ObamaCare: 10 Million Strong and Growing

I just received a letter from my insurance company. My renew date is April 1, 2016. My premium for my family go from $697.64 to $888.74. To me this is not affordable. Other insurance plans my broker sent for me to review are even higher than my current plan. My plan has a deductible of $3,000. The new premiums for a year are $10,664.88. My annual income will be about $70,000. Your facts are not correct. My numbers are real life facts. My premiums are more than 15% of my income.

I came to the website to look for further information as to why the ACA gets negative attention?
In 2014, I had signed up my 64 year old Mother for “Obamacare.” She had been without insurance for 2 years and she hadn’t reached the retiring age and wasn’t eligible for Medicare. However, she couldn’t work full time because she has arthiritis in a knee. Insurance companies were charging over $800 a month for a minimum insurance policy. This was because she has high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and suffers from anxiety. Let alone because she is an elder woman. My Mother has always lived and maintained a healthy life style. She is a very petite lady and weighs 114 pounds. But as most women- the title of being a Mother, Wife, Aunt, Sister, Grandmother, friend, etc. she is constantly worrying about the well being of others. Hence the chronic diseases- all which were developed at a later age and are hereditary.
The 2 years she wasn’t insured, she wouldn’t get well check ups and abstained from visiting doctors. She didn’t want to put a strain on my Father as he too is retired but receiving Medicare because he does meet the age criteria. I was able to get information of a non profit organization were several services my Mother needed could be carried out.
My parents have been living in the USA for over forty years. They became US citizens in the eighties and my Father opened up his business shortly after following his dream. We have had a Prosperous business until 2001 but managed to make it through. However, the Recession of 2007/2008 really hit the family business hard. I had never seen my Father worry so much about money and how he was going to pay this or that. The small business insurance policy my father used to get for him and my Mom had to end. It was either his or my Mom’s. He decided to continue paying my Mom’s and let his go. This was a huge blow to his ego let alone the feeling that he had let his wife down.
Fast forward a few years later and the nervousness we felt signing up for ACA. My mother only needed ACA for one year. We selected an insurance that had higher monthly premiums but fantastic coverages. When we called to cancel the insurance instead of renewing, the process was seamless and self explanatory. I liked how you had Spanish speaking reps (although my Mom doesn’t like to call for “those things”) and they were knowledgable of what the next step would be for my mom to apply for Medicare.
Since I had helped my mom with her application, she started referring people to me to help them out. My brother who has NEVER had insurance now does ( he’s 40). Several of my cousins, neighbors, etc I have even been able to push people to look into it. They have said, ” I’ve heard Obamacare is really expensive..” I’ve replied,”no, it depends on the policy and insurance company you choose. If you are constantly sick and go to the doctors office a lot, you might want lower co-pays. If you want insurance for those just in case moments and you hardly get sick, you might want a policy that fits you. But you choose what you need and what you could afford. Something is better than nothing. If you haven’t been to the website, don’t take other people’s words until you see for yourself.”
Anyhow, I’m really glad that the court was able to review and stand by it. I wanted to get further information as to why so many people are against it and say it’s costing the country so much money. Is it from the tax credit? Because if this is what they are complaining about, I believe having more people on Medicaid that could potentially be eligible for ACA is saving more money in the long run.
Besides, insurances are still getting business, doctors are still being employed, pharmacy companies are still providing meds. Is it because they are not getting a bigger piece of it?
Thank you for pushing this through! My family are hard workers. We have never asked for any hand outs from any body. My Father worked very hard to support 7 children and we never were on welfare or anything. He always instilled on us To work hard for what we wanted.
This year our business has been picking up a lot! We have been able to double our employees. We see people out shopping for higher priced items and going out more. My parents have been able to take more vacations and visit my sisters in North Carolina and California.
This is a sign of the right direction. Thank you!