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Is the AHCA perfect? No. But it sure beats the alternative of having a large portion of the population running around with no insurance, and yet expecting that their medical conditions will be addressed with the same certainty as those who pay for that protection. That model is simply unworkable--not to mention grossly inequitable.
My local Congressman is constantly betching about the AHCA, and yet, he and his party never made a proposal which broadly addressed the needs of the great majority of people. His attitude of "I have mine; you figure it out for yourself" is simply untenable for a broad spectrum of people.
Over time the AHCA will hopefully be adjusted and fine tuned such that it provides the greatest degree of medical insurance for the most reasonable cost to the greatest number of people. Having a plan is a tremendous beginning; if we all work to improve that plan rather than moaning about our "free" health care having been abolished we will end up with a more equitable health care plan and a healthier population.
There is NO free lunch. That seems to really anger folks who have been free-riding for many years. Its over folks; time to deal with reality.
Look at the Tri-Cities - most of the jobs that are there are low wage, no benefit jobs that don't offer insurance. You have a subsidy. Great. I was making less than $12/hr back there, and the $140 roughly that I was paying for the bronze plan was a real budget stretcher at the wage.
Look at the Tri-Cities - most of the jobs that are there are low wage, no benefit jobs that don't offer insurance. You have a subsidy. Great. I was making less than $12/hr back there, and the $140 roughly that I was paying for the bronze plan was a real budget stretcher at the wage.
At that point isn't it more efficent to pay for the penalty (if we are talking about 2014) at that point?
At that point isn't it more efficent to pay for the penalty (if we are talking about 2014) at that point?
It would be, but what if you do get sick? You're royally screwed.
I had pneumonia last April and had a Humana plan at $100/month. I was out $600 between the office visit and the meds. The bronze plan was about equal to the Humana plan I had. I had insurance, but it was essentially catastrophic coverage. Paying $600 for a bronchitis visit is awful when you're making a little less than $12/hr.
I had pneumonia again this spring, but with better insurance and making $25/hr. I was out a grand total of $46.
Take a hypothetical situation. A 55 year old man is living in Los Angeles or San Francisco, he is able to earn $60,000/yr. works for a small company that does not offer health. He makes way too much money (over 400% of the poverty level) to qualify for any discount but $60k/yr is not a whole lot of money in LA. I see that even the Bronze plan is in the neighborhood of $450/month, is someone who makes $60k/yr mandated to spend $450/mo. on health insurance? The alternative is to pay the penalty but that's $1500 with nothing to show for it.
And with health insurance increasing at a rate of 10-15% annually what is going to happen in 5-10 years?
This idea sucks! The whole idea was cost control of health care and insurance and that is clearly not happening. The insurance is still ridiculously expensive.. and those that earn over $45k are required to buy it themselves and those under well, the taxpayer will cover it. LOL! What was expected is that insurance and health care become *AFFORDABLE* not subsidize and mandate purchase of ridiculously expensive and overpriced products and services.
Mandating someone who makes $60k in a super high cost area to buy $6000 worth of insurance yearly is asinine. As it is people can't get by or save for the future with escalating costs and stagnating wages... is this ridiculous requirement even feasible long term?
Even the employer mandate is a joke... employers are simply required to provide health insurance, not *affordable* health insurance. Yes, they can provide the same $450/mo. policy with employee paying 100%, what does that solve?
What kind of company pays a person $60k without healthcare?
In my entire adult life, I have never even applied for a job that didn't have healthcare included in the compensation package.
I get that for minimum wage jobs and freelance type jobs they don't have healthcare, but people in standard office jobs have it and I have seen no change in my healthcare or any of my friends' healthcare since the implementation of Obamacare...but I have seen several people who didn't have healthcare finally get a chance to see a doctor as a result of it.
FWIW I never once cast a vote for Obama in any election and am a registered Republican who votes for Libertarian candidates, and I was not really a supporter or opponent of Obamacare.
What kind of company pays a person $60k without healthcare?
