Health Insurance

[stormysmom]

Hello,

My husband is of Medicare age, put I am not. I had to change my already in place Anthem BC/BS because of Obamacare. I went from a PPO to an HMO. NOW, I learn that when we are in Florida for 5 or 6 months, I cannot visit an MD, except for emergencies. Any suggestions on a different insurance company and plan that can "travel" with me?

Any snowbirds or workampers out there that might point me in the right direction?

Thanks.

[Big_Katuna]

They need to shop around.

[Scottiemom]

My sister and her husband have BCBS and have had for several years. Self employed. They have been paying $16,000 a year for their high deductible coverage with something like a $7000 copay to begin with. They just got notified their premiums are going up to $24,000 for the two of them.

Dale

[almcc]

It's interesting to read the comments on this topic. Canadian snowbirds have to go through similar hoops and hassles when getting "top up" health insurance when spending time in the US. I certainly wouldn't want to go through this for our health care coverage in Canada. I guess this is payback for us for the comments we sometimes receive about living in a "socialist" country!

[GeoJG]

This is becoming a concern now for me. Since I signed up the plan has dropped my doctors from their list. So now I'm without the doctor I wanted to keep. And when I make it down South eventually I'm not at all sure what to do. And I take a couple of controlled medications and that is a whole other bag of worms.

[LookN4Ward]

Can you find an approved plan for Florida that would allow care in Virginia? If you can then think about switching your address to Florida, since you spend up to 6 months there. Florida does not have a state income tax and the savings could help pay for a policy that meets your needs.

[lbrjet]

We had a BCBS PPO plan in Indiana for four years prior to ACA. Never used it. BCBS was the only insurer in my county under ACA and offered only HMO plans. We knew (at least hoped) we would be moving to Arizona in the spring so didn't think too much about it, figured we would get the PPO after moving. While house hunting in AZ my wife had a heart attack. The blockage cleared on it's own after we got to the hospital and they have no idea why she was struck. Anyway, that was back in March and we are now just getting the final bills paid under the ACA emergency clause. Was in network. They denied every claim until I hounded them about the life threatening situation portion of
the policy. Was on the phone with them again last week to try to get the very last claim resolved. I owe the doctor the money (deductible) but they just need to send the paperwork to knock it down to their contracted price.

Now we have the AZBlue PPO. Wouldn't you know it while traveling this summer she had an emergency appendectomy (in network hospital) at the end of June in NY state. BCBS AZ promptly paid all the claims, less deductible of course. Both insurance policies were with BCBS and I swear it is like working with two completely different companies.

We are also new at this since it is the first time either of us have ever been to the hospital.

[Big_Katuna]

ACA LOWERS COSTS TO FEDERAL BUDGET

CLICKY

[Big_Katuna]

That's not true. Low income people (under $30k/year) can get subsidies.
Our policy is a straight up insurance policy. It went down because so many people joined and their profits are capped at a certain level. And I pay taxes too. We have a six figure income.

[Bumpyroad]

Big Katuna wrote:
People bad mouth the ACA like its socialized medicine or Medicare (I wish).
It is private insurance companies offering insurance that has to meet minimum standards that can't discriminate based on pre-existing conditions.
We have been self employed for 20 years and the ACA has allowed us to improve our coverage and benefits for a little less money. Still very expensive and we do not get any subsidies. Every one should be required to have medical insurance just like car insurance so they do not burden their relatives, neighbors or other tax payers.

If your health premiums have been reduced, it is because I and others are paying for it. you are welcome.
bumpy

[John_Joey]

Big Katuna wrote:
People bad mouth the ACA like its socialized medicine or Medicare (I wish).
It is private insurance companies offering insurance that has to meet minimum standards that can't discriminate based on pre-existing conditions.
We have been self employed for 20 years and the ACA has allowed us to improve our coverage and benefits for a little less money. Still very expensive and we do not get any subsidies. Every one should be required to have medical insurance just like car insurance so they do not burden their relatives, neighbors or other tax payers.

Exactly!!!

Hope it continues to go the way other countries do their medical for their citizens.

[Big_Katuna]

People bad mouth the ACA like its socialized medicine or Medicare (I wish).
It is private insurance companies offering insurance that has to meet minimum standards that can't discriminate based on pre-existing conditions.
We have been self employed for 20 years and the ACA has allowed us to improve our coverage and benefits for a little less money. Still very expensive and we do not get any subsidies. Every one should be required to have medical insurance just like car insurance so they do not burden their relatives, neighbors or other tax payers.

[Free_Range_Huma]

BTW, this is the agent we intend to use when we go FT.

http://rverhealthinsurance.com/

[Free_Range_Huma]

blangen wrote:
We side-stepped Obamacare all together with Liberty Health Share

Cadillac of plans for both of us for $350 per month total.

Anyone know of any plans like this that aren't based on "Americans who practice time tested principles Christians have been observing..."

Sounds like an interesting idea but I'm not a Christian and don't appreciate my health care having anything whatsoever to do with my religion.

[Big_Katuna]

Toms experience sounds like ours. I WISH our payment was $700 mo.
We are 60 and pay $1200. ACA has brought ours down a few hundred but we have way better coverage. More copayment, lower deductibles, better prescription and it pays for physicals. All of which used to be out of pocket. Basically 20K per year.
Which we or any financial planner ever saw coming.
ACA has helped but our system is still broke. We need single payer.