ACA is a failure. It only brought more people to the insurance market on a micro scale. This resulted in short term stabilization. When it was enacted, my insurance premium went from $80 a month to $176. It’s now at $240 and next year is $273. Deductibles and out of pocket expenses have doubled since pre ACA.
Tell me ACA reduced costs again or how you weren’t paying insurance payments before ACA.
Ehh.. that’s a bit reductive. Baby, bath water. ACA definitely has failure points, tho, I agree.
Problems with it included the revision of reducing the lack-of-coverage penalty to $0. That was the cyanide pill, which was exactly what the republicans wanted. Crush the favorable thing, so their insurance donors are happy.
When the penalty was in place, it was a source of revenue (arguably a tax, but definitely a fund raiser). The “young invincibles” didn’t want to pay either way, and they couldn’t see beyond their own collective hubris (but did we at that age? Nope.). Some chose to pay the penalty, but it didn’t matter either way. It still raised funds. That kept your original costs low. As the penalty died, so did the pool of the insured. That is what raised your rates. This is where the ACA didn’t have enough bite to it. Marketplace providers were allowed to exit, and not bound by any legal obligations to stay.
It’s crappy, and it sucks…and I feel bad for you (and family, if that applies). I agree with your frustration that it’s a raw deal. Maybe it’s slightly, if only, better than direct negotiation with each doctor, and maybe better than a full ER bill. Maybe it’s helped keep your prescription costs in check, too. Maybe(?).
But the ACA as a whole isn’t an abject failure. A huge deal was the removal of pre-existing condition exclusions (those of us with MS, or cancer, or type 1 diabetes, or whatever selection insurers want to pick). It also increased standard of care, especially for women. It has helped save lives.
It still bites, tho, that your premiums are so high. You could try calling your local Congress critter or senator and complain to them. They are supposed to care about you, after all. (I know, I know… “supposed to”… I said “try”).
In the meantime, I hope you’re able to manage the costs for yourself and you’re able to stay healthy. At least then you can say you’re not part of the problem!
