I understand the topic will not interest many people.  In fairness, the board is described on the main page as,

The forum is intended for political discussion of legislation, laws and issues which affect the entire gender spectrum.

In the United States, the ACA legislation has the potential of negatively affecting 10's of millions of people.  And, by our specific exclusion from the law, it also negatively affects us.

Quote from: Jamie D on December 25, 2013, 10:36:50 PM
Tommy Douglas = "father of the Canadian single payer system"

On the flip side:

For instance, when Robert Bouressa, the Premier of Quebec, had to have his potentially lethal skin cancer treated, he quickly beat a path to the United States and paid for treatment at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. Source: Nancy Wood, "Missing, But Not Forgotten," McLean's (December 10, 1990): 14.

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams will be sidelined from three to 12 weeks because of heart surgery he'll undergo at an undisclosed location in the United States, acting premier Kathy Dunderdale says....

"Having the surgery done in the province was never an option that was offered to him," Dunderdale said.

"Ultimately, we have to be the gatekeepers of our own health, and he has taken medical advice from a number of different sources," she said. "Based on all of the medical advice that he's received, he is doing what is best for him, to do everything he can to ensure that he can have the best outcome from the surgery and that he can be back on his feet and back here doing his job as quickly as possible."  Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/heart-surgery-to-sideline-n-l-premier-for-weeks-1.869535

OTTAWA–Belinda Stronach, the MP for Newmarket-Aurora and former cabinet minister, travelled outside Canada's health-care system to California for some of her breast cancer treatment earlier this year....

Speed was not the issue, MacEachern said – it was more to do with the type of surgery she and her doctor agreed was best for her, and where it was best performed. The type of cancer Stronach had is called DCIS, ductal carcinoma in situ, one of the more treatable forms.

Stronach, who has announced she is leaving politics to return to executive duties at her father's Magna empire, paid for the procedure.  Source: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2007/09/14/stronach_travels_to_us_for_cancer_treatment.html

VANCOUVER, CANADA — When the pain in Christina Woodkey's legs became so severe that she could no long hike or cross-country ski, she went to her local health clinic. The Calgary, Canada, resident was told she'd need to see a hip specialist. Because the problem was not life-threatening, however, she'd have to wait about a year.

So wait she did.

In January, the hip doctor told her that a narrowing of the spine was compressing her nerves and causing the pain. She needed a back specialist. The appointment was set for Sept. 30. "When I was given that date, I asked when could I expect to have surgery," said Woodkey, 72. "They said it would be a year and a half after I had seen this doctor."

So this month, she drove across the border into Montana and got the $50,000 surgery done in two days.

"I don't have insurance. We're not allowed to have private health insurance in Canada," Woodkey said. "It's not going to be easy to come up with the money. But I'm happy to say the pain is almost all gone."  Source: http://articles.latimes.com/2009/sep/27/nation/na-healthcare-canada27

Excellent. Sadly this is a very small tip of the ice berg.

So many people seem to think a person is born a doctor or surgeon.  They are not. It's a professional choice among many. There's a reason the U.S. has the most talented doctors in the world. We're already hearing stories of doctors planning early retirement or looking for new professions due to the hassle of this profession. Great doctors have a strong entrepreneurial spirit, they will leave this profession as their choices and freedoms disappear. It's what's happening in these single-payer systems, the quality and talent of healthcare is dropping in these systems.

Message to everyone,

There is no reason to make your disagreement into a personal dispute.  Share your opinion and criticize the beliefs expressed here if you want, but don't personally critique other people for not sharing your view or make comments that can easily be interpreted that way.  Let's respect one another and get along despite the differences of our views, it's a support site first and foremost.

Quote from: Cindy on December 26, 2013, 08:22:36 AM
Can someone put all these topics in a can and burn them. This is NOT a USA political site it is an international support site for gender dysphoric people.

I agree, but there was a political section placed on the board as well as many other unrelated topics, so I feel it is fair game and there is nothing wrong with people expressing their opinions.  Nonetheless, the tone of forum should be consistent with support and understanding. 

I like a lot of the parts of the ACA - the pre-existing conditions clause, the being able to have your kids on your plan until they are 26, and so on. These are excellent, forward thinking ideas that really help people. Another great idea in the ACA is the ability for some people to be able to get coverage that they otherwise would not be able to get, at a price point they can afford.

Unfortunately, there are parts of the law that were not well thought out, or were put there for political purposes. The ACA is a massive piece of legislation and there was a lot of room in it for these less desirable conditions to be hidden in the law, and now that we are able to "read it" we are finding out about them. Things like requiring maternity coverage for a 70 year old man which makes no sense. I have read lots of stories about people's premiums doubling or tripling for new plans with much higher deductibles and less coverage.

