Does the affordable care act change anything for us?

[Jean24]

I'm wondering if the affordable care act/Obamacare expands coverage for us as transsexuals or do we still have to pay for everything out of pocket. Just saying since everybody is being forced to buy it, it would be nice if it covered all medical expenses to some degree.

[Terri]

If you consider funding for cultural competency training a win you are in luck, because that's all that's really there other than eligibility for medicare (and that's only because so many trans people fall below the poverty level).  Maybe next time...

[tgchar21]

I've said this before, but you are not actually *forced* to buy health insurance (you do have to pay more in taxes if you don't have qualifying coverage or an exemption, which is the "penalty" that people are talking about). That distinction is what saved the law in the eyes of the SCOTUS (otherwise the other ways the tax code is used to encourage people to buy certain things would then be of questionable constitutionality).

[Kate G]

It makes life more expensive is my guess.

[Terri]

I wasn't talking about being forced to buy healthcare, just responding to what the law provides for regarding trans people. Just doing my best to answer the question.  It's not a matter of cost/expense/or fundamentally right or wrong.  What I've shared is simply a matter of fact.

Xoxo,
Teri

[TerriT]

It's 10,000 pages and nobody knows anything about it except it's going to cost you and everyone else a lot more and if you have insurance now, you stand a good chance to lose it at some point in the near future.

[RavenMoon]

It's 10,000 pages and nobody knows anything about it except it's going to cost you and everyone else a lot more and if you have insurance now, you stand a good chance to lose it at some point in the near future.

That's not the point. What if you don't have insurance? I haven't had insurance since 2005. I'm self employed/freelance. If I wanted to pay for my own insurance, it's... are you ready for this? $800+ a month. If I even had that extra money, I'd rather put it in the bank in case I needed it for a doctor. I have not been to a doctor for a checkup since I was 48. I'll be 56 in November.

Think of the money your job takes out of your pay for insurance. Chances are you will never see that money again. It mostly benefits the insurance companies. And half the time they wont cover things when you need it. That would kill their profits. My ex wife has serious asthma, and was also on meds for bi-polar disorder. Her job at the time changed insurance companies, because the rates kept going up while coverage was going down, and the new insurance company told her she had to wait 60 days because she had a pre-existing condition! She had to beg her doctor for enough samples to get her by. Without the asthma meds she could have died. Did they care?

So see how broken the current system is? Of course you might have a pre existing condition... And God forbid you need it for SRS or something. All that money you pay them, and you get nothing back.

What they were trying to do, was to not have it necessary to have insurance. Go to Canada or many parts of Europe and see how much better it is. My ex used to live in Spain. She could walk into a pharmacy and get an asthma inhaler for about $20 with no insurance. Try to get one here out of pocket, and it's about $120!

What the Affordable Care Act is going to do is make available a pool of insurance companies, so you can get insured for under $100/mo. As compared to $800. Nothing is going to be more expensive unless the insurance companies try to pull a fast one. And unfortunately the GOP is allowing them to do that.

Currently we are slaves to the insurance and big pharmaceutical companies. It's not about your health, it's about their profits.

Watch the documentary Sicko for a dose of reality.

[r.blaine.85]

It makes life more expensive is my guess.

Indeed.. I work for a non profit organization and we are being forced to sign up October 1st. One of my coworkers who lives paycheck to paycheck like so many of us do and he said he will have to get a second job just to make rent after this takes effect.

[TerriT]

That's not the point. What if you don't have insurance? I haven't had insurance since 2005. I'm self employed/freelance. If I wanted to pay for my own insurance, it's... are you ready for this? $800+ a month. If I even had that extra money, I'd rather put it in the bank in case I needed it for a doctor. I have not been to a doctor for a checkup since I was 48. I'll be 56 in November.

I do not really care what the point is. I only care about the reality. Insurance through the exchanges for somebody your age is going to be between 400-800 a month, if you don't smoke, depending on where you live. I referenced that number out of Iowa. Congrats.

Think of the money your job takes out of your pay for insurance. Chances are you will never see that money again. It mostly benefits the insurance companies.

The insurance my company pays for does not come out of my check. If we lose our coverage, I'm not going to get that money back in the form of some other compensation. I do pay for a portion of it directly, but I'm ok with that. I pay for social security also, which is something else I'll never see again. It's called insurance for a reason. It's not called health care investment. Except when I did used to have an awesome health care savings account, until it was banned. Thanks for that.

