I very seldom post at this website but read it often because it's made up of people that are bright and well educated. Over the years I have learned a lot here.
This post is mostly venting and a little bit asking questions. I live in Oregon and just shopped for my health care for 2019. (61 year old male, single, healthy, no drug use of any kind, no alcohol or tobacco, healthy weight, 2 hours of exercise a day) Income: Pension + rental income + dividends = about 60,000 a year. The bronze plan is going to be about 880.00 a month, with about 7000 deductible. With the high deductible you can pretty much figure anytime you might require a doctors visit that the cost will be entirely out of pocket. The year before Obama care took place I had a policy with Moda with 5000 deductible and the monthly premiums were only 200.00.
One of the reasons I'm angry is because I suspect that the main reason the cost is so high is to provide good quality health care for the large percentage of the population that practices self destructive behavior (alcoholics, drug addicts, people that totally ignore the advice of the health experts by overeating, not exercising, etc. people more likely to require health care and less likely to be employed). I think this falls under the category of " your right to swing your fist about wildly ends at the tip of my nose". Well, that fist has done more than just brush peoples noses; It has pummelled us to the ground and left us a bloody mess. I'm not suggesting that we eliminate all the programs to assist people in need. I'm suggesting the system needs changing and very strict policing. I also suspect that there has probably been an increase of middle class people dying as a result of Obama care because they are forced to have such a high deductible on their insurance that they don't go to the doctor when they should (minor chest pain, etc). Furthermore, while I know it's not reasonable to price heath insurance exactly like auto or life insurance, there should be a financial reward/penalty for good/bad practices. Hypothetical situation: A guy on the street standing there hitting himself in the head with a hammer. Government man walks up to me and says "see that guy hitting himself with the hammer? Well he's going to need medical care and he doesn't have any money, so you're going to pay for it". That's exactly how I feel it's going down.
Phew, that was a lot of complaining
Now for the questions- Is 880.00 a month pretty typical for the Bronze plan? Anyone here have knowledge of any options or strategies I might have to reduce this high cost?
(Other than "short term" coverage. I'm too active for short term policies. The sports I practice would not be covered).
Thank you,
RDW
This post is mostly venting and a little bit asking questions. I live in Oregon and just shopped for my health care for 2019. (61 year old male, single, healthy, no drug use of any kind, no alcohol or tobacco, healthy weight, 2 hours of exercise a day) Income: Pension + rental income + dividends = about 60,000 a year. The bronze plan is going to be about 880.00 a month, with about 7000 deductible. With the high deductible you can pretty much figure anytime you might require a doctors visit that the cost will be entirely out of pocket. The year before Obama care took place I had a policy with Moda with 5000 deductible and the monthly premiums were only 200.00.
One of the reasons I'm angry is because I suspect that the main reason the cost is so high is to provide good quality health care for the large percentage of the population that practices self destructive behavior (alcoholics, drug addicts, people that totally ignore the advice of the health experts by overeating, not exercising, etc. people more likely to require health care and less likely to be employed). I think this falls under the category of " your right to swing your fist about wildly ends at the tip of my nose". Well, that fist has done more than just brush peoples noses; It has pummelled us to the ground and left us a bloody mess. I'm not suggesting that we eliminate all the programs to assist people in need. I'm suggesting the system needs changing and very strict policing. I also suspect that there has probably been an increase of middle class people dying as a result of Obama care because they are forced to have such a high deductible on their insurance that they don't go to the doctor when they should (minor chest pain, etc). Furthermore, while I know it's not reasonable to price heath insurance exactly like auto or life insurance, there should be a financial reward/penalty for good/bad practices. Hypothetical situation: A guy on the street standing there hitting himself in the head with a hammer. Government man walks up to me and says "see that guy hitting himself with the hammer? Well he's going to need medical care and he doesn't have any money, so you're going to pay for it". That's exactly how I feel it's going down.
Phew, that was a lot of complaining
Now for the questions- Is 880.00 a month pretty typical for the Bronze plan? Anyone here have knowledge of any options or strategies I might have to reduce this high cost?(Other than "short term" coverage. I'm too active for short term policies. The sports I practice would not be covered).
Thank you,
RDW
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