Why Insurance Exchange is the most important part of the public plan

[Lorax7844]

I was talking to a friend today about healthcare reform and I informed her that as things stand right now the congress seems to be locking her into her pricey work insurance. Her response, "But I don't want my work insurance, i want a cheap public option." I said, "We all do, but that's not what seems to be happening." Her response, "then Obama lied about getting a choice."

While my friend is VERY politically savvy, she doesn't have time to keep up with the ins and outs of this issue. She was mad about this and so am I. Kathleen Sellibus was on the Daily Show recently and didn't do much to quell my fears on this. In fact, re-iterated that employers would choose to insure their workers or pay a fine. This is complete BS.

I don't know if you guys have been calling your congress critters or not, but if you actually want healthcare reform individuals MUST HAVE the choice, not employers. Please, please, please call and tell them that you are watching them and you know that this is a vital piece of the reform puzzle.

The capital hill switchboard is 202 224 3121, call them especially if Max Baucus is your Senator.

Edited to change "everyday politics" to "this issue." That wording better reflects the savviness of my friend, who would bitch at me for making the mistake in the first place.

[babylonsister]

1. Your politically savvy friend isn't so much?

That's cute. I wish I knew what the real deal was. It's presented by the most honest and educated person on the topic, and that would be the President. Imagine that!

And I think he's anti-coop.

Here's one opinion, but there are a lot of others:

[Lorax7844]

2. What do you mean? My friend was a 10%er as was I

one of the few people in the country that wasn't insane after 9/11. She works in the mortgage industry and told me that the market would go to shit 2 years before it happened. She is understandably very busy these days. She reads Salon and the nation, quite listening to NPR cause they got too conservative, and watches Keith, Rachel, and the Daily Show every night, I think that makes her pretty damn savvy and ahead of the curb when it comes to most Americans. So what if she hasn't gotten to go into the nitty gritty on this one issue? I work, but have way more free time than she does and it is my main issue. Also the majority of people here don't know that congress is trying to fuck us over on this one.

Why insult my friend?

[Lorax7844]

3. ok she doesn't have time to keep up with the ins and outs of THIS issue

[Lorax7844]

7. This is still a very important part of real reform

This post does a good job of explaining why, since I obviously have failed at doing so:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8538863

[sandnsea]

4. It depends

If your friend has an employer, then she has to stay with their plan unless the premium is over 12% of her income. Then she can go to the insurance pool.

Everybody else, including workers in companies with less than 25 employees who aren't provided insurance, can get the public option.

I actually think that phasing it in is probably a better way to go, so the system isn't overwhelmed before it gets a chance to get going.

[lumberjack_jeff]

16. +1 n/t

[FrenchieCat]

5. Gee, you guys have insurance and employer benefits that pay for

large part of such. Imagine that! How terrible...considering the millions with nothing, and those like me who pay both employer and employee portion, meaning we pay through the nose! Try paying $14,400.00 per year not including having to pay $75.00 for each visit. And You guys are mad. Now ain't that something!

[Lorax7844]

6. Hey, I'm uninsured and spent almost 3 grand for a shot of pain killer and less

than an hour in the ER and that's still less than we would be paying. My hubby's work insurance, if forced to take that just because it's offered, would cost $600+ a month with a $5000.00 deductible and it would not cover my pre-existing condition. So I'd still be screwed. Her HC is sucky and she would like the choice.

Giving individuals the choice to pick their insurance is what we were promised.

[FrenchieCat]

10. Insurance costs will be going down quite quickly,

as will prescription drugs....in addition, pre-existing conditions will be outlawed as a negotiating barrier (no more insuree cherry picking)....nor will they be able to price you out of the market.

Here's some listening for you and your friend if you two have 18 minutes to spare!
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/video/share.html?s=news01n2ccbqa7a

[Lorax7844]

12. watching now Frenchie :)

[harun]

14. Exactly, having insurance just means you need to battle on the phone with someone

for months to try and get them to pay for anything.

[lumberjack_jeff]

17. Jesus, it's like people can't read.

a) Reform has to start somewhere. In this case, it makes more sense to start with the uninsured and the ones who truly can't afford to buy coverage.
b) employers must offer insurance, they must pay something like 65% of the family cost and it must meet minimum standards. Ron Wyden has offered an amendment which would make employers offer vouchers for this 65% to anyone who would prefer to buy insurance from the exchange.
c) exclusions for pre existing conditions are no longer permissible. If, during the transition from your husband's current insurance to the new compliant one, they won't accept you, as an uninsured person, you can get insurance from the exchange.
d) you seem to be saying that you don't need insurance because you can afford a painkiller and an hour in the ER. Surely you can see the flaw in this.

[Uben]

8. I'd take your plan!

Hell, I pay $18K/yr for a $5K deductible and 50% of the next $10K. It's a private policy and since the wife had cancer 7 yrs ago, our premiums have tripled. So, if we have a major illness, we will be out $28K out of pocket. That sucks big time! We can't get insurance anywhere else because of the pre-existing condition, even though it's been 7 yrs. We have considered putting the $18K in a savings account for future medical use, but if she had a reoccurrence it would probably bankrupt us. There has to be a public option, no ifs, ands, or buts. If our leaders can't get it done, they better start looking for another job!

[Lorax7844]

9. 'that sux, but if there is no insurance exchange

you will be forced to keep your shitty insurance, unless you are paying more than 12% of your AGI, in which case you may be allowed to opt in. If we get a public option and if they keep the 12%.

Magic word is IF. Either way call your reps everyday and bitch! :fistbump:

[Uben]

15. Believe me, $18K is more than 12% of my AGI

It's more like 25%!

[sandnsea]

20. And you'll still get a subsidy

So maybe you would be able to choose something from your own employer that pays more too.

[lumberjack_jeff]

19. Okay, now I'm beginning to understand the point of your post.

Because the insurance exchange doesn't offer coverage to people already insured by large workplaces, "there is no insurance exchange".

[FrenchieCat]

11. I have Kaiser. It ain't all that!

We also have limits....
A co-pay is not a deductible you know.

[Lorax7844]

13. I like that Obama agrees

"ny plan I sign must include an insurance exchange: a one-stop shopping marketplace where you can compare the benefits, cost and track records of a variety of plans - including a public option to increase competition and keep insurance companies honest - and choose what's best for your family."

You heard the man, now start/keep calling.

[lumberjack_jeff]

18. Exactly right. The purists should be forced to read this before posting on the topic. n/t