A matter of time- Obamacare-Long and rambling
Three days into October and I was lulled into this peaceful state that we might just escape the whole Affordable Care Act...Obamacare debacle. Like a tornado from nowhere, it touched down tonight. Completely unexpected. I admit, I should have been educating myself all along so that I was not so ignorant. I assumed that as long as I had a policy in place, we would not be hassled. I was wrong.
I have just given myself a crash course in the Affordable Care Act. Here is where I will add a disclaimer or two...For some, who have had pre-existing conditions and live in a State that doesn't insure people in such a situation, the ACA is a good thing. Secondly, this is not going to be a blog post that will educate you on facts, it's going to be emotional and my opinion and how I feel about all these changes. There is no shortage of places you can go to read the facts and decide for yourself. So, this is my story, my experience, my words and my feelings. It's not about being a Democrat or Republican. It's about trying to do the right thing, work hard and take care of my family.
There are three things in life that make me want to chew my arms off faster than anything...
Politics/Education
Healthcare
Finances
You can imagine my level of frustration when all three of these things came so neatly wrapped up in one single call from my insurance company!
The new girl reported that my policy is undergoing changes due to the ACA and as of November, my rates will go up but I can save money by joining one of the Healthcare Exchanges. She was very nice but sadly, I was not. For one thing, I just renewed my policy in June, it shouldn't be up for renewal again. Furthermore, I am not too excited about starting over and having to meet another deductible for the year. That just isn't fair! She seemed slightly confused and was really not helpful except for the part that rang loudly in my ears, my premium is increasing!
Regardless of the Healthcare exchanges Obama is underhandedly trying to railroad everyone into, I can not afford increased healthcare premiums. Here is how it all breaks down...
I currently have 12 jobs. 12 part time jobs. Some pay better than others but I barely make ends meet. In fact, over the past 5 years of unemployment and underemployment, there have been months when I have had to pay for essential bills with a credit card. Needless to say, my credit cards are higher than I am comfortable with but that's life.
I have been paying for private insurance for the past 9 years! Even when I was employed full time, I graciously declined the insurance benefits. You see, it's not popular to have children with a debilitating genetic disease. It kind of screws up everyone's insurance at the office. It comes down to having a job and letting them off the hook to pay insurance or not getting a job when they find out what a high risk we are to insure. I would rather be employed than not, so it's a game I have played.
Private insurance costs me $700 a month. I have a deductible and co insurance of $12,000 and I don't get to bask in the 80/20 that most do. I get the 60/40 plan. Then, there are the dental bills, the vision bills and the things that insurance doesn't cover. You do the math...It's well over $20,000 a year. Now, I am being told that unless I join the government plan...I am going to be paying a substantially higher amount than I am now just to keep what I have. It is sad that having the security of health insurance costs more than putting a roof over your head, at least in my case. Health insurance is more than my mortgage!
This is wrong on so many levels. I wouldn't even care really if we were just some regular family with the odd trip the doctor for an ear infection or broken bone even, but we aren't. I finally got to a plan that actually pays for most of what we need. They have only declined a few things. Granted the prices sucks but at least I know that my kids will get the care they need with very few hassles. Changing at this point is overwhelming but Obama will have his way eventually as he finds way to legislate away our freedom to choose and force us to his way.
After I calmed down some, I went to the ACA website to look at what my options were for my state and our health situation. After all, maybe it work out if I just opened my mind and considered the change. There are a few new insurance companies I have never heard of. I read that they were brought to the 'marketplace' to challenge the bigger companies and create competition for pricing. Their policies were not as good as Regence Blue Shield or Blue Cross and our providers are not a part of their network yet which would mean changing doctors! Not going to happen!
I found a Regence plan that had most of what we need, not a lot of extras we don't need and it would have made President Obama giddy like a school girl that I had jumped on board. Ah...but here's the kicker! The plan was $50 cheaper but the out of pocket deductible and co insurance was $4000 more. MORE!!
So, basically, I am screwed. I have no idea what is going to happen. There is no possible way I can work any harder than I already am. My kids are getting frustrated with me because I work all the time! All because I want my agency. I don't want to be a hand out. I don't want to give my freedom to the government and live on entitlement programs. We are living bare bones, few extras, no savings and high debt.
All this is completely overwhelming to me.
