I hope you guy are happy with Affordable Care Act

[missy]

Socialised medicine works EXTREMELY well down here because we have the best of both worlds - Medicare that is funded through taxation, but strong incentives for people to take out private health insurance as well. It means the system is less burdened, necessities are taken care of for the least financially capable individuals, and the quality of care is excellent. In fact, in comparison to how I know things are done at my hospital, I have been astounded by the mediocre medical care both my mother and nephew have received in the States over the last 6 months (despite the full coverage insurance).

I don't know why in the world experts from various international medical agencies were not consulted when this new system in the States was being developed. It seems very arrogant to think you can formulate a de novo, workable system in a country of 350 million people, without receiving input from people who have already done it, and are capable of advising what works well and what does not. It seems a whole lot of serious issues could have been avoided if knowledgeable people had a say in the design process.

Yes, I agree. They took too much on by themselves and we could have benefited from using outside resources. There is no doubt that everyone deserves good health insurance and care. The question is how to do it best and I don't think this ACA is it. Do I know how? No but that's why I am not in politics. I leave that for people more knowledgeable than I and am disappointed in the people who were in charge of coming up with an equitable health care plan for all.

nkarma, I just know what my friends who live there tell me and most of them when in need of something more than routine have to go through private insurance just like we do here and have much longer waiting times to see the doctors especially specialists. And the primary care doctors just don't like to refer to specialists (I guess to keep costs down?) in the public ("free") system. So they are forced to go private and pay again basically for health care. Also I remember more than one story (from Canadian friends) of people needing knee or hip replacement. The wait was so long and their quality of life so impeded that a few of them came here to the USA for the "elective" surgery- because their government didn't deem it as urgent a matter as they did.

I am glad you are getting the good care you want there though. Believe me I would be thrilled to be proven wrong with the ACA. All I want is a win win for all involved. Poor people deserve good care. Rich people don't deserve better care-but the rich people will always be able to get the best care and the poorer people still won't. But realistically if everyone could obtain the care they need when they want it and it doesn't break the bank it's a win win. I would love nothing more than for this to be the panacea for health care. But I think they would have had a better chance with Ginger's suggestion of consulting experts who have already implemented plans to find what would have best suited our needs here.

I still agree though that as long as one is healthy it all seems good. I am very concerned about the changes coming and I fear the masses (most of us) are going to get less good care now. We might no longer be able to afford seeing the doctors we have been seeing and want to continue seeing all these years. Something's got to give.


Merefrank, I am so sorry. How awful. My heart goes out to you and your family.

 

[katharath]

It's interesting to me because I've seen almost no changes for our family personally, except one fairly significant positive one.

*We have retained the same insurance co (a division of BC/BS).

*None of our costs have gone up - monthly premiums, co-pays - nothing.

*None of our doctors have changed.

The only significant change we've experienced is that our prescriptions are costing less. Certain scripts are completely covered which weren't before. We are saving at least a few hundred per year. And yes, one of those is *gasp* birth control, lol...yes, as ilander said, married people DO use BC . You would think that insurance cos would be HAPPY to pay for BC, since it's far far cheaper than covering another living person!!

Anyway, it's been pretty damn great from our perspective so far. Not a single complaint from our family.

(For a bit of perspective - DH and I are in our mid-to-late 30s, with two young children. Our insurance is through DH's job and has been for 12+ years. We are a pretty average middle class family).

I believe you are not seeing any real changes because you are covered by a job. That show drops next year.

Sorry, not sure what you mean? We've been told not to expect any further changes at this point from HR. And FWIW, my husband works for a large company, not a small one (significantly more than 100 employees, if that has something to do with your meaning).

 

[justginger]

Karl, I think you hit on something: some of the problems are implementation by the dr and his billing staff.
but I'm guessing that while you are unhappy about having to spend the time to get things straightened out, at the end of the day you are still happy to finally have insurance.

