Side Effects of ACA

[LinkC]

I thought I was "immune" to the woes of Obamacare because I was able to keep my insurance (Period!)

But, in the past two months:

1. My sleep doc group has chosen to not remain a Preferred Provider with my insurance (Blue Cross), effectively dumping many patients.

2. My dentist is a CPAP patient also. We swap updates nearly every visit. Yesterday, I called to make an appointment, planning to ask if he would write my future CPAP prescriptions. Turns out he's closing his dental practice and retiring rather than deal with the changes. A double whammy for me!

3. I had negotiated a deal with my DME to waive my copays. They recently billed me for one. When I called to remind them, they said they can't do that anymore. So I guess I'll be looking for a new DME as well.

[Wulfman...]

You ain't seen nothin' yet!

Wait till the "Employer Mandates" kick in.
Costs will go through the roof.
This is going to be the "mother of all bailouts" because the ACA has a clause that protects the insurance companies from losing money.


Den

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[Goofproof]

You all wanted change, now get on your hands and knees, and pick it up.

At least the people that won't work for a living will have medical care. jim

[PST]

I thought I was "immune" to the woes of Obamacare because I was able to keep my insurance (Period!)

But, in the past two months:

I do not understand what any of these have to do with Obamacare, but I will be glad to receive enlightenment. This is especially true with respect to number 3.

1. My sleep doc group has chosen to not remain a Preferred Provider with my insurance (Blue Cross), effectively dumping many patients.

Blue Cross certainly discounts bills heavily. In 2013, my family had bills of approximately $345,000, for which (if I am reading the statements right) the insurance company paid about $100,000 and I paid $5,000. I can see where a doctor who could generate enough business without accepting that discount might drop out of Blue Cross. But that's private insurance, not involving Medicaid expansion or the exchanges. I cannot identify any provision of Obamacare as a cause. Has your doctor done so?

2. My dentist is a CPAP patient also. We swap updates nearly every visit. Yesterday, I called to make an appointment, planning to ask if he would write my future CPAP prescriptions. Turns out he's closing his dental practice and retiring rather than deal with the changes. A double whammy for me!

Private dental care has even less to do with Obamacare. The main complaint of the American Dental Association about Obamacare is that it left adult dental care out, thus denying dentists an opportunity. See Dental industry slams PPACA for neglecting adult dental care. When the dentist says he "can't deal with the changes" did he identify Obamacare? It seems like a long shot to me.

3. I had negotiated a deal with my DME to waive my copays. They recently billed me for one. When I called to remind them, they said they can't do that anymore. So I guess I'll be looking for a new DME as well.

That one really has nothing to do with Obamacare. This practice has been fraud since the at least 1996 when federal insurance programs (Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, etc.) are involved. The HIPAA law passed that year makes this clear, but several other statutes are implicated as well. Private insurance companies frown on this practice too, but it isn't as clear that it is actually a crime in most states. Florida is an exception. Fla. Stat. sec. 817(7)(a) is an example of unusually clear statutory draftsmanship:

It shall constitute a material omission and insurance fraud, punishable as provided in subsection (11), for any service provider, other than a hospital, to engage in a general business practice of billing amounts as its usual and customary charge, if such provider has agreed with the insured or intends to waive deductibles or copayments, or does not for any other reason intend to collect the total amount of such charge. With respect to a determination as to whether a service provider has engaged in such general business practice, consideration shall be given to evidence of whether the physician or other provider made a good faith attempt to collect such deductible or copayment. This paragraph does not apply to physicians or other providers who waive deductibles or copayments or reduce their bills as part of a bodily injury settlement or verdict.

The maximum penalty is 5 years and $5,000 for the first offence, but don't let it happen three times!

I see all kinds of stuff attributed to Obamacare when the actual causes are many and varied. I doubt Obamacare has anything to to do with these.

[RogerSC]

I thought I was "immune" to the woes of Obamacare because I was able to keep my insurance (Period!)

I see all kinds of stuff attributed to Obamacare when the actual causes are many and varied. I doubt Obamacare has anything to to do with these.

Thanks much for this reply, stopped me just before I was going to start replying *smile*. As usual, Obama/Obamacare gets blamed for everything, when the real problems are the for-profit healthcare insurance companies doing whatever they can think of to try and make more bottom-line profits for their shareholders.

[Captain_Midnight]

Wulfman Den writes...You ain't seen nothin' yet!

And, I'm afraid that he's right.

Costs to rise.

Doctor availability to fall.

Quality and responsiveness of healthcare to fall, dramatically.

Employment, especially full time, to continue to fall as a secondary effect.

I wish I had better news. If you disagree, I hope I'm wrong and you are correct.

.

[Bill44133]

Wulfman Den writes...You ain't seen nothin' yet!

And, I'm afraid that he's right.

Costs to rise.

Doctor availability to fall.

Quality and responsiveness of healthcare to fall, dramatically.

