Found out today how really bad my new Health Insurance Policy is

[SouthernLiberal]

I'd looked at their website, and I could find no information about the plan I just bought into. So I spent hours on the phone instead. This afternoon, eventually I got forwarded to someone who gave me the bad news. Although I picked the only available plan that included my doctors. Now, I have found out that they are not exactly covered. Before the insurer will pay a dime, I have to meet a $6000 deductible. I could choose different doctors, they told me, and then my primary doctor would be covered from day 1 (except for a $10 co-pay). Of course, if I need to see a specialist more than twice, even if I select from their preferred list, I have to meet a $3000 deductible before they will cover any additional visits.

I do have Rheumatoid Disease, so yeah, I need to see a specialist several times a year.

Then, I looked for a rheumatologist on the preferred list. And oh joy, just one practice. The head doctor at that practice is the same one who was running the place when I went there. I have never been treated so badly at a doctor's office. No one, including the doctors, showed a shred of respect for the patients.

So, all things considered, I'm just going to have pay the $6000. That's in addition to $541 a month in premium.

And this, folks, is a 'silver' plan! But, it is here in SC, where our governor refused to set up a state exchange.

[Chan790]

1. Technically, you have 90 days from the initiation to cancel in most jurisdictions.

It might be time to shop for a different plan even if it means a different doctor or one where the out of network deductible is smaller so you can keep your doctor.

[Atman]

2. You have lots of "wants," but what you NEED is health care.

I do feel your pain, seriously. But why on earth would you choose to spend the $6000 oop instead of just seeing a different doctor? Yeah, yeah, he's seen you naked, you have a relationship, I get all that...but you're talking about a lot of money. You obviously love your current doctor enough to pay $6000 oop to see him/her. That is your choice. But you have an ailment that needs to be treated, and you could be treating it for far less money if you'd approach it with an open mind instead of pure emotion.

[okieinpain]

3. agree. left a job, switched to my wife's insurance

New insurance did not include old doc in its list. New doc is not that bad, so sometimes change isn't all bad.

[SouthernLiberal]

5. It's not just not wanting to change

The problem is that there are exactly two Rheumatology offices near here. I have been to both. One is rude to patients, looks for reasons not to treat them, and does not see why waiting six hours for an 8am appointment is a problem.

The other is an office where both staff and doctors are unfailing polite. They listen to patients and work with them to get the best possible results from treatment.

Guess which one is (almost) fully covered by my new plan...

And even then, they only cover two specialist visits each year. I'm almost 60 years old, and am managing several chronic illnesses.

[Atman]

6. I fully realize what you're saying...but you need health care.

It is being provided for you. There are health care advocates with whom you can discuss the poor service you are receiving. Be pro-active. Fight it. But it is your choice to pay the much higher rates just because you don't like the other guy. You are getting treatment for your ills. It may not make you feel warm and fuzzy, but you're getting treated. Yes, it sucks. It should be better. But it won't get better if we just keep bending over and accepting the crap they're selling us. Get your treatments, get healthy...and fight back.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

4. Sorry to read that

That sounds like not really being insured. This country needs a uniform dependable healthcare system for all.

[progressoid]

8. Our silver plan isn't much better,

and we (iowa) are in the exchange. My wife needs steroid shots in her spine. By the time deductible and copays and premiums are paid, we're looking over 10K a year too. Which is kind of difficult since I'm still paying off 2013 bills.

[latebloomer]

9. All the plans on the NJ exchange suck royally

Large deductibles, high co-insurance. The good news is that,being self-employed and under a certain income level. I am saving about half of what I paid for my former astronomically priced crappy plan.

This is a huge giveaway to the insurance companies. The cost for this crappy plan is $2200 monthly for my family of four, of which the government is paying more than half.