Can anyone tell me what a single 38yr old earning $35,500 will get from the HCR bill?

[mdmc]

My guess is that I will get higher medical treatment expenses.

I currently have private health insurance through my employer. I do not earn enough income to utilize medical treatment with my insurance. I can afford housing or medical treatment, not both.

Does anyone know if there will be any relief for the working poor that are currently fully insured by private insurance that cannot be utilized due to excessive co-pays and other costs?

[ixion]

1. Higher Prices, Poorer treatment, and lots of government involvment

wheee!

[yodoobo]

55. straight from the freeper playbook

Don't fall for it.

[ixion]

57. LOL... I've got news for you:

I don't pay any attention whatsoever to freepers or their stupid influences.

This is my opinion, garnered from what I've read of the bill.

I am extremely unimpressed with this bill.

And I SUPPORT REAL HEALTH CARE REFORM.

This bill is not even close, though.

[yodoobo]

76. oh I know

I know you have good intentions.

I'm just troubled that I see that freepers and du'ers are converging against Obama on the healthcare issue.

I'm not entirely sure why this is happening, but I don't believe it is good for the party or future victories at election time.

[DailyGrind51]

75. I welcome the fact that "government" will not permit insurance companies to rescind clients,

when they receive an expensive diagnosis. "Treatment" will not be affected.

[TicketyBoo]

2. There is no way to tell

until the final bill is passed, since it could change substantially in committee.

[Nikki Stone1]

3. Although we know for sure that there will be a mandate.

Other than that, we'll have to see.

[mdmc]

5. yup we might get a 90% ratio, or universal health care, but I doubt it

I think the next step is to allow the private insurance industry to fail to provide affordable access to healthcare.
The uninsured will now be insured, but not able to pay co-payments to receive treatment.
They will be mad.
They will be mad at their health care providers, God Willing. Hopefully, they will give Obama a pass.

[notesdev]

4. There's a shaft with your name on it

[AnOhioan]

8. Damn...beat me to it :)

[MNDemNY]

6. Hemorrhoids.

[blogslut]

7. While there is no final bill yet

There is this calculator:

http://healthreform.kff.org/SubsidyCalculator.aspx

[mdmc]

11. thank you miss..

I'm gonna check it out..
peace and low stress..

[valerief]

38. So you'd pay $3169 with no subsidy. I wonder if that's before or after tax?

That's 264 a month. On your salary, that's not chump change.

[KittyWampus]

47. my small business just had my premiums go up to $600 a month. So the poster would be paying half

of what I am now... a single 48 year old woman who makes less than HALF what the OP does.

[valerief]

51. That's insane. nt

[Arkansas Granny]

14. According to the calculator, the premiums would be affordable at my age and income level,

but that doesn't address the issue of deductibles and co-pays. Some of the policies I have looked at for basic coverage have $5K-$7K deductibles before they pay for anything.

[mdmc]

21. exactly - I spend 5% of my income on health insurance

and 10% of my income on medical treatment (medications, co-payments, non-covered treatment recommended by medical providers).

So I am spending 15% of my income on medical treatment.

This calculator says I would be eligable if I spent 9% on my "insurance". The insurance ain't worth shit if it can't be used for medical treatment.

[notesdev]

28. spend 10% more on a lawyer

and you might be able to navigate the clusterfuck of legislation and bureaucracy in order to get some actual care

[mdmc]

35. My B-in-L is a CFO - he does my taxes

I don't know what kind of lawyer I would need...

[notesdev]

64. Sorry, I was being a bit sarcastic

The reality appears to be that you need to be a lawyer to understand what this bill does and does not do for you (other than sticking you with a bill that you have to pay). I can well imagine the avalanche of lawsuits that would follow the passage of this bill, from the constitutionality/legality of the mandate and other aspects of the bill, to the endless number of people who think they will be covered to one degree or another and will find out only after the fact that they aren't.

[mdmc]

68. I hope that my elected officials will help me through

and like I said, my b-in-law does my taxes .. he has an mba and is a cfo - if my tax status changes he will give me a hand..

Personally, I would like to know nothing. I would like to see my co-payments go from $40 to $10 and have that be the only thing I know about this reform bill.

But I know that my co-payments will go up from $40 to $45 or $50.. sigh..

[mdmc]

16. thank you - one more question

It says that private employer based insurance would not be covered unless the EMPLOYEE needed to spend 09.8% "for the employer provided coverage".

Here is my question - my health care treatment costs me about 15% of my income. My health insurance only costs me about 5% of my income.

So is the 09.8% only cover how an EMPLOYEE pays for health insurance or is it how much an EMPLOYEE would pay for medical treatment?


...the link stated..
In general, full-time employees with employer coverage available that meets specified requirements are not eligible for premium subsidies, unless the employee would have to pay more than 9.8% of income for the employer-provided coverage.

[blogslut]

19. I hope someone can answer your question

I just provided the calculator link. I'm math-challenged and insurance ignorant. :hi:

[mdmc]

23. Your link has been most helpful

I've been asking everyone I can the following question -
I can't afford medical treatment even though I am fully insured through private employer based coverage. How much more will my treatment cost after this bill passes?

I am sure that my expenses will not go down. I am sure that my medical expenses will increase.

I just want to know how much. I want to know why having health insurance that cannot be utilized for medical treatment is beneficial.

[valerief]

40. It makes very rich people richer. It's disgusting. Our govt hates Americans. nt

[intheflow]

30. Thanks for this.

According to this calculator, I'll be paying about a month's rent (about $100 less for the House bill, about $150 more for the Senate version) for coverage. I'm a 45 year old single woman who makes $17,500 a year. Obviously I can afford an additional month's rent and I'm just not buying insurance at present because I love having all this extra wealth lying around! :eyes:

[KittyWampus]

44. Using the info you just gave it says you get a $3495 subsidy and only have to pay $867 YEARLY

That's well under a thousand dollars a year you would be paying if you are single, 45 year old woman making $17,000 according to the Senate bill.

[intheflow]

67. $867 is over a month's rent for me.

And after buying food, gas, paying utilities, and making payments on my current debt, I have about $50 leftover at the end of the month. Add into the mix $1200 in auto insurance every year, and god forbid I need anything like new tires or a tune-up, or the need for an emergency tow with my car, or new clothes for work, and you can see why I do NOT have an "extra" $867 just lying around every YEAR! I am barely making it now.

[TK421]

69. Sounds like you're in the same situation I am in, except for the auto insurance

I haven't had a car in almost four years..

[KittyWampus]

42. Hmmm, according to that I will be eligible for Medicaid if bill holds to Senate deal.

[blogslut]

43. Me too!

:hug:

[clear eye]

74. I think you will be sorely disappointed

by the inadequacy of the coverage. It is nothing like the public portion of Medicare.

Medicaid works ok in urban centers (though w/ long waits in clinics) for things a primary physician can handle. If you have a more serious or complicated problem that needs a specialist to diagnose or expensive drug or treatment to regain health, you are in serious trouble. Some DUers w/ experience have called it "a death sentence".

[MercutioATC]

54. Good thing I have insurance through my employer.

My premiums would be more than double what I pay now.

On an interesting note, the calculator tells you what percent of the federal poverty level you're at.

[blogslut]

58. Well, I didn't need a calculator to know I'm poor

I laugh when people tell me I'm in a recession-proof industry. Then I cry. Than I laugh again but it's a cynical laugh.

[MercutioATC]

60. I just thought that getting a specific percentage was interesting.

I could have figured it out myself (it's simple math), I've just never done so.

[mdmc]

70. lol

I'm in a recession proof industry too. What it means is no matter how bad the job market is, no one wants my job! (or not enough people want my job).

[laughingliberal]

9. Best I can say you might get out of it is all insurers, at some, point will be required to provide,

without co-pay, some form of yearly screening, maybe a visit with your doctor and some labs (?). Depending on age there may be a requirement that they cover certain routine screenings like PSA's and colonoscopy. I'm also a little worried about a provision I see talked about where employers can require you to lower your cholesterol levels and such or pay a higher amount of your own premium. I am not clear on the details but I do think this capitalizes on Bush' last minute executive order that gave employers the right to certain information about your health which was once private.

[Individualist]

10. Screwed

[MNDemNY]

12. You will be mandated to buy private insurance. You will get NO subsidy.

screwn, is all you get.

[mdmc]

24. I have employer based insurance that I cannot afford to utilize

So I already am fully covered, I just can't access medical treatment due to high co-pays.

[MNDemNY]

25. This does little to help you. You "are allowed" to keep your coverage!

Happy??

[mdmc]

36. That is what I thought - I figured my health treatment would cost more

happyhappyjoyjoy..

[johnaries]

62. IIRC, once th eexchange is fully in effect in 2014, he will be able to

choose between his employer-provided insurance or a policy on the exchangeat least under the House bill. Or maybe it was that his employer would be able to choose from the exchange. I'm trying to find the information now, but i'm on dial-up so it's a slow process for me.

[Hello_Kitty]

13. Since you have insurance through your employer you have to stay in it.

And if your premiums and co-pays go up, oh well...

[Delphinus]

15. I can

(barely) afford catastrophic, high-deductible health insurance - I certainly cannot afford medical care.

(I know - I am not answering your question. Just needed to state that fact.)

[POAS]

17. Since your example falls in the range

of 300 to 350 % of poverty level (2009) then (Senate version):

1. Your premium contributions would be capped at 10 to 11 % of income.

2. You would get cost sharing credits of 72% which "reduce the cost-sharing amounts and annual cost-sharing limits and have the effect of increasing the actuarial value of the basic benefit plan."

3. Limit out-of-pocket expenses to a maximum of $4500.

[mdmc]

27. So the most I would need to pay for treatment is $4500?

Is that correct?

I fear that my medical treatment will cost much more once this bill passes. I cannot afford treatment now due to high co-payments.

Thanks for the info - where did you get the info..

[POAS]

32. From the link below

Lots of good info:

The Kaiser Family Foundation's side-by-side comparison.

I first googled for info on the current FPL for a single person ($10830) since the bill is indexed to the Federal Poverty Level.

[mdmc]

37. thanks

thanks

[POAS]

39. No Problem

I figured you would draw a lot of snark and little information of any real value.

That site offers about the most concise and easily searched info I've seen yet.

[mdmc]

45. I've been in touch with Hinchey's staff and Chuckies as well (NYS)

I just want to know how much this bill will hurt me and if there is any way that it might be of benefit to me.

Your link and replies have been very beneficial.

[FLDCVADem]

66. I'm confused

Didn't you say in another thread that you pay 10% of your income in premiums and another 5% in treatment?

[mdmc]

73. I'm confused too..

I'm trying to figure out how much I spend weekly for my insurance (taken out of pre-tax) compared to how much I spend in co-pay for meds and appointments.

The overall message is clear - I need to earn more money to pay for my health treatment. That much I am not confused about.

[SoCalDem]

18. Since you have coverage now, nothing will change for you..unless

you decide to drop it, and pocket the money you are contributing..the employer will pocket what he/she has been paying on your behalf.

If you are brave, healthy and lucky, you might be able to do a HSA (maybe it's offered as an option at work?), and use that money to pay for your own medical care, or just save the money & pay out-of-pocket, BUT one single illness, surgery, accident could wipe you out & force you into the poor house forever..

If you live in an expensive area, you might get some assistance eventually, but I think most of that part of the proposed bill does not even kick in until 2014 or maybe even later..

[Donnachaidh]

20. unreccers are trying to shut you down dude. K&R n/t

[mdmc]

26. They must have enough disposable income to be able to afford

medical treatment..

Or maybe they hate the rec/unrec function and just unrec everything or everything on certain issues..

[dysfunctional press]

22. a republican house, senate, and presidency come 2013.

[Better Today]

29. NO! because no one at this moment knows what the final bill will look like.

[spanone]

31. the bill was not specifically written for 38 year olds making 35.500

[EFerrari]

34. Which is why the OP raised a question. n/t

[mdmc]

41. It was designed to take 58 million uninsured, and make them like me

insured and unable to afford medical treatment.

