why they pulled back on ACA.

Their leaving was the result of a temper tantrum over a merger.

Surprised a big time number cruncher like yourself hasn't been updated on that bull shit they pulled.

As for the rest of your spiel, I guess we'll just have to take your word for it...

[WillowTree]

141. He can correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure that ........

the "low cost PPO plans" that he was talking about weren't on-exchange plans. Those are all standardized. I think he might be saying that either Aetna discontinued those plans because they weren't ACA compliant or that people switched out of them in order to purchase coverage with subsidies on the exchanges. In neither case would it have had anything to do with why Aetna pulled out of the exchanges either way.

[taught_me_patience]

150. You are correct. Aetna completely pulled out of the california individual market

in Jan 2014.

Here is an article:
http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jun/18/business/la-fi-mo-aetna-california-health-insurance-20130618

Aetna will exit California's individual health insurance market
June 18, 2013|By Chad Terhune

Aetna Inc., based in Hartford, Conn., plans to pull out of California's individual health insurance market. It will keep selling to employers.
Aetna Inc., based in Hartford, Conn., plans to pull out of California's… (Bob Child / Associated Press )
Aetna Inc. said it would stop selling individual health insurance policies in California next month, and nearly 50,000 existing policyholders will have to find new coverage by January.

The company's announcement Monday comes a month after it opted not to participate in California's new state-run insurance market for consumers, a key component of the new federal healthcare law.

Aetna was a distant fourth in the state's individual health market with a 5.2% market share in 2011, according to Citigroup data. Anthem Blue Cross, Kaiser Permanente and Blue Shield of California dominate that business with a collective 87% market share in the state.
***********************************************************
This was also prior to the Humana merger announcement which was in 2015, so the poster you responded to is completely wrong on all accounts in regards to this.

[taught_me_patience]

152. You're completely wrong about Humana

They completely pulled out of the entire individual market in California in response to the ACA in 2013 (effective 2014), years before the merger with Humana was announced.

http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jun/18/business/la-fi-mo-aetna-california-health-insurance-20130618



Facts...

[Demsrule86]

146. That is not true...

I have work related insurance that I pay 5000 a year for...it is the best plan available ...it pays for nothing until you reach $6000...not a prescription......"0" for anything. Then Pay another 2000 (20%) until I reach a total out of pocket of $8000.00 I wish I was eligible for Obamacare...assuming the GOP asshats don't succeed in killing it. Plans all over are getting expensive and the only reason they pay for stuff and there is no cap is Obamacare makes them.

[Demsrule86]

32. Really

Well it's repeal could cost my son his life...and the lack of health care killed my cousin.

[JTFrog]

58. +1 nt

[Demsrule86]

147. Thanks.

[oberliner]

110. To be fair, the poster asked if it was good for "you personally"

So the respondent answered with that narrow framework in mind, I would think.

[still_one]

139. That is how I read it also obe. We give our personal experience.

The poster also indicated mixed which I interpret as that there good and bad things about it, and based on just this thread a good number feel the same way.

I think most of us would agree there are more positive things for more people because of the ACA

[taught_me_patience]

153. I'm still generally for it, even though it's costs us a lot of money

because more people are insured and people no longer have to worry about pre-existing conditions anymore. I know that it's very stressful for people who have pre-existing conditions and I'm glad that that stress can be relieved.

[still_one]

158. That is pretty much what I thought.

[Demsrule86]

145. True that...just shocking.

[TexasBushwhacker]

60. Yeah, screw those people who could actually come see her now n/t

[elias7]

91. The question was how it affected you personally, not whether you support it or not.

Be nice

[taught_me_patience]

131. Never said I was against it...

I don't care who you are, NOBODY is going to be happy to lose 20k income for doing the same amount of work. I'm happy that many people have health insurance that didn't have prior to the ACA.

[yardwork]

120. How did the ACA cost your wife in income?

[taught_me_patience]

132. see my reply in #130 n/t

[still_one]

2. Perhaps the question to ask, was it better than what you had before

[jpak]

13. infinitely better

yup

[still_one]

17. Personally I believe if they really wanted to help people they would do Medicare for all, and for

those who don't have the means fore that, Medicaid

[uponit7771]

48. +1

[TomJulie]

57. Much Much Worse!

Compared to what me and my family had before Obamacare. Obamacare is much worse.

I buy insurance from the company I work for. Since 2015, Cigna is the provider our company brought in to supply the healthcare for it's employees.

[yardwork]

121. That might have happened even without Obamacare.

[metroins]

151. That was an employer decision

Not based on PPACA.

[Missn-Hitch]

3. I am middle to upper middle class. No kids.

My premiums went from $176 to $343 since the ACA became law. I don't mind - I can pay a little more if millions can have coverage.

However, just out of pure schadenfreude, I would like to see them blow it up - just as they promised. There has to be severe consequences for these slack jawed yokels to start voting in their self interest. And yes, I am deeply saddened for those that did not vote for this tragedy. Thinking strictly about those on Obamacare that voted Republican, let Jesus be their health insurance. F**k 'em.

[Demsrule86]

35. No that would kill people.

We can run on making it better in 18 and especially 20.

[Missn-Hitch]

41. Hope so. I really do but I know some of these republicans. They have Ocare and voted against it.

There must be consequences.

[TomJulie]

73. I Don't Think That's Correct

I'm almost positive the people in Congress aren't required to have Obamacare, only people like you and I.

[Missn-Hitch]

74. Which part is not correct? I am talking about the voters with Ocare that voted against it. Cheers.

[TomJulie]

77. My Bad. Thought You Were Referring To Our Elected Officials N/T

[Missn-Hitch]

80. Oh, that's okay! They should have their's taken away.

[dchill]

106. But they wouldn't like THAT!

[Demsrule86]

148. My son who has pre-existing is not a GOP.

Seriously, you post makes me think, you have more in common with those who want to pass this heinous bill then those who oppose it...I do not think the price of being suckered by the GOP should be death.

