September 1, 2009 was the day I lost my health insurance. BCBS had raised the premium once again and I could no longer afford to pay it.
My premiums had increased 300% since the orginal date of the policy in
2002.
In 2008, the premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses were 30% of my income. I was still paying on the deducible from 2008 in December of 2009.
I was a nervous wreck in antipication of the next premium increase.
My normally normal blood pressure was soaring.
When I got the letter, my fears were confirmed. My premiums were going
to increase another hundred a month.
I'm not even going to go into my frustration and disgust at the whole "Health Care Reform Debacle". I've railed, I've gnashed my
teeth, I've rented my garments, I've done all that and more here
many times......
Today, I just wanted to share some information with the DKos community.
Here are some things I discovered as a member of the uninsured -
Out here in Uninsured Land.
When I had insurance and paid $500 monthly premiums, I paid $30 co-pays for office visits.
A visit at the local clinic as a self-pay person costs me $35. This included lab work.
When I had insurance and paid $500 monthly premiums, I paid $1540 for minor eye surgery. (yag laser to zap scar tissue after catarac surgery) This amount came under my $2,500 deductible, so I was the one who paid it. This amount represented a so-called reduced charge due to the insurance company's allowable expense. They would
have me believe the actual charge was more like $2,240.
I need to have that same surgery on the other eye.
Now that I'm uninsured and self-pay it will cost me a total of $671.
That's just $171. more dollars than the $500 monthly premium I was paying.
When I had insurance and had a colonoscopy, it cost me: $1,500. Yeah, that $2,500 deductible thing again.
Again, this represented a so-called reduced charge due to the insurance company's allowable expense. They would have me believe the true charge was nearly twice that.
But my friend, who has junk insurance that will not cover colonscopies,
was quoted $600 for a self-pay colonscopy.
That same friend was charged $380 for a thyroid blood test.
She went to a clinic as a self-pay person and was charged $8.00 for the same thyroid test.
What is my point? Well, for now, I'll just let you come to your own conclusions.
In the meantime, I'm out here reporting from Uninsured Land.
I'll continue to keep you posted.