How the Health Insurance System is Screwing People (and by "us" I mean "Me and Kim")

[digitaldiscipline]

Not directly, but the health insurance system is not making me very fucking happy, in a very personal way.

K, as most of you know, has been temping since her tenure at LPZ ended. She's been on COBRA in the interim, which is, as probably fewer of you know, FUCKING EXPENSIVE.

Fortunately, I work for a company that's cool enough to offer Domestic Partner benefits. Open enrollment, unfortunately, happens in November, but if you have what is considered a "qualifying event" during the year, you can add your partner at any time during the year.

Not being able to afford COBRA isn't a qualifying event. So, in theory, K could get health insurance through my job, but in practice, she can't. Which means her options are: be uninsured, or go broke paying for insurance.

The invisible hand of the market, as evidenced by all those independent insurance commercials that have proliferated? They're the next thing to fucking useless, because they don't offer stuff like, you know, dental coverage, or they have a shitty prescription plan (if they have one at all).

Anyone who says we don't need to correct some serious goddamned shortcomings in the way medical coverage is provided in these here United States is cordially invited to KISS MY ASS.

Comments

[sloot.livejournal.com]

What in the new rules would make your Rafe's current situation better?

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(sorry - I was thinking you were K)

[etcet.livejournal.com]

Off the top of my head, I'd say that the subsidized premiums for purchasing private insurance would be. There may be minutae in the bill that would also come into play, but that's the obvious bit.

[sloot.livejournal.com]

How beneficial is that to most people when the rebate doesn't come until the spring?

(your post made me write a post I'd been considering for a while which is basically an inquisitive US healthcare post regarding the recent bills that have been passed)

[etcet.livejournal.com]

In our situation, where there's a bit of budget stretch as a two-income household, it's unpleasant but potentially possible.

[cheez-ball.livejournal.com]

And a ban on gender rating, would also probably help tremendously. Currently it's legal to charge women double, or more.

[kest]

In 2014 there will be insurance 'exchanges' that in theory will make buying your own insurance cheaper/easier.

[sloot.livejournal.com]

I'll be shocked if it's cheaper.