I would also note for many that what was put into effect was not what was proposed: the insurance lobbyists got busy and the final voted on by congress and approved by congress program was reworked to the satisfaction of the insurance industry.

justginger, my in-laws remember when the AU system was really good; they no longer have the same system. part of that occurred when the PM of AU and the last Bush president met in Hawaii and an under the table, behind closed doors agreement was made w/o a vote in either country which prohibits the government from using its purchasing power to negotiate better prices for pharmaceuticals. this has been a goal of the pharmaceutical companies for years and it is part and parcel of our very own "Obamacare".

I would be astounded if anyone who has experienced the medical system in Australia would consider it anything less than stellar. It isn't operating at a deficit, and to use real life comparisons -- when I was in college in the States, a non-branded OCP cost me $28/month. I moved here and a branded OCP started costing me $11/3 months. I managed to pick up ringworm off one of our rescues and discovered I had it mid-flight to the States -- my prescription strength meds there were $65 for 60 grams, while a 150 gram refill when I got home (because I misplaced the expensive stuff) was $17. There's no way, as suggested by these pharmaceutical comparisons over the last 5 years, that the government here doesn't negotiate the price of prescription medication. The cost differences are staggering.

 

[Dancing Fire]

I guess my daughter is covered b/c she can go purchase the insurance when/if she needed it?

 

[movie zombie]

justginger, my in-laws have been in AU since 1951 and actually do complain about the changes to the system.
while i agree with you that in comparison the AU system is stellar, the government there subsidizes greatly that health care system as the co-pays probably cover only about 1/6th of the expense. this would be called socialism here. however, their system is becoming Americanized under FTA and other trade agreements.

 

[nkarma]

nkarma, I just know what my friends who live there tell me and most of them when in need of something more than routine have to go through private insurance just like we do here and have much longer waiting times to see the doctors especially specialists. And the primary care doctors just don't like to refer to specialists (I guess to keep costs down?) in the public ("free") system. So they are forced to go private and pay again basically for health care. Also I remember more than one story (from Canadian friends) of people needing knee or hip replacement. The wait was so long and their quality of life so impeded that a few of them came here to the USA for the "elective" surgery- because their government didn't deem it as urgent a matter as they did.

I am glad you are getting the good care you want there though. Believe me I would be thrilled to be proven wrong with the ACA. All I want is a win win for all involved. Poor people deserve good care. Rich people don't deserve better care-but the rich people will always be able to get the best care and the poorer people still won't. But realistically if everyone could obtain the care they need when they want it and it doesn't break the bank it's a win win. I would love nothing more than for this to be the panacea for health care. But I think they would have had a better chance with Ginger's suggestion of consulting experts who have already implemented plans to find what would have best suited our needs here.

Merefrank, I am so sorry. How awful. My heart goes out to you and your family.[/quote]

Missy, I am very young & healthy and to compare either the US and UK system is probably fruitless for my own case. Which is of course a blessing. I have also always been covered thanks to my parents insurance, growing up in a middle class family & being expected to get a college degree & earn a good living, and then working as a professional and being covered by my employer's insurance as part of my compensation package.

The fact that your friends have to get private healthcare is of course understandable. A lot of people have it here through their employers just like in the US. The public system isn't supposed to be the Rolls Royce of healthcare. "Socialized" medicine does not take away anyone's ability to get private health insurance. The same type of professionals are offered it as part of their compensation package as they are in the US. The biggest benefit to me personally which others may not see care about is the seeing how quality of life for people who are not typically insured or have pre-existing conditions (anyone, young people, low income people & their children) is better. I don't know how to explain it but people just are healthier, happier. I live in London and the number of homeless people compared to major cities in the states is a millionth of a percent. That's because the mentally ill have access to healthcare & support they need.

One final question...Do your friends who complain of long waits prefer the US system. Would they rather live there & have access to the US healthcare system?

 

[lyra]

Canada works on the triage system. If you need urgent care, you're front of the line. If it's elective surgery, you may have to wait. I've never known of anyone requiring immediate care to wait at all. I can see a specialist within a couple of weeks. Last year I needed a minor elective surgery. I saw my doc, saw the specialist and had the operation within 4 weeks.

