The onset of Obamacare has cost me my health insurance; my provider has pulled out of the state.
The letter informing me of this was nice enough. The reason really wasn’t fully explained, however. Although, perhaps that was self evident: It would be too costly for them to compete.
I was referred to the now-famous Web site, healthcare.gov, for more information and to compare plans. I was also given the name of a firm that could assist me with my health care transition. All of this was straightforward and rather thorough -- as if I was buying a multimillion-dollar life insurance policy.
The Web site was easy to use and to compare plans. Unfortunately “Obamacare” was going to cost me $80 more per month than my existing policy for essentially the same benefits.
Fortunately, I can afford to pay the extra money. But it got me thinking about all those who couldn’t afford to pay additional costs. It also got me thinking about my options: What if I just paid the penalty for not having insurance? After all, my doctor is out-of-network anyway; I pay him straight up. And I am pretty healthy, so I don’t have any other significant medical expenses. My philosophy is that I really only need it if I get hit by a truck. That type of care might get a bit pricey to be paying out of pocket.
The 1 percent penalty fee (that will rise in years two and three) wouldn’t make economical sense for me, but for lower income earners it might. If you earn fifty grand a year, paying $500 annually for health insurance is a good deal. People who “forget to report” income (such as a certain segment of waiters, bartenders and those who take in cash) I bet are consider the "pay the penalty" strategy. Paying on what you declare versus what you really earn may be cheating, but it’s also cheap.
What I have not been able to figure out is this: Let’s say you forego health insurance and opt to pay the penalty. Then you DO get hit by a truck and are taken to the hospital for care. Who gets the bill? Right now, if you don't qualify for charity care, you would be personally liable for the costs. Under the new law, it isn’t clear.
The system only works if a significant number of us (ideally all of us) join and pay, remember.
I am just one person. I have the means and the resources to pay, go online, and get counsel. A lot of people aren’t as fortunate as I am. They need education. They need to know where to go and how to choose. And this is not something that should be done with a gun to their heads and the clock ticking, And this is my point: I am all for a national health care system. I am even impressed with Obamacare. What I wonder is, why the rush?
I still haven’t chosen a provider. I am like a refugee deciding in which country to live. I am weighing the costs and the benefits. This takes a little time.
A lot of people don’t have the education, the reference points or the context (or maybe even a computer!) to choose properly; give them the chance. The system will have more positive impact.