And half the time they wont cover things when you need it. That would kill their profits. My ex wife has serious asthma, and was also on meds for bi-polar disorder. Her job at the time changed insurance companies, because the rates kept going up while coverage was going down, and the new insurance company told her she had to wait 60 days because she had a pre-existing condition! She had to beg her doctor for enough samples to get her by. Without the asthma meds she could have died. Did they care?

And now she's going to beg some bureaucrat in some distant cubicle hiding behind a mountain of paperwork or go in front of a "death panel." At least under the old system she could get samples. You seem to think that you're going to get this unlimited free supply of all your needs. You're mistaken. Obama already said people are going to have to skip that next surgery and just take a pain pill. It's called the complete-lives system. Enjoy.

So see how broken the current system is? Of course you might have a pre existing condition... And God forbid you need it for SRS or something. All that money you pay them, and you get nothing back.

I don't go over to any other insurance company and say "hey, my house never burned down and I paid for it so where's my money." That's not broken, that's insurance. There are lots of ways around it. The most obvious is to pay for your own healthcare with cash. I used to. Don't remember ever feeling like I was owed something.

What they were trying to do, was to not have it necessary to have insurance.

What they are actually doing is forcing you to buy it. Do you not understand that you, your ex-wife, and every other person in the nation will be forced to pay for it now. Well, you can always pay the fine, I mean, "tax" instead. But it goes up every year.

Go to Canada or many parts of Europe and see how much better it is. My ex used to live in Spain. She could walk into a pharmacy and get an asthma inhaler for about $20 with no insurance. Try to get one here out of pocket, and it's about $120!

I went to the emergency room once when I didn't have insurance. I got a bill for $2,400. I paid for it. Because it was important to me to be alive. I'm sick of hearing people complain about having to pay to keep themselves alive. I would sell everything I owned if it would save my fiancés life. It seems like an easy decision to me, but you expect massive highly trained hospital staff, surgeons, researchers, equipment and all the rest to bow down and give you whatever you want for free.

What the Affordable Care Act is going to do is make available a pool of insurance companies, so you can get insured for under $100/mo. As compared to $800. Nothing is going to be more expensive unless the insurance companies try to pull a fast one. And unfortunately the GOP is allowing them to do that.

Obamacare is going to dismantle the evil insurance companies and skyrocket rates so people will go running back to the government begging to have them take care of your life from cradle to grave with a single-payer system. BTW, this entire thing was created by democrats and passed by democrats, and you're going to blame the GOP??

Currently we are slaves to the insurance and big pharmaceutical companies. It's not about your health, it's about their profits.

Now you're a slave to the government. It's not about your health, it's about their power.

Watch the documentary Sicko for a dose of reality.

And you finish with the fictional Michael Moore movie. I feel like I wasted my time. Please learn about the:

spouses of employees being dropped from coverage.

Or part timers losing coverage.

Or people having their hours cut to part time levels.

Or listen to 58 seconds of Dr Drew laying it out.

[Jamie D]

Let's not make it personal folks.  "Just the facts, ma'am."

[Ltl89]

I do not really care what the point is. I only care about the reality. Insurance through the exchanges for somebody your age is going to be between 400-800 a month, if you don't smoke, depending on where you live. I referenced that number out of Iowa. Congrats.

The insurance my company pays for does not come out of my check. If we lose our coverage, I'm not going to get that money back in the form of some other compensation. I do pay for a portion of it directly, but I'm ok with that. I pay for social security also, which is something else I'll never see again. It's called insurance for a reason. It's not called health care investment. Except when I did used to have an awesome health care savings account, until it was banned. Thanks for that.

And now she's going to beg some bureaucrat in some distant cubicle hiding behind a mountain of paperwork or go in front of a "death panel." At least under the old system she could get samples. You seem to think that you're going to get this unlimited free supply of all your needs. You're mistaken. Obama already said people are going to have to skip that next surgery and just take a pain pill. It's called the complete-lives system. Enjoy.

I don't go over to any other insurance company and say "hey ->-bleeped-<-s, my house never burned down and I paid for it so where's my money." That's not broken, that's insurance. There are lots of ways around it. The most obvious is to pay for your own healthcare with cash. I used to. Don't remember ever feeling like I was owed something.

What they are actually doing is forcing you to buy it. Do you not understand that you, your ex-wife, and every other person in the nation will be forced to pay for it now. Well, you can always pay the fine, I mean, "tax" instead. But it goes up every year.



