I am a firm believer in the ACA Healthcare Plans, so when I stumbled on this in a Consumer Reports story, which I found on the MSN web-site, I had to share it with all of you. It appears there are special plans for those who have low incomes, but not low enough for Medicaid. If your income is between $11,670 - $29,175, you qualify for a special Silver Plan.
They did a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois Blue Choice Silver PPO example for a single person making between $11,670 - $29,175.
Estimated Monthly Premium $103 Deductible $500 Coinsurance $1,500
One little-known feature of the Affordable Care Act is the availability of special health plans with low deductibles and copays to consumers whose incomes are low, but not low enough to be enrolled in Medicaid. (For 2015 that's up to $29,175 for a single person, $39,325 for a couple, and $59,624 for a family of four
Whereas regular Silver plans cover about 70 percent of the average person’s health care costs, the special Silver plans cover 73, 87, or 94 percent, depending on the person’s income. That translates into much lower deductibles, copays and coinsurance. The Silver 87 plan is more generous than a regular Gold plan, and the Silver 94 plan is more generous than a Platinum plan. But the customer doesn't pay a higher premium for these plans than for the standard version of the plan. In other words, they’re a fantastic deal.
Below you'll see the first result from a search we did in Illinois for a single 40-year-old with an income of $20,000, which would qualify them to buy a Silver 87 plan.Estimated Monthly Premium $37 Deductible $6,000 Coinsurance $6,000It's a Bronze Blue Cross and Blue Shield PPO. Granted, it only costs $37 a month after subtracting the $133 premium tax credit. But look at the plan details: The customer will have to spend $6,000 of his meager income before the plan covers a single service other than preventive care, which is free in all plans.
I also heard on the local news tonight that good ole Darrell Issa is trying to sluff off the numbers of people, who have the ACA Health Insurance coverage by saying over 400,000 are Dental only! Ummm doesn't it count that now many people are able to get their teeth taken care of and not have to also use the emergency room, for dental emergencies? Also doesn't that leave how many million people with Health Insurance, which they never had before?
How about all the volunteer medical & dental staff and other volunteers, who go to the Virginia's Appalachians, to help as many people as possible, for free, who don't have medical or dental insurance? How many thousands of people travel hundreds of miles, then camp out waiting for the volunteer medical and dental staff to arrive? How many wait for hours in hopes of being able to see a doctor or dentist for free, because they can't afford medical or dental insurance?
They accept the possibility they might not be able to be seen and might have to wait until next year. There are so many people without any medical or dental insurance and this is their only chance for help? From what I understand, many of the people decide to have all their teeth pulled and get dentures, even though there is nothing wrong with their natural teeth.
Of course, even if 400,000 people have dental only policies, doesn't that leave how many million people with Healthcare coverage, which they did not have before? How many people don't have to worry about losing everything or having to file bankruptcy, because they didn't have health or dental insurance and the unthinkable happened?
How many hospitals are actually making money and not going broke having to write off huge amounts of debts, for people who had no choice but to use the emergency room and now can't pay the bill? How many hospitals were saved from bankruptcy, due to the ACA?
Did it occur to them that the cost of Healthcare is slowing down and maybe soon will be coming down, so they won't have to shift the cost to those with health insurance and since the insurance companies aren't paying out as much, for medical procedures, how will they justify raising their premiums?
The Rethugs just can't accept the fact the ACA is working and it's to the credit of President Obama & the Democrats. They just can't stop bashing the President or the Democrats over anything good, which they have done.
To see the Consumer Reports story I am referring to, follow the link below.