British Expats - 2016 Election

If I'm not mistaken, pre-ACA your insurer could have decided that you were just too expensive to insure with your conditions and treatments and kicked you to the curb. Many had problems getting insurance and treatment in the first place due to 'pre-existing conditions'.

No, because he is on a 'group plan' provided by his employer. Such plans benefit from a requirement not to exclude anyone (for usage, for pre-existing conditions, etc). This benefit has been there for a long time, and the ACA, in part, tried to extend the basic 'strengths' of group plans to individual plans.
If he had been privately insured, then YES, he could be summarily dropped if he exceeded some (unstated, arbitrary) limit.

Steerpike

Mar 3rd 2016 5:54 am

Re: 2016 Election

Quote:

Originally Posted by dakota44 (Post 11885604)

If by some idiotic fluke...Trump won the general....we might see the electoral college play the roll that was intended for it.

Can you elaborate?

tuxedocat

Mar 3rd 2016 6:02 am

Re: 2016 Election

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steerpike (Post 11885619)

Well wasn't it the 'big spending' of Bush that spawned the Tea Party? They didn't like the fact that he actually did something helpful to people.

It wasn't Medicare spending but bailout spending that got them riled up. Medicare is something they earned in their minds. It was help for mortgage payers from Obama when it officially started.

Steerpike

Mar 3rd 2016 6:03 am

Re: 2016 Election

Quote:

Originally Posted by themadpooper (Post 11885618)

...

Car insurance is a good example of what I mean, should mine and your premiums go up because of reckless drivers?

I would say that your car insurance premiums DO go up because of reckless drivers; the insurance companies spread the risk across their customer base.

Car insurance is required for everyone (read, 'individual mandate') and there are minimal coverages mandated. Insurance companies have to cover you. The biggest variable in car insurance is when you want higher coverages; similar to the gold/silver/bronze. It would be fantastic if the insurance companies could find an equivalent to the concept of 'higher rates for risky cars'. That is - if you smoke, your rates go up, or if you guzzle 50 sodas a day your rates go up, but - that's another challenge for another day.

Anian

Mar 3rd 2016 6:09 am

Re: 2016 Election

My insurance company has a different rate for smokers than it does for non-smokers. You just have to sign a bit of paper that says you are a non-smoker. Not quite at the stage where they weigh you to determine your rate yet though!

zargof

Mar 3rd 2016 6:10 am

Re: 2016 Election

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steerpike (Post 11885628)

Can you elaborate?

The members of the electoral college aren't bound to go with the popular vote. So they could in theory give a state's electoral college members to Clinton even if Trump got more votes in a state.

tuxedocat

Mar 3rd 2016 6:11 am

Re: 2016 Election

Go stand in the peroxide/rubbing alcohol/band-aid section at Walmart and I guarantee you will find a suffering adult trying to find a DIY cure for a dental abscess.

themadpooper

Mar 3rd 2016 6:21 am

Re: 2016 Election

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuxedocat (Post 11885646)

Go stand in the peroxide/rubbing alcohol/band-aid section at Walmart and I guarantee you will find a suffering adult trying to find a DIY cure for a dental abscess.

Never seen that there myself but will make a note to look next time I'm in there :lol:

Dental insurance is separate from general health insurance. Even in the UK, where there's universal healthcare, finding good dental cover is hit and miss and most Brits don't have a regular dentist

tuxedocat

Mar 3rd 2016 6:30 am

Re: 2016 Election

Quote:

Originally Posted by themadpooper (Post 11885652)

If they have access to a medical dr though they could get penicillin instead of going to the store with a throbbing head hoping rubbing peroxide on things will give them relief.

You are right indigent dental care is another issue, I guess that was a bad example. I was just trying to show a lot of people suffer here for the lack of basic treatment.

dakota44

Mar 3rd 2016 6:33 am

Re: 2016 Election

Quote:

Originally Posted by zargof (Post 11885645)

The members of the electoral college aren't bound to go with the popular vote. So they could in theory give a state's electoral college members to Clinton even if Trump got more votes in a state.

