how will the insurance bill help people like me?

[mrs_p]

we make less than $20K a year but pay $15K a year for my husband's health insurance (he has a pre-existing condition). if it wasn't for his family (who helps us with the payments) he would be uninsured and possibly even dead today. please tell me how this bill will help us -- from what i've read, sure they can't deny him insurance, but the premiums will just continue to skyrocket.

[MercutioATC]

1. Until 2014, not at all.

After that, your premiums would almost definitely go down. How much is anybody's guess, but there's probably be a reduction.

[napi21]

2. Obama said the other day that there will be a high risk pool to help folks like you

until 2014. He didn't give specifics, but that soulds like what you need. Stay tuned to more info.

[TiberiusGracchus]

11. Exactly right, the bill will benefit NOONE until 2014. But we start paying for it ASAP!

But hey... IT'S BETTER THAN NOTHING!

[Hello_Kitty]

3. You might become eligible for Medicaid. eom

[mrs_p]

4. we'll look into that for sure. nt

[Warpy]

5. We have no idea because the final bill hasn't been written

House and Senate have to reconcile their differences.

Supposedly, there will be a high risk pool starting immediately for those of us with hideous medical conditions. While I'll believe it when I see it, at least it's a baby step in the right direction.

Eventually there will have to be a Medicare buy in available for people who are so sick they have either exhausted their benefits or simply can no longer afford private insurance.

The only question is how long it will take to get it through a Congress stuffed to the rafters with conservatives in both parties.

The best outcome for this whole mess is if people see that conservatives are always the problem and can never be part of any solution and vote the bastards out of office.

[eridani]

6. Medicaid expansion would help you.

However, it does NOT need to be tied to a shitty mandatory insuranc bill--Congress could get this done by revisiting the initial legislation.

[subterranean]

7. After 2014, you'll get significant subsidies

so you'll be paying a lot less than $15K a year.
For the next four years, though, I'm afraid you'll be stuck paying for the outrageously expensive insurance you have now. Your situation would be inconceivable in any country but the U.S.

[sandnsea]

8. There will be an immediate pool for pre-existings

I have no idea how it's going to be administered though. But with subsidies and/or Medicaid expansion, you'll definitely get some help soon. Think how much better off you'd be if we'd passed this bill back in 1993.

I have subsidies in Oregon for the pre-existing insurance pool, hubby and I pay $60 a month. We have a $500 deductible or we could pay even less.

[blues90]

9. I hear you , it is a sick and perverted system .

How people allowed these monsterous HMO's to crawl out of the bowels of the earth in the first place is beyond me.

People are just a number these days not a person and become a statistic.

Each year that I had an HMO the premium went up and the co pay went up and the care went down. Now people are supposed to hang on until 2014 , hang onto what , hope? Jesus what a sick twisted thing this really is.

[rwheeler31]

10. Take a math class no one can live on 5 thousand a year.

This is so ridiculous.

[tonysam]

13. That isn't what the OP says.

They get help from the family in making the payments.

[mrs_p]

14. i'm a grad student, he is a seasonal biologist

the family pays most of the $15K bill (for which we are very eternally thankful). we take out loans for my education. believable enough?

[luckyleftyme2]

17. how out of touch wheeler is

not only is it possible their are millions doing it. they have subsidies or family help!
I n our town in Maine their are well over a thousand living on less than 5,000!
perhaps you should get off ur duff and find out if you can help a poor soul in your area!

[treestar]

12. This

http://healthreform.kff.org/SubsidyCalculator.aspx

It sounds like medicaid would apply

[mrs_p]

15. that is so cool

thanks!

[My Good Babushka]

16. If you make up to about 29,000 a year

I think you can get Medicaid! And we can, too! Yay!

[SoCalDem]

18. He has to either go without ANY coverage for 6 months

or wait until 2014, and hope there's still a carrot on the end of the stick :(