Have you enrolled in AHCA and what was your experience?
- Thread starter althor
- Start date
- Ok, so let me tell you my story with AHCA. I am one of 6 people in my STATE to actually enroll. That is kind of funny because I was saying the other day with ALL the problems I have ran into that I must be the 1st person in my area and I have become the official system tester.
I am an independant. I think all politicians suck regardless of what letter follows their name (D and R) are just two sides of the same coin, both scamming their voters and have no interest at all in what is best for the people, just themselves.
From day one I have been against this AHCA. While I have maintained that I would love to have insurance, anything the government (politicians) touches goes straight to hell and AHCA would be no different.
I started on Oct. 1st as soon as I got home from work. I spent the next 6 hours hitting refresh on the Healthcare.gov site.
I continued this same routine every day until late one Saturday night... BOOM... I was able to create my account before it crashed.
After another handful of days I finally made it past the log-in page.
After another handful of days I was able to get to the point of PICK YOUR INSURANCE.
Unfortunately, in my area, there was only one insurance company available, Ambetter from Magnolia Health. The plan I chose is actually a pretty good plan. Before I selected it though, I hit the "primary care" button to see what doctors were available in my area. A nice, long list popped up with plenty of doctors in my area, including a preferred hospital in my area. All is good.
I choose my plan. Few days later I get an email from Ambetter with my account information and ready to leave Healthcare.gov behind and move on to the actual insurance company.
Next step, pay the premium. I go to the site, log in, go to pay-online and you have to create a seperate account for payments.
Ok, start to fill it out, oops, there are 2 required fields with the red * next to the boxes but somehow they left off exactly what to enter into the boxes.
I call them instead, of course they are completely clueless and I had to walk them through the payment options to get to the "create an account" page to see they were blank. Oh ok, we will get that fixed (after talking to supervisors from several different departments). Still not fixed a week later, by the way.
I went ahead and just paid my premium over the phone while I was talking to them.
Few days later I get another email saying payment confirmed, next step is to contact and set up primary care.
So I pull up the list, call the first doctor (4.1 miles away). That doctor is no longer working in that office.
2nd doctor "why are you calling us?" Well because you are listed as an available primary care doctor.
"we do not take that insurance and have no intentions of ever taking that insurance. We choose the insurance companies, they don't choose the doctor" and hung up.
I called every doctor on the list. Guess what? There is not a single doctor's office in AMERICA that takes that insurance.
2 days ago I called the insurance company again. Tell them that has happened. They tell me "if they are on the list, then they take the insurance". So after a few hours of talking to numerous "supervisors" I am finally told that they have a problem... Uh yeah.....
They would contact the doctors in my area and get it resolved and call me back by the end of business that day.
I called back today, went through the same pass off to numerous different supervisors who finally acknowledged that no doctors were willing to sign up for their plan but they were STILL working to resolve the issues and would call me back by the end of business day today.
We will see.
At this point I have probably invested 200 hours into trying to sign up and implement AHCA and so far all I have accomplished is paying for something that has no real life use at all except to avoid paying an extra tax (fine) that would be less than 3 months of premiums.
greenlikemoney
Well-Known Member
I'm Independent also, and although I have good insurance through my employer ( at least until the end of next year ), I fully place ALL blame for this debacle squarely on the shoulders of the POTUS and every single Dem who voted for the passage. I plan to volunteer next Summer/Fall to see that every single Dem in my area is soundly handed their ass. Live by your messiah, die by your messiah.
Doer
Well-Known Member
Well. You fell for it. We are supposed to blame POTUS, don't you get it? He can't be held to account very easily, and actually we have never removed a President.
That is why the powerful laugh at your ideas of blame. It means you are in thought checkmate.
greenlikemoney
Well-Known Member
I didn't fall for anything. I didn't vote for him or any other Dem in 2010 0r 2012. I won't vote for any in 2014 either. Actually, I will look very closely at whether i will vote for ANY incumbent at all. You can spout your talking points all you want doer, Obamacare is a trainwreck and you are partially to blame for electing that person ( can't bring myself to call him a man ).
squarepush3r
Well-Known Member
I put in my info for Coveredca.com, am waiting to hear a response. It's been about 6 days they need to validate my drivers license/residency.