Actually some states have laws requiring they go with the vote, though not sure that would prevent some defections. Other States have rule encouraging loyalty to the popular vote...but no enforcement. And then there are those with ni requirement. The electoral college was established due to a lack of total trust in the voting class to not elect someone with perhaps dictatorial ideas or contrary to the protections of the Constitution. In such a case the popular vote could be overruled. You know...someone like Trump. I do not think it will become an issue though. Wish it would.

Steerpike

Mar 3rd 2016 6:35 am

Re: 2016 Election

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anian (Post 11885643)

Is this through your employer? I believe Group Plans can do that. I don't believe ACA individual plans can. Group Plans (employer plans) can offer a variety of incentives for taking better care of yourself. I THINK the mechanism is that your employer is offering a subsidy on your premium based on your 'behavior'. In other words, the premiums the company pays the insurance company are blended across the employee base, but the amount you the employee have to contribute towards that premium is being discounted based on your participation in various initiatives. Just my understanding.

sir_eccles

Mar 3rd 2016 7:06 am

Re: 2016 Election

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anian (Post 11885643)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steerpike (Post 11885675)

Is this through your employer? I believe Group Plans can do that. I don't believe ACA individual plans can.

Yes, under the ACA the only things that can affect your premium are age and smoking.

https://www.healthcare.gov/how-plans-set-your-premiums/

scrubbedexpat091

Mar 3rd 2016 7:10 am

Re: 2016 Election

Does the federal government even do referendums?

I see Obamacare as an improvement but under the old system I was not insurable unless a group employer plan which only occured about 50% of the time, so the new way is certainly an improvement.

Quote:

Originally Posted by themadpooper (Post 11885589)

Yeah, maxed out the deductible but $200 is nothing. Premiums aren't too bad, work covers most of it. The mrs and I are registered at one of the big hospitals in Chicago so that comes with a premium but there's no waiting around for blood tests, scans etc., which are done on the spot

My point is, Obamacare had made health insurance vastly more expensive for those of us who already had it, that's undeniable. The argument that it's justified so the less well off can get on the insurance ladder is fine, and as someone who grew on a council estate myself, I know all about being poor but Obamacare went about it the wrong way

You don't ram something as controversial as that down people's throats and then arrogantly laugh off criticism of it as self serving Republicans playing politics. Had Obamacare been subjected to a referendum, there is not a hope in hell it would've gotten voted for. I don't know anyone who likes it and I have a vast bunch of in laws who live all over America and mates from many walks of life

username.exe

Mar 3rd 2016 8:07 am

Re: 2016 Election

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steerpike (Post 11885626)

Thank you Steerpike, I stand corrected.

Steerpike

Mar 3rd 2016 8:25 am

Re: 2016 Election

Quote:

Originally Posted by sir_eccles (Post 11885705)

Yes, under the ACA the only things that can affect your premium are age and smoking.

https://www.healthcare.gov/how-plans-set-your-premiums/

You are missing 'location', which can be a biggie.

According to that site:

Quote:

Age: Premiums can be up to 3 times higher for older people than for younger ones.
Location: Where you live has a big effect on your premiums. Differences in competition, state and local rules, and cost of living account for this.
Tobacco use: Insurers can charge tobacco users up to 50% more than those who donâ€™t use tobacco.
Individual vs. family enrollment: Insurers can charge more for a plan that also covers a spouse and/or dependents.
Plan category: There are five plan categories â€“ Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and catastrophic. The categories are based on how you and the plan share costs. Bronze plans usually have lower monthly premiums and higher out-of-pocket costs when you get care. Platinum plans usually have the highest premiums and lowest out-of-pocket costs.

I had no idea tobacco use was there. I signed up for an ACA plan last year and I don't recall any question relating to tobacco use. Interesting.

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