Starting today!

[Dlbdonn]

Based on historical precedence, however I would venture to say that those issues would have occurred anyway. Insurance has been going up every year and to suggest it wouldn't have this year, well . . .

Perhaps he lives in wolkenkuckkucksheim .

[Clyde]

All I know is that in preparation for the new requirements of Obamacare (on my single coverage plan) in order for me to keep the same level of coverage that I had with the same out-of-pocket premium my co-pay for ER visits went up 15 dollars, my co-pay for a specialist went up 5 dollars and I'm now responsible out of pocket for 10% of the remaining charges whereas before insurance picked up 100% of the remaining charges. I'm now 80/20 for inpatient hospital visits and before that had been 90/10. I did have the option of keeping everything the same as it was before but I would have had to pay an additional 10 dollars per pay check. I've got a really strong feeling that some people (like my brother) who supported Obamacare because everyone should be entitled to insurance are going to be really surprised when they see what happens to their premiums when it's time to renew.

 

My insurance has gone up each and every year for as long as I can remember. What's new about that?

[rockmom]

Starting today, insurers will be required to:

 

Keep you covered when you get sick: Simple mistakes or typos will no longer be grounds for insurance companies to cancel your insurance.

Absolutely needed. Insurers seemed to spend more time trying to figure out how NOT to insure you than to provide insurance.

 

Cover kids with pre-existing conditions: Your kids can no longer be denied health coverage just because they have a pre-existing condition like hay fever, asthma, or previous sports injuries. This protection extends to all plans, except "grandfathered" plans in the individual market.

Absolutely needed. If you feel that this is not necessary, I can only assume that person is OK with the government providing the coverage when there is no alternative.

Allow young adults to stay on their parents' plan up to age 26: Even if their first few jobs don't provide health benefits, your kids can still remain covered by your insurance.

Delighted with this one. If a kid graduates but isn't able to find a job with benefits immediately, or finds a job but benefits don't kick in for 90-180 days, this helps them bridge the gap.

 

Remove lifetime limits: You will no longer need to worry about your health insurer limiting the amount of coverage available through their plan if you face an expensive medical condition. This will help Americans who develop chronic conditions from taking drastic measures to avoid medical bankruptcy.

I have a friend who's had cancer for 5 years now. He exhausted his lifetime benefit about 3 years ago. This will be very comforting for those who face similar circumstances.

 

Phase out annual limits: Many plans include annual dollar limits on how much medical coverage can be obtained per year. On all non-"grandfathered" plans in the individual market, these limits will be phased out over the next three years.

This is needed because many people have to choose to put off procedures or treatments at the end of their annual benefits. They suffer set backs and have wind up having more expenses trying to rectify situations that arose in the interim.

 

For any insurance plan that goes into effect after September 23, 2010, your insurance company must:

 

Pay for preventive care like mammograms and immunizations: Addressing problems before they start can help keep you healthier, and new insurance plans will now cover many preventative tests and immunizations without any copayment.

Preventative care is the single most important factor in reducing health care costs related to diseases and conditions that could have been caught in the earliest stages. Great inclusion.

Give you a better appeals process for insurance claims: Now you'll have a guaranteed and fair path to help you receive the benefits you paid for if insurance companies deny your claim.

Absolutely beautiful! Now there's a way to present your case and have a third party decide whether a claim should be covered. Having had several claims denied after having been pre-approved, I welcome this one with open arms.

 

Let you choose your own doctor: Health reform makes it clear that you can choose any available participating primary care provider as your provider, and any available participating pediatrician to be your child's primary care provider.

I never liked the insurance company telling me which doctor to use. I always felt the possibility of shoddy care was increased because the doctor was under the insurance company's thumb, a de facto employee of the insurance company.

 

Provide easier access to OB-GYN services: Women will no longer be required to have a referral from a primary care provider before seeking coverage for obstetrical or gynecological (OB-GYN) care from a participating OB-GYN specialist.

Never understood the need for a referral for OBGYN care. Most primary care providers don't carry OBGYN insurance, and a woman knows when she's pregnant. This created an additional expense for the patient, and the only purpose I can ascertain was to line the insurance company's pocket.

 

Allow you to use the nearest emergency room without penalty: If an emergency arises while you're away, you will no longer have to drive home to your in-network provider to receive in-network benefits.

That's awesome! I had an emergency arise out of town once. I had a kidney infection that I didn't know about and wound up in the hospital in Columbus, Indiana. It took me 4 years to pay off that bill because the insurance company wouldn't cover it because it wasn't "in-network".

 

I think these things are great and I think any politician that attempts to repeal this reform will do so at their own peril.

 

Me too, obviously.

[75center]

The challenge is finding accurate "cons" to the stated "pros." Lots of misinformation out there. I kept hearing how this act would greatly reduce Medicare payments but just today I read that those cuts were spelled out in 1997.

