ObamaCare?

[brewer]

I just got the rate increase from the ins carrier that we selected through the Affordable (joke) Care Act. Currently we're paying $440/month for a $3000 ded and 80/20 copay up to a $3000 limit. Rx copay's vary from $35 to $75 dollars. We have had a relatively quiet year with the major expense being medication for my wife's surgically induced glaucoma and chronic dry eyes. Beginning Jan 2016 the rate will go up to $660/month.

I feel comfortable stating that I hate the Affordable Care Act. We'll have to go online and try to find a different carrier.

It may be less expensive to just pay the IRS fine and pay our medical costs out of pocket in 2016.

Car analogy: I don't mind paying car insurance for car(s) that I am driving. Not sure that I want to pay my neighbors also.

[The Grand Nudger]

Unfortunately, we're in a situation whereby you being able to "pay your neighbors" might be his only means of gaining access.  We could, for example, enforce price caps on healthcare services...but imagine the sound the harpies would make if we suggested that?

You'e very likely to need your neighbors help yourself, at some point - medical care gets progressively expensive as we age..but our incomes fall off a cliff over that same span.

[MentalGiant]

Ya, if only you wen't through what I did with western medicine (facing an ostomy and having a good chunk of my bowel removed) before actually having my disease put into remission without surgery by naturopathic care, perhaps you'd understand my unwillingness to see a western doctor unless I need some stitched or have a broken arm or something else that would be difficult for them to fuck up the treatment of.

I think it would be fair to give an "opt out" (as in opt out of paying into the system entirely, both on individual policies and your tax dollars going to others) to those of us who don't want to participate if you are willing to be 100% financially responsible for any medical bills you incur. As I said, I believe in natural selection. I would not seek treatment for any major disease that was not natural. My body, my choice.

[The Grand Nudger]

I think it would be fair to give an "opt out" (as in opt out of paying into the system entirely, both on individual policies and your tax dollars going to others) to those of us who don't want to participate if you are willing to be 100% financially responsible for any medical bills you incur. As I said, I believe in natural selection. I would not seek treatment for any major disease that was not natural. My body, my choice.

Willing to be financially responsible does not equal -capable- of being financially responsible, and our healthcare system isn't set up (nor should it be) as an aide to natural selection....

"Hey uh, I know I said I was willing, turns out I can't afford it."  

"Hey uh, I said I wouldn't seek treatment, but this cancer will kill me if I don't"

What do we do, tell you to go fuck off and die for your "principles"?  Thanks, no thanks. Make a never ending and massive stream of exceptions to the rule? What's the point of the rule then?

[Jackalope]

I think it would be fair to give an "opt out" (as in opt out of paying into the system entirely, both on individual policies and your tax dollars going to others) to those of us who don't want to participate if you are willing to be 100% financially responsible for any medical bills you incur.

Careful what you wish for. January 2013, Influenza complicated by bacterial pneumonia. Pretty simple, right? Take some antibiotics and you're all good.... the bill? Over $80,000.

Good luck paying for that.

[brewer]

Unfortunately, we're in a situation whereby you being able to "pay your neighbors" might be his only means of gaining access.  We could, for example, enforce price caps on healthcare services...but imagine the sound the harpies would make if we suggested that?

You'e very likely to need your neighbors help yourself, at some point - medical care gets progressively expensive as we age..but our incomes fall off a cliff over that same span.

By "paying for the neighbors" do I then get to select their type of coverage, their utilization, and have a say in their life style that may be detrimental to their health?

[The Grand Nudger]

Not directly, nope.  No more so than your neighbors get to deny you some care on the basis of their personal ticks.  

"Oh, you got aids?  Well screw you homo...clearly that's the only way to get aids and my money isn't going to support your sinful lifestyle decisions or save you from paying the consequences thereof."

[MentalGiant]

I think it would be fair to give an "opt out" (as in opt out of paying into the system entirely, both on individual policies and your tax dollars going to others) to those of us who don't want to participate if you are willing to be 100% financially responsible for any medical bills you incur. As I said, I believe in natural selection. I would not seek treatment for any major disease that was not natural. My body, my choice.

