<p>OK, dstark, I understand your point regarding two events. </p>
<p>Still, I would not judge GP too harshly regarding his decision to switch insurance. I don’t think many previously insured people realized how new insurances would affect their particular situation. </p>
<p>I also don’t think that GP does not take responsibility for his actions. I don’t equal complaining about his situation to not taking responsibility. In the end he only has himself to blame. I just did not think he deserved to be picked on.</p>
<p>However… I think, you, just like everyone else, view everything through the prism of your life experience. As much as I disagree with you on so many points, I actually understand where you are coming from based on your previous posts here and on other threads. </p>
<p>With that being said, I would like to re-iterate that I was not being insulting towards people needing help. You might have read it that way, but it does not mean it is true.</p>
<p>“With that being said, I would like to re-iterate that I was not being insulting towards people needing help. You might have read it that way, but it does not mean it is true.”</p>
<p>“Those in the individual market who are having to pay for their policies are getting their butts kicked.”</p>
<p>Those currently in the individual market are almost by definition those without preexisting conditions. So yes, they were enjoying a privilege before, largely due to chance, and now they aren’t. That’s an abrupt and unwelcome change for anyone.</p>
<p>“Those currently in the individual market are almost by definition those without preexisting conditions. So yes, they were enjoying a privilege before, largely due to chance, and now they aren’t.”</p>
<p>I guess not everyone agrees with “thanks” and “sorry”. I suspect that some who were paying large premiums before, and larger now, would disagree that they were enjoying a privilege.</p>
<p>I don’t know what privilege they were enjoying by being allowed to buy their own insurance because they don’t get it from an employer. How is that a privilege? That’s a burden IMHO. And being scolded because they are not nice enough to want to buy insurance for other families as well is odd. Especially, when some of these other families are not poor or sick but moving money around so they can get subsidies. I don’t understand why they wouldn’t be thrilled about that, either. Nope.</p>
<p>Because a lot of us were shut out of that market and denied the right to buy coverage at any price solely because of chance. Like me. </p>
<p>If they don’t think they were enjoying a privilege, then they weren’t paying attention to people who would have been very grateful for the chance to be in their position. It doesn’t mean the privilege wasn’t there. </p>
<p>Most of us who can walk on our own legs don’t think much about that privilege…but it is one. We need the guy with no legs to point it out to us.</p>
<p>There is no dispute that pre-existing conditions were a problem. There were problems, all would agree. There are new problems, now. And, more to come. Most seem to agree with that, too.</p>
<p>We don’t all agree about the relative importance of the problems. Maybe I’m blinded by my own experience, but I think that comprehensive coverage being for sale to everyone, but expensive, is a much better societal problem to have than comprehensive coverage being totally unavailable to millions.</p>
<p>Except that ultimately it could give us more poor or nearly poor and definitely poorer people with expensive health insurance policies that include coverage they realistically do not need. We will see.</p>
<p>I sympathize with GP and many in his situation. poetgrl said her policy went up two or three times its original value.</p>
<p>The question really is whether we have covered any new ground since GP brought up this issue. The people here are as divided in their opinions as the general population and no one has changed their opinion since the thread has started about the issues. </p>
<p>In the end, this thread is **not about ** people’s issues but whether there is something someone can help them with in resolving the issue. GP’s issue has been explored endlessly, hundreds of posts devoted to the discussion and if GP’s insurance is the only one we need to discuss, this thread has reached its logical conclusion. However, I get many PMs asking to keep it open because it is interesting to many who read it to learn more but not necessarily participate.</p>
<p>I just received a notice that my grandfathered plan is going from $559 a month to $589 a month. I can live with that since I turn 60 this year. I have $2000k max out of pocket, $500 deductible and no lifetime cap. As I age, however, I cannot realistically keep this policy since I only have $500 in prescription coverage per year. That’s too much of a gamble. A serious illness would bankrupt me. I won’t qualify for a subsidy but I’ll still purchase through ACA website since my income is commission and I never know what my income will be. I guess it makes sense to go with a silver plan.</p>
<p>I was under the impression that all but a handful of states had high risk pool coverage for those with pre-existing conditions. Was your state not one of them, Hanna?</p>
<p>I agree with you here on almost every point, however I disagree with your regarding definition of comprehensive coverage. With narrow networks access to the right doctors might become an issue for those with serious conditions.</p>
<p>I find reading other people’s experiences and opinions interesting and sometimes entertaining and informative regardless whether I change my opinions or not.</p>
<p>I liked reading about lifetime caps yesterday from posters like emilybee and bluebayou who have actually dealt with this issue.</p>
<p>Threads evolve…as long as we can learn something or entertain ourselves while not beating each other up too much why not keep it open?</p>
<p>ACA is just getting started. December is a big month. </p>
<p>I want to read how ACA affects medical treatment. How ACA affects the medical profession.</p>
<p>dstark,
I have no idea about CA’s high risk plans, as I have never had a cause to explore them (if they exist). I am very interested in others’ first-hand experiences with their own health care challenges as well. I would like to hear about Hanna’s challenges getting coverage in her state if she is willing to share.</p>