Thank you for confirming what I had said EmilyBee.
No pre ex exclusion prior to the ACA inception in New York, and more affordable rates for those receiving subsidies.
But what about those not receiving subsidies and who had lost plans they had for many years?
The author you cited was pretty clever in how he represented his " truths" in the article. Technically true but not the entire story.
There have been many that have benefited in NYS and that is a good thing. There also have been many in NYS who have been very adversely effected and that isn’t a good thing.
Thousands of NYS residents forced out of EPO’s and PPO’s, forced into the loss of being able to see doctors they had seen for years etc.
I recognize the good but I don’t ignore the bad.
" and more affordable rates for those receiving subsidies."
There were no subsidies given in New York pre ACA. None, zip, zero. Ind. ins. was unaffordable to almost all New Yorkers.
Who are these many people who have been forced out of their plans in NY? Only 10k had individual ins before ACA because it was outrageously expensive. Only the sick had insurance or very wealthy had it. My sister and her H paid $2000/ month pre ACA for the two of them. They moved to CT last year but she still goes to her same doctors in NY and I know she is paying about $1k for ins. now. She had a NY ACA plan in year one before her move and it was approx the same 1k and all her doctors accepted it, just like they do with the plan she has now. She only lives 20 mins from her house in NY so still convenient for her to go to her doctors in NY/NYC. I’m sure she could have gotten a less expensive plan and perhaps her doctors wouldn’t take it, but her premium is affordable for her and her H.
I also really don’t get what the big deal is about having to see new doctors. People move all over the US and have to get new doctors all the time in their new location. Doctors also retire forcing people to get a new doctor, too.
You cannot have affordable insurance which covers pre-existing conditions and has community rating without subsidies and making coverage mandated. New York pre ACA proves that.
So… you guys have lost on the ACA argument. It is here to stay. Can we talk about this year’s specific changes and discuss for people who want to consider coverage this year, instead of re-hashing a fight that is over? We are moving to a new state in Dec, and I am trying to figure out the logistics of making sure D2 has uninterrupted coverage. Has anyone else done this recently?
Good point, @intparent.
Is your concern keeping your D2 on a plan that works in the old state? How is she covered right now? (Individual policy? On a family policy through your/your spouse’s employer? A family policy purchased through an exchange? An off-exchange family policy?
intparent, I just finished a call for open enrollment for next year and what options are available to the company I work for. my employer has chosen to take the more expensive route (group policy with gap coverage) from a $$$$ perspective dumping employees on the aca would have been better financially.(he is heavily guided by moral…in a non religious way , principals…that is one reason we have almost zero turnover) there is much consolidation of aca plans available for 2016 and the scope of those policies across the country. if you can afford it and your daughter moves to a state with policies available directly from the insurance company,(off exchange) some times a much better policy is available. (not always) ideally a job with an employer with health coverage and nationwide in and out of network benefits is best.
p.s. the world is fluid as are rules ,laws, beliefs…nothing is ever lost or settled…hence being a human is so much fun.
the ACA will under go major changes in the next couple of years.
In parent, the ACA is under constant attack and will continue to be. It is by no means here to stay.
http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/255142-gop-targets-obamacare-taxes-in-fast-track-process
I think there can be room for all discussions here. I think there is no better place to educate those people operating under false information.
That said, moving to a new state is a qualifying life change event within the ACA system. That change allows your daughter to sign up for coverage for the rest of this year.
@zobroward, you have company insurance… you have probably never had to buy insurance in the open market. No wonder you don’t see the point of the ACA. Bully for you.
@arabrab, my D2 had a BCBS Platinum plan purchased through the state exchange in our current home state. Just her in the plan (her dad, who used to carry her insurance, is retired, and I am currently on COBRA). Her current insurer has made it clear that the minute she is not a resident of our state any more, she will not be eligible for coverage (no 30 day grace period or anything like that). We are moving sometime in early December. Hoping to find a place to live by about 2 weeks from now, and I plan to check out the state exchange there and call BC in that state to see what plans are available.
I am nervous because it seems like plans always start on the 1st of the month, but her old plan could cut off mid-month. We may not have an in-state address by Dec 1 (what if our apartment lease starts Dec 10, for example)? Will an insurer in the new state start a plan on Dec 1 if she doesn’t have a permanent address then?
Oh, and I know our state exchange did NOT handle qualifying events well the first year. Nervous that it could still be a mess in our new state. And we are moving during open enrollment season – busy phone lines, and we have to get a plan that will work in 2016 as well.
