I'm psyched about the Healthcare Marketplace. I hope it is a good thing, I need decent insurance.

[Denninmi]

Because the BCBS policy I can afford really sucks. Really really sucks. It nominally has a $5000 out of pocket stop-loss, but that is on COVERED services. So much is NOT covered, labs, prescriptions, office calls, many tests, physical therapy, durable medical equipment, most preventative care. So, this year, I'm about $4,000 out of pocket towards my $5,000 on COVERED services, and I have about $12,000 wracked up in NON-COVERED services. Ouch, that will be like $16,000 by the end of the 2013.

So, I hope I can find some decent insurance that my doctors will actually take that can help, at a price I can actually afford.

Because this sucks, it really really really sucks.

Oh, and did I mention how much this sucks?

[dkf]

1. Don't they have to change all that?

Have you received info on next years plan? I think this is where people are finding their old plans have changed and are considerably more expensive.

[Denninmi]

3. BCBS of Michigan sent out a letter last week saying look for a letter this week that will explain.

New features, etc. We'll see, I'm not holding my breath. These are the bastards that priced me out of decent coverage 3 years ago when they jacked the monthly premium for a good policy self-insured from about $275 a month to almost $600, and I just couldn't afford that.

I have no loyalty, if someone else can do better adios suckers.

[frazzled]

2. I hope you get a much better policy

For one thing, your preventive care will be free, including many tests (colonoscopies, etc.) that are really expensive. Depending on your income, you may also be eligible for cost-sharing, which helps reduce your deductibles and copays. The tip I read in the NYT is that, if you qualify for such cost-sharing benefits (in addition to a subsidy), you need to get the Silver Plan. Even though the premiums will be slightly more than the Bronze, your out-of-pocket costs will be lower and thus likely to be a much better deal.

[Denninmi]

4. Yeah, I would go for Gold or Platinum if it were an option.

We'll see, this will probably turn out to be a big disappointment, but hopefully I will at least know how screwed I am going to be for the foreseeable future.