[Missn-Hitch]

164. Nope. I am on your side. No need to yell at me about it. It is what it is.

[Demsrule86]

168. Not intending to yell sorry...

Cheers.

[treestar]

155. How would that happen?

Couldn't you keep what you had if you liked it? Also it would have been subsidized, so it'w strange a subsidized amount would be higher than a non subsidized amount. Does the plan cover more?

[Missn-Hitch]

165. It actually does cover more. I was just saying what my premiums were before/after ACA. Cheers.

I am fine with my insurance. I am willing to pay more. I can afford it.

[annabanana]

4. In that it provided coverage for my two (2!)

temporarily underemployed kids.. It has been essential. One kid has since gone on to better employment with decent plans.. the other is "AmeriCorping" which is pretty much a temp placement sans coverage.. not sure what'll happen if they scale back medicaid...

MY copays went up a fair bit, but it helps so many people who had zilch, I'd be a real stinker to complain.

[OliverQ]

5. Mixed

I'm on a private insurance that was grandfathered in before Obamacare, so I'm technically on it. But my insurance premiums have been escalating quite a lot and I barely ever use it, so it's starting to hurt financially.

[butdiduvote]

6. I can't even begin to tell you how much stress it took off of me.

I was struggling financially really badly when I aged out of my father's insurance and was depressed to the point of constant thoughts of suicide because my finances were making it impossible to leave an abusive situation. Already being that stretched thin, there was no way I could have afforded my own plan, and my state didn't expand Medicaid. The marketplace allowed me to have great coverage for $12 a month. I used it to get out of the house and see a counselor once a week and to get some peace of mind that my constant debilitating migraines weren't something more serious. Some may say I didn't deserve it, and believe me I told myself exactly that all of the time, but it was a godsend.

[randr]

7. My insurance is through my wifes employment at local Hospital

At one time it was tops. Even before ACA they started lowering benefits every year. Once ACA started it took the Hospital et al to get up to speed. Once things worked out they are very happy with the ACA and how it benefits small community medical care. My insurance is still through the Medical Care HMO and is no where near as good as years ago and I have problems with billing with every medical procedure.
In my opinion the Insurance Industry has been most vocal in opposing ACA and they are the biggest problem we have in health care.
We may never see the day when our elected reps are free of influence from these greedy bastards.
Health care should be a not for profit business and available to all.

[TexasBushwhacker]

61. I'm glad you pointed out that things were getting worse

before the ACA. I'm a bookkeeper, so I've been paying bills for a living for a living. Premiums and deductibles have been going up, sometimes by double digits that whole time. People who get their insurance through their employer often don't realize that their company may be passing all premium increases to them.

I have no doubt that some companies who didn't like the ACA passed a disproportionate amount of premium increases to their employees. Because businesses can be jerks like that.

[randr]

62. People have already forgotten how many families lost their homes

due to medical bills. Medical costs were rising at a higher rate than any other commodity figure for decades.
People died, many people died!

[NurseJackie]

8. First year, our premium with Aetna went up. The following year ...

... it ended up being LOWER than before the ACA was enacted. (Apparently the 80% rule kicked-in and they hadn't spent as much on actual health care than they'd anticipated.) It's good to know that if my husband changes jobs, our "pre-existing-conditions" won't count against us.

[FightingIrish]

9. It allowed our son to be covered after a near fatal assault.

Our son was beaten and robbed six weeks into his freshman year of college. He spent two years in a wheelchair and his chances of walking again were doubtful. His extensive injuries made him uninsurable. We were able to carry him on our policy until he turned 26. In spite of his pre-existing condition, he was able to get his own coverage at a reasonable cost.

Now he has coverage from his employer as a teacher. He is also walking again.

[annabanana]

12. So glad he's doing well now.

The ACA has been a true godsend for so many people.

[Tess49]

18. Glad your son is doing okay. What a nightmare for him and the rest of the family. n/t

[uponit7771]

49. +1

[pandr32]

10. It has been a lifesaver

In our household we have health problems that include insulin dependent diabetes and Churg-Strauss Syndrome--a rare form of vasculitis. Both of these are conditions that cannot be cured and require ongoing treatment and surgeries (Churg-Strauss related). Both these conditions could kill without the care we receive. The ACA removed lifetime caps and pre-existing conditions. Also, two of our kids were covered as they went through State University four year programs. One of them is a sports enthusiast who had lots of injuries requiring care as well as having asthma. If it hadn't of been for the ACA allowing him to be covered on our plan I can't even imagine what we would have done.

[question everything]

14. Would have been bad

I became eligible for Medicare, thus did not affect me. But I did have an individual policy for more than 10 years, in two states - a "blue" one - which was very good. I think that my policy would have been terminated and a new one would have been a lot more expensive.

[Agschmid]

15. I don't use he exchange but I know plenty of folks who do.

It's a good thing, sure it could be better... TrumpCare isn't better.

[2naSalit]

16. I lost $$ from penalty

for not having insurance for the full year (2015) but was able to get on medicaid when my state decided to accept the option. Now I am finally getting a diagnosis for the neck injury I suffered in 2012, finally. I go see a specialist in the near future to help determine when I might end up crippled from spinal cord impingement.

I see it as a good thing... even though it still needs work.

[mvd]

19. I have a decent plan bought on the marketplace

It isn't overly expensive. So Obamacare has improved things for me. It could definitely be improved - single payer is the best because it doesn't tie us to private insurance. Under Obamacare, rates for some have increased, and drug prices are still outrageous. But it is much better than the Take Away Insurance plan the Repukes came up with.

[OriginalGeek]

20. I really don't know what to do.

Would appreciate advice.

My wife and I are covered through my work insurance but my daughter turned 26 last year so stopped being covered by my work. Her only (currently) recurring expense is birth control and we have paid that out of pocket the last couple times but it's like 250 bucks each quarter - on my insurance it was free or close to it...so that sucks.

