Most enlightening insight into Obamacare so far

[ripnbst]

None of this is a surprise. I wonder why it took 13 months for this video to surface in the news ?

Because could you imagine if it was out before elections?

[sjfcontrol]

The trouble getting individuals with preexisting conditions covered was near impossible. The number percentage of people that do not have what was considered a disqualifying preexisting condition was dwindling rapidly.

I hear (heard) this all the time, and at least in Texas, it simply wasn't true. A person who could not find insurance due to preexisting conditions could purchase health insurance from the Texas Risk Pool. This is health insurance (run by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas) that was capped at (I believe) twice the cost of the average price of a similar plan for an person without the conditions. And, depending upon your income, significant discounts were available (up to 50%). Obamacare gave me a policy with an increased deductible, and higher cost.

A direct repeal of Obamacare would be disastrous until similar Risk Pool insurance was re-instated.

By the way, although I am only familiar with Texas, I'm sure other states had similar programs. Can't say they all did, but the claim that insurance was unavailable for those with preexisting conditions is simply a myth.

[LDB415]

I'm surprised that as extremely far to the left and as badly as things have turned we aren't seeing John Ross' novel Unintended Consequences turning from fiction to non-fiction.

[mojo84]

At this point I believe an outright repeal would do more harm than good. I do believe a major overhaul and eliminating many of the provisions along with replacing some is definitely feasible over time until Obamacare as we know it now no longer exists. .

Bottom line and I forgot believe this, even Obamacare was designed to fail itself. Therefore, Eben left as is, I believe it would be gone within a few years and replaced with a government ran single payer system.

The system we had was broke and needed to be fixed. The trouble getting individuals with preexisting conditions covered was near impossible. The number percentage of people that do not have what was considered a disqualifying preexisting condition was dwindling rapidly. On the other hand, fixing the financing/insurance part without adequately addressing the skyrocketing cost of health care is like putting a bandaid on a gunshot wound.

This.
Obama care shattered to old system. Repealing it now would not put Humpty Dumpty together again. I'm sure free market forces would eventually bring things back in line. It might take a while, but also might be worth the wait.
I agree that that the skyrocketing cost of health care was/is a major part of the problem. It may not be popular with many, but I've got a two word solution for that.
Tort Reform.

True competition for medical services would lower costs too.

This is very true. However, when someone else is paying the bill after the deductible is meet, the consumer of healthcare doesn't care what it costs. With that being the case, they have no incentive to shop around. I have a client that carried a very high deductible. He would ship around for services/tests. He found MRI prices for his knee ranging from around $500 up to $2200. Since he was having to pay for it, he went with the cheapest option.

How about those $6 Tylenol in the hospital? $7500 for the surgeon to do the 45 minute gallbladder removal. That doesn't include the anesthesiologist or hospital fees. Costs were and are way out of line. There has to be a way to get people to think more like consumers when it comes to healthcare before free market will work.

I wish I had all the answers but I don't.

[mojo84]

The trouble getting individuals with preexisting conditions covered was near impossible. The number percentage of people that do not have what was considered a disqualifying preexisting condition was dwindling rapidly.

I hear (heard) this all the time, and at least in Texas, it simply wasn't true. A person who could not find insurance due to preexisting conditions could purchase health insurance from the Texas Risk Pool. This is health insurance (run by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas) that was capped at (I believe) twice the cost of the average price of a similar plan for an person without the conditions. And, depending upon your income, significant discounts were available (up to 50%). Obamacare gave me a policy with an increased deductible, and higher cost.

A direct repeal of Obamacare would be disastrous until similar Risk Pool insurance was re-instated.

By the way, although I am only familiar with Texas, I'm sure other states had similar programs. Can't say they all did, but the claim that insurance was unavailable for those with preexisting conditions is simply a myth.

Did you participate in the risk pool?

A person had to be declined by the private insurers before you would qualify. I found very few that found that a palatable solution.

[sjfcontrol]

The trouble getting individuals with preexisting conditions covered was near impossible. The number percentage of people that do not have what was considered a disqualifying preexisting condition was dwindling rapidly.

I hear (heard) this all the time, and at least in Texas, it simply wasn't true. A person who could not find insurance due to preexisting conditions could purchase health insurance from the Texas Risk Pool. This is health insurance (run by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas) that was capped at (I believe) twice the cost of the average price of a similar plan for an person without the conditions. And, depending upon your income, significant discounts were available (up to 50%). Obamacare gave me a policy with an increased deductible, and higher cost.

A direct repeal of Obamacare would be disastrous until similar Risk Pool insurance was re-instated.

By the way, although I am only familiar with Texas, I'm sure other states had similar programs. Can't say they all did, but the claim that insurance was unavailable for those with preexisting conditions is simply a myth.

Did you participate in the risk pool?

A person had to be declined by the private insurers before you would qualify. I found very few that found that a palatable solution.

Yes. What made it un-palatable?

