Now do an above the fold on prices off the ACA without the subsidies. My wife and I are retired teachers and not Medicare eligible. Our premium for the year will go from $7,000 to $27,000 a year. Twenty effin' thousand increase!
That is an incredible and unconscionable increase, Eric! And an excellent example why Democrats must hold firm. This wouldn't be an issue if Republicans hadn't intentionally included it in Trump's Big Bloated Bill and then used an end run in the Senate to ram it through.
So, you made a decision and chose to retire before you were Medicare eligible, and you complain because we the taxpayers may not subsidize your health insurance? Interesting. Sounds like two problems: 1. Your decision, your responsibility, and 2. Obamacare is a failed program that was badly designed and doomed from the beginning. Dems won’t admit that because it would undermine Obama’s legacy, and Republicans have no answers about how to fix it, they just want to end it.
Wow Scott, you don’t know the circumstances of why they retired before 65. Maybe it was health reasons. Maybe they had to care for an ailing family member. Maybe they were fed up with vouchers robbing public schools of necessary funds and underpaid teachers being forced to reach into their own pockets for supplies. Newsflash, many, MANY people rely on the ACA, including underpaid working adults and the money grubbing well heeled don’t give a shit and lack empathy.
Fair comment. I should not have been so quick to judge their situation. However, I do have questions about the accuracy of their price hike, and do wonder why we are subsidizing such a large portion of health care costs for two retirees who have yet to reach age 65.
Teaching is a profession that does not require you to work until retirement age. You need 80 points (age plus years of service) to retire and that is the only requirement. We are choosing to retire because we want to live now. Both of us waited tables the first 10 or so years that we were teaching because we needed to in order to live a middle class life. We bought a starter home on a 15 year mortgage and then moved up after the 2008 crash. Not that you really needed to know but there you have it. There are millions of people who are part of the exchange because that is the way it needs to be when you are in many of the different categories that ASmith listed.
Accuracy of the price? My full name is on my post for a reason. I have no need to fabricate anything. We will now probably switch over to the healthcare system through ASRS or just roll the dice. You failed to answer my questions to you about Medicare and your insurance. Come on Scott.
Thank you for the clarificaiton. I am assuming you worked here and retired under ASRS. First, thank you for your years of service in education. You said you chose to retire so you could "live now". That's great! But that was a choice you made, and that choice has real consequences. You've now also lamented about the high price of Obamacsre insurance, unless the premiums are subsidized by taxpayers. I have no problem with your choice, but I question your right to make that choice and then have the rest of us pay for a large portion of your insurance. Over the past 40 years, I have been self-employed paying the total cost of my insurance, been covered by a variety of employer health plans, and am now on Medicare, which is mandatory. In the past few years, I left my company plan and was no longer covered by its plan. Searching the Obamacare exchange, I found the coverage to be minimal for very high prices. The reasonable plans for self-employed that I enjoyed prior to 2910 are non-existent. Obamacare is the only game in town if you are not on Medicare or in an employer plan. And it's basically mandatory. The cost of COBRA from my former employer was less than an Obamacare plan with much better coverage, something that never happened before. So, I am very familiar with all types of health insurance. I enjoy my Medicare coverage, but I pay huge premiums. The monthly bill to cover both my wife and I under Medicare is more than I have ever paid for health insurance in my life, even after paying into the system for decades. But, that's the system. It's a messed up system and both parties are to blame. The Democrats created a flawed system with Obamacare - I'm thinking maybe to make it so bad that we eventually accept single payer - and the Republicans can only scream REPEAL without offering any real alternative or solution. So, I'm sorry if I seem callous to your dilemma. But I'm just a bit leery about the choice you made depending upon a very large subsidy form taxpayers for it to work for you. Sorry.
Thanks for the comment, Scott! The "failed program" is enjoyed by millions upon millions of Americans. While I agree with you that healthcare should be like every other industrialized nation (a right), this is what we are left with.
May I ask where your healthcare comes from? Another question, do you support Medicare or is that also a "failed program"? And, as an aside, I will still be completely self sufficient. The comment was more about the shocking increases we can all expect from the "Great Gadsby" Republican inaction.
I really question if many “enjoy” their Obamacare exchange plans. The plans offered by an Exchange are expensive and nothing more than catastrophic care plans. Obamacare has not lowered costs nor improved outcomes. And, I never could “keep my doctor”. And , we still have millions of uninsured. So, yes, by any objective measure, it has been a policy failure.
Poll after poll indicates wide acceptance and reliance on Obamacare. Somewhere up around 70% like it. Is it perfect? Of course not. So, tweak it. Republicans will NEVER offer anything to replace and improve it. That's not the way they think.
That's interesting, when there is no other game in town unless one is on an employer plan or Medicare. My guesss is that those who like Obamacare benefit form healthy taxpayer subsidies that can drive costs to near zero. I'd like to see a poll of those who must buy from an exchange, get to subsidy, and didn't get to keep their doctor. Also, if Obamacare is so great, why do we still have millions of uninsured Americans and still hear stories of people resorting to bankruptcy to escape large health bills? Obamacare was supposed to end both of those problems.