Out of curiosity I looked on a state exchange and a plan that has a similar monthly cost as my existing plan provided by my employer would cost me a lot more in out of pocket expenses to meet the deductible. A serious medical emergency would effectively wipe me out before the deductible is met.

I think that ultimately the voters will decide the fate of the ACA one way or the other.

Quote from: Eva Marie on December 26, 2013, 09:28:37 AM
I like a lot of the parts of the ACA - the pre-existing conditions clause, the being able to have your kids on your plan until they are 26, and so on. These are excellent, forward thinking ideas that really help people. Another great idea in the ACA is the ability for some people to be able to get coverage that they otherwise would not be able to get, at a price point they can afford.

Unfortunately, there are parts of the law that were not well thought out, or were put there for political purposes. The ACA is a massive piece of legislation and there was a lot of room in it for these less desirable conditions to be hidden in the law, and now that we are able to "read it" we are finding out about them. Things like requiring maternity coverage for a 70 year old man which makes no sense. I have read lots of stories about people's premiums doubling or tripling for new plans with much higher deductibles and less coverage.

Out of curiosity I looked on a state exchange and a plan that has a similar monthly cost as my existing plan provided by my employer would cost me a lot more in out of pocket expenses to meet the deductible. A serious medical emergency would effectively wipe me out before the deductible is met.

I think that ultimately the voters will decide the fate of the ACA one way or the other.

All great points. I think the mandated maternity coverage for a 70 year old man (or woman) should be all one needs to know to support repealing this legislation and putting together a sound policy. I think having young healthy people pay two to three times more than their expected insurance costs to subsidize wealthier older people is also terrible.

Just saw this, thought I'd share. Reminds me of torture and death by a thousand cuts... this will only get worse.

http://nypost.com/2013/12/25/new-obamacare-fees-coming-in-2014/

I also recently learned of a man whose wife receive benefits through Medicaid, upon her passing, the government seized her and their joint property. I recommend getting informed.

Just found a similar article related to this...........

http://www.elderlawanswers.com/medicaid-recovery-of-home-catches-many-families-by-surprise--5915

And another...

http://ezinearticles.com/?What-is-the-Medicaid-Estate-Recovery-Program?&id=2632409

Also note, obamacare rules are consistently encroaching on us (as the very first article shows) and these rules will continue to affect more and more conditions and people.

This stuff is all over the place, you have to try to not know this at this point...

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/25/affordability-healthcaregov-plans-usa-counties/4165513/

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/after-month-trying-i-still-cant-sign-obamacare_772303.html

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/12/26/patchwork-obamacare-insurance-deadlines-adds-to-confusion/

BTW, next November (2014), I'm going to start a thread called "See I told you so, please post your apologies here...".  For real...

Too many of the policies the country has are drawn up by people who know nothing about the particular field. How can insurance companies tell me what I need to help stay healthy? Another example: Ben Bernanke is the spokesperson for the banking industry and he doesn't even work in the industry. He's a lawyer!  Both Democrats and Republicans have it all wrong. The left doesn't do any scholarship about topics; the right gets it wrong all the time. That's why the country is in the mess that it's in.

  I tried to get in the last day of registering.  The options available in Colorado are $ 450+ a month with a $400 deductable with very little medication discount at age 61.  I haven't yet rack a yearly doctor's bill of over $400, despite my problems.  There is no discount whatsoever here!  That is $5,400 plus yearly with me paying full for doctor's visits under $400 over the year.  That plus my yearly cost of living (home & auto repairs and insurance, taxes, food, utilities, etc.) would have me running out of money by year's end.  My neuropathy problems prevent me from getting a job and my application for disability hasn't come through yet with a yea or nay answer.
  That's what we get when we elect lawyers to office!

  Joelene

Don't feel bad, your options are better than mine! My new plan deductible is $6,500 (in network) and $19,500 (out of network), and my new network is very slim to say the least. What's most concerning is my copay, it's anywhere from 25% to 50% depending on the medical service rendered. A major illness will bankrupt me and I'll never receive any benefit from anything other than major illness. My new plan is a joke. Fortunately, I have my old plan for another year. Oh but dang, I don't have maternity coverage!! What will I do?? 

Quote from: Nikko on December 26, 2013, 11:02:15 AM
This stuff is all over the place, you have to try to not know this at this point...

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/25/affordability-healthcaregov-plans-usa-counties/4165513/

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/after-month-trying-i-still-cant-sign-obamacare_772303.html

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/12/26/patchwork-obamacare-insurance-deadlines-adds-to-confusion/

BTW, next November (2014), I'm going to start a thread called "See I told you so, please post your apologies here...".  For real...

With the "employer mandate" coming due, employees being cut back from 40 hours per week to <30 hours per week (so they don't have to be covered by the employer anymore), and layoff notices coming, I expect the anger of the public will be played out in the General Election.

