Can you answer a question about ACA?

[Paper Roses]

I was asked by a co-volunteer at work today if it was less expensive for those with limited means to have 'Obama Care' as opposed to regular Medicare.

We are both seniors and were discussing the cost of Medicare, parts A&B plus the 'D' coverage. I told her I dropped 'D because I could not afford it.
Both of us live on SS and have to scrounge up dollars to keep the home fires burning.

I am not privy to her particular situation but am curious about costs and eligibility.

Since I am well over 65, I have Medicare A & B.
Increases in costs for part B and the prohibitive cost of part D have made me quite nervous.

I have read many posts about people getting great prices from the Affordable Care act. Does this health care policy cost less for limited income Seniors than the cost of Medicare?

My costs for part B have gone way up, the co-pays have gone up,deductibles up too. Coverages have gone down. The current arrangement with Medicare is costing both of us far more in initial costs plus higher costs that might be incurred should we need medical attention.

Without going through all the application processes for ACA for comparison purposes, how can we tell?
Plus...as an aside, do Seniors have the option of dropping Medicare and signing up for ACA?

This question may have come up before and I missed it. Do Medicare recipients have a choice?

I am so sick of trying to keep up with all of this.
This old brain does not seem to assimilate all the factors involving ACA and I do not understand if we have any options.

Any comments would be appreciated.

[dawg]

1. The ACA is only for those ineligible for Medicare.

You can't opt out of Medicare and take an ACA policy.

[russspeakeasy]

2. + 1

Sad, but true.

[snot]

3. Sympathy. And I'm not sure it's much easier for a lot of younger brains.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. From what I have heard and read

about the various plans, those of us on Medicare A and B are doing pretty well.
Our premiums, annual deductible and co-pays for Part B are lower than private insurance
( my doc office confirms this).
Any person on ACA who can buy an annual outpatient deductible of 147.00 a year would grab at it.

PLUS..Medicare is good anywhere in the country, as opposed to ACA being a county PPO.

for future reference,. if anyone on Part B wants to, they can drop it, there is a mechanism for it.
But if later they want to get back on it, there will be a 10% annual penalty for each year you were off of it.
and that goes for Part D too, I was surprised to learn.
( talked to Medicare last week about this)

dunno anything about dropping Part A...