I had a savings account--Upon diagnosis with cancer I watched my premiums go from 18000 for a ppo family of four to 38000 in the space of 4 years. IF ACA hadn't passed we would have had a premium of 42000 plus a 5000 deductible because I couldn't change plans--I had a preexisting condidtion even though by then I was 4 years cancerfree. We are fine financially but that increase hurt. I wasn't ready to pay that much. Who is? It was like buying a car, a nice car, every year. I know it didn't work for everyone but it is a step in the right direction for all of us. I have debts I am paying off and I needed childcare while going through treatment, and growing kids needed clothes and we had all the normal bills to pay all while my insurance rates went through the roof. They upped it four times in two years. I am breathing easier now. My heart goes out to my friends who have lost so much. I am grateful to be alive and to have healthy kids and to have insurance. Anyone who complains about obamacare --without it you were one doctor visit away from a preezisting condition.
People who are healthy don't realize that there are folks that lose their homes, their heat in the winter, their food over paying the doc bills. Some of the people in the article are still realing from before aca plans existed because they didn't wipe out debt and they have only been in place for 2 years.
People who are healthy don't realize that there are folks that lose their homes, their heat in the winter, their food over paying the doc bills. Some of the people in the article are still realing from before aca plans existed because they didn't wipe out debt and they have only been in place for 2 years.
3
I am Australian and my husband is Canadian and my heart lurches as I read these people's stories.
My 2016 New Year's wish for the people of America is that the next government can finish what Mr. Obama tried valiantly to start and that a public healthcare system will start to adjust some of the inequalities that will leave a sick person in the gutter.
I know it makes us sound smug, possibly condensing and of course many US patriots don't like to hear that stuff is being done better elsewhere...but these kind of anecdotes listed here don't exist in other developed countries. Yes, we wait, yes - we may not get a second opinion and yes, sometimes the doctor we have is not the doctor we want....BUT: we don't lose our houses to medical bills, pharmaceuticals are reasonable or free and nobody has to get a divorce to survive the system.
My 2016 New Year's wish for the people of America is that the next government can finish what Mr. Obama tried valiantly to start and that a public healthcare system will start to adjust some of the inequalities that will leave a sick person in the gutter.
I know it makes us sound smug, possibly condensing and of course many US patriots don't like to hear that stuff is being done better elsewhere...but these kind of anecdotes listed here don't exist in other developed countries. Yes, we wait, yes - we may not get a second opinion and yes, sometimes the doctor we have is not the doctor we want....BUT: we don't lose our houses to medical bills, pharmaceuticals are reasonable or free and nobody has to get a divorce to survive the system.
4
When I was sick and couldn't work, I spent all my savings and retirement plan. We need single payer healthcare and universal basic income.
7
My 32 yr. old daughter is healthy (THANK G-D!) and currently paying $7,200./year for her health care and still having to pay ridiculous deductibles on top of that for her absurdly overpriced care.
If she drops her health care and pays a $2000. fine instead, alongside of out-of-pocket medical expenses of $1,000. for routine care, she will have $4,200. left over to invest for her own future, amounting to $42,000. or more in ten years.
A no brainer I would say. It took me awhile, but I am beginning to understand why they call it Obamacare. It’s because the President makes you pay for the medical care of other people.
If she drops her health care and pays a $2000. fine instead, alongside of out-of-pocket medical expenses of $1,000. for routine care, she will have $4,200. left over to invest for her own future, amounting to $42,000. or more in ten years.
A no brainer I would say. It took me awhile, but I am beginning to understand why they call it Obamacare. It’s because the President makes you pay for the medical care of other people.
3
anyone with insurance has always paid for the uninsured. That is why premiums were so high before . I am writing more below.
2
The doctors in our network were told that the medical company who oversaw lab work for their patients was "in network" . As a result, patients were told that their VERY expensive blood and urine tests would be covered in network.
As a "convenience", patients did not even have to leave their doctors' offices or go to special labs to get tests done. They were, again "conveniently", completed IN the doctors' offices, making it easy for patients to assume such tests were done in network ( since the doctors were in network).
Many patients did not foresee- nor were they informed- that their urine specimens and blood work itself would be shipped out of state for testing!
