The VA scandal

[moonlight]

I can't imagine it's the doctors or nurses who are causing this. I'm sure they're just as heartbroken as we are, or more so because they have to see it firsthand. I put almost all the blame on the politicians and the hospital administrators.

I agree and heads need to roll ASAP. Why does it seem like there is Zero accountability anymore in our country when adults do the wrong thing??

[GrayMatterWife]

You are getting Obama care? I tease. The only people I know (two of my family members) that have it really like it. No one seems to like the VA. What a cluster!

All the people I know who lost their insurance because of it are pissed. Really pissed. My parents, my cousin, my sister (but not her husband and child, thank goodness), my best friend and her husband, my brother and his wife … all lost coverage when their plans were terminated as non-Big Gov compliant. My brother is now uninsured because he can't afford it, even with the "subsidies." My parents were able to juggle some stuff, since one of them is on Medicare. My cousin is uninsured. My best friend had to switch jobs to one she likes a lot less but has better benefits.

I don't know anyone who got ObamaCare coverage, but I hope it worked out for them. It hurt most of my loved ones. Right now, my husband and I are fine. We get insurance through my employment. But, if we wanted to change to DH's insurance in the coming years, that could be a problem. Several big academic institutions have already dropped spousal coverage (which is not mandated by ObamaCare) if the spouse has a job where the spouse can get benefits. It is really only a matter of time before employers stop offering spousal coverage at all, as a cost-control mechanism. Then I'll be screwed. I can never quit work. I can't risk going on ObamaCare. I have a heart condition and need good coverage and my particular doctors. Just what I worked so hard for all these years--to never retire. Ugh.

Nothing about the VA situation surprises me. The government couldn't manage itself unless the goal is to go in a circle. I should know. I work for the federal government…

[diggitydot]

It amazes me how much experiences differ with the ACA. It's helped SOOOO many around here.

[poky]

I don't know anyone who got ObamaCare coverage, but I hope it worked out for them. It hurt most of my loved ones. Right now, my husband and I are fine. We get insurance through my employment. But, if we wanted to change to DH's insurance in the coming years, that could be a problem. Several big academic institutions have already dropped spousal coverage (which is not mandated by ObamaCare) if the spouse has a job where the spouse can get benefits. It is really only a matter of time before employers stop offering spousal coverage at all, as a cost-control mechanism. Then I'll be screwed. I can never quit work. I can't risk going on ObamaCare. I have a heart condition and need good coverage and my particular doctors. Just what I worked so hard for all these years--to never retire. Ugh.

Have you actually looked at your exchange offerings, and figured out if your preferred doctors are covered by any of them? I'm willing to bet they are. I know most of the ones offered here cover docs in the Cleveland Clinic...and they're not exactly slouches when it comes to heart conditions. Last time I checked, before open enrollment ended, I could have hopped onto an exchange for just a little less money than I'm paying now, for the same coverage I have now from the same company I get insurance through now. I didn't because I'm lazy and we're moving away in a year anyway, so it was easier to just keep things the way they are now. I also have a heart condition, and health insurance was a major concern of mine about changing jobs and/or going part time and/or quitting. I tried to get individual coverage when we moved here, and completely failed. Not available for me, thanks to the heart I was born with. Not worried at all about it any more, thanks the ACA, even though non-academic EM rarely offers any health coverage at all, so it's entirely possible that both DH and I will be on an ACA health exchange starting next year.

I'm sorry your relatives were on sub-standard plans. I'd be interested in the details of coverage and prices of what they used to have vs what's available on their exchanges, if you have them.

[GrayMatterWife]

Have you actually looked at your exchange offerings, and figured out if your preferred doctors are covered by any of them? I'm willing to bet they are. I know most of the ones offered here cover docs in the Cleveland Clinic...and they're not exactly slouches when it comes to heart conditions. Last time I checked, before open enrollment ended, I could have hopped onto an exchange for just a little less money than I'm paying now, for the same coverage I have now from the same company I get insurance through now. I didn't because I'm lazy and we're moving away in a year anyway, so it was easier to just keep things the way they are now. I also have a heart condition, and health insurance was a major concern of mine about changing jobs and/or going part time and/or quitting. I tried to get individual coverage when we moved here, and completely failed. Not available for me, thanks to the heart I was born with. Not worried at all about it any more, thanks the ACA, even though non-academic EM rarely offers any health coverage at all, so it's entirely possible that both DH and I will be on an ACA health exchange starting next year.

