I was rudely welcomed to 2011 with a tripling of my copay and doctor visit charges. While there have been adjustments over the years, it has never been so drastic, and it has seriously caused a dent in my fixed income. Both my wife and I will have to either drop some medications, or not pay bills, put gas in the car, or discontinue eating three meals a day, which will help with reducing the waistline :tongue3:
My insurance company claims it is mandatory to bring the policy in line with the health care changes being in acted in DC.
With that said, I was wondering how many of you have seen increases in your medical insurance since the passing of the health care bill?
This is simple and straight forward, and I hope all of you who read this respond to the attached poll. Comments also welcome.
Couldn't vote since there wasn't a 'decrease in cost' choice.
Even though my wife and I are currently separated, she still carries me on her health insurance plan. To the best of my understanding (which is limited; she's the insurance guru) the monthly premium actually went down about $19.00 or so with no changes in our co-pay for doctor visits or prescriptions.
Sorry, Pastor Paul, I cannot fulfill your hope (that everyone who reads your OP should respond to the poll) because health insurance is an "optional extra" here.
If I go to my doctor, or to hospital for treatment, no one will ask me what insurance company I am with (unless, I suppose, if I chose to "go private").
That situation hasn't changed since last year, but I don't think you intended your choice "No, there have been no changes" to cover my situation.
I do pray for you and other Americans in similar circumstances.
It cannot be easy to have to make the choice between food and health insurance.
I am not suggesting for a moment that you actually answer this, but I wonder if the church of which you are pastor knows of the situation you and your wife are in.
Our premiums went up affective January 1st and there were changes to our coverage, but I am more concerned with other changes.
In a move that was advertised and pushed by our company management we can get a discount on our premiums if we allow the company to do health screenings.
The first year for this was 2010 and everyone who participated saved $240 per year $480 for a family if they allowed the screening.
I refused.
This year, to get the same discount the members who were screened have to meet goals set for decreasing their cholesterol, blood pressure, and weight.
I am still opting out and paying more than most of my coworkers.
We have anti discriminatory laws that forbid discriminating against people at employment and I see this as a way to circumvent those laws.
If this continues I can see the day when the health of a person capable of doing a job keeps them from being hired.
I am not sure what you are refering to but an employer has the right to turn a person down if their health is not suitable for the job and that includes being over weight. You have never seen an obese airline steward.
Our health plan at work went up about 30% Jan. 1. Lots of folks were angry. I live in Connecticut where about 70% of the people voted for Obama, so I said, "Hey, you voted for the guy!"
If they can't physically do the job I can see that.
Police, fire, military, all require some level of physical fitness and strength.
But what about things that don't affect your job? What about tobacco or alcohol use at home?
What about diabetes or a history of cancer?
Well, nothing from the doctor side that I can see but we're on a high deductible plan.
$6000 deductible and the church contributes about $5500 to an HSA.
So we have the bill submitted to the insurance, they send it back with the "allowed amount" and we pay that amount by check or credit card tied to the HSA.
It stinks because I TRY to keep costs down but then something happens like now a possible diagnosis of pneumonia for me which means lots of doctors, x-rays and meds.
ARG!
I lift you up in Jesus name, and ask that your diagnosis be wrong. I also pray for your continued ability to keep your cost down. That can't be easy as you grow older. :thumbsup:
Thanks for your concern...unfortunately, I am not on any staff at this time, and my insurance comes striaght out of my 18 years as a Social Services Manager for the State of California.
I'm only doing layman work with the churches, as my wife and I do minister in music at many churches. The work is under the covering of the church, but, any money I receive is a free will offering thing, and it is not enough to make a dent in what I am going to have to pay.
Just the other day, I picked up four Ex's that on December 31, 2010 would have cost me $20.00. My bill on Wednesday evening was $60.00. That is sticker shock. I have asthma, and diabetes, and both of these diseases have mostly non-generic drugs for treatment. Four of those will cost me $180.00 as opposed to last years, four at $60.00.
This is going to eat a big hole through my fixed income, and both my wife and I will have to make some serious choices, this year. I don't know how much of this has to do with Obama care, but, it is something my insurer has never done before that became a bill.
We have not had commercial health care since my wife's illness made her virtually 'uninsurable" in 1988.
I chose option 3 (but not because of "cost" per se)
We do have a long-term care policy for nursing home or in-home and that has seen no raise in 4 years, but as of 4/1/11 it will jump about 10%.
We belong to the Christian Health Ministries (Brotherhood) that allows us to pool together to help one another in catastrophic events. Even that is pricey (for us) and very limited in scope.
We have 2 more years until Medicare and then no cares in the world. Right. :BangHead:
Australia had medicare at one stage, initially it looked fantastic....over the decades the costs to the government blew out,, and then came the adjustments, then the adjustments on the adjustments.....
I hope the American medicare has learnt from other countries experience but ......
I doubt it.
Look at our Social Security.
It was mean strictly for retirement - but many additions have been made for more programs.
In addition, the first deductions were 1% of income, now it is some 6% of income + a Matching amount from the employer. (self employed pay the full 12+ %)
Most said nothing. I do know of two or three where I work who supported and voted for Obama that seem angry and openly speak against him now. Some of these were already upset about the bailouts, the big increase in our health plan sent them over the top. I don't think he will get their vote next time.
NCT -- I understand your concerns on this.
Also, there should be sufficient safeguards regarding privacy. Basically, the idea is that the screenings can help employees and their families stay healthy, identify any problems early on (and then resolve them early on when costs are lower) and that in the long-run, the overall medical costs will decrease.
Most studies I've seen appear to bear this out and health plans will provide premium discounts to those companies that do this.
Since the employer is probably assuming the majority of your healthcare costs, they have a vested interest in this. For better or worse, I see this is a trend that will continue to grow.
PS GO TECH.
But wouldn't simplly covering preventive care do a better job of this.
Not only will they not cover preventive screenings if you use your own doctor, but the only way to get their "rebate" is to have the results reported to them.
After years of HIPPA and privacy between me and my doctor now my medical records are open for the company?
Oh they say that there are strict privacy rules and this information will not be available to the company management, but they already know who gets the rebate and who doesn't, its on every pay stub.
I do all the preventive stuff, get my blood cholesteral and all that.
I just believe that the results of those tests should be private between me and my doctor.