Now that "Obamacare" has kicked in, notice any difference?

[Doc]

So 4 days in and most likely nobody has had to deal with it yet. Odds are nobody has been to a Dr yet (hopefully). Me, I was. I needed to see my GP on Jan 2nd, called that AM and got in that afternoon. This is pretty much the way its been in the past, no change. After my exam, he wanted an MRI and an MRA so we got them scheduled. The MRI was done the following day (Friday) and the MRA will be done Monday. Again, nothing different than prior to the onset of the ACA. There was no 6 month wait for an MRI, or 8 month wait to see a specialist. So, what is the point?

Well my point is that the ACA isn't going to change HEALTHCARE at all. Of course I have been able to keep my policy and see my doctor because he didn't retire. However I also got a call from my nephrologist's office. Seems he did retire, hung up his stethoscope and hit the road just like that. My records were transfer to somebody else and an appt scheduled.

However what has changed is what I pay, which is way way more. But the argument that its going to alter health care likely is inaccurate, at least for those who can afford health care. Those who couldn't before will be put on medicare/medicaide and will still be low priority. IMO those folks will be no better off and there will be a whole lot more of them.

[CitizenBBN]

One of the biggest long term impacts will be reduced availability and quality as doctors and others simply get out and retire b/c they don't want the increased aggravation that comes with the paperwork and regs. I've seen it from more than one of my doctors and from friends in medicine. Doctors are retiring early b/c they can afford do and don't want to be bureaucrats or have to put up with all the overhead of paying people to be bureaucrats for them. They don't have to do it, so they don't.

Doctors in general don't like to be told how to do everything they do, and ACA is just part of a broad government intrusion to tell them what they have to do and how to do it. They dont' care for that and have FU money, so they use it and leave.

I agree though that Obamacare is basically a wealth transfer program, designed to operate through "private" insurance rather than through upping taxes and making it all too obvious. It puts the burden of paying for the uninsured and uninsurable on the cheaply insured b/c the direct federal expenditures are already so high, so this is a way to expand medicare/medicaid and health subsidies without people being smart enough to figure out they are being TAXED in yet another massive wealth transfer program.

[KeithKSR]

The biggest change will be in the millions of people who no longer have insurance, and the huge amount of money most people will be out prior to receiving any benefit from their insurance.

On December 31 I could see my physician for $16. Now there is a $2500 deductible before I get to the point where I pay a $50 or more copayment.

It isn't the poor that will see the difference, it is the middle class, many of whom will now skip going to the doctor when they need to go because of the cost involved.

[UKHistory]

So now you have to pay the actual amount of the visit until you reach $2500. Was there no better option for you?


The biggest change will be in the millions of people who no longer have insurance, and the huge amount of money most people will be out prior to receiving any benefit from their insurance.

On December 31 I could see my physician for $16. Now there is a $2500 deductible before I get to the point where I pay a $50 or more copayment.

It isn't the poor that will see the difference, it is the middle class, many of whom will now skip going to the doctor when they need to go because of the cost involved.

[KeithKSR]

So now you have to pay the actual amount of the visit until you reach $2500. Was there no better option for you?

The next best option would be to have paid an extra $300-350 a month to get no deductible, but higher co-pays.

[ram]

Obvious difference is I have to pay more to cover my family. As for whether or not the benefits are better, worse or the same, I don't really know yet. My wife is in good health and had a cheap, high deductable plan that was rendered obsolete...so I pay more for her. The bottom line for me is I'm paying more thus IMO, the changes are not good.

[Doc]

Obvious difference is I have to pay more to cover my family. As for whether or not the benefits are better, worse or the same, I don't really know yet. My wife is in good health and had a cheap, high deductable plan that was rendered obsolete...so I pay more for her. The bottom line for me is I'm paying more thus IMO, the changes are not good.

Yeah, but now you get free birth control and pediatric dentistry.

[ram]

Just found out the bottom line today. It costs $168 more per month to insure my family. Granted my wife has a little better coverage which could account for part of the increase, but the fact of the matter is we didn't want that better coverage because we didn't want to pay. Essentially, we were forced to purchase coverage we didn't want. That's the difference.

[Doc]

168 / month times 12 months. How's that $2000 pay cut feel? Are your "extra" benefits worth that 2K?

[ram]

168 / month times 12 months. How's that $2000 pay cut feel? Are your "extra" benefits worth that 2K?

If I'd wanted whatever extra benefits I have, I would have paid for them. We didn't have choice about this. So...where does that extra $2k a year go???? Insurance welfare??

[Doc]

If I'd wanted whatever extra benefits I have, I would have paid for them. We didn't have choice about this. So...where does that extra $2k a year go???? Insurance welfare??

Silly you. Didn't you realize your old policy was a crappy policy? It was "substandard" according to the government. Had you been smart enough you would have realized that. See the government knows whats better for you than you because clearly the government believes they and they alone can decide what you need. Don't feel bad though. Now my 50 years old wife who is in menopause can get birth control pills "for free". Yahoo!

[suncat05]

But according to the SCOTUS and His Majesty Chief Justice Roberts, it's okay because in reality it's a "tax". So not only is it a tax, but as with most taxes, if you choose not to participate, you will also be penalized. So, in summation, you're being forced to buy something that you may not necessarily need or want, and then if you choose not to participate in the plan, then you may have to pay an additional penalty(or as it should be simply stated, ANOTHER TAX), which is neither right nor necessarily legal either. But according to His Majesty Chief Justice Roberts, it's all good because it's "just a tax".

But I have a question myself: if the "tax" does not fulfill my needs or purposes, and I am being forced to purchase same even though I neither want or desire it, and then I may end up paying a "penalty" for not participating in the plan, then exactly HOW is that legal, or legally binding on me?

This is one law that should have been overturned by the SCOTUS, and that they got wrong. To the detriment of the American people. And according to His Highness Your Majesty Chief Justice Roberts, whom I believe is much more worried about his "legacy" in the history of the Court than protecting the American people against unfair taxation and representation.

[cattails]

Add this to your list

http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2014/02/04/22572968-report-fuels-obamacare-debate-with-estimates-of-job-loss?lite&ocid=msnhp&pos=1

If you didn't see this coming you just weren't watching. Being a small business myself this does not affect my company (not enough employees), however it will effect millions of people working for large companies, many, many, many part time jobs. Most will have to work 2 jobs to get by. The system is broken and I don't see a quick fix.

[dan_bgblue]

Recent comment from the former president (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/10/04/dems-turn-on-obamacare-amid-premium-hikes-bill-clinton-laments-crazy-system.html)

Bill Clinton, on the campaign trail for Hillary Clinton, told voters in Michigan on Monday that the legislation has created a “crazy system” where millions more people have health care but those unable to qualify for subsidies are getting “killed.”

“The people … out there busting it, sometimes 60 hours a week, wind up with their premiums doubled and their coverage cut in half,” Clinton said. “It’s the craziest thing in the world.”

Lot more to read at the link

[Doc]

One of the few times a Clinton didn't lie.

[CitizenBBN]

One of the few times a Clinton didn't lie.

I can only assume he was drunk or something.