No, we definitely don't want to have a US style system here. We'd rather have the minor inconveniences. We'd rather not ever face bankruptcy in retirement due to a chronic or acute health problem. We can see our primary physician any time, or go see any doctor at a walk-in clinic if something crops up that is minor. It may not be perfect, but it works well. No one has to worry about medical bills.

 

[hippi_pixi]

Merefrank your story is horrific, I'm so sorry for your loss. It seems barbaric and uncivilised for your husband to not have gotten the simple care and support that he needed. The system worked against him in every single way. To think that this is normal in such a prominent first world country is shocking to me.

 

[Dancing Fire]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/obamacare-taxpayers-hole-1-5-094500219.html

 

[Sparklelu]

It's interesting to me because I've seen almost no changes for our family personally, except one fairly significant positive one.

*We have retained the same insurance co (a division of BC/BS).

*None of our costs have gone up - monthly premiums, co-pays - nothing.

*None of our doctors have changed.

The only significant change we've experienced is that our prescriptions are costing less. Certain scripts are completely covered which weren't before. We are saving at least a few hundred per year. And yes, one of those is *gasp* birth control, lol...yes, as ilander said, married people DO use BC . You would think that insurance cos would be HAPPY to pay for BC, since it's far far cheaper than covering another living person!!

Anyway, it's been pretty damn great from our perspective so far. Not a single complaint from our family.

(For a bit of perspective - DH and I are in our mid-to-late 30s, with two young children. Our insurance is through DH's job and has been for 12+ years. We are a pretty average middle class family).

I believe you are not seeing any real changes because you are covered by a job. That show drops next year.

Sorry, not sure what you mean? We've been told not to expect any further changes at this point from HR. And FWIW, my husband works for a large company, not a small one (significantly more than 100 employees, if that has something to do with your meaning).

http://obamacarefacts.com/obamacare-employer-mandate.php


We have been told by our employer that they preemptively made some adjustments to our coverage now, added the mandated covered services, but when the ACA fully kicks in we WILL see changes to our deductibles as well as our out of pocket and co insurance payments.

That is unless it is delayed again

 

[Maria D]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/obamacare-taxpayers-hole-1-5-094500219.html

1.5 trillion? chump change

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/study-iraq-afghan-war-costs-to-top-4-trillion/2013/03/28/b82a5dce-97ed-11e2-814b-063623d80a60_story.html

 

[Dancing Fire]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/obamacare-taxpayers-hole-1-5-094500219.html

1.5 trillion? chump change

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/study-iraq-afghan-war-costs-to-top-4-trillion/2013/03/28/b82a5dce-97ed-11e2-814b-063623d80a60_story.html

Yup,chump change. a trillion here a trillion there adds up to $17 trillion in debt... If it is so great why aren't people flocking to sign up?..

 

[iLander]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/obamacare-taxpayers-hole-1-5-094500219.html

1.5 trillion? chump change

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/study-iraq-afghan-war-costs-to-top-4-trillion/2013/03/28/b82a5dce-97ed-11e2-814b-063623d80a60_story.html

Yup,chump change. a trillion here a trillion there adds up to $17 trillion in debt... If it is so great why aren't people flocking to sign up?..

They are. 3 million so far.

Of course Fox News isn't going to tell you that. That wouldn't be "fair and balanced".

 

[Maria D]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/obamacare-taxpayers-hole-1-5-094500219.html

1.5 trillion? chump change

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/study-iraq-afghan-war-costs-to-top-4-trillion/2013/03/28/b82a5dce-97ed-11e2-814b-063623d80a60_story.html

Yup,chump change. a trillion here a trillion there adds up to $17 trillion in debt... If it is so great why aren't people flocking to sign up?..

DF, you've been a member here since 2004 and have not once felt the need to rant about the debt racked up from the war - but this ACA really sticks in your craw. Why is that? Or did I miss the "hope you guys are happy with the Iraq/Afghan war" thread?

