Health Insurance Costs

My sister-in-law had breast cancer prior to Obamacare, and they found her coverage before Obamacare existance. Forkie tells us that this didn't happen.

They are fortunate and happy that her insurance is now subsidized through Obamacare. They will now be able to trick out the $1.35 million new home that they are building in the Ashville, NC area. Or possibly this wonderful savings will allow my brother to buy a third airplane.

Isn't Obamacare wonderful, with all it's free money? After all, Forkie assures us that the insurance premium is the only cost, and the subsidy comes from Heaven.

It's magic!

Speaking of adapting or perishing, we hear from from the forums dodo.

Those aren’t Obamacare rates. They are private group health rates. I feel for you that they went up, but I was paying $18xx a month back in 2004-2005 for two people on Cobra from a group health plan. If it helps, I think it is ridiculous that anyone has to pay that much for health insurance. The truth is if you or your wife suffer a serious illness or are in a serious accident your plan (if it is like most people's) probably expects you to cough up another 25k-30k in yearly out of pocket.

And you'll be getting a 60% discount on prescription drugs in the Medicare Donut hole in 2017. Thanks Obama

But if you're not happy - that's fine. Vote for Donald trump. He has a much more cost effective replacement plan....he's just keeping the details of it locked up with his tax returns and Obama's real birth certificate.

OK - I will bite and answer your questions.


Is ten dollars a day really too much for you to insure your families health?
YES - if you were paying $7 per day the year before!

How long until you can go on Medicare?
7 years for my wife and 8 years for me. So I see how MY costs go down on Medicare, but doesn't that shift costs to the taxpayers?

Then again as I explained in another thread, simply reduce your taxable income low enough to qualify for Obama care. Does your spouse work? Why not have her file separately?

Yes - she works and I will likely do taxes over the winter to earn a few bucks, so I can pay my fair share for insurance. Our income in 2015 was still high with me working, but reported income dropped to "poverty" levels in 2016. We are living off savings from the years I worked. Are you saying I should play the tax system to get Earned Income Credit in 2016 and Obamacare subsidies on 2017 as our income in 2016 will be poverty level? Should I apply for medicaid and food stamps too?

Can't people see how convoluted this is? Can't folks see costs are just being shifted from people with low "reported" income to people with employer subsidized plans and / or "the rich"? Remember, low income levels include waiters, valet parking attendants, hookers, drug dealers, and others who don't report ALL their income. Remember, only Democrats voted for this and they said we need to pass the plan so you can find out what's in it. Now that we know what's in it, can we shove it up Nancy Pelosi's dupa?

Are these plans a viable alternative, if I don't want my insurance to pay for other people's abortions or ED pills?

Cheaper Alternative?
Gaining in popularity

You should, but you wont qualify for Food Stamps because you have assets (the savings you mention) and your earned income credit would probably be relatively small because I assume you don't have other dependents (children) living at home. Yes, if your income is low enough you would probably qualify for Medicaid, and I'd take it because it would beat the hell out of paying $732 a month. Trump doesn't feel guilty gaming the system paying no Income tax, so why should you? Taking the benefits just proves you are a good at business.

I would retire at 60 if I could get full medicare benefits. or at least an affordable health care plan than does not cost more than what I am paying as an active employee. Obama's UN-affordable health care act SUCKS!

"They should lower the age for Medicare to 55."

Medicare has a $30,000B unfunded liability & billy wants to add more people to a money losing program.

"Then again as I explained in another thread, simply reduce your taxable income low enough to qualify for Obama care."

If everybody did that then there wouldn't be anybody to pay the subsidy. Interesting in another thread billy chided Trump for not legally paying his taxes, but then offers tax advice on not paying taxes.