I went to the emergency room once when I didn't have insurance. I got a bill for $2,400. I paid for it. Because it was important to me to be alive. I'm sick of hearing people complain about having to pay to keep their dumb ass alive. I would sell everything I owned if it would save my fiancés life. It seems like an easy decision to me, but you expect massive highly trained hospital staff, surgeons, researchers, equipment and all the rest to bow down and give you whatever you want for free.

Obamacare is going to dismantle the evil insurance companies and skyrocket rates so small minded weak people like you will go running back to the government begging to have them take care of your small miserable life from cradle to grave with a single-payer system. BTW, this entire thing was created by democrats and passed by democrats, and you're going to blame the GOP??

Now you're a slave to the government. It's not about your health, it's about their power.

And you finish with the fictional Michael Moore movie. I feel like I wasted my time arguing with you. Please learn about the:

spouses of employees being dropped from coverage.

Or part timers losing coverage.

Or people having their hours cut to part time levels.

Or listen to 58 seconds of Dr Drew laying it out.

I refuse to get into debates with people who make things personal and attack others by making assumptions about their lifestyle.  You're welcome to criticize the legislation if you feel it is not wise policy.  What you shouldn't do is make personal attacks against people on this site because of your political beliefs.  There are many different sides to the healthcare issue and not everything is clear cut.  Having a debate about these things is fine and healthy.  Painting everyone on the other side isn't healthy or constructive in any way.  I think you owe an apology to Ravenmoon.  Not for your political views, but the fact that you call her weak minded and insinuate that people down on their luck are all leeches.  That isn't right.  I hope you will do the right thing.

[Tessa James]

It's 10,000 pages and nobody knows anything about it except it's going to cost you and everyone else a lot more and if you have insurance now, you stand a good chance to lose it at some point in the near future.

Well Tiffany this is a currently a big political issue and many of us do know something about it.  I am working to promote Cover Oregon that will allow people to share in a market place or health care exchange.  http://www.coveroregon.com/   Each State has the opportunity to be innovative or opt out but then the money goes elsewhere.  People can use the web sites to get more info or calculate their costs.

There is currently a lot of money being spent to demonize President Obama and the Affordable Care Act and the House has voted over 40 times to repeal or defund it.  What has that accomplished so far?  The USA spends more of our GDP on health care than any other industrialized nation but we do not have the best outcomes as a result.  We have millions of people with very limited to no access to health care with children and the unemployed at the most risk.  Many trans people are in that boat with no job and no insurance.  The ACA is not perfect but it is the law and the politicians who threaten to shut down the government unless they get their way seem to forget they lost the last big election and how to improve laws by compromise and parliamentary deliberations.

My answer to the posted question is that it depends on the State you live in and your personal income and several other factors.  Here is one web site with info; https://www.healthcare.gov/

But please folks, political rhetoric and opinions are not facts no matter how deeply you feel

[abbyt89]

Well Tiffany this is a currently a big political issue and many of us do know something about it.  I am working to promote Cover Oregon that will allow people to share in a market place or health care exchange.  http://www.coveroregon.com/   Each State has the opportunity to be innovative or opt out but then the money goes elsewhere.  People can use the web sites to get more info or calculate their costs.

There is currently a lot of money being spent to demonize President Obama and the Affordable Care Act and the House has voted over 40 times to repeal or defund it.  What has that accomplished so far?  The USA spends more of our GDP on health care than any other industrialized nation but we do not have the best outcomes as a result.  We have millions of people with very limited to no access to health care with children and the unemployed at the most risk.  Many trans people are in that boat with no job and no insurance.  The ACA is not perfect but it is the law and the politicians who threaten to shut down the government unless they get their way seem to forget they lost the last big election and how to improve laws by compromise and parliamentary deliberations.

My answer to the posted question is that it depends on the State you live in and your personal income and several other factors.  Here is one web site with info; https://www.healthcare.gov/

But please folks, political rhetoric and opinions are not facts no matter how deeply you feel

Very well said Tessa. It is a shame how much misinformation there is about the Affordable Care Act and the scare tactics employed by those who are against it.

The fact of the matter is our healthcare system is incredibly inefficient. Other first world countries with universal health care spend less money and have better outcomes than we do.

