# Ask the Guy who successfully enrolled in Obamacare on the healthcare.gov website **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 5, 2013, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-successfully-enrolled-in-obamacare-on-the-healthcare-gov-website/673183 "2013-11-05T21:49:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-successfully-enrolled-in-obamacare-on-the-healthcare-gov-website/673183/81 "2013-11-06T17:39:47Z")
My taxes are subsidizing this program, and you are welcome to them. It’s sure better than flushing my tax dollars down the ratholes that were Afghanistan and Iraq. I would be willing to pay a bit more if I could afford it. ---
**Author:** ![qubed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f07891/32.png) [@qubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qubed)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-successfully-enrolled-in-obamacare-on-the-healthcare-gov-website/673183/82 "2013-11-06T18:28:22Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I’m actually surprised that a $6000 deductible plan for a 30-year old would cost $270/month. Even now, with my BCBS insurance rates going up a little bit because of ACA apparently, it’s not that high, and I’m 8 years older with a lower deductible than that. This is probably because pre-existing conditions can no longer factor into your insurance rate. So that means under ACA everyone the same age pays the same averaged rate. Whereas before, your rate was somewhat based on your pre-existing conditions. I’ve currently got a pretty reasonable catastrophic insurance plan that costs me only $150/month, but under the ACA, the absolute minimum I could pay for a similar plan\* is at least $270/month. So, yes, I’ll be paying more under ACA starting next year than I am this year. But one day, I’ll be older and have pre-existing conditions and I’ll be riding on the coattails of young, healthy kids. So, I’m okay with it. This is why it’s called _insurance_. \*pre-ACA and post-ACA plans are hard to compare. Under ACA new plans have to cover a lot that my current plan doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-successfully-enrolled-in-obamacare-on-the-healthcare-gov-website/673183/83 "2013-11-06T19:25:21Z")
> [@qubed](#): > > This is probably because pre-existing conditions can no longer factor into your insurance rate. So that means under ACA everyone the same age pays the same averaged rate. Whereas before, your rate was somewhat based on your pre-existing conditions. I’ve currently got a pretty reasonable catastrophic insurance plan that costs me only $150/month, but under the ACA, the absolute minimum I could pay for a similar plan\* is at least $270/month. Well, that’s what’s odd. Blue Cross Blue Shield is making me change to one of a couple of plans beginning 2014. The $6000 deductible plan for me, with 100% coinsurance (but no flat office visit copay that I see) is $180/mo. I’ve just decided to move over to my wife’s plan instead. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-successfully-enrolled-in-obamacare-on-the-healthcare-gov-website/673183/84 "2013-11-06T20:02:19Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > In such an event, the “shopping” duty falls on their regular doctors. Nobody ever falls ill or is injured in another city, so that their regular physician doesn’t know anybody he/she could recommend? 😕:smack: ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-successfully-enrolled-in-obamacare-on-the-healthcare-gov-website/673183/85 "2013-11-06T20:11:25Z")
> [@John\_Bredin](#): > > Nobody ever falls ill or is injured in another city, so that their regular physician doesn’t know anybody he/she could recommend? 😕:smack: You can find all kinds of exceptional situations. You do not base policy on exceptional situations. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-successfully-enrolled-in-obamacare-on-the-healthcare-gov-website/673183/86 "2013-11-06T20:13:24Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I did. As I recall, the main difference was they were multi-state plans, with a much larger network. I didn’t look at the details, but they were about twice as expensive, but the deductibles were the same or higher. Unfortunately, I haven’t figured out how to go back and look at them. Getting back to the OP: So bronze and silver plans basically don’t offer much coverage if you are outside the area of your home network unless it is an emergency? Did I get that right? In which case, for a comparatively rural area such as New Hampshire, how is the local availability for specialist care? Maybe certain specialties just aren’t readily available at your local hospital? For example, would someone insured under the silver plan you chose and living where you do have to travel to Boston anyway to see an oncologist or endocrinologist due to lack of local availability. And thus such specialists would be “in network” even if Primary Care Physicians in Boston would be out of network? ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-successfully-enrolled-in-obamacare-on-the-healthcare-gov-website/673183/87 "2013-11-06T20:13:32Z")
Can y’all keep the political bickering out of this thread? There are plenty of other threads dedicated to that purpose. I’d like to hear more about the basic experiences of those who are buying on the exchange, and the nuts-and-bolts details of what they can get. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-successfully-enrolled-in-obamacare-on-the-healthcare-gov-website/673183/88 "2013-11-06T20:28:50Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > … > In my personal experience, off the top of my head, I can think of 4 - wait, 5 - people I personally know who, in the past few years, despite having regular doctors and going in for regular checkups, have had catastrophic, expensive things happen to them with no chance to shop around. Indeed, had they had the time to shop around, they were very, very sick, and had neither the energy nor the mental capacity to do said shopping. > … The [American College of Emergency Physicians state](http://newsroom.acep.org/index.php?s=20301&item=29928) that Emergency care is less than 2% of health care expenditures in the US. So in some circumstances, certainly, the person is in no position to shop around. But in the large majority of cases a patient _could_ shop around if costs were transparent. Often costs are not transparent and which price you pay depends upon your insurance plan and/or whether you need a payment plan. For the prototypical 50 year old getting his first colonoscopy as a routine screening, the test will be scheduled well in advance. How can he know if he is about to incur $740 in charges or $8500? Those were the low and high charges in the New York area cited in a [New York Times Editorial](http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/09/opinion/sunday/the-weird-world-of-colonoscopy-costs.html?_r=0). The same editorial goes on to mention large price disparities for MRIs and hip replacements. As the patient I would damn well want to know that the extra $7,700+ is in some way medically justifiable before shelling out the extra money. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-successfully-enrolled-in-obamacare-on-the-healthcare-gov-website/673183/89 "2013-11-06T20:40:20Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > As the patient I would damn well want to know that the extra $7,700+ is in some way medically justifiable before shelling out the extra money. Right - but today most (hell, all) people have NO idea what the cost of their procedures is. And have really no need to know. What a wonderful, wonderful system. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-successfully-enrolled-in-obamacare-on-the-healthcare-gov-website/673183/90 "2013-11-06T21:23:21Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > The [American College of Emergency Physicians state](http://newsroom.acep.org/index.php?s=20301&item=29928) that Emergency care is less than 2% of health care expenditures in the US. I’m not just talking about emergency care (though that’s part of it). The situations I’m talking about are cancers that present without warning and pull people downhill pretty fast. The patient and family are blindsided, and honestly, “shopping around” for the best deal is an unrealistic expectation. You’re barely thinking straight because you or your loved one is in pain, needs care maybe not on an emergency basis but pretty quickly, and price-comparisons are not the first thing that spring to mind (or the second… or the third…) > [@Terr](#): > > Right - but today most (hell, all) people have NO idea what the cost of their procedures is. And have really no need to know. What a wonderful, wonderful system. I agree with you on that; even though I have health insurance that covers me, I’ve tried to find pricing information a few times. It’s impossible until after-the-fact, when you get a bill. It shouldn’t be like that. (and as an aside - the growing popularity of high-deductible plans does bring some clarity to the situation, as you _do_ have to pay your own bills until the deductible is met and thus you see that that 5-minute procedure cost $2000 or whatever.) Obamacare is far from perfect, but I don’t believe the answer is “let the free market decide” either. I don’t believe that prices would come down; I believe the drug manufacturers and medical device manufacturers would have very little competition and thus no real incentive to bring their rates into the range that everyone who needed them could afford them. I think a lot of people would end up dying and/or not being able to work - therefore a drain on society in a different way - without government intervention in health care. But that’s where you and I differ, **Terr** , so that’s not news. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![LynnM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@LynnM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LynnM)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-successfully-enrolled-in-obamacare-on-the-healthcare-gov-website/673183/91 "2013-11-07T10:38:42Z")
Guy who successfully enrolled in Obamacare on the [healthcare.gov](http://healthcare.gov) website, do you have any security concerns about your personal data, specifically your SS number? Do you have identity-theft protection? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-successfully-enrolled-in-obamacare-on-the-healthcare-gov-website/673183/92 "2013-11-07T13:08:25Z")
> [@LynnM](#): > > Guy who successfully enrolled in Obamacare on the [healthcare.gov](http://healthcare.gov) website, do you have any security concerns about your personal data, specifically your SS number? Do you have identity-theft protection? No, I really don’t. I think the reports of security issues are overblown, and are politically motivated. I have a credit report watching service, but not LifeLock or anything like that. > [@Iggy](#): > > Getting back to the OP: > > So bronze and silver plans basically don’t offer much coverage if you are outside the area of your home network unless it is an emergency? Did I get that right? > > In which case, for a comparatively rural area such as New Hampshire, how is the local availability for specialist care? Maybe certain specialties just aren’t readily available at your local hospital? > > For example, would someone insured under the silver plan you chose and living where you do have to travel to Boston anyway to see an oncologist or endocrinologist due to lack of local availability. And thus such specialists would be “in network” even if Primary Care Physicians in Boston would be out of network? My network has 43 hospitals and medical facilities with 100 miles of me. If I wanted access to the Boston hospitals, I could have enrolled in a silver plan with multi-state access. > [@Rollo\_Tomasi](#): > > **Fear Itself** , did you run into any trouble with identity verification? That’s what’s been holding up my application, I think. No, but I submitted proof of income which has not been approved yet. That didn’t prevent me from enrolling though. Try again, it seems to be improving. I have no problem accessing my account now. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-successfully-enrolled-in-obamacare-on-the-healthcare-gov-website/673183/93 "2013-11-07T13:33:30Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > That’s only counting the premiums. The hugely reduced deductibles and OOP expenses bring it to a round $10K mooch. How does that translate into a mooch from the government? It was my understanding the insurance companies determined the benefits and the premiums, free market and all that. Do you think the feds are paying the insurance company the difference, in addition to the subsidy? Because they certainly aren’t paying it to me. I’m going to need a cite that the feds are paying the insurance companies any more than the subsidy on the premium. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-successfully-enrolled-in-obamacare-on-the-healthcare-gov-website/673183/94 "2013-11-07T13:39:02Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > How does that translate into a mooch from the government? It was my understanding the insurance companies determined the benefits and the premiums, free market and all that. Do you think the feds are paying the insurance company the difference, in addition to the subsidy? Because they certainly aren’t paying it to me. I’m going to need a cite that the feds are paying the insurance companies any more than the subsidy on the premium. Yes they are subsidizing your deductible and OOP expenses. And if I do show it to you, will you admit it’s a mooch? I suspect you won’t. So why should I look for it to show it to you? ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-successfully-enrolled-in-obamacare-on-the-healthcare-gov-website/673183/95 "2013-11-07T13:41:01Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I feel like a big weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I can’t tell you how bewildering this whole episode in US heathcare seems to me, a European. 😃 Welcome to the world of not worrying yourself sick! 😃 To the world of not having to worry about friends, family members and every sorry arse stranger getting cared for. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-successfully-enrolled-in-obamacare-on-the-healthcare-gov-website/673183/96 "2013-11-07T13:46:00Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Yes they are subsidizing your deductible and OOP expenses. And if I do show it to you, will you admit it’s a mooch? I suspect you won’t. So why should I look for it to show it to you? Of course it is a mooch, as it is intended to be. As are all tax credits. I know you think “mooch” is pejorative, but it’s not. I am a socialist, by the way. I don’t think that is a bad word either. So, give with the cite. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-successfully-enrolled-in-obamacare-on-the-healthcare-gov-website/673183/97 "2013-11-07T13:47:57Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Of course it is a mooch, as it is intended to be. As are all tax credits. I know you think “mooch” is pejorative, but it’s not. I am a socialist, by the way. I don’t think that is a bad word either. > > So, give with the cite. > **[In Addition To Premium Credits, Health Law Offers Some Consumers Help Paying...](https://kffhealthnews.org/news/070913-michelle-andrews-on-cost-sharing-subsidies/)** > > Although much has been made about the tax credits that will help people afford to pay insurance premiums, the cost-sharing assistance can substantially reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses. > **[Benefits administration](https://www.wexinc.com/products/employee-benefits/benefits-administration/?id=120&press=yes)** > > Outsource your employee benefits administration to WEX and provide world-class, hassle-free benefits. “federal cost-sharing subsidies”. Mooch. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-successfully-enrolled-in-obamacare-on-the-healthcare-gov-website/673183/98 "2013-11-07T13:53:35Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > [In Addition To Premium Credits, Health Law Offers Some Consumers Help Paying Deductibles And Co-Pays - KFF Health News](http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/features/insuring-your-health/2013/070913-michelle-andrews-on-cost-sharing-subsidies.aspx) > [Benefits Administration | WEX](http://www.benefitexpress.info/press-release/?id=120&press=yes) > > “federal cost-sharing subsidies”. Mooch. Thank you for that, and I mean it; ignorance fought. It explains the difference between the deductibles and OOP on silver versus bronze and gold plans. > [@](#): > > Cost-sharing reductions will be applied automatically for consumers who qualify based on their income, but only if they buy a silver-level plan, considered the benchmark under the law. Mooch, mooch, mooch. It starts to sound funny when you say it a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-successfully-enrolled-in-obamacare-on-the-healthcare-gov-website/673183/99 "2013-11-07T13:57:11Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I know you think “mooch” is pejorative, but it’s not. Of course you don’t think it is pejorative. You’re on the receiving end. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-successfully-enrolled-in-obamacare-on-the-healthcare-gov-website/673183/100 "2013-11-07T15:10:12Z")
I’m not eligible to enroll, because my employer offers a decent policy that I pay a little under $200 a month for. I’m jealous! But you didn’t say anything about dental or vision coverage. Are those options for the more expensive plans? Can you add a dental rider or something like that? **Terr** , there are plenty of threads centering around the politics of the ACA that you can shit up. Kindly shut your yap. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-successfully-enrolled-in-obamacare-on-the-healthcare-gov-website/673183.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-successfully-enrolled-in-obamacare-on-the-healthcare-gov-website/673183.md?page=6)