My daughter is handicapped and will depend on us for the rest of our lives (the BC is more for helping with her periods than anything else although she can walk and talk and is very smart so other things might not be out of the question. I'm not worried about that though - whatever makes her happy - I'm pretty sure any young suitor would need to be Idris Elba or Benedict Cumberbatch or David Tennant or Morgan from Criminal Minds or Jason Momoa. Poor kids around here don't have a big chance lol) - she will most likely never be able to hold a real job and get insurance through them.

We looked into signing her up for Obamacare but we live in Florida so thanks a fucking bunch Gov. Skeletor for having crappy benefits - we missed open enrollment this time because we couldn't make up our minds. We also looked into Medicaid which she had when she was younger so she could get physical therapy but that ended when she turned 18.

Doing our taxes I just found out I'll be paying a penalty I think for not having her covered in some way already so I guess we better get on it.

We do have financial arrangements for after we're gone but that doesn't help her or us much now.

[WillowTree]

26. You should be able to buy an off-exchange policy for her at any time.

Do a search on "off exchange health insurance florida".

[OriginalGeek]

97. thanks, I'll look into it

looking like 300 bucks a month range from just looking online without talking to anyone...

[TexasBushwhacker]

118. Is she getting SSI?

She should be eligible for Medicaid even if your state didn't accept the expansion.

If she does not want to become pregnant (or should not) and has difficult periods, she would probably be a good candidate for an endometrial ablation. It permenantly removes the lining of the uterus. If she's sexually active, it is still possible (though unlikely) for her to get pregnant so she would need to use birth control. My trans cousin got it done, rather than having a hysterectomy. It just takes a few minutes.

[OriginalGeek]

142. She got SSI when she was a kid

That paid for physical and occupational therapy but they dropped her when she hit 18. (I think that's when - been a while though) We were told she's no longer eligible but that was a while ago too so maybe we were told wrong or things have changed.

I don't think she ever wants kids but I kinda selfishly hope she changes her mind. I try to stay out of that unless she asks but if she does I'll bring that up. I wish she would go out and meet people but she's pretty socially awkward on her own. I mean, she can tell a waiter what she wants when she's with us but she'd never go into a restaurant or a store by herself. Probably my fault - I should have pushed her harder to begin with. We could fill a page with shit I did wrong while trying to do right though... lol.

I admit I got a little excited when she mentioned a few months ago that maybe should would like to learn to drive after all...been wanting to teach her since she was about 14 but she was never interested. Maybe I can not screw that up!

[rickford66]

21. Got my son on our insurance. He's 23.

He was without insurance for some time, then on MEDICAID because of the ACA. I went back to work and got him on ours and dropped the MEDICAID.

[subterranean]

22. Expensive, but far from a disaster.

My family has been insured by ACA plans since the first year they became available (we had been uninsured the previous 14 years). I've never come close to reaching the deductible, but knowing that we won't be bankrupted in the event of a major illness/accident does give me peace of mind. One thing I don't like is having to shop for a new plan every year due to the premiums going up or the plan I'm on being discontinued.

Overall, it's been good, though I would prefer a single-payer type system with no more deductibles and no limited provider networks.

[haele]

23. Pretty good. My husband is disabled, and we didn't have to pay as much out of pocket as before.

Before the ACA, our insurance premiums had been going up between 25 - 30% a year since 2004; once almost 50%. In 2002, the premium was around $240 a month ($120 a paycheck) for employee and spouse; in 2009 it was $860 a month (~$430 a paycheck) with fewer benefits and a higher deductible, and we had come within $100K to the $1 million lifetime cap to cover my husband - where they'd kick him off and he'd have to apply for either early Medicare or for a high premium/high deductible supplemental coverage for dependents with chronic conditions that go over the cap. One more hospitalization for a serious infection or kidney stone, and he would have gone over.
That would have been an extra $700 a month "pre-tax" added to my premium on top of the regular premium we were paying for insurance to get him a supplemental. That or his SSDI allotment would have been reduced by 80% to cover his medical through Medicare. Neither of which we could afford at the time. And we were still considered lucky because I had access to halfway decent insurance for my husband through my employer. If we didn't have that, I'd go without and hope nothing happened to me so we could have some money in pocket to make up for the loss in his SSDI to go on to Medicare. His SSDI pretty much covered most of our rent at the time.

That was the reality for medical insurance pre-ACA.

After the ACA, we only saw at most a $50 a month increase in premiums, and that was only the second year, because my employer switched insurers, and I included a new dependent (we got guardianship of the first grand-daughter so she would have insurance). Of course, the benefits always seem to be a bit harder to get (they're always requiring pre-authorization now), but overall, it's been pretty decent.

Haele

[Maeve]

24. More expensive than I would have liked

But the first time we'd had any insurance for several years (both of us are self-employed) and we are aware one accident, one health crisis and we'd be financially destroyed.

[Lonusca]

167. Similar for us

We went from (more or less) Company plan to Cobra to ACA (covered ca). Last year of Cobra was most expensive. This year there was a huge increase, making it second most expensive.

We view it as catastrophic insurance. None of or regular doctors take it (which is fine) but it is there if something really bad happens. Good on prescriptions.

I will echo what other people have said here - the company premiums were (and pretty much have been for years) going up at ridiculous rates.

[supernova]

25. Good - indirectly

It was good because I'm on Hubs medical insurance through work. The ACA, by containing costs and having more people in the program, meant that Hubs employer plan did not change very much from last year in terms of coverage or cost. Also the cost of care, medicines and clinic visits and labwork did not rise in price very much either compared to previous years, and definitely compared to pre-ACA.

[Wounded Bear]

27. Helped me indirectly...

I'm on VA, and they sent me a letter that said, "If you're on VA Healthcare, don't worry about it." So I didn't.

But, my copays are pretty reasonable and they don't charge for well doctor visits or even specialists, though wait lines might be long.

Bottom line, with the knowledge that it helped millions of people get care that didn't even have it before, I say keep it and expand on it.

[izzybella]

28. It was amazing for me.

Mu husband lost his job when his company closed. He found another one almost immediately, but it did not provide health insurance, so we were paying $2000 a month for Cobra (we had pre-existing conditions) for almost a year when the exchanges opened. While we did not qualify for subsidies, we were able to get an ACA policy with no deductible for our family of 3 for about $750 a month. It was the easiest application process I have ever had for health insurance. We have never had any issues with the policy or finding doctors that would take it. I think families like ours benefited greatly.

