One interesting note. For the Cook County, IL area, there are no insurance carriers who offer individual plans, either in the exchange or off it, that have a network that includes any of the university medical centers or any of the what we might call the upper tier of hospitals. So, for my wife who is two years from medicare, she cannot purchase a plan, at any price, that offers the standard of care that is actually available in our area. In her case, we are working to get one of our friends to put her on the "payroll" at zero wages and zero work, but allow her corporate medical care. If that does not work, then we have to consider moving or at least changing official residence.
One interesting note. For the Cook County, IL area, there are no insurance carriers who offer individual plans, either in the exchange or off it, that have a network that includes any of the university medical centers or any of the what we might call the upper tier of hospitals. So, for my wife who is two years from medicare, she cannot purchase a plan, at any price, that offers the standard of care that is actually available in our area. In her case, we are working to get one of our friends to put her on the "payroll" at zero wages and zero work, but allow her corporate medical care. If that does not work, then we have to consider moving or at least changing official residence.
I agree. However the only action that can be taken is to take whatever steps you can to remain healthy. Now if that doesn't work we're back to the original discussion. How will I afford coverage in the future and what steps can I take now to get there.
I am speculating a bit here but I believe most of those posting here with a cavalier attitude have what they feel is a secure position through one gov't program or another. Like my DM who constantly complains about ACA care yet has had steady supply of services and replacements with very little oop costs.
I feel full disclosure is important, and while I have a corporate retiree medical plan (so far) I genuinely feel for those facing an obvious and significant change going forward.
The ideas of this thread are a very good starting point. And please no more red ink "reminders". It takes me back to third grade.
Could it be because the premium would be prohibitively high and there would be so few subscribers, so the insurers say "Why bother" ? When hamburger costs $10/lb, who can afford filet mignon?We've been dealing with this in Texas. As far as I know, as of 1/1/2016 in many parts of Texas, there were no plans available through the Marketplace which included Houston's M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and a few other top tier regional medical centers. It's been a big concern for a lot of people.
Would not what you are attempting to do be classified as illegal, both for your wife and the company that is a party to this? I have to think that insurers regularly require their employers for proof of employment of their insured employees in some form or another and that the penalty for the type of activity that you suggest is quite serious. Please be careful. I would think that a lousy plan for two years is a lot better than the risks of filing fraudulent claims to an insurer.
I am unsure how you know what will work, and what will not work, in a plan that has not even been proposed in detail.As i must point out again-a personal mandate that is not obeyed is no mandate.
ACA has a mandate. Healthy people either did not obey it or took the penalty.
re-doing a mandate in a revised Trumpcare will not work.
Could it be because the premium would be prohibitively high and there would be so few subscribers, so the insurers say "Why bother" ? When hamburger costs $10/lb, who can afford filet mignon?
For a while, I wonder if I will have any plan offered at all, on or off the exchange. And this is in a county with 4 million residents. I still have not signed up for anything for 2017, though I did look at what is offered.
And I have not spent much time researching what the coverage will be. What difference does it make when you have no choice? Actually, I still have two choices: insurance or no insurance.
Not a paywall for me either. You may be able to get around the paywall by googling the title.
There is a relatively easy fix I see as part of a replacement/change to the ACA. That would be to allow everyone currently receiving a subsidy to move to Medicare regardless of age for the going rate. Is that far fatched?
There is a relatively easy fix I see as part of a replacement/change to the ACA. That would be to allow everyone currently receiving a subsidy to move to Medicare regardless of age for the going rate. Is that far fatched?
Right, but it might have to be some tax on all income, not just earned income. And as NW-Bound kept saying, we need ways to control and hopefully reduce the cost of healthcare as well.The only way for this to be a mandate is to have it be a payroll tax. Then, it is mandated and actually paid. Raise the medicare portion of the payroll tax another 2% or so, on both sides.
Sounds like what was being called The Public Option when the ACA was being put together. It was not liked by some of the principals so it was left out.
In fact even before the ACA I remember hearing some groups proposing that a fix to medical insurance access was simply to open medicare to everyone and let them buy into it. It was never brought up again
buying into medicare is not the same and getting subsidized medicare..
Medicare qualifiers-65-use far more and far more expensive services than young people
All I want is a low cost catastrophic plan until I qualify for Medicare. By low cost, I am thinking about $200.00 per month.
In her case, we are working to get one of our friends to put her on the "payroll" at zero wages and zero work, but allow her corporate medical care. If that does not work, then we have to consider moving or at least changing official residence.
Yes, and the regulations prohibiting insurance recission do not apply, so the insurer will refuse to pay at the precise moment it it most needed.I strongly suggest talking to a lawyer about this plan.
You could find yourself without any insurance at all if the insurance company finds out she was a "fictitious employee" for the purpose of obtaining the insurance and then, quite justifiably, returns the premiums, cancels the policy, and says "have a nice day".
You and your friends could even find yourselves facing criminal charges for uttering the false statements in the insurance application. Tread carefully.
It just occurs to me that most posters here are or used to be workers at megacorps or the public sector. When talking about ER, they talk about leaving a secure health policy with their employers.
Sounds like what was being called The Public Option when the ACA was being put together. It was not liked by some of the principals so it was left out.
In fact even before the ACA I remember hearing some groups proposing that a fix to medical insurance access was simply to open medicare to everyone and let them buy into it. It was never brought up again
With Trump as President they are unsure and worried about what will happen.
Some folks are determined to get this thread closed down. A shame, really.So will they be thrown to the curb by the new Administration.