[Dave2]

I agree that that the skyrocketing cost of health care was/is a major part of the problem.

Arguably, it was the only part of the problem. If the total cost of a triple-bypass surgery was $50, not only would nearly everyone be able to afford it in the first place, nobody would mind footing the bill (though taxes) for those who couldn't.

[mojo84]

Up to double the premium cost
Limited provider network -Blue Choice
Limits on coverage

http://www.txhealthpool.org/benefits.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Keep in mind, what works for you doesn't necessarily work for everyone. If people did meet the financial assistance requirements the cost of the premiums plus deductibles plus coinsurance can be prohibitive. Especially since most that were on these plans were sure to blow through their deductible each year.


Here's the rate table link where one can look up their rates by county. A couple about my wife and my age would have to pay about $1600 per month for the two of us plus the deductible and plus the coinsurance. That's means yes there is coverage available. However, most would find it unavailable because they couldn't afford it.

http://www.txhealthpool.org/rates.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[sjfcontrol]

Up to double the premium cost
Limited provider network -Blue Choice
Limits on coverage

http://www.txhealthpool.org/benefits.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Keep in mind, what works for you doesn't necessarily work for everyone. If people did meet the financial assistance requirements the cost of the premiums plus deductibles plus coinsurance can be prohibitive. Especially since most that were on these plans were sure to blow through their deductible each year.

The financials for the risk pool were better than obamacare. And it was an alternative to no insurance at all.

[mojo84]

Yes. But still unavailable to many with preexisting conditions. That's the point of mine you challenged.

Glad it worked well for you. For many it did not. I can tell you, the premium costs plus deductible plus coinsurance for most people with serious medical conditions Obamacare is cheaper. However, the less sick and more healthy younger people are getting the bad end of the deal.

[sjfcontrol]

Yes. But still unavailable to many with preexisting conditions. That's the point of mine you challenged.

Glad it worked well for you. For many it did not. I can tell you, the premium costs plus deductible plus coinsurance for most people with serious medical conditions Obamacare is cheaper. However, the less sick and more healthy younger people are getting the bad end of the deal.

Why was it unavailable? I suspect you mean that it was costly enough that many DECIDED to prioritize elsewhere. They weren't refused insurance, they declined it. Their prerogative (until Obamacare).

And explain to me how obama fixed this for them with higher costs, and higher deductibles? If they couldn't afford the risk pool, they can't afford ACA either.

By the way, "serious medical conditions" don't necessarily mean they're on dialysis, or have a brain tumor. In my case we're talking about high blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight. First two under control by medications (and the third one too, until the took Fen-Fen off the market). I never came anywhere near meeting my deductible.

[mojo84]

Like I said, it worked for you. That's great. After being in the business since 1996, I can show you many instances where it did not help. If it is unaffordable, it isn't available. Also, many people couldn't access the pool because the private insurance companies didn't decline to offer them coverage. They rated them up to an unaffordable level and offered to cover them. Without the private insurance company declinations, they didn't qualify for the pool.

The pool was designed as a last resort option. It was priced and designed accordingly. I can show you actual cases of where I got people undergoing cancer treatment coverage for much much less than what you are/were paying to participate in the pool due to Obamacare. How does that make sense?

I'm saying Obamacare is bad. The pool option wasn't the panacea you seem to indicate it was. It was a last option for those that had preexisting conditions and didn't qualify for medicaid.

[LDB415]

I have no clue what that table means but at my age the lowest possible rate is $760 per month at $7500 which I presume is deductible. I can't afford over $9100 annually with annual increases. A few years ago I had a BC/bull policy with a $10k deductible and a premium of $143 monthly. Thanks Obamacare.

[sjfcontrol]

Like I said, it worked for you. That's great. After being in the business since 1996, I can show you many instances where it did not help. If it is unaffordable, it isn't available. Also, many people couldn't access the pool because the private insurance companies didn't decline to offer them coverage. They rated them up to an unaffordable level and offered to cover them. Without the private insurance company declinations, they didn't qualify for the pool.

The pool was designed as a last resort option. It was priced and designed accordingly. I can show you actual cases of where I got people undergoing cancer treatment coverage for much much less than what you are/were paying to participate in the pool due to Obamacare. How does that make sense?

I'm saying Obamacare is bad. The pool option wasn't the panacea you seem to indicate it was. It was a last option for those that had preexisting conditions and didn't qualify for medicaid.

I never said it was a panacea. I never even said I liked it. I simply said it existed for those that COULDN'T get normal insurance.

As an aside, every time Obama said "If you like your insurance, you can keep your insurance, PERIOD!", I thought to my self, "Can I keep it if I DON'T like it?" Course, the answer was "You can't keep it regardless".

[mojo84]

The keep your plan and keep your doctors was just more of the many lies that was told in order to sell the American people on Obamacare. Once they had all the low information voters lathered up, the politicians felt like they had to acquiesce.

We replaced a bad situation with an even worse one.