How does your personal situation relate to your views on the HCR bill?

[pscot]

Poll question: How does your personal situation relate to your views on the HCR bill?

Maybe you can use the comments to tell how you think you'll be affected by the reforms

[begin_within]

1. Even though it might help me, I'm still opposed to it on the grounds that it is completely

the wrong way to "reform" the health insurance system. The right way to reform the system is either Single Payer, or to introduce real competition to the private insurance system with a genuine public option or Medicare-for-All option that anyone can buy into. Sure it's great to prohibit denial of preexisting conditions and all that. But the right way to do this is to introduce the public alternative. So even though I think that I would benefit from this bill, possibly receiving a subsidy towards the $2000+/yr I pay in premiums for what is bare-bones coverage, I'm still opposed to the bill because it is fundamentally the wrong way to approach the problem.

[bigwillq]

2. Good post.

Thanks for sharing. :thumbsup:

[begin_within]

3. You're welcome. I also oppose it on behalf of my 91-year-old mother,

who uses a Medicare Advantage plan, but as I understand it benefits to those will be decreased if this bill passes. Just yesterday the plan sent out a letter advising of a $25 monthly premium starting January 1 (up until now, there was no monthly premium and that was a major selling point for this plan). So I feel that this bill is putting the squeeze on seniors who are on fixed incomes and can can't afford any increases in their costs or cutbacks on their benefits. I think trying to squeeze more money out of seniors or skimp on their benefits is another fundamental error of this bill.

[KrR]

22. You do realize

that Howard Dean considers the Medicare Advantage plan a giveaway to the insurance companies right? Its also a ripoff for those that purchase it... and is incremental privatization of Medicare.

Its pretty shocking how uninformed your post is.

[katkat]

34. begin_within

Your Mom may be better off on regular Medicare plus a Medigap plan. It's been a couple of years since I read through all the paperwork and chose the latter combo, so I don't remember if and when it's possible to switch plans.

I do recall that MedicareAdvantage provides about the same benefits as Medicare+Medigap, if you chose the right plan, but it costs the government/taxpayers about 14% more, which goes directly into the pockets of BigInsurance. That's why I picked Medicare+(AARP) Medigap. I would not be at all surprised to see BigInsurance trying to squeeze more money out of MedicareAdvantage from seniors as well. My plan lets me see any doctor.

As far as I know, the bill cuts reimbursement to home care under Medicare, a surpassingly stupid thing to do. Are they cutting other Medicare areas as well?

It always infuriates me that Congress tries to cut the already inadequate Medicare payments to doctors, etc. instead of at least adjusting them for inflation, but has no trouble dumping dump trucks of money on war or their own stupid pet projects.

[Mimosa]

32. DH and I pay $11,000 a year for bare bones coverage!

I assume 'self insured' in the poll means we pay for our own health insurance policies. The true meaning of self insure is that one covers all of one's own health care costs without needing or using a second party i.e. a health insurance company.

[vi5]

4. I have a very specific situation...

I have a very ill 3 year old son and I have very good medical insurance. Right now I have a $2,000 out of pocket cap after which everything is covered 100% and I have a huge network of "in network" doctors for my son. If my company and insurer can get away with an $11,000 or whatever it is annual out of pocket under this new bill, then I'm sure they are going to try and do it. I can see my situation personally getting worse and costing me more money to treat my son each year.

Which I would be fine with if it meant a new, good system that everyone would benefit from and everyone would be covered under at minimum cost to them and would keep the insurance companies in check and really crack down on their practices when it came to other people and not just myself.

But that's not the case. So those people are fucked, AND I'm going to be fucked. So.....yeah.

[KrR]

25. What a strange post...

why would your employer's insurace plan raise their caps just because its allowed under the new plan? It would be allowed now also so whats stopping them from doing it now?

[vi5]

33. Because

Right now We have a lifetime cap of a certain amount. If they can no longer administer that under the new reforms, then I don't think it's unreasonable to think that they will increase our annual cap. And also, with all the other hits they will take they are going to attempt to pick up that slack and profit in any other way they can.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

38. Annual and Lifetime caps are eliminated in the Senate Bill...

And as it is right now, your insurance company could drop you at their discretion, something else which is banned in the reform legislation.

