An interesting "calculator:" What Does the Health Care Bill Mean To Me?

[Bertha Venation]

From the Washington Post.

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

[Joey Kidd]

1. Thanks for the link.

[Paper Roses]

5. Thanks for the link. No benefit for me personally.

I am old enough for Medicare, have bought the least expensive supplement possible but cannot afford the prescription drug coverage(part D). Social Security only goes so far and I already give Uncle Sam his due for part B and the supplement.

I am happy for those of you who will benefit.
For me, nada. No sour grapes, just reality.

[leftstreet]

2. Thanks

[Tailormyst]

3. Yikes

I still won't have insurance. I would get a tax credit. Seeing as my income tax refunds already go to old student loan debt doesn't help me much, they would get the money. I thought they meant a real subsidy :( Well at least maybe my student loan will get paid back a few years sooner.

Fortunately my ex is a union member so my sons have good coverage under him. Hopefully someday I will be able to get my depression, back and dental issues looked at before I get in real trouble. Until then my very active high schoolers (one heading to college in the fall) get every dime I have beyond rent, food and necessities.

[Skinner]

7. I have a feeling you won't get the tax credit unless you use it to buy insurance.

So you probably can't spend it on repaying your student loans.

[Tailormyst]

12. You are right- the fine will come out of what would normally go to the loans.

Either way I am in the same place today, that I was yesterday. No better, no worse.

[Motown_Johnny]

4. a 0.9% increase in Medicare payroll taxes and a 3.8% tax on investment income

which kicks in at $200,000 a year income for an individual.


That is all the tax info I can find here.

[CBR]

6. No change in coverage (currently through spouse) or taxes. nt

[bluethruandthru]

8. It's not really accurate.

I have insurance for myself and my family through my employer...however, my daughter, who is 22 and about to graduate from college in May, would have been dropped from my coverage once she was no longer a full time student or when she turned 23...whichever came first. With the new bill...she will be allowed to stay on my policy until the age of 26...which is a huge relief since she is a Type 1 insulin dependant diabetic. If she's lucky enough to get a full time job with health benefits when she graduates...great. If not, it's so great to know that we'll be able to afford her care.

That, of course, didn't show up on this Washington Post calculator, since it didn't ask those kinds of questions.

[Xenotime]

9. This leaves out the good parts of the bill.

And where it saves the people money.

[Donnachaidh]

17. so? List them. n/t

[Hell Hath No Fury]

10. Wow. Same as I have right now.

Do I technically have insurance? Yes. Can I afford any big care that I may need? No. :(

Well, I better not get really sick until I reach Medicare time.

[NightWatcher]

11. tax credit to help afford ins (cost 450-600 in premiums) or a fine up to 2095

On my 09 taxes my Gross income earned was 15,000. Things are not looking that much better for this year.

So the subsidies will keep my premiums between 5,400 and 7,200 a year?!?

Or I will have to pay a fine of up to 2,095.

I only made 15000, so that would leave me 7-8000 dollars a year to live or I get fined two grand with nothing to show.

PS, I havent been sicker than a cold in years.

OUCH!


Doubt what I posted, go plug in No insurance, 15000 in income, 2 people in house, and single. It will not allow a cut/paste

[Inuca]

13. What does

"deductibles and copayments would be capped at 27% of the total cost". What cost? The yearly cost of the premium or what? Any idea?

[NightWatcher]

14. I assume total cost of medical treatment

you go in for a 100,000 procedure and BOOM that's a 27,000 copay/deductible

[Cleobulus]

16. I'm assuming it would be 15% of total out of pocket costs on the plan...

for example, 15% of 5,000 dollars, if it is total cost of medical care though, then I'm fucked, my treatment(surgery) is projected to cost at least 10-20 grand, no way I can afford to pay 15% of that. And that's lowballing it.

[sakabatou]

15. I get.... Medicaid in 4 years.

Though my parents are trying to get me on disability.