On Buying Health Insurance

There are more choices than there are distinctions. It’s impossible to see what’s different between various policies without being a statistician and actuary. I’m pretty math savvy and my head is swimming!

In the past we depended on insurance to help beginning with dollar one. Now, I’m wondering how important ‘dollar one’ really is.

obamacareSince I left FoxCT I have been insured through COBRA, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. All that means is no employer subsidy. I’m paying 100%.

Insurance is expensive. You probably already knew that.

Eighteen months have passed. I’m forced to get coverage on my own. This is among the most confusing things I’ve ever done!

First the good news. Under the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, I can buy insurance! How that would have worked out before, considering my back surgery two summers ago and my age? All I know is, I’m insurable.

My beef with Obamacare is it doesn’t go far enough. Why do we bother with private insurance? Why must we confuse everyone? The rest of the world seems to prefer a single payer system. Seniors seem happy with Medicare.

There are too many choices.

Let me refine that. There are more choices than there are distinctions. It’s impossible to see what’s different between various policies without being a statistician or actuary. I’m pretty math savvy and my head is swimming!

In the past we depended on insurance to help beginning with dollar one. Now, I’m wondering how important ‘dollar one’ really is. Are we better off ‘self insuring’ for common medical problems and letting insurance kick in at big dollar amounts? How much out-of-pocket can I take?

Within the next day or two we will reach a decision. I wish it was a more educated decision.

Can You See My Frustration?

I can’t believe it’s come to this. The government is really shut down. This is crazy. How do rational adults fight like they’re seven year olds?

Oh–hold on. I answered my own question.

“Obamacare” is decided law? The Affordable Care Act was passed by Congress, then signed by the president. It was litigated in the Supreme Court and survived the challenge.

Then, in last year’s presidential election, Governor Romney and President Obama based much of their campaigns on their diametrically opposed views on it. Obama won.

Meanwhile, all I see on TV is intransigence, posturing and half truths.

The cable networks are having a field day. This is their Super Bowl. They’ve got a compelling story with developing details.

Are they milking our angst? Probably.

My blood is boiling. Pre-existing condition?

Our health care system stinks. It’s prohibitively expensive with results that trail much of the rest of the world. The ACA is a step forward.

How can the Republicans in Congress think “Obamacare” is so evil it’s worth shutting down America? Maybe they’re scared it will succeed?