Questions about the Health care exchanges :

[hedgehog]

Is there a difference between company "A"s Gold plan and company "B"s Gold plan?

Do all the doctors, hospitals, etc who accept company A also accept company B?

Why would someone pay more for company A over company B?

[zipplewrath]

1. Answers

Is there a difference between company "A"s Gold plan and company "B"s Gold plan?

Yes

Do all the doctors, hospitals, etc who accept company A also accept company B?

Not necessarily

Why would someone pay more for company A over company B?

Because of the answers to the two above.

You're asking good questions, because people who are shopping should pay attention to the details about these things. There are standards for these plans, but there are variations within the rules. And what doctors/hospitals/outpatient etc. is important. If you have a pre-existing condition, one should probably check in GREAT detail about the exact charges and benefits under each plan.

[annabanana]

5. So the main advantage over the existing system is

more people are allowed to spend their money on something that should be covered by taxes as a matter of course......

Well hoo friggen' ray

[zipplewrath]

6. Sorta

Basically the first thing that ACA did was to federalize the health insurance industry. Then, having that power, it attempted to "standardize" it a bit. Then, by standardizing it, they could attempt to coerce everyone to participate. Increasing and standardizing participation allowed rates to decreased for some, increased for others, and put employers in a position to have more predictable insurance costs.

The end result is about 7% increased coverage if only the sick and infirmed participate, 12% if the young and healthy participate.

[pnwmom]

7. Are mental health benefits covered under all plans?

[cally]

11. Yes and addiction treatment

Amount of coverage beyond the baseline will vary

[pnwmom]

12. That will be good news to so many people.

I know someone with PTSD who found a policy that covered mental health visits (partially) but can't get treatment because it's a preexisting condition.

[PoliticAverse]

2. 1 - Probably, 2 - Not necessarily, 3 - see 1 and 2.

Plans at each level must meet minimum requirements, but can differ significantly in specifics like
which doctors participate, coverage for things exceeding the minimum requirement, etc.

[Skittles]

3. it's health INSURANCE exchanges

[hedgehog]

4. True! I conflate them because my son gets no health care unless he signs up

for health insurance!

[Skittles]

8. I truly do hope they prove to be health care exchanges

I'm not crazy about keeping these corrupt insurance companies in the mix but I do know there's severe problems with health care in America and something needs to be done

[hedgehog]

9. Given the size of the health insurance industry relative to the US economy,

I can accept this as a step to single payer. I think we are already seeing improvements in the health care system brought by some of the other reforms. The bill wasn't only about paying for medical care but also about improving medical care.

[Skittles]

10. that is what I am hoping

we will see

[fadedrose]

13. I wonder if any companies will pay chiropractors....nt