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My friend (who has been trying to find a job for 2 years now) posted this on facebook yesterday:
"
Many bad stories from family and friends. We haven't signed up for a specific plan because the gov website doesn't say how much the subsidies will cover. We can't afford even the poor coverage of the Bronze plan without a good sized subsidy. I've talked to people who have given up on trying to get coverage and will take the penalty this year. Lots of employer plans have gone up in premiums and deductibles and don't cover medications that are much needed to function normally. And then stuff like this happens for those that were happy Obamacare was coming and could get insurance (did I mention for the entire state of Texas Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas is the ONLY company on the exchange)
"
It's just another example of how this garbage legislation is affecting people personally. Why is the government being so quiet or fuzzy about these subsidies?
Well...it is expensive.
I have met many people this whole thing was created for who haven't bothered to sign up.
That makes it kind of pointless.
However, I have also met a few people this has been a total game-changer for.
Families that don't qualify for subsidies but who have members with pre-existing conditions who have finally been able to get insured.
Out of curiosity, is your friends congressperson a D or R, are they having a town hall meeting and will this person speak up at said meeting?
Sadly, all of the D congresspeople in my area, only took office in 2012, so they were not around to vote before reading.
And will your friend be very vocal in your area in opposition to both the D's who won't fix it, and the R's who continue to BS about desiring it's repeal.
My friend (who has been trying to find a job for 2 years now) posted this on facebook yesterday:
"
Many bad stories from family and friends. We haven't signed up for a specific plan because the gov website doesn't say how much the subsidies will cover. We can't afford even the poor coverage of the Bronze plan without a good sized subsidy. I've talked to people who have given up on trying to get coverage and will take the penalty this year. Lots of employer plans have gone up in premiums and deductibles and don't cover medications that are much needed to function normally. And then stuff like this happens for those that were happy Obamacare was coming and could get insurance (did I mention for the entire state of Texas Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas is the ONLY company on the exchange)
"
It's just another example of how this garbage legislation is affecting people personally. Why is the government being so quiet or fuzzy about these subsidies?
By the second line of your "friend's" story it doesn't ring true. It's not hard to find out what kind of subsidy you qualify for on healthcare.gov.
Well...it is expensive.
I have met many people this whole thing was created for who haven't bothered to sign up.
That makes it kind of pointless.
However, I have also met a few people this has been a total game-changer for.
Families that don't qualify for subsidies but who have members with pre-existing conditions who have finally been able to get insured.
A small number were medically AND financially ineligible. Something like 80% of those with pre-existing conditions could have obtained coverage, they just couldn't afford the premiums.
The ACA will help, at huge expense, those who were financially precluded but otherwise healthy. The low income cohort now eligible for expanded Medicaid.
It will also help a very small number of people who were medically ineligible but can afford the $500+ in premiums and the deductibles.
It isn't a bad thing to help these people. It is a bad thing that it was done at the expense of millions of others who were already struggling under the guise of "fairness" and "affordability".
It's actually counter to the tenets of socialism.
They could have passed a series of laws to address the problem separately. They could have passed single-payer for working low-income and just added a payroll tax. They had lots of options.
My friend (who has been trying to find a job for 2 years now) posted this on facebook yesterday:
"
Many bad stories from family and friends. We haven't signed up for a specific plan because the gov website doesn't say how much the subsidies will cover. We can't afford even the poor coverage of the Bronze plan without a good sized subsidy. I've talked to people who have given up on trying to get coverage and will take the penalty this year. Lots of employer plans have gone up in premiums and deductibles and don't cover medications that are much needed to function normally. And then stuff like this happens for those that were happy Obamacare was coming and could get insurance (did I mention for the entire state of Texas Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas is the ONLY company on the exchange)
It's just another example of how this garbage legislation is affecting people personally. Why is the government being so quiet or fuzzy about these subsidies?
According to this all 26 of Texas' regional marketplaces have at least 2 insurers and most have 3-5. Some areas have more than 70 plans to choose from.
Unfortunately the Dems have over reached with their strategy. The classic Dem strategy is to try to say "it's only a small percentage of the population who will pay more". Just classic strategy. Make it look like only those well off will end up paying.
The funny thing is ACA supporters are still towing the company line and saying that.
But since health care affects everyone and the way it's written. It's not just the top 1% or even the top 5% feeling increase costs.
It's the top 20% who will end up paying more. That's a whole lot of the population.
Remember Obama won the election by 5 million votes. People make it look like a landslide. Bush 43 won by 4 million in 2004. Not a lot different except Obama swept the swing states.
You will have many angry independent voters in the 2014 mid terms. Many families without subsidies will end up paying $2000-4000 more in premiums unless they want to double their deductible.
Even those who qualify for subsidies. The total cost (it's becomes a scam game since they try to keep the premiums low but double the deductible compared to 2013 similar plans) is higher.
So unless you make less than 250% of poverty you won't see much savings.
Outside of sicker older folks or just older folks and the very poor folks the rest will get hit wifi higher costs.
Finally, someone who gets it. In my opinion, health insurance premiums are being kept as low as possible during the first years. Remember, the insurance industry and the Government are on the same team.
Wait until years 2+ when there isn't as much press on this. Premiums will skyrocket, insurance companies will take bailouts to pad their bottom line and the Government will take more control.
Remember I said this.
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