[matt819]

29. Good for me

Pricey for us, but we don't worry about going to the doctor, or pre existing conditions or unexpected crap happening.

[GulfCoast66]

30. Cost me money

Because the wife and I have very good jobs and very good healthcare.

We are happy to pay to help our fellow citizens.

Would gladly pay even more for true universal care.

Never know when our luck will run out and we are in need. And if it never does I would happily pay increased taxes till I retire.

[unblock]

31. it cost me, for little to no benefit, but i'm happy to pay.

i have a high-deductible plan through my employer.
- mini-unblock doesn't yet benefit from the "... until 26" change.
- we have no "pre-existing conditions" as we've been covered continuously for a long time
- no lifetime cap is a theoretical benefit, but we haven't approached that yet, so no benefit in practice (other than comfort).

on the flip side, i am fortunate to make barely enough to get hit just a little bit with the medicare surcharge.

so financially, i'm in the demographic that should "hate" obamacare, but i have no idea why people want to live in a world where so many people are effectively denied healthcare. health is a social problem. if there are unhealthy people all around me, that's a problem for me in many ways. in effects my own health directly (communicable diseases in particular) as well as affecting how effective companies are if their workers are constantly getting sick, etc. and that's ignoring the obvious empathy and social justice aspects of it all.

i'm more than happy to pay a bit extra to make america a better place. something republicans absolutely hate doing.

[Freethinker65]

33. Was planning on using the exchange as a bridge to medicare

I am currently covered on my husband's employer provided plan. I (we?, depending on when he retires) will need coverage until I (we) reach Medicare age.

Of course that all hinges on the exchanges and Medicare still being around.

[Ron Green]

34. My cost before Obamacare: $0. After Obamacare:

Still $0. (I have socialized medicine through the VA, dontcha know, and at the doctor we never talk about anything but my care.)

[Vinca]

36. I might not be alive if it wasn't for Obamacare . . . seriously.

By the time I got into the pre-existing condition pool (almost the second it opened), I was in so much pain I was thinking about suicide. I remember the previous summer sitting in the middle of my garden and sobbing because it was such an impossible situation. My hip joint was completely deteriorated. Shortly after getting into the pool I had a hip replacement (I overheard the surgeon telling the nurse that I was "one tough lady" - that's how bad it was.) After a few short months of recovery time I'm back to normal and continuing my life as it was pre-excruciating pain. I'll always be grateful to President Obama. He gave me my life back.

[guillaumeb]

37. My daughter gained access to healthcare because of the ACA.

The ACA was a beginning, but single payer should be the ending.

[pnwmom]

38. Good for EVERYONE. It eliminated annual and lifetime limits for everyone, no matter where they got

their insurance (employer or privately).

And it eliminated the worry of health conditions making anyone ineligible for insurance in the future. (Years ago a doctor told a family member that it wouldn't be good for a child to have a diagnosis of asthma because it would be a preexisting condition that could affect insurability.)

It also included taxes that helped shore up Medicare -- which is good for everyone on Medicare.

Specifically, my son has had an excellent experience with his individual policy and another person close to us has had good insurance through Medicaid.

[dembotoz]

39. we skiirted around getting it by some just in time employment

we live in a non medicaid expansion state and we were looking to get screwed mightily
we eventually did qualify for a state program for a bit.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

40. It didn't affect me too much yet...

but I like the provision about being able to insure my kids up to 26. My kids are still under 18, but I know I will like that when the time comes so hopefully that will not change. Also, I like that people can't be denied for pre-existing conditions although that isn't a current problem for me. I'd say it was positive overall.

[MattP]

42. The republicans put every roadblock they could in front of it

Roberts calling it a tax and letting the states opt out and Rubio and the risk corridors don't get the blame they deserve

[jodymarie aimee]

81. YES

I will never understand why DEMs did not blast this from the rooftops in 2016.....Rubio and his ilk took out risk corridor, making prems skyrocket. They made it so they could say ObamaCare is fucked. THEY DID THIS.

[flamingdem]

43. EXCELLENT for me, especially since I had health issues that would have

cost me a ton.

Thanks Obama FU repukes

[csziggy]

44. It was better for me and my husband

He was working a job he hated so we both could have insurance. With the ACA he could retire which kept him healthier since his stress level was off the charts at work.

Under the ACA we both got better insurance than he had from work at about the same rate he had to pay for his employer supplied crap.

This January he went on Medicare. I start in July. But our ACA policies carried us through while getting out of an abusive job situation has made the last few years much better than they would have been.

[MedusaX]

45. No Insurance

Self Employed in Texas
Did Not Qualify for "Reduced" premium
But Exempted from Penalty because Tx did not expand benefits...

Went ahead & tried it for 1 year...
wasted $730/mo ...
constant battle w/provider to try and get my 1 and only Rx covered
due to their unwillingness to pay for the covered qty if the Rx is written for a larger quantity

Gave up... even at $730 the plan had sizable deductibles...
so might as well say f*ck it and
get a new iPhone every month....???

[jpak]

46. Sounds like the TX GOP fucked it up for you.

sorry

[uponit7771]

51. This is the usual case in immoral red states

[TomJulie]

85. I Know How You Feel, MedusaX

I pay $97/wk that automatically comes out of my weekly paycheck. That's a MINIMUM $5,000+ per year I have to pay. Now, If I need to go to the Doc for whatever reason, 100% of that cost is paid by me until I go over $3,500. And that $3,500 is per calendar year. Every year it resets to 0. That's $8,500/yr out of pocket I gotta pay before it's any good at all to myself or my wife. Fuck Obamacare! It's basically useless for me and my family. The ONLY thing Obamacare is good for is catastrophic illness. IF, by chance, both my wife and I need it the same year, that's $12,000 out of pocket before Obamacare kicks in.

