An extra benefit from my new ACA coverage - I can spend money!

[rurallib]

I believe I wrote about getting real coverage after years of having crappy high deductible for years. The insurance company tried to screw me, but after hours of call, I invoked the name of my congressman and then suddenly I had a card almost overnight.

But here is a secondary benefit for the country.

Since I had a high deductible ($10,000) up front and insurance companies were still pulling that pre-existing conditions crap to avoid paying, we started a savings plan to cover the deductible and more in case I ever had a problem. That would be our first line of defense in case of a huge medical bill. My wife is severely disabled, so I was scared to death (not a pun)that I would have a heart attack, hang on for a million dollars, die and leave her destitute.

We were able to save a pretty decent amount. We played quite close to the vest. My kids thought I was overdoing it, but that old republican non-insurance (at $600/mo) had me scared.

So come Feb.15 and I had a real insurance card in my hand with a guaranteed deductible NOT to exceed @$6,500 and no pre-existing condition clause. THEREFORE I suddenly had a large "disposable" savings.

We were really biting the bullet while saving, so we have many needs and wants that have piled up over the years. So now I almost feel like a one family job creation machine. We did buy a car @ a year ago, we HAD to have. Last weekend we spent @ $1000 on a myriad of items including one of those gravity invertor back stretchers to relieve some incredible back pain. I am thinking my new insurance may even cover a chiro visit.

We have needed a new garage for a decade that we are planning for this fall.

We won't be crazy, but now we can spend money and not be scared that one misstep and we could be bankrupt.

Thank You, Mr. President!

[Glitterati]

1. I know what you mean

My income was so close to the vest I couldn't even afford my prescriptions most months and had to take half dosages by cutting the few pills I could afford in half.

Now I have ACA and those prescriptions, the very same prescriptions that cost me almost $300.00/month, now have a MAX out of pocket of $34.00 for the month.

No, I'm not spending more, heck I don't have anymore to spend yet, but the amount of stress GONE by just having that card in my grubby little hands means so much!

And, yes, I'll be able to spend soon as I just started a part time job on Saturday..........but, now, that income is all "mad money" instead of medical bills.

My daughter will have an ACTUAL Christmas this December for the first time since her Dad died!!!!!!!!

[rurallib]

2. that stress relief is so wonderful

I am a big old male - I called my congressman's office to say thanks and started crying I felt so relieved.

[Glitterati]

3. IF I had a Congressman who didn't vote every time to overturn ACA

I would have called him as well, and probably started bawling like a baby.

I do, however, have an interview with OFA on Wednesday to share my story for ads for the upcoming election.

Perhaps that means Obama will get my personal Thank You.

[jeff47]

16. Please let your congressman know anyway.

They need to know that their constituents are not happy with their representative. Yes, you may be a small minority in your district, but they need to know they're taking a risk.

Heck, it might turn out that a lot of people like the results of "Obamacare", even if they bought the propaganda.

Just write a letter saying the program helped you greatly and that you are not happy with his or her opposition to it.

[aquart]

28. Excellent suggestion.

[Motown_Johnny]

4. I think you get 14 chiropractic visits a year

I don't have the problem so I could easily be mistaken, but while researching changes in the law late last year I ran across something about it. I could do more research if you like, but since you seem to be mentioning it as an afterthought I just did one quick search.




http://www.acatoday.org/level3_css.cfm?T1ID=13&T2ID=61&T3ID=152#insurance

^snip^

Do insurance plans cover chiropractic?

Yes. Chiropractic care is included in most health insurance plans, including major medical plans, workers’ compensation, Medicare, some Medicaid plans, and Blue Cross Blue Shield plans for federal employees, among others. Chiropractic care is also available to active-duty members of the armed forces at more than 60 military bases and is available to veterans at 36 major veterans medical facilities.

[Glitterati]

5. My Humana plan covers chiropractor

$25.00 copay, 20 visits per year max.

That's compared to the chiropractor I paid for my daughter last year - $1200.00 cash out of pocket for a once a week adjustment for 3 months.

[Motown_Johnny]

7. I think all plans need to cover it now

Some have better coverage than others.

I just went to Healthcare.gov to check my plan (how convenient is that?) and my Total Health Plan says "No Charge In-Network; Not Covered Out-of-Network; 30 Visit(s) per Year ; Limits and Exclusions Apply".

Then when I click on the limits and exclusions I get:

Benefit explanation:

Physical and Occupational therapy combined with Chiropractic spinal manipulations and manipulations by an osteopathic Physician are limited to 30 visits per calendar year


So it looks like I have pretty good chiropractic coverage. Good to know, I guess.

[Glitterati]

9. It's very expensive out of pocket

My daughter works as a lifeguard in the summer and 8 hour shifts on hard plastic lifeguard towers really screws up the spinal alignment in a hurry!

The poor child was in tears just trying to sit up.

[rurallib]

19. Just checked with my provider - chiro is crappily covered

The individual deductible per year is $6,350. I pay for chiro visits out of pocket until I meet the deductible at which time chiro will be picked up by the insurer.
Well, I had basically a choice of one (1) plan in my price range, so I got what I could get. I have 6 months to Medicare. I am so hoping I can live until then.

And BTW - I totally blame each and every fucking Republican for the ACA being such a watered down plan. Still a million times better than what we had, but needs so much work.

[Motown_Johnny]

20. Argh, that sucks.. sorry

Is it a silver plan?


If you went through healthcare.gov and signed up for a silver plan, the costs are based on income.

