Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

As Some Got Free Health Care, Gwen Got Squeezed: An Obamacare Dilemma
The New York Times ^ | 19 Feb 2018 | Abby Goodnough

Posted on 02/19/2018 8:33:51 PM PST by Theoria

Gwen Hurd got the letter just before her shift at the outlet mall. Her health insurance company informed her that coverage for her family of three, purchased through the Affordable Care Act marketplace, would cost almost 60 percent more this year — $1,200 a month.

She and her husband, a contractor, found a less expensive plan, but at $928 a month, it meant giving up date nights and saving for their future. Worse, the new policy required them to spend more than $6,000 per person before it covered much of anything.

“It seems to me that people who earn nothing and contribute nothing get everything for free,” said Ms. Hurd, 30. “And the people who work hard and struggle for every penny barely end up surviving.”

A few miles away in another wooded suburb, Emilia DiCola, 28, an aspiring opera singer who scrapes by with gigs at churches and in local theaters, has no such complaints. She qualifies for Medicaid — free government health insurance that millions more low-income Americans have gained through an expansion of the program under the Affordable Care Act.

“I am very lucky to have the coverage I have,” said Ms. DiCola, who lives with her parents along the Merrimack River in Litchfield.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS: healthinsurance; medicaid; obamacare; subsidies
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-52 next last

1 posted on 02/19/2018 8:33:52 PM PST by Theoria
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Theoria

‘Mr. Trump has widened the gulf between people who pay full price for their coverage and those who get generous subsidies or free Medicaid. That, in turn, has deepened the resentment that has long simmered among many who do not qualify for government assistance toward those who do.’


2 posted on 02/19/2018 8:34:42 PM PST by Theoria (I should never have surrendered. I should have fought until I was the last man alive)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Theoria

What they don’t tell you is that the people who are getting it for free get what they pay for. A lot of them are getting worthless Health Care.


3 posted on 02/19/2018 8:38:43 PM PST by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Theoria

When dealing with the NYT, you have to always ask yourself: what is the narrative they are pushing.

In this case, its likely single payer.


4 posted on 02/19/2018 8:39:14 PM PST by bkopto
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Theoria

hate to tell you this, but if your policy is $1200/mo with a 6K deductible, it really cost you $1700/mo. barkie care.


5 posted on 02/19/2018 8:40:54 PM PST by 867V309 (Lock Her Up)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Theoria

Blaming Trump as the cause of the terrible provisions in ACA is unfair. But he should be blamed for protecting a CA. He blamed Congress for not repealing it and basically has said nothing since then so he deserves plenty of credit for keeping it in place. When was the last time he criticized it.


6 posted on 02/19/2018 8:41:04 PM PST by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: 867V309

I am sure it’s way more than that. A lot of people will be paying for everything out of pocket. Not to mention the opportunity costs.


7 posted on 02/19/2018 8:42:27 PM PST by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Theoria

A plan I looked at had a $2500 per year deductible before the 80/20 coverage/payment split kicked in. It cost nearly $800 a month. I am better off saving the $800 a month and adopting a lower risk lifestyle. If I save $9600.00 a year towards medical expenses and pay for routine doctors visits out of pocket then in ten years, if I need an ankle transplant or heart surgery I’ll have at least $150,000 (including interest) for the procedure. If I don’t need the medical procedure I have the cash for the down payment on a Ferrari.


8 posted on 02/19/2018 8:44:06 PM PST by Fai Mao (I still want to see The PIAPS in prison)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fai Mao

That’s the risk and rewards of it.


9 posted on 02/19/2018 8:46:13 PM PST by Theoria (I should never have surrendered. I should have fought until I was the last man alive)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

He would have signed any ACA repeal or modification bill that Congress put on his desk. When Congress refused to repeal the ACA after promising to do so for seven years, Trump knew it was best to keep quiet because he’s playing on a team of losers.


10 posted on 02/19/2018 8:47:39 PM PST by Alberta's Child ("Go ahead, bite the Big Apple ... don't mind the maggots.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Theoria; All

Some of the best alternatives are the Christian cost sharing plans such as:

Samaritan’s purse, Medi-Share, and Liberty HealthShare.

The costs are often less than half of comparible insurance plans.

http://www.medicalcostshare.com/comparison-of-major-healthcare-sharing-ministries.html


11 posted on 02/19/2018 8:48:40 PM PST by marktwain (President Trump and his supporters are the Resistance. His opponents are the Reactionaries.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

I am sure it’s way more than that. A lot of people will be paying for everything out of pocket.

You'll get no argument from me on that, sir.


12 posted on 02/19/2018 8:49:50 PM PST by 867V309 (Lock Her Up)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: 867V309

That’s what I pay just for myself

$1600 mo $1200 deductible.

Was $350/ mo in 2008


13 posted on 02/19/2018 8:54:10 PM PST by digger48
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Theoria

Why shouldn’t there be resentment among those who work and have to pay for their own family’s health care and are forced to hand large part of their pay to the government so it can hand out freebies to buy votes from those who don’t pay?
You would have to be a fool not to feel resentment.


14 posted on 02/19/2018 8:54:37 PM PST by txrefugee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Even if you’re paying, you’re getting worthless health care.

All you can do is pay the premium &pray to God you don’t have to use it.


15 posted on 02/19/2018 8:55:42 PM PST by bobcat62
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Theoria

Anything, ANYTHING, in the NY Slimes is not about truth—it is about their agenda, which ever way their wind is blowing on the day they publish. Nonsense!


16 posted on 02/19/2018 8:56:56 PM PST by Fungi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Theoria

Trump has nothing to do with your problem lady. Your vote for the Kenyan brought on this problem. You believed his lies; too bad for you.

These rate hikes and deductibles were all predicted by those who saw the real truth but a lot of the population were too stupid or too democrat or both, to see the truth.


17 posted on 02/19/2018 8:59:04 PM PST by RJS1950 (The democrats are the "enemies foreign and domestic" cited in the federal oath)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Bologna! Medicare is comprehensive in many states. In Ohio you can go to either the Cleveland Clinic or The University Hospital systems and receive World Class care for ZERO co payments or deductibles. They also cover dental care.

Like in all socialist systems it is the middles class that are squeezed. The poor are always poor, they are taken care of. The rich can and do pay for anything they want or need. The middle class gets the Sh1t end of the stick at all times. They pay taxes, massive premiums and even higher deductibles.

Obamacare is an absolute disaster and the idiot Republicans couldn’t even repeal it.


18 posted on 02/19/2018 8:59:59 PM PST by Jim from C-Town (The government is rarely benevolent, often malevolent and never benign!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Fai Mao

I like your way of thinking saving the amount of money if you can stay reasonably healthy until age 65 you have a great nest egg!!! You would just have to PRAY that cancer doesn’t get hold of you!!!


19 posted on 02/19/2018 9:01:36 PM PST by Trump Girl Kit Cat (Yosemite Sam raising hell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: txrefugee

‘She earned about $15,000 last year, making sure she stayed under the threshold to qualify for Medicaid.’


20 posted on 02/19/2018 9:03:35 PM PST by Theoria (I should never have surrendered. I should have fought until I was the last man alive)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-52 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson