No replies to this topic

[Rogerdodger]

Obamacare Christmas. The President urged families to talk Obamacare at Christmas gatherings. Here are two different stories heard over the dinner table: Jeannie is a single (shacked-up) part-time school teacher, not quite old enough for Medicare. Unmarried, she qualifies for subsidies since her live-in man actually supports her. (Work the system.) She has not had health insurance for many years. She smokes, but lied on the application since smokers pay double premiums. (Many of my pro-Obamacare friends admit that they will lie about smoking to reduce their rates.) She thinks that she enrolled in a plan which will cost her $150 a month, but she's unsure if she actually got enrolled or what her deductible will be. Ann is married with one child. Her new family policy through her employer will cost her $450 monthly, slightly higher than her previous policy. However it will not pay ANYTHING until she meets the first $8,000 out-of-pocket annual co-pay. Thus one doctor visit could easily cost her several hundred dollars on top of her $450 monthly premium. She is very depressed and thinks it's "horrible". She would save money by getting a divorce, shacking up, getting on Welfare as a "single" mother (wink-wink) and qualifying for subsidies. The unintended consequences of this fiasco have yet to be seen. How many will avoid marriage (and maybe even employment) in order to "work the system"? How many people will be forced to drop their monthly premiums and just self-pay for office visits?

Edited by Rogerdodger, 29 December 2013 - 11:47 AM.