Got My Insurance Cancellation Letter Today (Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield)

All companies that sell major medical plans will be cancelling them between now and the end of next year..2014, and offering a more expensive ObamaCare-Compliant plan. Most Blue Crosses decided to do it first, because they are on almost every state exchange/marketplace, and came under HEAVY pressure from HHS's Kathleen Sebelius. But any plan that does not have Maternity Coverage included, along with 9 other "Essential Health Benefits", must be terminated before January 2015.

If you don't have a chronic medical condition, you can avoid having to convert to an expensive ObamaCare plan until January 2015 by purchasing a 2013 plan from United Healthcare, Aetna, or Humana. That is what all of our relatively-healthy clients are doing here in Illinois.

As we get close to the end of 2014, many group insurance plans will need to cancel for the same reasons. Calendar year 2015 is when their "Minimum Essential Coverage" mandate will need to be met.

ObamaCare will keep coming at us in waves until the 2019. That's when the big "Cadillac Plan" tax kicks in. Oh joy...

-CWM

reply to post by Terrormaster


Does your company happen to be headquartered out of Chicago and make airplanes?

MichaelPMaccabee

grandmakdw
When will people wake up and see what the Democrats have done to the country these past 6 years?

Don't blame the Democrats. Blame the 2 Party System. It has been going on for far longer than 6 years.

Woah, there....

While the two party system has been the cause of a number of issue that we as a nation face (debt, mortgage crisis, economic bubble after economic bubble) the passing of Obamacare is SPECIFIC to the Democrats. It was passed by a Democrat controlled Congress (both houses) and signed into law by a Democrat President.

There is NO ONE else to blame for the implementation, the hardships people face, and the financial impacts of Obamacare BUT the Democrats.

arpodyssey

MichaelPMaccabee

grandmakdw
When will people wake up and see what the Democrats have done to the country these past 6 years?

Don't blame the Democrats. Blame the 2 Party System. It has been going on for far longer than 6 years.

Woah, there....

While the two party system has been the cause of a number of issue that we as a nation face (debt, mortgage crisis, economic bubble after economic bubble) the passing of Obamacare is SPECIFIC to the Democrats. It was passed by a Democrat controlled Congress (both houses) and signed into law by a Democrat President.

There is NO ONE else to blame for the implementation, the hardships people face, and the financial impacts of Obamacare BUT the Democrats.

He just means the Republicans would just create some other kind of BS that the Democrats then would cry foul on. Really the Republicans (OR Democrats) would find anything to polarize the situation to gain an advantage and to win people to their side. It's all a game.
Don't lose sight that affordable healthcare for everyone has merits, but the way this was setup was crap due to both sides political BS. The republicans just didn't want affordable health care for everyone because it would mean more money they would have to be taxed and now are picking on how it was implemented (which was crap I agree). No matter what the Democrats will do the Republicans will cry foul and vice versa. Just a game...

I'm still flabbergasted that people have insurance at all...I just think of all the things I'd never have gotten to do in my life if I had to pay thousands a year to some silly insurance scam. Shouldn't at least a young person be able to opt out?


Does it actually work? You're still gonna owe a massive deductible, and isn't it true that insurance companies will do whatever it takes to NOT have to pay you? I mean, they gotta make shareholders happy too. Am I supposed to believe that Obama care makes those things better? Does anyone expect me to believe that the insurance industry didn't help write the law?
What do you think they do all day over there? This law would not exist if someone didn't stand to make a huge profit from it.


the real problem has nothing to do with coverage and policies.....just make it cheap....I don't care how you do it, just make that crap cheap....
I don't even care if the quality goes down....so what? Looks to me like maybe the highest quality(or perceived) is too expensive anyways.
And if you're gonna complain after all that, well then you're just sickly, and a huge burden the people around you. I'd rather just kick the bucket than clog up the system. Insurance is expensive, but apparently dignity and integrity are going for pennies on the dollar.

Can't believe I have to sign up for this scam.
Oh well, who knows, maybe it will be a total success. I just don't see how you can cover everyone and make it work...seems a bit ambitious. Why not just shoot for getting like 2/3 of the people taken care of. That's more realistic.