We were among those patients.,When we got the bills, we discovered the blood and urine tests were NOT considered in network and I gasped when I saw the thousands we owed. We had budgeted for the low in network costs. We had no savings for the thousands in extra costs.
The kicker? The doctors were as surprised as us because the company had informed THEM that they were "in network" labs. After the billing departments in the doctors' offices and the medical testing company "conferred" with each other an "agreement" was reached.
Now , well over a year later, we're waiting to see how much we really owe. As are many others.
As a "convenience", patients did not even have to leave their doctors' offices or go to special labs to get tests done. They were, again "conveniently", completed IN the doctors' offices, making it easy for patients to assume such tests were done in network ( since the doctors were in network).
Many patients did not foresee- nor were they informed- that their urine specimens and blood work itself would be shipped out of state for testing!
We were among those patients.,When we got the bills, we discovered the blood and urine tests were NOT considered in network and I gasped when I saw the thousands we owed. We had budgeted for the low in network costs. We had no savings for the thousands in extra costs.
The kicker? The doctors were as surprised as us because the company had informed THEM that they were "in network" labs. After the billing departments in the doctors' offices and the medical testing company "conferred" with each other an "agreement" was reached.
Now , well over a year later, we're waiting to see how much we really owe. As are many others.
4
These stories are shocking to me as a Canadian.
My teenager has picked up a string of infections and injuries in the last few months, and has been to the doctor six times since September. If we had to contemplate paying for each visit, we would have reconsidered them, and spent (wasted) a lot of money and time on over the counter remedies (which were not what was needed).
When I was pregnant, an American friend asked how often I was allowed to see my doctor. Answer - whenever the doctor wants to see me. Isn't that how it should be?
My teenager has picked up a string of infections and injuries in the last few months, and has been to the doctor six times since September. If we had to contemplate paying for each visit, we would have reconsidered them, and spent (wasted) a lot of money and time on over the counter remedies (which were not what was needed).
When I was pregnant, an American friend asked how often I was allowed to see my doctor. Answer - whenever the doctor wants to see me. Isn't that how it should be?
9
And none of these anecdotes are a surprise. When you have a group of elites--including most members of the supreme court--who have decided that an inelastic social good such as healthcare actually plays by the same rules as an ordinary commodity (like broccoli), this is what you get: a social crisis that seems like it can be solved with more and better capitalism. (Remember when the president pitched the ACA as the "Kayak.com" of healthcare? What an embarrassing moment in a largely decent presidency).
I will never stop saying this: the fraudulent health insurance industry is America's most immoral feature. They should have been shut down yesterday. And I don't care about your economic realpolitik--the first charge of government is to protect its citizenry. You're dying, your kids are dying, your neighbors are dying, and they're delaying payment, taking money that they will never use to help you, and burying your body in fine print.
I urge everyone--right, left, or center--to inundate your representatives with calls and email demanding the dissolution of these companies. You can remind these politicians that their first and most sacred duty is "to promote the general welfare."
I will never stop saying this: the fraudulent health insurance industry is America's most immoral feature. They should have been shut down yesterday. And I don't care about your economic realpolitik--the first charge of government is to protect its citizenry. You're dying, your kids are dying, your neighbors are dying, and they're delaying payment, taking money that they will never use to help you, and burying your body in fine print.
I urge everyone--right, left, or center--to inundate your representatives with calls and email demanding the dissolution of these companies. You can remind these politicians that their first and most sacred duty is "to promote the general welfare."
16
Insurance companies are for profit ventures--if you look at the salaries their execs take home. Our reps have great health insurance paid for by our taxes.
1
Would it help if we voted for Bernie Sanders, who wants a single-payer system?
13
Are you serious? Of course it would help. Get rid of the blood-sucking insurance companies who are not in the business of healthcare to benefit your health and well-being. Their sole motive is profit.
10
I fell off my bike during one bout. Fortunately I was wearing my bike helmet. It was cracked and I deduced from later symptoms that I had a concussion. It took me four months to recover. I was scraped up and badly bruised. Even though I had insurance I didn't dare go to an ER or a doctor. I didn't think I could afford the charges.
I decided that if I should contract cancer or any other condition I will opt for palliative care or commit suicide when death comes close and I can't afford pain killers or care. The truth is that our health and well being are not important in America. We get the best health care wealth can buy. We have a wealthcare system, not a healthcare system.