Need Help Debunking this on FB ... in all caps, no less ...

[Tuesday Afternoon]

"... -- IF YOU HAVE MADE ANY CHANGES TO YOUR CURRENT HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY SINCE DECEMBER 31, 2009, THEN YOU WILL LOSE YOUR GRANDFATHER STATUS BECAUSE OF SOME BULLSHIT FINE PRINT TECHNICALITY BURIED SOMEWHERE IN THE 12 MILLION PAGES OF THIS ACA. I MADE A CHANGE TO MY DEDUCTIBLE IN 2011 AND WAS NOT INFORMED OF THIS BY BCBS AT THE TIME AND NOW I AM SCREWED.

AS A FORMER HOSPITAL EXECUTIVE, I IMPLORE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO CHECK YOUR DOCUMENTATION AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE NOT GETTING OUTRIGHT LIED TO LIKE I DID. I WAS DELIBERATELY MISLEAD BY BCBS BACK IN 2011, AND I AM SURE THAT OTHER COMPANIES ARE DOING THIS AS WELL.

IN ADDITION, THE MANAGER TO WHOM I WAS SPEAKING ALSO TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE NOT INFORMED OF SAID TECHNICALITY UNTIL THE LAST PART OF THEIR OBAMACARE TRAINING BY UPPER LEVEL EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT LAST MONTH ..."

[Nevernose]

1. Wow. Where to start?

If you already have health insurance, then the ACA doesn't affect you. It wasn't even passed until 2010. It's not retroactive, and it's not twelve million pages long.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. I really do not understand what he is talking about and I could not read it all for the shouting --

however, if anything, it sounds like BCBS is lying to this person ...

[cilla4progress]

18. Not entirely true...

my health insurance is shutting down on 12/31 due to ACA! It will no longer exist, and I am looking at higher premiums and much higher deductibles in the exchange!

[Ikonoklast]

25. Who was paying for your health care before, you directly or indirectly through your employer?

And is you provider abandoning doing business in your market, or did your employer drop coverage?

[cilla4progress]

30. I had an individual policy.

The provider was the state! But is was not for low income individuals. I believe it may have been an experiment in single-payer by the state: offering state-supported (not sure how) insurance to middle and upper income folks, with no regard to income. The plan that is taking its place (also offered by the state) now takes income into account and is higher than many others on the exchange.

[Ikonoklast]

43. How do the other plans on the exchange compare to what you currently have?

[City Lights]

32. Mine is over on 5-1-2014.

If I stay with it until then, my premium for a family of four will go up to $1777/month in November until it expires next May. They said our certificate doesn't comply with the ACA, so it expires in May. They've invited us to reapply or to explore the exchanges.

[cilla4progress]

34. How much is your premium now?

This sucks! I wonder what Pres. Obama and the crafters of his plan would have to say about this? Did they not anticipate some current plans would go away? Why did he always say if you like your insurance you can keep it?

I've written to both my Senators about this. It was kinda funny - when I first tried to email one of them, her site was down due to the shutdown! Later on it was up. She's a Dem and maybe she or a staffer was just pissed enough to close down her site for awhile!

[CreekDog]

35. that you're getting ripped off for inferior, noncompliant coverage

and the new exchanges will offer proper coverage at a better price.

[cilla4progress]

38. Perhaps..

but mine was offered by our STATE. I made my premium checks out to "State Treasurer". I don't know. Could be. Worked very well for my daughter and me for our basic needs.

Of course, I realize all preventive care is "free" now, due to ACA - including expensive colonoscopies, mamos. Much of my care is preventive.

[City Lights]

39. We currently pay about $1450/month.

Our insurance premium has gone up twice a year since we started with them in May of 2010. At that time the premium was about $725/month. It will have gone up over $1000/month come November, and that includes one increase in deductible to reduce the amount of the premium increase.

We were shocked when we got the letter informing us that our policy will expire in May. I'm confused and frustrated right now. Of course, the letter did not say what was not in compliance with the ACA.

[econoclast]

27. Unfortunately, NOT true

Have a small biz. 6 employees. All over 50. Those with kids... the kids are over 21 either in or done with college who already have insurance of their own.

Had health insurance with BCBS for 20+ years.