[vi5]

40. But that's my point.....

..if they are banning lifetime and annual caps, what is to prevent them from offsetting that by raising my annual out of pocket cap?

Yes, I know that they can do that now. But my concern is that they will be more motivated to do that in order to offset their loses from eliminating lifetime and annual caps.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

46. I don't know all the particulars of the legislation....

But in general, I'd say you're betting off paying higher out-of-pocket expenses rather than having your coverage cancelled.

[vi5]

48. My coverage wasn't in danger of being cancelled...

Yes, I know it could have been. But that's not really the point of my response.

The point was I have good coverage that has one set of particulars and costs me a certain amount out of pocket each year.
Under this legislation and what is and is not allowed, and the impact of that on their bottom line, it will likely cost me much more than that each year.

That doesn't change by the fact that they could have done something else altogether which they didn't do and made no overtures towards doing prior to this.

[Indenturedebtor]

5. Good poll

I have health insurance and I'm against it. I'm young and relatively healthy but I campaigned and gave and gave to get these clowns elected in no small part because it is my duty as an American and a Jew to work to care for the sick.

This bill doesn't cut it... not by a LONG shot! Take some more of my money to care for the sick not the damn insurance companies you corporate whores!

[KrR]

26. This plan does take your tax money and give it

to others for coverage...

[Indenturedebtor]

50. To "others" meaning insurance companies n/t

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. I am a self-employed middle-aged person with a varying income

and this bill would either leave me worse off or in the absolutely rosiest scenario, about the same. Which is not great.

[Ex Lurker]

20. my situation is very similar

I am self employed, and also have a part time job. The part time job provides me enough to cover my monthly expenses, and self employment takes care of the rest. If the bill mandates coverage for part time workers, I will most likely lose that job, leaving me worse off.

[KrR]

24. Umm there is no emplyer mandate even tho it would be nice n/t

[Ex Lurker]

29. are you sure?

the last version I read had an employer mandate in it.

[KrR]

23. How would it make you worse off? n/t

[Lydia Leftcoast]

44. I would not be able to drop my current useless, over-priced high deductible insurance

if it became unaffordable (my definition of unaffordable, as opposed to the Senate or House's definition of unaffordable).

At the moment, my premium is 2.5 times what is charged to the under-30 crowd for the same non-coverage. The legislation would allow it to go up to 3 times or even 4 times (depending on the bill) the amount charged to young people--and don't think that the corporate types aren't itching for explicit permission to do this.

That's 3 or 4 times the young people's price.

Now with a captive market, there is NO WAY the companies aren't going to raise the base price of insurance (i.e. the young people's price) and gouge the over-50 group to the full extent of the law.

NOW, under my current non-insurance, I had to think long and hard about whether I wanted to have a doctor look at my sprained ankle. It was so painful that I suspected a fracture, so I swallowed hard and went in.

By the way, if a person has insurance, even with a high deductible, the doctor has to submit the claim to the insurance company. Then the insurance company goes into paper-generating mode and sends you a statement of benefits and eventually a bunch of bills.

At a health care town hall, I talked to a doctor who has set up a practice for artists and other uninsured people, and he says that when his patients need outside tests, it's actually better if they don't have insurance, because he can negotiate deep discounts for them, whereas if they have insurance, even high-deductible, there's no negotiation possible.

[RainDog]

7. insurance isn't the issue for people. HEALTH CARE is the issue

insurance is really unnecessary when health care is run as a basic service needed for a nation.

people can't work when they're sick.

people can't get to work when there are no roads.

same kind of thing.

this is why this bill is so sad.

[AllyCat]

8. I have pretty good insurance though work. But I take care of people all day

with no insurance or on state assistance. It's horrible watching the decisions these people have to make and the stress they are under.

I thought we were a better country than this. Knowing "I got mine" doesn't make me feel any better.

[HughMoran]

9. I'm on Cobra because I was laid off

:shrug:

[RainDog]

11. don't be late with a payment or they will dump you

and then, well, good luck.

[HughMoran]

14. yep - I'm real careful about that

Cobra sucks - I can't believe they make me send an old-fashioned paper check to them :eyes:

[RainDog]

16. I was extremely depressed and missed my payment

tho I needed the health care coverage to see the head shrinker.

oh well. it's only your health.

but I thought I had stepped into Catch-22.