 

[Dancing Fire]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/obamacare-taxpayers-hole-1-5-094500219.html

1.5 trillion? chump change

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/study-iraq-afghan-war-costs-to-top-4-trillion/2013/03/28/b82a5dce-97ed-11e2-814b-063623d80a60_story.html

Yup,chump change. a trillion here a trillion there adds up to $17 trillion in debt... If it is so great why aren't people flocking to sign up?..

They are. 3 million so far.

Of course Fox News isn't going to tell you that. That wouldn't be "fair and balanced".

So, IYO 3 million is a lot?..

 

[Dancing Fire]

[quote="Maria D|1396048084|3643180

DF, you've been a member here since 2004 and have not once felt the need to rant about the debt racked up from the war - but this ACA really sticks in your craw. Why is that? Or did I miss the "hope you guys are happy with the Iraq/Afghan war" thread? [/quote]

b/c so far most American aren't happy with the program, and no...I'm not crazy about the war either.

 

[craighnt]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/obamacare-taxpayers-hole-1-5-094500219.html

That article is all Smoke and Mirrors and NOT BASED ON ACTUAL FACTS, his numbers don't add up. Just do your due due diligence about the author of the article like you were searching for a diamond. Turns out he is nothing more then a Conservative Blogger. In fact, he knows nothing about finance, his blogging is about politics. Unlike a reporter, bloggers can just make things up and say whatever they want. So gee, what are the chances that he hates Obama and Obama Care?

The article is misleading because in appears in Yahoo Finance, but like they say, it's on the internet so it must be true.

 

[craighnt]

I guess my daughter is covered b/c she can go purchase the insurance when/if she needed it?

Before Obama care, you daughter would not have any coverage unless she got a job that offered private insurgence through her work and did not have any pre-exiting condition. She could have bought an individual plan on the open market but it's not cheap. If she has no income, assets, over 4,000 then she can qualify for Medi-Caid in most states or Medi-Cal in California. That is for people with low or no money. Medicare is for when you are older and retire or have a permanent disability. None of that is new. If she gets sick with say a really bad cold or the flu, she can walk into a hospital and they will send her or you a bill for $1000. That also is not new.

Now with Obama Care, they will say, hey, you need to buy insurance from someone...anyone of your choice. Sounds like a deal right? Why buy insurance until you need it? Well first of all, you should not be working the system. Ethically speaking, you should do what is right and not expect everyone else to pick up the tab in the form of higher insurance premiums or taxes. But fortunately, that was thought about way in advance. That is where the penitently comes in. That is the "tax" that you hear people bitching about if they don't buy insurance. The penalty is very low, something like $100. So why not play that game, still a better deal, don't buy insurance and if something catastrophic happens, you buy it after the fact. Well, they though about that too. You can play that game for a year or two but the tax penalty will increase after that to 2% of your income. So a tax bill for someone making 50,000 would be about $1,000. At that point, most people will be motivated to find insurance and not just let others pick up the tab. That is the basic plan.

It takes time for people and habits to change, especially an entire country and that is why the initial fee or penalty or tax whatever you want to call it is so low. They know people are going to try to game the system and so its structured to avoid that by easing everyone into the system and weaning moochers out off of it as time goes on.

Here is the deal, she is 26 right? I don't want to insult you and I am not saying this is your situation but here is what I have see. A Lot of kids these days stay at home during college even after they graduate. They have never had to think about health coverage because someone else always took care of it. But they are not stupid, they have all heard of this new thing that is going to cost them money. They dont like it because basically cut into their disposable income. Ironically, that age group has the most disposable income of all demographics. Only they like spending it on iPhones, iPads, $200 jeans and so on.

I have a friend that is going through the same thing. His son is sort of whining that he has to buy healthcare coverage because he is turning 26. He thinks its unfair that he cant stay on his parents plan (which they pay for). He just bought a car, moved out on his own, makes 40,000 a year working for dad's company. So he hates Obama care and talks up all the difficulties of getting insurance because basically, he doesn't want a bill his parents used to pay for him.

