Obamacare/Trumpcare Horror Stories

[fan_since79]

The stories I'm reading have a common thread, that the you-know-what is going to hit the fan in 2017, with huge premium increases that will break the backs of many middle-class families. My brother is a school teacher and is already paying almost $15,000 a year in health insurance for his family, with high deductibles and lousy co-pays. The only thing saving him is he was able to refinance his mortgage a couple times, but things are still very tight.

If Trump wins and the Congress remains as it is, I can see the whole thing being repealed. Of course, the question is what will replace it, and how much chaos will result during the transition. Nobody has really addressed the main problem, which is the absurdly escalating cost of health services.

[Blarg]

My brother had a run of unemployment and was cash strapped so he signed up for Obamacare. Late in the year he picks up a consulting job, just enough income to hold off the wolves but come tax time almost all of his Obamacare subsidy was considered void and he had to take out a loan to pay off what he owed, fines and interest.

So be really carefull if you think you qualify for subsidized medical because the cutoffs are sharp and there are no notifications that you are not in compliance. Affordable? No, it is a trap for the lower middle class all the way.

Edited March 31, 2016 by notti

[Adam]

Notti, you fail to see the progress here. Now, perfectly healthy 27 year old professionals making $60K/year, who previously chose to not purchase health insurance, are covered. 

[Spirit]

The CBO now says ObamaCare will cost $136B more and cover fewer people than originally thought.  

 

 

 

 

 

Excellent Article Here.

[Adam]

Excellent

[NJHalo]

The stories I'm reading have a common thread, that the you-know-what is going to hit the fan in 2017, with huge premium increases that will break the backs of many middle-class families. My brother is a school teacher and is already paying almost $15,000 a year in health insurance for his family, with high deductibles and lousy co-pays. The only thing saving him is he was able to refinance his mortgage a couple times, but things are still very tight.

If Trump wins and the Congress remains as it is, I can see the whole thing being repealed. Of course, the question is what will replace it, and how much chaos will result during the transition. Nobody has really addressed the main problem, which is the absurdly escalating cost of health services.

 

For this reason alone, Trump is getting my vote. It is the single most important issue affecting me and my family

[ten ocho recon scout]

FWIW, talked to a buddy at the gym yesterday. He had dropped out of med school to try other things (both his parents are doctors. He went that route because they wanted him to but he wasnt really into it). Anyway, now hes back and going PA route.

Anyway, he said nurses arent doing very well anymore. Kind of suprised me because ive dates several nurses and they all seem to do pretty decent. But he said with the new obamacare stuff, hospitals arent getting paid as much (not sure how to explain it because i dont know the specifics), and its trickled donw to nurses.

Just something to think about to add to the debate

[Lou]

I feel so terrible for insurance companies. Without their charity we'd all be in such peril. We are all truly indebted to them.

But then again, if it wasn't their main objective to fûck people over to save every penny they could then there wouldn't be any need for 50% of the lawyers out there.

I'm so conflicted.

If it weren't for attorneys, insurance companies wouldn't be getting sued by everyone involved in a fender bender, or who slips in a store, or is sued for serving coffee that is too hot....

[HaloMagic]

FWIW, talked to a buddy at the gym yesterday. He had dropped out of med school to try other things (both his parents are doctors. He went that route because they wanted him to but he wasnt really into it). Anyway, now hes back and going PA route.

Anyway, he said nurses arent doing very well anymore. Kind of suprised me because ive dates several nurses and they all seem to do pretty decent. But he said with the new obamacare stuff, hospitals arent getting paid as much (not sure how to explain it because i dont know the specifics), and its trickled donw to nurses.

Just something to think about to add to the debate

So the pharma companies are using all their money to pay for research on these advanced treatments, insurances companies have super low profit margins, and now hospitals aren't making any money either?

There's a shit-ton of money that must be disappearing out of our system somewhere. Maybe we should check Panama.

Edited April 13, 2016 by HaloMagic

[arch stanton]

I'd shed some tears for all those groups but I'm afraid to get dehydrated and have to use my insurance.

[ABC]

If it weren't for attorneys, insurance companies wouldn't be getting sued by everyone involved in a fender bender, or who slips in a store, or is sued for serving coffee that is too hot....

 

While there are frivolous car and supermarket suits, many aren't. If you're referencing the McD coffee incident, that was legit.

[NJHalo]

FWIW, talked to a buddy at the gym yesterday. He had dropped out of med school to try other things (both his parents are doctors. He went that route because they wanted him to but he wasnt really into it). Anyway, now hes back and going PA route.

Anyway, he said nurses arent doing very well anymore. Kind of suprised me because ive dates several nurses and they all seem to do pretty decent. But he said with the new obamacare stuff, hospitals arent getting paid as much (not sure how to explain it because i dont know the specifics), and its trickled donw to nurses.

Just something to think about to add to the debate

Doctors are always looking for additional ways to make money for the practice by offering ancillary services and selling products. A friend of mine who does sales for a cheek swab genetic test always says " if you are a doctor and are not already rich, you never will be" .

[Lou]

One thing that is occurring is the closure of rural hospitals

[ten ocho recon scout]

One thing that is occurring is the closure of rural hospitals

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doc_Hollywood

[Jay]

Obamacare is really going to screw the working poor who can't afford it this year. $975 penalty for anyone making more than 10k.  

 

Actually it's $325 per adult and $162.50 per child in 2015, to a maximum of $975.  Way cheaper than buying a plan.

 

Goes up this year though, to $695 and $347.50, to a maximum of $2085.

 

Also if you're only making $10k you're probably exempt from the penalty because coverage costs more than 8% of your income.

 

You can also avoid the penalty by claiming that your religion objects to the use of insurance.

 

https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/health/how-much-is-the-obamacare-penalty-not-having-health-insurance/

[Blarg]

It makes perfect sense to fine people who can't afford a government program.

 

Perfect sense, if you are a politician.

 

Or a Dictatorship.

[Make Angels Great Again]

Yeah the fine is stupid as hell, it exists only to force people's hand so Obama can pad his "x many people have insurance now" numbers.

[Jay]

It makes perfect sense to fine people who can't afford a government program.

 

Those people can't afford the fine either.  As my grandmother used to say,  you can't get blood from a turnip.

[Blarg]

Yeah the fine is stupid as hell, it exists only to force people's hand so Obama can pad his "x many people have insurance now" numbers.

 

It's to subsidize Obamacare for all of those healthy 20 years olds that wouldn't pay for something they don't feel they need and probably don't.

 

Hey Kids, welcome to Socialism, you pay for what you don't need or get fined. It's a wonderful life of choices, made by someone else.

[nate]

Progress!

[Make Angels Great Again]

Everyone needs healthcare, no matter your age. Obamacare just goes about it the wrong way.

 

If that 20 year old tears his Achilles or something and doesn't have any insurance i'm pretty sure he's ****ed.

[Blarg]

If a 20 year lives to his 30's without incident he has wasted a college education worth of money on nothing. I guess you choose your own fate sometimes or it is directed by force. The later is not exactly the definition of liberty.

[Blarg]

There is an old saying you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink.

 

The socialist philosophy is to drown the non compliant horse.

[ABC]

Those people can't afford the fine either.  As my grandmother used to say,  you can't get blood from a turnip.

 

One day that person may get a j-o-b and have a tax return that gets offeset. The only way to escape is too die...even then...

[Blarg]

And yet people think Socialism is great.