[HughMoran]

17. bastards

glad the system is getting an overhaul - I hope it helps.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

36. I just read that the COBRA subsidies have been extended...

So there's a little good news. COBRA payments are obscene!

[HughMoran]

43. What do you mean, "extended".

This is huge news as I may need to extend mine.

Believe it or not, my Cobra payment is 30% cheaper than my SUBSIDIZED payment at my small company! Apples to apples, my rates are 3X higher at my small business than at my previous large company!!!!

Do you have a link on this?

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

45. Here's the link

And regarding your payments. Yikes! I was unemployed about seven years ago and about had a stroke when I saw how much COBRA was. In my case, my family was healthy and had no preexisting conditions, so I went with a high-deductible plan that covered by for about six months between jobs.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2009/12/22/MNLI1B6J6N.DTL

[HughMoran]

47. Darn, it only extends the subsidy eligibility period

My subsidy already expired. I think the HCR extends Cobra until the exchanges are set up - but my employer would have to stop offering insurance for me to be able to stay on Cobra - which might happen. If not, I have to sign up for the company insurance which costs me 30% more and costs the company a pile-o-money too.

[FreakinDJ]

10. Well there goes any plans for Retirement

Might as will admit it - Health Care Insurance will keep me in Indebted Servitude until the day I drop dead at work

[Skink]

12. I'd have signed up for my employers quality affordable healthcare sooner

I didn't think I could afford it for years but faced with a fine I'd do it. I would hope everyone who can in the company signs up and our costs atleast remain the same.

I wonder about any new person that has to wait 1000 hours before becoming eligable? Do they get fined?

[GreenPartyVoter]

13. I have medicaid and I want them to fix the dang thing in conference, and then pass it.

[Luciferous]

15. Other

My family just enrolled in Medicaid because my husband's insurance rates are being jacked up next year and his coverage is decreasing. The only reason we qualify for this is because I recently graduated from college and can't find a job. :eyes:

[paulsby]

18. i have a cadillac plan

but i support universal coverage. it wouldn't be best for ME, but i believe it's more just for society.

no govt. plan could ever come close to my plan.

[pscot]

19. I have one of those "gold plated"

federal retiree plans that are the envy of the known world. Insurance costs me around $150 a month plus another $150 for my wife. Up until last year it was a dead loss, but in the last 18 months I've recouped every nickel I've paid in and am way ahead. I have no idea how the new model will affect me, but I favor it because I believe it will help a lot of people, and will be tweaked over time to make it better. I know many of you don't agree. I too would have prefered medicare for all, but that wasn't in the cards. The criticism of the President and the congress is somewhat justified, but the deal has gone down. It looks ugly, but I still thinks it's a win. I've been watching the Senate today, and the Republicons are just beside themselves. They gambled big on this one, and they lost big. They have zero cred, and the Democrats are thoroughly pissed at them. They are going to take a hit for the way they've been acting.

[Quantess]

21. Kicking for more votes.

[eridani]

27. I have a shitty catastrophic age-rated "plan"

I am opposed because now at least I have the option of dropping it if my ongoing health care expenses get too high. Don't relish being criminalized for that choice.

[girl gone mad]

28. This is also why I think the mandate is so counterproductive.

While our current system is deeply flawed, having the option to drop your plan for whatever reason is one of the few checks we have in place.

As long as insurers know that young, healthy and low-income people can simply abstain from purchasing insurance, this gives them incentive, however modest, to stay competitive. Removing this market price control without much stronger regulations is a bad idea.

On a personal level, I've got an uncle who dropped his plan after it became prohibitively expensive, and now gets affordable care in Mexico. He has lived in and traveled extensively through S. America so he understands the systems in place and this was an informed decision on his part.

If the mandate goes through, he could be forced back into the American insurance system and likely will be worse off.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

49. That's what I intend to do if I'm allowed to drop insurance:

Pay for routine stuff out of pocket (which I can do if I'm not spending thousands per year on premiums) and put aside the rest of the premium money to use in a lower cost country if I need surgery or anything.

