Seriously, what will HCR mean for my wife and me?

[dajoki]

I have Medicare and my wife recently lost her job and has no insurance. Opinions, please!!

[Oregone]

1. Depends. Is your wife a "grandma"?

[dajoki]

2. delete, my computer went haywire n/t

[dajoki]

3. delete, my computer went haywire n/t

[dajoki]

4. delete, my computer went haywire n/t

[dajoki]

5. Yes she is n/t

[Oregone]

6. Oh no. Then you're screwed

[dajoki]

9. Delete--Dupe

something's going on here with my computer.

[dajoki]

10. Why?

[Oregone]

11. Look, I don't wanna be the one to tell you this, but this reform is all about killing grandma

:)

[dajoki]

12. Ok, you're nuts!! n/t

[Oregone]

15. Dont say I didn't warn you

An orange glowing man will come knocking at your door soon demanding Grandma and any fetuses you may have lying around

[Lex]

7. Ten Immediate Benefits of HCR Bill

here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-john-b-larson/he-top-ten-immediate-bene_b_501748.html

Otherwise, she's probably SOL until 2014.

[uppityperson]

8. NYTimes "How the Health Care Overhaul Could Affect You" interactive link.....

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/03/21/us/health-care-reform.html

[dajoki]

13. Thank you n/t

[uppityperson]

16. it may be simplistic, but worked for me. nt

[dmallind]

14. I have no idea, but the question seems limiting

I'm far from the most empathetic bleeding heart on DU. Fully confess to that. But I generally weigh the merits of bills on what good they do for society as an aggregate. I have reasonably good and affordable coverage (and less than a couple years to live) so HCR definitely does nothing for me. But it's helpful to others who lack coverage and need help to afford it, or those who are at risk of cancellation, etc. So, while being far less than I hoped for, it's still better than before - so I support it. Same would go for, say, DADT repeal. I have no interest in enlisting, but it would help those who have. Welfare? Medicare? Medicaid? Social Security? I'll never need any of them - they'll never help me at all. But they are still good things.

Don't get me wrong - it's fine to ask how the bill will affect you if you think it might. But not to my mind an effective way to discuss the bill in a larger context. FWIW if you earn less than 4X poverty level she'll get a subsudy of some kind, and will not be denied due to any preexisting conditions she may have. Both are helpful if applicable.

[dajoki]

18. Sorry...

I didn't mean it to sound like I don't care how the Bill will affect society as a whole, I am just curious as to what we could expect.

[dmallind]

24. No worries. Just musing. It's a fair question I hope somebody can answer. NT

[jpljr77]

17. Wash Post has a great interactive tool

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/what-health-bill-means-for-you/

You can enter your situation and the tool gives you an idea of what will happen with your coverage and your taxes.

[Raineyb]

19. Funny how none of them mention people who are unemployed and getting raped

by COBRA. I suppose when COBRA runs out I can just be raped by whoever provides the high-risk pool coverage. AFTER I wait 6 months during which time my controlled preexisting condition can go out of control.

Thanks for nothing Dems. Don't call me for money.

[Change Happens]

20. Is she on Medicare too?

[dajoki]

21. No...

She lost her insurance when she lost her job.

[Change Happens]

22. Is she close to 65? and is she high risk? or sick now and un-insurable on the open market?

Your Medicare just got better and stronger, you donut hole will be closing, $500.00 first year and the brand name drugs will be 50% off the regular price in the donut. Also, your Medicare will now allow you to have free routine maintenance check ups type doctors visits...etc. Do you have straight Medicare or an Advantage Plan?

[dajoki]

25. Straight Medicare...

and my wife is 51.

[Change Happens]

26. Medicaid would be my first option if you qualify, if not

I would immediately try to find one of the community health centers near you. I found one 3 miles away from my house recently, she can keep getting basic non emergency care for very cheap, basically you pay what you can there.

She is also qualified to buy into the new high risk pool established by this law after the President signs it...I am sure the price is going to be higher, but no discrimination against her for pre-existing conditions.

[Vinca]

23. If your wife is older and/or has a pre-existing condition,

she will have the privilege of buying insurance at 300% of the average premium. Until now, I never realized all of us geezers were considered rich.