[rurallib]

21. It is a silver plan. I am just over the line for income

Sadly small population Iowa didn't have much choice. There was basically 1 plan in my price range. It had a lot of features I liked so I went with it.
Never ever considered chiro coverage.
Lucky for me, as I think I said, I get Medicare in September so I think I can crawl to September.
++PLUS
I got a gravity inverter over the weekend and in only three days I seem to be making some amazing progress.
- for one thing I am sitting here typing which just a couple of days ago was truly a painful effort.
- today I took something that felt like real steps for the first time in years

I am now so hopeful. Thank you, Mr. President!. Screw you Republicans who kept me in pain so your buddies could run up profits!

[rurallib]

12. Thank you, Johnny!

[Motown_Johnny]

15. Check your plan

If you read the sub thread between Glitterati and I it is obvious that coverage varies. I do think the minimum is 14 visits a year but I could be wrong. I also do not know what your copay would be.

[rurallib]

17. I will, iwll, Iwill.

Thank you once again.

[treestar]

6. Me too

I am stimulating the economy now, both on medical care and other things I can afford due to not having to pay up to such a high deductible on medical care.

And I'm like not even sick Just minor stuff and it's enough to cost a pretty penny.

[Glitterati]

8. For me

stress is literally a killer. Stress is one of the things that kicks my thyroid into high gear and nearly kills me.

A year ago in November, after the stress of trying to buy a home for 2 years, plus the death of my husband a year earlier, I ended up in a thyroid storm that almost killed me.

[ErikJ]

10. Sad commentary about American "exceptionalism"

The only developed country in world where its citizens had to worry about being wiped out or dying from bad health insurance.

[1000words]

11. I figured the exceptionalism was ...

Gleefully settling for crumbs.

[Vinca]

13. I'm in a better situation, too.

I had been in the Obamacare PCIP for a couple of years and transitioned to Medicare in February. Suddenly, I have an extra $600+ every month. Medicare for all!

[rurallib]

14. I get Medicare in September -

which should be an extra $200 to 300/mo

[Liberal_in_LA]

18. k&r

[okaawhatever]

22. I am so glad to hear it. Please call OFA like Glitterati did and see if they can use your story in

an advertisement. It's a story I haven't heard before. Many people WITH insurance and WITH an income were being held hostage by insurance companies and the ever persistent threat of high medical bills. You deserved better, and you finally got it. Same with Glitterati. Congrats to both of you. Living in fear and under stress is no way to live.

[rurallib]

23. will call OFA - I have a good friend aas the local volunteer

have already written an LTTE and sent to 7 local papers. And I did use the word hostage.

[okaawhatever]

25. That is so awesome!! Not only are you speaking to the success of the ACA, you're reminding us all of

a problem that had largely gone ignored. I'm ecstatic that you've shared your story with so many already. Thanks again.

[Glitterati]

24. I didn't call them

I just followed a link from an email from them asking for Obamacare stories and posted a short blub on there for them.

They followed up with me from that post asking permission for the interview.

on edit:
Thanks for the response to our posts. It's nice to see that some ARE reading more than the ugly, bad stories.

[okaawhatever]

26. Thank you for sharing your positive story. It's good to hear someone followed up with your blurb.

Let's us know OFA is on their toes.

[Glitterati]

27. AND, literally fighting for some of our very lives

I don't say that flippantly, either.

As someone with a chronic illness (AKA preexisting condition) ACA is absolutely critical to medical care necessary to save my life.

I just hope to hell they tear up the republicans this fall with these ads.

THIS is what the republicans are doing in Georgia (attempting to nullify ACA)

What HB 707 Does:

1. Prohibits any state agencies, departments or political subdivisions from using resources or spending funds to advocate for the expansion of Medicaid. This provision works hand-in-hand with HB990 to make it more difficult to expand Medicaid. HB990 would require legislative approval for expansion of the program, barring the governor from doing it by executive order.

2. Prohibits the state of Georgia from running an insurance exchange.

3. Refuses and federal grant money for the purpose of creating or running a state insurance exchange.

4. Ends the University of Georgia Navigator Program

5. Prohibits the Commissioner of Insurance from investigating or enforcing any alleged violation of federal health insurance requirements mandated by Obamacare.

[okaawhatever]

31. I wasn't aware Georgia had gone to that extreme. Nullifying laws is the lowest form of political

gamesmanship and is the antithesis of democracy.

[Glitterati]

33. Georgia = a bunch of crazy republicans

Who will do anything and everything to harm Obama and Democrats everywhere.

What I see this year, though, is a frightened group of Rs who are contemplating Jason Carter becoming Governor. They're terrified they've given the Gov's office too much authority suddenly.......

[Cha]

29. Happy for you rurallib.. Thanks for writing about what

you appreciate from your ACA!

[morningfog]

30. I'm out at least $200 more a month. The changes mean less money for my family.

[okaawhatever]

32. Why? How did it affect you? Did you have a policy that didn't meet the requirements and the

premiums went up?

[morningfog]

34. I'm not sure why, but we previously qualified for state

provided/subsidized healthcare, but font under the new program. Mine is through employer and unchanged. Spouse was dropped from state run insurance and now we have to purchase private insurance through the exchange.

[okaawhatever]

35. That's really interesting. I'm trying to learn all the good and bad. Most of the bad i've seen have

either been people who were forced to get increased coverage with higher premiums due to minimum requirements or someone who was dropped by their spouses employer (although that one is really the employer taking advantage of the situation). I hope you find out why your situation happened, so at least you and others can fight to force the state to change it back. Good luck, sorry to hear of your situation.