3 years ago, on a Saturday afternoon, my wife cut her finger bad with a carving knife as she was preparing dinner. No local clinics were open. Had no other option but the Emergency Room. Julie had 4 stitches...that's it, 4, that equaled to $830 per stitch by the time it was said and done. I got out fairly cheap back then. If that were to happen today, all $3,340 plus some change, would be on me.

[TexasBushwhacker]

119. Obamacare does not control premiums or deductibles for insurance you get at work

[phylny]

47. It was good for one of our daughters and her fiance.

They had no insurance despite having full time jobs, so they were able to get fairly basic, but decent, coverage in Virginia for about $250/month. They now (thankfully) have jobs with full medical benefits.

It was good for our youngest daughter who ALSO gets no health insurance from her full time job, but since she's under 26, she's covered until the end of January. She will most likely leave this job to get one with health insurance, which will not be difficult in her field.

It is good for my husband and me because we are cancer survivors and didn't have to worry about a cap or preexisting conditions.

I know it wasn't great for everyone, but it was good for us. We do get insurance through his employer.

[TomJulie]

50. For Me & My Family It Was a Big Disaster

I buy healthcare for my family through the company I work for. Our co-pay for each of us was $25. Under Obamacare, Cadillac plans were no longer allowed and there was no co-pay. it went to deductable/year only. Started at $200 deductable/person. 2 years ago it went to $500/person, in 2016 jumped to $750/person. Now, in 2017 it's jumped to $3,500 deductable/person.

Before Obamacare, my weekly payment was $25/week which was automatically deducted from my paycheck. Under Obamacare, it went to $35/week, then $45/week and the next step went to $75/week. Now, in 2017, it's $97/week.

You may as well not have insurance as this is totally useless because this really isn't insurance. You're throwing your money down a hole. The ONLY thing it may possibly prevent is not losing everything if a catastrophic illness occured. $3,500 would hurt some, but it wouldn't ruin us. That's ALL it's good for.

I despised Obamacare since the day it started. Of all the good things Obama did, this is, by far, his biggest failure. At least for me and my family. Many of you appearantly have had good luck with Obamacare. We didn't.

[karynnj]

92. You are spreading a lot of incorrect information - whether you know it or not

Cadillac Plans were not outlawed -- in fact the difference was that starting in 2018, the company could not get a deduction for the full cost paid on a cadillac plan. As to the deductions, it was YOUR COMPANY that changed the plan.

As someone on a company plan, you were not directly impacted by the ACA -- which makes it strange that you say you hated it from the day it started. Where it impacted you, is that you were allowed to keep a child on the plan until they were 26. In addition, many basic annual wellness visits were mandated to be free.

I watched both the presentation from my company, a major company and the consultant power point my husband had from his much smaller company.

[Ilsa]

52. It was good for us. Eliminating pre-existing conditions

made all the difference when we were forced to change insurance companies.

It also kept our group premiums down.

[mythology]

53. On me personally? No real impact

But the evidence is clear that it's a provable benefit to more people can prove it harmed them.

[Liberty Belle]

54. Mixed bag, but I'm for fixing, not replacing.

Good parts: Got to keep kids on til age 26.
Could get it with preexisting conditions.

Bad parts: My earlier healthcare company pulled out so I lost my healthcare despite Obama's promise. The ACA exchange coverage in CA was much more expensive. I had to pay $650 a month since our household income was just over the threshhold for any subsidy. It didn't cover chiropractic or massage therapy, the two things I needed most.

Also when hubby lost job it took six months before we could get the rate lowered, as they counted his income for first half of the year that put us over threshhold for reduced rate until next calendar year.

[Adrahil]

55. Meh.. not much diff.

Before the ACA, premiums were skyrocketing and coverage shrinking. The first year after the ACA, premiums REALLY skyrocketed and coverage slightly improved, Then it stayed more or less the same (slight increases in premiums) and last year, premiums actually went down a tick. Overall, not bad, but my deductibles are still silly. I think it was a step in the right direction.

It saved a friend of mine, though.

[GoCubsGo]

56. It made no difference for me.

I still fell through the cracks. Too young for Medicare. Too old, too single, and too childless to get Medicaid, which was not expanded by the sack of human refuse that was my governor (as well as her replacement.) Too poor to afford the premiums that are available in my state. I'm still on the Republican "Don't get sick. If you do, die quickly." plan.

[The Polack MSgt]

59. My adult daughter was hospitalized for 6 days

And without the ACA, my daughter, her fiance and I would most likely be bankrupt.

So - No it was not a disaster for us

[dancePop]

63. I haven't noticed much of a difference at all.

I'm paying a little bit more but not much.

A public option would have really helped everyone though.

[Kaleva]

64. N/A I have VA backed up by Medicare

[msanthrope]

65. A lifesaver. nt

[LyndaG]

66. Good for me

Good for my family.

[Cairycat]

67. Very good for me

Same coverage through my husband's employer. But before Obamacare, I worried a lot about being kicked off or hitting the limits on coverage. I have had breast cancer and have severe macular degeneration. I would never be able to get coverage on the open market.

My twenty-somethings children are or have been covered, and that was a burden lifted as well.

Our premiums have gone up, but I am certain they would have gone up anyway, probably by more.

[WiffenPoof]

68. Easiest question of the day...

Obama care could never work flawlessly. It was doomed from the start. This does not mean that it didn't work for some... It did. My sister benefited greatly.

But, it would never work perfectly because it was a half-ass approach to universal healthcare. OnlY when the profit motive is removed (insurance companies) will there truly be healthcare for all.

[brooklynite]

69. As with most people, it was meaningless...

I had and continue to have employer-sponsored health care.

Perhaps building knowable improvements into employer programs would have built a stronger level of support.

[Jane Austin]

70. Very good for me and for

My employees.

They're getting much better coverage for the same amount of money.

[CottonBear]

71. Great! I didn't have insurance for 5 years before ACA.

I'll be totally screwed when ACA is repealed. I get a federal subsidy.

My minor child will probably lose Medicaid coverage as well.

