The implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been nothing short of a disaster. Not
only has the website not worked for those trying to sign up, but people who
have their own insurance are being notified that they will have to change
policies. In 2009, President Obama said "If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care
plan." For many this has been true, since most people have insurance
through their employer. However, for many people, they have purchased their own
insurance plans, which includes myself. In my previous job I had an insurance
plan through my employer because the benefits were good. Then I changed jobs
and joined an employer that doesn't offer as good insurance and the rate is
amazingly high. Also, because I was a new employee I wasn't eligible for
insurance anyway for the first 90 days. This led me to explore insurance
options. I was given the number to an insurance agent who explained to me some
of the coming changes and told me that the insurance I was looking for wouldn't
be legal next year.
I decided to purchase the
insurance plan because it was inexpensive. The plan is more of a disaster
insurance. I am young, healthy and have no pre-existing conditions. So, for me
I don't need many services because I've never had health issues. These types of
plans are no longer legal with the Affordable Care Act the law of the land.
I've read plenty of stories in
the news about people being sent notices that their insurance plans are being
cancelled. Many fell short of actually 'blaming' the Affordable Care Act for
the cancellation of policies. But then I was sent a notice from Anthem saying
directly that because of the Affordable Care Act my insurance plan will no
longer be offered. The sad thing is that on the notice they say there will be
options that suit my needs, but the current plan I'm paying for is what suits
my needs, that's why I chose the plan!
Next year when I am required to
choose a new health plan, my insurance rate is going to go up. By how much,
that I don't know. Hopefully it will not increase at the rate of people who
live in California. According to the LA Times, rates there are doubling[1].
The Affordable Care Act has
been a disaster from the beginning. The people were promised that this bill
would slow cost of insurance and that those who liked their coverage would be
able to keep it. So far none of that has happened. Prices are going up and
people, like me, are being told they can no longer keep their own insurance
plan. The problem now is because insurance premiums are going up, the government
is going to subsidize part of the premiums so it doesn't hurt the average
household as much. This is creating a structure that will addict people to this
law. Once a subsidy has been put in place and people rely on it to make their
own budgets work it will become an untouchable subject. If it's possible for me
to make ends meet under the new ACA legislation without needing the government
subsidy (I'm sure I will qualify as I'm married with a low income)I will not
accept the government subsidy. That "free" money is addicting and a
government subsidy isn't something any American should rely on.