Being so young, he has no clue if we were talking 10 years ago, he would not have even been on his parents plan after the age of 18. His job would have minimal or now insurance which they would have taken right out of his pay check and that would have been his ONLY option.

So that is the deal, a lot of kids are sort of trying to wiggle out of a bill. It's really very simple. No wonder they "can't get into a program" I don't blame them, I would have probably tried that too at that age. LOL But at some point its time to grow up. You cant be failure to launch forever.

 

[Dancing Fire]

I guess my daughter is covered b/c she can go purchase the insurance when/if she needed it?

Now with Obama Care, they will say, hey, you need to buy insurance from someone...anyone of your choice. Sounds like a deal right? Why buy insurance until you need it? Well first of all, you should not be working the system. Ethically speaking, you should do what is right and not expect everyone else to pick up the tab in the form of higher insurance premiums or taxes. But fortunately, that was thought about way in advance. That is where the penitently comes in. That is the "tax" that you hear people bitching about if they don't buy insurance. The penalty is very low, something like $100. So why not play that game, still a better deal, don't buy insurance and if something catastrophic happens, you buy it after the fact. Well, they though about that too. You can play that game for a year or two but the tax penalty will increase after that to 2% of your income. So a tax bill for someone making 50,000 would be about $1,000. At that point, most people will be motivated to find insurance and not just let others pick up the tab. That is the basic plan.


I

They aren't fools. they'll still take the penalty, b/c it is still cheaper than buying insurance, and where are all those $50K jobs that you are talking about?... haven't you heard that we have a student loan crisis in this country?..

 

[missy]

Missy, I am very young & healthy and to compare either the US and UK system is probably fruitless for my own case. Which is of course a blessing. I have also always been covered thanks to my parents insurance, growing up in a middle class family & being expected to get a college degree & earn a good living, and then working as a professional and being covered by my employer's insurance as part of my compensation package.

The fact that your friends have to get private healthcare is of course understandable. A lot of people have it here through their employers just like in the US. The public system isn't supposed to be the Rolls Royce of healthcare. "Socialized" medicine does not take away anyone's ability to get private health insurance. The same type of professionals are offered it as part of their compensation package as they are in the US. The biggest benefit to me personally which others may not see care about is the seeing how quality of life for people who are not typically insured or have pre-existing conditions (anyone, young people, low income people & their children) is better. I don't know how to explain it but people just are healthier, happier. I live in London and the number of homeless people compared to major cities in the states is a millionth of a percent. That's because the mentally ill have access to healthcare & support they need.

One final question...Do your friends who complain of long waits prefer the US system. Would they rather live there & have access to the US healthcare system?

It's awesome that you have so few homeless people in London and I emphatically agree that access to healthcare should be a number one priority for any country. I am just pointing out that there is dissatisfaction with aspects of healthcare almost everywhere I know. I certainly (at this point in time at least) would not move to another country because of their healthcare system because I am not convinced I would get better care anywhere else and I doubt any of my friends would move for that sole reason either (though a few of my Canadian friends have moved here since because they are americanophiles). My friends who had the resources came here to have their "elective" surgery done in a more timely fashion so for them it was a win win.

One example that stands out in my mind that speaks very highly of healthcare in Europe is something that my good friend Maureen's sister went through in her travels. Her sister developed a retinal detachment somewhere in Europe (sorry cannot remember where and it was over a decade ago) and she was taken to the hospital where a retinal surgeon successfully reattached her retina. I don't remember the bill or any of the details but I certainly remember being ultra impressed that it was a. affordable and b. they took excellent care of her though she was a US citizen on vacation there. That will always stand out in my mind.

As we get older we become much more vulnerable health wise and getting quality care is no longer just an nice idea but a necessity as one ages. Personally the thought of not being able to access the doctors we need is terrifying and just as scary is not being able to get the doctors we need on a timely basis or getting the procedures we need for quality of life because it isn't in the "budget".