I am very scared. I don't have insurance through work.

Edit: spelling

[Mr. Ected]

72. It was a godsend for me

My wife had left work a year and a half before and our COBRA benefits were about to end. Since my youngest child and I had pre-existing conditions, without Obamacare, we would have been SOL.

I live in the reddest of red areas, and I always prefaced my discussions about Obamacare with that anecdote. So many people nodded their heads in approval, and then said that Obamacare was the worst thing that ever happened to America.

To me, that symbolizes the vast disconnect among right wing voters; their opinions seem to be overwhelmed by the brainwashing of their favored media.

[Amishman]

75. My costs went up significantly and I gained nothing

So measured from a purely selfish perspective it was entirely negative for me.

However I could find good insurance before and I can still afford good insurance, so it is hardly a disaster

[vi5]

76. No impact as of now.....

My wife and I are employed by larger companies who always have covered us. Our premiums went up but I defy any non-union employee to tell me with a straight face that their premiums didn't always go up every year before Obamacare.

The true sell for me (other than being an empathetic person who realizes things are not always about me) is that my son was born with a lot of medical issues that previously could have denied him coverage down the road. So knowing he won't (hopefully) have to worry about that was above all else the important thing about the ACA for my family.

[IADEMO2004]

89. Hell yes. 10 yrs pre ACA 8-18%/yr increase at my house.

[vi5]

93. That's what drives me nuts...

....every end of the year/new year since the ACA so many facebook posts from people bitching about their rate increases and blaming Obamacare. Really? I can't recall any year in my 25 years of full time work that I didn't get hit with a chunk of change for insurance premiums. At least now at least everybody gets covered so I'm o.k. with it. I guess people were maybe o.k. with paying more money to insurance companies every year but not to help other people get care? Same way people seem to be fine when gas prices go up and into the pocket of Exxon but have a shitfit when they go up for a tax to pay for roads and infrastructure?

In short....people are fucking shortsighted idiots.

[Luciferous]

78. Didn't make a difference for my family but

my daughter will be 18 soon and I would like to keep her on our insurance so I hope that stays

[Warpy]

79. It came far too late for me

Medicare kicked in first and Medicare has been very, very good for me. No more artificial poverty as I pinched every penny so hard Lincoln screamed in anticipation of the next health disaster, something that always came.

I think if it is repealed, the GOP will reap the same whirlwind we got after we took segregation away from the south.

[rzemanfl]

82. Unfortunately it came along just as I went on Medicare, but my slightly younger wife wasn't.

I mentioned that when I learned how Medicare worked it was the first time I thought about leaving my wife for an older woman. It used to be couples went on Medicare together, I believe.

[hunter]

83. It came at a good time for my brother...

... who suffers many of the same "pre-existing" conditions I do and was previously uninsured and uninsurable, the kind of shit that just falls out of the sky and can land on anyone.

My wife and I currently have insurance through her work, but we once ran a Cobra to the bitter end during a time she was was very seriously ill. That was terrifying as there was a gap of several weeks before she was accepted to our state's "high risk" insurance program.

We've never recovered financially from that and have huge medical debts that we are pretending to pay down and a credit rating in the toilet.

[Doreen]

84. I am on Medicare but people do not realize that Medicare IS

effected. Before ACA I had very bad knees and was getting to the point where I could hardly walk and I was in constant pain. I was told before ACA that I would not qualify for knee replacements until I was 65. I was almost 47 then. If I had to wait that long I would have been bed ridden by now or had to use a wheelchair and most likely be in a lot of pain. When ACA came in it leaked into Medicare and made it so I was able to get my knees replaced and I can walk normally now and am in no pain. When ACA came in it made it so women could go in and get a thorough yearly check up without having to pay for a co-pay. That did not exist with Medicare until ACA came in.

[Kimchijeon]

87. Definitely not a disaster 👍🏼

[IADEMO2004]

88. Five stars. Allowed me be home with my wife.

When her pain and meds. forced her to stop working she received SS disability payments. Later when she needed more care I closed my business to care for her. The first ACA year dropped our health insurance premiums from $1320/mo. to $254/mo. . I don't remember the amount of max annual out of pocket but her care hit that level in just a few months. Co-Opportunity in Iowa closed after budget compromise pulled start-up money and state insurance commissioner ordered them to close. That was a republican caused "disaster" and we moved to another ACA plan.

and I miss her every day.

OBAMACARE GOOD republicans assholes

[SHRED]

90. It removed care caps

That helps EVERYONE from going broke.

[jmg257]

94. Mixed. Premiuims went up across the company, supposedly slightly more then they would have

on their own.

[TheFrenchRazor]

95. definitely good, but we need single payer, price controls, etc. nt

[WhiteTara]

96. It has been incredibly helpful for us.

Now that we are pretty much running on SS, it has been a boon.

[elias7]

98. Negative impact for us, positive impact overall

Higher premiums, higher taxes, higher deductible, have had to change carriers 3 times. Probably costs me 5-10K more per year.

Also costs me as a physician.

But, the trade off is worth it. More insured people. Healthier population. Safer for all of us if/when we develop bigger health problems.

[Greybnk48]

99. Very good for one of my kids.

decent premium and low copay. He has coverage through work now, but when he didn't it was a Godsend.

[Tatiana]

100. Mixed.

My premiums went up significantly, as well as my co-pays for specialty physicians. But, it's a price I'm willing to pay to ensure others are covered who otherwise would not have been.

But health care has definitely taken a larger chunk of our budget. On the plus side, birth control is covered now and it was very helpful to my daughter who had some painful female issues.

[Jimbo101]

101. Good for Me - I'll be on Medicare at the end of the year -

Don't know what I would have done for health insurance the last 5 years -

Thanks Obama (for real)

[Hangingon]

102. It was a bad impact for my wife and me. nt

[Turbineguy]

103. In the first year it was great

I saved enough on premiums to buy a new handgun every month, making my home happier, healthier and safe.

Then our income went up because I worked more and the costs went with it.