 

Ok, how about a company's estimated health insurance bill going up $120,000? They're planning on laying off 4 people to cover the increase. This year's increase was 17,000 by the way.

[75center]

My insurance has gone up each and every year for as long as I can remember. What's new about that?

 

In the words of somebody, "you ain't seen nothing yet"!

[rockmom]

In the words of somebody, "you ain't seen nothing yet"!

 

My insurance has gone up every year, while coverage has been reduced. At least now when it goes up, I know that I'm paying for something of substance. Up till this point, I felt I was paying in, but when the time came (God forbid) that I needed it the worst, my fate was in the insurance company's hands. They could deny my coverage for procedures or even drop me completely without notice. I'm of the opinion that I pay for insurance more as a peace of mind. Now, I feel there is some peace of mind that all that I've paid in the past has not been for naught.

[rockmom]

Ok, how about a company's estimated health insurance bill going up $120,000? They're planning on laying off 4 people to cover the increase. This year's increase was 17,000 by the way.

 

What is the size of this company?

[History]

I think insurance costs are going to skyrocket-and then what will happen if you can't afford to pay it?

 

This is the beginning of antionalized health care, and I hope people are ready to wait for things they take for granted now-like seeing a doctor ina reasonable amount of time.

 

I feel like this will turn into the haves that can afford good health care and the have nots-tose that cannot and am afraid there will be two different types of attention given to these patients.

[Clyde]

Ok, how about a company's estimated health insurance bill going up $120,000? They're planning on laying off 4 people to cover the increase. This year's increase was 17,000 by the way.

 

Obviously, that sounds extreme. I'd be curious to hear all of the variables.

 

I've read that costs are going up for various reasons. Young people (low cost to the insurers) are going without insurance due to lack of jobs. This leaves the rest of us to share the cost. Medical services continue to skyrocket in cost. Yes, new provisions in this plan have actual costs. I also believe that insurers are using public sentiment against the plan to raise premiums even more.

Edited September 24, 2010 by Clyde

[marvel]

Or as I like to look at it an opportunity not to get sick and die or go bankrupt before your life even starts.

 

In that case. The government should take over the whole entire health care system!! Then, like Canada, we can have Universal Health care. I know Canada's Prime Minister loves his so much, he travels all the way to the US to get it!

[2 Humped Camel]

All I know is that in preparation for the new requirements of Obamacare (on my single coverage plan) in order for me to keep the same level of coverage that I had with the same out-of-pocket premium my co-pay for ER visits went up 15 dollars, my co-pay for a specialist went up 5 dollars and I'm now responsible out of pocket for 10% of the remaining charges whereas before insurance picked up 100% of the remaining charges. I'm now 80/20 for inpatient hospital visits and before that had been 90/10. I did have the option of keeping everything the same as it was before but I would have had to pay an additional 10 dollars per pay check. I've got a really strong feeling that some people (like my brother) who supported Obamacare because everyone should be entitled to insurance are going to be really surprised when they see what happens to their premiums when it's time to renew.

 

How did you get so lucky? My insurance starting 4 or 5 years ago, long before HCR was mentioned went from covering just about anything with the only out of pocket expense being a co-pay, to higher premimums, co-pays, a deductiable (which we never had before) and to top it all off less coverage. Our rates have increased double digits each year the last 5. I haven't seen this years increase yet but I bet its another double digit hike. Rates were climbing long before HCR and to suggest its all the fault of this bill is a fallacy.

[2 Humped Camel]

In that case. The government should take over the whole entire health care system!! Then, like Canada, we can have Universal Health care. I know Canada's Prime Minister loves his so much, he travels all the way to the US to get it!

 

Maybe we should, I'd much rather have universal health care than to have people get sick and die simply because they can't afford a doctor. I can't believe the social darwinism sometimes, which always changes when someone you know or yourself gets the shaft from an insurance company.

[marvel]

Maybe we should, I'd much rather have universal health care than to have people get sick and die simply because they can't afford a doctor. I can't believe the social darwinism sometimes, which always changes when someone you know or yourself gets the shaft from an insurance company.

 

Or rather than that, whats wrong with allowing more insurance companies into each state rather than just 2 or 3?

 

BTW the mortality rate in socialized healthcare is higher than that of ours.

[Clyde]

In that case. The government should take over the whole entire health care system!! Then, like Canada, we can have Universal Health care. I know Canada's Prime Minister loves his so much, he travels all the way to the US to get it!

 

The Prime Minister is Harper. He did not come to the US for any surgery. A politician from Newfoundland did. It doesn't change your point. It just makes it accurate.

[marvel]

The Prime Minister is Harper. He did not come to the US for any surgery. A politician from Newfoundland did. It doesn't change your point. It just makes it accurate.

 

My mistake. Regardless, its still under Canada health care system.