If I thought it would matter I would provide the details that Emilybee has asked for. In it’s simplest form all single person business entities who had their coverage through Chamber of Commerce plans and Association plans lost what they had. Forced out of EPO’s and PPO’s into HMO’s that were no where near the quality. Cheaper isn’t always better, relationships with Doctors, trust and competence with who are providing your care or operating on you is meaningful.
The unsubsidized got hammered for the most part. Should the system be revised? It absolutely should, is it equitable? No it is not? Has it improved the medical insurance circumstances for the vast majority of the unsubsidized? No, not even close in my opinion.
“@zobroward, you have company insurance… you have probably never had to buy insurance in the open market. No wonder you don’t see the point of the ACA. Bully for you.”
not true I have family not covered and spent what seemed like forever reading over every plan available, making phone calls, scratching my head and finding some policies that had no doctor with in 80+ miles. I called that company to double check , the lady said it was a mistake…ran it herself said, something was wrong and she will call me back…2 years later I am still waiting for my “call back” the best policy I found by far was direct purchase non aca exchange plan. (autopay by credit card) possibly as good as most group plans.
intparent, my I suggest using an agent. they probably make very little $$ on selling just one plan (so they probably will not be overly excited to spend hours holding your hand) but, it may save you a lot of frustration and confusion.
^ that was discussed numerous times on the previous ACA threads. Yes, after ACA those people lost their
“group” plans and had to purchase individual policies. If I had been in charge, I would have allowed those plans to stay in effect, but I am not in charge, so. However, these plans did not have to accept everyone who wanted in - especially Chamber of Commerce plans. I personally know someone years ago who tried and couldn’t get in. She ran a day care and her H was a master carpenter. That was the reason those group plans were disallowed as there was no requirement/law which mandated they cover everyone who wanted in ( unlike a company which must offer coverage to all employees) which would leavie the already sick with only the choice of ACA marketplace plans. We already know what happens to insurance rates when only the sickest buy that insurance. The rates sky rocket.
The only fair health ins plan for everyone in the US would be that which shall remain nameless - but a significant percentage of the populous refuse(d) to consider it and had a hissy fit at the mere mention of it - so we got what we got - a system which still has winners and losers and Some people who were “winners” are now “losers” and vice versa.
More New Yorkers have health insurance then before ACA. That is the most important thing to me.
Inparent. So was your daughter eligible forCOBRA when you were? Any chance you could get her covered for just December?
I promised myself I wouldn’t argue with folks on the internet any more and I won’t. I will say that there are contentions that are being made here that are wrong and not slightly wrong but completely wrong. I am head strong so it is hard to let certain things go. Primarily so that people are not misinformed. It is all water under the bridge now, the ACA is here, some people like it and some people hate it. The entire system is screwed up in my opinion and I do not see it getting better any time soon.
What is your solution?
@zobroward, you may have purchased a plan that wasn’t sold through an exchange, but it DOES have to provide the ACA protections. Can’t cancel when you get sick - check! Can’t charge you more or deny you for pre-existing conditions - check! Minimum requirements for coverage so you don’t get surprised the hard way by a sub-standard plan when you get sick - check!
@sax, my daughter can’t go back on COBRA. If I can’t sort the start-end dates, I may look for a bridge policy of some kind (and a broker might be helpful there). I generally am willing to wade through plan details myself, as I have several years of business experience in healthcare, medical billing, and insurance. So I normally wouldn’t use a broker. But possibly may in this case.
Recent events in the NYS Health insurance Market place.
A Social Service Agency I serve on the Board of is taking an 8.6 percent increase in their medical insurance rates. This after scouring the market for alternatives.
One of the foremost Medicare Advantage carriers in our region is exiting the market leaving thousands scrambling to find options that are of similar quality and affordability.
The low cost, by far, Individual Exchange option in our region of NYS is tanking financially. This will send many thousands scrambling for alternatives that will be significantly more expensive.
This was the clearest explanation of ACA subsidies I’ve seen – might be helpful for some of you:
http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/premium-subsidies-and-cost-sharing-subsidies/
Question: Since we’re not eligible for subsidies (of any kind) is there any advantage to buying an on-exchange vs. off-exchange policy?
It is easy to comparison shop across providers, that is the biggest benefit. I don’t think you get any additional protections on exchange vs. direct purchase plans, though. There may be differences in plans offered on the exchange and those offered for direct sale to the customer, too. We used the exchange for the first two years to compare – but maybe won’t for this next round, since we know which provider we want to purchase from for sure.