Willing to be financially responsible does not equal -capable- of being financially responsible, and our healthcare system isn't set up (nor should it be) as an aide to natural selection....

"Hey uh, I know I said I was willing, turns out I can't afford it."  

"Hey uh, I said I wouldn't seek treatment, but this cancer will kill me if I don't"

What do we do, tell you to go fuck off and die for your "principles"?  Thanks, no thanks. Make a never ending and massive stream of exceptions to the rule?  What's the point of the rule then?

Now your getting the picture! Stop fucking coddling people and let them deal with the consequences of their own fucking actions. You don't HAVE to opt out, but if you do, you deal with the consequences. Simple. I'm an adult, and I'm capable of making my own informed decisions. Let me lie in the bed I made for myself, I don't need the government to tuck me in, read me a story and watch me as I sleep in the name of "my own good". People are to fucking overly sensitive and soft these days and it's sending society straight down the toilet. The ACA is a step in a very dangerous direction and treading a very thin line into governmental control over your physical body. Every life is not special, we're all going to die and people just need to fucking get over their fear of pain and death.

I also think those who make detrimental choices in regards to their lifestyle (i.e. druggies, alcoholics, the morbidly obese by choice, smokers ect...) should not receive funds from the taxpayer pool either. Poor choices shouldn't be rewarded and/or encouraged. The ONLY people I think should be unequivocally required to have insurance and healthcare are children and minors under 18 since they are not of an age to make informed decisions about their healthcare. Let adults chose for themselves, and deal with their choices (which may be getting turned away if they can't pay, their choice not to hold insurance after all).

[Minimalist]

The Affordable Care Act remedied some of the worst abuses of American Health Care.  It also perpetuated one of the worst abuses, to wit, the use of private-for-profit corporations to provide insurance.  Single-payer, along the lines of Medicaid would have been far preferable but it was not politically possible at the time because of the bribery ...oh, excuse me.... "campaign contributions" of the health care lobby.

As insufficient as it is remember that the republicunt shitheads just tried for the 61st time to repeal it which tells us that as always they come down on the side of corporate greed.

[The Grand Nudger]

Now your getting the picture! Stop fucking coddling people and let them deal with the consequences of their own fucking actions.

It's not an issue of getting the picture, I already got the picture.  I don't like the picture.  I don't see what place it has in our healthcare system. We don't need a healthcare system at all if it's cheifly involved in letting people die. That's gonna handle itself.

You don't HAVE to opt out, but if you do, you deal with the consequences. Simple.

Not simple.  I can't refuse you treatment on the grounds you've offered.  I could be complicit in killing you.......

I'm an adult, and I'm capable of making my own informed decisions. Let me lie in the bed I made for myself, I don't need the government to tuck me in, read me a story and watch me as I sleep in the name of "my own good". People are to fucking overly sensitive and soft these days and it's sending society straight down the toilet. The ACA is a step in a very dangerous direction and treading a very thin line into governmental control over your physical body. Every life is not special, we're all going to die and people just need to fucking get over their fear of pain and death.

Yes, you are an adult, but clearly that doesn;t stop you from making poor choices, such as opting out on the grounds that you are willing to pay for your medical care out of pocket.  

I also think those who make detrimental choices in regards to their lifestyle (i.e. druggies, alcoholics, the morbidly obese by choice, smokers ect...) should not receive funds from the taxpayer pool either. Poor choices shouldn't be rewarded and/or encouraged. The ONLY people I think should be unequivocally required to have insurance and healthcare are children and minors under 18 since they are not of an age to make informed decisions about their healthcare. Let adults chose for themselves, and deal with their choices (which may be getting turned away if they can't pay, their choice not to hold insurance after all).

Perhaps we shouldn't give funds to people who prefer magic over medicine either........

Look, what you call coddling I call "preventing needless death"..to-may-to to-mah-to?