The Washington Post: Obamacare: Understanding the Affordable Care Act

The exchange is now open in my state: www.wahbexchange.org... Using the calculator my health care will cost me $693 for a "silver" level plan. I now pay $367, so we're talking nearly double. The exchange does not tell me what exactly a "silver" plan is, so I can't compare my present plan to it, but I understand it is a mid level plan that pays 70% of costs. I'm not eligible for any sort of subsidy.

The high deductibles on the 'cheaper' plans seems to be a problem.

Couple that with the percentage you pay after that and it adds up to unaffordable.

I wonder if the IRS will continue to limit medical expense deductions of Schedule A ?

Hmmm.

Watch for some kind of 'new' loan offered by banks.

Maybe they will call it an "ObamaCare" loan.

[ wonder what the collateral requirements will be ]

I thought the proposed health care system was loosely based on systems such as that adopted in Australia and other countries. Here it's means tested with a levy of 1.5% of taxable income and that gets you hospital and basic medical care at no extra cost. Having private cover on top of that basic service is optional but, above certain income thresholds, not having extra private insurance means your levy is increased and that is your choice to make. Below a certain low income threshold you pay no levy at all and still get the same standard of care in public hospitals.

The main advantage of having extra private cover is that you can choose the specialist(s) you want, avoid lengthy waiting lists for elective surgery and get treatment in private hospitals etc. Also dental and alternative medicine cover is only provided by private insurance. At many GPs and Radiology clinics there's no charge at all - you simply present your Medicare card.

I'm sure you can make your system work for you over there to guarantee everyone, regardless of income, the same level of basic medical care. Anything above basic care will cost extra naturally, it's your choice.

I pay what you might consider a lot for my top level private cover but that ensures my family gets the very best of care when they need it plus my income would see me penalised financially if I didn't have private insurance cover.

reply to post by schuyler


I am not surprised that your healthcare costs would double, I have heard similar stories myself.

reply to post by schuyler


I checked what it would be for us -- $475/month, much less than what we're paying right now.

Now if only we lived in Washington instead of Texas!