Would this work?
so you have individual medical savings accounts which at a very low balance and income level of the individual yield a much higher % of interest. So they grow fast if they're weak. A small percentage of one's earnings are dedicated to the individual account each paycheck as well as a general fund. It's constantly increasing, and one can certainly add more money to their account at anytime. One cannot touch the funds in the account unless they have a medical issue. However, donating from one's individual account to the general fund would be tax deductible, so if you really needed that cash for something else or simply have a helluva lot of money in your individual account you can get some of it back by donating to the general fund. The use of the general fund would be to pick up where individual accounts fall short(broke, elderly, kids). The general fund would also be used to fund individual accounts of minors so that when a person reached 18 they'd already have a base amount in their savings account.

I think by getting insurance out of medicine as much as possible, or at the least possibly creating a hybrid system, will also reduce cost which, again, is the real issue.

Look, I haven't crunched the numbers because I don't know how, I'm just an idea man, I'd have to hire a team to find out specifics...but, I think my plan has promise. any takers?

well, that's my rant. hope you liked it.

I'm almost 64 years of age, I have insurance through work with Blue Cross. I now pay $120/month for me, with hillary/obamacare I'll have to pay $256/month. Well, I was going to retire but it doesn't look like I can. Social Security will only give me $954/month. Subtract $256 from $954, that leaves me $698/month for rent, food, household bills. And I'm told that I can only make $15,100/year on SS. There's more than one law that needs changing! What happened to the 'free' health care I heard so much about when Barry was running for prez? hahaha!
I am so sorry to hear that so many people will be losing their health care. This is so wrong!
Dems/Repubs, you people should be ashamed! Remember you can't serve G-d and money. Looks like you've made your choice and it's not our Father!

reply to post by NellahB


If you're on social security you shouldn't be paying for obamacare. The point is that the working class pays for the non-working class. So if you make less than I think $9500/yr. you don't have to pay into obamacare and I think you can qualify to use it. I'm not too sure about whether or not that's true but from my understanding that's the case. It wouldn't make sense to force those on SSI to pay into obamacare since it's tax dollars in the first place. But this is obamacare, what does make sense?

flyandi
Wow .. there is so much BS in this thread. I couldn't believe it but it seems that the Democrats actively distribute their lies everywhere or people are so brainwashed by all the lies that they don't even see what's real anymore.

The two-party system (from first page) is the problem? It would be a wet dream of the Democrats to abolish that and turn it into a one-party system. Republicans back and forth, there are not acting like the counter-part at all times, but they are still people fighting against the insanity here.

Calling people who are against ObamaCare "traitors" are just the peak of the iceberg. You guys really need to listen to your own words... There was one good commentary in this thread: "Real change only happens if you are going from comfortable to uncomfortable"... Those who are supporting this whole mess, you should ask yourself, how long are you going to be comfortable? How fast will this administration turn against you?

Isn't it funny, the last few days I have been closely watching a few friends who are hardcore Obama supporter - 200% behind this administration - defending this administration like it would be their kids.. You never saw people turning so fast against it once they realized that they were out an extra $500 per month! Now it's all ranting how bad it is and that they "had no idea" ... the "nuts" are not so nuts anymore.

The current administration is incompetent - not qualified for the job - in the real world they would have been all fired. I don't think that any other president in the history of the United States had so little respect. Even you didn't like a president or voted for his party, you still respected the office but this president has accomplished almost the destruction of the office. Wherever you go - listen to the people and you will realize that here is so little faith in the "institution of the president" these days.. The next president will have a tough time to restore confidence into the office regardless of the political affiliation.

I see people now turning on their fearless leader right and left. As conservatives tried to spread the message on how bad this ACA plan was, the Obamabots charged straight ahead, ignoring the obvious. Now they are wailing like stuck hogs. As much as I love the *I told you so* afterglow, I'm angry that we are in this position because of the them.