[Miles Archer]

104. A disaster for me.

i went online, filled in my info, and at the end of the process saw "Based on the information you have provided, here is the program we have selected for you."

It was $803 a month.

At a time in which I was not making $803 a month or anything close to it.

So I have never had Obamacare. I know it worked out for some people. I was not one of them.

[oberliner]

109. What did you end up doing for health insurance?

Did you get coverage somehow?

[Miles Archer]

113. Medicaid in Colorado

Covered everything, including dental visits.

Then I moved to South Carolina.

South Carolina's Medicaid is great if you need family planning and gynecological exams. Other than that, it's one physical every two years and that's it, basically the equivalent of nothing. "Office visits" to the "family physician" are NOT covered. And if you get the physical and need treatment for anything they may find, that's not covered either.

[oberliner]

114. Wow, that is awful

It's a shame you had to change states. I had no idea that Medicaid was so different between them.

[Miles Archer]

116. The state motto of South Carolina is apparently "We don't do that here."

I kid you not. I rattled off a list of things I had covered in Colorado and the response was "We don't do that here."

Previously, when you applied for Medicaid in South Carolina, they had 45 days to make a decision.

So I called them about 65 days after I applied.

"We don't follow that anymore. We decide a case when the caseworker gets to the case. Some people have waited up to a year."

It's cheap to live here. There is a reason for that.

[yardwork]

123. The CO Medicaid was brought to you by Obamacare.

SC chose not to participate in Obamacare, and you see the result.

Your experience with Obamacare was not a disaster. The state of Colorado was able to give you Medicaid because of it. South Carolina's lack of coverage is because that state rejected Obamacare.

[Miles Archer]

161. OK, so knowing that, you are 100% correct

Complete and total coverage, including dental.

[treestar]

156. does not make sense; why was there no subsidy if

you didn't make that much?

If you didn't make that much wouldn't you qualify for medicaid even in a non-expanding state?

[Miles Archer]

162. I just know what came up on the screen...

...I hadn't thought about applying for Medicaid as a result (I was in Nevada at the time), but I did apply as soon as I got to Colorado and was approved.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

105. It was better for me, but I'm not wealthy.

If we had adopted a universal healthcare system like the one in Germany, I'm sure that the wealthier members of this country would complain even more. As I understand it, Germany's system is funded by an 8% tax rate. People with no income obviously pay nothing -- 8% x zero = zero. The very wealthy pay a LOT, more than they'll likely ever recoup by healthcare benefits. On the other hand, they're freakin' WEALTHY and it's not like the tax takes away their incentive to make even more money! If such a system was proposed here, I can predict what would happen... we'd have all kinds of right-wing propagandists claiming that the wealthy were being VICTIMIZED by paying so much into the healthcare system!

[napi21]

107. I agree with the "mixed bag" analogy of a previous poster. A close friend who is a widow and

only receiving widow's benefits LOVED what the ACA did for her. My son, who was working for a job marketer so was considered an independent contractor. He was making too much to qualify for any subsidies, it was HORRIBLE!

My friend was paying $94/mo & $150 after the subsidy was added & $150 oop. My son was paying $1,200/mo and $5,000 oop before they paid a penny. He could find nothing less costly. He finally found some insurance that wasn't AVA compliant because it didn't cover pregnancy, so he had to pay the penalty, but it was $325/mo.

It seems to me that if you are poor enough to qualify for subsidies, it's great. If you don't, it's insanely expensive.

[oberliner]

108. Not good for me personally

Premiums went up (via my employer) as a result, but a price I will willingly pay to ensure greater coverage for more people who need it.

[duncang]

111. Good for my daughter

Her and her husband wouldn't have been able to afford his medicine if it wasn't for ACA.

[LeftInTX]

112. Our granddaughter is an Obamacare baby.

Her mom is 28 years old, goes to school full time and works part time. Not eligible for employer sponsored insurance or Medicaid. Obamacare prevented her falling through the cracks.

[roamer65]

115. My out of pocket went up, but it was worth it.

The Christian in me says everyone should have good quality healthcare.

[heather blossom]

117. Good for me

First of all, it gave me the option to retire early. Long story short, I was in a horrendous job situation. My boss was a bully, liar, paranoid freak.
The first year I got a decent plan with Aetna, good coverage, decent deductibles, Co pays, etc. Toward the end of the policy year I really re injured my shoulder and really thought I was going to have to bite the bullet and have surgery. In year 2, I bought a silver plan and wouldn't you know, with PT, exercise program and yoga, I was able to avoid surgery. My shoulder is doing great.
I am in year 3 now and I bought the cheapest possible plan because I qualify for Medicare in June. I have had to sacrifice some things in order to pay the premiums but it has been worth it.
For the most part I am pretty healthy, so it has been a blessing for me. I thank Obama often.

[Kahuna7]

122. Good for me. I have several pre-existing conditions...

most of them just stuff that occurs through the aging process. Before OC, my employer provided insurer didn't cover any preexisting. The even parsed out my lab work to exclude diagnostics related to my preexisting conditions. They didn't cover my thyroid sonogram to the tune of $500. I'm paying the same participation rate with my employer, but I don't have to worry about having to pay OOP for preexisting conditons.

[yardwork]

124. My sister obtained health insurance for the first time in years because of the ACA.

I fear what will happen to her if it is repealed. She's self-employed.

[liberalMOmama]

125. Good and Bad for me

I've read here a lot of the years and haven't had much to say but wanted to weigh in on the topic.

It was good in that it allowed me to leave a job that was killing me and still have insurance with a pre-existing condition. I'm a single mom and get a good subsidy with a $100 deductible. It's a pretty good plan at a low cost. However, I live with my boyfriend and he makes too much to get a subsidy but his insurance for a bronze plan is about 10% of his take home pay with a $6000 deductible. Last year he tried to get a sleep study and was charged $250 for an office visit and then denied the study so it's been pretty useless for him.

I had great insurance when I was married and the kids are still covered through their dad's employer but even that has gone way up. I think he pays $800 a month for everyone. Pretty soon I guess no one is going to be able to afford insurance except the very wealthy.