For those of us that have been privileged enough to have had coverage for our entire lives, our system may not seem that bad the way it is. But for the millions of uninsured and underinsured the affordable care act is a step in the right direction.

As far as trans-specific issues, the major thing for us is that insurance companies would no longer be able to deny us coverage due to being trans as a pre-existing condition. I think that's a pretty big deal in itself.

Obamacare is far from perfect, but that's coming from somebody who believes that healthcare should be a human right, especially living in the wealthiest nation on earth. It saddens me how many people die each year in this country due to our healthcare system, it's tragic.

[TerriT]

I refuse to get into debates with people who make things personal and attack others by making assumptions about their lifestyle.  You're welcome to criticize the legislation if you feel it is not wise policy.  What you shouldn't do is make personal attacks against people on this site because of your political beliefs.  There are many different sides to the healthcare issue and not everything is clear cut.  Having a debate about these things is fine and healthy.  Painting everyone on the other side isn't healthy or constructive in any way.  I think you owe an apology to Ravenmoon.  Not for your political views, but the fact that you call her weak minded and insinuate that people down on their luck are all leeches.  That isn't right.  I hope you will do the right thing.

I'm glad you don't think I should apologize for my political views. I criticized the legislation and I had a very snarky and immature post directed at me with broad paintings and personal attacks. I responded. I was modded. I'm fine with that. I can accept the consequences of my actions.

[TerriT]

Well Tiffany this is a currently a big political issue and many of us do know something about it.  I am working to promote Cover Oregon that will allow people to share in a market place or health care exchange.  http://www.coveroregon.com/   Each State has the opportunity to be innovative or opt out but then the money goes elsewhere.  People can use the web sites to get more info or calculate their costs.

[political rhetoric]There is currently a lot of money being spent to demonize President Obama and the Affordable Care Act and the House has voted over 40 times to repeal or defund it.  What has that accomplished so far?  The USA spends more of our GDP on health care than any other industrialized nation but we do not have the best outcomes as a result.  We have millions of people with very limited to no access to health care with children and the unemployed at the most risk.  Many trans people are in that boat with no job and no insurance.  The ACA is not perfect but it is the law and the politicians who threaten to shut down the government unless they get their way seem to forget they lost the last big election and how to improve laws by compromise and parliamentary deliberations.[/political rhetoric]

My answer to the posted question is that it depends on the State you live in and your personal income and several other factors.  Here is one web site with info; https://www.healthcare.gov/

But please folks, political rhetoric and opinions are not facts no matter how deeply you feel

Somebody who is actually working for this debacle posts a bunch of political rhetoric and then says it's not fact, then posts a link to the freaking gov website. I particularly loved "The ACA is not perfect but it is the law..." just like "DOMA is not perfect but it is the law..." or "Slavery is not perfect but it is the law..." or "Illegal Immigration is not perfect but it is the law..."

We change laws all the time. Sorry if I have to point that out.

Oh, and the call center in my home town just converted half it's workers to part time and won't be getting insurance. A lot of them actually left their jobs that had coverage to take this new one. Seriously, I'm not kidding

[TerriT]

Obamacare is far from perfect, but that's coming from somebody who believes that healthcare should be a human right, especially living in the wealthiest nation on earth. It saddens me how many people die each year in this country due to our healthcare system, it's tragic.

Look, I'm sure everyone hates me by now so I'll just address this one point.

If you believe healthcare is a human right, then it requires somebody else to administer it. You're "right" to healthcare comes at somebody else's expense. It means a doctor who studies and works and becomes a great physician is now bound to service your needs. No right can come from forced service of anyone else. Doctors are not your servants and if you create a system whereby the doctors are forced to become your servants, then you will see a drastic decline in both the number of doctors and their expertise. On top of that you have all the care and comfort of dealing with the IRS and the DMV.

[Ltl89]

I'm glad you don't think I should apologize for my political views. I criticized the legislation and I had a very snarky and immature post directed at me with broad paintings and personal attacks. I responded. I was modded. I'm fine with that. I can accept the consequences of my actions.

Tiffany,

No one hates you and no one wants consequences for your actions.  Ravenmoon didn't call you names even though she passionately disagreed.  You are free to passionately disagree as well.  I would only suggest you don't call people weak minded and make negative assumptions on their lifestyle.  And I still hope you apologize for that because this is a support site.  I disagree with you, but I wouldn't call you or anyone else names or disrespect you for your views.  People have different beliefs and values.  That isn't a refection on their intelligence.  There are plenty of smart conservatives and liberals.  The more we can respect and work with one another the more we can get good done in this world.  The fact of the matter is there are a broad range of effects on any given piece of legislation.  Nothing in this world is ever as black and white as we may view it.  That's all.