It seems all previous POTUS can go down in history for the wrongs they did. But the masses are rarely affected on a personal level that Obama will personally affect the quality of life of at least 50 percent of the population if not more. And that's what makes him different. This ACA isn't pocket change like so many other taxes that nickel and dime us. These premiums and deductibles are huge and will have great negative impact on the already worn and battered Americans. As I stated before in previous posts, we are going from bad to worse on a daily basis. I agree with other posters that the ACA will self destruct but between now and then it will be hell for many. And even worse after that. There will be a country with huge amounts of uninsured people and it will be terrible. Right now the Dems are trying to get the mandate delayed because they can see how it's playing out and it isn't good. I say bring it on. The sooner we can get rid of this train wreck the better. Delaying the mandate will only drag this mess out longer.

sorgfelt
reply to post by IAMTAT

 

Dont' blame the Democrats. The ACA is a copy of a Republican governor's plan. It satisfies the usual Republican responsibility crap that people should pay their own way in life, even if they can't afford it. I think they should have extended Medicare to the whole population and make it free for everyone. But no insurance company or Republican would agree to that - besides putting insurance companies out of business, it would be, gasp, Socialism!

The claim that Dems modeled the nations ACA after a Republican governor's plan is even more disturbing. They couldn't come up with a plan on their own? Really, really tired of this pathetic excuse. The Dems own it. Why didn't Obama pass a single payer plan? He easily could have. Instead he has to model a plan after a Republican health care program? What a complete lack of leadership and integrity.

You people don't take 0bama seriously, he's playing for KEEPS, he ain't messing around. He has a strategy to tear America apart, and in his mind equalizing everyone. All he is doing is robbing from the working man and giving to the man who refuses to work. This is Socialism, and it has a workable lifetime, but always ultimately ends in ruin.

We are about to enter a time when our nation survives or fails, were not talking ' in the future' at some point, or in 'our kids lifetime', were talking months or at most a year or two. The Saudi's have been blown off, as the Iranians come onto vogue as the newest happy friendly prodical son, but don't be fooled. Many think the Iranian oil will make for cheap fuel domestically, and it may ....... for a while, but it's a trap. (no petro dollar= massive inflation) Does that ring a bell? Wake up !!!!

Islam will agree with about anything contrary to their beliefs as long as it insures a future victory against the infidel, and We are that Infidel. 0bama is the enabler of Islam here in the US. If the US follows 0bama's dictates, you can be sure that you are selling your prodegy into slavery and death. You are being blinded by baubles and your extermination is at hand.

CryonicAngel

Currently, our insurance was costing us $821 per month...it was still affordable to us...and it satisfied all of our needs.

reply to post by IAMTAT

 

Norwegian resident here btw...daamn, 821$?! a month?! just choked on my beer, mate...

Without context it's hard to say if it is a reasonable amount to pay. If that is the price to pay for less-than-minimal coverage for just one person, I'd choke on my beer too. But if that is the price to pay for fairly decent healthcare for a family of 10, it's quite reasonable in my book.

In my country taxation of income is roughly 40 percent on average. Our tax system is progressive and bracketed, so it varies, but let's stick to the average for simplicities sake. Now, part of these taxes are used to pay premiums for mandatory insurances (31 percent), for example to pay for long term care / care for the elderly etc. But you additionally have to insure yourself to cover the costs of other types of health care, say to visit your doctor, dentist etc. It is mandatory for everyone to purchase at least a base level of insurance or run the risk of a warning and fines. You are free to choose your own health insurer and change companies once per year. Premiums (per person, per month) start at roughly 130 dollars. That covers part of the expenses, but you'll have to pay a part of the costs yourself nevertheless.

On average, the Dutch pay roughly a QUARTER of our their income to provide health care.

How much does OP pay (as in: percentage of his income)? Just curious.



Of course, there are additional taxes too, for example for most consumer goods you'll have to pay 21 percent additional taxes on top of their price too.

reply to post by ForteanOrg


I won't post my salary here, but Obama-compliant health insurance will, at minimum, cost roughly 10% of gross yearly income.

Plotus
You people don't take 0bama seriously, he's playing for KEEPS, he ain't messing around. He has a strategy to tear America apart, and in his mind equalizing everyone. All he is doing is robbing from the working man and giving to the man who refuses to work. This is Socialism, and it has a workable lifetime, but always ultimately ends in ruin.