On a side note...to round out the perfect day...Sam has injured his nose- black eye, swelling, the whole works. I'm afraid it's fractured but I am waiting for all the swelling to go down before I take him in. Shelbie has petechiae... Sad days!
I have just given myself a crash course in the Affordable Care Act. Here is where I will add a disclaimer or two...For some, who have had pre-existing conditions and live in a State that doesn't insure people in such a situation, the ACA is a good thing. Secondly, this is not going to be a blog post that will educate you on facts, it's going to be emotional and my opinion and how I feel about all these changes. There is no shortage of places you can go to read the facts and decide for yourself. So, this is my story, my experience, my words and my feelings. It's not about being a Democrat or Republican. It's about trying to do the right thing, work hard and take care of my family.
There are three things in life that make me want to chew my arms off faster than anything...
Politics/Education
Healthcare
Finances
You can imagine my level of frustration when all three of these things came so neatly wrapped up in one single call from my insurance company!
The new girl reported that my policy is undergoing changes due to the ACA and as of November, my rates will go up but I can save money by joining one of the Healthcare Exchanges. She was very nice but sadly, I was not. For one thing, I just renewed my policy in June, it shouldn't be up for renewal again. Furthermore, I am not too excited about starting over and having to meet another deductible for the year. That just isn't fair! She seemed slightly confused and was really not helpful except for the part that rang loudly in my ears, my premium is increasing!
Regardless of the Healthcare exchanges Obama is underhandedly trying to railroad everyone into, I can not afford increased healthcare premiums. Here is how it all breaks down...
I currently have 12 jobs. 12 part time jobs. Some pay better than others but I barely make ends meet. In fact, over the past 5 years of unemployment and underemployment, there have been months when I have had to pay for essential bills with a credit card. Needless to say, my credit cards are higher than I am comfortable with but that's life.
I have been paying for private insurance for the past 9 years! Even when I was employed full time, I graciously declined the insurance benefits. You see, it's not popular to have children with a debilitating genetic disease. It kind of screws up everyone's insurance at the office. It comes down to having a job and letting them off the hook to pay insurance or not getting a job when they find out what a high risk we are to insure. I would rather be employed than not, so it's a game I have played.
Private insurance costs me $700 a month. I have a deductible and co insurance of $12,000 and I don't get to bask in the 80/20 that most do. I get the 60/40 plan. Then, there are the dental bills, the vision bills and the things that insurance doesn't cover. You do the math...It's well over $20,000 a year. Now, I am being told that unless I join the government plan...I am going to be paying a substantially higher amount than I am now just to keep what I have. It is sad that having the security of health insurance costs more than putting a roof over your head, at least in my case. Health insurance is more than my mortgage!
This is wrong on so many levels. I wouldn't even care really if we were just some regular family with the odd trip the doctor for an ear infection or broken bone even, but we aren't. I finally got to a plan that actually pays for most of what we need. They have only declined a few things. Granted the prices sucks but at least I know that my kids will get the care they need with very few hassles. Changing at this point is overwhelming but Obama will have his way eventually as he finds way to legislate away our freedom to choose and force us to his way.
After I calmed down some, I went to the ACA website to look at what my options were for my state and our health situation. After all, maybe it work out if I just opened my mind and considered the change. There are a few new insurance companies I have never heard of. I read that they were brought to the 'marketplace' to challenge the bigger companies and create competition for pricing. Their policies were not as good as Regence Blue Shield or Blue Cross and our providers are not a part of their network yet which would mean changing doctors! Not going to happen!
I found a Regence plan that had most of what we need, not a lot of extras we don't need and it would have made President Obama giddy like a school girl that I had jumped on board. Ah...but here's the kicker! The plan was $50 cheaper but the out of pocket deductible and co insurance was $4000 more. MORE!!
So, basically, I am screwed. I have no idea what is going to happen. There is no possible way I can work any harder than I already am. My kids are getting frustrated with me because I work all the time! All because I want my agency. I don't want to be a hand out. I don't want to give my freedom to the government and live on entitlement programs. We are living bare bones, few extras, no savings and high debt.
All this is completely overwhelming to me.
On a side note...to round out the perfect day...Sam has injured his nose- black eye, swelling, the whole works. I'm afraid it's fractured but I am waiting for all the swelling to go down before I take him in. Shelbie has petechiae... Sad days!
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