Where are the poor going to find the out of pocket expenses that go along with private insurance? If the working poor can't afford it, how will the non-working poor?

[Goldstein1984]

33. You point out an important issue

many are going to be required to have insurance that they will not be able to afford to use.

A doubleplusgood for the insurance industry.

But someone correctly wrote that the final House/Senate version could be substantially different from either version now, so too early to tell.

[mdmc]

71. too soon to tell

indeed..

thanks for the reply

[harun]

46. You'll be screwed. It is clear now if you aren't helping substantially to

make a corporation more rich, then you are going to be screwed.

[clear eye]

48. Actually the bill says that insurers can continue to sell the exact plan

you're on for 5 years after the bill is implemented as long as they make no changes in coverage. Since you're covered you are not elegible for a plan from the exchanges, so my best guess is you will see no benefit.

[TheKentuckian]

49. Congratulations!!!! You get nothing, fucked, or both.

Actual annual plan premium: $3,297
(age factor = ) 0.94
Cap on premium as % of income: 9.8%
Person/family premium payment: $3,297
% of total premium paid by person/family: 100%
Person/family payment as % of income: 9.3%
Government subsidy: 0

for a crappy plan with a 70% actuarial value and don't worry your work plan will look very similar in no time or just be dropped since you'll no longer be totally captive thus eliminating the benefit to your employer.

[Nikki Stone1]

52. ..

.

[rudy23]

50. This is the kind of math that "centrists" are just now starting to do, and getting outraged.

I honestly don't think the polls are showing how much the American people are against the Senate Healthcare bill, because most people haven't done the math, or they don't accept that our government is even capable of forcing it onto us.

[tridim]

53. What condition do you have that you can't afford treatment for now?

I was in the same position as you (same age and income) before I got laid off and I could easily afford typical co-pays. I couldn't afford to get really sick though, not surprising since very few can. That's why we're reforming health care.

[phasma ex machina]

56. A bill for the premium?

:hide:

[inna]

59. Actually, it MAY help you - or maybe not, depending on the final bill.

From what I've seen so far, the current Senate bill actually provides some relief for people with income under 300% of FPL (Federal Poverty Level).

Here's an example for a family of 4:




Oops, I just plugged in your parameters in this calculator (very handy tool, btw)
- http://healthreform.kff.org/SubsidyCalculator.aspx - and it turns out that:

*** as a single 38yr old making $35,500 you are actually at 328% of FDL and don't qualify for any premium subsidies.

In your case (assuming that you live in a medium-cost area):

*** Actual annual plan premium for you will be: $3,297

*** Which equals 9.3% of your income.

*** You don't qualify for any premium subsidies, because in your income range the cap premium as % of income happens to be 9.8%.

--> i.e., you're on your own as far as premiums go. :(


However, since you're in 300-400% FPL range, you may qualify for another subsidy:

*** your out-of-pocket annual maximum (i.e., deductibles and copays; this does NOT include premiums) will be reduced by one/third and will equal $3,987

*** which equals 11.2% of your income.


Let's do some quick math...

*** your total maximum costs will be capped at $7,284 a year (or 20.5% of your income).



Now, to me it sounds ridiculously high and frankly unaffordable (hell, i couldn't afford it!), but... it may (or not) be less than what you're paying now...

What do you think?

[mudplanet]

61. I suspect you won't be affected by it financially much, as

your solidly in a middle class bracket.

You will be affected by it indirectly in that it's a positive step in your social/political environment toward recognizing the inherent worth of all individuals regardless of how much money they have. Your country is now approaching the status of civilization.

Wait ten to fifteen years. Then you'll really benefit in that if you need to be employed you won't be judged on whether it's going to be too expensive to hire you because you'll make everyone else's health insurance costs go up. Welcome to my world.

[The Gunslinger]

63. Higher health care costs

[inna]

65. P.S. Be sure to read this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7338574

and this: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7338574&mesg_id=7339021


Lots of numbers and info there...


Wish you the best! Really curious how those calculations in my previous post work out for you; please let me know! :hi:

[Greyhound]

72. The opportunity to buy stock in KY.

At least as long as the republikrats are in control.