You clearly don't know much about socialism. I do. Allow me to enlighten you.

Socialism is not about 'equalizing everyone' - instead it states that all are born with the same rights and so, before the law, are to be treated equal. I believe that your "founding fathers" stated likewise and that Americans are proud of that - they should be.

You then say that socialism robs the working man and gives to the man that refuses to work. Instead, socialists clearly see the need for all to contribute to society and insist that all should try to contribute as well as they can. I believe that Americans also hold this in high regard.

Also, socialists know and acknowledge that stronger shoulders should carry the heavier burdens. A very well known socialist motto is "give what you can and take what you need." I believe that is not against the American way at all.

Then, socialists hate it when people that CAN'T contribute (because they are ill or old, for example) should beg to be allowed to take what they need. That's against human dignity according to socialists. So, yes, they think it is good that the State offers sufficient support to the ill and old - and we are all the State. I don't see anything wrong with that, do you?

In my book, a person that tries to work hard, contributes to society as well as s/he can and only takes for him/herself what is needed is a true socialist. Now, tell me: aren't you a socialist yourself, then?

IAMTAT
reply to post by ForteanOrg

 

I won't post my salary here, but Obama-compliant health insurance will, at minimum, cost roughly 10% of gross yearly income.

Well, if that provides about the same level of quality of health care we have in The Netherlands, I'd say you are well off with the ACA - congratulations! But 10 percent at minimum - what are the average costs, do you know?

LanceCorvette

Pippleton25

KingDoey

IAMTAT
HEADS UP to all Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield policy holders; your letter is in the mail:
November 4, 2013

Dear _(Me)_____:

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is discontinuing your individual health benefit plan because it doesn't meet all the requirements of the new health care reform laws )also called the Affordable Care Act).

Thanks, Obama...you S*B, but we actually LIKED our insurance policy.

BLAHBLAHBLAHBLAHBLAH...

Currently, our insurance was costing us $821 per month...it was still affordable to us...and it satisfied all of our needs.

BLAHBLAHBLAHBLAHBLAHBLAH...

As a convenience to you, we're transitioning you to a health care reform compliant plan...This new plan, ANTHEM ESSENTIAL DIRECTACCESS-CBCE is available at $1,316.06.

So, thanks to Barack Obama, my family has not only, today, LOST a policy we liked and wanted to keep...we are now going to have to pay $500 MORE a month!

So we're 'piss*d'! My wife and I hereby solemnly vow NEVER to vote for ANY Democrat...EVER AGAIN; in ANY election!

So, be advised: If you're with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, YOUR cancellation letter is probably in the mail (if not your mailbox) already. If you've already received yours...Please share your story.

$831 dollars a month up to $1300?!?! I cannot believe you have to pay that much per month just for healthcare.....

I am absolutely gobsmacked! Damn makes me really appreciate the NHS over here in England now....

edit on 6-11-2013 by KingDoey because: (no reason given)

Makes me feel extremely lucky to live somewhere with free healthcare. I could not imagine ever having to pay that much for it, nor would I would I ever be able to afford, I would be bankrupt in a month.

edit on 7-11-2013 by Pippleton25 because: (no reason given)

News: Your healthcare is not "free." It may be given to you for "no cost to you" but it's not free. The doctor has to get paid; the nurse has to get paid; the company that supplies the gauze, vaccine, stethescope, aspirin has to get paid; the person who delivers the gauze, vaccine, stethescope, aspirin to the doctor's office has to get paid; the owner of the office building/hospital has to get paid; the guy who sanitizes the surgery room has to get paid; the electric company that lights the building has to get paid.