[abbyt89]

Look, I'm sure everyone hates me by now so I'll just address this one point.

If you believe healthcare is a human right, then it requires somebody else to administer it. You're "right" to healthcare comes at somebody else's expense. It means a doctor who studies and works and becomes a great physician is now bound to service your needs. No right can come from forced service of anyone else. Doctors are not your servants and if you create a system whereby the doctors are forced to become your servants, then you will see a drastic decline in both the number of doctors and their expertise. On top of that you have all the care and comfort of dealing with the IRS and the DMV.

I don't think you'll find that any of the well-trained and well-compensated doctors in countries with UHC consider themselves to be "servants" forced to do what they are doing. Rather they are doing what they chose to pursue and also are following the Hippocratic Oath they swore upon when becoming a physician.

And yes, with UHC there would be greater demand on the healthcare system - and for this I will again point to the fact that those countries with UHC have better healthcare outcomes than we do, and they cost the government less! And if some waiting times for non-severe medical procedures or appointments are the cost of UHC, I would be more than willing to pay that to make sure the poor and everyone else who needs healthcare gets it, I'm okay with that. I am lucky enough to have never have had to worry about paying for healthcare since I grew up in a wealthy family so even the inadequacies of our insurance system never affected us. But I am in the minority and there are so many people out there who suffer needlessly due to our current system.


Edit: Not to say that systems like the NHS are perfect, far from it (especially in regards to trans healthcare and the issues with that, but at least they recognize it and cover it). But they are much better than what we have in the U.S. when you look at the overall healthcare provided to their citizens. Whereas we have people who don't have the ability to do standard things like check-ups and other preventive medicine that leads to costly ER visits (that, guess what, you and I ALREADY pay for in the form of higher premiums since the poor aren't able to pay the exorbitant bills) and unnecessary deaths.

Edit2: As for the call center story, that is very unfortunate but that is not the fault of the ACA, that is the fault of ->-bleeped-<-ty business managers that would rather cut people's hours than provide them with healthcare. The good news is the call center employees likely make little enough to qualify for all of the subsidies provided by the state and federal government and will be able to get free or very cheap insurance coverage through the state-run healthcare exchanges that go into effect next year.

[Ltl89]

Somebody who is actually working for this debacle posts a bunch of political rhetoric and then says it's not fact, then posts a link to the freaking gov website. I particularly loved "The ACA is not perfect but it is the law..." just like "DOMA is not perfect but it is the law..." or "Slavery is not perfect but it is the law..." or "Illegal Immigration is not perfect but it is the law..."

We change laws all the time. Sorry if I have to point that out.

Oh, and the call center in my home town just converted half it's workers to part time and won't be getting insurance. A lot of them actually left their jobs that had coverage to take this new one. Seriously, I'm not kidding

I think you missed Tessa's point.  She's not saying you can't change the law.  She's suggesting that the House Republicans may not be using their time wisely because it will never pass the current senate.  That's her opinion which many, myself included, share.  If they want the Affordable Care Act overturned, they can do so, but they will probably need a majority in both houses.  Even the most hardcore Republicans are aware of this.  At the moment, it's sadly a ploy for both parties to make an issue for the midterm elections and get more funding.  Believe me, I have seen enough emails from both sides using this as a method to get donations. 

There is no need for anyone to be upset with everyone who has a different opinion.  Seriously, let's all respect one another even if we disagree.  Politics shouldn't lead to us disliking each other.  I have many conservative friends on this site that I am glad to have met. 

[Ltl89]

Everyone,

May I make a suggestion?  We have a politics board to debate political issues.  Personally, I feel the debate is better left there.  I think the op's question is quite different then where the conversation is leading and think we aren't serving this thread well with infighting. 

Secondly, if the conversation gets moved to politics, may we all respect one another.  Debates are fine, but there is no need for us to get angry or take shots at each other. I was a political science major in college and have done enough work on political campaigns to have met really awesome people from diverse backgrounds.  Some of my greatest professors were hardcore conservatives and liberals.  It's not something that should divide us and create personal animosity towards one another.  We are all Americans and even if we disagree we can get a lot done by working together.