I was reading an article today and the writer was pondering whether many people realize that a high deductible health plan means there is no reimbursement for expenses until the deductible is satisfied.
While people with health insurance are familiar with deductibles, that may not be the case for those buying coverage for the first time and especially those who are focused on getting the lowest premium possible … which virtually guarantees a hefty individual and family deductible of several thousand dollars.
For the average person, with average medical bills in a year, a high deductible means they will pay 100% of their health care costs in that year. 💥 Do you think that is well understood? Do you think people who feel they are being forced to buy insurance they don’t need or want will be happy when they realize they are paying a monthly premium of several hundred dollars, but are receiving no coverage they actually use?
This is not to say these people should forgo insurance, it’s the fiscal responsible thing to do and it is fair to the rest of us who often end up paying for the uninsured. It’s insurance after all, the idea is not to use it, but to provide protection in the event of unforeseeable risk. However, that is not necessarily the way these folks may see it, especially as they are egged on by the extreme right blasting the concept of community rating. 😡
So, in early 2014 reality hits the fan. A person incurs $800 in bills and then receives a explanation of benefits from the insurance company showing it all applied to the deductible with no payment made. That &@%<¥? insurance company, they are crooks. They take my premium and give me nothing. See, we told you that !&@#+ Obamacare was a joke. The average person will not take the time to calculate that what they save in premiums by taking a higher deductible is paying that $800 bill. 👀
Let the games begin anew in 2014. In this case Obamacare and the insurers are getting a bad rap. Part of the problem as usual is the political rhetoric creating false expectations and harping on affordable health care without an adequate explanation.
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I think that those of us who have had health /insurance which has been employee sponsored are more” schooled” on the ins and outs of plan coverage especially where there are many plan variations (including variable deductibles).
I further believe that the biggest lie (for most) of 2013, was not that you could keep your doctor or even that you can keep your plan…..I think the really big lie is that Obama care is “affordable”(for most).
But than again one would have to be totally naive to think some additional thirty plus million people would be covered without dramatic increases in premiums and deductibles for most . I further believe this situation will only get worse going forward and the underlying” ponzi like cost shifting”strategy of the law itself will remain in effect even if the law is repealed (unlikely),or amended /re-written (more likely). Currently most of us are like “frogs in a kettle”just waiting to be boiled to death by others who know better whats best for us.
In the end policy holders and insurance carriers alike(maybe even doctors) are likely to be subsidized more and more by none other than U.S. taxpayers. This suggests to me that what we are talking about is just another entitlement program operating under the illusion of “private care”.
After all we have gone through what politician is going to speak against coverage and inclusion for all? It would be as un-American as speaking against” motherhood and apple pie”!
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