Not so affordable healthcare

[s_stabeler]

I will point out that a LOT of people can now afford insurance where they couldn't before. I'll also point out that several important features of the ACA as first drawn up were removed by Republicans- including a "government option" which would have provided a cheap bare-bones insurance (it would probably have amounted to paying a premium for Medicare) option- which would have helped keep down prices.

[HYHYBT]

Today is my last day at my current job. They like to keep the hours as low as possible probably so they don't have to provide insurance. The seasonal job doesn't offer insurance. However, now that I think about it, that may have changed. I'll have to check into that.

Oh and HYBYT, my governor isn't running again so he can focus on running for president. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

I suspect that's it, then. Once you're not with them (and possibly even then COBRA might block you a while) maybe you'll be eligible.

Who is your governor? I'm glad ours isn't running for president; for one thing, he causes enough trouble as governor, and for another, I suspect he has a better shot of losing this year than a replacement would.

[Teysa]

Rick Perry is my governor. He's been in office forever and a day. It'll be nice to get some new blood in there.

[HYHYBT]

Oh, I'd forgotten he was still in office. Oops.

[otakuneko]

Oh and HYBYT, my governor isn't running again so he can focus on running for president. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

That damned idiot is going to try again?

Geeze. I think we need a new amendment -- henceforth, no governor of Texas shall be eligible to be president.

[Panacea]

Just a quick correction: it's Medicaid that didn't get expanded in many states, not Medicare. Medicaid is the federally funded, state run health care system for the poor. Medicare is subscriber/federally funded health care for the disabled and the elderly.

Premiums are higher in states that did not expand Medicaid. States that took the Medicaid expansion (and the federal dollars that went with it) have much lower premiums.

[TimmyHate]

I'm an outsider to the whole debate on American Healthcare...all I know is my inlaws cannot afford (as in literally cannot) healthcare through the 'marketplace' - tho I did suggest they speak to someone (unsure if they ever did).

To me the whole debate seems bizzare - in NZ, medical care is provided by the state, with the option of private healthcare if you want. The private costs are relatively low - my wife is going private for an ultrasound (non-pregnancy) and its costing us a max of $320.00. For the same in the states in my limited research, we'd be looking at over a grand...

We also have a no-fault injury system - if your hurt in an accident at work, on the roads or playing sport, your care is also covered. Some places charge a small co-pay on first visits (when I messed up my thumb, it was $50 for being at midnight). After that, 3 lots of xrays and 8 weeks of physio were covered for me.

[Kara_CS]

To me the whole debate seems bizzare - in NZ, medical care is provided by the state, with the option of private healthcare if you want. The private costs are relatively low - my wife is going private for an ultrasound (non-pregnancy) and its costing us a max of $320.00. For the same in the states in my limited research, we'd be looking at over a grand...

That's because US politics have abandoned all pretext of sanity and reason. When a liberal points to countries like New Zealand that have better, more reasonable, and far more accessible healthcare programs that are provided by their governments for the greater good of their people, conservatives in the US who still harbor Cold War-era attitudes about the evils of anything Un-American start screaming about socialism.

[KellyHabersham]

I know I mentioned this a little on a recent thread on CS, but since this part involves healthcare.......I'm worried about how affordable its going to be for me next year. Because of upcoming pay cuts and limits on overtime, I won't be making as much money, and this might put my income to where I qualify for Medicaid. Which is not good, because I do NOT want that, and I can't afford health insurance on my own.

[patiokitty]

The more I learn about the ACA the more I am very glad that I live in Canada. My province provides free medical, and my employer's extended benefits plan has a really good Rx plan for a fairly low premium. Our province also has an Rx program for those who do not have an Rx plan through their employers and make below a certain amount - depending on their income level and the amount their meds costs per month people can pay only a portion of the cost or nothing at all, and there are not any premiums for this provincial Rx plan either.