One personal concern (for me and a few of my friends who live here) is that a few of my doctors accept no insurance at this time and never did. They do not have to. So I pay out of pocket (around $350 each visit) and my current insurance company reimburses me at 70% of the "usual and customary" fee which is a lot less of course but I usually end up getting around $150- $175 back which is a lot better than nothing. However under this new system I might not get anything back if I go out of network. Not sure I will be able to afford $350 a month for just one of my doctors. Yes, I have to see him every month for a specific health issue and I have been to many other specialists who are crap and he is the one I trust and have been going to for well over a decade now. So this is a big problem for me if this happens.

I have been working hard for over 30 years now if you include my education -college, graduate school, residency and out in the work force contributing to my community for 25 years exactly this coming May 2014. I work hard to make a life for myself and my family and give back to my community. I serve the underserved population that few others want to give care to and I work hard to meet that challenge. In fact the population I give care to is covered by medicare and medicaid and I am also very concerned what is going to happen to those resources for them and their health needs. And is it fair that now I might have to give up getting the care that I not only want but truly need because the new system won't allow it or because my finances will no longer allow it because of the new regulations in place?

I don't expect solutions but am just sharing a few of my thoughts and concerns and fears. I have no ill will towards anyone and hope everyone gets that quality care we all deserve (as I believe health care is a right) but what I see happening is that instead of everyone getting good care only the rich few will continue getting that (because they have the financial resources that will allow that) and most of us will have worse care than before. Some will at least have coverage that didn't before but now perhaps at the expense of others who have worked hard their whole lives and now just when they are older and really need that care will be the ones who suffer. The middle class once again are the ones that pay the price literally and figuratively.

While you are young and healthy now nkarma remember there will be a time when that might change and the need to have quality care when you need it will be critical. I am pleased you are satisfied with your current healthcare situation and I wish that for everyone all over the world. I just want a system that works without the political b***s*** getting in way. And the way they are going about it is sad IMO. It could have been/should have been done differently and with better results. But I guess time will tell if our new healthcare system will be an improvement or not. Let's revisit this thread in a year or 2.

 

[Karl_K]

They aren't fools. they'll still take the penalty, b/c it is still cheaper than buying insurance, and where are all those $50K jobs that you are talking about?... haven't you heard that we have a student loan crisis in this country?..

I was 27 and in good health when I had my first dvt/PE while working for a company that didn't offer insurance.
After that it was impossible to get insurance unless I was working for a company with 100+ employees which are few and far between in my area.

 

[missy]

They aren't fools. they'll still take the penalty, b/c it is still cheaper than buying insurance, and where are all those $50K jobs that you are talking about?... haven't you heard that we have a student loan crisis in this country?..

I was 27 and in good health when I had my first dvt/PE while working for a company that didn't offer insurance.
After that it was impossible to get insurance unless I was working for a company with 100+ employees which are few and far between in my area.

Sorry you went through this Karl. That's just wrong in so many ways.
In the early nineties when I was in my 20's before I was married I had to purchase my own health insurance because I always worked as an independent consultant (what a scheme companies use to avoid paying any type of benefits but don't get me started on that). I was young and healthy and still I remember paying something like $800 a month for GHI coverage. Crazy but I did it because I was (and still am) very risk adverse. I guess I was lucky in that I could afford to purchase it but it was still a huge chunk of my income especially at that time when I was earning maybe 50K (before taxes and any other expenses). And I remembered wondering and worrying about the people who were unable to purchase health insurance because of the high prices thinking how can this be OK. So for that reason and so many damn others we need a system that's not broken. I don't think Obamacare is it but as I wrote before I would love to be proven wrong!

 

[movie zombie]

......They aren't fools. they'll still take the penalty, b/c it is still cheaper than buying insurance, and where are all those $50K jobs that you are talking about?... haven't you heard that we have a student loan crisis in this country?..

yes, they are fools because all it takes is one really bad car accident with a lot of ER and hospital care not to mention bills for follow up care. and then "they" and you, my dear DF, will whine about being stuck with bills for that.

one may think one is healthy but within one's own body are forces at work that may not manifest until the next day or 12 years later as noted by some posters in this thread.

