Affordable Health Care Act

[4boysmom]

Just wondering what everyone is hoping for the outcome from the Supreme Court could be today.

How will it affect your coverage?

[BigA]

I think they will issue their ruling Thursday. I'm not optimistic. I think I will have to keep my private insurance no matter which jobs I get, so that I will always have at least some insurance.

[freedom1]

I too believe the Act will look different after the ruling this week. I for one feel that it is a good thing. I think that everyone needing to purchase health insurance is a win for those of us who already purchase it. People will no longer be paying for all those who don't have it through higher premiums and higher taxes.

I don't believe it is unconstitutional to force people to buy health insurance, we are forced to purchase auto insurance, what is the difference. Also it is better for the masses when all are insured for the reasons stated above.

As far as my own situation it has no effect on me at all whether the act survives or dies I have insurance through my husband until I am 65 at a set premium which can never change. That was part of the agreement when he took early retirement. Although my taxes will continue to increase and part of that tax increase is to fund medicaid.

[TLC_31]

I don't believe it is unconstitutional to force people to buy health insurance, we are forced to purchase auto insurance, what is the difference.

You are not forced to buy auto insurance. You can walk, ride a bike, or use public transportation, and you would never have to spend a dime on auto insurance.

[MarkLavelle]

You are not forced to buy auto insurance. You can walk, ride a bike, or use public transportation, and you would never have to spend a dime on auto insurance.

...but you are if you want to use a car on public roads.

Since everyone uses the health care system, everyone should have insurance. If the court doesn't agree with that, then they're going to mess up a lot more than the ACA.

I'm happy with the ACA so far, and hope to see it fully implemented. It's certainly imperfect, but it's also better than the current "system."

[Frederick1]

Hoping the entire law is overturned. I think the law will result in more expensive, less available, lower quality healthcare for the vast majority of Americans.

[freedom1]

True you only need auto insurance if you make the personal decision to buy a vehicle. Most illness and accidents are not personal choices. I agree if you need to use the healthcare system then you need to pay for it. I was listening to the former CEO of Cigna the other night and he feels that if the healthcare act is overturned it will be a bad decision. I agree with Mark, while it isn't perfect it is better than what is happening right now.

[techie]

I am hoping it passes. I think that is why health care is so expensive.
techie

[4boysmom]

I would love to see it overturned, but then replaced piece by piece with sensible changes. I like health savings accounts. It makes the patient responsible for health decisions moreso than insurance companies.

I liked the letting your kids be on until 26, but haven't used it at all with my 2 children that qualified. The pre-existing condition makes sense to keep, but that would work best if insurance was purchased personally, not by employers, and you take it with you as you move from job to job.

Some of these things will have to be implemented in pieces, just as changes to social security would be. You can't deny benefits to people who had counted on them, but you could add pieces a bit at a time.

It is just so interesting to hear some of the arguments! I never expected anyone to give me free contraception, just as I never expected help paying for my college costs. The world is so different than it was just 30 years ago when I got married at 20. People feel like they are entitled to so much more! I agree people can't help getting sick.

But I have a 27 year old son who is hearing impaired. Our insurance didn't cover the cost of hearing aids. We didn't ever turn to the government. We just gave up some things to get them for him, because he needed them! And they weren't cheap. His first pair was only $450 each, but by the time he started school, they were up to about $1500 each, and the last ones we bought for him were only $2400 each! I used to tease him that I was buying 2 computers for his head. Of course computers are cheaper than that now.

We all have to make decisions. I've already told my husband that if we ever lose pharmaceutical benefits for whatever reason, I will go without medicine and take my chances rather than using up money we have saved for retirement.

I know, that may cause me to not have a great retirement! But we will go into the situation wide eyes open.

We have moved as a country away from helping the truly poor and disabled to helping everyone in the world! Quit sending so much money overseas to places that hate us!

Well, that is my two cents. I'm sure it is different than most on this forum. And I don't want to come across as uncaring. I think we can find a solution. I just don't feel comfortable with a law that was created by special interest groups. The lawmakers didn't create it! Which of them would have the time?

[onlyairfare]

Those of us MSers who live in the US (and are not poor, thus eligible for Medicaid) would never be able to buy private insurance under current conditions because we have an expensive "pre-existing condition," so that is not really an option for us.

Even if we have insurance now through our employers, we will lose it if we change jobs. At an average cost of $20,000 annually for a plain vanilla family plan, many could not afford it if not for the fact that our employers pay about three-quarters of the cost.

