ACA (or so they say..)

I know I brought this up a few years ago but now that we actually see the beginnings of the workings of obamacare are any other pacers concerned how this will impact them down the road?

7 Comments

It's so screwed up.

by Theknotguy - 2013-12-03 11:12:40

Just got out of the hospital. The medical people are telling me it so screwed up that no one knows. I'm very fortunate to have good insurance so things were taken care of for me. As for the rest???

It helps wife & me

by erik - 2013-12-04 01:12:17

I'm 62, moving into semi-retirement next year as is my wife. We moved back earlier this year to the US from Asia where we were covered by a local company. If it weren't for Obamacare neither my wife nor I would be able to get US insurance due to pre-existing conditions. But starting in 2014, US insurance co's cannot deny or carve out exclusions based on medical history.

We just purchased health insurance for 2014 that covers us without qualification. No questions asked. Grateful for that.

So sad

by vbilbrey - 2013-12-04 02:12:45

I'm sorry to hear you feel that way, Moner, that would prefer they turn you off... I can't afford that and I can't afford the "affordable" care act. Currently I have decent coverage with my employer but I fear that in the coming months or year(s) they too will either let more people go so they don't have to pay for the montrocity (we are already short-staffed but not hiring) or will get rid of the insurance. I have no idea if I will be able to afford or "be allowed" to have my next surgery in a few years. I'm completely dependent on mine and not sure how long I would survive without it. I wasn't expected to live when I was born and I lived this long with the help of my PM. I know there were other complications (enlarged heart which caused my lung to collapse, but recuperated after my PM implant) that I have no idea if I would face those same issues or not now as an adult. It sucks knowing that somebody other than the patient & his/her doctor will be playing with people's lives! I have no idea what we'll do if I lose insurance. It is really scary to think about. All I can do is pray. I feel for all of us on here and what any of us might face in the coming months/years.

Wonder how much better off I am??

by JerryG - 2013-12-04 04:12:39

Here in South Africa we have a 'two-tier' medical system; government hospitals & clinics which are totally government funded and private hospitals (& private medical practitioners) which are fully paid by the patients using the facilities.

We have medical aid as we call it which is medical insurance and we pay premiums for the cover provided by the scheme. The greater your cover requirement, the larger the premium you pay. Many employers subsidise the premiums of their employees but of course people like me who own their own businesses pay the full premium anyway.

I am fortunate enough to be able to afford the best medical insurance available but there are millions out there who aren't so lucky. I am able to consult the best specialists and be hospitalised in private hospitals which are way above the standard (or lack thereof) of the government hospitals.

The less advantaged have to go to government hospitals which are not only in very poor state of repair but are staffed by doctors from all over the world, many of them from Cuba and Eastern Europe. Those foreign doctors have a huge language problem communicating with their patients as we have 11 official languages here! Those less advantaged patients cannot attempt to go to private hospitals as the first thing a private hospital does when a patient arrives is to check the extent and validity of their medical insurance. No insurance, go to a government hospital, no matter what state you are in.

I have read a bit about 'obamacare' and with its shortfalls, I wonder if it will be any worse than what we live with.

JerryG

As far as the patient is concerned,

by rfassett - 2013-12-04 09:12:22

the stark reality is that insurance will be available. It will not necessarily cover as good as your current insurance (as is the case with the policy that I supply for my employees (which is a very superior policy) ) and it will cost more. So it will cost more to buy a lesser policy and accordingly the patient will pay more out of his/her pocket. Yes, the insurance will be available. But cost sharing will be the new catch phrase.

Interesting !

by IAN MC - 2013-12-04 12:12:49

SPARROW has given a great analysis of your situation in the States regarding healthcare.

It would be easy to imagine that the more you spend on healthcare , the better that it will be, but that simply ain't so ! You would imagine that the countries which
spend the biggest percentage of their Gross National Product on health must provide the best healthcare but it ain't the case !

The league table for percentage spend on health in 2013 for a few major countries shows :-

USA 17.9 %
Canada 11.2 %
France 11.6 %
Germany 11.1 %
UK 9.3 %
Australia 9.0 %
Brazil 8.9 %
China 5.2 %

Why is the USA not leading the world in it's healthcare ? because you are being ripped off , you are not getting value for every dollar you spend !

Every time we have posts on here about the relative costs of say pacemakers , or drugs, around the world it is apparent that YOU ARE BEING RIPPED OFF in the US compared to other countries. Your insurance companies, your medics , your hospitals ; all of them seem to be taking you for a ride.

I can't see any solution to your problem.

Ian

Major Debacle

by Moner - 2013-12-04 12:12:58

My doctors feel the same way. I fear losing some of these doctors because they might just close up their shop.

Note to The Knot Guy.... I consider myself fortunate enough to have good insurance, but in 2014, companies may elect to discontinue carrying health insurance thanks to this Oboma Care Act.

If I loose my EP, I'll just request that my settings are turned off. I'm not going through this ever again. I was mislead by one EP, I don't think I'll be able to have the same kind of trust I have with this new one.

Sadly,

Moner
>^..^<

You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker receives radio frequencies.

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