I know I said I was done with writing on my blog, but now I have to put in my 2 cents on the so-called Affordable Care Act, more commonly known as Obama Care. My own health insurance rates have double in the last 2 years so that I could cover my children (which are over 30 and have been on their own for years), and so I could get maternity care and 2 free breast pumps a year (in my 50’s), and so my deductible for the year would be lower….. my husband and I have been buying our own health insurance for years, basically a catastrophic plan which would cover expenses in case we were hit by the proverbial bus or needed surgery, with a $2000 annual deductible. We are both healthy in general, don’t smoke, don’t drink, get a reasonable amount of exercise, eat pretty healthy and try to keep our weight within reason.
I got a notice from our health insurance company that we would have to “transition” to another plan in August, when we are up for renewal. This tells me our plan meets the guidelines, but that the insurance company can get a lot more money out of us with the new plans set up for Obama care. After a little research (went on the now-infamous website) and found out that only one health insurance company is authorized in our county (so much for competitive rates) and it is the one we have now. Checked on available plans, found one equivalent to what we have now, more or less. This is the so called platinum plan, and it will cost us a whopping 4 times as much as we pay now, frankly, more than the highest mortgage we ever paid. The bronze plan would cost us twice what we pay now, plus a $6000 annual deductible and they pay only 60%????? Say, what???? A 40% co-pay??? Where is the affordable part of the health insurance here? When I went on the health insurance company website, the plan quoted to me on the government site actually costs 50% MORE than the government quoted.
I was hoping at some point to get a knee replacement as my right knee is pretty much crunching at this point, daily Aleve and repeated steroid injections have kept it going. The average cost of a TKR in Florida is about $40,000. So first I have to pay over $6,000 (that is just my insurance, double the cost for both of us) in insurance premiums for that year, then $6000 in deductible, and 40% of $40,000: $16,000. This is not including the PT I will need afterwards. Cost of knee replacement with “insurance”: $28,000 out of pocket plus PT. Uhm, what is wrong with this picture? With my current insurance, I would pay $2400 for insurance, $2000 in deductible, and that’s it.
Bottom line is I will have to pay so much money for “affordable care” health insurance for me and my husband, that we are not going to be able to save any money at all. I would have to save up $20,000 above the cost of insurance for the surgery. We will be reduced from feeling financially stable and able to save money for a “rainy day” to living pay-check to pay-check. WTF!!!!! Did I go to school for over 8 years for this? I am working in a little town for a single doctor, I am not making a huge amount of money. I love my job, and don’t want to go somewhere else to make enough money to pay for the damn health insurance. This is all F-ing ridiculous. To be honest, I have cried over this. I can’t even begin to imagine what it is like for a family with kids and less income.
We are already getting many patients who have lost their doctors through retirement (recently, all of a sudden) and due to the insurance companies not coming into this county anymore.
The politicians are so glib and smug, thinking they are able to FIX all of our problems. Well, they FIXED me all right, and lots of other people.
Honestly, when they said this is all about wealth redistribution and not health care, that was the truth.
“The trick is figuring out how do we structure government systems that pool resources and hence facilitate some [wealth] redistribution — because I actually believe in redistribution, at least at a certain level to make sure that everybody’s got a shot.”
Obama, 2008
Well, I make my own shot through hard work, and he is taking it away from me. The shame is, NO ONE is being helped in this restructuring of the government.
“This is also an income shift — it’s a shift, it’s a leveling to help lower income Americans. Too often, much of late, the last couple three years the mal-distribution of income in America is gone up way too much, the wealthy are getting way, way too wealthy, and the middle income class is left behind. Wages have not kept up with increased income of the highest income in America. This legislation will have the effect of addressing that mal-distribution of income in America, because healthcare is now a right for all Americans, because healthcare is now affordable for all Americans.”
US Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.)
Oh, really?
Sigh, I guess I will never get that knee.
The most ridiculous thing about the “promise” of the ACA, is that the middle class would be helped. What BS !!!!! HELLO —- WE ARE THE MIDDLE CLASS. LIke Ina, I spent 8 years in school and I’m working for a single doctor. OK, my husband makes good money, but we are far from what is truly wealthy, although we are painted with that broad brush when the tax man cometh, or when Obama needs a scapegoat. But, our “wealth” is already been redistributed: we get no tax breaks for college expenses, we have lost the majority of our write-offs, and now our health insurance costs have doubled, and yes, we already had a high deductible plan. The “true” rich don’t need health insurance, so they aren’t being hit at all. These, of course, are the same people screaming that they need to pay more taxes even as they use every legal dodge they have, and, in the case of Warren Buffet, are in to the government for billions and are fighting the IRS.
I hear you! The entire ACA; “meaningful use” etc is only bringing more problems for patients & providers. Most of my patients are “falling in the gap” and won’t qualify for any kind of insurance. I feel so burnt out 😦 I daydream about working in a different field
I’m totally screwed too. Way too many bills and its difficult if not impossible to keep down. My patients are also suffering as well. It’s heartbreaking to know that I might have to change careers… Torn.