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 BHW's Lance Armstrong 
Posts: 11134
   
Location: Somewhere between S@%&# stirrer and Saint | OK I finally broke down and bought health insurance. It went into affect December 1st. Right after I get insurance I started getting emails saying I had to get a new policy by the end of December. Today I finally checked into it because I need surgery on my foot. I found out that they don't offer that insurance any more in my area. Now that I am investigating this stuff It looks like every year a person has to renew the policy or something. How is every one doing with their insurance policies? |
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Troll Buster
Posts: 6045
| Having to renew your policy every year depends on the company. I sell health insurance and all the plans I work with renew automatically Jan 1st. The policy may change (deductible, co-pays,etc) but they would never be booted from their policy and like I mentioned it will renew automatically without any action from the customer. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 629
| We had insurance directly from BCBS for my husband. We were notified we had to cancel or elect to renew his policy. They automatically had him "setup" to roll into the new plan, but it was very different from what we had, and not at all a desirable plan, and was $100 more per month than we were paying. We opted out. |
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 Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | Welcome to Obama Care.
You must choose to keep your current plan (if offered) or select a new one each year during "open enrollment." My personal experience so far has been that my policy has changed each year (coverage and cost) and I have been forced to shop for a new one. Really, really not what I like to spend my time doing...
I shared on another thread that we are in the process of switching to a Christian cost share plan and will be done dealing with this annual hassle. |
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 BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25351
Location: Bastrop, Texas | http://forums.barrelhorseworld.com/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid... |
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  Living on the edge of common sense
Posts: 24138
Location: Carpenter, WY | The only one we have in WY as of the first of the year is BCBS so I had to switch from my current carrier who will not be participating in the plan. I think the one I signed up for in comparing the plans is much better (lower deductible and lower out of pocket) and half the cost. I know everyone is complaining about Obamacare but for me it's been a Godsend. I'm in that black hole on ss disability and waiting until I can get on Medicare. My Cobra ran out and with Obamacare I'm saving over 600 a month in premium cost anyway from my Cobra premium.
Edited by teehaha 2015-12-23 9:18 AM
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BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25351
Location: Bastrop, Texas | teehaha - 2015-12-23 9:16 AM
The only one we have in WY as of the first of the year is BCBS so I had to switch from my current carrier who will not be participating in the plan. I think the one I signed up for in comparing the plans is much better (lower deductible and lower out of pocket) and half the cost. I know everyone is complaining about Obamacare but for me it's been a Godsend. I'm in that black hole on ss disability and waiting until I can get on Medicare. My Cobra ran out and with Obamacare I'm saving over 600 a month in premium cost anyway from my Cobra premium.
It's good for a few......but it's only good because the rest of us are picking up the tab. Part of the "income redistribution" part of socialism. |
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BHW's Lance Armstrong
Posts: 11134
Location: Somewhere between S@%&# stirrer and Saint | What I didn't like was that my insurance for the month of December was called Eatna (misspelled)/ Altius Heath Plans/ Conventry Health Care it was very confusing. I guess they decided not to offer the plan in our area or offer the plan at all something like that. My new one is Health Select Med. We will see how that goes for a year. Payment per month is $182.25 |
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BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25351
Location: Bastrop, Texas | Douglas J Gordon - 2015-12-23 1:44 PM
What I didn't like was that my insurance for the month of December was called Eatna (misspelled)/ Altius Heath Plans/ Conventry Health Care it was very confusing. I guess they decided not to offer the plan in our area or offer the plan at all something like that. My new one is Health Select Med. We will see how that goes for a year. Payment per month is $182.25
How did you swing that, Douglas? What's the catch? What sort of coverage? Deductibles? |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | I have health insureance thru work. I pay $110/Month and the company I work for pays the other $110/Month. My plan is through United Healthcare. My employer pays half so that we can afford the great health insurance plans. My deductible is very affordable and my copays are half cost. We are auto renewed each year for the same cost, deductible, plan, and copays. Been that way for years. We are blessed to work where we work.
Edited to ad: My plan only covers me. Not the kiddos/SO.
Edited by IRunOnFaith 2015-12-23 4:41 PM
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Living on the edge of common sense
Posts: 24138
Location: Carpenter, WY | Bear - 2015-12-23 8:49 AM teehaha - 2015-12-23 9:16 AM The only one we have in WY as of the first of the year is BCBS so I had to switch from my current carrier who will not be participating in the plan. I think the one I signed up for in comparing the plans is much better (lower deductible and lower out of pocket) and half the cost. I know everyone is complaining about Obamacare but for me it's been a Godsend. I'm in that black hole on ss disability and waiting until I can get on Medicare. My Cobra ran out and with Obamacare I'm saving over 600 a month in premium cost anyway from my Cobra premium. It's good for a few......but it's only good because the rest of us are picking up the tab. Part of the "income redistribution" part of socialism.
I'm no moocher. I worked and paid into the system for over 50 years and this is the first time in my entire life I have ever 'used' the system for anything. If I have to use it for 6 months I really am not going to feel guilty over it.
edited to add: as a compassionate and good Dr. what would you suggest that I do to cover the costs of stage 4 cancer , a broken back and being hospitalized for 10 days with MRSA within a span of 18 months? Just give up and die? I really would like to know because I have fought so hard to just stay alive it seems like and I'm tired. I keep thinking of Grandpa John on here that we lost a couple of years ago and how he couldn't afford to get any treatment and his frustration with the system. My heart just bled as he almost begged for help before we finally lost him. Trust me, with all my heart and prayers, there is absolutely nothing I would like better than to resume my routine of a full time job and continuing to pay into the system but I have never been so arrogant in my entire life to think that people that find themselves in circumstances beyond their control would never, ever happen to me. I sincerely would hope that in your advanced years should you ever find yourself in my shoes that the system is 'fixed' so that you don't have to receive a retort like the one you just gave me. I did my share of "picking up the tab" for decades. I have also fought very, very hard both emotionally and physically to still be on this earth and your callous response to me was not something I would expected from a Dr. of your caliber.
Edited by teehaha 2015-12-23 7:25 PM
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Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | People can blame Obamacare if they so choose but the cold hard fact is that health care and health insurance in this country has been screwed up for a LOOOONNNG time. For 30+ years I handled the medical coverage for my small employer. Year in and year out we were faced with double digit precentage cost increases accompanied by higher deductibles and lesser coverage.
I personally blame our legislature for not coming up with a viable alternative to Obamacare. If perhaps they were not all in the pockets of the health care industry and big pharma, maybe they could find a way to contain costs so that health care was affordable to everyone.
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One Grateful Mom
Posts: 2702
Location: wolverton,mn | Meg,there is no way you should have to defend your situation. I'm sorry you have to. As someone going through cancer a second time,working full time,raising two awesome kids,I look at people like us as a asset to our society,not someone to shame. Good grief,I'm amazed at the way some hold themselves of a higher standard only to kick the rest in the teeth for trying to stay afloat |
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Living on the edge of common sense
Posts: 24138
Location: Carpenter, WY | hotbear03 - 2015-12-23 6:24 PM Meg,there is no way you should have to defend your situation. I'm sorry you have to. As someone going through cancer a second time,working full time,raising two awesome kids,I look at people like us as a asset to our society,not someone to shame. Good grief,I'm amazed at the way some hold themselves of a higher standard only to kick the rest in the teeth for trying to stay afloat Thank you so much. I read that response and cried as I was making dinner. I really feel so, so blessed just to be here. It seems like such a struggle to maintain a good, positive attitude sometimes as I'm sure you can relate too. I know that the cancer will get me eventually if I don't get hit by a bus first :) I saw the good Dr. even start a thread quoting me on a FB group. I guess he likes dragging a dead dog through the mud.......