[d_r]

126. I dont think

It directly impacted me at all. Every year our coverage gets a little worse, but I don't think there was really any impact from aca to me or my immediate family at this time.

[deek]

127. lifesaver n/t

.

[qwlauren35]

128. Welll....

While Obamacare was in deliberations, my insurance company doubled my co-pays. It was a major blow. My husband and I both have health issues, and end up in the doctor's office every other week at least.

In the grand scheme of things, it seemed like something I could accept given how others were benefiting.

[Kablooie]

133. The big question is how does it compare to before? Could you even get insurance?

[GP6971]

134. No impact so far

I have company paid insurance

[Texasgal]

135. Obamacare was not perfect

but it worked as intended for my late husband. With out it and the pre-existing clause I am not sure what we would have done. I will say that it was not cheap even with a subsidy but it atleast allowed my husband a few years more of his life and the ability to die with dignity.

I almost hate to say this but I am almost relieved that my honey passed away before all of this shit started hitting the fan. Along with trying to keep him somewhat healthy along with being a caregiver I just cannot fathom having to navigate this new disaster. I miss him with all of my heart and loved him dearly. Thank goodness he is at peace and not alive and sick to have to deal with all this shit.

[radical noodle]

136. I'm on Medicare

so it didn't affect me in any way except giving me additional benefits (like free preventive care).

My daughter was unemployed but lived in Indiana and couldn't buy through the ACA with subsidies because she didn't earn enough money, but for someone with a low income in one of those states, the premiums were higher because... well... no Medicaid was available.

She was working as a teacher's aide when ACA first went into effect and the school dropped all teachers' aides back to 29 hours a week. She was already making almost nothing and it really hurt her to lose those hours.

She now has a teaching position as an inclusion teacher and has pretty good insurance through the school and/or ISTA.

[kimbutgar]

140. Obamacare saved my best friends life

She has a pre existing condition and for awhile had no healthcare. She finally got insurance and she was able to get affordable Meds for her condition.

[SHRED]

143. We are in Covered California since 2014

The first year was the best.
Since then costs of premiums, copays, and what is covered has worsened considerably.

I support my State's effort at single payer.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/104016190

.

[Johnny2X2X]

144. Was really good for me

My company's health insurance didn't change a whole lot for several years. Slightly higher premiums, slightly higher deductibles, but nothing drastic.

My girlfriend at the time (later became my wife) purchased a plan through the exchanges and was able to see a doctor for some issues she had neglected to get taken care of for years. Her experience was really good.

The one thing that could have been improved (and maybe it has) is a more clear and concise explanation of the differences between each plan. You really had to read into the plans to decide which one was worth it. She had a choice between paying zero after the subsidy and paying $23 a month after the subsidy, and both plans appeared the same in their basic descriptions. It wasn't until you really read the details that you saw the big difference was in the providers who would accept each plan. She paid the $23 and got a really good plan.

Also, my sister in law's family is on ObamaCare and it's saved them $tens of thousands after the husband had a heart attack. If not for ObamaCare they'd have filed for bankruptcy.

It's been a huge improvement to the nation's health care system, most of the country benefited in one way or another.

[unitedwethrive]

149. Loved Obamacare! Where to start...

Free birth control
No co-pay for cancer screenings
Kids staying on policy until 26

And the pre-existing condition clause cannot be overstated. Both my partner and I had previously (before ACA) avoided going to the doctor for trivial complaints or nagging conditions because we were afraid that we would get a diagnosis that would put us in a pre-existing condition category. So, it wasn't just a problem for those with past medical problems, but for everyone.

[treestar]

154. worked very well; much better than before

I can go to the doctor with copays and not having to meet the deducible. I don't know about a big problem, but the doctor visits are preventive type care - checking blood sugar and blood pressure and treating for high blood pressure.

The premium share was good though it doubled this year; I don't know how that happened; but don't know if the ACA is the problem or just the market. Still better than the way it was before.

[OKNancy]

157. Saved my husband's life and kept us from losing everything

I'm a few years older than my husband, and on Medicare now.
Last year in May, we started the process of getting a diagnosis for my husband.
Results: He had Stage IV cancer at the base of his tongue.
From May to the end of the year, Blue Cross paid $220,000.
We had out of pocked expenses of 9,000.

Now that's a lot, but we had a cheap bronze plan. We had a subsidy so it cost us about 150.00 a month in premiums.
We were able to pay the $9,000 by raiding our IRA and help from my Mom. He was out of work for 5 months too.
Radiation and Chemo...... so we were actually out a lot more than $9,000.

We had excellent doctors and services here in Tulsa. His last scan said "resolved" He doesn't go back for a checkup until August.

----
Now, this year our premiums went way up. About $960.00 per month! But oddly, or subsidy is more, so we pay nothing.
He will turn 65 in November so we consider ourselves very fortunate.

I do feel really bad for others not as lucky.

[Cicada]

159. Saved my wife's life

We could not afford healthcare. With Obamacare my wife's doctor made her take a screening test, found cancer, cured it with just radiation and surgery. He says the chance that cancer will kill her is now less than one percent.

Thanks Obama. From the deepest deepest part of my heart.

[cemaphonic]

160. Not much difference in terms of personal finance

Employer health plan and we're still relatively young and healthy, so other than less worry about stuff like pre-existing conditions and lifetime caps it hasn't made much difference.

Where it has made a difference in our lives is that my wife has a job with a nonprofit that works to get healthcare to under-served communities like immigrants and homeless people, as well as the working poor. She takes a lot of pride in working for an organization like that, and although her job has long hours and heavy responsibility, it's not nearly the stress bucket that her old job was. Obamacare isn't the only piece of the funding puzzle that makes their work possible, but it's a big one, and losing it would force them to scale back the work they are able to do.

[superpatriotman]

163. This should be a poll

It was good for me and Mrs. Superpatriotman.

[lillypaddle]

166. I'm on Medicare

but Obamacare has caused the donut hole for prescription drugs to shrink, which is a VERY good thing. Don't know how swampcare affects it.