I was not happy contemplating a possible 40% increase in my health insurance premiums this fall, and then got a real surprise in the mail:



URGENT: Your health coverage is at risk. Take action by December 15 or you won't have health coverage in 2017.  You may have to pay a penalty of $695 or more when you file your taxes.





So who was the fucking genius in the administration that thought it was a good idea for me to get this letter a month before the goddam election ??

We got a similar letter. Our coverage through Coventry/Aetna will no longer be offered and current coverage terminate 12-31. They then recommended another coverage at double the rate. We noticed that they neglected to give any coverage details (ded, copay, providers, ...................).

We have until 12-15 to accept the recommendation and pay the increased premium or select a different coverage. I need to find one with providers that are not in the catholic health network and that cover my wife's eye specialists/facilities.

As far as timing goes, I think 10-1 is a gov/legislated requirement.

I'm with (well, was) BCBS. I just got a 'Dear John' letter telling me I'm dumped.

No alternate plans were in the letter. The BCBS website won't let me choose a new plan till 11/1.

Wondering what kind of mood I'll be in when I step into the booth ?

I thought if you liked your doctor you could keep your doctor and if you liked your plan you could keep your plan. That's what they promised anyway.

(October 4, 2016 at 1:13 pm)vorlon13 Wrote: I'm with (well, was) BCBS.  I just got a 'Dear John' letter telling me I'm dumped.

No alternate plans were in the letter.  The BCBS website won't let me choose a new plan till 11/1.

Wondering what kind of mood I'll be in when I step into the booth ?

Ours says can't try to elect a new plan until 11-1 also. We have to go through the ACA website.

Booth, this year? More like disintegration chamber.

(October 4, 2016 at 1:01 pm)mh.brewer Wrote: I need to find one with providers that are not in the catholic health network and that cover my wife's eye specialists/facilities.

How can this even be an issue? You have to understand that things like this are completely alien to a non American.

(October 4, 2016 at 11:58 am)vorlon13 Wrote: URGENT: Your health coverage is at risk. Take action by December 15 or you won't have health coverage in 2017.  You may have to pay a penalty of $695 or more when you file your taxes.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that penalty will be for 2017 taxes, not 2016 right? As long as you have insurance throughout 2016 you won't have to pay a penalty when you file in April.

I take it you don't get offered health insurance via your employer?

(October 4, 2016 at 1:13 pm)vorlon13 Wrote: Wondering what kind of mood I'll be in when I step into the booth ?

My advice would be to remember that a lot of the issues with Obamacare weren't Obama's fault, but rather were compromises that had to be made because so many people in Congress are lobbied by the health insurance industry. In addition, the Supreme Court didn't help things by ruling certain parts of Obamacare unconstitutional and creating massive gaps in coverage.

Some great things came out of Obamacare; you can't be denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions, and it is more affordable for the poorest people in society.

Trump and the Republicans want to reverse that and give more power to insurance companies. The Democrats want to improve Obamacare, and make it so the government can create it's own health insurance plan for people to use, which is a step closer to universal healthcare.

Don't feel bad. My whole life feels like an insurance fail most days. My insurance covered 18% of one of my recent visits. That left me paying an entire month's rent per day that I was in the hospital. Woo ho insurance.

(October 4, 2016 at 3:24 pm)Tiberius Wrote: My advice would be to remember that a lot of the issues with Obamacare weren't Obama's fault, but rather were compromises that had to be made because so many people in Congress are lobbied by the health insurance industry.

It should be remembered that the ACA was passed entirely with Democratic support. Not a single Republican voted for it. The Democratic party owns all its shortcomings, including the compromises.