Doer
Well-Known Member
Come on. Read what I said, at least.
You fell for blaming POTUS. I did not say you fell for Obama or voted for him.
It is higher concept. The system is all about electing someone to blame and at the same time shielding him from recourse, personally, on the blame.
YOU FELL FOR IT. And how dare you say I didn't vote against him? I hate the DEMS and the PUBS don't count.
canndo
Well-Known Member
I have been purchasing my own insurance for years. The AHCA has many very sticky points. One of them is that there are certain minimum standards of insurance - that is what had me and my wife (different policies) let go. Another is that you really don't know exactly what your cost will be and rather than making comparing insurance easier, they have made no attempt to actually have you understand the (purposefully) conplicated terminology insurance companies use.
Co pay
Deductable
In network
Out of Pocket
Yearly out of Pocket
Formularies
and all the rest.
However. I have never had to do more than scan the list of In network or affiliated doctors or medical centers in order to find those who have agreements with that individual insurer. Often, the doctor has no idea who his practice has agreements with. But the short of this is - The government has no dealings in that matter.
If only one insurer has opted to place itself on the site, you have a problem - I think. I am not certain that you will be offered subsidies if you purchase a plan that is not on the website under the bronze, silver, gold or platinum plan (I am still not sure that you CAN get subsidized under gold or platinum). Rather than instantly blaming Obamacare, you might look into why there is only one company listed. You might consider blaming your state, you might look into what a plan would cost were you not to use the market at all.
My presumption is that there will still be some sort of competition between health insurance companies even if they opt out of being on the site.
My problem is a bit more complicated. Under the old rules, you are penalized if you go from an uninsured state to an insured one. If you allow ANY policy to lapse, you are far less able to get reinsured. My current policy is lapsing and I have yet to be able to do the shopping I need in order to find another. I pay a huge amount every month for insurance but I take Testosterone.
My premiums are in the 800 dollar range. The Testosterone is $350 a month. After my 500 deductable is met however, the Testosterone costs me $40. So you have to figure that I am actually paying about $550 a month in premiums. My blood tests cost about $600. My insurance company pays nothing but they have an agreement with the lab so I only pay $400. However, I can shop the tests and get them for $230 if I go out of network. However AGAIN, That $230 does not count toward my deductable or my out of pocket.
I am also certain that if things had progressed, my current insurance company would tire of paying $350 a month for a tier three drug and raise my premiums.
The short of this boring story is this - Nobody has a fucking clue as to what will happen or how any of it works. I wish I could blame the government completely but I am quite certain that health insurance companies are gleefully making things even harder, knowing that they can only benefit regardless of how confused individuals are.
Co pay
Deductable
In network
Out of Pocket
Yearly out of Pocket
Formularies
and all the rest.
However. I have never had to do more than scan the list of In network or affiliated doctors or medical centers in order to find those who have agreements with that individual insurer. Often, the doctor has no idea who his practice has agreements with. But the short of this is - The government has no dealings in that matter.
If only one insurer has opted to place itself on the site, you have a problem - I think. I am not certain that you will be offered subsidies if you purchase a plan that is not on the website under the bronze, silver, gold or platinum plan (I am still not sure that you CAN get subsidized under gold or platinum). Rather than instantly blaming Obamacare, you might look into why there is only one company listed. You might consider blaming your state, you might look into what a plan would cost were you not to use the market at all.
My presumption is that there will still be some sort of competition between health insurance companies even if they opt out of being on the site.
My problem is a bit more complicated. Under the old rules, you are penalized if you go from an uninsured state to an insured one. If you allow ANY policy to lapse, you are far less able to get reinsured. My current policy is lapsing and I have yet to be able to do the shopping I need in order to find another. I pay a huge amount every month for insurance but I take Testosterone.
