Health exchange feedback

[cilla4progress]

What are y'all finding? I live in rural central Washington. My costs and deductibles are going way up. I guess I had a good deal - Washington Health Program in Comm. Health Plan of WA. I guess it was state-funded or supported, and my rates didn't take my income into account. That program is going away under ACA, and its substitute WILL count income, so my rates are going way up. The deductibles are really high on the exchange too.

Bummer is I lost my job last month!

[brush]

1. Pls explain further

I've watched many, many news reports and everyone is saying their rates are going down dramatically.

One person on interviewed on MSNBC said that her rates when from $600 a month to $75. Are you sure about that? People that are not working and therefore don't have insurance from their job are the targeted audience of the ACA because it makes having insurance affordable.

[cilla4progress]

2. Thanks - cross-posted in politics 2013.

I received the navigator training - I was all pumped to volunteer and advocate for this. I assumed (believed) I was going to be able to keep my insurance, as Pres. Obama had promised - "if you like your insurance you can keep it." Well, my insurance is going away as of the end of 2013!

I have been on an individual policy under the Community Health Plan of Washington / Washington Health Program. It was available to anyone, regardless of income (in fact, only middle and higher income could access; it was NOT a low income program, as our family was at the time over 400% of federal poverty level - a universal criteria). I made my premium payment checks out to the Washington State Treasurer, so it was run, on some level, by the State. I didn't realize it was apparently a hell of a deal - so much so, I guess, it was not sustainable! Now, with ACA, they are setting the rates based on income.

So, running the numbers (using wahealthplanfinder.org calculator) my premium is doubling, and my deductible is going up from $500 to $10,000 for my daughter and me!

I've emailed Sen. Murray and Cantwell. I think our representatives need to know that some of us have fallen through the cracks!

[Wounded Bear]

3. That just sounds wrong...

If you lost your job, shouldn't you be eligible for subsidies?

[eridani]

4. It would seem so--this would come under Medicaid expansion n/t

[cilla4progress]

8. No - hubby's income too high

We are at about 400% of FPL. That's considered wealthy! Subsidies only go up to 400%.

These are the latest figures...haven't been able to get back on my state exchange to see anything new.

[pnwmom]

6. Your program unfortunately went away because of the great recession

and the state's subsequent efforts to hack away at its budget. The timing makes it appear that this was caused by the ACA, but it's not.

[Alkene]

5. Haven't been able to get into Washington Healthplanfinder website.

It's either been completely unavailable, or poops out part way into application. I'll keep trying; I have a few months, after all.

[pnwmom]

7. Me,neither. I just read somewhere that Washington is among a handful

of states that's having problems with its website.

I wonder if hackers are attacking it.

[cilla4progress]

9. Me too.

Thanks.

[uppityperson]

10. Website is having tech issues, phone call said that too. My catastrophic is doubling but exchange

gives me many more options.

I just did the sign up thing to get "error D, please call us" at the end. The message at the call number said no one can complete the sign up, they are aware of the problem and trying to fix it.

I got a notice that my catastrophic insurance, Lifewise with $10,000 deductible, was going away, not going to be available. (That insurance went from $200/month to $550 in a couple years also.) The one that would match closest (as if) would run us not $550/month like now but around a thousand. However, the info I've seen gives us other options, including loving WA being an expanded Medicaid state.

Having the insurance we have had meant we would not lose our house if something happened, but did nothing for us as far as normal health care costs. Basically unusable in the day to day world. I had minor surgery and worked with the doctor, med center, anaesthesiologist, etc, to pay 3/4 of what they billed. I am so looking forward to the first of the year as we should get on medicaid and then I can continue to pay off the insurance bill I ran up the last couple years. And be able to have better access to health care.

[uppityperson]

11. The site went fast today and omg. I will have health insurance next yr I can use.

No more $10,000 deductible catastrophic for us.

[cilla4progress]

12. I got on today -

successfully set up my account. But after I exited and tried to go back in - found it wasn't created or accessible!

Probably just a timing thing; trying again later.

So far, numbers are still the same...dismal for me. I haven't seen anything about a subsidy yet, but I'm thinking that may be in the next step..

At least the Seahawks are a bright spot!!!!!!!!!!!!

[uppityperson]

13. If you lost your job, are unemployed, you should call or chat to find out what to do since

your predicted income will be different. Something will work out, hopefully. I am sure there are lots of people using the site, give it another week and it should settle down until mid-Dec when end of the year panic sign ups start.

[cilla4progress]

14. I agree!

Thanks, up!