Employment, especially full time, to continue to fall as a secondary effect.

I wish I had better news. If you disagree, I hope I'm wrong and you are correct.

.

Like that hasn't been going on for years any way.

[poppi2]

...I see all kinds of stuff attributed to Obamacare when the actual causes are many and varied. I doubt Obamacare has anything to to do with these.

Thank you for your well written posts. Earl

[Wulfman...]

I thought I was "immune" to the woes of Obamacare because I was able to keep my insurance (Period!)

I see all kinds of stuff attributed to Obamacare when the actual causes are many and varied. I doubt Obamacare has anything to to do with these.

Thanks much for this reply, stopped me just before I was going to start replying *smile*. As usual, Obama/Obamacare gets blamed for everything, when the real problems are the for-profit healthcare insurance companies doing whatever they can think of to try and make more bottom-line profits for their shareholders.

The ACA/Obamacare legislation was WRITTEN BY representatives of the insurance industry and the big pharmaceutical companies!!!
The principle architect has been widely reported to be Elizabeth Fowler. Look it up. You talk about a "revolving door" in Washington.......this one is quintessential.
The reason they get blamed for everything is that.......THEY EARNED IT! (to paraphrase John Houseman in the old Smith Barney commercial)
The insurance and medical industries were some of his biggest campaign contributors. They LOVE the ACA and their "bottom-line profits" won't be hurt.


Den

.

[Goofproof]

Wulfman Den writes...You ain't seen nothin' yet!

And, I'm afraid that he's right.

Costs to rise.

Doctor availability to fall.

Quality and responsiveness of healthcare to fall, dramatically.

Employment, especially full time, to continue to fall as a secondary effect.

I wish I had better news. If you disagree, I hope I'm wrong and you are correct.

.

Like that hasn't been going on for years any way.

Yes it has been on the rise, as has the loss of family vaules, compassion, and the quality to do the right thing, even if it can hurt you.

Our turn to Socialism, is throwing us into a Hyperdrive race into the Pit! Jim

[RogerSC]

Yes it has been on the rise, as has the loss of family vaules, compassion, and the quality to do the right thing, even if it can hurt you.

Our turn to Socialism, is throwing us into a Hyperdrive race into the Pit! Jim

Obamacare is NOT socialism. Obama is NOT a socialist.

[Goofproof]

Yes it has been on the rise, as has the loss of family vaules, compassion, and the quality to do the right thing, even if it can hurt you.

Our turn to Socialism, is throwing us into a Hyperdrive race into the Pit! Jim

Obamacare is NOT socialism. Obama is NOT a socialist.

You may be correct, it's probably closer to communism. Jim

[Olivia]

My side effect is that after working many years and then retiring, I am no longer eligible for healthcare reimbursement from my retirement board. And that occurred because I went back to work part time for the same company I worked for. Obama are made it illegal for me to receive any earned healthcare reimbursement. So, I am now paying for my own medicare supplement, but people not working in my retirement plan have theirs paid. Makes no sense to me, except they want older folks not to work.

[Goofproof]

My side effect is that after working many years and then retiring, I am no longer eligible for healthcare reimbursement from my retirement board. And that occurred because I went back to work part time for the same company I worked for. Obama are made it illegal for me to receive any earned healthcare reimbursement. So, I am now paying for my own medicare supplement, but people not working in my retirement plan have theirs paid. Makes no sense to me, except they want older folks not to work.

Their objective is to get everyone not to work and declare martial law. Then the few of us left can be slaves for them.

[zoocrewphoto]

My primary doctor sold her private practice and joined a big group. She said it was so that she didn't have to install the new computer system that was required with the ACA. It is very expensive, and you only get the financial rebate thing if you jump through all the hoops correctly and wait 5 years. I do not like the new place, so I am switching to a new doctor.

One of my mom's doctors retired at the end of the year. It was a little earlier than she planned. She was for the ACA and talked very positive about it, but she also said that is why she retired. So, that made no sense to me.

My parents learned in November that their supplemental insurance was no longer accepted by the Franciscan system. That happens to be both nearby hospitals, the place where the one doctor moved to (she was also my mom's doctor), the cardiologist, the sleep doctor, and my dad's GP. They were about to go on a trip, so they had a week to decide on a new plan. They went back to AARP which they don't like. AARP was a big supporter of the ACA, and they seem to be getting a lot more business now. Guess it worked out well for them.

Not sure why, but my employer based insurance that managed to survive 6 months of contract negotiations (and was supposed to stay the same) has had the deductible go from $250 to $1000. Unless I have some kind of emergency, I will not get past the deductible. I do have $400 in my HRA account. I was hoping to find an online company to get cpap supplies since it would be cheaper. But they won't accept my HRA account. So, I would still have to pay up front 100%. If I buy a new set of everything (full mask, headgear, hose, filters, and humidifier tank), that will use up all of my HRA account and more. I guess I will just buy a new cushion and keep using the old stuff.