Granite Staters speak out about Obamacare
More than 400 people responded to a New Hampshire Sunday News web survey about personal experiences with Obamacare, with 25 people willing to provide more details as to their situation. Here are a few examples.
Andrew Santom, Litchfield
Before 2014, I had a PPO that cost me $165 (family) per pay period, and all I had was a $25 co-pay, no deductible. Once the ACA rolled out, the same PPO plan jumped to $557 (family) a pay period, with a $25 co-pay, a $2,000 deductible and $5,000 max out of pocket.
For 2016, I switched to a high deductible plan, which is $185 per pay period and has a $5,000 individual and $10,000 family deductible, but covers preventative care 100 percent. I contribute $3,500 a year to an HSA account to help defer costs.
Harrison Brown, Atkinson
As a 60-year-old American, I’ve seen many changes to health care over my career.
In the two years prior to 2016, my wife and I obtained health insurance through Anthem BCBS. We’ve been fortunate enough to be “grandfathered” into the system and therefore our monthly premiums have not gone up as a much as if we were new subscribers.
Granted, there are options that on the onset appear more affordable now. Should we take one of those options, and come back to Anthem BCBS, our rates will be substantially higher than they currently are. We just don’t know what lies ahead because the rules change every year.
I never thought in my lifetime, I’d be shopping for, and managing my health care.
Prior to 2009 my wife had a family plan with SNHU where she was employed. The premiums were affordable and everything was covered. She no longer works at SNHU. We have an individual plan with high premiums and high deductibles.
Rosanne Breault, Merrimack
I applied for coverage through HeathCare.gov. I never actually enrolled. Due to the cost, I chose the penalty and so I am actually uninsured.
For the enrollment year of 2013, my estimated Silver Plan premium would have been about $341 per month. This was an average plan with a co-pay for doctor visits and a deductible of $2,500. For the enrollment year of 2014, my monthly premium was estimated at $393 per month and the deductible was $5,000.
My decision to take the fine rather than the coverage was based on a choice — keeping my car to get to work or medical insurance. I couldn’t have both.
Bruce and Susan Lambert, Nashua
Before Obamacare, our (employer-sponsored) insurance had a $1,500 family deductible. Now it is $3,000.
Costs were covered basically 70/30 on the plan we had, which is roughly the same plan we have now. Our insurance would always cover in some form for whatever the issue was. We always paid the remainder of our obligation. Now insurance will pay nothing towards any claim until we hit the $3,000 deductible.
I’m 53, and I have never seen insurance cost go down … ever.
I told my wife this year I might go check the Obamacare website to see if that was cheaper. I believe I found a similar silver plan, with a slightly lower premium, but the deductible was sky high.
I suppose if you are wealthy, the $3,000 deductible may not mean much, or indigent, when I suppose Obamacare picks up most of the cost. But to the average middle income folks (like us) this is huge.
At my age, I shouldn’t have to worry about seeing the doctor if there is an issue, but I am, as I don’t want to incur substantial expense to my family. You basically have to “set aside” $3,000 to cover any doctor bill, visit or procedure.
While I agree with some components of the ACA, I honestly did not see a problem with the prior system.