Would we be better off with ACA repeal with no replace?

[MontanaMama]

10. Respectully, NO.

Repeal takes away pre-existing condition protections, lifetime caps return and insurance companies can charge astronomical premiums and deductibles for whatever the hell they want and/or deny coverage for no reason.

As a self employed family of 3, I've had to buy insurance on the individual market for 27 years. Shark infested waters to be sure. I've never been eligible for subsidies but the ACA protections are so important. Before the ACA, the deductible for anything orthopedically related for my husband was $21,000....because he'd had a previous hand surgery that we paid for out of pocket! Our regular per person deductible was $10,000 per person. I had to refinance my house twice to pay out of pocket costs for a tumor to be removed from my 8 year old son's head and have his left ear reconstructed. $35,000 one year and $30,000 the next because the reconstruction of his ear failed.

Self employed, self insured people do not get the same insurance choices on the open market as folks who get their insurance from their employers. Choices also differ widely from state to state. FYI - I was an insurance biller for a private medical practice for 22 years (no insurance provided at my job and my spouse is a small business owner). This is my wheelhouse. Our premiums went up before the ACA and they went up afterwards too, but again, the protections are vital and we should not let them go. My premium for our family of 3 is $1322 per month for a bronze plan with a $6000 per person deductible. The silver plan was $1602 and the gold plan is $2100 per month. There are only two companies in Montana offering plans on the individual market and the other company's plans cost more than the rates I cited.

Don't even get me going on this. I could write for hours. It IS my hot button. I'm pissed as hell about all of this.