Major Tom
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
I'm on Medi-Cal (the California version of Medicaid). About half of my assets are in taxable accounts, and the dividends and interest from those put me under the required 133% of the FPL for Medi-Cal eligilibility.It strikes me as a bit odd that you can actually have a substantial amount of money and still get hefty Obamacare subsides. Anyone using Healthcare.gov for health insurance and getting a hefty subsidy?
My experience with the low income healthcare system in my county has been that it depends very much on which clinic you are signed up with. The first one I went to was in a poorer part of the area, and was not an enjoyable experience at all. Every time I wanted to visit the doctor, I ended up having to wait several hours (this particular clinic did not give appointments - everything was on a first-come first-served basis). To make things worse, the place was very crowded and let's just say that I wasn't exactly sharing the waiting room with a particularly choice segment of society (nice way to put it).
Then I decided to sign up with a clinic a few miles away in Berkeley, and the difference was like night and day. The premises are large, bright, and airy. The clientele represent a much wider cross-section of the community and things are done on an appointment basis, so the wait times are much better. On top of that, after trying a few different doctors, all of whom were pleasant, I have finally found one who welcomes questions, and responds to them in an intelligent, helpful, and unhurried fashion. He's an absolute gem.
While I have found that I do have to wait longer to see a doctor now that I am on Medi-Cal (Medicaid) than I did when signed up with an HMO through AETNA and my former employer, my clinic operates a system of prioritization that is very tolerable. For regular appointments, I typically have to wait a month but if I have a pressing issue, they will make time and see me the same day. About 6 months ago, I had a dull pain in my abdomen which concerned me. While there are a number of possible explanations, at least some of them can be serious. I explained this, and got to see a doctor the same day. I was scheduled for an ultrasound, which I had the next day. The technician gave me a guided tour of my insides as she was performing the ultrasound. She put my mind at rest so that by the time I saw the doctor again, I had already figured there was no cause for worry. My problem was gas, possibly due to my heavy regular intake of Brussels sprouts
It was good to be able to see a doctor swiftly.
So, to make a long story short, yes - the PPACA has indeed helped with my ER a great deal. Many here would not want to go on Medicaid but I think I got lucky and found a good clinic/hospital system.