The plan to uninsure or underinsure or bankrupt 100 million people, so 30 million can be cared for, is pure genius! 

Quote from: Cindy on December 26, 2013, 08:22:36 AM
Can someone put all these topics in a can and burn them. This is NOT a USA political site it is an international support site for gender dysphoric people.

Sorry people I was in a place no one should be in last night, it was an anniversary of an event that is difficult to live with, but I do and will.

I was lashing out in sadness.

My apologies.

Quote from: Jamie D on December 26, 2013, 02:12:56 PM
With the "employer mandate" coming due, employees being cut back from 40 hours per week to <30 hours per week (so they don't have to be covered by the employer anymore), and layoff notices coming, I expect the anger of the public will be played out in the General Election.

The plan to uninsure or underinsure or bankrupt 100 million people, so 30 million can be cared for, is pure genius! 

I suspect the 2014 midterms will be very bad for those who supported obamacare.  Every republican campaign commercial should just be Obama's own words...... "If you like you current insurance plan...", etc., etc.   

Quote from: Cindy on December 26, 2013, 02:35:58 PM
Sorry people I was in a place no one should be in last night, it was an anniversary of an event that is difficult to live with, but I do and will.

I was lashing out in sadness.

My apologies.

Very sorry to hear that, sorry for my flippant remark as well. Hope you feel much better soon, some anniversaries can be difficult to deal with. 

Oh thank goodness the super sleuths are there ready to expose the hidden horrors of modest reforms to the health insurance industry that costs us more than any other industrialized nation and gives us less for it.  We are saved!

Hopefully we can also soon expose the hidden impacts of unemployment insurance, social security, medicare and food for hungry children. 

Let them eat cake and pray for health the rugged individualist up by the bootstraps way.  Why can't children just get a job? Or as a recent politico advised, have the kids getting food sweep the floor at school.

Ahh these happy holidays of sharing and caring.

Quote from: Tessa James on December 26, 2013, 03:01:45 PM
Oh thank goodness the super sleuths are there ready to expose the hidden horrors of modest reforms to the health insurance industry that costs us more than any other industrialized nation and gives us less for it.  We are saved!

Hopefully we can also soon expose the hidden impacts of unemployment insurance, social security, medicare and food for hungry children. 

Let them eat cake and pray for health the rugged individualist up by the bootstraps way.  Why can't children just get a job? Or as a recent politico advised, have the kids getting food sweep the floor at school.

Ahh these happy holidays of sharing and caring.

1. Unemployment insurance beyond a certain point worsens the unemployment situation by dis-incentivizing people to work.
2. Social security should be called socialized insecurity. The money has been long spent by greedy politicians and there aren't enough young people to tax to pay the promised benefits to the retirees. Get ready to receive less and work until you're eighty. Privatized plans would've benefited everyone much more.
3. Medicare is going broke and more and more doctors are refusing medicare patients, the reimbursement rate puts doctors on par with Buddhist Priests who have taken vows of poverty.
4. Poor children in the U.S. are more likely to suffer from obesity than starvation.

How'd I do? 

Happy Holidays!

  Addendum to my above post:  I rechecked the Colorado marketplace and the deductable ranges around $5,000 not $400.  I checked on my disability application online and found out that a response for my application has been mailed.  I will find out in a few days.  Otherwise for my application for ineligibility for Obamacare will take 2 months after I apply for medicare and get rejected!  Bureaucracy! 

  Joelene

I'm not going to worry about all of this stuff. I am just going to see what happens. I have medical insurance at the moment and I already got my letter from the insurance company informing me of my rate for the new year. The increase was the usual bit that has been the norm. No sort of sticker shock. IF that does occur....I don't know.

I'm not going to stress myself out at this point. I'm just going to take this as it comes. Hell, it's ultimately out of my hands anyway.

Quote from: Nikko on December 26, 2013, 04:21:56 PM
1. Unemployment insurance beyond a certain point worsens the unemployment situation by dis-incentivizing people to work.
2. Social security should be called socialized insecurity. The money has been long spent by greedy politicians and there aren't enough young people to tax to pay the promised benefits to the retirees. Get ready to receive less and work until you're eighty. Privatized plans would've benefited everyone much more.
3. Medicare is going broke and more and more doctors are refusing medicare patients, the reimbursement rate puts doctors on par with Buddhist Priests who have taken vows of poverty.
4. Poor children in the U.S. are more likely to suffer from obesity than starvation.

How'd I do? 

Happy Holidays!

Thank you Nikko.  Seriously, I needed a good laugh and a good tweek back

Tweek?!

AAAAAHH!!!! THAT'S TOO MUCH PRESSURE!!!