High Country dilemma: Health care costs are reaching crisis levels (Denver: health insurance, credit)

[Vision67]

https://gazette.com/premium/high-cou...6f9443009.html

"A Texas court ruling this month declared the ACA unconstitutional, but the decision won’t impact enrollments for 2019 coverage in Colorado. The ruling is likely to be appealed and ultimately decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Democrats, meanwhile, buoyed by 2018 midterm election victories, have promised to stabilize Obamacare and expand Medicaid.

But that’s all a lot of noise across much of rural Colorado, where only one or two ACA coverage options usually are available and plans for a family of five can run north of $2,000 a month.

In mountain-resort counties, everything from groceries to gas to housing costs significantly more than along the Front Range. It can be difficult for a family of five to live on $117,680, the income cap ($48,560 for individuals) to qualify for ACA tax credits that subsidize insurance.

In Eagle County, home of ritzy Vail and Beaver Creek, the only ACA options are Anthem and Kaiser. Before tax credits, a “bronze” Kaiser plan — an individual plan with lower premiums but higher co-pay costs and often higher deductibles — costs about $2,200 a month for a family of five, and a similar Anthem plan runs more than $2,900. Their deductibles exceed $6,500.

In Denver, the cheapest similar coverage for that family of five is a Bright Health Bronze Plan for just under $1,650 a month — the same price as a bronze Kaiser plan in El Paso County, before tax credits."

Clearly, ACA plans for people who are not subsidized by the gov't are not affordable.

For example, if you are self employed, have a family, and make $100K, paying more than one third of that gross income for health insurance is an unsustainable expense. Something will have to give.

[brown_dog_us]

Originally Posted by Vision67

For example, if you are self employed, have a family, and make $100K, paying more than one third of that gross income for health insurance is an unsustainable expense. Something will have to give.

The family will either have to move to the front range or one of the adults will have to get a job that includes insurance.

[sheerbliss]

You mean insurance costs for a maintenance plan, not health care costs. You can pay the premiums without ever seeing a doctor.

[LHS79]

I think Obamacare works fine for the majority that use it.

My house has been paid off for a few years and now I really don't care to work very hard (if at all) so I never make more than $20k/year.

I LOVE my free healthcare - thank you Mr. Obama!!

[townshend]

Originally Posted by Vision67

https://gazette.com/premium/high-cou...6f9443009.html

"A Texas court ruling this month declared the ACA unconstitutional, but the decision won’t impact enrollments for 2019 coverage in Colorado. The ruling is likely to be appealed and ultimately decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Democrats, meanwhile, buoyed by 2018 midterm election victories, have promised to stabilize Obamacare and expand Medicaid.

But that’s all a lot of noise across much of rural Colorado, where only one or two ACA coverage options usually are available and plans for a family of five can run north of $2,000 a month.

In mountain-resort counties, everything from groceries to gas to housing costs significantly more than along the Front Range. It can be difficult for a family of five to live on $117,680, the income cap ($48,560 for individuals) to qualify for ACA tax credits that subsidize insurance.

In Eagle County, home of ritzy Vail and Beaver Creek, the only ACA options are Anthem and Kaiser. Before tax credits, a “bronze” Kaiser plan — an individual plan with lower premiums but higher co-pay costs and often higher deductibles — costs about $2,200 a month for a family of five, and a similar Anthem plan runs more than $2,900. Their deductibles exceed $6,500.

In Denver, the cheapest similar coverage for that family of five is a Bright Health Bronze Plan for just under $1,650 a month — the same price as a bronze Kaiser plan in El Paso County, before tax credits."

Clearly, ACA plans for people who are not subsidized by the gov't are not affordable.

For example, if you are self employed, have a family, and make $100K, paying more than one third of that gross income for health insurance is an unsustainable expense. Something will have to give.

"Something will have to give."

Yes, and that "something" is "someone" which means we, the consumers.

There is no one minding the store, or the hen house, or whatever you want to call it. This is not some grand conspiracy; it is simply the influence of way too much money in politics. Both parties take "campaign donations" from the pharmaceutical industry (even Democrats do -- I'm talking about you, Corey Booker, who blocked Sander's bill to allow importation of cheaper drugs into the U.S.: https://theintercept.com/2017/01/12/...e-from-canada/).

If you are in the range of 50-64, and make a good salary and are self-employed, then you get absolutely hosed by the ACA. To say that the ACA is better than what we had before is almost meaningless -- a terribly low bar of comparison. Yes, I am grateful that it expanded coverage for pre-existing conditions . . .

You would be surprised how quickly things would improve is the members of Congress were having to secure their healthcare coverage the same way that the average citizen does.

I still hope that eventually, we will somehow, short of total meltdown, get Medicare for All.

[Vision67]

Originally Posted by LHS79

I think Obamacare works fine for the majority that use it.

My house has been paid off for a few years and now I really don't care to work very hard (if at all) so I never make more than $20k/year.

I LOVE my free healthcare - thank you Mr. Obama!!

Yup, that's a great way to game the system. They don't count assets, just income. You can choose your income level. If your expenses are low, you can live on $20K per year.

The ACA works only for those people who qualify for Medicaid or who make a low enough income to get a subsidy.

If you make a middle class income, say $100K and you are about 60, you are so screwed!

[Frihed89]

I guess I'm glad I moved from Colorado to Denmark.

[COcheesehead]

Originally Posted by Frihed89

I guess I'm glad I moved from Colorado to Denmark.

Where everything, but healthcare is more expensive.

[StealthRabbit]

Can buy a lot of Danish Pastries for $30k / yr not wasted on HC premiums (not including actual health care COSTS ,,,/ co-pays / prescriptions , all are over-and-above-HC-premiums (HC premiums are a useless expense, EXCEPT to buy you access (for limited care / duration))

A(?)CA is not affordable to those who don't take don't want t milk out a subsidy.

A(?)CA very much a Robinhood - re-distribution of wealth. Absolutely NOT a viable solution.

(more political Smoke and mirrors)

[DrDog]

Originally Posted by LHS79

I think Obamacare works fine for the majority that use it.

My house has been paid off for a few years and now I really don't care to work very hard (if at all) so I never make more than $20k/year.

I LOVE my free healthcare - thank you Mr. Obama!!

Are you using Obamacare or Medicaid?