Though I personally am doing well enough that I chose to forgo DMD's, if I were having frequent and disabling relapses, I would want those medications, but at a cost of $30,000 to $40,000 per year, it would not just eat into retirement savings. For most people it would interfere with basics such as rent and groceries.

DH and I plan on continuing to work until full retirement age and Medicare eligibility. We could retire sooner except for the health insurance piece, so that is the difference for us - retiring is out, working for health insurance is in.

[maximumlite]

I normally don't say my opinion on political issues. But the health care issue always will make the blood boil. Most people who don't want it have insurance, I always had and kept my kids on as long as possible. Than I lost my job and insurance. Try going a few years without it.

If my PCP did'nt charge me or when I had to see him he would pay out of his own pocket for me and a few others. Recently I got lost in my bedroom and fell down a flight of stairs and ended up in the ER. I missed the paper my health insurance company sent me, smelling money so they did'nt have to pay and the bill after insurance refused was over $8000 not including CT scan and Xrays.

After getting the proper paper work in saying I was'nt sueing someone the insurance paid and the hospital accepted the $1100 the insurance paid them in full, I know this as they send me a statement every month. My meds are $5320 a month.
How many of you who don't like this have planned for the MS you have? I was hit by a drunk years ago and do you think I planned for that? Lucky I had insurance for that.

We all pay higher premiums for our insurance for those who don't have it and just go to the ER. The notion about not having to pay for insurance if you take public transportation, that is BS as you don't think that they are insured and out the kindness of thier hearts they pay for the insurance and don't pass it on, yes you pay for it in the fares. As for riding a bike yup that is free and when a car mows you down you sue and someones for that, us that have a car and pay for insurance. Become uninsured and the first thing you will do is look for free meds, and the very many of us who get help with our meds and thare are many who do, who do you think who pays, the ones with insurance.
I'll stop now as this sort of thing can bring out the very ugly in people and at some point in life everybody alive on this planet will need health care at some point in thier life and like health care at work the people there are the cheaper the rates they get, like taxes it is a nessacary evil and till the day comes when you are without you will not understand

[lovejoy]

I hope they throw it out , just like i hope they thro Obama out , with the risk of getting reproved both Obama and Obama care is socialism

[freedom1]

Techie I agree 100%. The hopsitals need to make up for lost revenue on every person who goes through their doors that doesn't have insurance. That would explain $5 for 1 aspirin when a bottle costs that much. Those of us that have insurance pay those inflated prices through higher premiums and everyone who pays taxes, pays through higher taxes.

For those of you who say you will go without it is one thing to say that with an illness like MS where drugs are not necessary for life, it is another when the difference is life or death tell that to cancer patient.

I too am tired of people thinking they deserve everything handed to them but more than that as a middle class, tax paying American I am tired of footing the bill. Someone said healthcare will be more expensive with this act, yes it will be for some, any dollar you pay is more than the zero dollars you are paying now.

[Dandaman]

"Affordable?" Care Act

Repeal the entire bill. If you give up your freedom for security, you deserve neither.
Please name one program run by the government that is either efficient or affordable?

Auto insurance the same as health insurance? Does the government take taxes from your earnings to provide auto insurance? Auto Insurance is required just as a vehicle equipped with proper safety equipment. Dont have them, you get a citation.
Under ACA and the single payer system, if dont have health insurance, the federal government will confiscate your earnings.
I dont recall my auto insurance working like that.

I was Dx in 2001 and one thing I know for sure is those of us with MS are well educated and active in our own treatment.
If all of us spent money from our own pockets on therapies, Im certain these CRAB's would be much cheaper, and LDN'rs would have alot more 'members'. (meaning more nuero's would write the script).

I take many supplements that are usually reasonably priced. What happens when the gov't runs out of everyone else's money? Tax and control the supplements ? Arent they part of healthcare? They are a big part of mine.
Perhaps the gov't should tax and regulate those as part of ACA.
My point is that with the govt, ACA/2012 is only the beginning. What will it look like when my children access it?
Social Security may be a big clue. The program is broke and there is nothing for my children. Uncle Sam has run out of our money. The $$ must be in that " Social Security lock box" congress promised us .

I would agree changes are needed in heallthcare. The government is not the answer, they are the problem.


Dan

[its2much]

Drug Companies

Something still needs to be done with the high cost of prescription drugs. The Affordable Health Care Act did nothing to help me with paying the cost of my medications.