In my entire adult life, I have never even applied for a job that didn't have healthcare included in the compensation package.
I get that for minimum wage jobs and freelance type jobs they don't have healthcare, but people in standard office jobs have it and I have seen no change in my healthcare or any of my friends' healthcare since the implementation of Obamacare...but I have seen several people who didn't have healthcare finally get a chance to see a doctor as a result of it.
FWIW I never once cast a vote for Obama in any election and am a registered Republican who votes for Libertarian candidates, and I was not really a supporter or opponent of Obamacare.
It is very common in IT to be a W-2 no benefit contractor working through a staffing agency in an office for a $60k wage.
What kind of company pays a person $60k without healthcare?
In my entire adult life, I have never even applied for a job that didn't have healthcare included in the compensation package.
I get that for minimum wage jobs and freelance type jobs they don't have healthcare, but people in standard office jobs have it and I have seen no change in my healthcare or any of my friends' healthcare since the implementation of Obamacare...but I have seen several people who didn't have healthcare finally get a chance to see a doctor as a result of it.
FWIW I never once cast a vote for Obama in any election and am a registered Republican who votes for Libertarian candidates, and I was not really a supporter or opponent of Obamacare.
??? In my entire adult life, I have never even applied for a job that did have healthcare included in the (so-called) compensation package.
It was, in fact, a selling point of it. And, if you want.. Quotes direct from Obama regarding that, including the infamous "If you like your health plan..." which has nothing to do with cost, but..
But.. Regardless of that. I disagree with it because it's BS.. It's junk. It's a half-assed compromise that just sucks. Take your pick.. Either leave things alone or pull the trigger and go socialized medicine. I'm one of the minority of republican-ish leaning people who don't have a problem with a single-payer system.. So long as the government is kept the hell out of it. How you accomplish that, I don't necessarily know, but..
I certainly don't want politicians deciding what treatments are available.. Cover conventional therapies.. Supplemental insurance available for experimental treatments or other things that might not be covered Birth control, for example.. And the reason I say that is because there's no way in hell you're passing a law in this country that allows birth control to be handed out like that.. Not because I'm opposed to it. I'm just a realist in knowing that it won't happen. So, compromise.. Out that goes. Same with abortion. It's fine, it's legal, but it's not covered in this mystical system. Supplemental for long-term care, such as nursing home care.
Payment.. Payroll deduction.. If you're unemployed.. It comes out of your unemployment. If you're on disability, it comes out of your disability payment. If you're on welfare, it comes out of welfare. Social Security.. You pay as well. Obviously.. Those people would pay a lower percentage than those who are working, but.. Everyone pays in. Someone with 6 kids pays a higher rate than someone without kids.
Then the problem just becomes.. How to kick the politicians/politics out of the decisions so far as what is covered. And keep the politicians out of it.
It would be, but what if you do get sick? You're royally screwed.
I had pneumonia last April and had a Humana plan at $100/month. I was out $600 between the office visit and the meds. The bronze plan was about equal to the Humana plan I had. I had insurance, but it was essentially catastrophic coverage. Paying $600 for a bronchitis visit is awful when you're making a little less than $12/hr.
I had pneumonia again this spring, but with better insurance and making $25/hr. I was out a grand total of $46.
In the other side of the coin, if you don't get sick at all you get screwed paying the premiums and detestable. You can't win either way unless you get sick while on insurance.
Yep. By design, it is already doing so. You *can't* keep the plan you like, and you will discover the new government "plan" will be inferior. There is no free lunch.
In the other side of the coin, if you don't get sick at all you get screwed paying the premiums and detestable. You can't win either way unless you get sick while on insurance.
That's the definition of insurance. I've paid home owners insurance for 10 years.. Never a claim. Paid car insurance for 25 years.. 1 claim (And that was a windshield)..
Yes, health insurance is more expensive than other insurances.. But.. Health insurance certainly isn't unique in that you don't win until you use it. And, rarely do you 'win' even if you use it.
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