There are always problems with 350 million people. Some always fall through the cracks. I don't care if health care is partially subsidized. ACA is better than no ACA.
Obamacare was a bi-partisan compromise that has helped lower the costs, for many Americans, as we will see soon when the subsidies expire. No it is not perfect. I’m not even certain what you think “a perfect health care system looks like” No one has kept their doctors, Scott. That’s the insurance company not the program. It’s complicated. I am on Medicare and will fight you tooth and nail if you try to take it away from me. We should all have health care like the President’s, that ear I saw on 60 Minutes last night looked like it had never been shot.
You’ll “fight me tooth and nail” to keep your Medicare? Wow. That’s a big jump from my making observations about Obamacare to where you think I’m in favor of abolishing Medicare! Welcome to today’s political discussion! FYI, I’m also on Medicare. I’ve had generally good experiences. But, I never thought for a minute that my health premiums I have to pay under Medicare are the highest I’ve ever paid in my life! And, I’ve been on self-employed private plans, employer plans, and COBRA plans.
And, by the way, the ACA is not affordable without heavy govt subsidies and has not lowered healthcare costs. The problem is that neither Dems nor Reps have a fix. The Dems will never admit there are flaws to the system that can be fixed, because that would force them to admit Obama’s legacy is not perfect. And Reps are hopeless. They have no answers or solutions. Their only plan is to cancel Obamacare without any idea how to replace it. So, I have no confidence in either party to fix the system. I believe it will someday crash, and we will end up with the Medicare for all single payer system Dems have always wanted.
Don’t take what I said personally. I don’t know how much you pay for Medicare but it’s not what you’d pay in the open market today. I had private insurance, as I too was self employed, my entire adult life. If my parents were alive they’d talk about no insurance and the doctor came to your house when you were ill. It’s a new day.
My neighbor in Alamos (Scottsdales sister City in Sonora) just returned from participating in the Dia de los Muertos celebration and had a terrific time. He was on the committee that located the new DDLM altar in the Civic Center. Hey...Scottsdale likes to party too.
The Paradise Valley food bank is on the west side of 32st just north of Shea. It’s wonderful, hard working volunteers. If you’re in the neighborhood stop by and donate.
"While politicians continue to use access to food and healthcare as a pawn," is some Grade A both-sides-ing. God forbid readers understand who is actually withholding those food and healthcare benefits.
Now do an above the fold on prices off the ACA without the subsidies. My wife and I are retired teachers and not Medicare eligible. Our premium for the year will go from $7,000 to $27,000 a year. Twenty effin' thousand increase!
That is an incredible and unconscionable increase, Eric! And an excellent example why Democrats must hold firm. This wouldn't be an issue if Republicans hadn't intentionally included it in Trump's Big Bloated Bill and then used an end run in the Senate to ram it through.
So, you made a decision and chose to retire before you were Medicare eligible, and you complain because we the taxpayers may not subsidize your health insurance? Interesting. Sounds like two problems: 1. Your decision, your responsibility, and 2. Obamacare is a failed program that was badly designed and doomed from the beginning. Dems won’t admit that because it would undermine Obama’s legacy, and Republicans have no answers about how to fix it, they just want to end it.
Wow Scott, you don’t know the circumstances of why they retired before 65. Maybe it was health reasons. Maybe they had to care for an ailing family member. Maybe they were fed up with vouchers robbing public schools of necessary funds and underpaid teachers being forced to reach into their own pockets for supplies. Newsflash, many, MANY people rely on the ACA, including underpaid working adults and the money grubbing well heeled don’t give a shit and lack empathy.
Fair comment. I should not have been so quick to judge their situation. However, I do have questions about the accuracy of their price hike, and do wonder why we are subsidizing such a large portion of health care costs for two retirees who have yet to reach age 65.
Teaching is a profession that does not require you to work until retirement age. You need 80 points (age plus years of service) to retire and that is the only requirement. We are choosing to retire because we want to live now. Both of us waited tables the first 10 or so years that we were teaching because we needed to in order to live a middle class life. We bought a starter home on a 15 year mortgage and then moved up after the 2008 crash. Not that you really needed to know but there you have it. There are millions of people who are part of the exchange because that is the way it needs to be when you are in many of the different categories that ASmith listed.
Accuracy of the price? My full name is on my post for a reason. I have no need to fabricate anything. We will now probably switch over to the healthcare system through ASRS or just roll the dice. You failed to answer my questions to you about Medicare and your insurance. Come on Scott.