My premiums are in the 800 dollar range. The Testosterone is $350 a month. After my 500 deductable is met however, the Testosterone costs me $40. So you have to figure that I am actually paying about $550 a month in premiums. My blood tests cost about $600. My insurance company pays nothing but they have an agreement with the lab so I only pay $400. However, I can shop the tests and get them for $230 if I go out of network. However AGAIN, That $230 does not count toward my deductable or my out of pocket.
I am also certain that if things had progressed, my current insurance company would tire of paying $350 a month for a tier three drug and raise my premiums.
The short of this boring story is this - Nobody has a fucking clue as to what will happen or how any of it works. I wish I could blame the government completely but I am quite certain that health insurance companies are gleefully making things even harder, knowing that they can only benefit regardless of how confused individuals are.
canndo
Well-Known Member
Shall we go through this again? What was your choice? what was OUR choice? This Obama fellow or that other guy? Sure Obamacare is a mess, but recall that the other fella implemented much the same thing in his state, and last I heard, they liked it. Now figure that this other guy turned his back on the very plan he implemented. Great, you have health care through your company, what guarantee did you have of that continuing regardless of Obamacare?
Then you might be out in the cold like some of the rest of us. That would certainly put a crimp in your retirement fund - I assure you.
I am not blaming anyone, if you are referring to me.
I am actually trying to make this as apolitical as possible and discuss what is happening with the healthcare and what stages people are and what complications (if any) they have had.
If you are taking my post as an attack, I have only detailed what has happened during my attempt at signing up for AHCA and maybe you don't like seeing the reality of what is going on with AHCA.
I am one of the people that it actually will help once the kinks are worked out (if they ever are). I am diabetic so insurance prior to AHCA was completely unaffordable. I now have "affordable" insurance but if no doctors in my area are willing to sign up for it, then it is pretty worthless.
It is actually pretty damned good insurance IMO, better than other company insurances I have compared it to.
0 deductible
2500 maximum out of pocket expense (including money spent on prescriptions which kicks ass)
10 co-pay for primary
10 co-pay for specialist
100 hospital
10 generic
20 preferred non-generic (including Lantus which is what I use and currently pay 150 a month for)
the only big problem is finding doctors to accept it.
I am actually trying to make this as apolitical as possible and discuss what is happening with the healthcare and what stages people are and what complications (if any) they have had.
If you are taking my post as an attack, I have only detailed what has happened during my attempt at signing up for AHCA and maybe you don't like seeing the reality of what is going on with AHCA.
I am one of the people that it actually will help once the kinks are worked out (if they ever are). I am diabetic so insurance prior to AHCA was completely unaffordable. I now have "affordable" insurance but if no doctors in my area are willing to sign up for it, then it is pretty worthless.
It is actually pretty damned good insurance IMO, better than other company insurances I have compared it to.
0 deductible
2500 maximum out of pocket expense (including money spent on prescriptions which kicks ass)
10 co-pay for primary
10 co-pay for specialist
100 hospital
10 generic
20 preferred non-generic (including Lantus which is what I use and currently pay 150 a month for)
the only big problem is finding doctors to accept it.
You don't trust government or politicians, yet you sign up for "their" plan? Man they got you suckered.
If the stupidist person you knew was giving you advice you would actually follow it, this is what you have proven by listening to the politicians that you even said were nothing more than sycophants and self serving liars.
I would get my money back and disenroll.
If you get hurt go to the E-Room, tell them your name is John Doe and you live under a bridge nearby.
Its like free healthcare without government involvement.
If you get really sick, you can then enroll into the healthcare system, there are no pre-existing conditions any more.
If the stupidist person you knew was giving you advice you would actually follow it, this is what you have proven by listening to the politicians that you even said were nothing more than sycophants and self serving liars.
I would get my money back and disenroll.
If you get hurt go to the E-Room, tell them your name is John Doe and you live under a bridge nearby.
