The People’s View: Why Losing Your Junk Insurance is a Good Thing

[Playinghardball]

For the past week or so, the media has been replete with stories about people getting letters from their insurance companies that cancel their current coverage and replace it with a more expensive health insurance plan, providing the insured the option to look into their state’s exchange for coverage. Insurance companies are doing their damnest to blame the Affordable Care Act and President Obama for this, but the truth is that the policies that are being canceled are being canceled for one reason and one reason alone: they do not meet the minimum coverage requirements under the Affordable Care Act.

So what are these minimum coverage requirements? They are simple and essential….

More here: http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2013/10/why-losing-your-junk-insurance-is-good.html
Discovered on http://theobamadiary.com/

[leftstreet]

1. Oh Gawd. That's that blog n/t

[Pretzel_Warrior]

4. But much like DU, that blog is more readable when guns faced outward

Rather than the fratercidal posts about emotarian yada yada

[Pretzel_Warrior]

2. I'm glad to see things shifting in public conversation

Now people are going to be asking one another: "why were we allowing insurance companies to sell these misleading and shitty plans?? Thank God Obamacare addresses this!"

[leftstreet]

17. People talk about what they can or can't afford n/t

[Pretzel_Warrior]

19. and their assumptions about health and what we should budget

will likely change as well.

[leftstreet]

22. No assumptions. People know what they can afford n/t

[Pretzel_Warrior]

24. it is a subjective number for many.

and if a person is nearly destitute, then what they have to pay is almost nothing. As all of this gets ironed out in the next couple of years, people can decide they really do NOT want to pay a few hundred per month and just pay the fine.

[ReverendDeuce]

3. My plan was HARDLY "junk"... I am getting screwed by my insurance company thanks to ACA

Fuck this "junk insurance" meme!

What I had:

$161/mo, 0% co-pay, $1,500 deductible, $1,500 max OOP

What ACA has given me:

$234/mo, 50% co-pay, $2,500 deductible, $6,350 max OOP

Oh, and I now get pediatric vision/dental and maternity... GREAT! That's just GREAT for me as a 30-something year old man. I really will use that benefit. <eyeroll>

* I make too much to qualify for subsidies
* I have used my insurance, in 2011 I had $80,000 in medical bills and only paid my deductible, nothing beyond that.
* I had emergency care, follow-up car, physical therapy, prescription drugs all covered by my so-called "junk" policy
* Policy is with Blue Cross

[Pretzel_Warrior]

5. I call bullshit on your numbers

Unless we can see exactly what your deductible is for office visits that aren't wellness checkups, unless we can see what procedures aren't covered...no way to evaluate your policy.

[cali]

7. of course you do.

No criticism of anything related to the admin brooked by YOU.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

10. I would like the full story. Not like CBS running with

Florida woman's story about her $50 going up to $500+.

I have been on record saying I do believe some people in states not accepting expanded Medicaid will be in a tough spot and hopefully this can be highlighted and rectified.

But most of the whining on here has been thoroughly debunked by others.

[ReverendDeuce]

8. Here you go right here...

My numbers are a bit off from memory, I'll edit my post. But here's the picture of the paperwork from BCBS.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

14. It sounds like you should shop around. I think BCBS is trying to rob their customers

Based on those deductibles and out of pocket maximums, you should be able to shop around and find a much better mix of premiums, deductibles, etc. that will provide you a solid insurance plan for much less than what these folks are trying to sell you.

[ReverendDeuce]

23. Unfortunately, all the plans for sale in Nebraska are just as miserable...

We have five (I think) providers in the individual marketplace and all of them have lousy deductibles and high premiums.

Only one plan comes close to what I have now and it's the platinum plan for this CoOp and it's around $400/mo.

[wilt the stilt]

9. I also don't believe you

I bought insurance for years. They do not offer a policy with no copay and I was with BCBS. Which BCBS were you with?

[ReverendDeuce]

11. Here's my old policy from BCBS Nebraska with the new ACA-approved one from BCBS mailer...

[wilt the stilt]

12. different policies

here is the actual policy

https://www.nebraskablue.com/~/media/pdf/Individual%20Product%20SBCs/BlueEssentials%20Choice%20HSA%201500_01012013_HEI00900243612012-08-01.pdf

your out of pocket is actually $4,000.

I had a similar claim where I did out of pocket and the deductible is separate from the out of pocket. you pay the deductible and then the additional money now goes against your out of pocket. plus the family is $5,000 out of pocket.

plus your copay is 15% of any visit.

you are misrepresenting your numbers.

furthermore

http://www.healthpocket.com/healthcare-research/infostat/high-coinsurance-health-plans-poor-protection-against-medical-expenses/#.UnFEQHDksrU

Coinsurance Range Average Annual Out-of-Pocket Limit
Up to 10% $4,286
11% through 20% $5,138
21% through 30% $7,251
31% through 40% $7,518
Above 40% $8,825

[ReverendDeuce]

21. No, it's NOT a different policy and I mis-represented NOTHING... You are looking at the WRONG PLAN!

God damnit why do you people keep fighting me on this?! Here! LOOK AND READ:

http://www.ehealthinsurance.com/ehealthinsurance/benefits/ifp/NE/NEBlueCross_BlueShield_of_Nebraska-BEHSA_brochure-3.2013.pdf

As you can see, Option 1 clearly is what I have:

1500/3000 0%

I have "BlueEssentials HSA 1500", not "BlueEssentials Choice HSA 1500"

[uponit7771]

20. Yeap, I'll take your word for it... no one is trying to trash the ACA so...yeah,I beleive everything

[Silent3]

6. Hey, I want my junk insured!

I didn't even know I had to insure it separately.

[pinboy3niner]

13. This guy may be able to help you with that...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3921229

[Silent3]

16. I've seen that before.

Frightening, isn't it?

[1000words]

15. "The People's View?"

trash

[cali]

18. more like a reeking steaming pile of doggie shit.

[NuclearDem]

25. Ugh, that blog.

[Bluenorthwest]

26. Big thumbs down for the Peephole Spew

Trash.