My husband works for a large corporation, and they are in the process of switching our coverage from a standard type plan to a "high deductible" plan. The best we can calculate, this will increase our costs in the neighborhood of 30% and that's if we stay healthy. It's all couched in mumbo-jumbo and lingo calling for more "employee driven" healthcare. That's code for, "stay healthy 'cuz you won't be able to afford to get sick". We knew we were in trouble when the first literature that they sent us announced a "paradigm shift" in health care.
What my husband is hearing from everyone at work is that they know they are getting screwed, but they just don't quite see how it's all going to work yet. When I sit down and pick it apart, I realize that this is intentional. If they had just taken what we had last year, and increased the rates 30%, then everyone would have screamed. Instead, they've switched everything around, from how it gets paid for, to what they are covering, to how the prescription and deductibles and copays work. No more $15 copay when we take a sick kid to the doctor. Now, we pay $95 until we reach a certain deductible, then 20% over that until we reach a max out of pocket thats triple what our out of pocket was last year. Our premiums stay roughly the same, but our coverage goes down and we have that deductible that we didn't have before.
What I really think is happening is that the insurance companies are raising the rates on those of us with employer plans so that they can finance their ability to be competitive with the public option. And we have no fricking choice but to suck it up. Unless Congress pulls their head out and gives everyone access to the public option, those with an employer based plan are going to get screwed. It can be looked at as a hidden tax and everyone with an employer based plan is captive to it.
This is a political danger for the Dems in that all the people with an employer plan are going to see their costs go up in the coming years, and they are going to think it's the fault of the Dems & HCR. They are going to come out of the HCR with the idea that while Obama and the Dems promised to lower costs, they didn't do it and in fact, they are paying more so why should support Obama/the Dems? Politically, it could be very damaging, because the perception will be that HCR didn't help the middle class.
I've just written to my Congressman about this, and I'd like to share that:
Dear Mr. Inslee,
Let me congratulate you on passage of the healthcare reform bill. I realize this is historic legislation, and a first step toward providing access to care for many Americans.
I have a significant concern, however, that I would like to bring to your attention.
The bill as passed does not provide access to a public option for people who currently have an employer health plan. While it provides access and options for those who currently do not have insurance, it does nothing to help those who have insurance but are captive to the employer system. The insurance companies, who will now face competition from the public option for a portion of the population, are attempting to make up the difference on the backs of those with employer based plans.
In our case, my husband's employer is changing our entire plan from a standard type insurance policy to a high deductible plan. In reviewing the enrollment information for next year, we calculate that we face a 30% increase in our healthcare out of pockets costs, and a significant reduction in coverage. In one example, a prescription that I currently take costs $110 after a $229 savings based on our current prescription plan. Next year, that same prescription will cost $505 that we will have to pay out of pocket until we meet our new high deductible minimums. We are being moved from a maximum annual out of pocket of $2500 for our family, to a maximum out of pocket of $7500. Our premium remains about the same, but our coverage is reduced from 100% to 80%, plus we must meet a high deductible before the 80% coverage kicks in.
My concern is that because employees are "captive" to whatever the employer offers, we have no choice but to absorb these significant increases. And I fear this is how the insurance companies are funding the "competition" from the public option.
Please fight for us. Please fight to allow access to the public option for ALL AMERICANS. If the concept of the public option is to allow Americans a choice, then please, give us a choice from the tyranny of the insurance industry. Otherwise, those with an employer plan are just paying a tax in disguise by being forced into absorbing these huge cost increases that the insurance companies will use to compete with the government.
Thank you,
K8dd8d
I'm really feeling as if we are getting screwed and no one is aware of it. We must continue to fight for access to affordable care for EVERYONE. We must keep up the pressure to make this happen. If single payer cannot happen now, we have to keep pushing for the incremental steps that will get us there. Access to the public option for all is one of those steps.