How has Obamacare affected you?

michaela080

Just wondering about personal experiences with Obamacare. Please elaborate below.

ThePinkSuperhero

I already had insurance through work, so I didn't need exchange coverage. All of my siblings were uninsured and will be receiving affordable coverage thanks to the ACA. Also, I think being able to buy private insurance without fear of rejection inspired my Dad to retire a year early, which I think will be good for him. Working in healthcare we have been on the frontline of the rollout and while it has been very ugly, I think the net result will be positive.

nesenotes

We pay for our insurance out of pocket, so Obama care effed us hard. Much more expensive now X(

ashleynaka

It has not personally affected me as my H works for a hospital and they have amazing coverage, but I personally feel very bad for those of you who are affected by this horrible healthcare coverage plan!

britbratjf

Not affected me - my H's employer has a high deductible option with an HSA. Thats what we've always had and still have. We pay no premium and the employer contributes a certain amount to our HSA and we contribute as well. It's a very nice option.

apollonia10

I was rejected from a health care plan years ago because of TMJ and a miscarriage. Luckily mg husband's group plan could cover us both. Now if we needed to be on a private plan, we could.

ThePinkSuperhero

summergirl1211 said:

ashleynaka said:

It has not personally affected me as my H works for a hospital and they have amazing coverage, but I personally feel very bad for those of you who are affected by this horrible healthcare coverage plan!

@ashleynaka: what makes the plans so awful? They would either be comparible to what people had or much better. :-/

I shopped for my sisters on the federal exchange (for FL) and I have mixed feelings about the plans being offered. I understand that the benefits are similar to employer sponsored plans taking the lesser overall premiums into account, but is it really fair for my siblings making 20k a year to have plans with a 5k deductible before the plan pays for anything? Yes, their overall plan premium is probably 3k compared to the 20k my employer pays on my family plan, but it still doesn't seem right that the system still burdens those who have the least!

apollonia10

Meow84 said:

I was rejected from a health care plan years ago because of TMJ and a miscarriage. Luckily mg husband's group plan could cover us both. Now if we needed to be on a private plan, we could.

Wtf?! I didn't realize a miscarriage could be considered a pre-existing condition. That's messed up.

Right? A clicky jaw and a miscarriage was enough to keep me off the plan - I'm in good health otherwise. The rollout of the ACA has been rocky but I'm so glad that pre-existing conditions are a worry of the past.

cwm11985

@amilyn9785   is S's deductible insanely high on her private plan?  I didn't realize it was an option to buy a separate policy through ACA for kids when the parents are covered under a group plan through employers. I just looked into it (our family plan premium is $786/month) but it almost doesn't seem worth it to have a minimum $4000 deductible (your's may be different? I dont know.  The cheapest one I could find after putting in our info was $4000).  Just curious.  I'd love to not pay nearly $800/month.

aylafsu88

apollonia10 said:

I was rejected from a health care plan years ago because of TMJ and a miscarriage. Luckily mg husband's group plan could cover us both. Now if we needed to be on a private plan, we could.

@apollonia10 Can I ask what you did/do for the TMJ? I have developed TMJ from having 5 dental procedures in the span of 6 months. My dentist told me it would get better and it has but I am not normal. He said if I wanted I could go to a muscular/facial specialist to get some info/exercises that would help. I am not sure if it is worth it though.

apollonia10

@aylafsu88 - My TMJ was caused by headgear when I was a teenager (stupid braces) and got steadily worse over the years. It locked several times and I was scared, so my doctor referred me to physical therapy. It was awesome. They showed me different exercises and rubbed the muscles in my neck, and when they did, my jaw felt looser and more normal. I also have a nightguard from my dentist, and that has been really helpful too. My jaw no longer clicks, and while it doesn't open as wide as it did when it clicked, it's much much better.

TMJ can be a hassle because medical insurance says it's a dental thing, but dental insurance says it's a medical thing. I've had more success having my medical insurance billed for it though (which is probably why I got rejected by a private plan, lol).

aylafsu88

@apollonia10 Thanks for the info. I am thinking I am going to go see someone about it. My jaw clicks a lot and I am very stiff/sore most of the time but I manage. I think the exercises and massage would be really helpful.

christieep

I chose that it hasn't personally affected me.  In some small ways it has (free breastpump) but overall in the insurance realm we are pretty much the same as before.  My insurance rates skyrocketed years ago (before Obama was in office) and my share of the premium has rapidly increased since I was hired.  Right now I am on a high deductible plan with an HSA which has a lower OOP than the other plan my work offers.  By giving birth this year I am actually saving almost $3K by using this plan and maxing out.  I think DH's insurance has changed somewhat as a result, but he is the only one on his insurance and he is fortunate that my employer will cover him as secondary.

Pandril19

Hasn't affected me personally - I work for a company that already had nice insurance and self-insures, so not affected by much marketplace play.

lewispm

Not me personally, but my sister's "affordable" insurance is about $400 more per month than pre- Obama care. Thanks for that, Obama.

ETA: My dad is a small business owner (MH and I work for him) and has expressed concern that he will soon have to have employees start paying for a decent part of their coverage as the business can hardly afford the rates anymore! So that will most definitely affect me when it happens.

ashleynaka

Let's just put it this way...my BIL and SIL are a prime example.  They make a descent amount, but it's not enough to qualify for help under the new plans and it is too expensive to get a plan, so what are you left with...paying the penalty!  They have two younger kids and it is very sad.  

My SIL has taken initiative to try to find a job with benefits, but my BIL is a teaching chef and they are always contractors with no benefits.

I was not trying to be sarcastic.  I was just agreeing that I feel your pain if you are going through a similar situation as others I know.

ashleynaka

I guess what I was trying to say, is they can't afford the health insurance plan on the salary they make, yet, they also don't qualify for financial help to make it affordable.  I know a ton of people in their same boat, that's why I commented in empathy.

C&Csmommy

jfresh said:

@wheelerc I'm just curious to know if you guys looked into Tricare. I momentarily panicked the other day thinking about insurance after H is done in the Guard and he said you can still receive a retired plan. I assume it's not as good as our plan now (which of course isn't as good as active duty plans) but I figured that would still be better than what he/we could receive through our employers.

@jfresh
We tried to get the continued health care benefits since my husband just got out and they wanted $900/month and we could only get it for 18 months. Is your husband planning on staying in the full 20 years to be able to get the retirement plan?

C&Csmommy

@jfresh yeah it sucks! We are just going to take the penalty this year since obamacare wants $400 a month with a $4000 deductible, yeah we will never reach that! We are just putting the $400 away incase we need to go to the doctor and the boys will be on Medicaid because of Cork's issues.