For every dollar that is spent for your "free" health care, someone *other than you* goes to work and earns it, only to have it forcibly taken away from him/her to be spent on you. I could go on but if you don't understand that it's not "free" now, you probably never will. A little acknowledgement, humility and gratitude would do you well.

edit on 7-11-2013 by LanceCorvette because: Add last sentence

That may be so, but i'll still take my taxes, 30$ a month for full benefits, being able to go to the hospital without worrying if I am going to lose my house from the cost of a visit, over the cost of US healthcare any day. I deal with Americans every day panicking and crying on the telephone because their insurance won't cover their diabetese supplies and meters and what are they supposed to do since they cannot afford the hundreds of dollars it would cost them to purchase the supplies. Somehow this is right? Yeah sorry, ignorant or not, I'll take my 'free' healthcare over your ridiculously priced one. I've seen what yours does to deserving, hard working people trying to make ends meet. No thanks. No one deserves that.

reply to post by IAMTAT


My work insurance doubled, when I finally got through the Obama care website it was going to be $100 more.

Obama duped us!

MichaelPMaccabee


Are you serious?

You don't think that the notion of stripping people of liberties and freedoms won't make people rise up to demand change?

No one did anything when TSA started enhanced pat downs. Grown men still stand by and watch their women and children being molested by the TSA. We crossed that line in the sand eons ago. Now maybe if it starts to hit people where they really live, their money, gun ownership..... then maybe, just maybe.

ForteanOrg

Plotus
You people don't take 0bama seriously, he's playing for KEEPS, he ain't messing around. He has a strategy to tear America apart, and in his mind equalizing everyone. All he is doing is robbing from the working man and giving to the man who refuses to work. This is Socialism, and it has a workable lifetime, but always ultimately ends in ruin.

You clearly don't know much about socialism. I do. Allow me to enlighten you.

Socialism is not about 'equalizing everyone' - instead it states that all are born with the same rights and so, before the law, are to be treated equal. I believe that your "founding fathers" stated likewise and that Americans are proud of that - they should be.

You then say that socialism robs the working man and gives to the man that refuses to work. Instead, socialists clearly see the need for all to contribute to society and insist that all should try to contribute as well as they can. I believe that Americans also hold this in high regard.

Also, socialists know and acknowledge that stronger shoulders should carry the heavier burdens. A very well known socialist motto is "give what you can and take what you need." I believe that is not against the American way at all.

Then, socialists hate it when people that CAN'T contribute (because they are ill or old, for example) should beg to be allowed to take what they need. That's against human dignity according to socialists. So, yes, they think it is good that the State offers sufficient support to the ill and old - and we are all the State. I don't see anything wrong with that, do you?

In my book, a person that tries to work hard, contributes to society as well as s/he can and only takes for him/herself what is needed is a true socialist. Now, tell me: aren't you a socialist yourself, then?

Too bad you lived in europe and confuse liberalism with socialism. Socialism was when KLM was government owned and operated. What you guys have now is neoliberalism, the same neoliberalism that is plaguing north america.

Repeat after me.....workers own means of production....THAT IS SOCIALISM! Is it good or bad? Irrellevant!

The only difference between liberalism/neoliberalism and conservatism/neoconservatism is that the first has a huge welfare state attached to the capitalist economy. It is supposed to be a crutch for people that need it, not for the lazy who dont want to get a job!

Taissa

MichaelPMaccabee


Are you serious?

You don't think that the notion of stripping people of liberties and freedoms won't make people rise up to demand change?

No one did anything when TSA started enhanced pat downs. Grown men still stand by and watch their women and children being molested by the TSA. We crossed that line in the sand eons ago. Now maybe if it starts to hit people where they really live, their money, gun ownership..... then maybe, just maybe.

What can you do if the TSA has weapons to use, and the passengers have nothing? I personally dont have as much of a problem with the patdowns, as I do with the cancer causing x-ray machines.

Of course both methods were unnecessary as 9-11 has been proven an inside job years ago and confirmed by russia this summer. DHS is completly illegal and a huge burden on the tax-payers. TSA is an extension of DHS.

maxzen2004
reply to post by IAMTAT

 

My work insurance doubled, when I finally got through the Obama care website it was going to be $100 more.

Obama duped us!

I thought this might happen, I just didn't know when. I figured it might be in 2015 or 2016. People on employer plans won't be exempt from this nightmare. The insurance companies will raise their rates and the employers one by one will drop employee coverage, forcing people onto the ACA system. Only the top of the line companies will still supply insurance to their employees, and those will go up in price as well and most likely be considered 'Cadillac plans' so they can be taxed.