Even before I left my job in December of 2012 (the last week of actually) I had already switched my health insurance because I could not afford to pay once the increase came through. It was going up to over $700 a month for just me-I’m single. I managed to get a plan for half of that amount but there is a $1200.00 deductible—and now I am living on early Social Security, the income from the few bookkeeping clients I still have and whatever I can make on the internet. My Mom has been throwing newspaper article after newspaper article at me to read about the new health care plans that are supposed to take effect in 2014, in the hopes that I can get a better plan then what I currently have at a hopefully better rate. I am not political and what I am about to state is my own opinion—you do not have to agree with me and if you do not I will agree to disagree. I will not be responding to the comments made on this post!
The first three articles she neatly cut out of the NY Times and handed to me in an envelope secured by a paper clip and then jammed into my pocketbook as I was driving her so she could go shopping were admittedly mostly about NY. New York is definitely going full steam ahead with the new “health care exchanges” as they are called. If you are a New Yorker who either pays for their own insurance privately or have none at all it is definitely worth your while to look into this as of Oct 1st of 2013!! According to the article even if your earn way above the minimum wage you may be eligible for subsidies. Americans who work at minimum wage earning less then 138% of the Federal Poverty level, which is $15,856 for a single individual and 32,499 for a household of 4 will qualify for free government coverage under Medicaid—but only if they live in a state that is expanding the Medicaid program. Go the The Kaiser Family Foundation to see what your state is doing and to learn much more about all of this.
The fourth article I was handed yesterday really upset me no end. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/27/opinion/the-war-over-health-care-exchanges.html?_r=0 – this is an editorial but from the snippets I have been hearing and seeing on TV I do not doubt the validity. I suggest you go in and read it-it is a short article.
Now for my take—this should be taken out of the political arena-these are people’s lives at stake here—I also feel that Health Insurance companies should not be allowed to have stockholders. It may be the only way that rates can be held down to an extent—no stockholders-no worries about paying out higher and higher dividends.
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24 comments :
I really don't like to talk about these things because it gets me really wired. My parents own a home health agency, where a majority of their patients are elderly. Sadly, the new care programs involving insurance have really hit all of these people badly. I can go on, but I know I would end up exercising my nerves at midnight.
pressed Publish by accident. Anyway, I'm sorry you're going through this Michele. I know it's gotta be really tough and it just makes you really wonder exactly what all the reforms are for when so many more seem to be suffering now more than ever.
I personally feel that everyone should have free medical care or at least affordable medical care as it's something we all have in common and will need at one point in our lives. Being on Social Security, medical should be free. I've read about working people (minimum wage or at bit higher) jobs complaining about not being eligible for certain services and I find that really disturbing that they only way to get free or affordable medical care is to not work or be disabled. But in your post you wrote that people who are in range of certain income guidelines may be eligible for free services so I think that's great and I wish it was this way everywhere. No one should have to suffer or have bad credit (myself) because they can't afford thousands of dollars in medical bills.
I read god and bad opinions about the health care reforms so I don't know what to think.
very informative post--sadly we are with out right now, because of job loss--I guess we should look into Medicad (we live in NY) some help would be better then nothing.
I finally have it again! It's been a long time and sadly we didn't qualify for the free stuff when we really needed it. Paying for it for the 4 of us really drains our bank account...but it's apparently something we need lol
Miki,
I don't get involved in anything that may cause hard feelings with anyone. Sometimes when we make comments on blogs.... we get crazies coming after us and.... I like to sleep at night.
I can say that our health insurance has gone way downhill. I am doing anything and everything I can to keep my Hubs and I healthy. Alternative Healing has made a huge difference in our health.
Healthcare is a big issue for most Americans. I have a lot of opinions about it but will keep them to myself.
I will never understand why it is such a big problem in the US to give people health insurance. In Germany we all have it! There must be a way to do it here too!
This is a sensitive topic, but an important one. I wish we could curtail the malpractice lawsuits which are PARTLY responsible for such high health care costs. I'm so thankful that there are doctors even willing to care for patients anymore given the risk of lawsuits and the cost of malpractice insurance.
So many people are worried, and many changes are already being seen that are not good. It's actually more than a tad bit on the alarming side.
I don't know much about all this since I was not born here so I do not have a grasp on how it all works. But it sucks. We can't afford to pay for insurance, and we make way too much to get accepted into the government's program...it sucks.
Ugh this is one sticky situation thats for sure. I'm not sure where I stand yet..
It is so difficult to pay health insurance very month, it is so expensive. I certainly haven't used the amount of money I've paid in insurance, but I am very fortunate and healthy...but what if?
Health care is almost a joke in this country. Insurance companies run this country and I believe that and it is unfortunate. We currently don't have insurance because we can't afford it. We are both self employed and don't make enough money. I had private insurance for a while and was paying out the nose for it then went into the hospital for a week for a blood clot and ended up with a $18,000 bill. Yep, great insurance I was paying for. Needless to say I don't have it any longer, it only paid for one day in the hospital. Nice, huh? Anyway, this county needs to come up with a fix for this.
Healthcare is a touchy subject. I dont like talking about it because it scares me what is happening to our nation. I hope something happens soon to stop this stupid new law that got passed without even got read by congress. Money talks.
This is a touchy subject to discuss. Only thing I will say is it is so hard for all right now and currently my insurance is garbage.
i hear good and bad and frankly it all confuses me
I have heard both sides of the argument, but I wish everyone could have affordable health care. All our spare money goes to my daughter's healthcare and half of what isn't spare income too.
Our healthcare system is in a mess. I'll just leave it at that. But I hate that you are personally getting hit so hard!
wow... I assume that health care here is way too much. esp when you are single, they take too much and even if you work hard, you aren't still eligible for at least a simple grant... However, good for new yorkers they have at least some help if you're within those income ranges.
I am sorry you are facing issues with healthcare. This is a subject that many people have differing opinions on.
It's really hard to live without health insurance. We have kaiser too and we've been using their service for 2 years now since my husband left the Blue Cross Blue shield. And so far, so good.
There is so much to learn and so much that will be just waiting to see what happens..
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