Would be funny if it wasnt true. Got a letter from blue cross ... Not renewing our policy courtesy of ACA. Why? Our current policy doesnt include maternity care or pediatric dental or pediatric vision and ACA requires that coverage as part of the Essential coverage basket. We insure a bunch of 50 and 60 yr olds!!!! Needing that coverage requires a miracle of biblical proportions!! But there it is.

Our policy won't be renewed. Looking at much higher premiums.

[cilla4progress]

31. I agree this is contributing to increased costs.

Yours doesn't meet criteria of "quality plan" under ACA. Not sure if mine did..it was offered through the state. I think one change is the rehabilitative services; I know I couldn't get PT under my old plan, except in limited circumstances.

Anyway - I'm in the same boat as you. And I see the ridiculousness of your situation - maternity and pediatric services! This is a tweak that definitely needs to happen!

What will you be doing in the meantime? My choices are really limited - I'll probably just go with lowest premium / high deductible Bronze plan. Kind of like catastrophic coverage. I believe my family would top out at $10K out of pocket annually, at least.

Unless my husband gets to join the union and the coverage there is more affordable.

[CreekDog]

36. you're asking to pay a different price than younger women

and sick people.

[2naSalit]

3. What a crock of poo

The opponents will be pulling out all the stops for some time now trying to dissuade everyone they can.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

4. well, I know it is a crock of poo but, I have to explain to this idjit and the other people

in the scroll WHY it is POO. At first I was just going to say that the BCBS rep was flat out lying to the guy. But, I can't just call him a Liar I wanted to prove why I know it is a lie.

[Cerridwen]

5. "IN ADDITION, THE MANAGER TO WHOM I WAS SPEAKING ALSO TOLD ME THAT THEY"

Translation:

"The manager to whom I was speaking was a poor businessman who didn't know to read the fine print even though they had fucked over so many in the past with that very same fine print. I was punked! rather than do the punking!"

The short translation: "I don't know how to think! I'm a lousy manager. I didn't know what to look for. I didn't know to look for the shit I pull on others when it is pulled on me!!!11!!!!!"

Shorter translation: "I'm a liar."

[Tuesday Afternoon]

6. exactly! see my replies above.

[Cerridwen]

10. From my own experience,

and that of George Carlin

“Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.”

― George Carlin

Don't bother with logic and facts. Just appeal to their emotions and ignorance because anything else they'll just stick their fingers in their ears and not hear a bloody word you said.

In short, pick your battles. Been there. Done that. Too tired to order the T-shirt.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

12. *sigh* I stay out of the fray, most days. I know what you mean.

[Cerridwen]

13. :) Ms. Toad has some good information.

For you.

Unfortunately, it doesn't fit in a sound bite or on a bumper sticker. That is, it's not for your target audience. *sigh*

Hang in there and remember to take a break and celebrate...whatever you can think of celebrating.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

16. thanks and yes, I am trying to consider how to work in Ms. Toad's comment..

[LumosMaxima]

7. I found this:

http://healthinsurance.about.com/od/reform/a/Faqs-About-The-Healthcare-Reform-Controversy.htm

Question: I like the health insurance I have now. Will healthcare reform force me to give up my current insurance?

Answer: Probably not. Most existing plans can be grandfathered, exempted from many of the provisions of the ACA, as long as they don't make significant changes to your coverage benefits, premiums, or out-of-pocket costs. If the plan does make significant changes, it will lose grandfathered status and become subject to all of the stipulations of the ACA. So, nothing in the ACA forces you to change your current health insurance. But, that doesn't guarantee that your insurance provider or employer won't make a change that would result in your plan losing its grandfathered status.

I can see how a careless reader who already objects to "Obamacare" could twist this around into what that person wrote on FB. It's about the insurer changing the plan, not the employee.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

9. thank you for this. I will include it in my reply.

[LumosMaxima]

14. YW. I hope it's helpful. nt

[cilla4progress]

19. Or closing down..

as mine is, on 12/31.

[LumosMaxima]

20. Oh, man. Really sorry to hear that. nt

[cilla4progress]

21. I know -

I was planning on staying in it, since PBO has always said if you like your insurance you can keep it! I figured I could only do better than it! I think it must not have been sustainable at the rates they were charging. And since it was somehow tied into the State, they either could or have to shut it down and replace it with something much more expensive! Burns - esp. sincelosing my job and about 1/3 of our family income!

