I was wondering if any one knows what will really happen in January for those of us who live in the US. The preexisting condition mandate is supposed to go into effect, Jan 1, 2013.
SO What I understand is that we can all apply for insurance and get the same rates as anyone else.
Something in me is telling me that something is going to undermine this or it will be changed in the 11th hour.
Does anyone know more about this and what we might expect?
Right now I buy insurance from a California state run pre existing condition fund. It costs more and offers less than standard insurance, but I am glad I have it. Other diabetics in other states are not as fortunate.
( side note : to toot my own horn, I got my labs back yesterday and I had a 5.6% A1c. and it said NORMAL RANGE!!!!!. ) That's a first for me.
My understanding is that it doesn't take effect until 1/1/2014. From the healthcare.gov page "insurance companies can no longer deny or limit coverage or charge higher premiums to anyone because of a preexisting condition." Sounds pretty straight forward. However they can charge more for age, the difference can't be more than 4 to 1. Actually 4 to 1 sounds like a large difference especially if you find yourself on the 4 side:)
You will be able to buy private insurance and do so in an insurance exchange. The coming election is, in part, a referendum on the ACA. I would say the biggest uncertainty is the very real possibility that the American people will vote in the party that has vowed to repeal the ACA .
I am 66 in November and at this time I pay 15% of my income (SS and retirement) for medicare and part D insurance. Is this likely to be more or less under these laws?
I worry about 2 things: 1) The ACA will be repealed and along with it, the requirement to cover people with pre-existing conditions like diabetes, cancer, etc.
2) Medicare will be replaced with a voucher to buy private insurance, as per the Ryan plan.
I am fine as long as I am working and covered by my employer's plan. But when I retire or if I lose my job, finding private insurance that covers a T1 diabetic will be impossible or priced crazy without 1 and 2. A voucher is useless if no one will sell a plan at a reasonable price cover a t1.
When I look at the forms I need to fill out for insurance and the like I notice that Diabetes and Cancer and Aids are all in the same box. It means that WE DON'T WANT YOU !
It is the death box. You can not get covered.There is no option.
Some states have laws where they have to sell you jacked up insurance, but a few have pre existing insurance plans that are ok at least.
I have been hopeful about the Obama plan, but I'm very distrusting of how it will really be implemented if at all.
I wonder if that date of Jan 1 2014 was planned out to be just after the election. If we knew the real situation and had time to experience it maybe it would change our votes.
You can't blame a guy for noticing the timing of that !
I noticed the timing too but I viewed it as a Republican compromise as the bill went through the legislative process. The Republicans said all along their top priority was ousting the President and their first order of business would be to repeal the healthcare act - if they pushed implementation dates in the healthcare act back until after the election, they would then repeal the legislation before those provisions went into effect.
The way I view the healthcare act is that some progress is better than no progress. The Republicans have no plans to control healthcare costs that I've heard.
I keep wondering if Republicans don’t get diabetes and don’t need health insurance.
There are no easy answers to the cost of healthcare in this country, but I truly wish that our elected representatives could work together to make some progress.