 

[Karl_K]

So for that reason and so many damn others we need a system that's not broken. I don't think Obamacare is it but as I wrote before I would love to be proven wrong!

Something needed to be done, but I do not like forcing people to buy a product from a for profit company.
It really bugs me.
That said I am grateful to have insurance now.

 

[movie zombie]

So for that reason and so many damn others we need a system that's not broken. I don't think Obamacare is it but as I wrote before I would love to be proven wrong!

Something needed to be done, but I do not like forcing people to buy a product from a for profit company.
It really bugs me.
That said I am grateful to have insurance now.

Karl, the health care industry had their lobbyists make sure that they'd be making $............

 

[Karl_K]

So for that reason and so many damn others we need a system that's not broken. I don't think Obamacare is it but as I wrote before I would love to be proven wrong!

Something needed to be done, but I do not like forcing people to buy a product from a for profit company.
It really bugs me.
That said I am grateful to have insurance now.

Karl, the health care industry had their lobbyists make sure that they'd be making $............

which made a sucky law even worse.

 

[MissGotRocks]

All insurance costs money and all insurance companies make money - they wouldn't do it if they didn't. The ACA is new and it is far from perfect. As with all new ventures, it will take time to iron the kinks out and even then it won't serve all persons perfectly. It does, however, provide people with the opportunity to buy insurance regardless of their job situation and regardless of any pre-existing conditions. Those are two very important issues to a lot of people. It doesn't impact me because I am part of a large health insurance group but I can still appreciate it for those that needed those provisions. I think of it as car insurance; state laws mandate you having at least liability insurance so that drivers have some protection. I feel the same way about health insurance. Why should some of us work and pay for it while others don't? I know several folks that feel that they should have health insurance without having to pay for it too. Really? I've always had to pay and my premiums had gone up drastically long before the ACA was implemented. While my insurance is good, I have several benefits from it now that I didn't have before ACA - particularly regarding wellness benefits.

Lastly, would I rather my money go to health benefits rather than war? You betcha! I still cringe every time I see these young men and women coming home without limbs, with head injuries, with mental issues. I salute them for their service but I mourn their losses for a cause I felt was unjust from the beginning. There are far worse inequities than health insurance.

 

[Dancing Fire]

......They aren't fools. they'll still take the penalty, b/c it is still cheaper than buying insurance, and where are all those $50K jobs that you are talking about?... haven't you heard that we have a student loan crisis in this country?..

yes, they are fools because all it takes is one really bad car accident with a lot of ER and hospital care not to mention bills for follow up care. and then "they" and you, my dear DF, will whine about being stuck with bills for that.

one may think one is healthy but within one's own body are forces at work that may not manifest until the next day or 12 years later as noted by some posters in this thread.

I know, that is reason why I wanted her to purchase some hospitalized insurance, BUTTTT most young adults her age will not purchase health insurance until they needed it. My daughter should be covered by the low income plan, cover California?..

 

[movie zombie]

DF, I don't know what plan she'd be covered under.....but if she doesn't get insurance then she must take the consequences of her decision. and it is HER decision. at 26 she is no longer a child that you nor can she plead that she "didn't know".

 

[justginger]

DF, I don't know what plan she'd be covered under.....but if she doesn't get insurance then she must take the consequences of her decision. and it is HER decision. at 26 she is no longer a child that you nor can she plead that she "didn't know".

This. At 26, she is no longer 'young.' At 26, I had moved to a new country, landed a real job, been married and divorced, filed taxes yearly in two countries, covered all necessary expenses including VERY expensive private expat health insurance (during the years I wasn't a PR and didn't qualify for Medicare), and in general lived like a competent adult. At 26, she's capable of and should be sorting out life necessities without badgering (along with every other adult her age - they're not children anymore). It must be very frustrating for you to watch and worry.