<p>Calmom, I agree with you about how good your networks are depends on where you live.</p>
<p>I want to know about networks all over the place. Even in Texas. 
I am not just interested in my own situation. I am interested in my own situation too. :)</p>
<p>Supposedly Anthem doesnt have many gastroenterologists signed up in Marin. I think it is one guy. I dont really care because like you said, I can go to the city. </p>
<p>“Even in Texas”</p>
<p>I can walk to every type of doctor’s and specialist’s homes from my home. I just can’t tell you what networks they are in though although I am sure to get treatment from them.</p>
<p>Question on ACA subsidies - Are people on a work visa status able to get them? We are trying to compare SHOP vs letting people buy it through exchange.</p>
<p>“Public Sector Cuts Part-Time Shifts to Duck Insurance Law”</p>
<p>“Cities, counties, public schools and community colleges around the country have limited or reduced the work hours of part-time employees to avoid having to provide them with health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, state and local officials say.”</p>
<p><a href=“Public Sector Cuts Part-Time Shifts to Bypass Insurance Law - The New York Times”>http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/21/us/public-sector-cuts-part-time-shifts-to-duck-insurance-law.html</a></p>
<p>I just read that article too. The hits just keep on coming.</p>
<p>“I can walk to every type of doctor’s and specialist’s homes from my home.”</p>
<p>I love that. </p>
<p>TatinG… :)) :)) :)) </p>
<p>Well… I am in the doctor’s office. They take all the plans. Things are confusing because of all the new policies, but they take all the plans.</p>
<p>“In my area, Blue Shield has a way better network than Anthem Blue Cross for the exchange plans.”</p>
<p>How would you even know? The insurance company’s provider directories aren’t accurate. The only way would be to call the doctors in your region.</p>
<p>"Texaspg – “board certified” is not the same as licensed. All doctors in California need to be licensed by the state medical board – but generally “board certified” refers to a process of private certification through associations geared to specific medical specialties. It’s an extra certification that a doctor can seek, not a mandatory qualification. "</p>
<p>For any decent doctor, however, becoming board-certified in his or her specialty is not an “extra.” It’s the absolute bare minimum. There’s no excuse for a doctor not to be board-certified (unless he’s right out of school and he’s board-eligible but not board certified). None. </p>
<p>Any licensed doctor can call himself anything; board certification is how you KNOW the person really has training in XYZ field. </p>
<p>Yes. There is no way in hell I would ever go to a doctor who was not board certified. </p>
<p>Green card holders who have been here for five years are eligible for subsidies on the exchange. More recent immigrants are not eligible for subsidies.</p>
<p><a href=“http://thinkprogress.org/immigration/2013/10/01/2708441/affordable-care-act-immigrant-types-coverage/#”>http://thinkprogress.org/immigration/2013/10/01/2708441/affordable-care-act-immigrant-types-coverage/#</a></p>
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<p>Fine. But what level of medical care do you think should be the minimum care that we ought to subsidize with our tax dollars? Do you think someone who is buying insurance on my dime is entitled to say, “Oh no, this doctor is licensed to practice in California but I want to be able to go to the more expensive guy with more training?” </p>
<p>Thanks CF. Need to work on this further. The agent said we missed the March deadline but will check on April for SHOP. Still need to call IRS to see if we can get any money even if we don’t pay taxes.</p>
<p>Texaspg, after reading thru the posts today, I think we should have an absurd post of the day award. </p>
<p>We could probably do this every day.</p>
<p>I have a few nominations but a particular favorite. I know at least one person agrees with me. :)</p>
<p>I agree with you dstark. There definitely are a few of yours that we could nominate.
Ha!</p>
<p>How about we designate the most energetic Obamacare cheerleading award for one poster everyday. :)</p>
<p>"Do you think someone who is buying insurance on my dime is entitled to say, “Oh no, this doctor is licensed to practice in California but I want to be able to go to the more expensive guy with more training?” </p>
<p>Maybe not, but no one is asking me how I would like my dime spent. Of course, the unsubsidized in the individual market (not spending your dime) are having their choices restricted no less than those who are spending your dime.</p>
<p>That idea occurred to me also. We could designate the ACA cheerleading award to whomever is the most unstoppable defender of everything-is-great-nothing-is-the-fault-of-the-ACA-and-you’re-all-better-off-now-even-if-you-have-to-declare-medical-bankruptcy.</p>
<p>To be fair, though, we could designate an Eeyore award to whomever is the most unstoppable blamer of everything-is-bad-and-the-fault-of-the-ACA-and-we’re-all-doomed attitude.</p>
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<p>Sorry, CF, but that is a straw man question. By definition, ACA is not designed towards the “minimum”…(If it was, there wouldn’t be first dollar coverage for a certain Rx…)</p>