[Ms. Toad]

8. Well, existing policies are grandfathered in for some things

And when you are issued a new policy, you lose whatever grandfathered "privileged" you had.

For example, when the free preventative care coverage came in, it rolled in based on your first new policy after a certain date. Our preventative care wasn't free until after November of whatever year it rolled in - since that was when our policy was re-issued.

But most of the provisions that may not take effect because of grandfathering are beneficial for the customer (like the preventative care, the ban on pre-existing conditions, etc.).

But there is not enough information to determine what it is the FB buddy is worried about, or about what kind of plan he has, to be able to debunk it.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

11. oh dear, there is more to the post ... ugh. I guess I should read the whole thing.

[Warpy]

15. He's hitting the panic button because he might lose his hefty bonus.

"Hospital president" said it all. I'm surprised, really, since most hospitals now have CEOs instead of presidents, but taking this loon at face value, he's afraid for his wallet.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

17. I wondered about that, too. That is why I included that portion of the text. and to keep it real:

he actually calls himself: ...A FORMER HOSPITAL EXECUTIVE ...

[Ms. Toad]

22. That doesn't make much sense -

Premiums for health insurance have been going up dramatically and unpredictably in recent years, so I can't imagine as a purchaser of health insurance that there would be any significant cost difference between a grandfathered plan and one which complies with the ACA. And, in any event, many of the changes would already have been imposed when he "renewed" the plan with changed the deductible (like, for example, the mandatory preventative care provisions), so I can't imagine he's just seeing this now.

[JHB]

23. One would think a FORMER HOSPITAL EXECUTIVE would know how to...

...present himself in correspondence. Did he send this by telegram?

[llmart]

24. Also.....

one would think a FORMER HOSPITAL EXECUTIVE could at least use the correct spelling/grammar by using the word "misled" not "mislead"

[Ikonoklast]

26. TO:JHB SENDER:FORMER HOSPITAL EXECUTIVE

177699(886A)GGFJ 10/02/2013 0090EST
JHB PLEASE BE AWARE THAT AS A FORMER HOSPITAL EXECUTIVE I AM PRIVY TO MANY SECRETS NOT KNOWN TO REGULAR PEOPLE STOP I AM NOT A RIGHT-WING DOUCHEBAG SITTING AT A COMPUTER IN HIS MOTHER'S BASEMENT WEARING URINE-STAINED UNDERWEAR MAKING STUFF UP ABOUT COMMIE OBAMACARE AND POSTING IT TO FACEBOOK STOP I KNOW THINGS LIKE THIS ONLY A FORMER HOSPITAL EXECUTIVE WOULD KNOW STOP SO STOP STOP

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

29. STOP!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

41. oh lord!! first laugh I have had about this, thanks

that is too funny

[Tuesday Afternoon]

40. this was a post on Facebook by an acquaintance of mine.

[Heidi]

28. Here you go: "Please cite the 'fine print technicality' on which you base your assertion."

You cannot be expected to refute fuzzy claims based on anecdotes and emotional assertions. If that person is really a former hospital executive, and if s/he truly spoke to a manager, and if s/he were truly interested in spreading something other than lies, s/he should be able to back up those claims with citations.

Also, the ACA is nowhere near "12 MILLION PAGES" long. See: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/how-many-pages-of-regulations-for-obamacare/2013/05/14/61eec914-bcf9-11e2-9b09-1638acc3942e_blog.html

[Tuesday Afternoon]

42. Thanks, Heidi

[we can do it]

33. Typical Bullshit gibberish from an overpaid simpleton (or someone posing as one)

[LaydeeBug]

37. The person spreading this is either lying or stupid

My response would be brief:

Get the facts so you won't fall this kind of bullshit: https://www.healthcare.gov

[gejohnston]

44. If people have been "sharing it" you can probably trace it back to

who started it. I'm guessing it will be a fake account by a PR firm from an insurance company.

[Sanddog42]

45. A closer look at a Facebook post on a man's struggle with the Obamacare marketplace

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2013/oct/04/facebook-posts/closer-look-facebook-post-mans-struggle-obamacare-/