# What is your experience with Obamacare? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 14, 2014, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-experience-with-obamacare/698481 "2014-09-14T16:49:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![monasings](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@monasings](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monasings)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-experience-with-obamacare/698481/41 "2014-09-16T12:38:50Z")
I actually have a question for those who are covered under the ACA plans. My excellent health insurance plan that I’ve been paying $392/month for is going away when I renew in December. The insurance company wants me to convert to an ACA plan. I am confused by the deductibles. Do you have to pay $$ out of pocket to go to the doctor before the healthcare coverage kicks in, or is that only for hospital stays? ---
**Author:** ![TheSeaOtter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ed655f/32.png) [@TheSeaOtter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheSeaOtter)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-experience-with-obamacare/698481/42 "2014-09-16T14:37:21Z")
Massachusetts resident with coverage through work, so yeah, not much effect on me. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-experience-with-obamacare/698481/43 "2014-09-16T14:43:48Z")
> [@monasings](#): > > I actually have a question for those who are covered under the ACA plans. My excellent health insurance plan that I’ve been paying $392/month for is going away when I renew in December. The insurance company wants me to convert to an ACA plan. I am confused by the deductibles. Do you have to pay $$ out of pocket to go to the doctor before the healthcare coverage kicks in, or is that only for hospital stays? In my case I pay everything up to $5,000 per year and then almost nothing; that is a deductible. A copay is the small payment (I believe like $10 per visit or drug) I make after that $5,000 threshold has been crossed. I would really like a lower deductible (or better yet none like I had before this) but under Obamacare right now I just can’t afford it. Unless I’m really lucky and get cancer or need a bypass and then I can possibly win. I fall right into the center of the middle class screwed until some future day when the kinks get worked out. Don’t get me wrong; I was for the original law and if they could get 100% compliance or put back in the tort and price reforms we were supposed to get, my situation would be a lot better. But as it sits right now I’m one of those caught paying more than I did and probably should. ---
**Author:** ![jfreakofkorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecc23a/32.png) [@jfreakofkorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jfreakofkorn)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-experience-with-obamacare/698481/44 "2014-09-16T14:50:32Z")
co pay has gone up along w/ the meds … =0/ ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-experience-with-obamacare/698481/45 "2014-09-16T14:52:08Z")
> [@Stuffy](#): > > I’m also small business owner. In the private market between 2002-2010 when I ‘cancelled’, my plan went from $600 to $2895 per month. I was uninsurable after that (pre existing conditions, Yay!) until Obamacare as were my sons solely because he/they was related to me. I now pay $403 for my youngest son and myself. By the way, we didn’t qualify for subsidies. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-experience-with-obamacare/698481/46 "2014-09-16T14:59:17Z")
I had been working in health insurance for going on 10 years and had 2+ years of extensive training on the ACA and the way we did our job changed quite a bit. For personal experience, my employer sponsored coverage didn’t change at all. ---
**Author:** ![Pixel\_Dent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Pixel\_Dent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixel_Dent)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-experience-with-obamacare/698481/47 "2014-09-16T16:18:10Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Between 2013 and 2014 ours increased 56% for the same coverage, and with higher deductibles. Year-to-year increases in the past had never come close to that. When I asked why, they said it was due to “new federal mandates.” Pretty much exactly our experience. My wife and I run our own business. Coverage for a healthy, no pre-existing conditions family of 4 went from $360/month to $1217/month. Deductible went from $1000 to $4000. Because of this my wife is leaving our family business and is about to start a job at a large company so we can get health coverage. I’m really happy all the people who had pre-existing conditions or couldn’t afford coverage are covered now. I honestly am. It’d also be nice to get a card or something thanking us for subsidizing it. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-experience-with-obamacare/698481/48 "2014-09-16T16:57:53Z")
This is the first year that the cost of my employer-provided coverage hasn’t gone up (since they stopped picking up the whole tab in '10.) Otherwise it hasn’t affected me at all. My wife is in benefits outsourcing and has become something of a subject matter expert, while means we’re earning a lot more as a household. So, yay! I’d rather have a single payer system (whether for the state or the country) though. ---