Its like free healthcare without government involvement.
If you get really sick, you can then enroll into the healthcare system, there are no pre-existing conditions any more.
I think you are confused.
Either way my most recent post explains I am diabetic so I am one of those people that can find benefits in this if the kinks get worked out.
Canndo, you are equating a governor implementing a state run healthcare system to a President centralizing government, apples to oranges my friend.
Your Diabetic? What does that have to do with the government? IS government going to cure you? NO, wait, they are going to subsidize your diabetes and take money from someone else in order to pay for it.
Have you ever thought of just robbing people to get the money needed to pay for your diabetes? Might actually get better results, because as it is you aren't getting anything, yet you have already paid for it. And here I thought you were the one that needed the help, looks like your money just went to an insurance company that is not going to insure you. Thank government.
200 hours spent and in the end you got robbed. They should have paid you for Beta Testing.
ChesusRice
Well-Known Member
That totally sucks. Really bad. My advice is get yoru money back and wait. You still have time to enroll lots of time and the policy wouldnt go into effect until 1/1/14 anyways.
let them get the bugs out and se if more insurance companys get on the exchange in your area
greenlikemoney
Well-Known Member
OH, you mean like Hillary stepping down as Sec of state to avoid having to go to prison over Benghazi.....yeah, I fell for it alright.....
Doer
Well-Known Member
Never has happened and would not. Jail the SecState? Baahhh, not in this system. You are thinking about Warlord systems, like Egypt.
She stepped down to run in '16.
So, you have indeed, fallen for the lies of partisan.
She has less legal protection now, than she had before.
You have a long way to go. You fall for any of it, you fell for all of it, imo.
She stepped down to run in '16.
So, you have indeed, fallen for the lies of partisan.
She has less legal protection now, than she had before.
You have a long way to go. You fall for any of it, you fell for all of it, imo.
canndo
Well-Known Member
So you don't think that federaly mandated STATE run marketplaces that still have jurisdiction over insurance companies save for minimum requirements is the same as a state run marketplace?
That, after all, save several provisions - that everyone enroll, that everyone CAN enroll, and that the Feds may suplement your premiums, is exactly the same.
canndo
Well-Known Member
Maybe we should look at the big picture here.
A guy is diabetic. Insurance, or the state takes his money and in return offers him care and maintainance for his manageable affliction, so he costs the state, or his community, only a small amount. Or, he is unable to pay for the meds and the tests and he starts doing things like.... going blind - which costs the state far more than his test strips and his insulin. Or he loses a limb and gets to park in handicap parking places, and again, is taken care of in a different way, and a more costly one. Or he has organ failures, oh, not enough to kill him but enough to have him again cost the state far more than those strips and tests.
But no, it is better always to ignore problems that cost very little to maintain until they get to be big problems that always incur more cost, right?
^Exactly right.
Which is why, even though I fear a massive failure in AHCA, I was one of the first 6 people in my state to be enrolled.
At this point I go to the doctor 2x a year, pay around 75 dollars a visit to basically get my prescription renewed. 150 bucks a month for insulin. I can sustain that, but it is the bare minimum and sooner or later problems are going to arise. With a bit more expense, those problems will be delayed much longer, if not indefinitely.
I will be the first to say, my conscience bothers me knowing that somewhere some 28 year old kid will be paying more for his insurance to balance me paying less for mine. I can "live" with it though.
Which is why, even though I fear a massive failure in AHCA, I was one of the first 6 people in my state to be enrolled.
At this point I go to the doctor 2x a year, pay around 75 dollars a visit to basically get my prescription renewed. 150 bucks a month for insulin. I can sustain that, but it is the bare minimum and sooner or later problems are going to arise. With a bit more expense, those problems will be delayed much longer, if not indefinitely.
I will be the first to say, my conscience bothers me knowing that somewhere some 28 year old kid will be paying more for his insurance to balance me paying less for mine. I can "live" with it though.