Edited by teehaha 2015-12-23 7:40 PM
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 A Barrel Of Monkeys
Posts: 12972
Location: Texas | hotbear03 - 2015-12-23 7:24 PM Meg,there is no way you should have to defend your situation. I'm sorry you have to. As someone going through cancer a second time,working full time,raising two awesome kids,I look at people like us as a asset to our society,not someone to shame. Good grief,I'm amazed at the way some hold themselves of a higher standard only to kick the rest in the teeth for trying to stay afloat
AMEN!! You are both rock stars!! |
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BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25351
Location: Bastrop, Texas | I also have incurable cancer. It's only a matter of time before I will probably need my insuance as well. This isn't about me or anyone else in particular. This is about a system that was out of control to begin with, and now ObamaCare has all but sealed it's fate, unless it's done away with. This idea of confiscating from the "haves" to redistribute to the "have nots" is very appealing to many. This is the most important premise upon which Marxism is based. My concern goes well beyond my own selfish interests. My concern is for our kids and grand kids, and what will be available to them when the time comes that they need the best available healthcare at an affordable cost. The very design of ObamaCare is to cause the system to collapse, as well as to garner votes and power. You may think my position is calloused and selfish, but in fact, my concerns extend well beyond my own imminent selfish needs. ObamaCare was not what was needed to fix the system. Sadly, the people who, in the end, will be most devastated as a result of ObamaCare will be those who need help the most. I think that is just tragic. |
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 Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | The mandates that they have out on providers is a large part of the problem, but I won't step up on that soap box because it would take too long. Bottom line is we used to collect the majority of what was due from the insurance and now it has to be collected from the patient. The days of Cadillac plans where you paid a decent premium and insurance paid the rest is gone. Now patients are not patients but consumers and get prepared because even with coverage providers are going to start collecting up front on surgeries, MRI, etc. They'll have to to stay in business. United Healthcare sold an exchange plan only to turn right around and announce that they're getting out of the exchange business because they're losing money. They're not the only one. The insurance companies are not managing it well and providers are not contracting for those exchange plans either so even if you have coverage, it doesn't mean you'll have a doctor to go to. They are narrowing the networks too. We're seeing higher deductibles than we ever have because patients can't afford the premiums. And even at the high premiums the coverage is nothing like it used to be.Plans with Healthcare Savings Accounts in addition to some type of coverage are the best route if you can find one that you can afford. |
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BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25351
Location: Bastrop, Texas | A lot of middle class Americans are suffering because of ObamaCare. They are forced into paying sometimes 2-3 times the premiums they used to pay for bad insurance with deductibles that are 2-3 times higher. Where's the compassion for them? |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | teehaha - 2015-12-23 5:59 PM Bear - 2015-12-23 8:49 AM teehaha - 2015-12-23 9:16 AM The only one we have in WY as of the first of the year is BCBS so I had to switch from my current carrier who will not be participating in the plan. I think the one I signed up for in comparing the plans is much better (lower deductible and lower out of pocket) and half the cost. I know everyone is complaining about Obamacare but for me it's been a Godsend. I'm in that black hole on ss disability and waiting until I can get on Medicare. My Cobra ran out and with Obamacare I'm saving over 600 a month in premium cost anyway from my Cobra premium. It's good for a few......but it's only good because the rest of us are picking up the tab. Part of the "income redistribution" part of socialism.
edited to add: as a compassionate and good Dr. what would you suggest that I do to cover the costs of stage 4 cancer , a broken back and being hospitalized for 10 days with MRSA within a span of 18 months? Just give up and die? I really would like to know because I have fought so hard to just stay alive it seems like and I'm tired. I keep thinking of Grandpa John on here that we lost a couple of years ago and how he couldn't afford to get any treatment and his frustration with the system. My heart just bled as he almost begged for help before we finally lost him. Trust me, with all my heart and prayers, there is absolutely nothing I would like better than to resume my routine of a full time job and continuing to pay into the system but I have never been so arrogant in my entire life to think that people that find themselves in circumstances beyond their control would never, ever happen to me. I sincerely would hope that in your advanced years should you ever find yourself in my shoes that the system is 'fixed' so that you don't have to receive a retort like the one you just gave me. I did my share of "picking up the tab" for decades. I have also fought very, very hard both emotionally and physically to still be on this earth and your callous response to me was not something I would expected from a Dr. of your caliber.
I don't think you should feel guilty for using the present system to benefit yourself. It is what it is, and you're not the one who made it that way. Not any different than taking advantage of tax laws, grants, or subsidy programs. |
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Folks on-line