Affordable Care Act (AKA Obamacare)

[Leroy]

OK, given that it is a first step and not perfect and everything, I hear all the time that it is the law of the land, the supreme court says so. Fine. Then why does the president do all these end a rounds by delaying implementation until after elections?

If rose colored partisan glasses can't see this I feel bad for you.

Let's take my example...if I end up needing a transplant(which won't be for awhile if ever), my year one cost will be roughly 500,000. Due to our insurance we will on the hook for 4,500 plus medications at one of the best, if not the best transplant centers in America. Does anyone really be believe that the new plan will do better for me?

Selfish? Damn right. But I've paid premiums since 17 and have never come close to my deductible. If this not perfect plan but thank heaven it is something F's me over, I'm gonna be one pissed off SD'an.

[Leroy]

I'd say 40% of Americans can't name the vice president. That's not hilarious. Its disgusting and sad.

[Socnorb11]

OK, given that it is a first step and not perfect and everything, I hear all the time that it is the law of the land, the supreme court says so. Fine. Then why does the president do all these end a rounds by delaying implementation until after elections?

If rose colored partisan glasses can't see this I feel bad for you.

Let's take my example...if I end up needing a transplant(which won't be for awhile if ever), my year one cost will be roughly 500,000. Due to our insurance we will on the hook for 4,500 plus medications at one of the best, if not the best transplant centers in America. Does anyone really be believe that the new plan will do better for me?

Selfish? Damn right. But I've paid premiums since 17 and have never come close to my deductible. If this not perfect plan but thank heaven it is something F's me over, I'm gonna be one pissed off SD'an.

I don't know who your insurance is through. If it's through an employer, then your benefits shouldn't change.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

I'm glad people may be coming around to the idea that the ACA is [expletive].

the aca was never anything more than a first step. Its amazing it got done in such a polarized environment. It will be made better as time passes I hope. already price inflation is down and some places are seeing insurance companies estimating premiums will be significantly reduced from their first estimations.

I'd love to see that information.

Here's a good source.

WASHINGTON — As state health exchanges continue to announce lower-than-expected rates for health insurance, experts say both state and regional issues play a part in how much a consumer will pay for insurance beginning in January.

Maryland's insurance commissioner said Friday that the expected new rates for residents who will need to buy insurance starting Oct. 1 are up to 33% lower than expected, and that coverage for a 21-year-old non-smoker could cost as low as $93 a month.

In Connecticut, insurer HealthCT announced plans that would drop an average of 36% from its original proposal in the individual market; and Nevada will sell plans to young adults to cover catastrophic health situations for less than $100 a month.

Rates for New York and California, two of the nation's three most populous states, have also come in lower than expected.

Personally, I looked at Oregon's Obamacare site and got estimates for my 22 and 23 year old sons at about $75 a month. That is much more affordable than auto insurance for instance. And it keeps them from being beholden to an employer for their health care. And I think that is a good thing.

[Leroy]

Oh good. Shouldn't change. I feel better.

[Socnorb11]

I get your frustration Leroy, I really do. Medical costs in this country are just unimaginable. The medical industry, as a whole, is one of the biggest scams on earth.

[wart57]

I get your frustration Leroy, I really do. Medical costs in this country are just unimaginable. The medical industry, as a whole, is one of the biggest scams on earth.

Our 2 year old broke her elbow in February, we have gotten bills from the emergency room, the radiology dept., the radiologist, and the physicians at one hospital, and another set of bills from the pediatric orthopedist, her office, the radiology dept. at her office, and bills for supplies used. I pay a lot of money in premiums for my insurance, and I still owe about $4,000 out of pocket for a fractured elbow since my deductible had not been met yet. The total charges for this elbow were in the $16,000 range. It really looks like they are double billing for some things to try to get as much from my insurance and from me as possible.
My 4 yr. old had pneumonia in October, we are still paying off the $4500 in bills from that visit.

[Leroy]

I'm not frustrated. Not yet. But at around the time I need to make a life or death decision I find that things don't go according to current plan (for which I've already blown through 20k) I will be. I'll take my pretty darned good over a first step that isn't perfect but is a start. I'm just afraid I may not have that decision to make.

As to afford ability for the young...any estimate that assumes a 25 year old will pay the 100 per month rather than the alleged 90 fine is overly optimistic and reality will blow the whole plan up.

[Socnorb11]

I get your frustration Leroy, I really do. Medical costs in this country are just unimaginable. The medical industry, as a whole, is one of the biggest scams on earth.

Our 2 year old broke her elbow in February, we have gotten bills from the emergency room, the radiology dept., the radiologist, and the physicians at one hospital, and another set of bills from the pediatric orthopedist, her office, the radiology dept. at her office, and bills for supplies used. I pay a lot of money in premiums for my insurance, and I still owe about $4,000 out of pocket for a fractured elbow since my deductible had not been met yet. The total charges for this elbow were in the $16,000 range. It really looks like they are double billing for some things to try to get as much from my insurance and from me as possible.
My 4 yr. old had pneumonia in October, we are still paying off the $4500 in bills from that visit.

And it's always so convoluted that it's virtually impossible to tell if you ARE being double-billed.

Health "insurance", or the ACA, is one issue, but the bigger issue to me is getting the medical industry under control. I don't know if it will ever happen, but it needs to.

[ghostrunner]

Yeah, now we're getting kicked in the balls instead of branded on the penis head.

Much better. Yay!

Further, anyone that is in favor of getting 'something' done just to change whatever....that's ridiculously illogical. It's going to cost billions of dollars nationwide, both public and private money, to implement these changes. Companies are paying consultants to help them make these changes. Government departments are working full time (and still vastly behind, I might add) to try to meet the deadlines. All this just so hopefully in a couple years another big change, er improvement, will happen? Idiocy, imo.

And the 'polarized' environment consisted of a democratic controlled house, senate, white house, and a sweeping win in 2008.... You couldn't ask for more. It's like the exact opposite of polarized.

One of the goals of the legislation was to get poor people covered. It is better for those who weren't covered before. I think the jury is way out on how it affect the average insured person.