I'm sorry your relatives were on sub-standard plans. I'd be interested in the details of coverage and prices of what they used to have vs what's available on their exchanges, if you have them.

I hate ObamaCare. It has hurt a lot of people I love. It was so much worse than I expected. yeah, I had low expectations, but I had low expectations for people caught in the system without other options. I was not expecting that people who did not want to be part of the system would be forced into it or lose their insurance. There have been a lot of tears. I don't know all the financial specifics--I just know that they were blind-sided then spent hours and hours trying to get comparable coverage at a comparable cost and they couldn't. I didn't really think that the employers would drop the insurance so soon.

My mom's situation was a little different--she is in retirement but not eligible for Medicare yet. Her former employer just basically dumped its retirees (who are expensive to cover) into a really sub-standard plan as a cost saving measure…I guess ObamaCare relates only to employees and not pensioners? Not sure, but I guess screwing over the retirees is legal… My brother was one of those people who had a catastrophic plan that he like, pretty much just paid out of pocket, and it was a lot cheaper than buying some policy loaded up with stuff he didn't need. That got canceled and now he just doesn't have insurance because NYS exchange didn't offer anything he could afford and, weirdly, all the deductibles were super-high. I guess it is cheaper to pay out of pocket and take whatever the tax is for not having coverage.

Shinseki (sp??) resigned today. Just like Sebelius resigned. I am sure nothing will change. The politicians will get their day of ranting in the sun, then the vets will be forgotten like the Benghazi victims. We'll eventually elect new people, from different parties, and nothing will change.

[diggitydot]

Really, Benghazi?

[Deebs]

Yep - the "super" exchange plan we were eligible for was even more than what we already pay with a higher deductible (hard to do) and the less coverage. Plus, the EDs have already seen increased volumes and problems, all associated with exchange plans. People still don't get that insurance in no way equals access to care.


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[HouseofWool]

I am particularly fond of the fact that as a provider, we need to credential with BCBS for this set of plans. And no one is will to tell me the rates up front.

[ides]

Insurance companies are evil. The end.

[GrayMatterWife]

Really, Benghazi?

Yep. Just the same. Dead diplomats. Dead vets. It's how we treat people. They'll be forgotten soon. This will blow over when a newer scandal breaks. Or there is some story about Kim Kardashien that is breaking news. In the meantime, we'll all have to suffer self-righteous huffing and puffing of "shocked" Senators vying for fact time on TV…because how can you lose, being seen as being pro-good-heath-care-for-vets? Maybe Hillary will wear another ghastly suit and bellow about why doesn't even matter at this point. Maybe Boehner and Cantor will try to make blame this on Obama, as if somehow the VA system was just **peachy** under Bush.

[diggitydot]

It was just a really weird jump that I didn't follow the logic.

Benghazi was awful. As have been all the various attacks on our embassies.

[BonBon]

Yep - the "super" exchange plan we were eligible for was even more than what we already pay with a higher deductible (hard to do) and the less coverage.

This was our experience, too. We got booted off our awesome plan that was cheap but covered *everything*, and the ones available sucked.

HouseOfWool...DH is negotiating right now with the first of the exchange insurances. They pay 60% less than the going rate of other private insurers. Awesome.

[bokelley]

In Missouri one of the plans pays better than most of the other plans for ob care. I wish there was more of a standard.

[moonlight]

It amazes me how much experiences differ with the ACA. It's helped SOOOO many around here.

Here too. It's been a big blessing for my dad and brother. It's amazing how different everyone's experience is with it. I guess it really depends on the state you are in and your employment/marital status.

[diggitydot]

I guess it really depends on the state you are in and your employment/marital status.

The differences in how states implemented the ACA is really eye-opening.

Our state has been on board and proactive since day one. It's made an ENORMOUS and positive difference here in the lives of not only many of DH's patients, but in the lives of neighbors, friends, and family. It's also increasing the reimbursements for the local hospitals who were losing SO much in unreimbursed emergency department care.