The ACA is a good first step

[Harmony Blue]

but I did some number crunching and it isn't a good fit for me personally. I am glad that more options exist now and if I choose to change my mind in the near future it will be there. But based on my past experiences with health insurance and major illnesses/surgeries I have had to endure it doesn't add up. My experiences dealing with my father battling stage four cancer and making various phone calls about deductibles, doctor visit costs, chemo costs, charities, payment plans, etc enlightened me to realize that having health insurance is pretty much a personal choice in regards to the time vs money paradigm.

I have acquired knowledge about non profit hospitals, payment plans, charities, negotiating to lower payments, consolidating debt for easier single payment plan, etc and because of this I am armed with knowledge that most average people are not. Thus, for those that don't have the time to go through all that and would prefer to use that time in other endeavors insurance is practical and makes financial sense. My younger brother has a good health insurance plan through Walgreens as the deductible is a lot lower than what most people have been saying they can find through the ACA webstie, but it requires two criteria to be satisfied: 1. Work for Walgreens for a year & 2. Pass a wellness test. Most people can find a job that pays better in the long run IMO.

[Gravitycollapse]

1. I'm not going to lie, that sounds like a really, exceptionally bad idea.

But you possess the right to make that bad decision. Just don't think you're going to magically be able to cover catastrophic medical bills with non-profits because that is a pipe dream.

[one_voice]

2. The ACA is a good first step...

I agree. I think we should still work for single payer/universal healthcare.

I believe decent healthcare should be a right.

Good luck with your decision.

[NYC_SKP]

3. The ACA if vastly better than to have lost fighting for single payer and gotten absolutely nothing.

And, contrary to what some people seem to believe, plans prior to ACA did NOT cover meds at any cost, there have always been limitations and even under a single payer program I doubt that any medication at any price would be covered.

I don't know if your plan to avoid paying for premiums will work for you, but I suppose if you live near enough providers and you have a lot of luck in life and in your health, you may get by.

I prefer to pay into the system, as I do with auto insurance, so that I can be certain I don't cost other people money indirectly.

It only seems fair, but I appreciate others' Points of View.

[Ms. Toad]

4. A wellness test cannot be a precondition to health insurance.

Ya know - that whole pre-existing condition thing.