Thank you for the clarificaiton. I am assuming you worked here and retired under ASRS. First, thank you for your years of service in education. You said you chose to retire so you could "live now". That's great! But that was a choice you made, and that choice has real consequences. You've now also lamented about the high price of Obamacsre insurance, unless the premiums are subsidized by taxpayers. I have no problem with your choice, but I question your right to make that choice and then have the rest of us pay for a large portion of your insurance. Over the past 40 years, I have been self-employed paying the total cost of my insurance, been covered by a variety of employer health plans, and am now on Medicare, which is mandatory. In the past few years, I left my company plan and was no longer covered by its plan. Searching the Obamacare exchange, I found the coverage to be minimal for very high prices. The reasonable plans for self-employed that I enjoyed prior to 2910 are non-existent. Obamacare is the only game in town if you are not on Medicare or in an employer plan. And it's basically mandatory. The cost of COBRA from my former employer was less than an Obamacare plan with much better coverage, something that never happened before. So, I am very familiar with all types of health insurance. I enjoy my Medicare coverage, but I pay huge premiums. The monthly bill to cover both my wife and I under Medicare is more than I have ever paid for health insurance in my life, even after paying into the system for decades. But, that's the system. It's a messed up system and both parties are to blame. The Democrats created a flawed system with Obamacare - I'm thinking maybe to make it so bad that we eventually accept single payer - and the Republicans can only scream REPEAL without offering any real alternative or solution. So, I'm sorry if I seem callous to your dilemma. But I'm just a bit leery about the choice you made depending upon a very large subsidy form taxpayers for it to work for you. Sorry.
Thanks for the comment, Scott! The "failed program" is enjoyed by millions upon millions of Americans. While I agree with you that healthcare should be like every other industrialized nation (a right), this is what we are left with.
May I ask where your healthcare comes from? Another question, do you support Medicare or is that also a "failed program"? And, as an aside, I will still be completely self sufficient. The comment was more about the shocking increases we can all expect from the "Great Gadsby" Republican inaction.
I really question if many “enjoy” their Obamacare exchange plans. The plans offered by an Exchange are expensive and nothing more than catastrophic care plans. Obamacare has not lowered costs nor improved outcomes. And, I never could “keep my doctor”. And , we still have millions of uninsured. So, yes, by any objective measure, it has been a policy failure.
Poll after poll indicates wide acceptance and reliance on Obamacare. Somewhere up around 70% like it. Is it perfect? Of course not. So, tweak it. Republicans will NEVER offer anything to replace and improve it. That's not the way they think.
Trump's plan will be ready in two weeks :))
That's interesting, when there is no other game in town unless one is on an employer plan or Medicare. My guesss is that those who like Obamacare benefit form healthy taxpayer subsidies that can drive costs to near zero. I'd like to see a poll of those who must buy from an exchange, get to subsidy, and didn't get to keep their doctor. Also, if Obamacare is so great, why do we still have millions of uninsured Americans and still hear stories of people resorting to bankruptcy to escape large health bills? Obamacare was supposed to end both of those problems.
There are always problems with 350 million people. Some always fall through the cracks. I don't care if health care is partially subsidized. ACA is better than no ACA.
What plan do use Scott, if i may ask? Why are there no Republican plans and can you tell me why that is?
Obamacare was a bi-partisan compromise that has helped lower the costs, for many Americans, as we will see soon when the subsidies expire. No it is not perfect. I’m not even certain what you think “a perfect health care system looks like” No one has kept their doctors, Scott. That’s the insurance company not the program. It’s complicated. I am on Medicare and will fight you tooth and nail if you try to take it away from me. We should all have health care like the President’s, that ear I saw on 60 Minutes last night looked like it had never been shot.
Promote the "General Welfare"...Where have I heard that?
You’ll “fight me tooth and nail” to keep your Medicare? Wow. That’s a big jump from my making observations about Obamacare to where you think I’m in favor of abolishing Medicare! Welcome to today’s political discussion! FYI, I’m also on Medicare. I’ve had generally good experiences. But, I never thought for a minute that my health premiums I have to pay under Medicare are the highest I’ve ever paid in my life! And, I’ve been on self-employed private plans, employer plans, and COBRA plans.
And, by the way, the ACA is not affordable without heavy govt subsidies and has not lowered healthcare costs. The problem is that neither Dems nor Reps have a fix. The Dems will never admit there are flaws to the system that can be fixed, because that would force them to admit Obama’s legacy is not perfect. And Reps are hopeless. They have no answers or solutions. Their only plan is to cancel Obamacare without any idea how to replace it. So, I have no confidence in either party to fix the system. I believe it will someday crash, and we will end up with the Medicare for all single payer system Dems have always wanted.
Don’t take what I said personally. I don’t know how much you pay for Medicare but it’s not what you’d pay in the open market today. I had private insurance, as I too was self employed, my entire adult life. If my parents were alive they’d talk about no insurance and the doctor came to your house when you were ill. It’s a new day.
The real question is where was Doug when the emu was caught in Cottonwood?
He was tackled in the commercial. Based on the hit, I don't think he's going to be chasing much in the future.
My neighbor in Alamos (Scottsdales sister City in Sonora) just returned from participating in the Dia de los Muertos celebration and had a terrific time. He was on the committee that located the new DDLM altar in the Civic Center. Hey...Scottsdale likes to party too.
The Paradise Valley food bank is on the west side of 32st just north of Shea. It’s wonderful, hard working volunteers. If you’re in the neighborhood stop by and donate.
"While politicians continue to use access to food and healthcare as a pawn," is some Grade A both-sides-ing. God forbid readers understand who is actually withholding those food and healthcare benefits.