Add Me to the List of People Who Feel Screwed By Obamacare (salary, healthcare)

[txdave35]

I am a government employee and although the salary sucks, I've stayed here because of the benefits including excellent healthcare coverage at $94 a month for myself.

I found out today that major changes were made to our plan in 2014 to compily with Obamacare. While I get to keep the same premium. I noticed these changes:


Current copay:

$25 for family doc
$35 for specialist


2014 rate:

$35 for family doc
$70 for specialist


Current testing:

X-rays - no charge
MRI and cat scans - no charge


2014

X-rays - I pay 20%
MRI and cat scans - I pay $250 bucks plus 20%


Deductible

Current - $1500
New - $2500


I realize that I'm still a lot better off than most people, but it still pisses me off that Obama promised that we could keep our current coverage and it wouldn't cost us more. I just had a cat scan done last week. 3 minute test, and the doctor only came in to tell me that the test was clear. I would feel ripped off paying hundreds of dollars for such a simple test. I'm sure the clinic will charge $1000 bucks or more though.

Obamacare does nothing to address the real problem. The unrealistic healthcare costs which are inflated to get more money out of the insurance companies. There is a lot of profit being made at our expense!

The teachers get it the worst. The monthly premium to cover a teacher and family is $1500 a month. Who in the world can afford that on a teacher's salary?

[Bulldogdad]

"Screwed By Obamacare"

interesting potential sticky topic in the next few months. LOL

[Kamsack]

Txdave

I am federal....are you state and federal. For BCBS there wasnt a whole lot of changes for the standard option, I bit more for basic. But changes to deductibles and other fees do change year to year over the years (though not by much) but we still get to keep the federal BCBS.

Where I live I checked the Minnesota state exchange via MNsure, and for the gold coverage there was some higher deductibles and co-pay but nothing hugely different.

[Chimuelojones]

Originally Posted by txdave35

I am a government employee and although the salary sucks, I've stayed here because of the benefits including excellent healthcare coverage at $94 a month for myself.

I found out today that major changes were made to our plan in 2014 to compily with Obamacare. While I get to keep the same premium. I noticed these changes:


Current copay:

$25 for family doc
$35 for specialist


2014 rate:

$35 for family doc
$70 for specialist


Current testing:

X-rays - no charge
MRI and cat scans - no charge


2014

X-rays - I pay 20%
MRI and cat scans - I pay $250 bucks plus 20%


Deductible

Current - $1500
New - $2500


I realize that I'm still a lot better off than most people, but it still pisses me off that Obama promised that we could keep our current coverage and it wouldn't cost us more. I just had a cat scan done last week. 3 minute test, and the doctor only came in to tell me that the test was clear. I would feel ripped off paying hundreds of dollars for such a simple test. I'm sure the clinic will charge $1000 bucks or more though.

Obamacare does nothing to address the real problem. The unrealistic healthcare costs which are inflated to get more money out of the insurance companies. There is a lot of profit being made at our expense!

The teachers get it the worst. The monthly premium to cover a teacher and family is $1500 a month. Who in the world can afford that on a teacher's salary?

Im having trouble here. Of course any one person can't "hear" everything the president comments on...but I've been racking my small brain to remember Obama saying that one could keep their HCI provider and that the rates would remain the same.

I do recall him saying you will be able to keep your insurer and docs...ect; and I do remember him saying HC costs would be going down...

Did I miss when he conjoined the two statements?

[brentwoodgirl]

So texdave35, did you vote for Obama in 2012?

[illtaketwoplease]

It has been my contention for years that voters won't wake up until it actually hits them in the pocketbook. It has been 'extend and pretend' so long that they are running out of pixie dust.

I feel your pain and am in the same boat - only worse.

[ChristineVA]

I am also a federal employee and didn't notice much, although I will say that over the years, prior to the ACA, copay amounts and out of pocket expenses have gone up for various reasons.

Did your letter state that copay increases were directly attributable to the ACA? Or is that an assumption?

[Finn_Jarber]

I wouldn't be complaining if I had a plan like that. I have paid a heck of a lot more than that for a much worse plan for over 10 years.

[Kamsack]

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

I am also a federal employee and didn't notice much, although I will say that over the years, prior to the ACA, copay amounts and out of pocket expenses have gone up for various reasons.

Did your letter state that copay increases were directly attributable to the ACA? Or is that an assumption?

Yeah I agree.... there has been increases in co-pays and other fees over the years (though usually small for BCBS)... that had nothing to do with ACA. If going off the state exchange in Minnesota, I would still have BCBS (state not federal) and keep the same doctors, etc as before.

[niedo]

why is the OP blaming the ACA on what the insurance companies decided to do?

the ACA has absolutely no effect on those who already have insurance. if your insurance company or employer decides to change coverage and/or premiums; that is their doing!

if you're a federal employee, I suggest you shop around of the many plans that you can choose from and stop just complaining.

one thing the ACA does mandate is that insurances companies must spend at least 80% of your premiums and contributions on your actual healthcare (a up to 20% profit margin is still very high). if they spend less, you will get a rebate at the end of the year...