(For a real emergency, like a heart attack or stroke, I'm screwed either way, because my current policy will not protect me from bankruptcy.)

[phasma ex machina]

59. +1 Just say no to a healthy youth "tax."

that which we call a tax / By any other name would take as much.

[DailyGrind51]

30. Given our inability to counteract the well-funded propaganda of the insurance lobby,

it is the best deal we can get.

[FrenchieCat]

31. You don't have the choice that I would have picked.......

I have health insurance and pay through the nose for it, but I care more about those that don't and need it. and since people on DU can't even fucking agree, why did we expect 60 folks
on capital bill to agree to give all of us exactly what each of us wanted? We don't live in such a country, and never really have.

[Mimosa]

39. They "GAVE" us nothing: They are dictating to us, Frenchie

I was an early Obama contributor/supporter as you were.

But I'm pretty sure this inurance corp welfare bill will hurt the regular people who are just barely getting by. No public option. *sad*

Nothing will change for DH and me except we may get screwed even more because of the mandate.

Our situation? Self-employed, highly variable income, not rich. just hanging in there. One of us is chronically ill with excluded serious condition. The other has an exclusion for his main health complaint. We are over 50. We pay BC/BS $800+ a month for a $10,000 annual deductible, 70/30 plan which does not cover our RXs because of the exclusions. There is nothing in the bills to help people like us.

[superduperfarleft]

35. I have health insurance, will be unaffected by the bill, and oppose the bill

But don't care enough to beat my head against the virtual brick wall that is DU.

[Bill McBlueState]

37. "accept" is a little vague,

but otherwise, good poll.

"Accept" could cover everything from "I am very disappointed in the bill, but I grudgingly accept it" to "I enthusiastically support the bill."

[cali]

41. none of the above. I have private subsidized insurance administered by the state of VT.

I actually don't think the legislation will change my situation much.

[Kansas Wyatt]

42. I lose my insurance at the end of the month.

I didn't get enough hours of work in for the year and cannot afford to pay what I am suppose to contribute to remain covered. Averaged 20 hours a week all year, then no work. So, I decided it was a lot cheaper for me to pay for all my prescriptions and annual exam out of pocket for the next 6 months. If I have a heart attack in the meantime... You get the picture.

[depakid]

51. Pretty even split among self selected Dems with 125 votes in...

[Blasphemer]

54. I had a nerdy moment so I did a further breakdown of the results:

With 133 votes cast:

Overall 70.7% of respondents Oppose (94 votes), 29.3% Accept (39 votes)

Of those with no insurance 79.5% Oppose, 20.5% Accept

Of those who are self insured 80% Opposed, 20% Accept

Of those with insurance through work 62% Oppose, 38% Accept

Of those on Medicare 69% Oppose, 31% Accept

Opposition breakdown - 94 votes (70.7% of all votes)

40% of those who oppose are insured through work

37% of those who oppose are not insured

13% of those who oppose are self insured

10% of those who oppose are on Medicare

Acceptance breakdown - 39 votes (29.3% of all votes)

59% of those who accept are insured through work

23% of those who accept are uninsured

10% of those who accept are on Medicare

8% of those who accept are self-insured

[depakid]

55. +1 interesting

[pscot]

57. I'd like to thank everyone for their thoughtful responses

Judging by what people have been saying, none of us seem to have a very clear idea of how this is going to affect our individual situations. I watched the Senate for a while today, and it looks like this will play out differently in different states. According to Schumer, some states might even set up their own single payer systems. If that's true, then local officials may be the new focus for our lobbying efforts.

[Odin2005]

52. I get coverage through MN Medical Assistance and I oppose the Senate bill.

I probably won't be affected much, but my mother certainly will.

[KG]

53. unemp., no insurance, 50ish. would oppose it even if i were covered.

anything less than single payer is not 'health care reform'.

as long as insurance companies are involved, 'health care' will always take a back seat to profits. always. always and forever.

[Mind_your_head]

56. ha-ha

:rofl:

[phasma ex machina]

58. "I am self insured and I oppose the Senate bill" because it forces healthy young people to buy

insurance, in an apparent desperate gambit to keep big insurance companies solvent as aging boomers place incredible inevitable strains on the existing health care system.