**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:** [September 16, 2014, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-experience-with-obamacare/698481/49 "2014-09-16T17:10:29Z")
> [@Pixel\_Dent](#): > > It’d also be nice to get a card or something thanking us for subsidizing it. Why should we thank you if you are leaving Obamacare to go on your wife’s company plan? ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-experience-with-obamacare/698481/50 "2014-09-16T17:14:32Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Why should we thank you if you are leaving Obamacare to go on your wife’s company plan? Company plans are still regulated under the ACA. ---
**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:** [September 16, 2014, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-experience-with-obamacare/698481/51 "2014-09-16T17:16:57Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > Company plans are still regulated under the ACA. Most didn’t raise rates though. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-experience-with-obamacare/698481/52 "2014-09-16T17:18:48Z")
> [@Pixel\_Dent](#): > > It’d also be nice to get a card or something thanking us for subsidizing it. Don’t wait by the mailbox. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-experience-with-obamacare/698481/53 "2014-09-16T17:25:18Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Most didn’t raise rates though. And those that did had been raising 'em like a rabid weasel for many years already. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-experience-with-obamacare/698481/54 "2014-09-16T17:37:18Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Most didn’t raise rates though. No, but anyone who purchases health insurance increases the size of the risk pool. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-experience-with-obamacare/698481/55 "2014-09-16T18:05:33Z")
I pay $200 a month for a gold preferred PPO under ACA. The rest of the premium is subsidized due to my not-that-great salary. Without it, I would be paying my former insurance co. a whole lot more dough. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-experience-with-obamacare/698481/56 "2014-09-16T21:12:25Z")
Well first I have issue with the name Obamacare, it should be more like Obama-requires-you-to-buy-commercial-health-insurance-and-calls-it-national-healthcare. Anyway I had Anthem insurance for a year or so before Obamacare, and it went from ~$97 a month to $125 a month once Obamacare kicked in. Then about 6 months later it went up to $153 a month. Last week I got a letter that said my current plan no longer qualifies for Obamacare and I should change to a plan that costs $250. Obama: “If you like your health care plan, you’ll be able to keep your health care plan.” :dubious: I haven’t been to the doctor in 20 years. I don’t qualify for a subsidy because I’m just over the income threshold, I have little debt (just my home) but still live paycheck to paycheck. Thanks, Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-experience-with-obamacare/698481/57 "2014-09-16T21:26:18Z")
Personal: My taxes went up My threshold for deducting medical expenses went up as well - so higher costs there as well. Clients: Closed one practice - Medical, Medicare and ACA policies were taking up too much of the business and the business was no longer viable. Another practice - getting hit with more deadbeat patients. Patients bought the high deductible policies and thought that they were covered. Nope - you owe money. So the write-off percentage is going up this year. Yet another practice - income down as well as the ACA reimbursement is 1/10th of the reimbursement from a private policy. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-experience-with-obamacare/698481/58 "2014-09-16T22:29:14Z")
Personal: Insurance went down close to 40% for similar coverage but I now have a $500 deductible which I likely will not hit this year. Still saves me money overall and I feel happy that I’m covered if anything happens. Professional: I’m in Virginia. Those that couldn’t afford insurance before still can’t because they don’t make enough to qualify for subsidies. The only problem I see is for patients with high deductibles and 3 free visits yearly. I don’t like having to ration my care over 3 visits. Sometimes you need to see people more often. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-experience-with-obamacare/698481/59 "2014-09-16T23:40:15Z")
> [@Algher](#): > > Personal: > My taxes went up > My threshold for deducting medical expenses went up as well - so higher costs there as well. > > Clients: > Closed one practice - Medical, Medicare and ACA policies were taking up too much of the business and the business was no longer viable. > Another practice - getting hit with more deadbeat patients. Patients bought the high deductible policies and thought that they were covered. Nope - you owe money. So the write-off percentage is going up this year. > Yet another practice - income down as well as the ACA reimbursement is 1/10th of the reimbursement from a private policy. How do you define “ACA policy” and “Private Policy”? I thought that the ACA was all about getting people to buy their own private policies (except for Medicaid/Medical). ---
**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:** [September 16, 2014, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-experience-with-obamacare/698481/60 "2014-09-16T23:52:51Z")
> [@Algher](#): > > Personal: > My taxes went up > My threshold for deducting medical expenses went up as well - so higher costs there as well. Explain how this is due to Obamacare. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-experience-with-obamacare/698481.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-experience-with-obamacare/698481.md?page=4)