I'm one of the lucky ones -- I'll have much needed coverage in 2014 thanks to the ACA.
From the very beginning of this debacle, I supported single payer, or in the alternative, a robust public option. The closest thing we've seen so far to anything that's truly innovative has been the state co-ops, and I'd love to see information about their rates and performance this year.
My state did not approve any co-ops. However, right now I'm making just over the poverty line. I'm lucky to not have to support anyone else on what I make.
I'm only making this because I found a flexible job that will work with my health problems. I was laid off last year after my health deteriorated significantly. I tried to struggle with paying COBRA, but finally stopped being able to afford it in December. I've been hospitalized again since then and had ER visits and specialist visits. I used up all my savings. This job is one I can work from home, so I'm not exposed to other people's germs (a primary factor in landing me in the ER, asthma exacerbations -- I've had fewer this year but the ones that I did have were still bad) and I can set my own schedule. Disability takes a long time to approve, and I had started a claim on the advice of my doctors. I'm hoping I can make more than the cutoff soon and maybe they can work it as a closed claim if anything, since they said they thought I met a listing for at least a year's time frame.
Luckily, my state did accept Medicaid expansion funds. They're using them to buy plans on the exchanges with 0% cost sharing for those under 100% and 6% cost sharing for the 100-133% range, and paying for the premiums fully. Since I'm over the poverty line, I'll have to pay $8 to see the doctor, instead of $80. If I get hospitalized or the plan they assign me to has outrageous prescription copays, the maximum out of pocket is $750 inclusive of prescription drug costs. There's a $150 deductible, not sure if it has to be met first, but a total of $900 maximum a year that I have to plan for to budget for health care.
I'm thrilled. I'm grateful. When I was arguing for health care reform before all this happened, I never thought I'd benefit. I was happy that at least some people would benefit. Now, I'm one of the people seeing something tangible and needed coming from the ACA that directly benefits me greatly, and I feel something almost akin to "survivor's guilt".
Particularly for the friends of mine who are married with children and only one spouse is working. Because an individual plan for just the worker isn't more than 9.5% of their income, the health care offered through the working spouse's employer is considered "affordable", but it isn't when you factor in the cost of covering the stay-at-home spouse and children. They won't have to pay a penalty, because the cost for the family coverage would be over 8%. But they're still out in the cold, and are in the income range where subsidies on the exchange would really help them if they qualified.
I cannot say enough how much the ACA is helping me. I don't want it to go away. I don't want it defunded. Even if in a lot of ways, it's really terrible legislation, it is helping a lot of people. I think if we give an inch, we won't see single payer for at least another two Democratic administrations. But I *do* want to see the glitches that are present fixed, and if necessary a way to pay for the fix (since the CBO's numbers likely included this glaring lapse).
Please, as much as you may hate the ACA for subsidizing insurance companies, don't forget the people it helps.
Please, as much as you may love the ACA for what it does for you or people you are close to, don't forget that it isn't helping everyone currently in need.
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